I watched the games involved in modern dating and how the search for Mr Right quite often went very wrong, and this gave me the idea for Dating Games. 

Kimberly Gold – 23 August 2015

The Back Flap

Scarlett Harper’s glamorous visions of life as a personal assistant on an investment bank’s trade floor, aren’t quite working out the way she’d hoped. Where were the marriage proposals from rich hedge-fund bankers, and tickets to the front row at London’s Fashion Week?

Newly-single and armed only with advice from well-meaning friends, Scarlett is thrust into the unfamiliar Singles Scene as she attempts to navigate through a minefield of disastrous dates with men who aren’t all they seem, steamy liaisons on the picturesque Greek island of Santorini, and extravagant parties in opulent English country manors.

Will she ever meet her Mr Right and more importantly, will she ever fit into those size ten jeans again?

Follow the ups and downs of the dating game with Scarlett and her best friends, as they encounter hostile ex-wives, militant gym instructors, and eccentric relatives, helped along the way by copious amounts of wine and large bars of chocolate.

About the book

What is the book about?

Dating Games is about a young woman’s journey through modern dating and all the social expectations associated with it. The main character has a network of friends who she relies on and they prop each-other up through life’s ups and downs. It’s a humorous contemporary romance about friendship and love for women of all ages.

When did you start writing the book?

In 2011.

How long did it take you to write it?

It took two years.

Where did you get the idea from?

I worked as a Personal Assistant in various investment banks in London and used to go out to bars and nightclubs quite often with other PA’s who were also single at the time. I watched the games involved in modern dating and how the search for Mr Right quite often went very wrong, and this gave me the idea for Dating Games.

Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?

The sex scenes. I wasn’t sure how far to go, and I kept thinking about my grandmother reading them…

What came easily?

I’ve lived in London and spent time in Santorini so I was able to enjoy reminiscing and describe the scenery easily. Describing the emotions the girls have when going on dates also came quite easily to me because I’ve experienced it first-hand. The excitement and anticipation they feel when meeting new people and wondering what will come of it.

Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?

The characters are based on real people but not on real situations. I thought about how someone I knew would react to a certain situation, and used those feelings to bring the characters in my book to life.

We all know how important it is for writers to read. Are there any particular authors that have influenced how you write and, if so, how have they influenced you?

Readers who loved Bridget Jones and Sex and the City will enjoy my book. Helen Fielding, Candace Bushnell and Sophie Kinsella have allowed women to be more frank about their sex lives and to accept and laugh about their own neurotic personality traits. I hope Dating Games will make women feel the same way.

Do you have a target reader?

Anyone can read my book but I think professional women in their twenties, thirties and forties will associate well with it.

About Writing

Do you have a writing process? If so can you please describe it?

I wrote the bones of the book and then went back in and filled in the meat. Some weeks I wrote non-stop, other weeks I didn’t even look at it.

Do you outline? If so, do you do so extensively or just chapter headings and a couple of sentences?

That depends on the chapter. Some chapters I had definite ideas of where I wanted it to go and outlined extensively. Other chapters I just did a line or two and let the words come to me further down the line.

Do you edit as you go or wait until you’ve finished?

I waited until I finished.

Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what gets the fingers tapping?

No I like silence.

About Publishing

Did you submit your work to Agents?

No I submitted it directly to publishing houses that were accepting manuscripts at the time.

What made you decide to go Indie, whether self-publishing or with an indie publisher? Was it a particular event or a gradual process?

My friend was published by an indie publisher and they were taking manuscripts so I thought why not send it to them and see what happens.

Did you get your book cover professionally done or did you do it yourself?

My publishing house created this for me.

Do you have a marketing plan for the book or are you just winging it?

At the moment my plan it to be seen on as many social platforms as possible and hopefully generate some interest in my book.

Any advice that you would like to give to other newbies considering becoming Indie authors?

Don’t put too much pressure on yourself. Work at your own pace. Do an outline and let the story unfold.

About You

Where did you grow up?

In Durban, South Africa.

Where do you live now?

I live in Sydney, Australia

What would you like readers to know about you?

This is my bio:

Kimberley Gold was born in Durban, South Africa. After finishing high school Kimberley moved to London, England to embark on a ‘gap year’ which became a gap decade. After travelling extensively around Europe, America and Asia, Kimberley moved to Sydney, Australia in 2011 and began work on her debut novel Dating Games. During her travels Kimberley modelled part-time and worked as a Personal Assistant on stock market trade floors for international investment banks Deutsche Bank, Morgan Stanley and Commerzbank. This provided her with insightful in-depth knowledge of the banking world, the intricate nature of office relationships and being able to tell a story or two about fashion runways. Kimberley now lives in Sydney with her husband Kewyn and their son Camden.

What are you working on now?

I’m working on a non-fiction book for young women.

End of Interview:

For more from Kimberley, like her Facebook page.

Get your copy of Dating Games from Amazon US (paper or ebook) or Amazon UK (paper or ebook).