Don’t F*CK With Narcissists was the winner in the CHICK LIT category of the 2024 IndieReader Discovery Awards, where undiscovered talent meets people with the power to make a difference.
Following find an interview with author Erin Bell.
What is the name of the book and when was it published?
The title of my book is called, Don’t F*CK With Narcissists and it was published on October 31st, 2023.
What’s the book’s first line?
“I took a deep breath as I stood at the bottom of Botanic Drive, looking at the row of apartments before me.”
What’s the book about? Give us the “pitch”.
The book is a fun, coming-of adulthood, chick-lit story about a twenty-something American woman, Erica, leaving the familiar world (and country) she knows and going on an adventure of a lifetime. Fueled by a bad breakup, she books a one-way ticket to Europe to get as far away from her problems as possible.
After just one night in Florence, Italy, she quickly realised how difficult it is to miss someone 5,000 miles away. Erica falls in love with seeing the world and eventually ends up in the uniquely beautiful city of Belfast, Northern Ireland where she meets the charming and devilishly handsome Irishman, Curtis. She gets caught up in a fairytale romance but things quickly start to unravel. Did she move too quickly? Is Curtis dangerous? Should she listen to her friends when they tell her that she should be careful?
What inspired you to write the book? A particular person? An event?
Let’s just say that the main antagonist is a conglomeration of some ghosts of the past but I also wanted to shine a light on a place very dear to my heart which is Belfast, Northern Ireland. I truly hope to capture the spirit of a place I now call home. The weather is terrible but the people are superb.
What’s the most distinctive thing about the main character? Who-real or fictional-would you say the character reminds you of?
Erica’s kindness is often mistaken for weakness but she is actually extremely resilient in her ability to overcome whatever she faces. She is fiercely loyal to those that she cares about and often gives them the benefit of the doubt and I love her for embracing her vulnerabilities regardless of people and situations burning her in the past.
What’s the main reason someone should really read this book?
I think that at the heart of it is a story about trusting your instincts, listening to the opinions of those who love you, and then ultimately choosing to do what you want to anyways because at the end of the day- you have to live with the outcome of those choices and if you totally f*ck it all up, that’s okay too. At least you’re left with a good story. So if you’re someone who can relate to that, this might be the story for you.
If they made your book into a movie, who would you like to see play the main character(s)?
I would love for Hayden Paniterre to play Erica, in my mind’s eye they have the same smile. Gemma would have to be Michelle Mallon from Derry Girls and Megan would be Sydney Sweeny. Curtis is Jamie Dornan, hands down.
When did you first decide to become an author?
On a whim in February 2022, I began actually writing but it’s something I talked about since I was 5.
Is this the first you’ve written?
Yes.
What do you do for work when you’re not writing?
I’m a kombucha brewer at a small microbrewery in Belfast.
How much time do you generally spend on your writing?
At least an hour every day- I’ll write on my morning commute on the train and then on weekends I will wake up and write over a cup of coffee. It’s what I look forward to the most!
What’s the best and the hardest part of being an indie?
The best part is having nothing to lose and just putting your work out there to the world. And being able to say “fuck” however many times I want. The hardest part is knowing if I’ve said “fuck” to many times and also obviously selling way fewer copies.
Would you go traditional if a publisher came calling? If so, why?
Yes, it’s something I’m considering for my next project because it is a series and I feel like the commitment from a traditional publisher would help with releasing multiple new books. It would also be nice to be able to make a living writing and just focusing on the art without also having to plan social media, artwork, finances, royalties, editing etc.
Is there something in particular that motivates you (fame? fortune?)
I feel the most fulfilled writing something that (I hope) even just one person will enjoy. Reading has given me inspiration, friends, and escapism when I really needed it and if I can provide that for someone else then it makes me happy. But yes, also I want to be famous.
Which writer, living or dead, do you most admire?
I love Colin Bateman, a Northern Irish author. I’ve literally snorted laughing while reading his books. His humour is unmatched and I really admire him for taking risks and creating his own style which would never work for anyone else.
Which book do you wish you could have written?
Fourth Wing, I mean dragons and smut- it really has it all.