Author Interview

AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Liz McKeown

July 17, 2019 1 Comment

About the author: Liz Meegan aka Liz Kingsbury McKeown has a degree in Journalism, but has gotten the most mileage out of it by being a blogger. She works in Health Information Management and is married to a Southern Charmer!

**Contact Liz: Facebook Twitter

**Click HERE to grab your copy of “Maiden Voyage” now!

INTERVIEW

Describe yourself in five words: Thinks outside of the box.

Tell us about your writing/editing/publishing process: Don’t get it right, get it written. Proofread. Have an experienced writer friend critique it. Rewrite.

What do you love about being an author? I love the way it sharpens my verbal skills. I am intrigued at the way my characters help write my fiction. Ethelred, the Medieval love interest told me that I was ready for the final draft. For some reason, I just wasn’t ready to present it until now, even though I started this piece back in the Eighties.

Salty or sweet: Salty. I definitely don’t write overly sentimental stuff. I like humor, too.

How would you spend your perfect day? I will give you a string of adjectives: Quiet, sunny, unhurried. And a cute kittycat would make an appearance.

What inspired you to write “Maiden Voyage”? A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court by Mark Twain.

Do you have any writing rituals? I like to have it quiet. I prefer being alone so I can concentrate.

If you could meet any other author who would it be? Janet Evanovich – she’s so funny!

Is social media more of a help or a hinder? Very much a help! I have a blog on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Blogs-about-
Writing-390862691510669/?ref=bookmarks. I have a lot of writer friends on Facebook and Twitter.

What are you reading right now? Turning the Tide by Edith Maxwell – The sleuth is a Quaker midwife and it is set in 1888.

What do you want your readers to take away from your books? I want the reader to follow my characters through my novella as if on a journey with them.

What are you working on right now? I am basically a blogger, but I will be featuring another Cozy Mystery tomorrow in Blogs About Writing.

AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Tracy Krimmer

June 3, 2019 2 Comments

I’m excited to share an interview with the amazing Tracy Krimmer, who has an upcoming release, titled, “Circle in the Sand,” which is part of the Oceanic Dreams series.

INTERVIEW

Describe your writing style in five words: Chick Lit with a punch!

Tell us about your writing/editing/publishing process: This tends to change from book to book. Some books come easier than others. I like to outline the first ten chapters and then start to write. That seems to work the best for me overall. My books go through a few beta reads, too, with my critique partner and friend, Stephanie Pajonas, reading all my work first.

Salty or sweet? Usually sweet. There are times I really just want one or two tortilla chips to hit the spot.

When did you know you were a writer? The easier question would be when didn’t I want to be a writer? That would be never. I remember as early as third grade writing poems. It’s always been in my blood.

Social media, is it a help or a hinder? Again, this is a question that has an answer that changes. I love social media because it has allowed me to connect with old friends and with authors I never would have dreamed of having conversations with. Do you remember when you had to find an address to write to someone famous? You would find a care of address and it usually was a PO box. Now you just hop online and tweet at them. Social media can be bad, too, because it’s (1) a distraction and (2) it can be an evil place. From politics to bullying, it’s not always a fun place.

What are you reading right now? I am listening to Give Me Your Hand by Megan Abbott, although I probably will be done by the time this is shared on your blog.

If you could meet any other author who would it be? Katherine Center. Right now she is my favorite.

Are you a planner or a pantser? A little bit of both!

What is the best advice you’ve been given? It’s okay to take a break. I think it is so easy to get involved in writing a book and forget to take time to relax and just enjoy life.

Describe a day in your life: This can change from day to day but usually I workout at about 8 until 9 and then shower, then hang out with the dog until about ten. I watch The View at ten while I work on Facebook and administrative stuff. After lunch, which I eat at 11, I crack down and start writing until about 2.

What do you want your readers to take away from your books? I always want them to take away whatever it is that they need. I want readers to be entertained.

What are you working on right now? A Christmas book! I started working on this one last year but when the opportunity came to work on the Oceanic Dreams series it got shoved aside. Now I am working on it again and hope it will be published this November.

“Circle in the Sand” by Tracy Krimmer

Blurb:

Follow the rules. Be reliable. Don’t wear your heart on your sleeve.

Living by these words didn’t put librarian Isla Hunter any closer to the life she imagined at thirty. With her birthday in only a few days, she can’t wait to sail away on a week in the sun with her friends Asher and Charlotte. It may be just what she needs.

When an attractive woman takes a liking to Asher, Isla’s heart feels threatened in an unfamiliar way. She’s used to Asher flipping through women like a playbook without a second thought, but this time it’s different. As she tries to sort out her emotions, she struggles with Asher’s connection with this woman. Is it time for Isla to finally break the rules or will that only lead her into hot water?

Circle in the Sand is the third book in the Oceanic Dreams series. This is a multi-author series and each book can be read on its own.

Books in series:

I Saw Him Standing There by Holly Kerr
Time of My Life by Laura Heffernan
Circle in the Sand by Tracy Krimmer
I Thought it Was You by Kirsty McManus
I Will Follow Him by Holly Tierney-Bedord
Take a Chance on Me by Delancey Stewart
Shut Up and Dance With Me by Monique McDonell
The Best of You by Sophie-Leigh Robbins

**Preorder your copy of “Circle in the Sand”: www.tracykrimmer.com/Circle

**About the author: Tracy Krimmer loves coffee, popcorn, Drew Barrymore, and the movie Saving Silverman. She enjoys reading great books (of course) and writing realistic characters for you to enjoy. When she listens to music she prefers the 80s and 90s music she grew up on. In a typical day you’ll find her writing at one of her favorite spots–on the couch, at the kitchen table, or at her favorite hometown coffee shop.

