Chick Lit Goddess

...because every author wants to feel like a goddess!

Guest Interview

Katy Regnery

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About author, Kate Regnery: Katy is a 2013 NECRWA First Kiss, 2013 NTRWA Great Expectations and 2013 SOLA Dixie Kane contest winner who has always loved telling a good story. She credits her mother with making funny, heartwarming tales come alive throughout her childhood. A lifelong devotee of all Romance writing, from Edwardian to present-day, it was just a matter of time before Katy tried her hand at writing a love story of her own.

Katy lives in the relative-wilds of northern Fairfield County, Connecticut where her writing room looks out at the woods, and her husband, two young children and two dogs create just enough cheerful chaos to remind her that the very best love stories of all can often be the messy or unexpected ones.

INTERVIEW

Describe your writing style in five sentences: I write sweet, small-town contemporary romances that generally use a hero/heroine alternating point of view. I try to keep my dialogue sharp and witty, but I also do a fair amount of thoughtful exposition. Satisfying micro and macro arcs are really important to me; I don’t like leaving loose ends!

When did you know you wanted to be a writer? I took my first writing class with the local continuing education program in January 2012. That Spring I wrote a lot of short stories, but I didn’t really think about novel writing until September when I started writing By Proxy. I completed By Proxy in November 2012 and it was contracted in March 2013.

Hard/paperbacks or eBooks? I have a small collection of paperbacks that were meaningful to me when I read them. I can’t part with them yet, even though some of them are on my Kindle too. But, I’m 100% digital at this point. I can’t remember the last time I bought a paper book.

How did you celebrate the publication of your first book? When By Proxy debuted, my husband was on a business trip and my kids were asleep, so I was all alone! I opened a bottle of Champagne and poured myself a glass. Then I sat on my computer for hours, toggling between Twitter, Facebook and Amazon, just watching it all happen. Pretty intense. Pretty awesome.

What is the writing/editing/publishing process like for you? My writing process is generally very intense. I want to write all the time and it’s really hard for me to balance my “real” life with writing time. I’m pretty compulsive when I’m on a jag, and I’ve been known to write 8,000-10,000 words a day.

I view the editing process as a fail-safe and I am immensely grateful for it. I look forward to the feedback my editor gives me and I take revisions really, really seriously. It’s my chance to make a 3-4 star book into a 4-5 star book.

I’ve only published one book so far, but it was pretty emotional! I was so nervous and excited before my book launched, then euphoric once it did, then terrified it would flop. I am just getting to a place now where I am starting to relax about it.

If you’re not writing, then you’re probably…: Driving my kids to their activities, hanging out on social media, or picking up a Café Americana decaf with four shots. (I specifically take a break every day to drive to my favorite coffee shop!)

Who or what inspires you? Any love story inspires me. On TV, in movies, in books. I was recently at a wedding and a young couple shared the story of how they met at summer camp as kids and found each other again in Manhattan twenty years later. I was utterly captivated, and thought to myself, “Hmm. Summer camp. Good setting…”

Where is your favorite place to write? I have a small office in my home. To my right is window that looks out on our backyard, and to my left is a window that looks out into the woods. As far as I’m concerned, it’s perfect.

You write under two names, are there any differences between your characters? Yes, lots. My Katy Regnery romances are sweet and the characters are – for the most part – grounded and “normal.” My K.P. Kelley paranormals are visceral, sometimes violent and the emotionality is much more absolute and intense.

What do you want your readers to take away from your books? That there’s someone for everyone. I really believe that. You have to keep your heart and eyes open, but if you desire love – if you really, really want love in your life – I believe you’ll find it.

Every writer must have a…: Good sound system in their office or writing space. I couldn’t do without mine! I’d say I play music at least 60% of the time while I’m writing. I have playlists that specifically correlate to each book, and no matter how much time goes by between typing “The End” and doing revisions, the music will take me right back into my characters’ heads.

Can you tell us about any of your upcoming projects? A novella “The Christmas Wish,” my second Heart of Montana book, will be out the first week in November. The ensuing four Heart of Montana books will be out in January, April, July and October 2014, and January 2015. It’s an aggressive release schedule, but almost all are already written.

My first paranormal, It’s You, comes out in Spring 2014.

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Blurb of “By Proxy”:

“Is my virtue safe?” Sam asked.

“Safer than it was in Chicago,” Jenny answered, getting the better of him.

He chuckled. “Phew! Okay. That’s a relief. Yes, I will come watch a Christmas movie with you. But you better keep your hands to yourself, Jenny. I mean it.”

She shook her head, smiling as they made their way across the bridge. “You are an ass.”

He gasped. “Jenny Lindstrom! A swearword!”

She giggled merrily. “An animal.”

“The back end of one.”

“As you said.”

“Do you kiss your father with that mouth?”

“I kissed you with that mouth.”

He stopped walking beside her, but their hands connected them and she had to drop his hand or stop and turn back to him. She stopped and turned. He was standing beside the last lamppost on the bridge, leaning against it with his arm outstretched to her. As she approached him in the dim light, she could see his eyes sparkling.

“No, Jen. I kissed you.” He pulled her closer. “But I’m open to a do-over.”

**Contact Kate Regnery:

Website   Facebook   Twitter

Martha Reynolds

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About author, Martha Reynolds: Martha Reynolds ended an accomplished career as a fraud investigator and began writing full time in 2011. Her debut novel, CHOCOLATE FOR BREAKFAST, was published in 2012 and was named the 2012 Book of the Year in Women’s Fiction by Turning the Pages Books. She released CHOCOLATE FONDUE, its sequel, in 2013. BITS OF BROKEN GLASS marks her third novel, and she plans a final book in the ‘chocolate’ series, BITTERSWEET CHOCOLATE, by the end of the year. She and her husband live in Rhode Island, never far from the ocean.

INTERVIEW

Welcome back, Martha! What have you been up to since your first appearance? Thanks so much, Isabella. It’s good to be back with the Chick Lit Goddesses. Since the release of my debut novel, I’ve been writing, as you can guess. This is my full-time job, so I’m at work every day. When I’m not writing, I’m reading. Good literature is such an inspiration for better writing!

Congratulations on your new book, “Bits of Broken Glass”! Tell us about it: It centers around a high school reunion, but is about so much more than that. Four former classmates will meet again, twenty-five years after graduation. Each of them has a struggle. Each of them has a chance at redemption.

What is your favorite word? Today, my favorite word is green. I love the way it sounds, and what it evokes. Green figures into this book, in a subtle way. My favorite word changes constantly, though.

Where did you get the idea for this book? I know some people who dread the idea of a high school reunion; they’d never attend. Others have told me that they hated high school, for any number of reasons (we all have teenage angst, I suppose). Much of the story grew from there.

If you could meet you favorite author, who would it be? I’ve been very inspired lately by Catherine Ryan Hyde. She wrote PAY IT FORWARD, as well as many other wonderful books. She has influenced me to write meaningful fiction.

