tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37503421112994734192024-03-18T20:15:59.002-05:00SharingYourBook blog Featuring authors and new releasesJill Hannah Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12007083642964545355noreply@blogger.comBlogger178125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3750342111299473419.post-76571321663023912542024-03-17T15:18:00.010-05:002024-03-18T20:14:34.789-05:00CLOSER TO HOME, by yours truly, JILL HANNAH ANDERSON<p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;"><b>Set in 1977</b> </span><span style="color: #0f1111; font-size: medium;">~ </span></i><span style="color: #0f1111; font-size: medium;">Joleigh Moore lives an almost reclusive life on her small farm in Missouri. But when she witnesses the murder of her boyfriend, Mack, she worries the assailants will come after her next.</span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111;">Planning to hide out until Mack’s killers are caught, Joleigh stows away in a neighbor’s station wagon and lands in a small Minnesota town. Later, she discovers a large amount of cash in her journal and realizes Mack must have hidden his drug money there. Joleigh now has what the men were willing to kill for.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111;">Joleigh takes a summer job and moves into an old run-down cabin in the woods. As she gets to know the townspeople and becomes more and more involved with them, the place she once considered temporary could be her chance for a new beginning. But before Joleigh can have a future, she’ll be forced to deal with her past.</span></span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><i><b>Early reviews:</b></i></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white;"><i><b><br /></b></i></span></span></div><div><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;">Beautifully crafted, </span><span class="a-text-italic" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic;">Closer to Home, </span><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;">is a compelling, fast-paced adventure with a plot that starts off at rocket speed and doesn't let up. Set in the seventies, Jill Hannah Anderson takes the reader back to a simpler time, and I found myself completely lost in the setting and the story, and rooting for the remarkable cast of characters she created.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />—</span><span class="a-text-bold" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700;">Suzanne Redfearn</span><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;">, #1 Amazon bestselling author of </span><span class="a-text-italic" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic;">In an Instant</span><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />"</span><span class="a-text-italic" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic;">Closer to Home,</span><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;"> an emotionally resonant tale, explores the complexities of relationships and the transformative power of love. If you are looking for a book that combines suspense, heart, and the triumph of the human spirit, this story is a must-read." </span><span class="a-text-italic" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic;">Award-winning author, </span><span class="a-text-bold" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700;">Hope Gibbs</span><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />"This is a heartwarming, fast-paced, small-town story of a fiercely independent young woman who not only survives but flourishes through the odds stacked against her." </span><span class="a-text-italic" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic;">Award-winning author, </span><span class="a-text-bold" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700;">Donna Norman-Carbone</span></div><div><span class="a-text-bold" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="a-text-bold" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><i>An interview with myself:</i></span></span></div><div><span class="a-text-bold" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div><div><span class="a-text-bold" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><u>What, or who, inspired this story?</u></span></span></div><div><span class="a-text-bold" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><u><br /></u></span></span></div><div><span class="a-text-bold" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">A friend suggested I write about the many people in our rural area who could easily live off the land. I'm in awe of people like that (my husband is one of them) because I wouldn't last a day on my own in the wilderness!</span></span></div><div><span class="a-text-bold" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="a-text-bold" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">I don't watch much TV but I am drawn to "reality" shows like ALONE that portray these types of resourceful people. So it was an easy decision to create a story about a young woman with these qualities. As with all my books, the story takes place in a small Minnesota town. This story is set in 1977-78, which was a fun era to research and write about. </span></span></div><div><span class="a-text-bold" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white;"><u>Characters often appear out of nowhere for authors. Did that happen for this story?</u></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white;"><u><br /></u></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white;">Yes! I had a rough idea of who the two main characters, Joleigh and Franklin, would be in the story, and that Joleigh would have an elderly adoptive mother and a very temporary boyfriend, but that was it.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white;">Within the first few days of beginning the story, I realized I would have at least one Vietnam Veteran because of the time period. I ended up with three. And one, Moe, was definitely a surprise. He wouldn't get out of my head, and he ended up being one of my favorite characters.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white;">I also resurrected Bits, a young girl in the story. She had initially been in early drafts of CRAZY LITTLE TOWN CALLED LOVE, but she wasn't needed for the plot. She fits perfectly in CLOSER TO HOME. Joleigh needed her, and Bits needed Joleigh.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white;">Also, Ruby, the owner of the cafe, pushed her way into the story. Initially, she was going to be nothing more than the owner of Ruby's Cafe. But she had other plans and I just stood out of her way and let her tell me her story.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="a-text-bold" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><u>What is the message(s) of the story, and what inspired it?</u></span></span></div><div><span class="a-text-bold" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><u><br /></u></span></span></div><div><span class="a-text-bold" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Humans, at our core, simply want to be loved and to belong. It's why we join communities, clubs, etc. and in Joleigh's case, she had a tumultuous childhood until Unity gave her what she craved: love and a sense of belonging.</span></span></div><div><span class="a-text-bold" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="a-text-bold" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">When Unity passed away, it forced Joleigh to look to her future. It wasn't until her boyfriend's murder (in chapter one) that Joleigh is<i> forced t</i>o leave the place where she felt loved and felt like she belonged.</span></span></div><div><span class="a-text-bold" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="a-text-bold" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Home isn't always where we think it should be. It isn't always where we're "planted." Sometimes we have to push ourselves outside of our comfort zone to find the place that will help us bloom.</span></span></div><div><span class="a-text-bold" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white;">Until I was seven (the age Joleigh was when her parents died) our family moved around a lot because Dad was a pilot in Vietnam. I wanted a permanent home <i>so bad </i>that I remember when we were moving from Florida to Minnesota I cried when I found out we had to leave the hotel we had stayed in. I'd been told we were moving to a permanent home (Dad had just left the Air Force.) In my mind, that first hotel was our new home. I was devastated to get back in the car! W</span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial;">ithout realizing it, I wrote that same craving for permanence into Joleigh's story. </span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial;"><u>How do you choose character names for your stories?</u></span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white;">Sometimes the character just appears with a name I can't imagine changing. The young girl in this story, Bits, is an example. Her real name in the story is Elizabeth. I also look at the character's age, and whether I want a common name or make them unique. Joleigh, in this story, got her name from my two daughters' middle names: Jo and Leigh. Franklin's younger brother, David, in this story, was always David, a common name for his age (he would have been born in the late 1950s.)</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white;">I try to not repeat names, but in book #5, there's also a David, and he's a main character. It was too late for me to change the name in CLOSER TO HOME because he was cemented as David in my head after writing a couple of drafts. And I couldn't <i>not</i> name the character in book #5 David, because he is based on a real person named David, and I can't imagine calling that character anything else!</span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial;"><u><br /></u></span></span></div><div><u style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">What is up next in your writing world?</u></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">I'm finishing up the final draft of my <i>fifth(!)</i> book, and honestly, I can't believe it. Sometimes none of this seems real, but if I look back and think of the many, many thousands of hours I've sat at the computer brainstorming (and agonizing, self-doubting, fuming, chocolate-eating, butt-widening, daydreaming, questioning-my-sanity was done during those hours) then I know that yes, I've put the time in for those five books.</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Book #5 is loosely linked, via a Vietnam POW bracelet, to CLOSER TO HOME. You'll have to read this book to get a glimpse into how the POW bracelet appears in the story, and just know that said Vietnam Prisoner of War will be found in book #5. </span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">If you follow me on social media (Facebook and Instagram) then you'll likely have seen my posts about a POW bracelet and its significance.</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><u>Wrapping things up... final words?</u></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">First off, thank you to my early readers (ARC readers) who have helped generate interest for CLOSER TO HOME (and my earlier books.) Early readers/reviewers are so helpful, and I appreciate their time.</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Writing a book is only a sliver of what it takes to be an author today. Writing a book and meeting with book lovers at events are my favorite parts. But in today's world, it takes much more. Marketing is a time-consuming but necessary part of the book world, so let me say how much readers are appreciated when they spread book love. As I tell everyone, reviewing and recommending books helps authors and fellow book lovers!</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white;">Also, I made a Spotify playlist (free) of the many songs referenced in CLOSER TO HOME (and a few extras.) Click this link: </span></span><a href="https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6soNmkay0fmDkknKcNq7Wk" style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;" target="_blank"><b>CLOSER TO HOME playlist</b></a></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;"><b><i>To connect with me:</i></b></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial;"><u><b><br /></b></u></span></div><div><div style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><a href="http://www.jillhannahanderson.com/" target="_blank">www.JillHannahAnderson.com</a><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/jillhannah.anderson/" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/jillhannah.anderson/</a><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/jillh.anderson/" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/jillh.anderson/</a><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.bookbub.com/profile/jill-hannah-anderson" target="_blank">https://www.bookbub.com/profile/jill-hannah-anderson</a></span></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh29pq19CojJ5lYXxs-RIV3dMjwUTiEmKpDHV1ofxj5QkGZ-C9rkDbmLs7ACFG411Nufo0p0D7ZdwVHsI-pDnaGc52Wsg7HZH6xE9WvxtPXXs1iIn91ly5609vwpg2uojX-_HmHgZ3_V9xE5h0tKFA6d99RjI0KeXRqY3msZ_sZZGr0LjO4xTWNm1Lxt2Af/s3000/C2H%20COVER-HIGH%20RES.%20final%201-23-24.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="1877" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh29pq19CojJ5lYXxs-RIV3dMjwUTiEmKpDHV1ofxj5QkGZ-C9rkDbmLs7ACFG411Nufo0p0D7ZdwVHsI-pDnaGc52Wsg7HZH6xE9WvxtPXXs1iIn91ly5609vwpg2uojX-_HmHgZ3_V9xE5h0tKFA6d99RjI0KeXRqY3msZ_sZZGr0LjO4xTWNm1Lxt2Af/w250-h400/C2H%20COVER-HIGH%20RES.%20final%201-23-24.jpg" width="250" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil9nV2cHllkzyxVIFItzlucUCjyjKI3Ss82f1TcyEq1nDcBJX6zXCcdiNIVvFB2Npu0oN3jXRL4VukxsNLlGZyn03Ns5_MTYQos02XMN811e1Wn3JDUVteqHinBL1u2KQdmqrOl3okiieo-6FYEf1fwF_JaXKpElrTBivJsKiTLDtKxVJswxHGeWXmko5v/s652/author%20photo%20-%202022.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="652" data-original-width="510" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil9nV2cHllkzyxVIFItzlucUCjyjKI3Ss82f1TcyEq1nDcBJX6zXCcdiNIVvFB2Npu0oN3jXRL4VukxsNLlGZyn03Ns5_MTYQos02XMN811e1Wn3JDUVteqHinBL1u2KQdmqrOl3okiieo-6FYEf1fwF_JaXKpElrTBivJsKiTLDtKxVJswxHGeWXmko5v/s320/author%20photo%20-%202022.png" width="250" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><u><br /></u></span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 0in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div><i style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </i></div>Jill Hannah Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12007083642964545355noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3750342111299473419.post-45960866140159736702024-01-22T19:00:00.000-06:002024-01-22T19:00:09.701-06:00DAUGHTERS OF GREEN MOUNTAIN GAP, by author TERI M. BROWN (out January 23rd!)<p><span style="font-size: large;"><i> <span style="font-family: arial;">An Appalachian granny woman. A daughter on a crusade. A granddaughter caught between the two.</span></i></span></p><div aria-expanded="true" class="a-expander-content a-expander-partial-collapse-content a-expander-content-expanded" style="box-sizing: border-box; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 20px; position: relative;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Maggie McCoury, a generational healer woman, relies on family traditions, folklore, and beliefs gleaned from a local Cherokee tribe. Her daughter, Carrie Ann, believes her university training holds the answers. As they clash over the use of roots, herbs, and a dash of mountain magic versus the medicine available in the town's apothecary, Josie Mae doesn't know whom to follow. But what happens when neither family traditions nor science can save the ones you love most?</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span class="a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: arial; font-size: large; font-style: italic;">Daughters of Green Mountain Gap </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: arial; font-size: large;">weaves a compelling tale of Maggie, Carrie Ann, and Josie Mae, three generations of remarkable North Carolina women living at the turn of the twentieth century, shedding light on racism, fear of change, loss of traditions, and the intricate dynamics within a family. Author Teri M. Brown skillfully navigates the complexities of their lives, revealing that some questions are not as easy to answer as one might think.</span></p></div><div class="a-expander-header a-expander-partial-collapse-header" style="background-color: white; bottom: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; opacity: 1; outline: 0px; position: absolute; width: 697.562px;"><a aria-expanded="true" class="a-declarative" data-a-expander-toggle="{"allowLinkDefault":true, "expand_prompt":"Read more", "collapse_prompt":"Read less"}" data-action="a-expander-toggle" data-csa-c-func-deps="aui-da-a-expander-toggle" data-csa-c-id="ldoqj0-47zkpl-x6evsc-vlj384" data-csa-c-type="widget" data-csa-interaction-events="click" role="button" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #007185;"><i class="a-icon a-icon-extender-collapse" style="background-image: none; background-position: -94px -293px; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: 400px 900px; border-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); border-image: initial; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px 2px 2px 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; height: 7px; margin-left: 2px; margin-right: 0.385em; margin-top: -1px; opacity: 1; padding: 3px; position: relative; transform: rotate(-135deg); vertical-align: baseline; width: 7px;"></i><span class="a-expander-prompt" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"></span></a></div><p><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><i><b>Author interview with Teri ~</b></i></span></p><p><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"><b>Tell us a little about
yourself and how you started writing.</b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">As a kid, I used to say
that I wanted to be an author, but I also wanted to be a brain surgeon and an
Olympic ice skater. I think I wanted to be an author because I loved to read.