You can find her on the following social media sites:

Twitter: www.twitter.com/tkrimms
Facebook: www.facebook.com/KrimmerAuthor
Instagram: www.instagram.com/tracykrimmer

AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Alexa Riley

May 22, 2019 Leave a Comment

Author Interview with Alexa Riley

About the author: Alexa Riley is two sassy friends who got together and wrote some dirty books. They are both married moms of two who love football, donuts, and obsessed book heroes.

They specialize in insta-love, over-the-top, sweet, and cheesy love stories that don’t take all year to read. If you want something SAFE, short, and always with a happily ever after, then Alexa Riley is for you!

INTERVIEW

Describe your writing style in five words: Easy, over the top, fluffy, sexy, and fun.
Tell us about your writing/editing/publishing process: We write as much as we can during the week and take weekends off. Our editor has been with us from the beginning and we trust her to help us write our best stories. We’ve self published almost all of our books and luckily Amazon makes that process super easy.
How did the two of you start and learn to collaborate? We started out as bloggers and when we couldn’t find the romances we wanted to read we decided to write our own.
What do you love about the genre you write in? Romance is fun and the women who read it are so supportive and really celebrate that.
Describe your perfect day: It sounds silly but we get to live that most of the time. We get to write the stories we love for people who love reading them. It’s a ton of work, but it’s something we both love more than anything.
Do you have any writing superstitions? Usually when Lea thinks the heroine is too over-the-top the book is successful. Which is probably why our heroines are always over the top.
Every author must have (a): One person who won’t judge what you write. It doesn’t have to be a friend or even someone you know that well. But a person in the romance community who can read your work and not judge you for your fantasy.
What keeps you two motivated on a daily basis? Each other. It’s fun writing together but it also holds each of us accountable.
Is social media more of help or hinder? It’s an amazing way to connect with readers and to talk about what we love. It can hinder a productive day if you’re not able to put the phone down, but otherwise how awesome it is that we get to meet so many people from across the globe we wouldn’t have been able to otherwise!?
What is the best advice you can give those who want to collaborate with another author? Check your egos at the door. You can’t write well together if you think your words are better than your partners. It’s a collaboration and everyone has their own strength to bring to the table. Being able to recognize that is awesome, but you’ve got to be able to take the criticism and keep going.
What do you want readers to take away from your books? That reading romance feels good and is an amazing form of self care. It’s easy to get sucked into fantasy and not pay attention to reality all around you, but loving romance and having those feelings of lust are wonderful and we hope people who read our books experience that.
What are you working on right now? Out this Friday is Too Many that is the follow up to Too Hard. Then our podcast book comes out the 3^rd of next month and we’ll be releasing a eBook with it Pretty Virgin. Currently we’re writing two books. Restored is about a guy who fixes the car that the heroine and her dad used to take to car shows before he died. It’s a steamy quick read with lots of emotion. And the other one is called Not Yet, and it’s a step-siblings high school romance that is so hot it’s going to light up the night!

**Contact Alexa Riley:

Website Facebook Goodreads Amazon Twitter Instagram

Trisha Messmer: Interview & Book Feature

April 16, 2019 Leave a Comment

About the author: For years I had a million stories rattling around in my brain. (Well, maybe a million is an exaggeration but there were a lot). Always loving the written word, I enjoyed any chance I had to compose something, whether it be for a college paper or just a plain old email. One day as I was speaking with my daughter about the latest adventure going on in my mind, my daughter said, “Mom, why don’t you write them down.” And so I did. Several stories later, I finally allowed someone, other than my daughter, to read them. After that brave (and very scary) step, I decided not to keep them to myself any longer, so I took the even scarier step toward publishing. My goal is to make my readers smile, sigh, hope, and chuckle–or even cry at times. If I can do that, my efforts were worth it. Born in St. Louis, Missouri, I graduated from the University of Missouri – St. Louis with a degree in Psychology. I’ve worked in Social Work as a case worker for people diagnosed with severe mental illnesses, as a Word Processor for an insurance agency, as a Commercial Lines Account Manager for an insurance agency, and finally as a software instructor/trainer. My day job as a product instructor for a software company allowed me to travel all over the country meeting interesting people and seeing interesting places, some of which inspired ideas for my stories. A hopeless (or hopeful) romantic, I currently resides in the great Northwest in Eugene, Oregon.

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

Describe yourself in 5 words: tenacious, patient, quirky, optimistic, introverted

Tell us about your writing/editing/publishing process: I’m a pantser. I often get ideas from listening to music, especially certain lyrics. Then my mind just flows. I typically formulate the foundation of the story in my mind before actually writing it, and I almost always have the ending in mind before I begin. So, perhaps in that respect, I’m a bit of a plotter, just mentally planning instead of outlining on paper. However, the development of the story as I go from point A to point B sometimes takes a detour as the characters change or an idea pops into my head. My first book is a great example when an idea (a revelation actually) came to me while making my bed, and I realized it was absolutely perfect. This led me to re-write a small portion of the book at the beginning. After writing the first rough draft, I go through and flesh it out, correcting head hopping, making sure I show instead of tell, looking for plausibility and consistency. Then I go through it again checking for sentence structure, punctuation, grammar, overuse of words, etc. I do use ProWriting Aid and I’ve found that especially helpful in the second stage of editing. I also found it helpful to change the font style for the third read through as well as using the Language option in Word to have the manuscript read to me. Final go through is checking for Widows and Orphans (the bane of my existence) and those pesky typos of missing or incorrect words. So far, I’ve only published on Amazon and I’ve found their process to be very easy and user friendly. But I’m still learning and always looking for other options and ways to improve.

