We chat with author Matt Dunn about his new release Pug Actually, as well as the best and worst writing advice he’s received, book recommendations, and more!

Hi, Matt! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?

I’m an award-losing (nominations: 3, wins: 0) novelist from England. I spend a large part of my year in Spain because it has this thing England doesn’t called ‘good weather’. I’ve been a full-time writer since 2005, with fourteen (and counting) published novels to my name. Previous jobs have included fitness-equipment salesman, headhunter, and even professional lifeguard (think Baywatch but with less of a tan), but I much prefer writing for a living, so please keep buying my books. Oh, and I collect Avon aftershave bottles from the 1960s/70s in the shape of vintage cars (Google them – they’re really cool) and according to my wife have way too many.

How is your 2021 going in comparison to that other year?

Great – though (whisper it) last year wasn’t actually that bad for me: I rented a house on a small (but perfectly-formed) island in the Mediterranean called Menorca and sat out the pandemic there. It’s been pretty productive for me work-wise as lockdown forced me to spend longer at my desk (I even spent some of that time writing). Plus, I really got into doing online HIIT workouts and baking banana bread (yes, the two are linked).

Quick lightning round! Tell us the first book you ever remember reading, the one that made you want to become an author, and one that you can’t stop thinking about!

The first book I remember reading was Bridie the Bantam (I must have been two or three years old, so when I say ‘reading’, I might well mean ‘hearing’). It’s about a hen who finds abandoned eggs and (spoiler alert) sits on them till they hatch. I’m sure the fact that a book about effectively getting all the glory for someone else’s work had such an impact on me means something, but I don’t like to think too deeply about what that might be.

Nick Hornby’s High Fidelity was the book that made me want to become an author. I knew I wanted to write, but I didn’t know what I wanted to write until I read that. Every time I start a new novel, I reread it, just to remind me of the level of brilliance I should be aiming for. I’m writing my fifteenth novel now, and I’m still not there yet.

The book I can’t stop thinking about is my current work in progress. As a writer you’re always ‘on’ (i.e., ‘on’ the lookout for material – situations/snippets of conversations/characters you can incorporate into your books). Sometimes I come up with ideas or solutions to tricky plot points at the strangest times – the middle of the night, out on my bike – and if I don’t write them down there and then I’ll probably forget them. The ‘notes’ app on my phone is probably the one I use the most. After the one to check my Amazon ranking.

When did you first discover your love for writing?

I was thirteen (which is a LONG time ago). Every week at school, someone would be given the opportunity (though ‘picked on’ was more how we saw it) by a teacher to write a report of the most recent cricket/rugby/hockey game we’d played, which would then have to be read out standing up in front of the whole school during assembly – a process so scary it sometimes caused voices to break mid-piece. Typically, these reports tended to be pretty dull (“they scored, then we did, then they scored again…”), demonstrating all the literary flair you’d expect from spotty pubescent schoolboys, but when it came to my turn I decided to try to liven things up a little by putting a couple of jokes in (I’d repeat them here, but you had to be there. And thirteen. And, possibly, know the kids who were the butt of those jokes…). Anyway, to my amazement and delight I actually got a few laughs, and while in retrospect those laughs might have been because my flies were undone, the reaction was as addictive as crack cocaine (I imagine). There and then I knew that being a comedy writer was what I wanted to do.

Your latest novel, Pug Actually, is out June 29^th 2021! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?

Pug plays cupid. Hilarity ensues!

What can readers expect?

Like all my novels, it’s a romantic comedy, so expect romance and comedy. Although this one’s narrated by a pug named Doug, so also includes canine shenanigans aplenty.

What inspired Pug Actually?

Our family dog Patch had a unique talent: Whenever my sister brought home a new boyfriend, if Patch didn’t think much of them, he’d sit by their feet and growl softly to show his disapproval. Usually, he turned out to be a much better judge of character than my sister was! They say you can tell a lot about a person from how they treat animals, and I think you can also tell a lot about a person from how animals react to them, so, I got to thinking, what if I took that a step further, and someone’s pet dog actually tried to intervene in their love life…

Can you tell us about any challenges you faced while writing and how you were able to overcome them?

