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Fatty Patty

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Book Review for “Fatty Patty”

“Fatty Patty” by Kathleen Irene Paterka

Well liked, beloved friend, sister and fifth grade teacher, Patty Perreault is up for Teacher of the Year.  While her “kids” mean everything to her and she loves her job (with the exception of a certain few kids in her class), she’s set on losing weight because she’s worried they won’t pick her for Teacher of the Year because of her weight.  She’s determined and ready to start losing weight, but along the way endures internal and relationship struggles.

First there’s Sam Curtis, who she meets while swimming laps.  As their friendship grows when he offers his expertise on her finances.  While she thinks he’s a nice guy, she can’t see him as anything more than just a friend — because he’s overweight.  Then comes Nick Lamont, a handsome coworker who she’d give up anything for, but there might be more to him than she thinks or wants to admit.  What will “Fatty Patty” do?  Will she let the handsome man walk all over her, or will she stand her ground and see that it’s what’s on the inside that matters the most?

When I decided to be part of the “Fatty Patty” tour, I took part because I loved the cover.  Yes, the cover did sway me, but after reading the first chapter, I was hooked all the way to the end!  From the beginning I was a huge fan of Patty.  I liked the way she took charge of her weight and began swimming laps.  I also liked how her sister stood by her, supporting her in each way, sometimes even hiding food from her when need be.  Their relationship swayed a little bit, but that was understood, too.  I would’ve liked more between them as far as being honest with each other, especially on Patty’s part.  She should’ve said what she thought more, rather than what she thought.

As for her romantic life, I liked both Sam and Nick.  Sam was the one with the heart and Nick was the one with the good looks…(No, I’m not going to spoil it for you!  Read the book!)

Books about “fat” characters can be a touchy subject, but Kathleen Irene Paterka created “Fatty Patty” in a brilliant way.  I loved Patty’s character and think that any woman at any size will, too.

Overall, I think that Kathleen has written a wonderful and heartwarming book about weight, finding yourself and about falling in love.

I give this book 4 out of 5 stars!

About the author:

Kathleen Irene Paterka fell in love with writing (and food) at a very young age. By the time she graduated high school, she’d completed her first manuscript and she weighed 300 lbs. Though the extra pounds have long since disappeared, Kathleen still carries the emotional scars of being a former fatty. FATTY PATTY was born from the cruel teasing she endured on the school playground. Kathleen is the author of numerous novels which embrace universal themes of home, family life and love, including the Women’s Fiction series, “The James Bay Novels”. Kathleen is the resident staff writer for Castle Farms, a world renowned castle listed on the National Historic Register, and co-author of the non-fiction book FOR THE LOVE OF A CASTLE, published in 2012. Having lived and studied abroad, Kathleen’s educational background includes a Bachelor of Arts degree from Central Michigan University. She and her husband live in the beautiful north country of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula. Kathleen loves hearing from readers.

**Contact Kathleen:

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Lauren Clark

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Q & A with Lauren Clark

In five sentences, tell us about yourself:  I am a mom to two great boys. I live in a historic house (aka The Money Pit) in a wonderful neighborhood in the Deep South. I adore the color pink (I have a pink cell phone case, a pink Kindle cover, etc). I used to be a TV news anchor and once interviewed Eliot Spitzer (client # 9…eww!). I have no sense of direction (It’s terrible. Ask my husband).

Have you always wanted to be a writer?  Not always. My parents love to remind me that I wanted to grow up to be an Indian Princess named Tiger Lily!

Do you have a system for writing and editing? If so, what is it?  I have to plot first, as my writing meanders all over the place if I don’t! My first-ever manuscript (probably 7 years ago) was a mess to fix!! I learned my lesson then, and now start out with note cards to brainstorm ideas for chapters, later type up a rough outline on my Mac, and then, get to work. The library is one of my favorite places to work, as it’s really quiet, allows coffee (with a lid), and I don’t have the password for the Internet connection!

What kind of research do you do for your books?  With Dancing Naked in Dixie, I had visited Eufaula a dozen or more times, so I was very familiar with the setting. Now, however, I live four hours away, so I spent a lot of time on MapQuest and GoogleEarth to make sure my locations were accurate. I also fact-checked with books about the history of Barbour County and, of course, the official “Eufaula Pilgrimage” website.