When did you know you were an author? I’ve always wanted to be a “writer” even when I was still in high school. I remember writing a short story for an English class my senior year of High School and having my teacher rave about it. That was a great feeling. Then when I was in college, my professors always complimented my writing. So I received validation from others. However, I’ve just considered myself an author since I published my first book in December of 2018. So this is very new, exciting, and a bit scary to me. I think having a book is like allowing people to look inside your mind and soul and that can be very daunting. Not everyone will like what the “see.”

Describe your perfect day: Goodness. Right now, it seems like almost every day is my perfect day. I retired early in September of last year which has given me the time to actually dedicate myself to my writing. So, I sleep until I wake up (rather than 3:30 am to catch a flight), have a little breakfast and then go upstairs to my office to work on my latest book. I’m certainly not staring at walls. But my day is perfect when I’ve noticed a sale or two and even better a nice review of my book. I’m pretty easy to please.

Salty or sweet? Can I say both? It depends on my mood, but if I have to choose, I will admit I have a terrible sweet tooth.

How do you come up with characters’ names for your book? I love the etymology of names, and if possible I try to use a name that really fits the character’s personality, a particular trait, or perhaps a name that is the exact opposite. My most recent book is a prime example. It’s a combination of Jane Eyre and Beauty and the Beast. The main female character is named Bella, which means beautiful. However, she’s described as plain, and the main male character quickly points that out when they meet. The main male character’s name is Tristan, which can mean either sad or loud (depending on the cultural roots). Both fit him spot on (at least in the beginning). However, I’ll admit I don’t always do that. Sometimes it’s a “pin the tale on the donkey” approach. But I do try to choose a name that feels right to me for the character. I tend to gravitate to more common names for first names and mix it up a little for last names to have some diversity.

If you could meet any other author, who would it be and why? Living – J.K. Rowling because I’m a die-hard Potterhead. I’ve read the Harry Potter series five times (and counting). The way she intricately weaves the story together is incredible. Every time I read it I see something new. Deceased – Jane Austen because she had a very subtle way of couching social commentary in her novels yet still provide an ending that was completely satisfying. Both of these authors make me feel like I’m part of the story and truly invested in the outcomes of the characters.

What or who motivates you to write? The sheer love of telling a story.

What are you reading right now? A Different Way of Seeing: A Blind Woman’s Journey of Living an “Ordinary” Life in an Extraordinary Way. (it’s research for my next book and it’s quite interesting and inspiring).

What do you want readers to take away from your books? That there can be a happy ending. I want them to leave the book feeling good and having hope. And if they learn a little something about human nature or accepting and caring for others, even better.

What is the best advice you’ve been given? Don’t give up.

What are you working on right now? Look With Your Heart – an epic love story loosely based on Austen’s Persuasion (my favorite Austen) that spans the course of 14 years and involves some pretty serious obstacles.

Contact Trisha: Email Website Facebook Twitter

Blurb: It’s like Jane Eyre and Beauty and the Beast had a baby!

A spirited but plain case worker. A surly but talented recluse. Can she save him from himself, or is he destined to remain the beast he appears to be.

Arabella (Bella) Crawford needs a job—like yesterday. She’ll do just about anything. Even work for Tristan Leclerc, a wealthy, temperamental recluse who goes through live in companions like post it notes. Intrigued by her mercurial employer, Bella finds herself feeling more than friendship for this troubled man. A fact that terrifies her.

Tristan Leclerc spent years building walls to contain his secrets—secrets of a past life too painful to remember. That’s until Bella Crawford appears at his door. Now, he finds those walls crumbling as she chips away at his defenses. Is she getting too close, too close to the truth—too close to his heart?

Will risking her heart save him—or will the secrets he hides destroy them both?

EXCERPT

This excerpt is from Chapter 2 when the two main characters meet for the first time:

“Whose piece of junk is cluttering my driveway? It doesn’t even look like it can run,” a man’s deep voice boomed.

Mrs. Hughes stood and Bella followed suit when a man appeared in the doorway of the library. Grateful for her training in social work that enabled her to keep her emotions and reactions in check, Bella studied the madman staring at her.

Her best guess at his age would place him somewhere in his thirties. His rather long, dark, disheveled hair covered half his face as it hung limply over one eye. He seemed tall, perhaps over six feet, and appeared leanly built. His suit pants and long sleeve dress shirt looked out of place for early summer, and, oddly, gray cotton gloves covered his hands. His glare could rival Medusa.

“Who the devil are you?” he bellowed.

Before Bella could summon the good sense to answer, Mrs. Hughes interceded. “This is Arabella Crawford, your new companion. She prefers to be called Bella. Bella, this is Mr. Leclerc.”

He strode up to her as his blue eyes continued to glare at her, eyeing her up and down. “Bella,” he harrumphed, “that means beautiful. Doesn’t really suit you now, does it?” Bella detected a slight British accent.

She swallowed hard. “No sir, it doesn’t.”

**Click HERE to get your copy of “The Eyre Liszt”!

AUTHOR FEATURE: Lynn Turner

September 7, 2018 Leave a Comment

About Lynn Turner: Lynn Turner is dedicated to writing inclusive stories that explore what it means to be imperfectly human. She is convinced she would have made a great Gilmore Girl, that writing about herself in third-person is weird, and that Colin Firth is the best Mr. Darcy (don’t fight her on this). When she isn’t writing and adulting, she’s tackling her monstrous TBR list, TV-binging, traveling, or watching old Samantha Brown travelogue videos and wishing she had her job. She and her husband share their home in California with their two extraordinary children and their sometimes cat, Bowie.