What was the most difficult part of writing your new book? Probably the passages where Joe and Kellie relate their long-held secrets. Very heartbreaking to write.

If you’re not writing, then what are you doing? Reading, a lot. But now that our weather has cooled, walking a lot, too. It clears my head.

When people find out you’re an author, what’s their reaction? My friends aren’t surprised, and they’ve been so supportive of my efforts.

What must every writer have? Every writer must have the passion, at least in the case of writing fiction. If you don’t, and you’re only in it for the (presumed) money or notoriety, it will come through in your writing. I absolutely love what I do! Wealth and recognition aside (‘cause those haven’t happened yet!), I will continue to write.

What do you want readers to take away from “Bits of Broken Glass”? I want my readers to remember that everyone has a story, and sometimes the people we think least of have a lot to offer.

In your career, where do you think you’ll be five years from now? In five years, I’ll probably be releasing my twentieth novel.

Can you tell us about any of your upcoming projects? I’m planning to publish a journal written by my grandfather. In 1924, he and a friend traveled three rivers in Rhode Island and Connecticut, by canoe. I’ve just begun transcribing his writings and I’m very excited about it. And I’ve written the first draft of BITTERSWEET CHOCOLATE, the third and final book in the series. Hoping to have that ready before the end of the year.

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Blurb of “Bits of Broken Glass”:

How much really changes in 25 years?  Former classmates are poised to find out as their first-ever high school reunion gets closer. Some lives have improved, some have soured, but all remained connected by their shared West Alton High past…

Once the target of ridicule, one-time “ugly duckling” Kellie has transformed in both beauty and attitude, though her fears and fragility remain as deep scars within. Will facing those who once wronged her help or do even more damage to her delicate psyche? Joe was adored by everyone in school. Well…almost everyone. Being gay in a close-minded small town, he knew he had no future in West Alton, so right after graduation, he traded one ocean for another. Now an Oscar-winning Hollywood director, Joe is ready to return. Except that it means having to face the horrific event that ultimately pushed him away… Former cheerleader Cherry planned this reunion to make peace with those she may have wronged in school. But as she faces cancer and stares down her own mortality, will she really be able to make things right again? And then there’s Scott, the West Alton “lifer,” who’s been collecting a disability pension from the town for a suspicious back injury, among other questionable life choices. Are his reasons for wanting to attend the reunion pure? Or does he have another agenda? As the months count down, long-kept secrets will be revealed as the question ever looms… Can you ever really go home again?

**Contact Martha Reynolds:

Email: MarthaCFE@gmail.com   Blog/Website   Facebook   Twitter

Addison Westlake

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Addison Westlake

About author, Addison Westlake: Addison Westlake made her debut as an author at age 13 by rewriting the “Sweet Valley High” series. Despite copyright violations, she maintains that her rendition of Elisabeth and Jessica Wakefield as preteens in a British orphanage is a classic. Between then and now she went to some fancy schools, swapped out the East Coast for the West Coast, and had oodles of kids. Some of her favorite things in life include coffee, Aretha Franklin’s inauguration hat and the sleepwalking scene in “Step Brothers.”

INTERVIEW

Welcome back! What have you been up to since your first appearance on Chick Lit Goddess? I’ve been enjoying some success with my first self-published chick lit book “Christmas in Wine Country,” out in November 2012. With 25 copies downloaded, it spent six weeks as a best seller on Amazon in women’s fiction, contemporary romance, humorous fiction and humor.

My new chick lit book “Facebook Jeanie” came out 10/1 and is ready to join the party.

Tell us about your new book, “Facebook Jeanie”: It’s Bridget Jones meets “Groundhog Day” as 31-year-old Clara uses a new Facebook app to go back in time for a ‘do over’ with her college boyfriend, The One That Got Away. Ever wonder if you made the right choice? What if you could find out? Back in the world of frat parties, BFFs, and long-suffering, overlooked lab partners, join Clara as she discovers what it really means to hit the reset button on life. What could possibly go wrong? And, this time, can she get it right?

Where did you get the concept for this book? I think we all have those moments when we wonder… what if? What if our lives hadn’t followed the path we chose? What if we did take that job offer in another city or if we did decide to marry that ex-boyfriend? “Facebook Jeanie” came out of that universal experience. I imagined what if there were some way for a character to have a ‘do over’ with the one that got away.

Who or what inspires you? My mom inspires me because of how much she enjoys life, my husband because of how hard he works for the family, and my kids because of how much they’re learning every day.

Describe what the writing/editing/publishing process was like for you? Writing is lovely, like eating chocolates or spending time with loved ones. I can’t get enough of it. Publishing is much more complicated. The technical aspects of formatting and cover design can confusing, and marketing can feel scary and daunting. But when I remember that getting the word out about my book is essentially about connecting with like-minded authors and readers and sharing our love of chick lit, it feels fun again.

What are you reading right now? “The Next Best Thing” by Kristan Higgins.

How did you come up with “Facebook Jeanie”? I started with that ‘what if’ question, then I added in a dash of the magic of social media. I find Facebook fascinating—it both connects and disconnects you. You can keep in touch with friends and family, and you can spend two hours on it not paying any attention to the friends and family in the room with you. I created a character stuck in a Facebook rut, engaging more with photos of someone in her past than anyone in her present. And then I imagined a new Facebook app that lets her travel back in time, making her past her present. The rest is in the book!

If this book were turned into a movie, who would you want to play the parts? I could see Alek being played by Jake Gyllenhaal or James Franco. Clara could be Hayden Panettiere or Teresa Palmer (Warm Bodies). I could see Anna Faris being pretty funny as Jeanie; she’d bring a “House Bunny” element to the role. And Brad? Any good-lucking but vacant & bland guy would do!!!

What is your favorite line from the book? “This is just like Bella and Edward!” Jeanie declared. “Only Brad’s not a vampire, so it’s even better!”

How has social media helped you with your career? As an indie author, I don’t think any of us would be able to publish without social media. In some ways, Amazon is one big social media site—a place to share and interact with content. Without social media, we’d all be waiting to be asked to the dance by an agent. Instead, we’re all rocking out on the dance floor.

What’s the best advice you’ve been given? Relax. My husband says it a lot.

Can you tell us about any upcoming projects? I’m excited to start work on “The Never Been Kissed Club” series. Four friends band together at 13 years old. In the midst of all the braces and glasses and gawkiness, they take an oath to stay friends forever and remind each other that—just like Josie from their favorite movie “Never Been Kissed”—no matter how bad things get they have to keep believing in true love and have faith in happy endings.

The first book, “Just Between Us,” is about one of these four friends. Molly Bridget Anderson has become a 28-year-old accountant who likes to keep things orderly. Which is why chaos—in the form a 2-year-old nephew she suddenly has to look after and a tattooed rock star writing songs for her—is just what she needs to get her life on track. Look for “Just Between Us” in 2014!