George Clooney or Ryan Gosling?  Ryan Gosling.

Which do you prefer, coffee or tea?  Coffee. Flavored coffee, please!!

What are your guilty pleasures?  I adore flavored coffee and drink wayyyy too much of it! I am also totally smitten with Downton Abbey. I loved every episode and cannot wait for Season 3!!

What are you reading right now?  Divergent (audiobook). It is sooo good that I want to stay in my car and keep listening!

If you could write anywhere, where would it be?  Santorini, Greece

What other authors inspire you?   Sophie Kinsella, Jodi Picoult, Stephen King (love his book, On Writing)

Do you have any upcoming projects?  I am working on story about The Pie Lab, which is an actual restaurant in Greensboro, Alabama. It’s a great little place, has wonderful pies (both dessert pies and quiche-type pies), and provides a place where local folks can get on-the-job training. My protagonist is a young woman who’s vowed never to return to Greensboro (her hometown), but is forced to do so when her husband leaves her for another man.

Additional comments by Lauren:  The highest compliment a reader can pay an author is to write a quick review for sites like Amazon, BN.com, and GoodReads. It means the world to me and it’s helpful to see what people liked about the book (or thought could be improved). Also, I love getting email and answer every message!

**Visit Lauren at any of the below links:

Email: laurenclarkbooks@gmail.com.

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Some Days I Just Want To Write

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Now that I’ve written two books and am in the editing process of both of them, I just want to write!  Don’t get me wrong, I love editing and always have.  There are days where I just want to wake up, fix a cup of tea and spend time creating all the ideas I have in my mind!  I’ve spent so much time with the characters in the first two books that I’m wanting to make new friends.  I know that some writers are talented enough to do both, edit and write, but when I tried last week to start another book, that darn blinking cursor stared back at me.  (I guess you could say that my inner goddess was not happy with what I had written), so I deleted all two and a half pages.  Looking back on it, I can say it was the right thing and that what I wrote was in fact not good!

But, there’s some good news — November is just around the corner.  That means once again, I’ll be participating in National Novel Writing Month!  Last year was my first year to participate and I loved it!  I loved the way that I was so invested in it, not with only my characters, but the story, too.  While it was difficult timing wise (Thanksgiving and getting ready for Christmas and my wedding anniversary), somehow I made it work (thanks to my amazing husband who supported me along the way — I couldn’t have done it without him).  As for what I’m going to write this year, I have part of it already outlined and I’m really excited about it.  Also, if you’ve not done NaNoWriMo before, I highly recommend it.  It’s changed my life in the way I think of writing a book.  Apparently, I can write a book in 30 days! 🙂

C. Robinson

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Q & A with C. Robinson

Describe yourself in five sentences:  I’m a passionate person and writer who takes life’s experiences and turns them into stories that people can relate to and learn from. I seek out opportunities and create them if I have to. I am not limited by a fear of making mistakes – I see them as material for my books. I’m a go-getter by nature, a positive person by choice and someone who finds humor in every day.

How did you come up with the title of your book, “Me and D*ck?”  Once I had the concept of the book, a character who’s moonlighting as a partial escort (oral sex escort), I figured that Me & D*ck  could serve as a double meaning: the main character deals with dicks on a daily basis and the main male character is Dick. It worked out perfectly.

Where is your dream place to write?  The beaches of Malibu with a martini in one hand and a computer on my lap watching the waves crash against shoreline.

Hard/paperback or eBook?  Both

What is your favorite word?  Why?  AWESOME – There’s so much positivity behind the meaning; it emphasizes greatness.

Explain your best setting for writing and editing?  Laying on my bed with the music playing in the background listening to the rain hit the window. I seem to be most motivated to write during a thunderstorm.

What other authors do you admire?  Tim O’Brien – The Things They Carried. He is able to connect to his readers in a unique way.  Although the material is difficult and gut-wrenching, his style of writing still leaves the reader inspired as well as informed.

Have you always want to be writer?  Yes. Writing was my strongest subject in school. As funny as it is, Mighty Ducks the movie, inspired me to want to write books that would be turned into movies.

What is your guilty pleasure?  Nail polish (I have a habit of changing the color of my nails every other night) and watching Master Chef.

What is your favorite scene from “Me and D*ck?”  Towards the end of the book when my main character, Sunshyne Mercy, realizes her self-worth, is empowered, takes a risk and is comfortable with who she really is.