**Find Lynn: Email Website Facebook Instagram Pinterest Twitter Goodreads Spotify

INTERVIEW

Describe yourself in five words: Introvert who extroverts. Infinitely curious.

Tell us about your writing/editing/publishing process: Oh gosh, it’s kind of like organized chaos! For example, in past interviews, I’ve said I’m somewhere between a pantser and a plotter. I plot the “big” moments, and then pants it from big moment to big moment, like a writerly round of connect-the-dots. For my latest work? I pretty much plotted the story entirely on pinterest. Since I work full-time, and have two small children, I write wherever I can, whenever I can. I’m definitely someone who has to carve out time to write or it will never get done. But once I’ve got my heart and mind locked into a story, nothing’s going to stop me from writing “The End.” I’ve been traditionally and indie published, and the most important thing I’ve learned is that an MS needs professional editing. There are pros and cons for each publishing path, but I will never compromise on professional editing. It speaks to the integrity of the work, I think.

Salty or sweet? Both! Salted caramel, anyone? Lol!

When did you know you wanted to become an author? Since I was too young to know that a writer was an “author.” I pirated Huckleberry Finn when I was twelve, basically rewrote it in first-person and made myself (a tomboy with her head in the clouds) the hero of the story (with some original scenes, of course). Wrote it all on one of those yellow legal pads—filled every page, front and back. It. Was. Awesome.

What would you be if you weren’t an author? I’d love to be a globetrotting food/hotel reviewer and blogger like Samantha Brown! Or do amazing humanitarian work like Anthony Bourdain did. I miss him so much!

What do you love most about writing in your genre? That there is no limit to what you can do! Every genre outside of romance also exists within. We’re the frontrunners for progress and social change: so, when we have our collective shit together, everyone else falls in line. I love that, no matter the subgenre or how much emotional terror the author puts me through as a reader, I know I’ll get my happy ending on that last page. And it’s wonderful escapism, written largely by women forwomen, with increasing representation from underrepresented groups (like the LGBTQ community, diversity of body types and ability, etc.), which means great things for our characters.

How do you come up with the titles of your book? I try to think of something that represents the soul of the story. For my first book, Between You and Me, the title took me longer to come up with, but I love it because it has triple meaning:

It’s a long-distance love story, so the title takes on literal meaning there; there are some secrets between the h/H which come out later in the story; and of course, the burgeoning love between them over time.

My second book, Pas De Deux: A Dance For Two, came much easier. It’s a ballet romance, the heroine is French, and most people have no clue what Pas De Deux means, lol. It just worked.

People would be surprised that you…: are a huge nerd. I studied chemistry in college, materials science to be exact. I’ve worked at one of the world’s biggest linear accelerator centers, and at the museum conservation institute for the Smithsonian! But writing is my passion, and I love it!

How would you spend your perfect day? Costa Rica. Waking up late, then brunch with mimosas, spending the day on someone’s beach, reading and napping…or at a pool with a swim up bar, zip-lining, maybe…then dinner with entirely too many calories…ending with wine and another book or a movie.

What is your guilty pleasure? Ignoring my family and reading an entire book in a day/weekend.

What do you want your readers to take away from your books? That we’re more alike than we think, and no matter our differences, there are certain universal experiences that bring us all together. Oh, and The Sex. I’m pretty proud of that, lol.

What are you working on right now? I’m currently working on my first romantic comedy, Love At Cruise, a title I love because my heroine’s last name is Cruz, and she’s a commercial pilot. It’s another interracial/multicultural story, this time with a sassy American heroine and a hunky/sweet British hero who just wants to take care of her—but she can take care of herself, thank you. 😉

*****

**Grab your copy of “Pas De Deux” now!

**Kindle Unlimited!

Amazon – US Amazon – UK

GUEST AUTHOR: Marie Vareille, author of “I Don’t Really Need You”

July 11, 2018 1 Comment

About the author: Marie Vareille is a French writer born in 1985. She is the author of three romantic comedies and a young adult dystopian trilogy. She lives in Paris with her husband and way too many books.

**Contact Marie: Website Facebook Goodreads Twitter Instagram

**Click HERE to grab “I Don’t Really Need You” now!

INTERVIEW

Describe yourself in five sentences: I am a French 33 year old writer. When I was 28, I decided life was too short to make compromises and I quit my job in marketing to become a writer. Five years later, I basically spend my time reading, writing and drinking wine on Parisian terraces, so it seems like it was a good idea ! I don’t like to take things too seriously, except for food. Food should always be taken seriously. I am married and currently expecting a child (and obviously totally panicking about it).

What is the writing/editing/publishing process like for you? I write in the morning. Usually I start around 7:30am. I try to write or work on my manuscript at least 4 to 5 hours a day everyday so I can keep my story somewhere in my head all day long. I am a slow writer. Usually, first drafts take me minimum 5 months, then I forget it for a few weeks and spent 4 to 5 more months editing and rewriting it.

Even though I always plan and plot my stories in advance, I never follow the plan and change everything during the writing. But if I don’t plan, it doesn’t work, don’t ask me why…

My editor don’t read it before it is finished and usually there are not so many changes to be made. After that, I can go sleep or write another book and a few months later, depending on the publisher schedule, my book is finally released (and it’s my favourite part)!

Salty or sweet? Salty usually, but since I am pregnant I seem to be obsessed with anything containing sugar…

How do you come up with titles of your books? I am very bad at titles. Usually I propose a crappy one and my editor change it.

What are you reading right now? I just started Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear, Elizabeth Gilbert.

How did you celebrate the publication of your first book? I went to the gym et 7 am ! I was so excited, I could not sleep and needed something to calm me down… And then, obviously I drink (too much) champaign with friends and family, a stupid happy smile on my face.