GUEST POST

FUN WITH FLAWS

For ChickLit Goddess

I love flawed characters. I think it’s a big reason why I love chick lit. I like romances, too, but sometimes everything in a typical romance is just a little too neat. It can get boring.

After all, they say “write what you know.” I write chick lit perhaps because I, myself, am nothing if not flawed. I make mistakes all day long. I forget names even when I’ve met the person a thousand times. I arrive late despite my best efforts. Lately, I’m trying to drink a lot of healthy shakes (shout out to my Nutribullet!). Even though I don’t know what chia seeds actually are and I still remember the jingle for Chia Pets “Ch-ch-ch-chia!” I put them in my shakes because someone told me that they’re healthy. The problem is that the seeds get caught in my teeth. I don’t realize it and then I go around talking to people with insane brown spots all over my mouth. It’s an excellent look.

Which brings me back to my main point: flaws. When I’m cooking up a new book, I like my heroines a bit nuts and my heros with a nice side helping of imperfect. It makes everything so much more satisfying, a story you can actually feel and relate to as it unfolds. I like my happy endings, I just like mine with some “we’ve all been there” laughs along the way.

Classic romances are fun, too. I can get swept away by the Edward types with their out-of-this-world good looks and superhuman ability to protect. I can enjoy a typical regency romance with the 18-year-old in pale blue chiffon making her first debut to the ton where she meets Rake McRakerton, Duke of Rakenhurst. I like my cowboys workin’ hard on the homestead with a hankerin’ for a ‘lil slip of a thing in calico. Christian Grey has some appeal, too, especially now that that Sons of Anarchy guy is going to play him. Even all those 50 Shades knock-offs on the bestseller list can be entertaining with their 27-year-old self-made billionaires who also have enough time away from running their global conglomerate to train their bodies into pro-fighter caliber shape, perfect cooking techniques, and shop for their ladies picking out the perfect designer gowns, lingerie and, of course, bling.

But while I enjoy my airbrushed realities where nothing embarrassing happens, my favorite books to read and write all have scenes that make you blush or tear up or clasp your hand over your mouth—no, she didn’t just do that! I like to make myself laugh out loud while I’m writing. And a book that can make me both laugh and swoon? Those are the best. It’s why Kristan Higgins is one of my favorite writers; she always manages to tie everything up in a bow with a dreamy guy even when she starts out with a scene in which the heroine’s sweater gets sucked down a power flush toilet.

The best characters are a bit rumpled. Sometimes grumpy. They get distracted and trip. They make ridiculous mistakes. After all, the best stories are built around conflict, and what better conflict arises than from characters who need to grow? A character with flaws has somewhere to go, a destination, and guess who they meet along the way?

Like so many things, it all brings me back to Darcy. Fitzwilliam Darcy, what a name. Stuffy, stiff, a bit full of himself. It’s so satisfying when Elizabeth Bennet takes him down a peg. And then all the more perfect that she’s clueless, too. They can both learn from each other. Of course, it is nice that Darcy happens to be darkly handsome and impossibly wealthy as well. But there’s no way I would have read Pride and Prejudice over and over again if Darcy hadn’t been an ass at the beginning. I guess we can all take comfort from that: it’s the flaws in ourselves and in our characters that make things the most enjoyable.

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Blurb for “Facebook Jeanie” by Addison Westlake

It’s Bridget Jones meets “Groundhog Day”…

Ever wonder if you made the right choice? What if you could go back and find out?

31-year-old Clara is in a steady relationship—with Facebook. Every night after her depressing bureaucratic job (so much for saving the world), Clara comes home to her empty apartment (yes, she was dumped) and settles down with a pint of ice cream for some good, old-fashioned Facebook stalking. It’s her college boyfriend, The One Who Got Away. With the bod of a God and a net worth of umpteen bamillion, he now has the perfect life—everything she could have had if she hadn’t been so, so stupid.

But, wait. Jeanie from Facebook shows up at Clara’s job. There’s a new app they’re beta-testing and Clara’s perfect for it. That night she clicks on it and… nothing happens. But the next morning when Clara wakes up at noon, hung over, listening to her roommate blow-drying her hair and singing “Gettin’ Jiggy Wit It”, she realizes she’s back in college. With the chance to do it all over again.

Back in the world of frat parties, BFFs, and long-suffering, overlooked lab partners, join Clara as she discovers what it really means to hit the reset button on life. What could possibly go wrong? And, this time, can she get it right?

EXCERPT of “FACEBOOK JEANIE” by ADDISON WESTLAKE

Chapter 1 Excerpt

Once Upon a Time

Clara clicked on the lower-case f icon along the base of her laptop. Laser-like focus, plowing past Facebook status updates, notifications and sponsored ads, she clicked over to friends, then selected him. Mr. Right. The One Who Got Away: Brad Wilkins.

Beach photos first. Because she’d had a long, hard day. She clicked on the album titled Summer.

Blond hair kissed by the sun and tousled by the wind, he stood like a Norse god on the beach. He flashed a rugged, knowing smile. The bright aquamarine of his eyes matched the ocean, the sky and the color of dreams. Move over Chris Hemsworth, there was a new Thor in town. And he’d hit the beach, tanned, rested and ready for the ladies.

An entire paragraph needed to be devoted to his chest. He had the shoulders of a lumberjack accustomed to hauling telephone poles. Pecs so hard and defined a girl could eat dinner off of them, or simply make them the meal. A six pack that mocked other men’s six packs. Put it all together and it made you want to petition NBC to bring back Baywatch, this time starring Brad Wilkins. Millions would tune in each week for the new episode, holding their collective breaths for the moment he took off in a run, shirtless, on the beach. In slow-motion he’d rescue… no one could ever tell you who because every ounce of attention would be riveted to those ripped muscles in action, the way his bicep bulged when he cradled the victim, the way the sunlight almost seemed to magnify the flexing. The man could not possibly ooze more sex appeal. She could practically hear Robin Thicke singing into her ear, “You know you want it.”

But wait, there was more. Clara clicked onto some new photos. Brad in a tux, debonair and polished yet still with the hint of the rake. Brad holding a beer and looking like a long, tall, cool drink himself in a crisp, dark blue pinstripe suit. The designer should pay him for wearing it, showing other men how it should be done, filling it out with sheer male prowess. You could put a suit on the man, but you’d never tame him.

Brad wore suits because he didn’t just play around at the beach all day. The man earned six maybe seven figures a year as an investment banker in New York City. Net worth, including the trust fund? Somewhere near upteenbamillion. The man pulled it down, brought home the bacon and the pan to fry it in. Then made you forget about dinner, anyway, because, there, he just took off his shirt.

Not for the first time, Clara reflected on the sad lack of a soundtrack to accompany clicking through Facebook photos. Because if anyone deserved the romantic, symphonic swells that enhanced the viewing pleasure of a Nicholas Sparks film, it was Brad.

Click. Those pearly whites never failed. Clara put a hand to her chest to still her beating heart.

Should have been. Click. Could have been. Click. Would have been. Click.