What must a writer have with them at all times?  An open mind and no limits on their imagination.

Do you have any upcoming projects?  If so, can you tell us anything?  The second book of the Me & D*ck trilogy is almost complete.

Additional comments from C. Robinson:  Keep writing your life; you never know where the next great story will emerge from.

**Click HERE to read a guest post by C. Robinson!

**Visit C. Robinson at any of the below links:

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Carol Cadoo

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Q & A with Carol Cadoo

Tell us about yourself by describing yourself in 5 words:  Saucy Irreverent Funny Tough and Mom

What is a typical day like for Carol Cadoo?  I live in a blender set on frappe.  My typical day is never typical but one thing is constant. I live out in the country so at 5am I am on my patio having coffee and getting my list of to do, for the day. Love a list because I love to mark things off the list, not necessarily to keep track.  I always write in the morning for 2 hours and at night for2 hours. The difference between a writer and someone who writes is that a writer writes daily, as a matter of self- discipline. Someone who writes gets to write whenever they want.  On MWF I write for an additional 8 hours. When I am in first draft or first rewrite mode.  I also have a busy life as a wedding planner and mom of one left at home with two adorable dog babies. I have an adult son living in Tulsa. Being the control freak I am; I also touch base to micro manage his life daily. I garden and work with others in creative projects.  My house tends to be the Kool-Aid house for artist, musicians and other writers. They always know there is good coffee and conversation in my garden.

What or who inspires you?  I tell you my sister inspires me she is a schizophrenic and has to work real hard to live a normal life.  Things that we take for granted are hard work for her.  She inspires me with her courage and steadfast desire to get better, in order to live a normal life.  She is funny and bright a special person in a mean world; she lives her life with dignity and hope.  I am awestruck by her courage. I always remind myself of that when I feel like I am having a bad day.  There are worse days for people, so my little minor problems seem just that…minor.  You know they say you can’t pick the path you walk.  But you can decide how you will walk it. Colette walks her path with grace.

How long did it take you to write your book, Déjà vu of Love?  Well I say 20 years because I started thinking about a book at 20 and actually wrote it at 40. Once I sat down to do it two weeks for a first draft.  I naively thought the process was done, oh no little grasshopper.  What I discovered was that writing the first draft just starts the process.  So I made a lot of mistakes and had to learn how to write a book with this one.  Got a few editorial critiques rewrote, restructured so my rewrite process with this book has been about 10 years.  There is much to learn before the book actually makes it to peoples Kindle.  I had to learn how the whole process of publishing worked.  So this book has been a journey.  The next two benefitted from all the learning, total time on each from first draft to publication about 18 months.

At what moment did you feel that you were a real author?  When one of my editors cried when she read a passage, another one laughed those were the moments that I said to myself okay, you are now an author.  I believe that writing is about putting the reader right smack dab in the middle of the story…living it.  If they read the book from one of the characters prospective you have done your job as a writer.

If your book were to be a movie, who would like to play your characters?  I would love for Bethany Frankel to play Jazz and Charlie Sheen as Gianni probably the guy who played Jack on Will and Grace for Patrick.

How did the idea come for Déjà vu of Love?  Like most of my ideas it came up while I was gardening and playing the, what if game.  I spend a lot of time growing 37 different sunflowers plus roses and lavender. After I come up with the basic story line I let the characters fill in the blanks.  I find the more I stay out of their dynamics the better it all flows.  So when I get into editing I really think it is more like channeling the characters. I have to go back and reread as I have no memory of writing anything.  It is a real bazaar thing.  If you have never experienced it, no one can explain it but weird is an understatement.

When writing, what are the 5 things you must have with you?  Cold Kentucky Fried Chicken, Pepsi, Jalapeno almonds, coffee and my laptop

Have do you deal with writer’s block?  I don’t believe in writers block, I think it is a myth. See here is the thing if you try and force your characters into dialogue or try and dictate how you want them to react; they plant their feet and go “no way”.  Writers block is just an author trying to force their views or agenda onto the characters the characters rebel.  That is why nothing works, it is best to walk away come back and write another day. Clean the house, play with your grandkids let thoughts of the book go away.  Let the characters sort everything out amongst them, then when you go back everything falls into place.  If you fight the characters nothing will happen.