What is your favorite quote? “Life begins at the end of your comfort zone” Neale Donald Walsh

In what surroundings do you tend to write the best? At home, in my office, door closed and no noise ! I had to get used to write on trains or planes, when it’s bookfair season, but for me the quieter the better.

Do you have a guilty pleasure? A lot, some more guilty than others!

People would be surprised to know that you…: That I did a summer internship as an investment banker when I was 21…

What do you want readers to take away from your books? Enjoy life, find love wherever it is, don’t judge, don’t pay too much attention to what others think of you and follow your dream, they know the way.

What are you currently working on? I am currently finishing the 3rd book of my Young Adult trilogy and planning on starting the sequel of my romantic comedy “I don’t really need you” very soon after that.

*****

“I Really Don’t Need You”

Blurb: Chloe is the perfect Parisian: she’s too skinny, smokes too much, and drinks too much. She also has the bad habit of getting into toxic relationships, particularly with her ex Guillaume who is engaged to another woman. Her friend Constance, however, is a hopeless romantic, spends all her money on Jane Austen memorabilia yet is unable to find her Mr. Darcy.

One day, the two friends make a bet: Chloe will spend one year in the countryside, far from men and temptations, to finally write the novel she has always dreamed of; Constance will let go of her foolish dreams of romance and start hooking up with perfect strangers.

From Paris to Bordeaux vineyards to London, this bet will have completely unintended consequences.

BOOK & AUTHOR FEATURE: Cat Lavoie, author of “Messing With Matilda”

April 15, 2018 2 Comments

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Messing With Matilda by Cat Lavoie
Published by Cat Lavoie on April 4, 2018
Genres: Chick Lit, Romantic Comedy

As a professional organizer in New York City, Matilda Hart wages war against chaos and clutter on a daily basis for her clients—and she vows to never let it invade her own well-ordered world.

But when her boyfriend decides to deviate from the path she’s been planning for them, Matilda’s perfectly structured life begins to crumble. She reluctantly finds herself back in the tiny hometown she fled a lifetime ago—determined to lay low and avoid running into anyone she used to know. So why is she reconnecting with her former best friend and putting up with the bridezilla antics of Amber, her high school nemesis?

When Matilda is tasked with keeping the bride-to-be’s heartbroken ex away from the ceremony, she discovers she has history with the man who’s trying to sabotage the wedding. Matilda quickly realizes that teaming up with cute and quirky—but hopelessly devoted—Silas Flynn could be mutually beneficial. He needs help wooing the woman he considers the love of his life and Matilda can’t pass up the chance to finally get back at the meanest of the mean girls by assisting Silas in his attempts to disrupt her wedding.

Will everything go according to plan for this mismatched pair? Or will working so closely together make uptight Matilda and laid-back Silas lose sight of their common goal?

One thing’s for sure—things are about to get messy.

*****

Excerpt:

I don’t want to go home. Facing an empty apartment—one I now know I’ll be living in for the foreseeable future—is too much to handle right now. But I can’t stand on the sidewalk forever while strangers walk around me giving me annoyed looks. I can’t be mad at them—if the situation were reversed, I’d be one of those strangers wondering why the idiot in the black cocktail dress isn’t moving.

So I start moving.

Since home isn’t an option, I decide to walk to Hart Your Space and partake in one of my favorite activities—ordering office supplies. My newest obsession is colorful paperclips and I feel like ordering two boxes today—look at me being all reckless with money. I also have a few follow-up appointments next week and I should look over my notes again just to make sure I’m adequately prepared. I could schedule a lunch date with Dr. Paxton too, but none of these things are urgent and just thinking of the word “date” makes me want to throw up what little dinner I ate.

I take out my phone and see a new voicemail from my mother and two emoji-filled texts from Evie with a series of hearts, keys, and question marks. It’s like she knows something’s going on. Ignoring my messages, I fish my headphones out of my bag and connect them to my phone. Inserting the tiny white buds into my ears, I open up the podcast app on my phone and find the episode I was listening to earlier. The smooth voice of the narrator blasts into my ears—blocking out most of the traffic noise and the random conversations of the people walking past me—and I sigh with relief.

“It was a gruesome crime scene, and I was the first police officer who responded to the call. Even twenty years later, I can still remember every single detail. They are etched into my memory, and I still become emotional when discussing the events of that day.”

You wouldn’t think that listening to Crime Stalker with Jake Deno—a podcast about an NYPD homicide detective and his most memorable cases—would have a calming effect on anyone, but I’m completely fascinated by it, downloading each episode onto my phone as soon as it’s released. I listen to it at the gym, during my commute when Evie isn’t with me, and when I need to become immersed in someone else’s gory reality to escape my own.

#

Forty-five minutes later, I’m a few steps away from my office, and I’ve already decided that I’m taking a cab home when I’m done here. My feet are killing me, and I can’t wait to collapse on my desk chair and kick off the uncomfortable shoes that are giving me blisters. If I had known I’d be storming out of my date with Arthur, I would have worn the orthopedic shoes he prescribed to me after diagnosing me with flat feet, or pes planusas they say in the foot business. The heel is so chunky, it would have been perfect to throw at Arthur’s head when he started talking about Fiona and Boston. I try to forget about those two idiots as I rip the buds out of my ears.

*****

REVIEW: Being a huge fan of Cat Lavoie, I knew I had to read this book!

Right from the beginning, I could definitely relate to Matilda! Not only is she fun and quirky, the most important thing about her is that she’s real. Through the ups and downs in this laugh out loud romantic comedy, the author had me swiping pages on my iPad as fast as I could, and I was sad when it was over. I won’t give any spoilers, but I can definitely say that this book will stick with me for a long time.