Trying to make a pug a credible narrator for a contemporary romantic comedy was an interesting one, but once I found Doug the pug’s voice, he kind of took over (fortunately!). Whether that’s because I share a number of characteristics with the stubborn, wrinkly, flat-faced compulsive-overeater, I couldn’t possibly comment. Whenever I got stuck, I reminded myself that my best-ever-seller, A Day at the Office, was a multi-viewpoint novel set over the course of one day with five separate storylines that all had to intersect (and tie up neatly). Compared to that, turning a dog into a plausible hero should be a piece of cake.

Since this novel features dogs, do you have any special pets in your life?

I don’t have a pet at the moment, sadly, as I travel too much. I’m pretty tight with Dior, my friend’s Bedlington Terrier, who lives just round the corner and is the best natured dog I’ve ever met. There’s a gecko called Gordon in my garden I’m pretty fond of too. Although that’s mainly because he eats the mosquitos.

Were there any favourite moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?

Doug turned out to be a BLAST to write. The novel’s written in the first person – or rather, first canine – so putting myself inside his head and telling it from his (street level) point of view was escapism at its best. Plus, it gave me – sorry, I mean Doug – license to misbehave somewhat more than normal.

What do you love about the romance genre?

The fact that I can give it a different ‘twist’, for example, a male point of view of contemporary relationship issues – or even a dog’s. Plus the absurdity of the dating game, the awkwardness of relationships, the incompatibility of the sexes, and the fact that true love hardly ever comes easily – or goes smoothly – means there’s a lot of material out there.

What’s the best and the worst writing advice you have received?

The best: ‘Read the bestsellers in your genre and see how they achieve their page-turning quality’, from an agent who politely but constructively rejected my first novel, Best Man. I’ve never forgotten it. If you’re a writer, first and foremost you need to be a reader.

The worst: ‘Why don’t you get a proper job?’ From my wife’s mother.

What’s next for you?

I’m just finishing off my fifteenth novel, which I can’t say too much about for legal (okay, superstitious) reasons. Then I’m seriously considering taking Doug for another (literary) walk around the block.

Lastly, do you have any book recommendations for our readers?

Crikey – there’s a question! Well, the aforementioned High Fidelity, for one, if there’s anyone left who hasn’t read it. Cloud Atlas is probably my other all-time favourite novel – the standard of David Mitchell’s writing, incorporating several genres in the same book, is so incredible I’d probably pay to read his shopping list. In terms of contemporary British romantic comedy novelists, Mhairi McFarlane’s killing it at the moment.

Will you be picking up Pug Actually? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Q&A: Matt Dunn, Author of ‘Pug Actually’ appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Love Scenes by Bridget Morrissey
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Acting like she’s in love with her handsome nightmare of a co-star—in a movie directed and produced by her complicated Hollywood royalty family—is Sloane’s job. But what happens when the lines between script and reality get blurred?

Anne of Manhattan by Brina Starler
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Pitched as a modern-day, grown-up retelling of L.M. Montgomery’s classic Anne of Green Gables, Anne and Gilbert collide in their final year at NYU.

The Checklist by Addie Woolridge
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In an energetic debut novel about personal and professional chaos, author Addie Woolridge introduces a multicultural cast whose exploits are redefining the modern rom-com.

Very Sincerely Yours by Kerry Winfrey
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A charming and heartwarming new romantic comedy by the author of Waiting for Tom Hanks, Kerry Winfrey. 

Lizzie & Dante by Mary Bly
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The insightful, audacious, and deeply romantic story of a woman whose life turns upside down after she meets an enigmatic chef on vacation in Italy–perfect for fans of Beautiful Ruins or Under the Tuscan Sun .

The Layover by Lacie Waldon
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An unexpected tropical layover with her nemesis turns a flight attendant’s life upside down in this witty, breezy debut romantic comedy about life–and love–30,000 feet above the ground.

Satisfaction Guaranteed by Karelia Stetz-Waters
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For fans of Casey McQuiston and Abby Jimenez comes a bold, hilarious, and out-of-the-box novel about mixing business with battery-operated pleasure . . .

The Last Goodbye by Fiona Lucas
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Poignant, hopeful, and full of emotional power, an unforgettable story in the vein of P.S. I Love You about two people learning to love again after great loss, perfect for fans of Jojo Moyes and Josie Silver.