However, when it came time to pick a career path in college, writer was not on
the list because my parents didn’t see it as something viable.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">I began writing for
small businesses in 2000. Although I wanted to try my hand at fiction, I was in
an emotionally abusive relationship and to afraid to give it a try. I left that
relationship after fourteen long years and began writing, but was still too
afraid to let my work be seen.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">I met my now husband,
Bruce, in 2018, and we went on an adventure of a lifetime during the summer of
2020. We rode 3102 miles across the US on a tandem bicycle. When we finished, I
realized I could do anything I wanted to do, and I wanted to be an author.
Fourteen months later, Sunflowers Beneath the Snow launched. One year later, An
Enemy Like Me launched. And now, one year later, Daughters of Green Mountain
Gap is launching!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"><b>Is
your writing world anything like what you imagined it would be?</b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">Although
aspects of my writing world are like I imagined, there is so much more to being
an author than I thought. I don’t just get to sit and write. I have to learn
the craft. Edit. Choose covers. Write blurbs. Be interviewed. Talk up my books.
Market. Keep up with my website. And recently, I’ve added podcast host to my
list when I took over Online for Authors. It isn’t what I expected, but I’m
loving the whole experience!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"><b>What
was the original title of this book? </b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">Daughters
of Green Mountain Gap has had a multitude of names. I’m terrible at picking out
a title. How is an author supposed to distill down a book into three to five
words? I saved it in my computer as Maggie, who is one of the main characters,
though I never really thought I’d call it that. I considered titles with Granny
Woman but decided I didn’t want to fight against the non-fiction things out
there about granny women. I considered things with the words healing, healer,
mountain woman, hands, rivers, moons, and more. I finally put it to my readers
and many liked the idea of Daughters of the Mountain, but that just didn’t seem
good enough. Then a reader suggested that many of the mountains have a local
name. So, I searched for the names of hills around Burnsville, NC where the
book is set and found Green Mountain Gap – and I knew I had found my title!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"><b>What
inspired this book plot?</b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">Believe
it or not, I was inspired by a wart on the pad of my thumb. I was complaining
to my brother that my primary care physician wouldn’t remove the wart on my
thumb stating that I needed to see a hand specialist. Instead, I went to CVS
and got one of those patches. My brother said, “Why didn’t you get someone to
talk it off?” I had never heard of such a thing and figured he was pulling my
leg. After our phone conversation, I did my normal #researchjunkie thing and
looked it up. Amazingly, there are people who claim to have the ability to talk
off warts, blow in a person’s mouth to get rid of thrush, talk breech babies
into turning the right way, and more. This led me to learning of the Granny
Women in the Appalachian Mountains of NC, and Maggie McCroury was born.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"><b>What are some things
you enjoy when not writing?</b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">I could easily write a
small manuscript on this topic! I have many, many pasttimes I enjoy. In
particular, I love going to the beach and collecting shells, especially at
sunrise. Other things include playing bridge, bicycling, kayaking, thriftstore
shopping, reading, photography, family history, playing with my grandchildren,
baking, trying new recipes, playing the piano, eating out with friends,
podcasting, and mentoring others.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"><b>Is there anything major that
changed in this novel from when you first plotted it out?</b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">I’m a pantser, so I didn’t
have it plotted out. However, there is a difficult scene that I didn’t want to
write. I really wanted something else to happen. So, I didn’t write for almost
two months, willing a new path to open up. During this time, I not only
couldn’t come up with a different scene, but I also couldn’t come up with
anything at all about the book. I had no idea how to wrap everything up.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">I finally wrote the difficult
scene and put away my writing for the day. When I woke the next morning, the
entire book opened up before my eyes. Not only did I know where to go next, I
knew how everything would come together!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"><b>If I had to spend a week on a deserted island,
I would need…</b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">My computer so I could write, several books,
and a comfy mattress. I can’t do anything without a good night’s sleep!</span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><b>How
do you market your work?</b></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">I</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">’m
still working on the marketing process. When I first published, I didn’t even
know I needed to market! I now have a website, a twice-monthly newsletter,
social media, and a podcast. Additionally, I have been a guest on several dozen
podcasts, held local in-person events, attend book clubs, and set up at outdoor
markets.</span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"><b>What
are you working on now?</b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">When
I was growing up, I loved the book Are You There God It’s Me Margaret by Judy
Blume. One day, I was wondering what happened to Margaret. Instantly, she
appeared and began talking to me. She now goes by Peg, she’s recently
separated, and she’s going through menopause. My latest manuscript is her
story, a humorous look at what women go through in their 50s. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"><b>Do
you have a favorite character?</b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">I
definitely love Maggie, the grandmother in the story. She is well-grounded and
understands her healing art. However, I love Carrie Ann fiercely because she
needs my love the most. It takes her years – and years – to figure out her why,
and she makes all kinds of mistakes while doing so. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"><b> </b></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"><b>What
was some unique research you had to do for a book?</b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">I
did a lot of research about Cherokee healing traditions. The information I
gathered is truly fascinating. I also had to do a lot of research about healing
herbs. I had no idea that different parts of the same plant could be used for
different remedies, or that plants picked at the wrong season could be harmful.
I’m grateful to herbalists who are keeping this information alive and well.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"><b>Is
there anything you’d like to say to your readers and fans?</b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">Thank
you, from the bottom of my heart, for being a reader. Without you, what I love
to do would be for nothing. I love hearing from readers, so feel free to head
to my website and send me a note – and definitely sign up for my newsletter! </span></p><p><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><i>To connect with Teri ~</i></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><b>Teri M Brown</b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="http://www.terimbrown.com" style="text-decoration: none;"><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><b>www.terimbrown.com</b></span></a></p><p><b><span id="docs-internal-guid-83a6cfaa-7fff-8e86-cfd4-43b4e4fcebc7" style="font-family: arial;"></span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b>Facebook.com/TeriMBrownAuthor</b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><b>Twitter.com/TeriMBrown1</b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><b>Instagram.com/TeriMBrown_Author</b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><b>LinkedIn.com/in/TeriMBrown</b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><b>Goodreads.com/terimbrown</b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><b>Pinterest.com/terimbrownauthor</b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><b>Tiktok.com/@terimbrown_author</b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b>Youtube.com/@TeriMBrown_Author</b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><b>Bookbub.com/profile/teri-m-brown</b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b><span id="docs-internal-guid-94567460-7fff-07e6-08d7-34ccfd4f23c9" style="font-family: arial;"></span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><b>Threads: @terimbrown_author </b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial,sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgWRN4IdgvgII6NbPxLP9ksziwlAFL3Vp_zf1ZqFhOq52cyX1aVtT50Zh7_VLiq2r9m_mumL-8bYvSe58yOM5B0kcJX7_2bz3WZ_7g-Ffa_vHWrLMKdvJ7zNud101XrBbpBL_ZH2a7Y-dMmhVoIG13kR0sasu36mkvZGZaOhqErO_X9dMMrgPw_Ba7hIWN7" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1360" data-original-width="893" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgWRN4IdgvgII6NbPxLP9ksziwlAFL3Vp_zf1ZqFhOq52cyX1aVtT50Zh7_VLiq2r9m_mumL-8bYvSe58yOM5B0kcJX7_2bz3WZ_7g-Ffa_vHWrLMKdvJ7zNud101XrBbpBL_ZH2a7Y-dMmhVoIG13kR0sasu36mkvZGZaOhqErO_X9dMMrgPw_Ba7hIWN7=w263-h400" width="263" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEizaTPe6f03bdCScDany-jF8ICGyoWCr57Nm2htMfT6duewHIwH5gJ_d-O0P_0CpN28IZHT0_qdYHcx5L_KpWwUX91Jpq2muT6viXzzVqVPK7-Bp1T5QGTDT5MsNDMJ4_Pf7zWKEg9ngCiPQWMMnLRg9gNsJxTp9zbzHXZYIfhZ0KTCUckH5JFZXn0DpQ2h" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="450" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEizaTPe6f03bdCScDany-jF8ICGyoWCr57Nm2htMfT6duewHIwH5gJ_d-O0P_0CpN28IZHT0_qdYHcx5L_KpWwUX91Jpq2muT6viXzzVqVPK7-Bp1T5QGTDT5MsNDMJ4_Pf7zWKEg9ngCiPQWMMnLRg9gNsJxTp9zbzHXZYIfhZ0KTCUckH5JFZXn0DpQ2h" width="240" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><p></p>Jill Hannah Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12007083642964545355noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3750342111299473419.post-12217479983433959162023-11-06T07:52:00.003-06:002023-11-06T07:54:48.088-06:00ALL WE COULD STILL HAVE, by author DIANE BARNES (out 11/7!)<p><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-weight: 700;"><i><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">In their attempts to have a child, a husband and wife must contend with personal desires, crossed boundaries, and broken trust as they reimagine what it truly means to be a family.</span></i></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Nikki and Kyle Sebastian have a loving and healthy marriage. It’s only missing one thing they want—children. When the couple is diagnosed with “unexplained infertility” and endures several failed rounds of IVF, Kyle, for both their sakes, is unwilling to bury them deeper in emotional and financial debt.</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Desperate to have a baby, Nikki betrays Kyle’s trust in an attempt to try IVF one more time. The choice fractures their once-stable union. Now burdened with suspicion, resentment, and further grief, their little family is falling apart.</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Picking up the pieces of their broken home means reassessing their dreams for the future—dreams that Nikki’s not ready to give up. If she can’t find a way to forge a new path forward with Kyle, she may find herself alone at the end of the family tree she longs to help grow.</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><br /></p><h3 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 4px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;"><i>Reviews ~</i></span></h3><div class="a-section a-spacing-small a-padding-small" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 22px; padding: 6px 10px;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">“</span><span class="a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic;">All We Could Still Have</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> is a deeply moving story about having no control over the thing you desire most and discovering a different way of looking at that desire along the way. Diane Barnes masterfully weaves through darkness to discover light and takes the reader on a beautiful journey with a host of compelling characters that feel like they could be any one of us.” </span><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">—Suzanne Redfearn, #1 Amazon bestselling author of </span><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;">In an Instant</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">“In </span><span class="a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic;">All We Could Still Have</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">, Diane Barnes deftly navigates soul-achingly difficult issues and betrayals of the heart with such honesty and care that you just know—at each anticipated turn of the page—her story will leave you with the most redemptive emotion of them all: hope.” </span><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">—Alli Frank and Asha Youmans, authors of </span><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;">Never Meant to Meet You</span><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;"> and </span><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;">Tiny Imperfections</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">“Diane Barnes is a masterful storyteller, unafraid to lay bare the needs and desires of her characters. </span><span class="a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic;">All We Could Still Have</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> is the poignant story of one woman’s yearnings that lead her down a path of deceit from which she barely recovers, only for her to be thrust into an agonizing position where all her choices are heartbreaking. Or so they seem. Readers will fall in love with </span><span class="a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic;">All We Could Still Have</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> from the very first page.” </span><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">—Barbara Conrey, </span><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;">USA Today</span><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;"> bestselling author of </span><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;">Nowhere Near Goodbye</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">“With wry precision, Diane Barnes tackles what it’s like to be in a good marriage stretched to its very limits by desire, betrayal, and the definition of family. </span><span class="a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic;">All We Could Still Have</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> begs the question: Does deep struggle always signal a red flag to the end? Or, is it the very foils of being human that turn a good marriage into a great one? I read this book in one night, holding my breath until the very last line.” </span><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">—Ann Garvin, </span><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;">USA Today</span><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;"> bestselling author of </span><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;">I Thought You Said This Would Work</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">“</span><span class="a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic;">All We Could Still Have</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> by Diane Barnes manages to be both heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time. An emotional family drama, this story will leave you thinking about the ways we hurt the ones we love most and the power of forgiveness—for others and ourselves. Put this book on your TBR list!” </span><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">—Alison Hammer, author of </span><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;">Little Pieces of Me</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><b><i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: 18pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Author
interview with Diane ~</span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: medium;">Tell
us a little about yourself and how you started writing.</span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0f1111; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: large;">I
started writing in second grade. We came in from recess one day, and there was
a trail of big paper footprints through the classroom. The path went under
chairs, over desks, and eventually out the window. The teacher gave us a
composition book and asked us to write a story about how we think the
footprints got there. I filled the book and asked for another. When I went home
that afternoon, I still wasn’t done with my story. The teacher gave me a stack
of the composition books to take home. I filled them all, and I’ve never really
stopped writing since that day.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #0f1111; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;">What are
some things you enjoy when not writing?</span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #0f1111; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: large;">Like
most writers, I love reading, especially on the beach or by a pool. More active
things I enjoy are tennis and golf. The thing I enjoy most is spending time
with family and friends, just catching up, having drinks or food, or going for
walks.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #0f1111; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Do you have a particular writing routine?</span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #0f1111; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: large;">Write a sentence, check Twitter. Write another sentence, check Facebook.
