What is The Jewels of Manhattan about?

Like all crazy plans, it was plotted out on a cocktail napkin.
1. Steal fabulous jewels
2. Sell for millions
3. Live happily ever after
Brilliant and oh so simple… when you’re a few Cosmopolitans down.
Not quite so easy… if you’ve never stolen anything before, and you’re dating a detective.
The three Jewel sisters, Amber, Sapphire and Em, came to New York in search of the perfect life.
But do they have to steal their dream? Or can they resist the temptation?
A gorgeous, glittering, romantic tale for anyone who has ever dreamed of more sparkle.

What genre is it?
It’s a romantic comedy with a touch of crime. So I call it a ‘romantic crimedy.’

Very clever. What kind of readers will it appeal to?
Everyone who is looking for a snowy, Christmassy tale set in Manhattan with twists, turns, glamorous jewellery and a feel-good ending.

Isn’t that everyone? Complete this sentence for us: If you like ____________, then you’ll love The Jewels of Manhattan
The Devil Wears Prada.

You’ve said the seed idea of this novel came from you 7 year old daughter. Is that true? And we hope she’s getting royalties!
Yes! She and her friends wrote a story which included the line: ‘Three beautiful girls decided to rob a jewellery store.’ That just set my mind whirring with ideas. I’m paying her back in tennis racquets, shoes and Sylvanians!

You are probably best known for your Annie Valentine series. Can you tell us a little about it, and will The Jewels of Manhattan satisfy the Annie Valentine fans out there?
Annie is a go-getting Mom who works in the fashion industry. She dreams of a glamorous, successful life, but all kinds of comical disasters get in the way. However, she’s an optimist, she will overcome. Everyone who likes Annie and her fashionable world will warm to the Jewel sisters.

You are a bestselling, traditionally-published author; however, we hear that you have decided to self-publish some of your books?
Traditional publishing has brought me lots of success in Britain and 11 other countries. But I only sold the rights to two of my books to the US. So I’ve decided to self-publish the other titles over here. It’s so interesting and I have loved working with a designer on the covers.

Is it true that you used to be a runway model?
Aha! When I was younger and superskinny I did take part in some fashion shows which was a brilliant experience. I even went to Paris one summer in search of an agency, but a grumpy French photographer and being judged just for your looks put me off!

That must have been really exciting! Tell us a bit more about yourself.
I grew up in Scotland, then I spent ten years in London first as a student, then as a news journalist. When I got my first book deal, I decided to move back to Scotland and I’ve been living here, writing fiction ever since. I’ve now written 18 novels. I have one husband, two children and a very cute dog.

Have you got a blog where readers can keep up with your work? Do you use social media?
You can find me at www.carmenreid.com and www.facebook.com/carmenreidbooks. I’m brand new at Twitter too (@thiscarmenreid)

Where can we buy The Jewels of Manhattan?
It is available through Amazon (US, UK), Kobo, Apple and smashwords.

What’s next?
There’s a collection of Christmas stories: Christmas Shopping and next year I publish a YA book about an amazing WW2 teenage heroine: Cross My Heart.

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Already read The Jewels of Manhattan and Christmas Shopping? Then check out our interview with Lexi Revellian.