What is your favorite part of the writing/editing/publishing process?  Why?  I love, love, love the rewrite process.  I love the angst, the suffering the whole deal.  It really makes me know I am a writer when I am knee deep in rewrite. Just love it fleshing out the details of the story line and really getting to know my characters.

Paper/hardback or eBooks?  Why?  Ebooks all the way.  Somewhere in a forest in the world a mother tree and her children are thanking me.  Somewhere in the world of the future, a mom will take her kids to a park to climb a tree.  It has to come, the time is now, and we can no longer waste our resources.  You know there will always be paper books.  I believe that is the future role of the library. I write very good fluff.  Not War and Peace but fun easy hammock, vacation, airplane and sick bed novels.  I write them well; they are entertainment. I believe Kindle will replace paper books like elevators replaced stairs, not at all. There is nothing that will replace the smell and feel of paper and ink. But again use our resources sparingly.

Do you have any upcoming projects?  If so, can you tell us anything?  Yes the second install of this standalone nightstand trilogy Inheritance of Love is in final rewrite scheduled release is Nov 15th ish. The third Journey to Love is scheduled for release Jan 15th it just finished in first draft. Waiting for the first edit.

Additional comments by Carol:  I hope everyone enjoy reading Déjà Vu of Love as much as I loved writing it.  Also if anyone wants to drop me a line I would love to hear from you.  They should always feel free to let other readers know what they think at Amazon by placing a review.  Thanks for having me and I wish everyone a great summer and one good read in a hammock.

**Contact Carol:

Email: carolcadoobookstore@gmail.com

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Anita Hughes

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Q & A with Anita Hughes

Who is Anita Hughes?  I was born and raised in Sydney, Australia. I live with my family in a villa on the grounds of the St. Regis, Monarch Beach. I am a mother, writer, taxi service for my children, cook, laundress and dog washer.

What are your days/nights like?  I take my children to school and then sit down and write. At noon I take a break and walk my dog to the beach. I love to think while I walk. By the time I get home I usually have the next section of my manuscript worked out. Then I pick the kids up, help with homework, make dinner and hang out with them in the evening. After they have gone to bed I revise what I wrote that day and plan the next day’s writing.

How did you come up the title of “Monarch Beach?”  Actually an editor at St. Martin’s Press came up with the title! I am so grateful because it fits perfectly. I love my cover and my title: they make me feel like I’m at the beach even when I’m not.

If “Monarch Beach” were turned into a movie, who would you choose for actors?  I could see Natalie Portman or Ann Hathaway as Amanda. Adrian Grenier would make a perfect Andre and Alec Baldwin would be terrific as Edward. I see Stephanie as someone really fun – maybe Kate Hudson.

What inspired “Monarch Beach?”  I live on the grounds of the St. Regis and I am surrounded by beauty. I thought – if you were really unhappy would living in a gorgeous place make you feel better – or do you take your grief wherever you go?

How did you celebrate your first book being published?  My children and I went out for frozen yoghurt. I did browse online for pretty shoes and dresses but I decided I would save that for my first author event.

What are your favorite must-haves for writers?  I need my laptop, coffee and a good book. When I’m not writing, I’m reading, so I always have to have a great book on my bedside table.

Explain what would be your perfect day?  Sleep in and then go to the spa and sit in the Tranquility Room. Then go for a swim or walk along the beach. At night, I love to watch a great movie or a show on HBO.

What’s your favorite snack to eat during the editing or writing process?  I like a cup of coffee when I’m revising. It gives me a burst of energy to do my best work.

Do you have any advice for new writers?  My advice is to completely immerse yourself in your manuscript. When I am working on a novel, I think about it all the time. Make your characters your friends, live in their world, and it will come alive.

What is the best advice you’ve been given?  To write the books I want to read. I look forward to sitting down and writing – it is like reading but better. It is exciting to see what appears on the page.

Do you have any upcoming projects?  If so, tells us:  My second novel, MARKET STREET, will be released on March 26th,  2013. I love the cover and I’m really excited about it. A third novel, LAKE COMO, will come out some time next year.

Additional comments from Anita:  Thank you so much for hosting me on your wonderful blog, Isabella!