Write another sentence, check email. Just kidding, sort of! I actually do
my best writing in our camp in Maine because there is no cell signal or
Internet connection there.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #0f1111; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Is there anything major that changed in this novel from when you first
plotted it out?</span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #0f1111; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: large;">Yes, based on comments from beta readers, I felt I had to change my
ending. I don’t want to give anything away, but if you read the book and want
to know my original ending, email me (diane@dianembarnes.com) and I’ll tell you
what it was.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: large;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #0f1111; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: black;">Finish this: “I</span></b><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: black;"> can’t write without…”<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #0f1111; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: large;">A
computer! I’ve tried to write in notebooks at the beach or in classes I take,
but my handwriting is so bad that even I have trouble reading it sometimes.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #0f1111; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;">If I had
to spend a week on a deserted island, I would need…</span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #0f1111; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: large;">My
husband, dog, and chocolate</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #0f1111; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;">What
career did you think you’d have as an adult?</span></span></b><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #0f1111; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;">When I
was young, I dreamed about writing for a soap opera, General Hospital or Days
of Our Lives.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #0f1111; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: black;">What is
something about you that would surprise people?</span></b><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #0f1111; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: black;">When it
comes to playing games, I am wickedly competitive. When my nieces and nephew
were young, I would never let them just win, and my brother-in-law always got
mad at me.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #0f1111; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Do you
have a ‘day job’ as well?</span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #0f1111; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: large;">I do. I
work as a Marketing Writer for a company in the health care industry. I’m lucky
that the job allows me to do what I love: Write.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #0f1111; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="font-size: large;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: black;">What was
the original title of this book?</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #0f1111; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: black;">My working title was Life, Unplanned. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #0f1111; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Where do
you get your ideas, or what inspired this book plot?</span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #0f1111; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: large;">While I
was working on my debut, I was lucky enough to attend a writing workshop taught
by Elizabeth Berg. She gave each participant a customized writing prompt. Mine
was about a woman who bought sexy lingerie and parades in front of her husband
wearing it, but he ignores her. I thought about why that would happen and came
up with an idea that the couple had been unable to conceive. When I read the
scene, everyone in the workshop was laughing at the beginning. By the end, they
were all crying.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #0f1111; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: large;">That my
writing evoked so much emotion gave me a big boost of confidence. I finished my
debut and wrote two other novels before going back to that scene and turning it
into a novel, </span><i style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">All We Could Still Have</i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: large;">. During revision, I had to cut
that original scene from the book. It killed me to do so.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #0f1111; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;">If I
wasn’t an author, I might be…?</span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #0f1111; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: large;">I really
can’t imagine doing anything other than writing.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #0f1111; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Do you
have a go-to first reader after you feel your manuscript is ready?</span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #0f1111; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: large;">Two, my
sister Susan and my friend Susan. As I’m writing, I always bounce ideas off my
friend Julie, who is also a writer.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #0f1111; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Can you
tell us about your challenges in getting your first book published (or this
book?)</span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #0f1111; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: large;">I had a
fun type of challenge with </span><i style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">All We Could Still Have</i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: large;">. I sent this book to
my agent in the late spring. We did a round of revisions and went on submission
in early summer. I started working on my next novel and put that book out of my
mind. I was on vacation in our camp in Maine that has no cell service or
Internet connection. One day I was out in the boat and there are points in the
lake where I get an unstable signal, and my agent called to tell me we had an
offer, but then I lost the signal. I kept trying to call back but the call kept
dropping. By the time I was able to get to a place with a reliable connection
and talk to her, we had multiple offers. So, that was really exciting.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #0f1111; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;">What are
you working on now?</span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #0f1111; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: large;">The
working title of my next novel is Mary Mulligan Gets a Do-Over. It’s about a
54-year-old woman who dreams about being young again. She gets her wisdom teeth
removed and wakes up from the procedure as a 24-year-old. She soon
realizes that her daughter doesn’t exist in this second version of her life so
she wants to get back to her old life.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #0f1111; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Do you
have a favorite character?</span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #0f1111; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: large;">I really
love most of the characters in All We Could Still Have, Nikki, Dana, Aunt
Izzie, Hank, Sharon, Elizabeth, Casey, and the dog! I have mixed feelings about
Kyle. I do think the way Nikki changes throughout the story is really special.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #0f1111; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: black;">In my
novel Mixed Signals, I love Mr. O’Brien, and readers always mention him to me.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #0f1111; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Do you
have other books you’d like to talk about here? (The research, how you came up
with the idea for your story, etc.)</span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #0f1111; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: large;">Before I
wrote </span><i style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">All We Could Still Have</i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: large;">, I published a novel named </span><i style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">More Than</i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: large;">
with Red Adept Publishing. The idea for </span><i style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">More Than</i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: large;"> came from a boot camp
style exercise class I attended at my local gym. The story is about Peggy
Moriarty, an overweight widow whose twin children leave for college. Before
they go, they give Peggy a gift certificate for an exercise class at the gym.
Peggy reluctantly attends. Though her body doesn’t change much in the class,
her attitude toward life does. It was a really fun book to write, and
I’ve heard from so many readers that Peggy’s story has inspired them in their
own journeys. So, I’m really proud of that book.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #0f1111; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;">What
would your dream job be if you didn’t write books? (assuming this is your dream
job!)</span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #0f1111; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: large;">Shortstop
for the Boston Red Sox or a professional tennis player.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #0f1111; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Do you
have any advice for aspiring writers?</span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #0f1111; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: large;">A
rejection is just one person’s opinion. Never give up. To be a writer, you need
to keep your butt in the chair and your fingers on the keyboard, even when
nothing is coming to you.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #0f1111; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;">What are
the downfalls of your writing career? The best parts?</span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #0f1111; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: large;">The best
part is the people I have met along the way. The writing community is so
supportive. There’s nothing like it.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #0f1111; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Favorite
band or music? </span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #0f1111; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: large;">I love
country music, Luke Combs and Carly Pearce, especially. I also have an
affection for music from the ‘80s.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #0f1111; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Place
you’d like to travel?</span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #0f1111; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: large;">I’d love
to visit Italy. It’s where my grandparents are from. Also, I’ve read a few
books that take place in Positano, and they make me want to climb through the
pages into the setting.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #0f1111; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="font-size: large;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: black;">Is there
anything you’d like to say to your readers and fans?</span></b></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;">
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #0f1111; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: black;">There are so many great books to read; thank you for choosing mine! If you have
left a review for any of my novels, I’m sending an extra thanks. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><b style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: x-large;"><i>To connect with Diane ~</i></b></p><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.dianembarnes.com&source=gmail&ust=1699364993702000&usg=AOvVaw31GK1RPZA2dDERhxik_tew" href="http://www.dianembarnes.com/" style="font-size: large;" target="_blank"><span style="color: black;">www.dianembarnes.com</span></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Twitter/Instagram: dianebarnes777</span></div><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><br /></p></div><p></p><div><h3 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 4px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhhqT6Z7fACms1LOjSbmX3iE6lb1dPUf_Wq392TqkYffi-JmtALVuTS6UIxivfTNI0KEZuM8NCzKIlZfjsX4XjLjVidJMj-bo_r-k3YdapCQsc69BABCGnH4lSftjkaZT2ZatsV8wWs4rJW_lV_W4e2fEpORg9nnaqTH7cIHeFQek9voUIbEsqMfV4hj03N" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="971" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhhqT6Z7fACms1LOjSbmX3iE6lb1dPUf_Wq392TqkYffi-JmtALVuTS6UIxivfTNI0KEZuM8NCzKIlZfjsX4XjLjVidJMj-bo_r-k3YdapCQsc69BABCGnH4lSftjkaZT2ZatsV8wWs4rJW_lV_W4e2fEpORg9nnaqTH7cIHeFQek9voUIbEsqMfV4hj03N=w258-h400" width="258" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgAEFlLwleSJ7IWrybyEo091WQH-WTncQTyjfvVs-w8Apf_z458AZQ6DrJ9CiLy8TxRYaK1TmKMvHeSR38P7BolJ0hMnfgNNumGBdmiycMD61LkvJ-JStkToorWDXg2n2jI_LVeewfZGHNBTZbsqQM2QndCv10nYh0Y-IjJgjTt1ZZzcff5xzfsFwReaVXr" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgAEFlLwleSJ7IWrybyEo091WQH-WTncQTyjfvVs-w8Apf_z458AZQ6DrJ9CiLy8TxRYaK1TmKMvHeSR38P7BolJ0hMnfgNNumGBdmiycMD61LkvJ-JStkToorWDXg2n2jI_LVeewfZGHNBTZbsqQM2QndCv10nYh0Y-IjJgjTt1ZZzcff5xzfsFwReaVXr" width="240" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><br /><br /></h3></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Jill Hannah Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12007083642964545355noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3750342111299473419.post-78045249599602894282023-11-02T07:24:00.000-05:002023-11-02T07:24:07.617-05:00THE WILD BETWEEN US, by author AMY HAGSTROM (out November 7th!)<div aria-expanded="true" class="a-expander-content a-expander-partial-collapse-content a-expander-content-expanded" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 20px; position: relative;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><i><b>The rescue of two missing boys in the Sierra Nevada mountains relies on unraveling the mysteries of the past in an addictive novel of heartrending suspense.