What she wouldn’t give for just one wish. She didn’t need three like Aladdin, no flying carpet and rich, elaborate entourage. Just one.

If she only had one wish, just one, she’d go back to college and set things right. She closed her eyes, seeing nothing but Brad, almost convincing herself that if she cleared everything else from her mind, focused intently enough, maybe somehow she could be transported back in time. Back to college. Because this time, she’d do everything different. And this time, she knew she’d get it right.

**GIVEAWAY**

Prize: One (1) eBook copy of “Facebook Jeanie”, two (2) winners!

To enter and win, please leave a comment below, ALONG WITH YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS!

**Contact Addison:

Email: addisonwestlake@gmail.com   Blog   Facebook   Goodreads   Google Plus   Twitter

**Click HERE to purchase a copy of Addison’s first book, “Christmas in Wine Country” — it’s only $0.99!

Shelly Hickman

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About author, Shelly Hickman: I have lived in Las Vegas nearly all my life. I’ve been married for 23 years, and I have three children. My oldest would have been 22 this December, however, I lost my Sydney Bean to leukemia when she was eight years old. I have a son who is 17, and my youngest daughter is 12. I teach computer literacy and media technology to middle school students, and though I have a great love for technology, I believe I love writing more.

INTERVIEW

Welcome back, Shelly! What have you been up to since your first appearance? Thanks for the welcome, Isabella. Basically, I spent most of the summer on my laptop, flattening one of my sofa cushions (as well as my butt) while trying to get as much writing done as possible. I also took a little trip to Utah for a few days with the family, and had a few get-togethers by the pool. Now it’s back to the real world and a new school year. I’m definitely missing my freedom and lazy mornings.

Tell us about your new book, “Vegas to Varanasi”: Since it seems we constantly see movies and TV shows which have average looking men matched up with gorgeous women, I wanted to write a story about just the opposite—an everyday looking woman who attracts the attention of a really hot guy. Anna and Kiran briefly went to high school together, and in those days, Kiran was the overweight, geeky kid. Anna was about the only person who was nice to him, and he never forgot her for that. When they meet up again as adults in their forties, Kiran is jaw-droppingly hot and has quite a crush on Anna. However, Anna is pretty apprehensive, at first, because she doesn’t think she’s cut out for dating someone as perfect-looking as Kiran. As they become more than friends, Anna’s mixed up ex-boyfriend isn’t too thrilled about her moving on, and does everything he can to be a pain in the ass. The book is a romantic comedy that I hope readers will find entertaining.

What was the writing process like for you this time around? My last book had a more complicated plotline, with scenes from past lives that were kind of difficult for me to weave into the present. The plotline of Vegas to Varanasi is much more straight-forward, which made the writing process a little more streamlined for me.

Describe your perfect day: Oh, I have many kinds of perfect days. On the most basic level, that would be a day at work when my students seem to enjoy what they’re learning, they’re treating each other with kindness, and they’re not going out of their way to push Mrs. Hickman’s buttons. I have to say, it’s been a pretty good year so far. 🙂

Where did you get the idea for “Vegas to Varanasi?” As I mentioned, in entertainment I’ve often noticed the pairing of average Joes with very attractive women. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. There’s more to people than their looks, obviously. But the fact that we rarely see the opposite scenario has always kind of annoyed me, and I thought it would be fun to explore that scenario from the plain Jane’s point of view.

What motivates you? I just try to be a kind person. One of my favorite quotes is in my email signature at work: What wisdom can you find that is greater than kindness?—Jean Jacques Rousseau

Where is your favorite place to write? Honestly, I don’t really have a favorite place to write. I just try to do it when and where it’s convenient.

How was the social media helped your career? It has helped me most by giving me an avenue to connect with and befriend other writers. I have learned so much from fellow indie authors and I really treasure those friendships.

What must every writer have? I think a desire to create and a willingness to put themselves out there. Of course, skill is necessary as well, but that’s an ongoing process anyway.

Do you have any advice for struggling writers? From one struggling writer to a world of struggling writers, I think ultimately, write if it brings you joy. If you sell a few books in the process, that’s just a bonus.

Where do you see yourself in five years? If I’m not still teaching, I see myself doing something in education outside the classroom. If I could also have a nice little following for my writing by then, that would be lovely!

Can you tell us about any of your upcoming projects? I haven’t given the next project any thought yet. Still busy trying to get this one off the ground. 😉

Blurb of “Vegas to Varanasi”:

VegastoVaranasiCoverPicAnna has never been the beautiful one; she’s always been the nice one. So when the gorgeous man sitting across the table at a wedding reception remembers her from high school—and quite fondly at that—she’s taken off guard. Formerly overweight and unpopular, Kiran has never forgotten Anna, the one person who was kind to him when no one else could be bothered, and Anna’s a bit flustered as she slowly comes to grips with his intense attraction for her. In what feels like a romantic dream come true, all-grown-up, hunky Kiran invites Anna on a trip to Varanasi. But her troubled, whack-a-do ex-boyfriend starts interfering, creating drama at every turn, which begs the question, “Can nice girls really finish first?”

**Shelly Hickman would also like to offer an advanced reader copy of Vegas to Varanasi to anyone who would be willing to share a review on Amazon during the first week of December when the book is released. If you are interested, please contact her at sydneyhickman91@gmail.com, or you can message her privately on my Facebook author page.

**Contact Shelly:

Email: sydneyhickman91@gmail.com   Website   Facebook   Twitter

A Giveaway and Interview with Carolyn Ridder Aspenson

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About author, Carolyn Ridder Aspenson: Carolyn Ridder Aspenson is the author of two novels, Unfinished Business An Angela Panther Novel and Unbreakable Bonds An Angela Panther Novel, both of the chick-lit and paranormal genres.

Carolyn wrote her first novel, Unfinished Business shortly after her mother died. She felt the need to let the world know a little about the woman who drove her absolutely crazy but loved her with an intensity unknown to normal people. While some of the book is loosely based on events surrounding her mother’s death, the author swears she’ll never tell if she really did bury her mother illegally.

An avid fitness buff, Carolyn writes a monthly health and fitness column for Northside Woman Magazine. She also writes several freelance articles monthly for various Atlanta area media outlets including the Forsyth Herald, the Milton Herald, The Revue and News, The Johns Creek Herald, Countyline Magazine and many Internet publications. She’s written notebooks full of great story ideas from the entertaining people she’s met as a journalist. If you know one of them, don’t mention her books to them, just in case.

Carolyn has written hundreds of guest blog posts ranging from humorous to serious about varying aspects of parenthood and marriage. She considers herself an expert at not being an expert parent and works to spread her lack of expertise far and wide.

Dogs and recently cats too, are Carolyn’s preferred companions. She loves their loyalty, unconditional love and inability to talk in a language of which she understands.

A native of Indiana, Carolyn called the northwest Chicago suburbs home for over eighteen years but because she hates the way snow sounds when she walks on it, has spent the last sixteen living in the Atlanta suburbs with her husband, son, two dogs and a cat. Her two daughters live close by.