**Visit Anita at any of the below links:

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Erin Duffy

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Q & A with Erin Duffy

Tell us about yourself in 5 sentences:  Let’s see, I’m a Capricorn, I enjoy women’s fiction, baking, and long walks on the beach as long as it’s not too hot because I get sunburned really easily. I grew up about thirty minutes outside New York City and absolutely love everything about Manhattan, especially since my parents and siblings all live here, too. I’m very close with my friends, and keep in touch with them often, but I am horrible, and I mean, horrible, at responding to voice mails. I played sports my entire life, including two Varsity sports in college, but for reasons I will never be able to explain, I can’t really ride a bike. I am not a beach person, and I’d be much happier wearing a big cozy turtleneck, buried under a blanket, in front of a fireplace somewhere, than I would lying in a bikini on a beach anywhere in the world. (That last one drives my friends absolutely crazy when we travel!)

It’s been noted that “Bond Girl” is based upon your experiences.  Was writing any of it difficult?  I definitely based parts of the book on my experiences, but it’s not a diary by any means, so it was probably a bit easier than people would think. I was a little nervous that people would think that they were getting a first hand account of true to life events, which made me nervous, because I’m not someone who’s all that interested in sharing my personal life with just about anyone! I also found that as a first time writer, it’s very hard to open yourself up to the criticism and commentary that comes with the territory, so that was actually probably the scariest part of writing it for me.

What is a normal day like for your now that you’re an author?  How does it compare to when you worked at Merrill Lynch?  There’s no such thing as a normal day for me as far as I can tell anymore! It’s nothing like going to work in an office where you have to be up and out of your apartment with your makeup on and your hair done by a certain time. This new world I could theoretically work in my pajamas all day and no one would know or care, though I try really hard not to do that because other writers have told me that’s one of the fastest ways to go insane. Usually, I try to write about ten pages a day, get to the gym, and catch up on blogs or interviews like this one. Some days I’m more productive than others, but I’m trying to go easy on myself and say that it’s just because it’s a major life adjustment to go from working on a trading floor with hundreds of other people to working alone in your apartment all day. I’m hoping to develop a better type of normalcy as I go!

What do you like best about the writing process?  I like how there’s not really a “right” or “wrong” way to do things, and that I have the ability to do anything I want with the characters. I think it’s fun to explore personalities and character traits that are different and quirky. You can put any words you want in the mouths of a character, I mean, things you’d never have the nerve to say yourself in a million years, or things that maybe you wish you said at some point in your life and never did. For me, being able make people on paper say anything I want without consequences has been the best part so far.

Which famous person would you like to meet?  There are so many interesting and important things going on in the world right now that I KNOW I should say someone in the political arena and be smart about it. But I don’t want to lie on this blog, and the truth is, if I had the chance to meet one famous person, I’d like for it to be Taylor Lautner or one of the other guys from Twilight for the sole reason that my niece would then officially think she has the coolest Aunt on earth. You can’t underestimate the importance of being popular with the adolescent set.

How long did it take you to write “Bond Girl?”  Start to finish, it took me just over a year. The first few months I was working on it full time, and then I finished it on nights and weekends. I worked on it basically seven days a week for that period though. By the time it was done I had the whole thing memorized and felt like Alex was a roommate!

What did you do to celebrate it being published?  My friends actually threw me a cocktail party, which was so amazingly nice of them, and it was a ton of fun. I had friends fly in from all over the country, and we all got to catch up over champagne and appetizers. They even had chocolate shoes made in honor of the shoe on the cover. They still won’t tell me how they managed to find someone to do that! I couldn’t have picked a better way to celebrate.

Do you have any guilty pleasures?  How much time do you have? I have a ton! For starters I’m a chocolate fanatic, and can and will eat just about anything if there’s chocolate in it. If you are looking for examples outside of the edible persuasion, I’m obsessed with the show Top Chef, a reality cooking competition, and then there’s always my Us Weekly addiction. It doesn’t feel like Friday until I get my paws on the latest issue. I could go on but I’m afraid I’ll embarrass myself further!

Who played your favorite “James Bond?”  Pierce Bronson hands down. I’d like to say it was because of his superb acting chops, but in reality I was glazed over for most of the movie staring at how ridiculously good looking he is. How does anyone have a conversation in person with that guy without completely losing their train of thought?