</b></i></span></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>After inheriting his uncle’s lodge, Silas Matheson hopes the grandeur of the California Sierra Nevada will be a fresh start for his two young sons, and a chance to finally face his demons. It was here, fifteen years ago, that Silas and his friends Jessica, Danny, and Meg ventured into the mountain wilderness and Jessica vanished without a trace. When his boys go missing in the same dark woods, the fear and guilt that Silas has been running from ever since come crashing back.</b></span></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Silas’s panicked call brings in the local search-and-rescue unit, and two familiar faces: Danny and Meg. As the frantic search gets underway, the three friends are plunged into a painfully recurring nightmare, each of them thinking, </span><span class="a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic !important;">This can’t be happening again.</span></b></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>With a storm brewing and the boys’ fates threatened with every desperate hour, the secrets of the past begin to surface, and this time, for Silas, Danny, and Meg, there’s no escaping the truth. </b></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent;"> </span></p></div><h3 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 4px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><i>Reviews ~</i></span></span></h3><div class="a-section a-spacing-small a-padding-small" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 22px; padding: 6px 10px !important;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">“</span><span class="a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic !important;">The Wild Between Us</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> shows how a suspense novel should be written. The tension ramps up with every scene, starting with the call out through to the shocking resolution. With the authentic description of the search and rescue mission, and the beautifully realized characters and scenery, Amy Hagstrom has created a story that all readers of suspense will relish, an achievement all the more remarkable given it’s by a debut author.” </span><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700 !important;">—Authorlink</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">“</span><span class="a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic !important;">The Wild Between Us</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> is an unputdownable novel full of heart-stopping suspense and emotions. I couldn’t read fast enough and was blown away by this stellar debut.” </span><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700 !important;">—Lyn Liao Butler, Amazon bestselling author of </span><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic !important; font-weight: 700 !important;">Someone Else’s Life</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">“If the tragedy that defined your life threatens to repeat, is it a moment of reckoning or redemption? That question drives this gripping dual-timeline story set in the Sierra Nevada. As rescuers race to find two missing boys, the mission reunites key players in an unsolved disappearance from fifteen years earlier. Packed with secrets, guilt, and regret, I loved every heart-pounding moment with Silas, Meg, and Danny. </span><span class="a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic !important;">The Wild Between Us</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> is a phenomenal debut!” </span><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700 !important;">—Barbara Claypole White, bestselling author of </span><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic !important; font-weight: 700 !important;">The Perfect Son</span><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700 !important;"> and </span><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic !important; font-weight: 700 !important;">The Promise Between Us</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">“</span><span class="a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic !important;">The Wild Between Us</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> is a taut, engrossing story about searching for lost people and lost love…Part thriller and part tender love story, this novel will find resonance with a wide array of readers.” </span><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700 !important;">—Nicole Baart, bestselling author of </span><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic !important; font-weight: 700 !important;">Everything We Didn’t Say</span><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700 !important;"> and </span><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic !important; font-weight: 700 !important;">The Long Way Back</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">“Revolving between two search and rescue missions fifteen years apart in the Marble Lake wilderness, like two points of gravitational pull, </span><span class="a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic !important;">The Wild Between Us</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> explores the depths of guilt, secrets, and the unbearable weight of time in the face of tragedy. This immersive thriller had me riveted from the first page. Do not miss Amy Hagstrom’s exceptional debut!” </span><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700 !important;">—Mindy Mejia, bestselling author of </span><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic !important; font-weight: 700 !important;">Everything You Want Me to Be</span><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700 !important;"> and </span><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic !important; font-weight: 700 !important;">To Catch a Storm</span></p></div><p><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><i><u>Author interview with Amy ~</u></i></b></span></p><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-family: arial;">T<span style="font-size: medium;">ell us a little about yourself and how you started writing. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Like so many authors, I have loved writing for as long as I can remember. It has always been the way I made sense of my world and my feelings and place in it, and I have journals going back to 2</span><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><sup>nd</sup></span><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"> grade. I graduated college with a creative writing degree but went into journalism and then travel writing for over a decade. Fiction always called to me, however, and I always dabbled in it during the busy years of raising my kids and traveling for work.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Do you have a particular writing routine? </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">I work full-time remotely as well, so I tend to divide my day into two parts: the morning is for my 'day job' and afternoons are for writing fiction. I tend to block out a couple hours a day when I am drafting, but once I'm in revision or editing mode, I find it most productive to immerse myself more completely until the task is done. When I go into 'editing mode', I can put in 12-hour writing days. It's probably not healthy, but it works for me.</span></p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">What is something about you that would surprise people? </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Sometimes it surprises people to know I currently live full-time in a little town called Ajijic in Jalisco, Mexico. My wife and I both work remotely, and I have a background in travel writing and have always wanted to live abroad. This part of Mexico is a good fit because it is close to a major airport and easy to get back into the States to see grown kids, and parents, and take care of work obligations. Mexican culture is warm, friendly, welcoming, and beautifully paced, and we feel right at home here.</span></p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><p style="margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Can you tell us about your challenges in getting your first book published (or this book?) </span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white;">So. Many. Challenges! I began the first draft of THE WILD BETWEEN US in 2008. </span><i style="background-color: white;">2008! </i><span style="background-color: white;">It was certainly not ready to query at that time, so I workshopped it, and rewrote it several more times before querying it without luck. I put it in the proverbial drawer and went on to write two more novels. One of these felt ready to query, so I dove back into the trenches. I queried almost 100 agents before gaining representation. Then my agent and I went on submission with this and one other novel for two years without luck. I dusted off WILD and gave it another round of edits, and got my first contract three years after getting my agent and 12 years after penning the first draft. </span><br /></span></p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><p style="margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Where do you get your ideas, or what inspired this book plot? </span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Every manuscript I write starts with a sense of place. Before I meet my characters, before I even sketch out a rudimentary plot, I somehow know where I need to be, drawn to a map dot with what feels like magnetic pull. Once I know the ‘where’, the what, who, when, and why tend to trail reliably after.</span><span><u></u><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"> For THE WILD BETWEEN US in particular, I knew I wanted to pay homage to the place I grew up, the Sierra Nevada mountains of Northern California. This place is in my bones, and when I began drafting this novel, I was missing it terribly. It was cathartic to write about these mountains at that time. The plot was inspired by an experience I had as a teenager, when a friend decided to play an ill-advised prank of another friend in the woods. Everything ended up just fine, but later I wondered: what if it hadn't?</span><u></u></span></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></p></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Is anything in your book based on real-life experiences? </span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Yes, quite a bit of it, in fact. In addition to being intimately familiar with the setting of the book, I was also very familiar with Search and Rescue operations. I went back to school for my EMT license when my children were very small, and worked for my county's Search and Rescue organization afterward. I didn't know at the time that my experiences there would inform my writing, but I tapped back into that time as I began to draft my debut. I think the process of learning all the protocols of SAR and being a 'ground pounder' during those years when I had small children at home impacted me greatly. I participated in searches for kids during that time, and I volunteered as a speaker in elementary schools, teaching kids what to do if they got lost in the wilderness.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Finish this sentence: “If I could write about anything, it would be…?” </span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">As a part of the LGBTQ writing community, I feel strongly about writing queer characters and centering them in my books. I have written two novels with gay protagonists, one of which landed me my agent, but as to date, we have not been able to sell these novels. It is definitely my dream to do so.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Do you have any advice for aspiring writers? </span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">I mean, we've all heard this before, but stick with it. You miss 100 percent of the shots you don't take, and all that. Persistence is sometimes the only thing in a writer's favor! I must have heard 'it's just not right for our list at this time' more times than I can count, on three different novels!<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>There are so many factors out of the writer's control, and while you are waiting to find that agent or land that deal, just keep writing.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">What are you working on now? </span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">I am excited to say that I have signed the contract for my second novel, currently titled SMOKE SEASON. Set during wildfire season in rural Oregon about two women dealing with secrets riskier than the currently raging fire, SMOKE SEASON is close to my heart as a 20-year resident of Southern Oregon. It is scheduled to publish in late 2024.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #0b5394; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><i>To connect with Amy ~</i></b></span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #0b5394; font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #0b5394; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;">Website: </span><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://amyhagstrom.com&source=gmail&ust=1698841291096000&usg=AOvVaw0c8GD-eF6BwEvplv45vXss" href="http://amyhagstrom.com/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">amyhagstrom.com</a><span style="color: black;"> </span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Instagram: @amyhagstromwrites </span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn5nvZGgApWRi-cAOH_kJVhE3YiisRFJcUfGOASabTgS9hHVt-HAb00O1U4cSjWh8b-gg-BhwTPXJBOu0rKKv90y3HYScmxVZh2bjIn9aUFnUbEhjo_6nsebKWEx5bi7LNtvHt-m45enyxS9ev3_WZ4fY-pnD9hmz8N-fJF1V83wSbfp673MR2w14kQH_J/s1500/Amy%20Hagstrom%20book.