One day she plans to retire to a peaceful home with a fantastic view of something other than her neighbor’s house with a plethora of rescue animals by her side. Oh, and her husband too.

INTERVIEW

Welcome back, Carolyn! What have you been up to since your first appearance? I’ve been busy! I’m finishing up the second book in my Angela Panther series and hope to have that out in late November. I’ve also started a short story with a holiday theme that will be included in a book with several other great authors. That’s going to be available around mid-December for a holiday release. It’s going to be only on E-book through Amazon but will be free for part of that time, too so that’s great! There are several wonderful authors involved along with a team of professionals for editing and cover design. I’m excited about that.

How do people react when they find out you’re an author? I actually have a hard time telling people that and usually say something like, “I’m a writer but I’m only self published”. They tell me that a writer is a writer and it doesn’t matter who publishes the book! They think it’s wonderful and I feel like a braggart, which I know I’m not but I still feel silly. I’m trying to adjust to it all!

What author do you admire the most and what (if anything) have you learned from them? I really admire Robert Parker, who wrote the Spenser PI series. He passed away a few years ago and I still feel that loss. He is the ‘grandfather of the PI novel’ in many respects but for me, I admired his writing. He said so much with so few words and I work hard to be that way, too. He was much better at it than I am but of course he wrote over a million books so I guess he got it down. I’m a  little late to the game.

Salty or sweet? I’m starting to realize that both together are a pretty darn good combination but if that’s not available, I’m going for the chocolate first. I’ve recently given up sugar (again) so it’s been a rough few days but I do feel better physically. No whites either so no flour, bread, pasta, etc. Once I’m over the emotional part of it all, I’ll feel much better.

What so far has been your biggest accomplishment as an author? Getting the first book done. I wasn’t sure I’d actually complete it and I’m glad I did. I wanted to complete it but it was an emotional rollercoaster for me and at times I just had to step away and repair my heart. It was a very close to home story for me, with Fran being a slightly (just slightly) exaggerated version of my mother.

Describe your perfect day: I have a few different ones. First a ‘professional’ one where I’ve got my to-do list and I get it done and am on a writing role whether it’s for my books or my freelance writing gigs. A ‘personal’ perfect day would be one spent with my family when (a miracle would happen) and no one bickers or whines. Ha! That only happens when everyone is asleep!

Every writer must have a…: cheerleader to keep them moving forward when they feel like they want to quit. That’s my husband for me. He has total faith in my writing and thinks I’m the greatest thing since sliced bread. Hard not to want to continue when I know he sees great things in me.

What is your favorite quote? It’s actually a song lyric from Van Halen, during the Sammy Hagar years (I preferred those years for sure!) In their song, “Right Now”, which I consider to be my theme song, they say, “Right now it’s your tomorrow, right now it’s everything”. That helps me not put off things I should or could do today, to live my life and not worry about that past and not let the things that could bother me bother me. It doesn’t always work but I try to be that way as much as possible. Try being the most important word in that sentence.

How has the social media helped your career? I’m not sure yet. I’m still trying to figure that out. I can say that it’s helped me connect with a lot of authors who I’ve learned a great deal from and all of them I met because of you, so I’m especially grateful to you for that!

What do you want readers to take away from your books? I want readers to walk away having felt different emotions. I want them to feel satisfied. I don’t want them to think too deep or analyze too much. I just want them to be able to put my books down having been able to feel emotions.

Can you tell us about any of your upcoming projects? Whoops. I did above because I’m excited! I’ve got a few other things in the ‘pot’ though that I’m working on. I’m going to be publishing some novellas in the next few months as a way to get more of my writing out. None of them are focused on my series yet but I’m considering a short on Fran. Just not sure. I will be writing more traditional chick lit books (starting with the novellas) and am considering tackling a cosy mystery. I just need to figure out a way to add more hours into my day.

Unfinished Business**Contact Carolyn:

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Anna Garner

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About author, Anna Garner: Born and raised in the Midwest, Anna Garner’s adventurous spirit kicked in after graduating from high school, and she’s since lived in Boston, NYC and London. For several years, Anna worked in fashion—first as a journalist and then as a shopkeeper, and for a while she dabbled in design. Although chick lit was her first love, Anna started writing quirky romances, and her first one, Fashioning a Romance, was published in May 2012 under the name of Libby Mercer. This was followed by two more quirky romances: Unmasking Maya and The Karmic Connection. Since Lying to Meet You is written in old school chick lit style and isn’t a clear cut love story, Anna decided to publish it under her real name. She currently lives in San Francisco and spends most of her time cranking out more stories.

INTERVIEW

Welcome back, Libby! What have you been up to since your first appearance? Thanks so much for having me back, Isabella! Oh my goodness, I’ve been super busy since I last visited your blog. When I was last here, I was promoting Unmasking Maya, a quirky love story I released under the name of Libby Mercer. Since then, I released another quirky romance, The Karmic Connection, and I’ve also been polishing up Lying to Meet You, which I actually wrote four or five years ago. And I recently finished the first draft of a book I wrote that will be part of a chick lit trilogy about three friends in San Francisco who open up an ice cream shop. I’ll release the trilogy under the name of Anna Garner too.

Tell us about your new book “Lying to Meet You”: The book is based on the theory that being part of a couple makes a person more attractive to the opposite sex. So the main story line is that Chloe and Ethan (who have been friends since childhood) test out the theory and enjoy the results. But things get complicated, of course. Apart from this plot line, the book also deals with Chloe’s insanely hectic career and relationships with her friends and family. There are some laughs, some romantic moments, and also a big scandal at the end. I love writing about scandals! (Fictional ones, I mean.)

Hard/paperback or eBooks? Both! I’m strictly an e-reader right now because I have no room for more books, but if I ever get a bigger place, I’m sure I’ll add to my paperback collection.

How did you come up with the idea for the book? I can’t remember exactly how it came to me, but I did start with the theory about people in relationships being more appealing to others. I think—but I’m not positive—that I had a similar conversation about this curious phenomenon with girlfriends many years ago, just like Chloe has with her friends.

What are you reading right now? Broken Harbor by Tana French. I’m on this crazy crime fiction kick at the moment!

If your new book were turned into a movie, who would you want to play the parts? I definitely would want Zooey Deschanel to play Chloe. She looks just like I picture Chloe, and she’s so cute and quirky—such a chick lit heroine. For William Shannon, it’s got to be Henry Cavill. Lying to Meet You has this whole Superman theme running through it. Basically, William is Superman (ultra powerful industry titan with ice blue eyes and jet black hair) and Ethan is Clark Kent (dorky journalist, although definitely not as dorky as Clark Kent). So, Henry Cavill is a no-brainer since he played Superman in Man of Steel. I have no idea who I’d choose to play Ethan, though.

