Author Interview

AUTHOR FEATURE: Heidi Renee Mason

October 8, 2015 Leave a Comment

About the author: Heidi Renee Mason always knew she would be an author. Heidi is passionate about writing, and writes fiction, as well as poetry. In her spare time, Heidi enjoys music, genealogy, all things Celtic, and chick flicks. A native of the Midwest, Heidi now resides in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and three daughters. Investigating the Heart is Heidi’s debut novel.

INTERVIEW

Describe yourself in five sentences: I am, above all, a wife and mother. I am a perfectionist. I am a strange mix of insane focus and laziness. I am genuinely kind. I have moments of insecurity far more often than I wish I did.

When did you know you were an author? I have always loved to write, and have been doing it for years. I had no problem calling myself a writer. However, even after the publication of my book, I had a hard time referring to myself as an “author.” At my first book signing, when people were standing in line waiting for me to sign their books, hoping to get a picture taken with me, I truly knew that I had earned the title.

Tell us about your writing/editing/publishing process: My writing process is sporadic. I home school my three daughters, so I write when I can fit it into my day. I work a lot out in my head before I ever write anything down. Of course, the characters have minds of their own and usually do what they want to anyway.

What is the best book you’ve ever read? That is a difficult one! There are so many books I love for many different reasons. If I had to choose one, though, I would have to go with Anne of Green Gables. That book represents a defining time in my life. As a young girl, I loved Anne and wanted to be like her. She was also a writer, so I felt like I had found a “kindred spirit” in her.

Hard/paperbacks or eBooks? I definitely prefer a paperback. I need to hold the book in my hands, and feel and smell the pages. Something about touching the book links me to the story in a way that an e-book just can’t do.

Salty or sweet? Both. I like sweet things mixed with salty, like chocolate chip cookies with walnuts or French fries dipped in ice cream.

Do you have any writing rituals? The only ritual I need for writing is coffee. I would like to be hooked up to a constant caffeine drip.

If you could met any other author, who would it be? I would love to meet Nicholas Sparks. He is my writing hero. The way he crafts his characters and storylines is magic. He draws you in and makes you laugh and cry with his characters. He makes you feel something.

At what time of day do you feel you work the best? I work best mid-afternoon to early evening. I guess I’m not a morning person or a night owl. I’m right in the middle.

What do you want people to take away from your books? I recently had a fan tell me that she wasn’t a reader, but picked up my book and finished it in one sitting because she couldn’t put it down. To me, that’s a great compliment. I want to make my readers feel something, to become connected and concerned for my characters. I want people to feel invested in the outcome of the story, and always want more.

Where do you see yourself in five years? In five years, I hope to have several more novels to my credit. I hope to be a bit more well-known and have readers anxiously awaiting my next book.

What are you working on right now? I am working on the sequel to Investigating the Heart. I also have started another completely unrelated novel with the working title of Hope Found.

**Contact Heidi Renee Mason: Website Email Facebook Twitter

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**Buy “Investigating the Heart” now: Amazon Author’s Website Publisher’s website Barnes & Noble (coming soon)

AUTHOR & BOOK FEATURE: “Afraid of Her Shadow” by Carol Maloney Scott

September 29, 2015 Leave a Comment

“Afraid of Her Shadow” by Carol Maloney Scott

Blurb: Forty something, self-proclaimed cougar, Rebecca is committed only to her cats and her career. Her veteran single girl lifestyle has been peaceful and happy – that is until she started dating age-appropriate Steve, an entomology professor with a sweet smile and demeanor to match. Who knew an insect scientist could be so appealing?

The problem? Steve is a widower with baggage to spare. Memories of his late wife fill his home. Smiling photos and jars of bugs serve as constant reminders of Steve’s continued attachment to his dearly departed wife, Noreen, who shared his passion for creepy crawlies!

Now that Rebecca is facing her commitment phobia by moving in with Steve, she is becoming more unhinged. Behaving more like her zany friends than her level-headed self, she burns her butt at the tanning salon, crashes on energy drinks, and even loses a hamster. Throw into the mix a few delusional relatives, a sarcastic teenager, and a fluffy dog who sheds a new dog every day, and Rebecca doesn’t recognize her old self.

And if that isn’t enough to push her over the edge, her smokin’ hot ex returns, reminding her of a simpler time with a man who carries no more baggage than a wallet.

EXCERPT

Steve is an Entomology professor at the state university downtown. Yes, I am dating a nerdy science guy. Apparently, there are a handful of students who are passionate about bugs, or “insect biology.” I took Bio in ninth grade and I tried to be sick as much as possible during the bug study unit. Steve’s wife, Noreen was a high school Biology teacher. The love of creepy crawlies was something they apparently had in common. Something I can’t give him.

“My ass isn’t little anymore, and I love your stories, except when you start to explain about the claustrophobic foundation and the genital grabbers.” My eyes cross when he brings up these topics, but it is an awesome insomnia treatment, especially when coupled with hair caressing. I just love having my head… “What did you say?”

Steve is practically doubled over in his chair. “Love, its claustral foundation and genital claspers.”

I look down and bite my lip. “Oh. Honestly, I don’t even see how the first one is different. Don’t the termite king and queen hide and make babies by feeding off their fat or something? And I know some other bug grabs its mate during sex. Claspers, grabbers, close enough.”

He rubs his eyes beneath his glasses and smiles. “Hey, there’s something I want to tell you.” Steve gently places his wine glass on the table and rolls the stem between his fingers.

My breath catches just in time for the waitress to appear with our food and all sorts of enthusiasm. Steve told her it was our anniversary so she is hamming it up. I want her to drop the crabs (which look like big bugs) and run, so I can hear this big announcement. He doesn’t have a little velvet box in…?

**Find “Afraid of Her Shadow” now! Amazon Goodreads

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AUTHOR INTERVIEW

Describe your writing style in five words: Witty. Fresh. Real. Honest. Brave.

What made you want to be an author? As a little girl I wrote non-stop, churning out story after story. Then it all stopped in adolescence – so I had writer’s block for about 30 years.

Now the flood gates have opened, and the universe has unplugged my creative blockage – and the words are flying out of me. In the car – I have to pull off the road. In the shower – I need waterproof paper. In bed – I dream of new stories and have to sleep with my iPhone and it’s many lists.

So that bitch, Writer’s Block, is now history. The words are flowing like a waterfall or the liquor at an Irish wedding. I am no longer expecting any dry days ahead, now that I have rediscovered my first love.

I write because I can’t stop. I love it.

Hard/paperback or eBooks? I love the feel of a real book in my hands, and I especially love to see many books on my shelves. Books are a beautiful decorative home accessory. But I have embraced the Kindle as well. The convenience and the lower cost of e-books have made it impossible to resist.

Do you have any writing rituals? I like to have a drink nearby, and I write better when no one is home. Even if my husband or son are not in my space, just knowing I might be interrupted at any moment messes with my creative flow. I would greatly benefit from a solitary writer’s retreat weekend every now and then.