What is your favorite word, and why?  I feel like this is a trick question, that writers are supposed to say that they love all words equally the way that parents talk about their kids. This is probably going to sound ridiculous, but for some reason, I really like the word ‘slush’. I like that it has multiple meanings, and can at the same time mean a nice little frozen ice desert that people love, and dirty street sludge that can ruin your shoes and make people miserable. It’s a schizophrenic word. I love that.

What is the best advice you can give to new writers who want to leave their jobs and become a writer?  Oh boy, that’s a hard one. I’m no expert, I only did it myself a few months ago and I’m definitely still trying to figure it out. I guess I’d say make sure you are self-motivated and disciplined before you decide to remove all the structure from your life. It’s probably the most difficult part of being a writer, for me, at least. It’s hard to try to build your own schedule and not get distracted by little things, or just procrastinate until you want to rip your own hair out. It’s much easier to hit the snooze button on the alarm when you don’t have a boss waiting on your arrival, and that can be a tricky thing when you’re trying to write a novel!

Do you have any upcoming projects?  If so, would you like to share anything?  I do! I’m working on a second novel right now, and while it’s not a sequel, I hope people will enjoy the characters the way they’ve enjoyed the ones in Bond Girl. It focuses around women in their early thirties. So far, I’m having a lot of fun with it!

Additional comments by Erin:  Thank you so much for having me on your blog! This whole experience of being published has been a lot of fun for me, but I’m really enjoying the opportunity to connect with people through sites like this one. Thank you so much again for your time!

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Tracie Banister

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An avid reader and writer, Tracie Banister has been scribbling stories since she was a child, most of them featuring feisty heroines with complicated love lives like her favorite fictional protagonist Scarlett O’Hara.  Her work was first seen on the stage of her elementary school, where her 4th grade class performed an original holiday play that she penned (Like all good divas-in-the-making, she, also, starred in and tried to direct the production.)  Her dreams of authorial success were put on the backburner when she reached adulthood and discovered that she needed a “real” job in order to pay her bills.  Her career as personal assistant to a local entrepreneur lasted for 12 years.  When it ended, Tracie decided to follow her bliss and dedicate herself to writing full-time.  Her debut novel, the Hollywood-themed Blame It on the Fame, was released in January, 2012.  And she’s following that up with the fun summer read, In Need of Therapy.

Q & A with Tracie Banister

Welcome back, Tracie!  Since you last guest appearance, how have you been?  I’ve been busy!  I’ve spent the last six months promoting my first book, Blame It on the Fame, while trying to get my second book, In Need of Therapy, ready for publication.  In the midst of all that, I’ve been working on some new writing projects!

How long did it take to write In Need of Therapy?  About seven months for the actual writing, then another month or so to proofread and fine-tune things.

Which do you prefer, writing, editing, or both?  Why?  I’m the type of writer who edits as I go, so I can’t really separate the two.  It’s all part of the same process for me.  My first draft is pretty close to my final draft.  I never do major rewrites where I have to cut pages or rework a sub-plot.

Where did you get the ideas for this book?  My overactive imagination, as always! 🙂  Truthfully, I have no clue where my ideas come from.  I just start out with a premise, write detailed character bios, then jump into the writing.  The characters come to life on the page, and they lead me where they want to go.  The best bits in all of my books are the things I didn’t plan in advance.

What’s it like in a day of Tracie Banister?  I am awakened every morning at 10 by my houseboy, Fernando, who brings me breakfast in bed (an egg white omelet w/spinach and cheese – very healthy.)  I dictate a chapter or two of my latest novel to my personal assistant while getting my hair and make-up done (by professionals, of course.)  Then, I’m off to meetings with my “team” (publicist, manager, agent, fan club president, et al.)  In the afternoons, I do personal appearances, interviews, etc.  Then, it’s back home to get ready for whatever movie premiere, club opening, or gala I’ve been invited to . . . Oh, wait, did you mean a day in my real life?  Unfortunately, it’s not nearly as much fun as my fantasy life.  In fact, it’s totally unglamorous.  I’m chained to my desk for up to 10 hours a day, 6 days a week (this is why I have carpal tunnel and a twitchy eye!)  My writing “uniform” is a t-shirt, sweats, and fuzzy slippers (I have them in 5 different colors – no lie!)  The only breaks I take during the day are to exercise, do household chores, run errands, or play with my dogs.  Other that that, it’s work, work, and more WORK, and I love it!

