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It's Just A Little Crush

AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Elizabeth Marx

December 3, 2015 3 Comments

Elizabeth Marx

About the author: Elizabeth Marx pens deeply emotional romances that take her readers on a roller coaster ride between desire and despair. Often described as hilarious, heartbreaking, and heartwarming, she’s not afraid to add a sprinkle of magical realism just when you think you know what’s going to happen. Because let’s face it, a happily ever after has to be earned.

Elizabeth resides in Chicago with her husband, girls, and two cats who’ve spelled everyone into believing they’re really dogs. After traveling extensively, she still says there’s no town like Chi-Town.

**Contact Elizabeth: Website   Facebook   Twitter

INTERVIEW

Describe your books in five words: Heartbreaking, Earnest, Alluring, Redeeming, and Tempting.

Tell us about your writing/editing/publishing process: I usually write about two titles a year. I write straight through version one and usually end up with three drafts, going through the manuscript evaluating different aspects: plot, description and settings, and then a line by line review of dialogue. By the third draft, I have a good idea what sort of image I think would represent the theme of the book so when I send the title to my editor I start working with my cover designer on the cover in conjunction with writing the blurb and other marketing materials. Once I get the book back from my editor I edit it and go through it at least twice. Then I send it to beta readers and copy editors for review, once I get those back I go through the manuscript for the final phases.

Salty or sweet? Sweet, salty, sweet, nah, both. LOL!

At what time of day do you think you work best? I usually wake up with an idea or two for whatever manuscript I’m working on. I usually get up and jot all these ideas down. I use different sized Post It notes so I can easily attach them onto pages in a manuscript. Then I write or do interviews or blog posts in the morning at lunchtime I usually spend some time working on Twitter. After lunch I’ll go back to either writing or organizing marketing, etc.

If you could meet any other author, who would it be? Easy, Jane Austen, she’s my favorite author and I’m a big history buff so I think I’d really enjoy a conversation with her. The first question I’d ask is who was the real Mr. Darcy? And what happened?

Do you have any writing rituals? My stories come to me in scenes, so I write the scenes I know and then I create a loose outline around that. I do a lot of writing in notebooks and notes on my phone. If something comes to me I always write it down, even if it’s the middle of the night in a hotel in Omaha and the only thing I have to write on is TP in the bathroom. LOL, seriously this happened to me in the middle of the night and I didn’t want to wake my kids looking for something to write on.

Is the social media a hinder or a help? Social media is a blessing and a curse. How else can Indie authors get word out about their work? Unfortunately it takes a lot of time to organize and schedule posting but once you get a system down social media can be very helpful. But there’s always a pull that we feel like we need to see what’s up on FB, who’s saying what, etc. The one great thing is the speed with which information is relayed, especially on Twitter.

What made you want to be a writer? I’ve always written, in grade school short stories. I won a city wide writing contest in 8th grade and then in high school I wrote a lot of bad poetry and song lyrics and then during college more creative writing. I’ve always been very expressive, especially with words.

Hard/paperbacks or eBooks? I publish in paperback and eBooks and I read all three. Recently I’ve noticed that authors published by the big publishers, their hardbacks are within fifty cents of the eBook price of a title. I end up buying the hardcover even though I’m playing into their hands and keeping their business model alive, of course that’s their goal with their pricing strategy.

Every author must have (a): Every author must have the ability to read people and understand what motivates them, it’s the key to writing memorable characters.

What do you want people to take away from your books? A sense of hope and that the power of love can and will conquer everything, even the worse loss.

What are you working on right now? The release of Just Close Enough is on Dec. 1, 2015 the second book in the Alabama Secret Series. In the small secretive town of Crossroads, a Russian playboy comes looking for revenge and what he finds is a young woman who can help him fulfill that goal, but he quickly realizes he can’t get close enough to her without falling for her.

I also have a new title coming at the beginning of next year: Tell Me Something Real. It’s a coming of age contemporary romance about two college students. A graffiti artist is trying to figure out if she wants to display her work in galleries or the side of brick building, while the heir apparent to a political dynasty is working his way through every girl on campus, until Kami asks him, “Tell me something real, something so real it hurts.”