Salty or sweet? Hmm. I love those candy bars with the peanuts. Payday, that’s what they’re called. They are the perfect combination of both tastes. However, my sweet tooth will always win out!

Where do you get ideas for your books? My books are inspired by real life events, but much of the stories come out of my never ending imagination. I can’t stop thinking of ideas. Of course I don’t sleep very well and stare into space a lot.

If you could meet any other author, who would it be? I would like to meet Laurie Notaro. Her hilarious stories of her own life, as well as her fiction, have inspired me to write. And I know I would have a fabulous time hanging out with her, talking about dogs and stupid things we’ve both done – two of her favorite things that I share.

What time of day do you seem to work best? I am not a morning person. I prefer to sleep through morning and pretend it never happened. Afternoons are best for me, or early evening. Too late in the evening my creativity wanes again.

What must every author have? A private writing space decorated with their favorite things. A good quality computer. Pretty pens – I have a wiener dog pen that makes my chuckle. Colorful notebooks. Oh, and something inspiring. I have a Wonder Woman stuffed doll from the Hallmark store. Oh, and good lighting. I can’t see a damn thing anymore.

Where do you see yourself in five years? I see myself with at least 10-15 books published, and a revenue stream that will allow me to quit my day job. I also see myself blogging regularly and traveling to promote my books.

What’s the best advice you’ve been given? Don’t skimp on quality, whether it be in editing, cover design, formatting, advertising, etc. Pay the pros and invest in your business. You are investing in yourself.

Can you tell us about any of your upcoming projects? Book 3 of my Rom-Com on the Edge series is due out in January! The first draft is complete and I am hard at work on the polishing before it goes to my editor for his suggestions. It’s called The Juggling Act and is the continuation of Claire’s story from There Are No Men, my first book in the series.

My first two books, There Are No Men and Afraid of Her Shadow were told in first person, present tense from a single character’s point of view. The Juggling Act mixes it up a bit and will be narrated in first person present tense, but from the point of view of four characters. It was great fun to get into the heads of the other characters, and I hope readers will enjoy a different twist on my existing story line.

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About the author: Carol Maloney Scott, author of the Rom-Com on the Edge series, is a frazzled new bride and wiener dog fanatic. Recently unearthing a childhood passion for writing, she can once again be seen carrying around a notebook and staring into space. Her stories are witty, fresh and real, just like life.

**Contact Carol: Email Facebook Twitter

The Reinvention of Mimi Finnegan

May 12, 2015 1 Comment

“The Reinvention of Mimi Finnegan” by Whitney Dineen

Blurb: Move over Bridget Jones… here comes Mimi Finnegan!

Thirty-four year old, Mimi Finnegan is the third of four daughters and in her eyes, by far, the most unremarkable. She has no singular accomplishment that can stand up to any of her sisters. And if that isn’t enough, she is the only single sibling in her family.

Mimi’s sisters decide that it’s time she gets serious about husband hunting, so they begin a campaign to find Mr. Right for her. Considering her most recent dating encounters include a night club owner who stuffs bratwurst in his pants and a WASPy trust fund baby, living happily under his mother’s thumb, Mimi is more than ready to meet THE ONE. Enter celebrated British novelist Elliot Fielding.

Sexual tension and anger heat up between the duo and it isn’t until Mimi discovers that Elliot is almost engaged to another that she realizes she is head-over-heels in love with him.

The journey will make you laugh, cry and want to pull your hair out from frustration! Mimi eventually learns that she is quite remarkable in her own right and never needed to worry that she lived in her sister’s shadows.

The Reinvention of Mimi Finnegan is the perfect laugh-out-loud, feel good book for any woman who has ever felt that she wasn’t good enough.

**Click HERE to buy “The Reinvention of Mimi Finnegan”!

EXCERPT

My sisters, to my undying disgust, are all gorgeous and talented. Renée, the oldest one of the group is the unparalleled beauty of the family. Lest you think I’m exaggerating and she’s not really all that and a bag of chips, let me ask if the name Renée Finnegan means anything to you? Yes, that’s right, “The” Renée Finnegan, the gorgeous Midwestern girl who won the coveted Cover Girl contract when she was only seventeen, fresh out of high school. Try surviving two whole years at Pipsy High with people asking, “You’re Renée’s sister? Really?” The tone of incredulity was more than I could bear.

Next is Ginger. She’s the brain. But please, before you picture an unfortunate looking nerd with braces and braids, I should tell you that she is only marginally less gorgeous than Renée. She was also the recipient of a Rhodes scholarship, which funded her degree in the History of Renaissance Art, which she acquired at Oxford. Yes, Oxford, not the shoes, not the cloth, but the actual university in England.

The youngest of our quartet is Muffy, born Margaret Fay, but abbreviated to Muffy when at the tender age of two she couldn’t pronounce Margaret Fay and began referring to herself as one might a forty-two-year old socialite. Muffy is the jock. She plays tennis and even enjoyed a run on the pro-circuit before a knee injury forced her to retire. She did however play Wimbledon three years in a row, and while never actually winning, the experience allows her to start sentences with, “Yes, well when I played Wimbledon…” And make pronouncements like, “There’s nothing like the courts at Wimbledon in the fall.” Muffy is now the tennis pro at The Langley Country Club. Her husband Tom is the men’s tennis pro, insuring they are the tannest, most fit couple on the entire planet. They’re perfection is enough to make you barf.

I am the third child in my family, christened Miriam May Finnegan which against my express consent got shortened to Mimi. For years I demanded, “It’s Miriam, call me Miriam!” No one listened, as is the way in my family.

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AUTHOR INTERVIEW

Describe yourself in three words: Tall, funny, curvy.

If you could meet any author, who would it be? Fannie Flagg.

What made you want to be an author? Fannie Flagg.

Salty or sweet? Both, at the same time!

Describe your writing/editing/publishing process: I write when inspired only. I don’t adhere to a schedule. I just kinda do it when the spirit moves me.

What must an author have at all times? A fantastic imagination and a thick skin.

Where do you get ideas for your books? Directly from my own life!

Hard/paperback or eBooks? Paperbacks and eBooks.

Is social media a help or a hinder? Yes. The truth is that I’m relatively new to social media. I love the contact that I have with friends, loved ones and readers but I’m a little creeped out with people like “DoubleBananaHolder” following me on Twitter.

What was the last book you fell in love with? Twin Piques by Tracie Banister.

Do you have any writing rituals? I seem to eat an awful lot when writing. Perhaps this is why my heroines all wear double digits.

What is the best advice you’ve been given? As long as you believe in yourself, you will succeed. If someone else doesn’t believe in you, drop ‘em.

**Additional comments by Whitney: I love writing romantic comedies. Life is ridiculous, scary, frustrating and outrageous. I love reading and writing about characters who are real through-and-through and who get a happy ending every time.