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="971" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn5nvZGgApWRi-cAOH_kJVhE3YiisRFJcUfGOASabTgS9hHVt-HAb00O1U4cSjWh8b-gg-BhwTPXJBOu0rKKv90y3HYScmxVZh2bjIn9aUFnUbEhjo_6nsebKWEx5bi7LNtvHt-m45enyxS9ev3_WZ4fY-pnD9hmz8N-fJF1V83wSbfp673MR2w14kQH_J/w259-h400/Amy%20Hagstrom%20book.jpg" width="259" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgx6_3KQqg5V97TEAov3AW2PGeXewH9oqlrYEJTd-Nse1i4gbJs129mPQf73_7VIX-fpncyuWkBWT_tUjeYG9KevHj35CRmcPIsilYGNgIJBWv_XOOoSd2fjSUGGei1Z9d4OEK9WYHStg_dM8fIxgfReQmWbPlLARVpt3lfdsxnVgRZhgDJi5qpx0LHEFCK" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgx6_3KQqg5V97TEAov3AW2PGeXewH9oqlrYEJTd-Nse1i4gbJs129mPQf73_7VIX-fpncyuWkBWT_tUjeYG9KevHj35CRmcPIsilYGNgIJBWv_XOOoSd2fjSUGGei1Z9d4OEK9WYHStg_dM8fIxgfReQmWbPlLARVpt3lfdsxnVgRZhgDJi5qpx0LHEFCK" width="240" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><br /><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: Aptos, Aptos_EmbeddedFont, Aptos_MSFontService, Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span></div>Jill Hannah Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12007083642964545355noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3750342111299473419.post-68518487989924767882023-10-24T08:08:00.002-05:002023-10-24T08:08:39.478-05:00WHAT WILD WOMEN DO, by author KARMA BROWN<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span class="a-text-bold" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-weight: 700;"><i>An aspiring contemporary screenwriter, a 1970s socialite-turned-feminist, and the camp in the woods that ties their stories together forever,</i> in #1 internationally bestselling author Karma Brown’s new novel about ambition, betrayal, and the wildness that exists in all of us.</span><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Rowan is stuck. Her dream of becoming a Hollywood screenwriter is stalled, and so she and her novelist fiancé, Seth, retreat to an isolated cabin in the Adirondacks to hopefully get out of their creative ruts. There, Rowan finds herself drawn into a mysterious and unsettling story—that of socialite-turned-feminist-crusader Eddie Callaway, who vanished in these same woods the summer of 1975 and was never heard from again. A handbook found in the abandoned ruins of the Callaway camp gives Rowan glimpses into who Eddie was, and then a fateful discovery offers clues about what might have happened to her. Soon, Rowan finds herself with a story potentially more shocking than Eddie’s notes about sun salutations and pineapple upside-down cake would indicate.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />As Rowan learns more about the enigmatic Eddie, who got a second chance at life after a profound loss, she discovers the camp leader’s greatest wish: to help other women unlock their true, though long-repressed, “wildness.” However, Eddie’s methods and wild ways weren’t welcomed by all, and rifts between the camp owners threatened her mission, perhaps perilously. As Rowan draws closer to the truth of Eddie’s unsolved disappearance, she realizes that the past may hold two keys: one that reveals what really happened to Eddie Callaway, and another that unlocks a future beyond her wildest imagination.</span></span><div><br /></div><div><span><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box;">
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><o:p><b><i><span style="color: #ff00fe;">Reviews ~</span></i></b></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><o:p><b><i><span style="color: #ff00fe;"><br /></span></i></b></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111;">"Karma Brown keeps delivering knockout after knockout. She is an auto-buy author for me!" —<b><i>Taylor Jenkins Reid</i></b><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></span><br /></span></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="color: #0f1111; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box;">“Brown cleverly converges the two storylines…and the descriptions of the natural beauty and peace of the forest will have readers longing for an escape of their own. Readers who enjoy dual-time-period novels featuring strong women characters will be delighted.”<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></span><span class="a-text-bold" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">—</span><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;">Booklist</span><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />“A story of self-discovery in a gorgeously-drawn setting, </span><span class="a-text-italic" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic;">What Wild Women Do</span><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box;"> isn’t afraid to confront the bold choices women must make sometimes, and its dual-timeline heroines are both perfectly suited for the job. Karma Brown’s latest is a heartfelt exploration into the importance of honesty, legacy, and being true to one’s self.”<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></span><span class="a-text-bold" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">—Shelby Van Pelt, </span><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;">New York Times </span><span class="a-text-bold" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">bestselling author of </span><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;">Remarkably Bright Creatures</span></span></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="color: #0f1111; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />"</span><span class="a-text-italic" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic;">What Wild Women Do </span><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box;">is a total joy to read—it’s mysterious, atmospheric and pacey, with heaps of heart and soul. Rowan and Eddie are two women to root for, each on their own soul-searching journey of independence and a reckoning with their past. An uplifting celebration of women, and the courage it takes to find one’s true self."<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></span><span class="a-text-bold" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">—Ashley Audrain, </span><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;">New York Times</span><span class="a-text-bold" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;"> bestselling author of </span><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;">The Push<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></span><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box;">“Brown’s latest is a remarkable story of two complicated women, almost fifty years apart, trying to make a mark in a world that often demeans and trivializes their dreams. Set in the lush Adirondack forest, the story addresses feminism, friendship, and the creative spirit, and is guaranteed to keep readers guessing until the very end. A terrific read.”<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></span><span class="a-text-bold" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">—Fiona Davis, </span><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;">New York Times</span><span class="a-text-bold" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;"> bestselling author of </span></span><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The Spectacular</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="font-size: large;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></span></span></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="font-family: arial; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><o:p><b><i><span style="color: #ff00fe; font-size: large;"><u>Author interview with Karma ~</u></span></i></b></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="font-family: arial; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #0f1111; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #0f1111; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">What is something about you that would surprise people?</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #0f1111; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">For those who don’t know me well, probably that I’m an introvert. I like to say I’m an “extroverted introvert,” which means I can be outgoing and relaxed in front of large groups, or at social gatherings. But my energy comes from being alone, or enjoying the company of a couple close friends. I really excel at being a hermit!<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #0f1111; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Where do you get your ideas, or what inspired this book plot?</span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #0f1111;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><span style="color: #212121;">I am lucky in that I never seem to struggle with book ideas, though that doesn’t mean every idea works out. For WHAT WILD WOMEN DO, it was Rowan’s story (the modern day protagonist) that landed first, but the book also had a very different plot at the time. I went through many iterations of this plot, and it wasn’t until I settled on the Adirondacks and the great camp as a setting, based on my childhood visits to a similar camp, that Eddie’s story revealed itself.</span></b><b> Finding the heart of the novel (which was always going to be about women finding independence, and self-discovery) was a journey and a half, but it was worth it in the end.</b></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="color: #0f1111; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Do
you have a manuscript(s) in your drawer? If so, will it ever see the light of
day?</span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="color: #0f1111; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="color: #0f1111; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">I actually have
two completed manuscripts in a drawer, along with a half-dozen, multi-page
synopses for other book ideas, and maybe one or two partial books? As for
seeing the light of day, I don’t suspect any of these will. However, each one
was critical in getting the nine books I have published now on the shelf. Every
attempt is good practice.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="color: #0f1111; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="color: #0f1111; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">If
I wasn’t an author, I might be…?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="color: #0f1111; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="color: #0f1111; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">In an alternate
universe I would be a zoo veterinarian. Or maybe a pastry chef, working in
Paris. My protagonist of my work-in-progress is an art conservator, and it’s a
fascinating career I knew nothing about…so that might be something I would
choose to explore, if I was career hopping. I’m endlessly curious, in case that
wasn’t obvious!<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="color: #0f1111; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="color: #0f1111; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Do you have a particular
writing routine?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #0f1111; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">I’ve been writing in the early-morning hours (think 5 a.m.
early) for about a decade, and it’s a solid habit now. I also use rigorous
synopses and character outlines before I start writing a story, and am a
die-hard Scrivener (writing software program) fan. Everything else varies,
depending on story context and life happenings. With WHAT WILD WOMEN DO I wrote
one entire timeline and POV before shifting to the other. I’ve never done that
before, and wouldn’t set out to do it again, but it’s what made sense for this
book. <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #0f1111; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222;">Finish this: “I</span><span style="color: #222222;"> can’t write without…” </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #0f1111; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Coffee.
Because I write early in the morning, this is non-negotiable.</span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="color: #0f1111; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="color: #0f1111; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">What
is a bestselling book you’ve been itching to read?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="color: #0f1111; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="color: #0f1111; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">One book I can’t
wait to read is SHARK HEART, by Emily Habeck. I’m a sucker for a good allegory,
and the concept for this one (a woman’s husband slowly transforms into a great white shark) sold me. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="color: #0f1111; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="color: #0f1111; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Do
you have a favorite character?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="color: #0f1111; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="color: #0f1111; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Eddie Callaway, my
1975, 50-year-old socialite-turned-feminist protagonist, is probably my
favorite character. I turned 50 around the time I was editing the book, and
Eddie became a beacon for me as I navigated some of the challenging parts of
being an aging woman. Plus, she was fun to write! There’s something special
about crafting a woman who is firmly anchored in who she is, and w</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="color: #0f1111; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="color: #0f1111; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Finish
this sentence: “If I could write about anything, it would be…?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="color: #0f1111; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="color: #0f1111; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">I’m obsessed with
the idea of writing a haunted house story. One day…<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="color: #0f1111; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="color: #0f1111; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Do
you have any advice for aspiring writers?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="color: #0f1111; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="color: #0f1111; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">I’m always
hesitant to give advice, because what works for one writer may not work for
another. However, the “you can’t edit a blank page” advice is worth taking,
meaning you need to get your butt in the seat and get the words on the page.
The only job of a messy, terrible first draft is for it to exist. That’s it.
Everything else can be fixed later.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="color: #0f1111; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="color: #0f1111; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Favorite
book and/or movie?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="color: #0f1111; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="color: #0f1111; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">One of my favorite
books is THE STEPFORD WIVES by Ira Levin. I’ve probably read it a dozen times,
and am on the hunt for an original 1972 edition that I can add to my bookshelf.