If you’re looking for a book that will make your eyes bug out with surprise and your heart swoon, then “Messing With Matilda” is definitely something you will not want to miss reading!

I give “Messing With Matilda” 5 stars!

*****

INTERVIEW:

Describe your writing style in five words: Quirky chick lit with cattitude!

What is something that would surprise people to know about you? I’m a little bit allergic to cats. (I sometimes get itchy, watery eyes when I’m around a long-haired cat—but I never let that stop me!)

Salty or sweet? Can’t choose–can I have both?

What’s on your nightstand? A notepad and pen. Stuffed hippo given to me by a friend. My Kindle. A few of Paddington and Molly’s cat toys.

What was your writing/editing/publishing process like for “Messing With Matilda”? I write really slowly, so completing the first draft took ages. Thankfully, the finished draft didn’t need too much editing so that part of the process was quicker. Messing with Matilda is the first novel I’ve self-published (my first three novels were released by a small press.) It was a lot of work, but I’m really proud of the finished product!

Have you ever been star struck by anyone? Definitely. I’ve had the chance to meet a few musicians and stand-up comics that I adore. I’d like to say I stay calm, cool, and collected when I meet a famous person, but I freeze and can’t speak.

Where did the idea for “Messing With Matilda” come from? I knew I wanted to set another book in the fictional town of Messina and I loved the idea of writing about someone who grew up there and unwillingly comes back to visit.

Who inspires you to write? The book world inspires me—writers, readers, bloggers. It’s so much fun to be a part of such a vibrant and supportive community!

If “Messing With Matilda” was turned into a movie, who would you want to play the characters? My dream cast would be…

Matilda: Jenna Coleman  http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1982510/

Silas: Johnny Flynn  https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1926865/

Evie: Krysten Ritter  https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1269983/

Amy: Sarah Hyland  https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0405103/

Amber: Anna Camp  https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2319871/

What are people’s reactions when they know you’re an author? People typically have a lot of questions about how long it takes to write a book and what kind of books I write. They also ask me if I’m going to write a novel in French one day, since French is my native language. (The answer? Maybe!)

What is your favorite quote?I have always loved this quote from Oscar Wilde:“We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.”

What are you working on right now? I’m in the early stages of plotting and researching my next novel. I love getting to know new characters, even though I kind of miss Matilda and Silas.

*****

**GIVEAWAY**

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About Cat Lavoie

Cat Lavoie is a chick lit writer from Montreal, Canada. She loves writing fun and quirky romantic comedies and is the author of BREAKING THE RULES, ZOEY & THE MOMENT OF ZEN, PERI IN PROGRESS and MESSING WITH MATILDA.

A fan of all things feline, Cat loves cats and hopes to someday have a house full of them in order to officially become a crazy cat lady. (But one or two cats will do for now.)

If she isn’t reading or writing, Cat enjoys listening to podcasts (mostly comedy and true crime) and watching way too much TV. She fell in love with London many years ago and hopes to go back one day. Cat is currently at work on her next novel.

To connect with Cat and find out more about her books, visit CatLavoie.com and follow @CatLavoieBooks on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

BOOK FEATURE & AUTHOR INTERVIEW

February 2, 2018 1 Comment

Blue and Green Should Never Be Seen! (Or so Mother Says) by Colette Kebell
Published by Skittish Endeavours on December 25, 2014
Genre: Chick Lit

A Chick Lit Lover’s Delight. Fashion may be the central theme; along with a nagging mother, but with friendships, intrigue, a villain, romance, food and laughter too.

GiGi is a woman with a mission: to help people improve the way they look, increase their self-esteem, and eventually, make them happier people. Being a personal shopper is a dark art, with few tangible rewards. Spread by word of mouth, her clients would never admit they needed her assistance. Let us be honest, who would admit to being in need of a style consultant?

The first step is to admit you need help with your wardrobe. When you have recognised that, you are on the path to recovery, and GiGi’s services will help you, despite her mother nagging that she is not doing a “real” job.

So, is it just a matter of going around and helping people buy clothes and shoes?

Not quite so. Money is tight; GiGi has to work with wealthy and eccentric people, who often do not have any idea about what they want. She and her business partner Ritchie are in a constant struggle to keep the business afloat, but as they say in Dragon’s Den, she is very investable. But, with success comes the difficulties, the Battersea Fashion Center is going to open soon, and they claim they will be fierce competitors.

With the constant struggle to keep her business afloat; a powerful enemy lining up ready to make a meal out of her, knowing well that GiGi’s approach, eventually, will make her successful. The business expands, and they take onboard new partners, making them one of the most influential fashion consultancy firms in London. But, with a very demanding job, hours spent working, will she be able to balance her career and her private life?

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

Describe your writing/editing/publishing process: On writing, I do so as and when I can as the past few years have been incredibly busy, due to house sale, move (which took five months all of which I spent in our French house – which we are still renovating after nine years!) My two current novels just flowed… I couldn’t stop writing and sending chapters to my husband from time to time, for him to read and critique. He loved them and during that time we had so much laughter in our house and I guess that comes across when turning the pages, from the reviews I’ve received so far. Editing is a love/hate thing. You have to do it and fortunately pick up on loads of inconsistencies when you do, in order that you aren’t too embarrassed about your writing when the time comes to send it off to the copy editor. Publishing, being an Indie author, who started from scratch just a few years ago, was a very steep learning curve. I had a great mentor though, being Donna Jane McDonald who writes somewhat sexier books than mine… she couldn’t have been more helpful with pointing me in the right direction and how to, what was then known as , though not now, Self-Publish.