When Stars Collide by Susan Elizabeth Phillips
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#1 New York Times bestseller Susan Elizabeth Phillips returns to her beloved Chicago Stars series with a romance between a Chicago Stars quarterback and one of the world’s greatest opera singers—and a major diva.

A Duke in Time by Janna MacGregor
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Get ready for lost wills, broody dukes, and scorching hot kissing all over London in A Duke in Time by Janna MacGregor.

To Sir, With Love by Lauren Layne
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Love Is Blind meets You’ve Got Mail in this laugh-out-loud romantic comedy following two thirty-somethings who meet on a blind dating app—only to realize that their online chemistry is nothing compared to their offline rivalry.

Pug Actually by Matt Dunn
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A Dog’s Purpose meets The Happy Ever After Playlist in this charming, pitch-perfect take on relationships as seen through the eyes of a wise pug named Doug, who is determined to play cupid to fix his owner’s love life with his own four paws.

What June romance books are you looking forward to reading? Tell us in the comments below!

The post June 2021 Romance Book Releases appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Will you be reading any of these romance releases? Tell us in the comments below!

Kiss Me Not by Emma Hart
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As the reigning kissing booth contest champion, I have one goal: kiss as many people as possible to retain my dubious crown. But the only person I want to kiss is my best friend’s brother.

Handle With Care by Helena Hunting
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New York Times bestselling author of SHACKING UP and I FLIPPING LOVE YOU Helena Hunting mixes humour and heart in this scandal-filled romantic comedy.

The Aussie Next Door by Stefanie London
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American Angie Donovan has never wanted much. When you grow up getting bounced from foster home to foster home, you learn not to become attached to anything, anyone, or any place. But it only took her two days to fall in love with Australia. With her visa clock ticking, surely she can fall in love with an Australian—and get hitched—in two months. Especially if he’s as hot and funny as her next-door neighbor…

Say You Still Love Me by K.A. Tucker
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The bestselling author of The Simple Wild and Keep Her Safe and “master of steamy romance” (Kirkus Reviews) delivers a sizzling novel about an ambitious and high-powered executive who reconnects with her first love: the boy who broke her heart.

The Love Solution by Ashley Croft
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Sisters Sarah and Molly are close, but they couldn’t be more different. When Molly is put onto a new assignment, she’s over the moon. It’s a high-profile, top secret project – and she has a handsome new boss to ogle at when she’s not bending over a petri dish… But when Sarah finds herself on the painful end of a disastrous break-up, no amount of Ben & Jerry’s or trashy rom-coms can cheer her up. She wants to take a more drastic approach to dealing with her heartbreak, and one that only her sister – and perhaps a sprinkle of science – can help with . . .

Discretion by Karina Halle
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From New York Times bestselling author Karina Halle comes a delicious saga of wealth, luxury, and scandal—and the wicked secrets of success behind an envied family dynasty.

Playing for Keeps by Kendall Ryan
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Get ready to meet your new favourite hot jocks in this series of stand-alone novels. If you like sexy, confident men who know how to handle a stick (on and off the ice), and smart women who are strong enough to keep all those big egos in check, this series of athlete romances is perfect for you!

Playing House by Ruby Lang
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Romance blossoms between two city planners posing as newlyweds in this first in a bright new series by acclaimed author Ruby Lang.

The Last Post by Renee Carlino
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In this evocative and poignant novel from the USA TODAY bestselling author of Blind Kiss and Wish You Were Here, a young widow in the midst of grieving her late husband through Facebook posts learns to heal and fall in love again.

Already Gone by Kristen Proby and K.L. Grayson
Goodreads | Amazon

New Hope, South Carolina is my home. It’s where I grew up, got into trouble, and fell in love for the first time. Scarlett Kincaid was more than the girl next door, she was my best friend, until she decided that small town life wasn’t for her. One minute she was here, and the next she was gone..

Catching Him by Aurora Rose Reynolds
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From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Aurora Rose Reynolds comes the first novel in the fun, sexy, and thrilling How to Catch an Alpha series.

Then I Met You by Matt Dunn
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From the bestselling author of At the Wedding comes a story of two perfect strangers who might just be perfect for each other.

Are you excited for any of these new romance releases? Tell us in the comments below!

The post August 2019 Book Releases: Romance appeared first on The Nerd Daily.