We caught up with Mills & Boon Medical author Emily Forbes to talk about her writing journey, author advice and spoilers for her brand new book!
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You write for the Mills and Boon Medical series which features high-stakes and high-pressure for the heroes and heroines. What’s your favourite thing about writing Medical romances?
Sexy doctors 😊
And also – I love the variety in the stories I get to tell. Medical romances cover so many scenarios and can take us from one end of the emotional spectrum to the other. We can laugh and cry. Both are very therapeutic!
What, to you, are the most important elements of writing a good romance book?
A hero my readers can fall in love with. Well-developed characters are vital and I make sure to have a gorgeous hero who appreciates women, is strong but vulnerable and who knows his life will be better with the heroine in it.
There has to be chemistry between the H&H. There also needs to be believable conflict.
Medical romances are romances first and foremost so I use the medical elements to add depth to the story but the focus is always on the main characters and their love story. The medical issues are really secondary to the emotional relationship between the two main characters.
What was the inspiration behind your new book, Marriage Reunion in the ER?
Marriage Reunion in the ER is the fourth and final book in a series. The initial inspiration came from a news article I read about surfing siblings. This developed in a series of stories – one for each sibling, living and working in Bondi, Australia’s most famous beachside suburb.
I wanted Lily and Otto’s story to be a reunion story and it’s the only time I’ve used the Covid pandemic in a book as Australia’s closed borders were the perfect way of keeping them apart while I wrote Lily’s siblings’ stories.
What part of the book was the most interesting to write?
I actually found the therapy scenes really interesting to write. After 36 books this was something I hadn’t done before and it allowed Lily and Otto to divulge their back story and show their personalities.
How would you summarise your favourite scene?
Lily’s sister’s wedding reception. This scene was a turning point for Otto and Lily and had a bit of everything – humour, shared memories and building chemistry.
I also like the Epilogue as it was a chance to wrap up all the siblings’ stories as this book was the final one in the 4 book series.
What are your favourite character traits?
Resilience and a sense of humour. I also find my characters are usually very loyal – it’s not something I intentionally plan but they all seem to turn out that way 😊
What advice would you give to a writer submitting their work to Mills & Boon?
- Read a lot, especially read the category you want to write and a few others in case your story/ style fits another category better.
- Check out the tips on https://www.millsandboon.co.uk/pages/aspiring-authors
- Don’t be afraid of feedback (from editors and a few trusted readers) – every bit helps – and don’t be too precious. The editors know what they’re doing – take their advice on board!
What are some of your favourite romantic films/tv shows? Any recommendations?
- The Notebook
- Pretty Woman
- 27 Dresses
- Sleepless in Seattle
- The Time Traveller’s Wife
- Splash
- The Sound of Music (not sure it’s classified as a romance but it is for me!)
Last question! Flowers or chocolate?
Flowers (and Champagne!)
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Marriage Reunion in the ER by Emily Forbes
Locking eyes over a patient isn’t how ER doctor Lily expected to be reunited with her estranged husband, Otto. Two years ago, she lost their baby and fled to Sydney, unable to share her grief. And as far as Lily’s concerned, their marriage is all but over. Yet trauma surgeon Otto is ready to fight for their relationship. Now he has three months to convince Lily they can make a fresh start…
Read now in eBook or in paperback which also features How To Resist The Single Dad by JC Harroway.