Salty or sweet? Oh don’t get me wrong, I have a sweet tooth when I want or need it, but on the whole I’m a savory (though less salty) kind of person. I love savory food, but would avoid anything that has too much salt, as have to look after my arteries. When I cook (which is another passion of mine), I use Lo-Salt, so 50% less sodium than the average salt.

Where did you learn the most about craft of the romance novel? As far as writing is concerned, I took both English Language and English Literature at school, but that wasn’t where the romance came in. Those were the stalwart of literature which are probably still taught today. Romance I learned from either my own life experiences, or from reading… I’ve enjoyed reading for so many years. My first foray into Romance were the novels of Jackie Collins, but that was a good many years ago. Since then I have read so many it is hard to mention just one or two authors.

What is the most surprising comment or question you get when people find out you’re an author? What really!!! And then follows either wow, that is exciting, difficult and inspiring, or so what do you really do. Some seem to think that being an author is a breeze, whereas others appreciate to man hours that go into writing, editing and putting a book out there. I’ve not yet had anyone say anything too derogatory, other than my own Mother that is, at least in the beginning which is partly why this books has been given the title that it has.

Hard/paperbacks or eBooks? I have to say I personally buy all three, though so far I’ve only made mine available in either paperback or ebook. The paperbacks are good to show people or do book signings, as some still don’t quite belief you are an author until they show you the actual book, rather than an author card. Book signings is obvious and mine are available, as signed copies, from my website and always have been. However, if you want to know which sells best, these days it is ebooks. You have to consider that with house market prices (no room for a library any more) thought about the environmental impact, and those who no longer have the strength in the hands (my own mother for one due to arthritis) to hold an actual book, ebooks are becoming more and more popular. I still love the smell of paper though so probably buy as many hardback or paperback books as I do ebooks.

Have you ever been star struck by another author? The only answer to that question, if any author is being completely honest, is of course. I loved loved loved Jackie Collins’ books when I was in my twenties, though when I was younger I read a lot of Stephen King and James Herbert Horror stories. I can’t stomach those these days but the most recent authors I became star struck by are Sophie Kinsella, Jill Mansell and Donna Jane McDonald. Two of whom are now friends on Facebook and one of whom has been somewhat of a mentor to me.

What are you reading right now? Now I’m currently reading The Green Ticket by Samantha March, though I’ve only just started it. My last read was Grace Me With Your Presents by Pippa Franks, which wasn’t at all what I expected it to be but was delightful. My next read shall be the last of Jackie Collins’ Lucky Santagelo series which I bought in hardback, around the time that she sadly left us.

How do you come up with the title of your book, BLUE AND GREEN SHOULD NEVER BE SEEN? Ok, for this I brought in the Mother element of my book. It is about fashion, but not solely, and this was a phrase that my mother said to me, when I was young and even into my 20s, but I knew it was untrue and just an old wives tale. I love the combination of Blue and Green, when done correctly with the right shades of each, and so I wouldn’t say it was a thumbs up to that age old phrase…

What is a day in your life like? No one day in my life is same as the previous one nor is the next the same as the day before. I spend a lot of time following Facebook, marketing in various Facebook book groups, replying to emails, feeding and walking my dogs and cooking. As well as the other mundane stuff life hoovering, cleaning, washing, ironing etc. For the past few years I’ve also managed our Buy to Let property in the UK, which though we probably shouldn’t have done it, due to stretching our finances, we bought four years ago while waiting to find a buy for our home in the UK. It took is almost 2 and a ½ years to find a buyer, which took a massive amount of time out of my days each week, due to have to keep the place neat and tidy in case of a viewing… then it took us a further four months to find a place to buy, and all of that time I was away from my husband, in France as there isn’t anywhere in the UK that accepts pets as tenants, along with their owners, at least not in the town we live in. We have two beautiful ones though, a Westie and a Mini-Schnauzer who are like sisters to all intents and purposes, unless they are in season and then they try to mount each other…If you ask me about the past three of four months, my routine has also included a 150 mile round trip, once a week, to visit my terminally ill best friend since the around the age of 5, when we first started school together. She has now lost her battle and so it is just a matter of time but I am thankful for each week that I can make that drive to see her and spend time with not only her but her family as well.

What is the best writing advice you’ve been giving? Show don’t tell would have to be the answer to that one. I am prone to telling rather than showing and have to pull back and adjust my writing, when I feel myself drifting too far. My husband is great correcting me on that front, though I never stray too far.

People would be surprised to know that you…: were a tomboy in my youth, particularly writing Chicklit/Romcom these days. I would just as happily kicked around a football or play Tin Can Alley, as well as draw, paint or cook in my younger days.

What are you working on right now? Right now, though I hate to say it, I have three WIPs. One is the sequal to Blue and Green (which is likely to be entitled “Red and Yellow to Catch a Fellow (Or so They Say)” , though that might change. At this point, it is only at outline stage, though I hope shall not be for too long… other than that, and this is a bonus for you, my next novel is either going to be one set in New York, which I have yet to title, or one that the story grew from the title, which was inspired by a friend of mine. That title, which I hope loads shall be drawn to, is going to be “I Don’t Do Winter!”. You might well be able to imagine something from the last one.

About Colette Kebell

Colette Kebell is an author of Chicklit, though a relatively new one and thus far has self-published her books. Her books are light-hearted, fun and quirky and even considered by some to be inspirational. She has also found avenues to translate both into Italian (thanks to her husband), and one, thus far, into French, Spanish and Portuguese via Babelcube.

As a career, Colette spent her later years as a legal secretary. After a first attempt at writing many years ago (a book that still remains in her drawer) she resumed this passion a few years back, following being made redundant. After a few book signing events and a book talk, which almost caused her to collapse with nerves, Colette now spends her time between her home in the UK and her home in France.