<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="color: #0f1111; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="color: #0f1111; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Is
there anything you’d like to say to your readers and fans?</span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="color: #0f1111; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="color: #0f1111; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><b><span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Thank you for
reading books! Not only mine, but all books, in all genres. It warms my
author’s heart (and my reader’s heart, too). </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="color: #0f1111; font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><b><br /></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="font-family: arial; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><b><i><span style="color: #ff00fe; font-size: large;"><u>To connect with Karma ~</u></span></i></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="font-family: arial; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><br /></p><div style="font-family: arial;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://linktr.ee/karmabrown.com&source=gmail&ust=1697382073364000&usg=AOvVaw0gFsr_en24mhkIVY_GTC9M" href="https://linktr.ee/karmabrown.com" target="_blank">https://linktr.ee/karmabrown.<wbr></wbr>com</a><br /></span></i><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Social: @karmakbrown</span></div></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Twitter: <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://twitter.com/KarmaKBrown&source=gmail&ust=1697382073364000&usg=AOvVaw1w3Fw4kH_awfcN9OamozOW" href="https://twitter.com/KarmaKBrown" target="_blank">https://twitter.com/<wbr></wbr>KarmaKBrown</a></span></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Instagram: <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.instagram.com/karmakbrown/&source=gmail&ust=1697382073364000&usg=AOvVaw2FniqGJVUTnzVzzKT6qs9b" href="https://www.instagram.com/karmakbrown/" target="_blank">https://www.<wbr></wbr>instagram.com/karmakbrown/</a></span></div><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="color: #0f1111; 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font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111;"><br /></span></span></div>Jill Hannah Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12007083642964545355noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3750342111299473419.post-40056937309147659822023-10-06T08:17:00.002-05:002023-10-06T08:19:08.340-05:00THE BLUE IRIS, by author RACHEL STONE (debuted October 3rd!)<p><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;"><i><b>Sometimes, uprooting the thorn-filled past is the only way we bloom.</b> </i></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Tessa Lewis is set to embark on a Big-Time Career and marry Toronto's fastest-rising lawyer, who loves her to pieces. But when a visit to a flower market from her childhood sparks memories of the mother she lost too soon, Tessa puts her bright future on hold to work there, determined to come to terms with her past.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">At the Blue Iris Flower Market, everything is blossoming except the rag-tag crew, each hiding deep scars of their own. When Sam, the beloved but troubled man in charge, takes off and leaves the market reeling, Tessa and her unlikely new friends come face-to-face with their most uncomfortable truths, uprooting lives carefully cultivated-and just maybe, unearthing everything they've ever wanted.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Told from multiple perspectives, </span><span class="a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic;">The Blue Iris</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> is an intricately woven exploration of love tested beyond its limits, chosen family, and the beauty that grows in letting go. </span></span></p><h3 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 4px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><i>Reviews</i></span></span></h3><div class="a-section a-spacing-small a-padding-small" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 22px; padding: 6px 10px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">"A story of found family, impossible romances, and the ghosts of the past, </span><span class="a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic;">The Blue Iris</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> is a riveting page-turner as stunning as the blooms that fill the shop at the heart of the book. Haunted and haunting, it keeps you guessing even as you cheer for Tessa and the broken but irresistible makeshift family she builds for herself. A story of growing up and deciding who you really are, it's an unforgettable tale of roots in more ways than one."-</span><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">Grace O'Connell</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">, Author of </span><span class="a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic;">Be Ready for the Lightning</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />"Riveting, soul-searching, and full of heart. . . . A spectacularly told story. . . . Told in multiple characters' voices, the narrative is riveting, with shocking surprises unraveling at a steady pace. The plot's top-grade tension grows taut as Tessa works herself up to take the hard decision. Readers won't want to put this down." -</span><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">The Prairies Book Review</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />"A gorgeous novel-Stone brilliantly captures the power of optimism, the allure of memory. Readers will fall in love with the Blue Iris Flower Market and the vibrant cast of characters they meet there."-</span><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">Stacy Bierlein, </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Author of </span><span class="a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic;">A Vacation on the Island of Ex-Boyfriends</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />"In </span><span class="a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic;">The Blue Iris</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">, Rachel Stone shines as a gifted wordsmith. Her narrative is like walking through a lush garden; our senses explode with the beauty in her vivid descriptions. With each chapter, her rich cast of characters take root, grow, and evolve, Tessa most of all. Hers is a difficult journey-to ground herself in truth, she must peel away the facade that has sustained her. Tessa learns a lesson important to each of us: when we let go of dying things, it frees us to hold fast to that which nurtures us. </span><span class="a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic;">The Blue Iris </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">is an engaging, unique novel of love and chosen family-the best kind." -</span><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">Carla Damron, </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Author of </span><span class="a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic;">The Orchid Tattoo</span></div><p><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><i>Author interview with Rachel ~</i></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"><b>Tell us a little about
yourself and how you started writing.</b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">The Blue Iris was born from a personal crisis. A rare benign orbital
tumour, successfully removed years ago, resurfaced out of the blue (at less
than one percent odds). Suddenly my writing dream felt very now-or-never. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt;">I put my corporate career on hold and enrolled in creative writing
classes, thinking if nothing else it would distract from the “what ifs.” I planned
to work on a collection of essays, maybe some poetry—a novel was nowhere on the horizon! But writing
fiction was magic. It was like hypnosis. I kept at it every day and night; I
never wanted to work on anything else.</span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">Months later, I learned the tumour had stabilized--in fact, it appeared
to be <i>shrinking.</i> The Blue Iris stopped feeling like a decision; no
matter how many rewrites, revisions or queries it took, I was never turning my
back on the thing that had given me so much.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"><b>Is there anything major that
changed in this novel from when you first plotted it out?</b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">Oh, just, you know, minor things like . . . an
entire main arc and the climax scene!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;">My developmental editor flagged that neither
were working </span><i style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;">at all. </i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;">I remember feeling completely defeated; deep down,
I knew she was right, but tackling it seemed impossible.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">Someone told me not to attempt any changes right
away, but to give it a few days--ideally a week. That advice was GOLD. Sure
enough, the longer I sat with it, the more time I spent walking outside, the
clearer the path through the changes became.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"><b>What
was the original title of this book?</b></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">The Blue Iris had THREE titles before this one! </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Originally, it was called </span><i style="font-size: 12pt;">All Ways Will,</i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> because the book
revolved mainly around Tessa and Will’s arc. As rewrites progressed, the
secondary characters grew more central, so it no longer fit.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Then it was </span><i style="font-size: 12pt;">Deeply Rooted Lies,</i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> because everyone is carrying
their own stubborn secrets, then </span><i style="font-size: 12pt;">Deeply Rooted Goodbyes,</i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> because the
characters learn to let go of their past traumas. I liked both, but they didn’t
match the book’s tone (which is much more uplifting than either suggests).</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">When I stood back, I realized that as the drafts had evolved, the flower
market became the piece tying everything together. It was the heartbeat of the
whole thing. Aha moment! </span><i style="font-size: 12pt;">The Blue Iris </i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">was the obvious choice, and it’s the
sort of title that takes on new layers as the story progresses, too, which I
always enjoy as a reader.</span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"><b>Can
you tell us about your challenges in getting this book published?</b></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">That road was so bumpy, I’m not sure those bruises will ever heal!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">It was a six-year process from start to finish. I queried it over 150
times (an estimate, because I’d stopped counting after 100), pausing in between
to rework and reassess.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">The pitch and opening chapter were the biggest problems, I knew that. But
I’d revised both to death, and for the life of me, couldn’t figure out how to
fix them. I just kept making them worse! I reached a point where I felt good
about the rest, but of course, it didn’t matter; if those first pages aren’t on
point, you’ve lost your chance. Nobody is reading past them.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">At the urging of my writer friends, I ended up workshopping both the
pitch and the opening chapter through the WFWA, which allowed me to test out
different versions with a broad set of fresh eyes. Finally, I was able to break
out of the revision rut! Next time out with the submission package, I had much
more traction.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"><b>If
you had to go back and do it all over, is there any aspect of your novel or
getting it published that you’d change?</b></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">I
wouldn’t start each editing pass at the beginning--you lose more and more objectivity
each time! <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">I
wouldn’t spend so much time on line edits and polishing (for me, the most fun
part) until I was sure the bones were solid--a ton of well-polished scenes
ended up being slashed and cut! <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">Above
all, I’d put myself out there earlier with fellow writers. I’m very shy at
first, and I had this idea that writing should be a solitary venture, anyway.
Just me and the page. But that got really lonely after awhile, and I was
second-guessing myself in circles. Finding my tribe of writers changed
everything–I learned from them, listened to their stories and discovered that
everything I’d been experiencing was a normal part of the journey, and that was
immensely encouraging. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">Starting
out, I didn’t know just how much I didn’t yet know; I’d have saved <i>years </i>of
time and energy had I made those connections sooner. The people of the WFWA
were so willing to share their insights and lessons learned, and so encouraging
at every step. It brings me great satisfaction now when I can do the same. I
always tell writers, <i>find your people! No, seriously, do it now!</i> Yes,
writing is a solo activity, and putting yourself out there when you’re new at
it is SO scary. But we’ve all been there, and it’s infinitely easier (and a lot
more fun) when we’re all in it together. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"><b>Do
you have any advice for aspiring writers?<o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Be obsessed with your characters and ruthless about doing them justice. </span><i style="font-size: 12pt;">Obsessed</i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">
and </span><i style="font-size: 12pt;">ruthless </i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">carry this negative connotation, but in this context they
shouldn’t. The road to publication is </span><i style="font-size: 12pt;">so</i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> arduous, the revisions and
rejections </span><i style="font-size: 12pt;">so</i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> exhaustive, that I really do believe some degree of both are
necessary to keep at it. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Be </span><i style="font-size: 12pt;">in love</i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> with your book, because you’re going to spend WAY more
time inside of it than you can possibly imagine. Write the story that keeps you
up at night and kicks you out of bed in the morning. The one you cannot get out
of your head no matter how hard you try.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Then, keep doing whatever it takes–whether that’s restructuring the
whole thing, or rewriting an arc or a character (or five!). Life will tell you
there are more worthy priorities. The world will tell you to move on, and try
something else. But when you’re in love with your book and obsessed with its characters,
you’ll find that ruthlessness you need to see it through. And once you’re in </span><i style="font-size: 12pt;">that
</i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">headspace, there’s just no way you won’t get there eventually.</span></span></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;"><i><b>To connect with Rachel ~</b></i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>http://www.rachelstoneauthor.com/</b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Linktree: <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://linktr.ee/rachelstoneauthor&source=gmail&ust=1696625106684000&usg=AOvVaw0aX9LBxQVqeXZMBgs-U6ZY" href="https://linktr.ee/rachelstoneauthor" target="_blank">https://linktr.ee/<wbr></wbr>rachelstoneauthor</a><u></u><u></u></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><u></u> <u></u></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Instagram: <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://Instagram.com/racheystone&source=gmail&ust=1696625106684000&usg=AOvVaw27M4sSDNa63wJefUa3NDAW" href="http://instagram.com/racheystone" target="_blank">@racheystone</a><u></u><u></u></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><u></u> <u></u></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Facebook: <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id%3D100030081772132&source=gmail&ust=1696625106685000&usg=AOvVaw0IW-kYxBtYD93ty44u_DwA" href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100030081772132" target="_blank">Rachel Stone</a><u></u><u></u></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><u></u> <u></u></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; margin: 0px;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;">Twitter: <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://twitter.com/rachestone&source=gmail&ust=1696625106685000&usg=AOvVaw1woXwHcDuyMt4ArXd-Peq-" href="https://twitter.com/rachestone" target="_blank">@rachestone</a></span><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: small;"><u></u><u></u></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"><b><u></u> </b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEisRasyqnOZBXuJffyJ0DTSVUx2Zl8uUO9EAF1r_-oT4bkrF_B3NLqLoLc8HSacnXcCePvXjuuvJqYCzUwdon-NAtDqAYuGJ0i5_GTJWdD2RIxtHH8auTzPn1QD9YbYw4v5-SHUVTXYQQ0oqANWNrxWP3u3Om1xi69gSqg2ps5DPS-o6T8fgrfmqoEyioBp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1018" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEisRasyqnOZBXuJffyJ0DTSVUx2Zl8uUO9EAF1r_-oT4bkrF_B3NLqLoLc8HSacnXcCePvXjuuvJqYCzUwdon-NAtDqAYuGJ0i5_GTJWdD2RIxtHH8auTzPn1QD9YbYw4v5-SHUVTXYQQ0oqANWNrxWP3u3Om1xi69gSqg2ps5DPS-o6T8fgrfmqoEyioBp=w272-h400" width="272" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgw8RiCDW9l11UihDPjgUYJRG8O1F8RWAYRu_zpDMz-3Ph5ssuQrolVMg99MzWxs2TYPwLT84UzcKSeyuNtfekOAxLmqahkn0VerF2PioRaQqqbWrKql_r-0eFFyuskESLRjEA8O6StW9m6gTI_rOda7XZYKxRULbTNocKKHvKOmmTcCxLWVWWJKXOtlgTx" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgw8RiCDW9l11UihDPjgUYJRG8O1F8RWAYRu_zpDMz-3Ph5ssuQrolVMg99MzWxs2TYPwLT84UzcKSeyuNtfekOAxLmqahkn0VerF2PioRaQqqbWrKql_r-0eFFyuskESLRjEA8O6StW9m6gTI_rOda7XZYKxRULbTNocKKHvKOmmTcCxLWVWWJKXOtlgTx" width="240" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><br /><p></p>Jill Hannah Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12007083642964545355noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3750342111299473419.post-132666839337450122023-10-03T18:28:00.000-05:002023-10-03T18:28:35.816-05:00JUSTICE BE DONE, by author CARLA DAMRON (out now!)<p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Social worker Caleb Knowles finds himself in the heart of a firestorm of racial tensions and violence in downtown Columbia, SC. When he interviews young Laquan Harwell, the truth behind Laquan’s crime becomes clear—it was born from years of racial mistreatment. However, Laquan’s assault on a white storekeeper lights the match that sets the town on fire: a hate crime sparks protests. Protests erupt into riots.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white;">Downtown becomes a war zone.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="background-color: white;">The murder of a racist police officer further fuels the violence, and soon Caleb is entangled in a desperate search for justice. As the riots escalate, Caleb’s brother Sam is injured, leading Caleb to take rash actions that put his career on the line.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="background-color: white;">As he uncovers the truth about the police officer’s death, Caleb’s efforts to save a client thrust him into the eye of the storm and endanger his life. Will justice prevail, or will the hate-spawned violence take more lives?</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111;"><i>A Caleb Knowles Mystery - Book 4</i></span></span><p><span style="color: #990000; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><u>Author interview with Carla,</u></span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Tell us a little about yourself and how you started writing.</span></b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13.5pt;">I
wrote as a kid, but drifted away from creative writing in my early adult years.