After being published, how do you celebrate?  I really don’t do anything special other than have a few “Woohoo!” moments with friends and family.

What do you snack on while working?  I’m not much of a snacker, although I will confess to eating breakfast and lunch at the computer almost every day because I hate taking time away from work to have a meal!  We won’t even discuss all the crumbs that have accumulated in my keyboard!

Tell us your favorite word?  Why?  Serendipity.  It’s a fun word to say!  And I love the meaning: “The accidental discovery of something pleasant, valuable, or useful.”

What or who inspires you?  My mother – she’s always succeeded in life by being kind, hard-working, and determined.  I’ve, also, been very inspired by all the authors I’ve met during the course of my publishing journey.  As a whole, they are a strong, positive, resilient bunch!

Name 5 things that every writer needs?  1) An excellent thesaurus. 2) Lots of multi-colored post-its for jotting down all of your brilliant ideas as they occur to you. 3) A Twitter account – social media is so important in connecting with readers and other writers! 4) Supportive friends and family. 5) CDs, a flash drive, or a memory stick – some place to save all of your work!

What is the best advice you’ve ever been given?  The best advice I ever received was to self-publish and that came from multiple sources.  I was just so worn out from having my work praised by agents and publishers only to be rejected because they didn’t think they could sell Chick Lit/funny women’s fiction anymore.  I was at the point where I probably would have given up writing, but my family and friends all convinced me to give indie publishing a shot and I’m so glad they did!  It’s been such a great experience, and now after all these years people are finally reading my books and giving me such wonderful feedback!  My love of writing has been restored, and I’m excited to find out what the future holds for my career as an author.

What do you have coming up next?  I have three different contemporary Chick Lit novels simmering on the backburner.  I’m just trying to decide which one I want to write next!  Meanwhile, I’m focusing on a novel that I’m calling “Regency Chick Lit” as it’s in the vein of Jane Austen/Georgette Heyer novels with a large cast of characters and lots of romance and comedy.

Additional comments from Tracie:  I had a blast writing In Need of Therapy, so I hope everyone has just as much fun reading it!  I think it’s the perfect summer read to take with you to the pool or beach (and it pairs nicely with a Mojito given that the heroine is part-Cuban! :))

**Visit Tracie at any of the links below:

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InNeedOfTherapyCoverIn Need of Therapy

Lending a sympathetic ear and dispensing sage words of advice is all part of the job for psychologist Pilar Alvarez, and she’s everything a good therapist should be:  warm, compassionate, supportive.  She listens, she cares, and she has all the answers, but how’s the woman everyone turns to in their hour of need supposed to cope when her own life starts to fall apart?

While working hard to make a success of her recently-opened practice in trendy South Beach, Pilar must also find time to cater to the demands of her boisterous Cuban family, which includes younger sister Izzy, an unemployed, navel-pierced wild child who can’t stay out of trouble, and their mother, a beauty queen turned drama queen who’s equally obsessed with her fading looks and getting Pilar married before it’s “too late.”  Although she’d like to oblige her mother and make a permanent love connection, Pilar’s romantic prospects look grim.  Her cheating ex, who swears that he’s reformed, is stalking her.  A hunky, but strictly off-limits, patient with bad-boy appeal and intimacy issues is making passes.  And the sexy shrink in the suite across the hall has a gold band on his left ring finger.

When a series of personal and professional disasters lead Pilar into the arms of one of her unsuitable suitors, she’s left shaken, confused, and full of self-doubt.  With time running out, she must make sense of her feelings and learn to trust herself again so that she can save her business, her family, and most importantly, her heart.

**Buy the book!

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A Quick Update!

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It’s been a long time since I’ve blogged, so thank you to my loyal followers for being patient with me.  I hope I haven’t let any of you down.

  • First of all, can you believe summer is almost over?  Thank goodness, because it’s hot in Texas!
  • If you’ve been keeping up with my BOOK REVIEWS, TOURS and GUESTS pages, then you know I’ve been busy reading and getting to know a lot of wonderful and inspiring authors!
  • As far as edits on my two books, Redefined Dreams and The Right Design, things are going great!  I have two amazing editors who are helping me create two books that I’ve put my heart and soul into.
  • Happy Friday!
  • Oh, and I have a HUGE announcement coming on Monday, so stay tuned!