**About author, Whitney Dineen:

While attending the University of Illinois in Chicago, Whitney Dineen was discovered by a local modeling agent and began an unexpected career as a plus-size Ford model. She modeled in New York City before moving to Los Angeles with her husband.

When she wasn’t modeling, she was in the kitchen, baking delights to share with friends. Soon, her friends began asking her to send baskets of her wonderful candies and cookies to business associates, agents and production studios. Word spread like wildfire, and the rest, as they say, is history. Whitney’s sensational creations are still in great demand by her loyal celebrity clientele (www.WhitneysGoodies.com).

During “The Hollywood Years,” Whitney was bitten by the writing bug and started creating characters that are inspired by strong women with a great sense of humor.

In addition to her love of chick-lit, Whitney has also written a series of adventure books for middle readers The first of which, Wilhelmina and the Willamette Wig Factory, is nearing completion.

Whitney and her husband, Jimmy, have recently relocated to the beautiful Pacific Northwest to raise their children, chickens and organic vegetables.

**Click HERE to buy “She Sins at Midnight”!

**Contact Whitney: Email Facebook Website Website – About

Jessica Scott

April 8, 2015 Leave a Comment

About author, Jessica Scott: USA Today Bestselling author Jessica Scott is a career army officer, mother of two daughters, three cats and three dogs, wife to a career NCO and wrangler of all things stuffed and fluffy. She is a terrible cook and even worse housekeeper, but she’s a pretty good shot with her assigned weapon and someone liked some of the stuff she wrote. Somehow, her children are pretty well adjusted and her husband still loves her, despite burned water and a messy house.

She’s also written for the New York Times At War Blog, PBS Point of View Regarding War, and IAVA. She deployed to Iraq in 2009 as part of OIF/New Dawn and has had the honor of serving as a company commander at Fort Hood, Texas twice.

Most recently, she’s been featured as one of Esquire Magazine’s Americans of the Year for 2012.

**Contact Jessica: Website Facebook Twitter

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INTERVIEW

Describe your writing style in five sentences: I can do it in one: pure chaos. Just kidding. I start with characters – usually a name gives me a sense of who they are. Then I start figuring out what their strengths and weaknesses are. Then I figure out what their problem is: what do they want and why can’t they have it. After that, it’s figuring out where and what they’re doing and who the supporting cast is around them.

You knew you wanted to be an author when…: I don’t really know. I started writing seriously back in 2007 and basically didn’t quit.

Hard/paperbacks or eBooks? Depends. I love physical copies and I’m much better able to find my notes in a physical copy but I’m doing more and more reading on digital these days.

What is the writing, editing, and publishing process like for you? I usually have a very ugly first draft, get it as reasonably unscrewed as I can, send it to my editor who usually tells me to add more emotion and make things sexier, then I revise, have multiple people proof read for me bc I am incapable of seeing my own mistakes and hit publish.

What is the last great book you read? Black Hearts by Jim Frederick. It’s absolutely hands down one of the most powerful books about the Iraq war that I’ve read.

Do you have any writing rituals? Not really. I tend to write the first draft in Scrivener then edit and revise in word. I really like seeing track changes. Helps me feel like I’m really cleaning that sucker up.

Is social media a help or a hinder? I like it. I get to interact with other authors and I love the interaction on my Facebook pages with readers.

How do you come up with the titles of you books? Magic 8 Ball 🙂

Salty or sweet? Depends on what time of the month it is.

Where do you feel that you work the best? Coffee shop, hands down. I get so much work done at Barnes and Noble, too. I love being surrounded by books.

As an author, what is the best advice you’ve been given? When I was first starting out a very good friend of mine told me: write the book only you can tell. There’s a story and it’s yours. Tell it the way you need to tell it. Now that I’m published, the best advise I’ve gotten is: what if you never hit it big? What if you only reach a small amount of readers with every book. Will you still be a writer? And my answer to that is yes, definitely. But it changes your perspective: focus on the story. Everything else is secondary.

What are you working on right now? Finishing up the next two books in the Homefront series and then working more books in the falling series.

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“Homefront” by Jessica Scott

Blurb:

He’s always loved her…

First Sergeant Gale Sorren waited a war and half a lifetime for a chance to get stationed near the ex-wife who left him years ago. When he finally musters the courage to see her, the life he imagined she was living was nothing close to the reality.

She’s never stopped loving him…

Melanie never stopped worrying about Gale each time he headed off to war. But he’s never been there when she needed him and she’s had fifteen years to steel her heart against him.

But when Gale moves to Fort Hood, he finally has a chance to make things right with Melanie and the daughter she raised without him.

Can Mel trust her heart to a man who has always let her down?

**Buy “Homefront” now: Amazon Barnes & Noble GooglePlay iBooks Kobo

Elle Field

March 31, 2015 3 Comments

About author, Elle Field: Elle Field is a twenty-something chick lit author who lives in London with her boyfriend and their cat. She enjoys exploring and photographing new places, watching musicals on the West End, and eating her way around London’s culinary delights.

**Contact Elle: Blog Facebook Goodreads Twitter

INTERVIEW

Describe yourself in five sentences: I’m a twenty-nine year old author who loves nothing more than reading a good book. Originally from Yorkshire, I went to university in St Andrews – yes, with the Prince – and I now live in London with my boyfriend and our cat, Comps. I enjoy exploring and photographing new places, watching musicals on the West End, and eating my way around London’s culinary delights. I’m also a massive fan of The Killers, Milka Daim, giraffes, caipirinhas, Audrey Hepburn movies, balsamic vinegar, Scrabble, gingerbread men and sunshine. Oh, and tea and champagne, too!

Have you always wanted to be an author? Ever since I can remember I’ve scribbled down tales of magical adventures and damsels in distress. When I got a bit older, I moved on to the adult equivalent of these – I’ve definitely always wanted to be an author!

I first started writing chick lit the summer I turned twenty-one. I’d had a bit of a rough time in the months leading up to that birthday and I found it to be quite cathartic making things turn out well for my characters. Even though that book will probably never see the light of day, it was much more fun than working on my dissertation – that’s what I was supposed to be writing that summer!

As you don’t tend to see advertisements for people looking to hire an author, it has taken me a while to make my dream of being an author happen. Kept finally made it out into the big wide world six years after I penned the first draft, which is why the book is set in 2007!

Hard/paperbacks or eBooks? Once upon a time I would have said paperbacks generally and hardbacks for my absolute favourite authors, but a lack of space means eBooks are my format of choice nowadays. (I own about three thousand hard/paperbacks!)

What is the writing/editing/publishing process like for you? My process is constantly evolving; how I wrote and edited my third book was a completely different process than the process for my first book. I no longer write the first draft by hand, which is probably for the best as my once beautiful handwriting has become a horrid scrawl!

Once the first draft is ready, I edit on screen, on paper, and by reading the book out loud. Once I’m happy with the edits, it goes off to my Copy Editor, who will also proof read the manuscript.