Later, the</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13.5pt;">bug
came back, and I’m very glad it did. Writing is a huge part of my life now.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13.5pt;">What are some things you enjoy when not writing?</span></b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13.5pt;">I
love to read of course—for pleasure and for craft. I also enjoy beading. I stay
active</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13.5pt;">doing
volunteer work, too, which introduced me to some incredible people and</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13.5pt;">sometimes
I get to share their stories.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Is there anything major that changed in this novel from when you
first plotted it out?</span></b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13.5pt;">As
I dove deeper into the characters, they revealed things that surprised me. Bad
guys</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13.5pt;">had
hidden good qualities. Furtive characters had big secrets to tell me. And my
killer’s</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13.5pt;">motivation?
That was the biggest surprise of all.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Finish this: “I can’t write without…”</span></b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13.5pt;">A
community of writers who support me and make this very isolating craft less
lonely.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13.5pt;">What is something about you that would surprise people?</span></b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13.5pt;">I
grew up in theater. My mom was a theater director, so I learned ALLLLL about
the</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13.5pt;">theater
business. I’ve acted, stage managed, run lights, painted sets, and served as</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13.5pt;">properties
manager---all before the age of fifteen.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13.5pt;">What was the original title of this book? </span></b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13.5pt;">PITCHFORK.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Where do you get your ideas, or what inspired this book's plot?</span></b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13.5pt;">After
the horrible George Floyd incident, I watched race riots on the news here in</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Columbia.
It felt like unresolved rage that was centuries old was bubbling to the
surface.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13.5pt;">That,
coupled with the horrendous murders at the Mother Emanuel AME church in</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13.5pt;">2015,
haunted me. Why is hate so prevalent now? So destructive now? We think we’ve</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13.5pt;">come
so far, but we really haven’t, have we? These are the issues I explore in
Justice</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Be
Done.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Do you have a manuscript(s) in your drawer? If so, will it ever
see the light of day?</span></b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Bird On
Limb. I workshopped it with a group who meant well, but confused me with their</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13.5pt;">contradictory
input. It also deals with a sensitive subject, so I have to do it right. Hope
to</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13.5pt;">resurrect
it and try again soon!</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13.5pt;">If I wasn’t an author, I might be…?</span></b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13.5pt;">A
LOTTERY WINNER! Wouldn’t that be great? Of course, I’d probably just keep writing</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13.5pt;">till
I went broke.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13.5pt;">If you have written more than one book, which story would you
choose to live?</span></b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Oh,
man, I’m so hard on my characters I can’t answer this one.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13.5pt;">If you had to go back and do it all over, is there any aspect of
your novel or getting it</span></b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13.5pt;">published that you’d change?</span></b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13.5pt;">I
would have done a better job at marketing my earlier books, or hired someone to
do it</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13.5pt;">for
me.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13.5pt;">How do you market your work?</span></b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13.5pt;">I
have someone who helps with social media, which is wonderful. The rest happens</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13.5pt;">organically.
I’m lucky in that I get invited to TONS of book clubs, something I really</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13.5pt;">enjoy—and
readers tell other readers who tell other readers… that’s the best kind of</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13.5pt;">marketing
there is.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13.5pt;">What are you working on now?</span></b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13.5pt;">The
sequel to my last book, The Orchid Tattoo. Those characters had more to tell me</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13.5pt;">so
I’m writing it down. I hope to finish a draft of The Weird Girl by the end of
this year.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13.5pt;">What is a bestselling book you’ve been itching to read?</span></b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Demon
Copperhead, except I’m a little afraid of it, too. I know it will be
upsetting!</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Is anything in your book based on real-life experiences?</span></b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13.5pt;">One
of the opening scenes in Justice Be Done came from a DREAM. Seriously, I</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13.5pt;">hadn’t
visited my Caleb Knowles character in years, and suddenly I have a vivid dream</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13.5pt;">of
a scene with him and his brother, Sam. This is how the novel came to be.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Do you have a favorite chapter or scene?</span></b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13.5pt;">I
do! But I’m not telling!</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?</span></b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13.5pt;">All
writers are self-taught, even if you go to school for it. If your first novel
doesn’t get an</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13.5pt;">agent
or publisher, don’t be mad or frustrated. That novel TAUGHT you how to write.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Move
on to the next one. Each book will be better than the last, and maybe it’s your</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13.5pt;">second
or third that lands the big book deal. And maybe then, you go back to the first</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13.5pt;">one,
fix what needs fixing, and try again.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13.5pt;">What are the downfalls of your writing career? The best parts?</span></b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Downfalls:
it can be expensive. I hope and pray that one day, I’ll make minimum wage.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Best
parts: connecting with readers. Hearing them tell me how they related to my</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13.5pt;">characters,
or describe what they learned, or express how they feel differently about an</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13.5pt;">issue
after reading my work. That’s worth more than anything.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Is there anything you’d like to say to your readers and fans?</span></b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Justice
Be Done is crime fiction that deals with racial issues. I tried to be as
sensitive</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13.5pt;">and
fair as I could be. Please, give it a try. It may surprise you.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #990000; font-size: 13.5pt;">To connect with Carla: </span></b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="ES" style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Facebook: carladamronwrites</span><span lang="ES" style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="ES" style="font-size: 13.5pt;">twitter:@carlawritesfic</span><span lang="ES" style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="ES" style="font-size: 13.5pt;">instagram: carladamron</span><span lang="ES" style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="ES" style="font-size: 13.5pt;">tiktok: carladamron</span><span lang="ES" style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="ES" style="font-size: 13.5pt;">carladamron.com</span><span lang="ES" style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span lang="ES"> </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj5V1XZhpKBbW7pncX9WoIDA5UeC7W-LFTsXwGQx4FT3tvJ-enuLmDpmzYc6iGSwC5P9LdQTOFDb47-l5V5vovH7NgsxlWea_8Z01JPlKiIcTbxKa6YtQCrqIDbRiN9zlQCfbMF89DlI6hLy0rmgjGK__mkhSjbQZnpD7LQjjFFjhhqgHrhNS8P6nZVBPIS" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="511" data-original-width="332" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj5V1XZhpKBbW7pncX9WoIDA5UeC7W-LFTsXwGQx4FT3tvJ-enuLmDpmzYc6iGSwC5P9LdQTOFDb47-l5V5vovH7NgsxlWea_8Z01JPlKiIcTbxKa6YtQCrqIDbRiN9zlQCfbMF89DlI6hLy0rmgjGK__mkhSjbQZnpD7LQjjFFjhhqgHrhNS8P6nZVBPIS=w260-h400" width="260" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiIPU4caucOkY8PREzUCyQoPgkg886AIGmfy7paf0tBvw97tVyjU9ThjI86211pcZfC9wNGUFIuGbR-DzAf6voL2KoAd7ZDnu8aS0WPhwOA4akJfwQH3vI64jZ2wuawPE5ErITlKWjwGcGF3er-CWD9E1sXwYgBNvYRDj1IlgL6BoN89pz0lfUiJE3aHmGt" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="567" data-original-width="567" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiIPU4caucOkY8PREzUCyQoPgkg886AIGmfy7paf0tBvw97tVyjU9ThjI86211pcZfC9wNGUFIuGbR-DzAf6voL2KoAd7ZDnu8aS0WPhwOA4akJfwQH3vI64jZ2wuawPE5ErITlKWjwGcGF3er-CWD9E1sXwYgBNvYRDj1IlgL6BoN89pz0lfUiJE3aHmGt" width="240" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><p></p><p><br /></p>Jill Hannah Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12007083642964545355noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3750342111299473419.post-74128105752339335642023-08-28T07:28:00.002-05:002023-08-28T07:29:12.259-05:00AS THOUGH YOU WERE MINE, by author J. MARIE RUNDQUIST (out August 29th!)<p><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">Julie Mercer donated her eggs to help her brother and sister-in-law conceive via in-vitro fertilization,</span></i><span style="font-size: medium;"> never expecting a few years later, she would have to take full responsibility for those children after they lose their parents in a car accident.</span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111;">Julie never wanted kids of her own, and now she suddenly needs to make room in her small apartment for four-year-old twins who thrust additional challenges at her as they work through their grief and trauma. With Lucy throwing intense tantrums and Mikey not talking at all, Julie doubts her ability to raise her niece and nephew as her own.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111;">When Grant, the twins’ uncle–and also their biological father–shows up at her door, he says he wants to help, but is he sincere? Or does he have a hidden agenda to fight for custody? With her family also questioning her role as guardian and her job on the line in the face of an inflexible boss as she deals with the sudden life changes, Julie must determine whether her brother and sister-in-law really did make the best decision by entrusting their kids to her.</span></span><p><i style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: #783f04;">An author interview with Janet ~</span></b></i></p><p><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Tell us a little about
yourself and how you started writing.</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">I’m one of those “I
started writing when I was a kid” authors. But I also took some breaks for job,
family, and the like. Once I started up again and realized I had a novel inside
of me, I didn’t stop. While <i>As Though You Were Mine</i> is only my second
published novel, I have a couple of others ready to go over the next year or
two.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: medium; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Do you have a particular
writing routine?</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: medium; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I write anywhere, anytime,
but a specific routine I try to keep is my morning writing. I wake up at 5:00
am, set my phone alarm for 5:30, close all browsers, and write. Sometimes it’s
just staring at the screen, but I still call that writing!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Do
you have a ‘day job’ as well?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">I
do! I’ve been working in K-12 education my entire career. Teaching (mostly
secondary, but in all kinds of environments), teacher coaching, and currently
technology support in an elementary school.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">What
was the original title of this book? <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif">Instant
Rice. </span></i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif">My
main character (Julie) becomes a mother unexpectedly and she discovers she
needs to learn how to cook more than microwave dinners. “Instant Rice” carried
with it the literal idea of Julie struggling with how to make rice and finding
the quick rice option and the metaphorical idea of an “instant family”. I love
the idea of this, but after tooling around with other options, I easily fell in
love with the current title of <i>As Though You Were Mine</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Where
do you get your ideas, or what inspired this book plot?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Ideas
for my books rarely come from specific plot lines in life. They usually spring
from some conceptual construct. <i>As Though You Were Mine</i> grew from the
idea that when a child dies in a family (of any age…in my novel’s case, an
adult child), one of two things usually happens: it splits a family apart, or
brings a family closer together.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">I
wondered, what if the family is already split apart/estranged from one another?
Does the same phenomenon occur?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">What
are you working on now?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">I’m
almost waist-deep in a story about a sister and a brother and secrets they’ve
been keeping from each other until other circumstances force those secrets to
be revealed to one another.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Is
anything in your book based on real-life experiences?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Two
of the characters in <i>As Though You Were Mine</i> are four-year-old twins.