What is your favorite word? Stellar (although this is subject to change)

For this particular book, what was the writing process like? I wrote the first draft back in 2009. Sent it to some readers, got their feedback and started revisions. I completely redid a few scenes. Then more readers, more feedback, more revisions before I felt that it was finished. I started sending it out to agents. I got close to getting a contract—close but no cigars. I did, however, get some excellent advice from the agent I was (almost) working with. I did some additional revisions, and then put this story away for a while to move across the world. It stayed trunked for a year or so after I decided to switch gears and start writing quirky love stories and to publish them as Libby Mercer. Earlier this year, I decided to resurrect Lying to Meet You. I sent it out to more readers, got more feedback and made more changes. Then it was just a matter of polishing it up for publication. It’s been a long road, and I can’t believe this story is about to see the light of day!

What is your favorite line from your new book? Oh, it’s hard to choose, but here’s one I like: “I had no idea a tycoon could look so human.”

What do you want your readers to take away from “Lying to Meet You?” I just want people to enjoy it, and hopefully love it. I know how pleased and content I feel after reading a book I really love, and I’m hoping to incite that same feeling in my readers.

If you could meet anyone in the world, dead or alive, who would it be? Hmm. I think I’d have to go with Sophie Kinsella. She’s my idol.

Can you tell us about any of your upcoming projects? Absolutely! This ice cream trilogy in the works will be called Sweet Dreams (the name of their shop) and the first book is entitled Cricket’s Creations. Cricket (who has hippie parents, natch) is the protagonist of the first book. She’s got an unsatisfying career, and to de-stress, she spends her time coming up with unique ice cream flavors. Well, one thing leads to another, and she decides to go into business with a little help from her two best friends. The book has a slapstick kind of quality to it. In this way, it’s different from my previous work. Right now, it’s really rough, but I’m looking forward to polishing it up and getting to work on the second book of the series.

LyingToMeetYouCoverPic**Contact Anna:

Facebook   Goodreads – Author   Goodreads – Lying to Meet You   Twitter

Beth Albright

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About author, Beth Albright:  After knowing Beth Albright for just a few short seconds you are sure to learn she is from Alabama. No, its not the lilt of magnolia you can still catch in her voice, or even the way she lovingly describes her undying love for her famous alma mater’s football champions. She will tell you she loves Tuscaloosa, even after living quite literally all over the country. Though Beth has had a remarkable career, from New York City to Hollywood, and all points in between, she has never forgotten where she came from…and what she loves. That’s why when it came time to write, Beth had no choice but to write about Tuscaloosa and The University of Alabama, and all the quirky people she still calls family, though some do not actually share her bloodline!

Beth Albright has always been a storyteller. After spending nearly 15 years in talk radio, as a talk show host, playing the part of a principal character on the soap opera, DAYS OF OUR LIVES, owning her own acting school and children’s theater, and raising a son who was a nationally ranked figure skater, Beth has decided to return to her roots; storytelling. When she was in the sixth grade, her teacher gave her the floor every Friday to tell her stories. See, Beth was a talker, a future talk show host in the making, and she was telling stories so much that her teacher couldn’t teach. The teacher told 12 year old Beth if she would begin writing her stories down, she would be allowed time to share those stories with the class. And she’s been writing, AND talking ever since. Beth has interviewed Bob Hope, Oprah Winfrey, Betty White, Wolfgang Puck and George Burns live from the Chinese Theatre, as well as numerous other celebrities, and authors. Then Beth became a principal character on Days of Our Lives. But through all of the excitement of talk shows and soap operas, Beth loved telling stories to her audience the most. With a degree in Journalism from her beloved University of Alabama, She remains true to her roots and has never forgotten where she comes from. Born and raised in Tuscaloosa, “My grandfather was the play by play announcer for the Crimson Tide in the 50s!” Beth will proudly tell you.   She is a down homespun girl, although she currently lives in San Francisco with her TV producer husband and her brilliant son. But her heart is always in Alabama. She has just completed new series, The Sassy Belles.

INTERVIEW

People would be surprised to know that you…:  Were a drummer in your high school marching band!

What is the writing/editing/publishing process like for you?  I like the writing process best of the three. The editing is always hard for me. My husband has always told me I am “raw footage” So I know even in life, I give too much information, too many details. So I need editing. But it is really hard to decipher what is necessary and what isn’t. So it can be painful. The publishing part is great…I can just sit back and wait for the “BIRTHday”

Every writer must have a…: Sense of humor!  If I couldn’t laugh at myself and some of the things I write before revising, I couldn’t survive! And in the tough times, my lap kitty is an absolute necessity. Of course my family is my rock and they put up with a lot too! But seriously, with being able to laugh, it would all be impossible.

Tell us about your “Belles” series:  I love these women! This is a group of women who live in Tuscaloosa. They consist of Blake, our narrator, her mother Kitty, her spit-fire grandmother, Meridee, her best friend, Vivi, and her ex-step sister-arch-nemesis, Dallas. Think of this group as a “Sex and The City Meets Steel Magnolias” group! They are smart, sexy and hilarious. And as I say in The Sassy Belles. “ We take care of each other, we stand our ground, and we do it in high heels, big hair and lots of lipstick.” They love college football as does everyone in Tuscaloosa so University of Alabama football, the Crimson Tide, is a big part of the series too. Blake is an attorney and she really has her work cut out for her in the series. The main point of this series is to say ANYONE can be a Sassy Belle: any age, any size, any color. It’s all about attitude and taking care of your “sisters”.

Where is your dream place to write?  I am a romantic at heart, so I love a comfy chair and a fireplace. Anything in nature is always good too…a place with an ocean view or a lush forest view is perfect too.

What is your favorite word?  Well, my son’s name is brooks so of course that is number one! But I love the word, tapestry…because it helps us feel the layers upon which I like to write. Stardust is great too, as we all possess a little to add to the tapestry.

Hard/paperback or eBooks?  And don’t forget, audiobooks! I love them all. To me they are just different mediums in which to share my stories. Personally I like the trade paperback, perfect to stick in my purse. But I am old-fashioned and still do buy the hardbacks too.

What do you want your readers to take away from reading your books?  Fun and a major sense of sisterhood. Plus to know it’s never to late to LIVE. Meridee turns 80 at the end of book one and throws herself a Hollywood Nights themed party complete with shirtless men carrying her in on a Persian cot! Readers are telling me they are laughing out loud through the books! We need that right now. We ALWAYS need laughter.

You’ve had the pleasure of interviewing celebrities, who was your favorite and why?  Oh, what a tough question! I have so many favorites! Oprah really stands out. She makes you feel like you’ve known her and she is your new BFF! I loved the icons, George Burns, Betty White and Bob Hope. They were full of fun and advice. I interviewed all The Golden Girls and really hit it off with Rue McClanahan. There are seriously just too many to pick just one…but I did just LOVE Oprah!