It’s at the first edit stage that I commission my book cover and start working on my marketing and promotion for the release of the book. I definitely enjoy editing more than I enjoy writing the first draft!

Coffee or tea? Most definitely tea! I’m partial to English breakfast tea in the mornings, lemon and ginger tea in the afternoons.

Who and/or what motivates you to write? The beauty of the story is a big motivator: I love getting under my character’s skin and giving them a voice so they can share the twists and turns in their lives! But, knowing that people enjoy and identify with what I write is the biggest motivator for me.

If you’re not writing, then you’re probably…: Cooking, sleeping, exploring, reading or binge-watching box-sets!

How do you come up with ideas for your books? Real life is a great place to start to get inspiration for books, but I always make sure to add a heavy fictional twist if I do “borrow”. Arielle, the heroine of Kept and Lost, has a few of my own traits. I think it is inevitable as an author that a few of your own experiences or quirks might make their way into bits of your books!

If you could meet any other author who would it be? I’d love to meet Bill Bryson. He’s one of my favourite authors, and has been for over half of my life now. I’d love to share a cup of tea with him and chat books and Blighty.

What’s the best advice you’ve been given? Never give up. It might take you six months to publish your novel, or it might take you six years… if you give up though, you never will!

Can you tell us about any of your upcoming projects? My third book, Lost, will be out on April 7th (it’s available to pre-order now, and is the second book in the Arielle Lockley series: http://www.amazon.com/Lost-Arielle-Lockley-Book-2-ebook/dp/B00U2X7E4A). Once that is published, I’ll be working on the third book in the series. Found will be out towards the end of 2015.

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Books by Elle Field

Kept (Arielle Lockley Series Book 1) – Amazon

Geli Voyante’s Hot or Not – Amazon

Lost (Arielle Lockley Series Book 2) – Amazon, (pre-order now!)

Karyn Rae

August 20, 2014 1 Comment

About author, Karyn Rae: Karyn Rae is an emerging Romantic-Suspense author. Her debut novel, The Achilles Heel was released in May 2014. She is a member of the Romance Writers of America, and the Columbia Chapter of the Missouri Writers Guild. Karyn resides in Missouri with her husband, son, daughter, and chocolate lab- Augusta Mae.

The first part of Karyn’s life was spent in the South, and the last fifteen years have played out in the Midwest, but she’s still holding on to a shred of her Southern roots. She is a wife, mother, daughter, and sister who has made it her mission in life to carve out a career for herself, while keeping the husband and the children happy.

**Contact: Website

INTERVIEW

Describe your writing style in five words: I write from the heart.

Hard/paperbacks or eBooks? Paperback or eBook. Hardback books seem too grown up for me, but I love holding an actual book in my hands. EBooks are helpful because of the lit screen, and I have a child that likes to sneak into my bed at night. At that point, turning on a lamp is out of the question; never wake a sleeping kid!

Tell us about your writing/editing publishing process: In one word- long! I’m working on my second book (the sequel to The Achilles Heel) and I’ve already found a process that feels right. Every time I sit down to write, I go back three chapters and begin reading from there. It helps to put me back into the story, and by the time I get to my last stopping point, I’m ready to move forward with the writing. After I finished my first book, one of the best pieces of advice I got was to step away from the story. I took a month off before I went back to do my first round of edits, and I felt like a reader not just the author. I’ll definitely keep that as part of my process.

When writing, what is your favorite snack or drink to have beside you? I don’t like to eat when I write because I hate sticky fingers. I usually have a glass of water on my side table, but I get so engrossed into the story, I forget to drink any of it.

In your writing, what are some of your strengths and weaknesses? Strengths- writing about real and relatable people, even if the situation isn’t. Romantic suspense is my genera, so I want the readers to be in the story, feeling the highs and lows with the characters.

Weaknesses- punctuation and run-on sentences. I wasn’t a journalism or English major, so I have a lot of work to do in the mechanics department of writing.

Do you have any writing ritual? I used to need everything perfectly in place to be able to write, but then summer hit. I have two kids that are out of school for summer break and perfection was thrown out the window. It’s good though. I’m glad I’ve been able to adapt to my environment. Life is always changing, and you either need to get on board or you’ll get left behind.

Which author inspires you? There are so many answers to this question. On a world-wide level- Gillian Flynn. Gillian is a Midwest girl who has conquered the world. She continues to raise the bar higher, and I love that. On a local level- Liz Schulte. Liz has self-published numerous novels and makes a comfortable living as a full-time author. She writes what she wants and keeps her own schedule.

What is your favorite word? Baby. I grew up in the south and the word baby has so many different meanings. It’s an all-encompassing term of endearment that makes my heart smile when I call my daughter, baby, but also makes me swoon when I hear it from a man. I love that one word can make me feel so many emotions.

Is the social media a help or a hinder? For me social media is a God send. I’m a no-name, first time author, trying to break into a billion dollar business. I’ll take all the help I can get.

What is your favorite topic to write about? I love a good mystery. As a reader, I love to figure out the mystery as soon as possible. I’m uber competitive, so I feel a sense of accomplishment if I can guess the ending. As a writer, my agenda is the complete opposite. When I wrote a five year plan for myself, I specifically wrote that I would have no less than five twists in each book. I love leading readers on, stroking their confidence, and making them think they have the ending of the book figured out. Then, I sweep the legs at the end, blindsiding them with another twist.

What do you want your readers to take away from your books? I’m a mom who lives an ordinary life. I want to be taken away from fighting, cleaning, bills, cooking and basically working for other people (mostly small people). When someone chooses my book, I feel as though I have a responsibility to take them away from their life. My books probably won’t make you smarter or change your life, but they will certainly help you escape it.

What are you working on right now? Right now, I’m halfway through the sequel to The Achilles Heel. I have seven notebooks, each filled with the details for another story. I have the material; I just need to find the time to write them all.

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“The Achilles Hell” by Karyn Rae: Annie Whitman’s ordinary Midwest life is shattered with the sudden death of her husband Jack. Thirty-five and failing at life as a widow, she turns to the comforts of vodka in an attempt to camouflage the cold sheets of an empty bed. The necessary inebriation helps her to cope with Jack’s death, but proves to be a deterrent in recovering any sense of normalcy. After spending several months at the bottom of a bottle, Annie stumbles upon a lockbox in the crawl space of her basement. Opening this box also opens her eyes to the likelihood that Jack Whitman might not have been the honest and doting man she married.

Annie embarks on a mission to the Virgin Islands to uncover the truth about her husband’s past and seek safety from her brother-in-law, who seems to be the captain of his own sinking ship. While settling into paradise, she meets the wickedly handsome, but surprisingly reserved Kessler Carlisle, who is struggling with his retirement from country music superstardom. With Kessler’s help, Annie discovers the heart’s uncanny ability to heal, and the possibility that dead men don’t always keep their secrets-even if they’re buried in the Caribbean waters of St. Croix.

