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Q&A of G.P. Bundy

Q&A of G.P. Bundy

Who would’ve thought my life would end up the way it has…. E has lived a troubled childhood going through events no child should ever have to experience - going from being an orphan at a young age to an ex-army member to a Mafia boss who calls the shots - LITERALLY! The trusted members of her team know when she says ‘jump’ they know exactly how high…. E is a woman who takes no crap from nobody and if you were to cross her you would be breathing your last breath very shortly - DON’T MESS WITH HER. The unexpected was well placed and the swimming pool scene had me literally crying with laughter as I could imagine the scene perfectly. Who does E trust enough to divulge the secrets she has recently discovered? Who will survive the fallout? Revenge is sweet my friend - is blood thicker than water

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

– Marie

The Alliance explores some very dark themes, including loss, trauma, revenge and betrayal. Was it important to you to explore these darker sides of human nature, or did they naturally emerge as E’s story developed?

I have experienced some dark times in my life, patches of time that have been terribly difficult for me to process and come to terms with. However, writing E's story allowed me to process a little part of it. I also felt it was important to shine a light on some of the things that people may experience throughout life, to show that no matter how tough life gets there is always a way out. I know that i exaggerated E's life and the things that she went through within the story, but I want people to take a small part of what I write with them. To know that they are strong no matter the trials and tribulations they are going through.

E is a character with a very strong moral compass, even when her actions are questionable. Did you always know what kind of person E would become, or did she surprise you as you wrote her?

I always knew how I was going to write E, she sees the world very black and white but knows there is a grey area that sometimes you have to go down. Parts of her story did surprise me, did make me wonder where it came from, but most of her was written knowing how she would behave. 

E evolves from an orphaned child into an ex-army member and eventually a Mafia boss. Which stage of her life was the most challenging — or most enjoyable — for you to write, and why?

I think writing about her Mafia boss days were the best and most enjoyable parts to write, mainly because she is so sassy and badass in her ways. The most challenging parts were the army days, the flashbacks of her life before she became E. Those took some real time and thought to get down, because life for her was so complicated back then and I wanted it to be thrilling while also explaining why she is the way she is. 

Your story deliberately blurs the line between hero and villain. E herself says she is neither a hero nor a vigilante. What do you think ultimately makes someone a hero — their intentions, their actions, or the reasons behind them?

I don't believe in heroes or villains, I think there is good in everyone and also bad, whichever takes over is down to them. In hero movies the hero does whatever it takes for the greater good, the villain does whatever is in their best interest. I think everyone has a little hero inside them, doing things to help others, showing kindness even in the smallest ways. 

There are a lot of themes around trust, loyalty and betrayal throughout the novel. If you had to choose one, which do you think is the most important quality in an alliance — trust, loyalty or honesty?

For sure it's Trust, without trust you don't have any of the others.

You’ve said that you wanted to write stories where the heroine saves herself rather than waiting for someone else to rescue her. Was there a particular moment in your own life, or a particular book or character, that made you want to challenge that familiar storytelling trope?

To be honest, I have read far too many books where she is in peril and the man comes along and saves her because only he could fix it. I hated it, no one saved me, no one came in with a billion quid and made all my issues go away. So, why should that happen in my book? Also, why can't the woman save herself, why can't she be as good if not better than a man.

The Alliance combines crime, romance, action and suspense. If you had to describe the book in just three words to someone who hasn’t read it yet, what would they be?

  • Powerful,
  • Suspenseful, 
  • Enticing.

The ending leaves readers with plenty of questions and anticipation for the next instalment, The Awakening. Without giving away any spoilers, what can you tell us about where E’s journey is heading — and is there anything about her that might surprise readers in the next book?

The only thing I can say is, some of the characters you loved might not be so loveable anymore. Some might have redemption arcs, and more twists and turns are to come. Don't get too attached to any person in my book, you never know what might change. 

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