How has the social media helped your career?  I seriously don’t know how anyone could make it as a writer these days without social media. I know I have my Facebook base, then my books page, then twitter to help me get the word out about blogs, reviews, and contests too. I feel it is the reason we got such a huge bounce with The Sassy Belles! It has remained an Amazon bestseller since the first week. But I did a lot of Facebook advertising and lots of tweeting too! I think it is paying off.

What is the best advice you’ve been given?  My mom always says, “Keep you eye on the ball” and that helps. I tend to be a worrier so I start thinking about everything all at once. She reminds me, one thing at a time and keep your eye on the ball. Also my mother has been wonderful as a motivator and cheerleader too. If I dreamed a big dream, she never laughed, she’d say, “Ok, what do we need to do to make that happen?” So most all my great advice comes from my mother! “If someone else can do it, then you can too”

Can you tell us about any upcoming projects?  My book is currently being packaged to pitch as a TV show! So fingers crossed, we’ll see! Also, I am busy writing a new Sassy Belle series. New Belles, and the original ones too, all taking place in Tuscaloosa at an INN the girls will open!

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GUEST POST

Songs of the Deep South

They say you write what you know and for me there is no truer statement. I know the Deep South. I have a love for it that pulses deep in my veins. My legacy is thick with my alma mater, the University of Alabama too, as my grandfather was the “voice” of the Crimson Tide in the 1950s. I am a southerner to the bone, though I have lived all over the country.

My Love Affair With Tuscaloosa Alabama

The South is like nowhere else on Earth.  I learned this lesson the hard way; by leaving. I have lived in New York City, Los Angeles California, and nearly everywhere in between. From both coasts, two of the Great Lakes, and the land locked mid-west and even the deserts of Phoenix, I have called them all home over the last 30 years. And I stay in the perpetual suspended state of HOMESICK for Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

When I was 10 years old we moved to Oklahoma. And while I loved it there and made life long friends during my four years there, I was, even then, perpetually homesick, grieving away for my familiar surroundings of the misty liquid sunsets on the Warrior River and the rich history of The University of Alabama campus. Tuscaloosa is a pre-Civil War town, with much of the architecture dating long before the War Between the States.  Old antebellum homes still stand watching over the city from one end of it to the other.

The kudzu creeps and crawls over everything standing still. Summers were miserable if you were measuring it by the humidity. With sticky skin and frizzy hair was the way I spent them.  But I wouldn’t trade them for anything.  Slow and happy and sweaty.  Red cheeks coming in from long bike rides on half paved /dirt roads, slamming screen doors and window unit air conditioners. And beauty pageants, complete with crowns and banners pinned from shoulder to hip across the front of your beaded gown, Tuscaloosa is made up of so many things, even when I’m not there I can see it, feel it, and taste it. So I wanted to be there. Writing was the way I could.

Life was easier in a small town down south. All the neighbors watch out for each other and everyone’s kids were like your own. The men are still chivalrous and the women still act like ladies, with make-up done to perfection and a string of pearls. That may be my favorite part—well next to the food!

The Deep South is special. It’s unique in all the most perfect ways.  I feel I am an authority on this because I have been able to compare it to, well, almost everywhere. I actually left my soap opera, Days of Our Lives in LA as a principle character and drove across the country, pregnant, with morning sickness that lasted all day, to make sure my only baby was born at HOME…Tuscaloosa! In typical Belle fashion, I didn’t pack light either. It took two cars! Halfway there, around El Paso, Texas, my husband actually had the nerve to say, “We really don’t HAVE to go have the baby in Alabama, do we?” I nearly burst into tears and called my mother– and a divorce lawyer—just as any southern belle in a crisis does! Luckily, I calmed down by the time we crossed The Mighty Mississippi.

And then there’s Alabama football. You have never seen anything like Game-Day in Tuscaloosa! The crowds under the largest tent city on the quad, everyone cooking out, the smell of barbequed pork in the air, the students dressed up in sundresses and bow ties. You KNOW you’re in the south! And when Sweet Home Alabama is played over the loud speakers, everyone stops in their tracks and sings along! It’s a priceless feeling.

In Tuscaloosa you can still sit out on a summer’s night and talk to your neighbors or on your front porch telling stories on a glider swing while a million lightening bugs glitter in the front yard under a gillion stars.  And when someone ” has passed” a line of traffic will form on your street of folks with covered dishes. You’ll have more pound cake and potato salad than you’ll know what to do with! And at least 30 boxes of Krispy Kreme doughnuts! Everyone who shows up on your doorstep to offer condolences will have a box of the delicious confections!

Tuscaloosa has it’s own special brand of Small Town America. It is in the HEART OF DIXIE, being in Alabama. It is a classy place with mostly classy people. And Southern Hospitality seems to have gotten its very definition from here.  Every “Hey Y’all,” and  “fixin’ to” is inside my spirit and when I am home it shines a little brighter.

When I come home it’s like I never left.  I am hugged and kissed and loved. I go out with my friends and see my Mother and eat like I have been starving in a desert. I have. For the SOUTH… and its way.

When it came time to write, of course, I would write about the place I love most, my hometown in the Deep South. My heart is always in Dixie.

Maybe I can always go home, because truth be told, I never really left.

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BethAlbrightPic**Contact Beth:

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Alicia M. Long & Jayne J. Jones

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Alicia M. Long & Jayne J. Jones, co-authors of “Capitol Hell”

About Alicia M. Long and Jayne J. Jones:  Jayne Jones and Alicia Long, co-authors of Capitol Hell began their political careers by working for former Senator Norm Coleman (MN).

Jayne Jones, a graduate of William Mitchell College of Law, left Capitol Hill to work for the Minnesota House of Representatives, where she was the Executive Assistant to the Speaker of the House. Her favorite adventure is teaching others about the legislative process and how to draft legislation in her capacity as a political science professor at Concordia University. Jones is also in the process of starting a summer camp for teenagers interested in public policy.

Alicia Long, a South Dakota native and graduate of the University of St. Thomas School of Law, also worked for United States Senator John Thune (SD) as well as former United States Senator George Allen (VA). After graduating from law school, she obtained employment as a Presidential Management Fellow in the Department of Justice. In that capacity, she worked as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney in the United States Attorney’s Office in the District of Columbia. Currently she is an attorney working in Washington D.C.

INTERVIEW

How did the idea of co-authoring a book come to be?  We were sitting on Jayne’s couch reminiscing about our time working on the Hill, and we were in stitches remember all of the crazy things that happened to us.  People always told us we should write a book, so we decided to give it a shot!   Alicia wrote the first chapter, sent it to Jayne, and the rest is history!!

What are you reading right now?  Alicia: I am re-reading the Great Gastby.  I haven’t read it since high school and thought it was time to re-visit it.  I will also admit that I am a sucker for reading trashy magazines by the pool!

Jayne: I have a pile of books right now for our pontoon rides on the lake! I’m bouncing around between The Assistant and Mothering and Daughtering a Teenager. I just became a bonus mom to a 14 year old terrific gal in January!!