The Achilles Heel delves into the formidable fact that everyone harbors darkness, and some will go to the depths of the ocean to keep their secrets hidden.

**Buy “The Achilles Heel”: Amazon

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**Click HERE to see other stops on Karyn’s Chick Lit Plus Blog Tour!

(Also, everyone who leaves a comment on the tour page will be entered to win a $20 Amazon gift card! Anyone who purchases a copy of The Achilles Heel by September 1 and sends their receipt to Samantha (at)ChickLitPlus.com will receive 10 bonus entries!**

Aven Ellis

August 19, 2014 2 Comments

About Aven Ellis: Aven Ellis has been writing fiction since she was sixteen. She studied communications at a large Midwestern university, and after graduation, Aven worked as a reporter for a community newspaper, followed by a stint at a public relations agency.

But writing about city council meetings and restaurant franchises was not as much fun as writing for young women trying to figure out their careers and potential boyfriends. So Aven got herself a job in television that allowed her to write at night. Connectivity is Aven’s debut novel; Waiting For Prince Harry and Chronicles of a Lincoln Park Fashionista(New Adult romantic comedy) will be published this year.

Aven lives in Dallas with her family. When she is not writing, Aven enjoys shopping, cooking, connecting with friends on social media, and watching any show that features Gordon Ramsay.

**Contact Aven: Website Facebook Pinterest Twitter

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INTERVIEW

Describe yourself in five words: Talker, Creative, Funny, Supportive, Caring

What does being a writer mean to you? It means being able to bring characters and their stories to life. I love it, it is one of my biggest joys in life, to bring life to a character.

Tell us about your book, “Waiting for Prince Harry”: Waiting for Prince Harry is the story of Kylie Reed, a young women who is waiting for the right time to live her dreams: when she’s been at her job longer, when she has more experience, when she’s married…her life is filed away for the future because she’s afraid of the now. But all of that changes when she meets a gorgeous ginger who happens to be even hotter than Prince Harry, her dream crush.

What was your writing/editing/publishing process like? Waiting for Prince Harry was written in about seven months. My publisher knew I was working on it and asked to read it upon completion. Once she read it, I was offered a contract for it. This process has been easier, because I had already been through it before with Connectivity and knew what to expect. But the reader reaction surprised me! They loved Harrison, and loved the hockey angle so much I’m working on another hockey book right now.

Hard/paperbacks or eBooks? Both!

How did you celebrate when “Waiting for Prince Harry” was published? Ha, I was at work all day so there was no big celebration in my cubicle.

Which other authors inspire you? Holly Martin. We’ve become the best of friends and her writing blows me away.

Describe what would be your ideal day: Grabbing a cup of coffee, turning up Spotify, and writing for hours on end. Then getting in a workout and chatting with people on Twitter and then making a healthy dinner while watching any show with Gordon Ramsay in it.

As an author, what is the best advice you’ve been given? Write your brains out, then write some more, and don’t let anyone tell you no.

What is your favorite writing quote? I really don’t have one.

Every writer must have a…: Thick skin. People aren’t always going to love what you write, and they will let you know it!

Can you tell us about any of your upcoming projects? Chronicles of a Lincoln Park Fashionista is going to be released on September 10^th, and the companion book to that, Surviving The Rachel, will be released in February 2015. And right now I’m writing a story about one of Harrison Flynn’s teammates in a second hockey story.

GUEST POST

Social Media for Authors

I am by no means an expert on how authors should use social media properly. In fact, I’m the LAST person that should be talking about this because not only do I not follow “suggested ways to use social media” but I pretty much ignore advice on the topic.

Why, you ask?

Because being a proper business minded author on social media takes all the fun out of it for me. It’s a place to be myself. If you follow me on Twitter, I’ll talk about anything from the Duchess of Cambridge (Love her) to hot hockey players (hello Tyler Seguin) to what workout I did that night (boxing/weight intervals this evening by the way.)

And I have met so many people on Twitter just by doing that-not necessarily by promoting my own books (which I do, of course) but by engaging people in conversations. By being the goofy, fun, neurotic person I am. On my Facebook page, I post hot guys who helped inspire my heroes in my books. Readers got involved and suggested I add Tattoo Tuesday to the rotation, which I did.

On Instagram, I post pics of my other passions: working out and cooking healthy food. So readers get to see that side of my life, and people who follow me for food find out I’m an author. I have loads of pins on Pinterest, and boards for each character in my current and upcoming books. But I also have pins on my fashion favorites, my TV shows, more recipes than I will ever cook, and hot British actors. Once again, this is all me, Aven Ellis, and people can connect with me on a personal level.

So this is what social media is to me, a place to be myself and meet amazing new people. Is this a marketing approved strategy? Probably not. But am I having fun with a bunch of new friends? Absolutely yes.

And that is what matters most to this author. 🙂

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“Waiting For Prince Harry”: Twenty-four-year-old Kylie Reed has always been a rule follower. Organized and cautious to a fault, her dreams for life are often filed away for future use—when she has a house, when she meets her future husband, when she has been at her visual display job at a chic Dallas boutique longer. Kylie always has a reason for living her life in the future, not in the present, and fears not living her life to the fullest and reaching her dream of becoming a fashion designer.

The only exception to rules, of course, would be running away with Prince Harry. But living in Dallas and not knowing Prince Harry make this a non-option.

Or does it?

Because when Kylie accidentally falls into the lap of a gorgeous ginger guy—yes, even more gorgeous than the real Prince Harry—all bets are off. Kylie’s life takes some unexpected twists and turns thanks to this encounter. Could this stranger be the one to show Kylie how to live in the present?

EXCERPT

We get up and step into the store next to our bench, which happens to be a fancy stationery and candle shop.

As soon as the door closes behind us, Harrison moves over to a candle display on a large round table and takes off his sunglasses. He clips them onto the collar of his shirt, while I push mine up on the top of my head. Now we can see each other’s eyes, and Harrison’s green eyes are sparkling at me.

“That’s better,” Harrison says, smiling at me.

“I agree,” I say, smiling back at him.

“Hello, can I help you find anything?” a saleswoman asks.

Harrison looks at her, but then glances back at me. “I think,” he says, “I’ve already found what I need.”

I rest my hand on the edge of the table to keep myself steady, because the way he’s staring at me right now makes me almost dizzy with excitement.

“Oh, wonderful,” the saleswoman says.

“Yes, it is,” Harrison answers, his eyes never leaving mine.

“Well, please let me know if you need anything else,” she says before walking away.

Harrison then looks straight at me. “I do need something else.”

Ooooh, I really love this place where we are right now.

“And what would that be?”

“Well, obviously I need to buy one of these candles now,” Harrison says, picking up a Seda France box.

“Perfect. These are my favorite candles,” I say smartly.

“Are they now?” Harrison says, raising an eyebrow.