Colette has two adorable dogs and spends some time, when not writing and marketing her books, cooking for herself and her husband, gardening or designing various items for their home. Amongst her other hobbies, she has also experimented with furniture upholstery, and she might, from time to time, have a paintbrush in her hand.

She can be found on twitter @ColetteKebell though doesn’t tweet a vast amount.

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Author Interview with Monique McDonell, author of “Something of a Spark”

October 31, 2017 2 Comments

About Monique McDonell: Monique is an Australian author who writes contemporary women’s fiction including chick lit and romance.She has written all her

She has written all her life especially as a child when I loved to write short stories and poetry. At University she studied Creative Writing as part of my Communication degree. Afterwards Monique was busy working in public relations, and didn’t write for pleasure for quite a few years although she wrote many media releases, brochures and newsletters. (And still does in her day-job!)When Monique began to write again she noticed a trend – writing dark unhappy stories made her unhappy. So she made a decision to write a novel with a happy ending and have been writing happy stories ever since.

When Monique began to write again she noticed a trend – writing dark unhappy stories made her unhappy. So she made a decision to write a novel with a happy ending and have been writing happy stories ever since.

She is the author of five stand alone novels including Mr. Right and Other Mongrels and Hearts Afire and the popular Upper Crust Series. Many of her novels focus on an Australian characters meeting and visiting US characters.

Monique have been a member of the writing group The Writer’s Dozen for ten years. Our anthology Better Than Chocolate raised over $10,000 for the charity Room to Read and helped build a library in South East Asia. She is also a member of the Romance Writers of Australia. In 2015 had a piece on writing chick lit featured in the successful Australian non-fiction book Copyfight.

She lives in Sydney’s Northern Beaches with her husband and daughter.

To learn more about my writing, her caffeine obsession and her upcoming books please visit her website!

**Contact Monique: Website Goodreads Facebook Twitter Amazon Author

*****

INTERVIEW

Describe your latest novel in five sentences: Something of a Spark – small town radio DJ who has moved to the city accidentally meets the city fireman who has just moved to her town – talk about a case of bad timing. Can they make it work long-distance or will secrets, lives and sisters keep them apart. This is the first book in the Jewel Sisters romance series. If you like quirky families, sexy fireman and falling in love then this book is for you.

Hard/paperbacks or eBooks? These days I pretty much read almost exclusively on my e-reader. I’m a super fast reader and it means I can finish one book and start another one straight away. I also read a lot of indie authors or authors whose books would be hard to find in an Australian bookshop.

How do you come up with names for your character? Sometimes names are hard but not in this series – the series came about because I had the idea to name each sister after a gem or jewel – Sapphire, Ruby, Amethyst and Emerald.

Tell us about your writing/editing/publishing process: I try and write every day, though I don’t always succeed and when I have a solid first draft I go back through it a few times before it goes to my BETA readers, I’m also in a writing group who help critique along the way. I send it to my BETA readers with a whole list of questions and I really take their advice – depending on the book I have between three and six readers. Then I make the changes and off it goes to the editor, then I make her changes and it gets a proofread before I publish. It’s a process!

Do you have any writing rituals? I almost always write with coffee, and I often drink it from a mug with one of my book covers on it – I find that inspires me. I’m not going to lie, I often have a red wine if I’m writing a sex scene. Mainly, I now know my most effective writing times in the day and I try and make the most of them.

What are you reading right now? I’m reading a lot of romance series right now. I’m always looking for new ones because I tend to binge read one author and then go hunting for the next.

Where did you get the idea for “Something of a Spark”? I had the idea to write the series with each sister named after a jewel and Saffy came to me as a character who had wanted to escape her family and small town. I wanted to write another fireman and I saw Cam (in my mind) jogging down the street and I went from there.

Facebook or Twitter? Facebook, I find it more personal and easier to manage. I miss so much on Twitter while I‘m at work I feel as if I’m always catching up.

Who or what has had the most impact on your writing career? I’m in a really great writing group and have been for over a decade. I think that keeps me going and motivated.

Salty or sweet? Do you mean books or food? (Ha! Ha!) My books are pretty sweet but I like my food salty.

What’s the best advice you’ve been given? Write every day is the best writing advice I’ve been given. Honestly as an indie author I need to publish often and the only way to do that is to have books and get them done quickly.

What are you working on right now? As I type this I’m just about to finish Something to Sing About, Book 2 in the Jewel Sisters Romance series (which is so fun to write) and as soon as I’m done I will start on Any Way You Like It, Book 8 in the Upper Crust Series.

*****

“Something of a Spark” by Monique McDonell

Sometimes keeping a secret is more trouble than it’s worth.

Growing up as one of the Jewel Sisters of Caudal Bay has never been easy for Sapphire Smith. As far as her friend’s and family are concerned she’s now a struggling radio DJ living in Sydney and working part-time as a PA for her best friend country music star Ryan Storm.

But that’s only part of the story.

When an accident in her home town brings real-life hero and firefighter Campbell into her world their relationship starts with a smoulder and slowly begins to spark. Campbell has given up his career as a corporate lawyer for a quieter, more rewarding life. He loves his new town and the welcoming atmosphere as much as Saffy loves the anonymity of the city.

As their relationship begins to heat up one thing is clear – Cam is all about honesty while Saffy has something to hide: her work partnership with Ryan involves more than social media and if the truth comes out it could be a disaster for them both.

Will Saffy come clean before their secret gets out? Or will her desire to keep people at arm’s length see her relationship with Ryan fizzle out before it has a chance to catch fire.

**Find “Something of a Spark” now: Goodreads Universal Buy Link

*****

Author Interview

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