Extract: I Followed the Rules by Joanna Bolouri

Today it's the final stop on Joanna Bolouri's I Followed the Rules blog tour and it's my pleasure to share with you an extract from Chapter 4.

But that's not all as thanks to Joanna's lovely publicist Alainna at Quercus I also have a copy to give away to an UK follower. So enjoy the extract and don't forget to enter the giveaway via the Rafflecopter form below.

Rule 1: Never ask him on a first date. Rule 2: Laugh admiringly at all his jokes. Rule 3: Always leave him wanting more. 
... wtf?!

Have you heard of The Rules of Engagement? It's a book that promises to teach you to find the man of your dreams in ten easy steps. Unsurprisingly, I don't own a copy. What is it, 1892?

But I'm a journalist, and I've promised to follow it to the letter and write about the results. Nevermind that my friends think I'm insane, I'm stalking men all over town and can't keep my mouth shut at the best of times.

My name is Cat Buchanan. I'm thirty-six years old and live with my daughter in Glasgow. I've been single for six years, but that's about to change. After all, I'm on a deadline.

I Followed the Rules and this is what happened.

Chapter 4

I get back to the house and throw myself down on the couch. On the weekends I try to catch up on housework, as when Grace is here with me she can destroy a room quicker than I can tidy it. Eventually I move my arse off the sofa, feed Heisenberg, open Grace’s window so he can go outside and then prepare to clean.  If nothing else, it’ll help me forget that bloody awful date from last night.

I shuffle the music tracks on my phone, put my headphones on and begin tidying up to the soothing sounds of the Chemical Brothers. I couldn’t endure the pain of housework without tunes. Helen regularly tells me my musical tastes are ridiculous:

‘You’re thirty-six and listening to dance music. You’re not Jo Whiley, you know.’

Debut Spotlight: Joanna Bolouri

Today I'm delighted to introduce you to one of Quercus Books newest authors Joanna Bolouri whose debut novel The List  is published tomorrow.

Joanna Bolouri worked in sales before she began writing professionally at the age of thirty. Winning a BBC comedy script competition allowed her to work and write with stand-up comedians, comedy scriptwriters and actors from across the UK. She's had articles and reviews published in The Skinny, the Scottish Sun, the Huffington Post and HecklerSpray.

She lives in Glasgow with her daughter. 

Phoebe Henderson may be single but she sure doesn't feel fabulous. It's been a year since she found her boyfriend Alex in bed with another woman, and multiple cases of wine and extensive relationship analysis with best friend Lucy have done nothing to help. Faced with a new year but no new love, Phoebe concocts a different kind of resolution.

The List: ten things she's always wanted to do in bed but has never had the chance (or the courage!) to try. A bucket list for between the sheets. One year of pleasure, no strings attached. 

Simple, right? 

Factor in meddlesome colleagues, friends with benefits, getting frisky al fresco and maybe, possibly, true love and Phoebe's got her work cut out for her.

Can you tell us a little bit about your debut book The List? 
The List is a romcom which follows a year in the life of Phoebe Henderson, a thirty something woman who makes a New Year’s resolution – a list of ten things she’s always wanted to do in bed. She’s determined to take control of her life but of course, it doesn’t always go to plan.