Okay. Candle shopping is an extremely hot activity. Who knew?

“Yes,” I say, picking up one to inhale. “Would you care to smell Japanese Quince?”

Harrison nods. I extend the candle toward him and he wraps his hand around mine, so we are both holding the candle.

And any nerve I had left just completely imploded the second his hand wrapped around mine.

“While I see many things I like at this table,” Harrison says, leaning forward to smell Japanese Quince, “there’s one thing in particular, other than this candle, that I need.”

He stands up straight but keeps his hand wrapped over mine.

“What would that be?” I ask softly.

“Dinner with you. At my place. Tonight.”

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**Click HERE to see other stops on Aven’s Chick Lit Plus Blog Tour!

Glynis Astie

July 8, 2014 4 Comments

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About author, Glynis Astie: Glynis never expected in her wildest dreams to be a writer. After thirteen years in the Human Resources Industry, she decided to stay at home with her two amazing sons. Ever in search of a project, she was inspired to write the story of how she met and married her wonderfully romantic French husband, Sebastien, in six short months. The end result became her first novel, French Twist.

As this novel is only the beginning the story, Glynis has just released the sequel, French Toast and has begun writing the final chapter in the trilogy, French Fry. When she is not writing, she is trying to keep the peace amongst the three men and two cats in her life, finding missing body parts (Lego pieces are small!), supervising a myriad of homework assignments and keeping a tenuous hold on her sanity by consuming whatever chocolate is in the vicinity.

Contact Glynis: Website Facebook Goodreads Twitter

Buy “French Toast”: Amazon Google Play iTunes

INTERVIEW

Describe your writing style in five sentences: Yikes! You started me off with a difficult question. My writing style is very casual. I let the thoughts spill out of my head, sarcasm and all, for the reader to enjoy. I speak directly to the reader often, encasing my questions and rants in parenthesis. I do not have the flair for the dramatic, but prefer to make people laugh. And look at that! I did it in four sentences!

Hard/paperbacks or eBooks? While I love the feel of a book in my hands (and yes, there is a wonderful smell to a book), I prefer the volume of books that I am able to carry with me on my Kindle. A girl has to have options! I am also very happy with the fact the my mischievous three-year-old son cannot lose my place by snatching out whatever random scrap of paper I could find to mark my page in a paperback, so that I could deal whatever his urgent issue happens to be. (Another Angry Birds puzzle, anyone?)

What made you want to become an author? Oddly enough, I never had aspirations to become an author. Truth be told, I HATED writing when I was younger. Over the years, writing became an integral part of my job as a Human Resources Manager (those disciplinary actions can be very tricky) and I found that I had quite an affinity for the written word. After a year of being solely a stay at home mom, I sought a personal project and somehow ended up writing a book! I still remember telling my sister that I had decided to take my adorable meet-cute with my husband and turn it into a Chick Lit novel and thinking that she was going to tell me that I was crazy. Instead, she encouraged me all the way through that book and was an amazing editor. She is also the creative mind behind my gorgeous book covers.

Who or what inspires you? My beautiful boys inspire me on a daily basis. Granted, they often make me want to tear every last hair out of my head and the only thing that prevents me from actually doing this is that I totally cannot pull off the bald look. But they are also wonderful, charming and insightful. They make me strive not only to be a better mother but to be a better person. They give me a unique perspective of the world that I would not trade for anything.

Between writing/editing/publishing, which was your favorite process? I love the process of writing. The concept of pulling a story out of nowhere and nurturing it until it is just the way you want it to be is amazing. (Not to mention REALLY hard.)

How did you celebrate when your first book was published? I jumped around like a little school girl for a good ten minutes and then went out for ice cream with my three boys (husband included.) Nothing says celebration like a brownie sundae!

How do you come up with the titles of your books? My current book titles are fairly easy, since they all start with the word “French” as a reference to my relationship with my very romantic French husband. 😉 I am a big fan of playing on words. I called my first book French Twist since my husband was a most unexpected plot twist in my life. I chose French Toast for the second book as a question for the reader – would Sydney and Louis be raising a glass in celebration or would their marriage be toast? And the next book, will be called French Fry. I am going to leave that one a mystery…

Describe your typical day? A typical day means dropping my older son off at school and running to the gym with my younger son. He gets to play with his friends while I force myself to exercise in an attempt to keep the stress at bay. We then come home, have lunch and I try to convince him that a nap would be a great idea. He absolutely needs the rest (cranky much?) and I need the time to work. Eventually I get him to sleep and I hurry around Twitter, Facebook, blogs and my email account doing my best to catch up with everyone and everything so that I can work on my book. Unfortunately, I never seem to get to it! Before I know it, my older son comes home from school, we do homework, have dinner, play games and get ready for bed. Then I try to make myself do work before falling asleep by 10pm.

What is the most challenging part of being an author? Finding the time to write! At least, that is my current predicament. I try so hard to get everything else done so that I can concentrate on my story, but inevitably life interferes. One of my kids gets sick, a friend needs some last minute help or my house is just so messy that I can’t even look at it anymore. On the rare occasions that I have time to write, inspiration will not always strike. My characters are as tempestuous as I am and I’m guessing that they are pouting after being ignored for so long.

If you could meet any author, who would it be? That is such a tough question. There are so many good choices! My top three would be Agatha Christie, Lucy Maude Montgomery and J.K. Rowling. (I am a HUGE Potterhead.) Since J.K. Rowling is the only one that is still living, that would have to be my choice since I am not currently in possession of a time machine.

What do you want readers to take away from your books? I want them to laugh! As a reader, I tend to go for light, fun books since my life is so busy and can be quite stressful. When I actually have five minutes to myself and I decide to be decadent and read, I would like to laugh out loud. It is such a wonderfully cathartic feeling that I would like to share with as many people as I can.

What are you working on now? I am currently working on the last installment in my French Twist series, French Fry. Sydney and Louis have finally gotten through their three weddings (intrigued, aren’t you?) and are ready to settle into a quiet married life. Given that their courtship and marriage was quite the rollercoaster ride, it is highly unlikely that this will happen for them…

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Blurb of “French Toast”: Sydney Bennett is back! And her pursuit of perfection is alive and well. Naïve to the core, Sydney believed that when she finally married the man of her dreams, the hard part was over. Following a civil ceremony as a means to keep Louis from being deported, Sydney continues to plan the fairytale wedding that she had dreamed of since the age of five. Much to her chagrin, she discovers that her mother-in-law is planning what seems to be a rival wedding in France that SHE has been dreaming about for her only child since before he was born. How will poor Sydney be able to ensure two perfect weddings in the midst of Louis’ fruitless job search? Especially when her mother-in-law’s idea of perfection appears to be having Sydney embarrass herself in front of hundreds of French people that she has never met?