 

JCE #AlabamaSecrets


 

JICsept23_smaller**Buy “Just In Case (Alabama Secrets Series Book 1)” now!:

Amazon

Smashwords

Nook


 

JCE_sept23_smaller**Buy “Just Close Enough (Alabama Secrets Series Book 2)” now!:

Amazon

Smashwords

Nook

 

JCE BORNSOUTERN

JCE WHAM PROMO


**GIVEAWAY**

Leave a comment below with your email address with the reasons why you love Southern romances!

Your prizes: Elizabeth will give away an autographed copy of JUST IN CASE & JUST CLOSE ENOUGH to one winner U.S. residents only, and one pair of ebooks of JUST IN CASE & JUST CLOSE ENOUGH to an international winner.

**Giveaway ends on December 21st!

Filed Under: Elizabeth Marx-Interview Tagged With: Alabama, Author Interview, Books, Chick-Lit, Elizabeth Marx, It's Just A Little Crush, Just Close Enough, New Release, Romance, Southern Fiction, Women's Fiction

Caroline Fardig

October 22, 2013 1 Comment

CarolineFardigPic

About author, Caroline Fardig: CAROLINE FARDIG was born and raised in a small town in Indiana. Her working career has been rather eclectic thus far, with occupations including schoolteacher, church organist, insurance agent, funeral parlor associate, and stay-at-home mom. Finally realizing that she wants to be a writer when she grows up, Caroline has released her debut novel, IT’S JUST A LITTLE CRUSH, now a #1 Bestseller. She is currently hard at work churning out a second novel in the LIZZIE HART MYSTERIES series. She still lives in that same small town with an understanding husband, two sweet kids, two energetic dogs, and one malevolent cat.

INTERVIEW

Describe your writing style in five words: Smart, sexy, funny, sarcastic, fun.

When did you know you were a writer? It was after people I didn’t know started buying my book!

Salty or sweet? Sweet.

Where did you get the idea for “It’s Just a Little Crush”? A few of the young teens at my church were always “crushing” on book characters—Twilight, Mortal Instruments, etc.—so I thought the idea of a “crush” would make a good love story.  And because I wanted to keep things interesting, I threw in a little murder, too.

Hard/paperback or eBooks? eBooks.  I love my Nook, and it’s so much easier to carry around than an actual book.  However, holding MY book in my hands for the first time was a real rush.

What was the writing/editing/publishing process like for you? The writing part was great, because I love to watch my ideas grow and change and ultimately make a story.  Editing is tedious at best, but I have a great team of proofreaders who make my life a lot easier.  Publishing was difficult, because of course I neglected to read the formatting instructions before I started writing the book.  Going back and manually taking out tabs was a nightmare.  Other than formatting issues, the publishing process was great.  I love that epublishing gives you so much control over your work.

Every writer must have a…: Great deal of quiet time.  If I don’t have quiet time, nothing gets done.

Who is your favorite author? Kristan Higgins.  I love her tone.

How has the social media helped your career? I really would be nowhere without it.  Twitter, Facebook, and blogging have really done wonders to get my name out there.

What do you want your readers to take away from your books? I want them to laugh and have fun.  Some people like for books to change them or make them more thoughtful people.  Not me.  Books are an escape, and I want to go on an adventure, fall in love, and laugh while I’m doing it.  I want to give that feeling to my readers.

What’s the best advice you’ve been given? Develop a thick skin, and never give up.  When you and your work are out in the public eye, you set yourself up for criticism.  Whether it be from random people on the Internet, reviewers, agents, publishers, or whomever, don’t take it personally.  If you truly believe in your work, then put it out there and be proud of it.  Don’t ever give up on your dreams of making it in publishing—so many famous authors were once where you are right now.

Can you tell us about any of your upcoming projects? I have books 2 and 3 of the Lizzie Hart Mysteries series written, and right now I’m working on a chick-lit romance that’s not part of the series.

**Additional comments by the Caroline: It’s Just a Little Crush was a Semifinalist in The Kindle Book Review’s 2013 Best Indie Book Awards. It’s Just a Little Crush by Caroline Fardig is a #1 Bestseller on Barnes & Noble’s Humor and Women Detectives lists!

It'sJustALittleCrushCoverPic

Blurb of “It’s Just a Little Crush” by Caroline Fardig:

The sleepy town of Liberty hasn’t seen murder in…well…ever. Residents are stunned when the body of a young woman is found strangled, and reporters at the Liberty Chronicle are thrilled, rather disturbingly, over the biggest news story to hit town this century.