Describe what was the writing/editing/publishing process was like:  Alicia: I think to both of our surprise, writing was the fun and easy part.  It has been the editing, publication, and promotion that have been the really heavy lifting.  But we are blessed to have one another and are totally enjoying the ride!

Jayne: I laughed out-loud while writing Capitol Hell and it was simply enjoyable plus maybe free therapy! HA. The post publishing process is where the work sets in. But, we learned from the Hill to work like dogs so we are peddling our book at every moment’s chance. I mean every stinky moment. HA.

Who or what inspires you?  Alicia:  Well obviously our original inspiration stemmed from our time on the Hill and that still continues to be an inspiration.  Now I get inspiration from our readers.  It is so fun to hear what they enjoyed about the book, and it makes we want to write more!

Jayne: To make others laugh. And, believe it or not also to teach.

What would people be surprised to know about “Capitol Hell”?  Alicia: How much of it is based on true life!  While the book is fiction, we did base much of it on experiences we had.  One of the fun parts of the book is trying to figure out how much of it is true!

Jayne: The number one question—Are you Janet or Allison? Um, really?! We are creative, but not that creative! HA!

Where is your dream writing location?  Alicia: On a quite tropical beach somewhere…However the sunlight and sand is tough on the laptop! 🙂

Jayne: I have two. Southwest Florida and rural Wisconsin. From the farm to the ocean, Capitol Hell 2 will soon be born!!

If “Capitol Hell” were turned into a movie who would you like to play the parts?  Alicia: We get asked this all of the time! Most recently people say that Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy would make for a funny duo, but since the characters are supposed to be in their early 20’s we’d probably have to find some younger actresses… although we LOVE those two!

Jayne: Oh Lord, please make Janet cute! That’s all I care about! HA!

Every writer needs a…:  Alicia: Great editor!!  Jayne:  An honest up-front tell it like it is publisher!

AliciaJeffJaynePicI saw you both on The Jeff Probst Show (great interview by the way), tell us how the social media has helped “Capitol Hell” become a success:  Alicia:  Thanks!  We had an absolute blast going on the show and he was sooo nice!  Social media has been HUGE for Capitol Hell.  So much of what people decide to read is based on referrals from friends.  Websites like yours, Facebook, Twitter, etc. has helped us get the word out and has helped our readers pass it along as well!

Jayne: Thanks for watching! It was a fun interview and Jeff is fantastic! Here’s the deal without social media, our book would be sitting on a warehouse shelf. Big publishers pay boatloads of money for marketing. While we have champagne taste, we are on a beer budget. Social media has been our champagne—and it tastes of so good!!! 🙂

What do you want your readers to take away from “Capitol Hell”?  Alicia:  A good laugh!  We love reading books that make us laugh and love to do the same for our readers!

Jayne: Careful of who you vote into office!! Lordy, if we have 100 Karma McDermotts on the loose (Karma is the Senator’s wife—she’s a real trip!) America would be changed. HA!

What advice would you give to those who want to co-author?  Alicia: Find someone who you can work with and be critical with because writing is a process.  Jayne and I like to say that we are more like sisters than co-authors because we are always 100% honest with one another.

Jayne: Co-authoring is truly a special part of Capitol Hell. Trust me, neither one of us would be jumping off the diving board alone with this saucy novel. We are a team—someone described us as eggs and ham. We do it all together. I think that is important. We are equals and it has to be that way. Or, I don’t think it would work. You hardly ever just get eggs, right.

Are there any upcoming projects you would like to tell us about?  Alicia: Funny you should ask!  We actually have written the first few chapters of Capitol Hell 2! Although we are working on the right title for it. 🙂

Jayne: Alicia answered it—-and nailed it! HA.

CapitolHellCoverPic**Contact the authors:

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Kristina Knight

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About author, Kristina Knight:  Once upon a time, Kristina Knight spent her days running from car crash to fire to meetings with local police—no, she wasn’t a troublemaker, she was a journalist. When the opportunity to focus a bit of energy on the stories in her head, she jumped at it. And she’s never looked back. Now she writes magazine articles by day and romance novels with spice by night. She lives on Lake Erie with her husband and four-year-old daughter. Happily ever after.

 INTERVIEW

Hi, Isabella! Thanks so much for having me here today!

It’s my pleasure having you back.  Now, for the interview:

You knew you were a writer when…:  I wrote my first book, over summer vacation when I was 12. It was a girl power version of The Three Musketeers, with a little romance thrown in for good measure!

Salty or sweet?  Ummm…yes?

What is the writing/editing/publishing process like for you?  Probably a little weird, but it works for me: as I’m developing a story idea I will create an outline of events…as soon as I start writing, that outline is blown out of the water, but its important for me at the beginning stages. I write first drafts fast, and many times they include things like [INSERT SEX SCENE HERE] or [THIS MOTIVATION IS CREEPY, FIX IT], those places are what second drafts are for! I’m still new to the publishing world, but usually a couple of rounds of edits, cover art suggestions and we’re ready to send a new book out into the reading space.

What message do you want to send to you readers?  That they can do/be/achieve anything they want. There are so many people, even people important to us, who poo-poo our ideas or goals. But if something is important to you, know that you can get to that goal. It takes a lot of hard work and determination sometimes, but you can get there.

How do you come up with the titles of your books?  Titles are a bear for me. Usually I send out a panicked email to my critique partners that says something like, “I can’t call this book HawtVetCowboy any more…what should I call it?” And we brainstorm and come up with ideas that my publisher changes anyway…

Where’s your favorite writing location?  I love Starbucks in the morning. Give me my iPad, a smoothie and lots of noise and I’m a happy writer.

Are any parts of your books based on anything true?  Kind of? A lot of times real-life happenings will inspire a scene or a conversation, but I’m careful not to ‘out’ the real-world inspirations…

What is your favorite word?  Kerfuffle. I love that word, it kind of dances off my tongue.

If you books were turned into movies, who would you want to play the parts?  This is a tough one! I always have ‘faces’ in mind as I’m writing, but I like the readers to be able to draw their own conclusions as to what the characters actually look like. But Scarlett Johannsen has been heroine inspiration for me a couple of times and so has David Gandy. I’ll let you all decide who and what books…

How was the social media helped your career?  Social media is great. It’s helped me connect with readers, build better relationships with other authors…and basically kept me sane. I’m a full-time writer with a little one at home, so I need an adult outlet now and then. And social media is usually that outlet.

Every writer must have…:  Sharpies! Sharpies! Sharpies! They’re good for everything: editing, outlining, storyboarding. Plus they come in fun colors.

Can you tell us about any upcoming projects?  I’ve just released my 3rd (and final, sob) Texas Girl book, What a Texas Girl Dreams…and my next book, Mr. Right Now will be out in the fall. It’s a fun, contemporary, vacation romance with a mistaken identity twist and I’m really excited about it!

Additional comments by Kristina:  Thank you so much for having me here today, Isabella! I’ll be hanging out all day, so if anyone has a question, shoot!

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