As if she didn’t have enough on her mind already, Sydney finds herself faced with the trials and tribulations of being a wife. Sydney had always heard that marriage was hard, but she thought that this was just a ruse that married couples portrayed in a bid to make single girls feel less desperate. But as the bills pile up and emotions run high, she realizes that there may just be some truth to this statement. And as she watches Louis’ perfection fade away before her very eyes, she begins to wonder if she made a rash decision in marrying a man that she had known for a mere six months.

With all of the obstacles that Sydney and Louis will encounter, will they be raising their glasses in celebration or watching their impulsive marriage crash and burn? One thing is for certain, Sydney and Louis Durand are headed for one hell of a toast…

Excerpt of “French Toast”:

Meet Sydney Durand

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. She couldn’t possibly be serious. Could she? I opened my eyes, looked over at Louis and tried to smile. I can only imagine the look that registered on my face, but I highly doubt it was anything remotely positive. Louis had just finished telling me about his mother’s latest plans for our wedding. I took another deep breath and reminded myself, yet again, that I had agreed to let her plan the wedding in its entirety (with the exception of choosing my wedding dress.) Why would I agree to something so completely insane? It might have had something to do with the fact that this would be our third wedding.

That’s right, I said THIRD wedding and no, I do not have an Elizabeth Taylor complex. And I can prove it! Allow me to give you the short version. After a disastrous romantic history dating back to college, I, Sydney Bennett, was swept off of my feet by the incredible Frenchman, Louis Durand. Louis was in California on business, but following our first week together, he accepted a transfer from his company’s Paris office to the San Jose office. To the great shock of our families and friends, we became engaged a few weeks later. We began planning a beautiful wedding in Monterey for the following September, only to be thwarted by Louis’ unexpected job loss in January. In order to avoid his deportation, we were married shortly thereafter in my home town of Haverstraw, New York. So that my dreams of a beautiful wedding would not be crushed, we elected to have the originally planned event in Monterey as well. Everyone needs gorgeous wedding photos! The first wedding was definitely more practical than gorgeous.

One would think that two weddings would be more than enough for one couple in love, but due to Louis’ status as an only child with an extremely large extended family and his mother’s dream of a wedding that his whole town (population four hundred) would attend, we simply had to have one more wedding. Besides, a wedding in the beautiful French countryside sounded amazing, right? This way my family and I would have the opportunity to experience the wedding customs of Louis’ country as he and his family would experience the customs of ours at the wedding in Monterey. (The first wedding was kind of light on customs as it was predominantly a vehicle to keep Louis in the country.) My mother and siblings were thrilled at the prospect of a trip to France, while my father bemoaned the fact that he would have to set foot in traitorous territory. He is German and likes to complain. Although I was absolutely sure that he was practically drooling at the prospect of the gastronomic experiences in his future.

While three weddings did afford a certain amount of stress, in the end, I think that it helped me. My mother had planned the first wedding (in the span of one week), I was planning the second wedding (in the span of one year) and Louis’ mother was planning the third (in the span of Louis’ lifetime.) This allowed for all parties to end up with a wedding they were happy with. I must admit that the idea having three different wedding dresses is kind of fun. Hey, now! There is no need to judge! The three events are very different levels of formality. The first was an informal town hall wedding, the second would be a formal evening wedding and the third would be an afternoon wedding in the French countryside. If you really think about it, you will realize that having three wedding dresses is an absolute necessity.

Now that my seemingly ludicrous statement of three weddings has been explained, we can return to the problem at hand. Louis has just informed me that his mother, Simone, has purchased an ensemble for me to wear to the rehearsal dinner. (Honestly, this is becoming comical. This will be our THIRD rehearsal dinner.) Let me remind you that Louis’ mother has a very…particular fashion sense. All of the garments she wears are short, tight, brightly colored and/or bedazzled. Given the fact that she is sixty years old, my hat goes off to her. I hope that I have the guts to wear miniskirts into my sixties. She is my hero! Having said that, I have never been one to dress that….um…how do I put this? Let’s just say that my taste is slightly more conservative.

Louis was practically in tears from laughing so hard as he described the dress to me. Simone had chosen a gold sequined halter mini dress with red satin roses on the straps and red satin ruffles along the bottom of the skirt. She also saw fit to purchase red satin stilettos with matching red satin roses on the toes. I resisted the urge to strangle my husband and began to pace the room. Clearly I made a serious error in judgment when I allowed Simone to make all decisions for the wedding except for my wedding dress. In my defense, I really didn’t think that her purview extended to my wardrobe choices for pre wedding events. It was becoming quite obvious that I had a lot to learn about her…

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**Click HERE to see other stops on Glynis’s Chick Lit Plus Blog Tour!

**Click HERE to enter to win a $35 Amazon Gift Card!

BOOK BLITZ: Jessica Gordon

March 1, 2014 Leave a Comment

About author, Jessica Gordon: Jessica Gordon is a Johns Hopkins University alumna for both her undergraduate and graduate degrees. She received her bachelor’s degree in liberal arts from the Writing Seminars program and her master’s degree in communications.

After working in the corporate world for several years, Jessica decided to return to her first love: creative writing. Jessica takes her readers to the prominent Washington, D.C. area where her characters navigate through the complex world of family, in-laws, and love.

INTERVIEW

Describe your writing style in five sentences: Characters that are relatable. Stories that move at a fast pace. Clear, concise writing to convey a story. Dialogue that is engaging. Intriguing plots with vivid scenes and characters.

How did you come up with the idea for writing “Becoming Mrs. Walsh”? At the heart of Becoming Mrs. Walsh is a tale about love, life, and family. I am fascinated by how these topics are related and I love looking at the dynamics within family and extended family. Seeing the story through Shoshana, a young, newly engaged girl, was intriguing to me. When you are engaged and enter into a new family you are introduced and exposed to a whole new world. This notion was in the back of my mind. My husband is the youngest of three boys so I have older brothers and sisters-in-law. When I first met them I was really taken with what it meant to join a family and have older siblings. To be introduced to so many people at once and to enter a family where they have already been together for many years is kind of like starting a movie halfway through. That learning curve combined with my love of exploring relationship dynamics led me to start thinking about a few things. Where do your loyalties lie when there is conflict: to your soon-to-be new family, or to your current family? I also think people have different takes on in-laws. I know some people that are closer with their in-laws than with their own family and I hear stories of extended family not getting along. You get to see all different dynamics play out in Becoming Mrs. Walsh. I wanted to take relatable, everyday feelings but put my characters in the most extraordinary of situations.