Lizzie Hart has even bigger problems. Lately, she can’t seem to concentrate on her job as copy editor at the Chronicle with the new hunky investigative reporter, Blake Morgan, swaggering around the office. How can a girl work when she’s using all of her energy combating Blake-induced hot flashes and struggling to repress the giggly inner schoolgirl that’s constantly rearing her dorky head? It’s a good thing that Blake barely knows Lizzie exists.

After an odd string of events, however, Lizzie begins to wonder if Blake is really as fabulous as she has fantasized. When Lizzie and Blake find a co-worker dead, Blake’s personality changes completely—and not in a good way. Even though the police rule the death as an accident, Lizzie immediately suspects foul play and senses a connection to the recent murder. She is determined to bring the killer to justice, but is having some trouble getting her Nancy Drew on thanks to the pesky stalker she’s picked up—Blake Morgan. Wait, didn’t she want him to follow her around and pay attention to her? Not like this. Blake has turned from cool and smooth to cold and downright scary, making Lizzie wonder if he should be next on her suspect list.

Chapter 1 tease

It’s time.  9:07 AM.  Against my better judgment, I allow myself to steal a quick glance at the door.  The sight of a shadow hovering outside throws my stomach into a spasm, clenching, twisting, and tossing my breakfast mercilessly, the wave of nausea leaving me a little light-headed.  My heart is banging against my ribcage so hard it may just crack a rib.  I should breathe.  In, out, in, out.  Great, that didn’t help.  Now I think I may be hyperventilating.  Maybe I should hold my breath.  Ooh, now I’m dizzy.  I nervously wipe a shaking hand across my forehead, and it comes back soaked with sweat.  Gross.  As the doorknob turns, a shot of pure adrenaline courses through my veins, causing random body parts to twitch and quiver completely beyond my control.  In short, I am a hot mess.

You’d think some earth-shattering event is going on or something.  Well, it’s not.  I’m   not in the middle of diffusing a bomb or running from the mob, or anything cool like that.  No, I’m just sitting here at my desk waiting for HIM to walk through the door.  Know what’s really lame?  I’m not even sure that he knows I exist.  I can count on one hand the number of conversations I’ve had with him, most of them monosyllabic on my part, because I can’t seem to form a complete sentence in his presence.  You have to understand, I’m really not a loser.  Really, I’m not.

The door swings open, and I inadvertently let a little giggle escape.  What am I, back in junior high?  This is getting embarrassing.  Am I, Lizzie Hart, a grown woman of twenty-six years, seriously going to let a man I barely know get me this excited?  Yes, yes I am.  Before I can compose myself, a figure steps through the doorway, and there HE is…Blake Morgan.  Right on time—well, so to speak.  Why he is exactly seven minutes late every day, I don’t know.  Maybe he just wants to make an entrance—and does he ever!  Wait.  Oh, it’s happening again.  Why has the room suddenly screeched into slow motion as he struts his sexy self past me?  Where is the fan that is breezily blowing his shiny brown hair, only to have it fall perfectly into place by the time he reaches his desk?  And where is that pulsating music coming from?  I glance around.  Everyone else seems to be doing their normal work thing, oblivious to the shift in the space-time continuum that’s going on here.  Am I to believe that I’m the only person in this office affected this way?  As I hang my head in shame I realize that yes, yes I am.

It always takes a few minutes for my eyes to adjust back into focus after my daily Blake-vision episode.  A little too late, I notice some movement out of the corner of my eye and realize in horror that Blake himself is walking straight toward my desk.  Get a grip, Lizzie!  Oh, crap.  Here comes the blushing.  Every time I am the least bit embarrassed or caught off guard I turn ten kinds of red, and I’m powerless to stop it.  Breathe, girl!  It’s your only hope!  Don’t panic—he’s probably only going to ask you a simple work question.  Everyone knows he’s seeing someone, although no one seems to know who, so surely he can’t be thinking about me romantically or sizing me up in any way.  Chill out!  I scramble to appear busy and important as he walks…past my desk and starts talking to another co-worker about some game from last night.  Oh.  I really hoped he was going to stop by because he needed me.

**”IT’S JUST A LITTLE CRUSH will be on sale for $0.99 through October 24th!

**Buy the book now**

Amazon   Barnes & Noble

**Contact Caroline:

Website   Blog   Facebook   Twitter   Media Inquiries

Filed Under: Caroline Fardig Tagged With: Blurb, Books, Caroline Fardig, Chick-Lit, Guest Interview, It's Just A Little Crush

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