Have you always wanted to be a writer? Yes, definitely! I love to write, all of the time. Many scenes from Becoming Mrs. Walsh were originally written on napkins when I was sitting in a coffeeshop. It is cheesy but when you love something enough and are passionate about it, you never want to do anything else. I’ve gone back and reread very detailed diary entries from my past and they read like small stories. I went to school specifically for the writing program. I was very fortunate to graduate from the Writing Seminars at Johns Hopkins University. I will always be writing simply because I love it. 🙂

What is your writing/editing/publishing process like? My writing process can be unpredictable, but I generally know where I want to go with a story. From there I am constantly thinking of ideas and writing out scenes as soon as I can get my hands on a piece of paper or laptop. I take a general pass at editing and then I leave it in the hands of my trusted editor. The e-book publishing process is one that can be relatively easy once you’ve gone through it. Since I published Becoming Mrs. Walsh, I’ve enjoyed watching its growth and progression. Once your e-book is online and available for the world to see it is both a very exciting and overwhelming feeling. Overall, while my writing process is very creative and can take many twists and turns, the publishing part is much more straight forward and process driven.

At what time of day do you find the most productive to write? This is a good question. It is hard to say. Sometimes I am most productive simply when inspiration strikes. There is a scene early in the book that takes place on the Metro (readers that have read the book, will know exactly which one I mean). The entire scene came to me in the middle of the night. I completely jumped out of bed at three in the morning grabbed the nearest pad and wrote out the entire scene. In general, I usually keep a small pad in my bag because you never know when you will be waiting in line and have a minute to write down a thought. I would say overall throughout the day I am generally jotting down ideas and thoughts, but most of the sitting and really working tends to be in the evenings.

How did you celebrate your first book being published? I was very happy to have it published, but I think the first official celebration was when I received my first fan letter. It was the most amazing feeling to know that I wrote something that really touched someone enough to compel them to reach out to me. I read the fan letter out loud to myself and then smiled really big, the smile pretty much continued hours after the fact. A simple celebration, but a very meaningful one. Of course, anyone who reads the book and reviews it or writes to me directly, I always celebrate. I also love the very intimate experience authors have with their readers. Even though there are many readers that I’ve never had contact with, we all know the story of Becoming Mrs. Walsh, and we are bonded through our enjoyment of the book. Knowing someone may have been up late reading my book somewhere in the world is an extraordinary feeling and one I am grateful for each day.

At the end of “Becoming Mrs. Walsh,” you left us with quite a bit of a cliffhanger, was that planned? I’ve been asked about the ending a lot. For me the ending organically made sense. I didn’t want anything to feel forced; it had to be something that felt authentic to each character. Often times when I write I basically know where I am going, but sometimes I take a different path than I had originally planned. I strived to make the characters in Becoming Mrs. Walsh well drawn because creating interesting characters is so important to me. I think an ending needs to feel right for the characters more than the story sequence if that makes sense. In Becoming Mrs. Walsh the actions each character takes feels like what the character would have done in that moment based on what you glean from them throughout the book. I love hearing from readers and I have received a lot of feedback about the end. If you are reading this now and want to talk more about it, please e-mail me. I’m happy to discuss more! Just don’t want to give anything away. 🙂

If “Becoming Mrs. Walsh” were turned into a movie, who would you like to play the leading roles? This is a great question and one I’ve gotten before. I generally don’t like to assign actors because I love when readers have their own vision of who each character is. I think certain actors and actresses evoke specific emotions and reactions from people. But, it is a good question and I love hearing readers’ thoughts on that. I’ve had lots of readers tell me who they saw in a movie version, and let’s just say there has not been one suggestion yet that I’ve disagreed with! People really seem to get exactly where I was going with these characters.

What is your favorite word? Belly because it conveys so many different emotions. It could mean a warm, full belly after a delicious meal. Laughing a real belly laugh, you are so hysterical and tickled with glee. Belly dancing is very sexy and interesting. A pregnant belly makes one thinks of life and the beauty of the belly.

Can you tell us about any of your upcoming projects? I am working on a sequel to Becoming Mrs.Walsh. 🙂 I haven’t officially announced a date yet or anything like that because I really want to make sure the sequel is the best course of action for the characters. Whenever people ask about the sequel I have been saying TBD, but I would like to publish one. And when I know more, my readers and favorite bloggers like yourself will certainly know!

GUEST POST

Five Tips on Writing Chick Lit

1) Chick lit by definition can be light, breezy, and fun. However, in order to be light, breezy, and fun you need to make sure you don’t bog readers down in overly ornate prose and uninteresting details. If you are going to write Chick Lit you must deliver on a premise that it will read quickly and entertain. You can not be boring when you write Chick Lit!

2) Tell a great story. At the heart of every good book is an even better story. Be an amazing story teller. Is this a tale you would want to chat about with friends over drinks or coffee? You want readers to fall in love with your story because it is captivating. It is the type of story that is at the tip of your tongue. You want to tell anyone and everyone how juicy this plot is and what happens. You want readers to still be thinking about the characters long after they have put the book down. I had a reader tell me that it was almost painful to stop reading Becoming Mrs. Walsh. That meant so much to me because I knew the book meant as much to her as it did to me. Entertain readers and be passionate about your story, the point of chick lit is to entertain. So make sure you set out to entertain and deliver on it.

3) Create well drawn characters. While Chick Lit is breezy as I mentioned in point 1, do not fall into the trap of overly light and fluffy. You can have a “beach read” with great characters and engaging plots. The “beach read” part is that it is entertaining and satisfying like candy. You can devour it and love the sweetness of it, but it is not meant to be a heavy meal. You need to have a book that does not take itself too seriously, but just seriously enough.

4) Love what you are writing about. If you, as the author, are not compelled to write or think about the story every single day, go back to the drawing board. Chick lit needs to draw you in and encompass you, you want to crave more of it and have characters that keep you turning pages. They are meant to be super engaging quick reads. If you want to write heavier prose or topics that deal with very serious situations that may not be a mood lifter or take a reader out of his/her world, you may want to re-consider genre. Even women’s fiction can have more of a serious tone. Chick lit can have topics beyond high heels and martinis but it is not meant to be depressing or dark, just interesting and entertaining.

5) Love what you do. If you love writing chick lit do it, but really love it. Love creating characters in interesting situations with vivid scenes, love letting your imagination run wild, and really allow yourself to create something different. If you truly love reading it and writing it then it is the right genre for you. If you feel mediocre about it, it is going to be hard to do. Don’t write a chick lit book because you are a good writer and you think it will be ‘easy,’ that type of forced writing will be apparent.

BecomingMrsWalshCover **”Becoming Mrs. Walsh” by Jessica Gordon:

Shoshana Thompson is 26 years old, miles from home, and engaged to Andrew Walsh, the last single Walsh brother of one of Washington, D.C.’s wealthiest families. Throughout her engagement she becomes enamored with the Walsh lifestyle.

Life in the fast lane comes to a screeching halt when Shoshana develops feelings for another man. When she discovers the feelings may not be one-sided, things are about to get a lot more complicated. This man is not only part of her fancy new world, he is also completely off-limits.

**Contact Jessica: Website Twitter

**Click HERE to buy “Becoming Mrs. Walsh” on Amazon!

**GIVEAWAY**

Click HERE to enter to win a $50.00 SpaFinder Gift Card!

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