Some of their behaviors reflect aspects of my three children. There’s a daycare
situation that mirrors a similar experience I ran into when my kids were young,
too. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Do
you have a favorite character?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">I
can’t possibly decide.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The
best part about writing…<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">…is
sharing my words with all of my readers. Is a story a story without someone to
read it? Maybe, but I know how much joy I get from reading stories, and I’m
definitely grateful for the amazing opportunity to write stories for others to
read and enjoy.</span><o:p style="font-size: 12pt;"></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><i><b><u>To connect with Janet:</u></b></i></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><br /></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.facebook.com/JMarieRundquist&source=gmail&ust=1690127804731000&usg=AOvVaw2j1pNEUh2GKbwqKS2qjKib" href="https://www.facebook.com/JMarieRundquist" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/<wbr></wbr>JMarieRundquist</a></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><p lang="x-none"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.instagram.com/profejmarie/&source=gmail&ust=1690127804731000&usg=AOvVaw2p7DimjBJC4TbejpHQbvj3" href="https://www.instagram.com/profejmarie/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/<wbr></wbr>profejmarie/</a></p><p lang="x-none"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://twitter.com/ProfeJMarie&source=gmail&ust=1690127804731000&usg=AOvVaw0eIuIbrWE2i-lN-V0p1vnK" href="https://twitter.com/ProfeJMarie" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">https://twitter.com/<wbr></wbr>ProfeJMarie</a></p><p lang="x-none"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.bookbub.com/profile/j-marie-rundquist&source=gmail&ust=1690127804731000&usg=AOvVaw3g3hj-p2MlVV27XH_-PijT" href="https://www.bookbub.com/profile/j-marie-rundquist" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">https://www.bookbub.com/<wbr></wbr>profile/j-marie-rundquist</a></p></div><p>
</p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh_dCiertnsJk6AI_OlnWio25flugTLXr7djpJObJGJJUBY-kjTDBUgGZj_mcR_UI0Dnf6060615y2wT0Hti8fFve_DAsjLYnJm1VYD4V6xO48J_OU0nCNf_dj47Y3avhH3NijlGp5HKs88AR3hGsI4ItC_mYxmGPtt9V_eap4jM7hooDzMiGreU7_bK_2y" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img alt="" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="313" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh_dCiertnsJk6AI_OlnWio25flugTLXr7djpJObJGJJUBY-kjTDBUgGZj_mcR_UI0Dnf6060615y2wT0Hti8fFve_DAsjLYnJm1VYD4V6xO48J_OU0nCNf_dj47Y3avhH3NijlGp5HKs88AR3hGsI4ItC_mYxmGPtt9V_eap4jM7hooDzMiGreU7_bK_2y=w250-h400" width="250" /></span></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi8WWV6TVHoKKhgJ0k9R-oZa6EuglhcX4IcJOn8kdZymEKVJfkN-zEEReZaIhsg2sYxoWtUy-hBkRz6N-VvvhWnGVFKlsNYg9evT3xa3d4cg6viqONX0GJHFj_mlqr1oJoOx4vB-H92I6MP_xMPdVvfVGgfIiFnPC8kaQppQ_j2uaJ7T74B3x76mCmy-dQT" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi8WWV6TVHoKKhgJ0k9R-oZa6EuglhcX4IcJOn8kdZymEKVJfkN-zEEReZaIhsg2sYxoWtUy-hBkRz6N-VvvhWnGVFKlsNYg9evT3xa3d4cg6viqONX0GJHFj_mlqr1oJoOx4vB-H92I6MP_xMPdVvfVGgfIiFnPC8kaQppQ_j2uaJ7T74B3x76mCmy-dQT=w200-h200" width="200" /></a></span></div><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /><br /></span></div><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /><br /></span><p></p>Jill Hannah Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12007083642964545355noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3750342111299473419.post-42589285300809195682023-07-31T07:38:00.002-05:002023-07-31T07:44:39.635-05:00BREATHING IN REVERSE, by author DENSIE WEBB (out August 1st!)<p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">A chance encounter with a celebrity</span></i><span style="font-size: medium;">, an impromptu video, and a shiny new espresso machine all added up to a juicy tale for Rachael Allen to share with friends. But when her best friend posts the video online without her knowledge, Rachael begins receiving bizarre threats from an obsessed fan.</span></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Mick Sullivan, the star in her video, offers to help. Despite his fame and reputation as a player, he tries to stay down to earth. However, Mick has secrets. And there’s one he’s hidden even from himself.</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Despite wildly divergent life paths, Rachael and Mick’s shared Southern upbringing and passion for good music create a common thread that draws them together. As their relationship deepens and the threats increase, Rachael is forced to decide if being with Mick Sullivan is worth the collateral damage.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></span><span class="a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic;">Breathing in Reverse</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> is the story of Rachael's serendipitous encounter with a celebrity, her brush with obsessive love, and the bittersweet gift left behind by the very person fixated on destroying her life.</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0b5394;"><b><i>Reviews:</i></b></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px;">"I blew through the book in just two days. It really grabbed me. And that ending! OMG—loved it. Suspense, romance, and jaw-dropping scenes all rolled into one, this book will have you on the edge of your seat." </span><span class="a-text-bold" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700;">Lyn Liao Butler, Amazon bestselling author of </span><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;">Someone Else's Life</span><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />"Give me a book with a tortured star and a compelling female protagonist, toss in music, add a mystery along with thrilling suspense, and I'm so there! </span><span class="a-text-italic" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic;">Breathing in Reverse</span><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px;"> is a stunning story with a fast-paced plot that makes it unputdownable. The unexpected twist at the end was a bonus. I love when that happens. Thriller, romance, and women's fiction readers alike will thoroughly enjoy this book."—</span><span class="a-text-bold" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700;">Kerry Lonsdale, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, and Amazon best-selling author of the </span><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;">No More</span><span class="a-text-bold" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700;"> Trilogy and the </span><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;">Everything</span><span class="a-text-bold" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700;"> series</span><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />"Author Densie Webb pivots from her fabulous debut, </span><span class="a-text-italic" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic;">When Robins Appear</span><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px;">, to a suspenseful tale triggered by a chance encounter between Rachael Allen and celebrity actor, Mick Sullivan. A fast-paced, tight-as-a-drum narrative, </span><span class="a-text-italic" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic;">Breathing in Reverse</span><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px;"> will keep you breathless to the very end, where a late plot twist will sear you."—</span><span class="a-text-bold" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700;">Barbara Conrey—USA Today bestselling author of </span><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;">Nowhere Near Goodbye</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><i><u>An author interview with Densie ~</u></i></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Tell us a little about
yourself and how you started writing.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">I’ve been a freelance
writer and editor my whole career, specializing in health and nutrition,
writing for consumers and for professional journals. I actually have a PhD in
nutrition and I’m a registered dietitian. I began the transition to fiction
writing about 8 years ago, with the encouragement of a dear friend. It took a
while to wind up, taking writing courses, reading craft books, and sharing
pages to get feedback. “When Robins Appear” was published with Red Adept Publishing
in 2020 and “Breathing in Reverse,” also with Red Adept is being published on
August 1<sup>st</sup> of this year.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">What are some things
you enjoy when not writing?</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">I don’t really have any
hobbies, besides reading. I am studying modern Hebrew, which is hard, but fun. I
love listening to music. I actually consider Spotify my muse. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: medium; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Do you have a particular
writing routine?</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: medium; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Not at all. I’m all over the
place. I keep thinking I’m going to establish some kind of regular writing
routine, but it hasn’t happened yet.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: medium; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Is there anything major that
changed in this novel from when you first plotted it out?</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: medium; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Not so much the plot, but the
characters. The story involves a celebrity stalker and I originally had some
chapters from the POV of the stalker. On the advice of my developmental editor,
I cut all 26,000 words from the stalker’s POV and wrote new words from the main
character’s POV. It was painful, but I think it works.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #222222; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Finish this: “I</span></b><b style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> can’t write without…”</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: medium; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Music. I know writers who need silence, but I
always have music playing and I find inspiration in the lyrics.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">What career did you
think you’d have as an adult?</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">This is boring, but I
ended up doing basically what I thought I would do—that is before I started writing
fiction. In an 8<sup>th</sup> grade civics class we had to write about a
profession, and I chose to write about being a registered dietitian (RD).<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">What is something about
you that would surprise people?</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">I had a motorcycle when
I was in my 20s. Kind of freaks me out to think about it now.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Do
you have a ‘day job’ as well?</span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">I
still write about health and nutrition for newsletters and magazines and do
consulting for industry, but am slowly shifting my time to fiction.</span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Where
do you get your ideas, or what inspired this book plot?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">I
don’t have a ton of ideas in the queue. I tend to come up with one, maybe two
story ideas at a time. “Breathing in Reverse” was inspired by an interview with
a young actor who voiced his feelings of vulnerability because of all the
sometimes crazy fans, and I ran with it.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Do
you have a manuscript in your drawer? If so, will it ever see the light of
day?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">No.
I’m not one of these writers who has a “spare” story or two. I stick with a
story until I feel it’s done and then I move on to the next one. Plus, I’m a
very slow writer, which makes me fully committed to whatever it is I’m working
on. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Do
you have a go-to first reader after you feel your manuscript is ready?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">No,
I wish I did. But, I’ve had a variety of critique groups and partners over the
years, who have helped me tremendously along the way. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">If
you had to go back and do it all over, is there any aspect of your novel or
getting it published that you’d change?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">No.
The time it took was well spent, as I developed some skill and learned the ins
and outs of publishing. I feel grateful to have a found a publisher that is
very involved with writers and works with them to promote their books. Getting
your work published is a combination of determination, dedication, skill, and
just plain luck. Every writer has heard the stories about wildly successful
novels that were rejected dozens of times before finally being accepted by an
agent and a publisher. Sometimes it’s a matter of hitting the right person at
the right time. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">How
do you market your work?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Mainly
via Facebook ads, which have worked well for me. And a small amount of Amazon
ads. I tried BookBub ads, but they were relatively expensive with no results
that I could see. I think BookBub is mainly geared toward readers looking for
deeply discounted books. I also do author takeovers on Facebook pages, post on
Instagram, Facebook, and now Threads. And, for both releases I schedule a book
blog tour.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">What
are you working on now?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">I’m
about 50,000 words into a story about a relationship between a young American
woman and an Irish singer. It’s a bittersweet story that alternates between the
past, when they met and fell in love and the present.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">What
is a bestselling book you’ve been itching to read?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">I
belong to a Writers’ Book Club and we’re about to read “Hello Beautiful” by Ann
Napolitano and I’ve got “The Whispers” by Ashley Audrain on my coffee table.
I’m really looking forward to both, since I read “Dear Edward” by Napolitano
and “The Push” by Audrain and loved them both.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Is
anything in your book based on real-life experiences?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">I
think most writers base at least some events and characters in their stories off
of real life. There’s a character in “Breathing in Reverse,” who is the mother
of the celebrity who’s being stalked. She’s from Louisiana, where I’m from
originally and she’s an amalgam of every southern woman I knew growing up. Her
name is Cora, named after an aunt of mine.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Do
you have a favorite chapter or scene?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">I’d
have to say it’s a tie between the prologue and the last chapter. The prologue
is the only section from the POV of Mick, the celebrity in the story, and it
paints a clear picture of what his life has been like up to that point. And the
last chapter offers a bit of a twist, which I always like in stories.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Do
you have a favorite character?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">I
can’t play favorites, but readers have expressed an affection for Cora. She
doesn’t play a big role in the story, but I think she stands out.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">What
was some unique research you had to do for a book?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">I
was able to interview a psychologist who specializes in stalking and has
testified in celebrity stalking cases. I couldn’t believe he gave me 45 minutes
of his time. It was really fascinating—and disturbing.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Do
you have any advice for aspiring writers?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">You
have to be in it for the long haul, and first and foremost, don’t quit your day
job. Unless you get extremely lucky right out of the gate, it can take years to
develop the skills, get a book published, and develop an audience of readers.
And READ! I’m always appalled when someone says they want to write a book, but
they don’t read. Every book is a lesson on what to do or what not to do. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">What
are the downfalls of your writing career? The best parts?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">I
wish I wrote faster. Publishing a book every 18 months would be a lofty goal
for me, but it’s something I’ll be striving for.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Favorite
band or music? <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">It
always changes. Right now, I’m obsessed with the voice of young Scottish
singer, Lewis Capaldi, as well as the lyrics of his songs. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Favorite
book and/or movie?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">I
can never answer this question. There are too many to choose from. But at this
point in time, I’m going to say, “The Light We Lost” by Jill Santopolo because
it was the inspiration for the story I’m working on now. I love stories that
break my heart.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Place
you’d like to travel?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">So
many! I’d love to go to Portugal, Ireland, Croatia, Iceland and, if you can
believe it, I’ve never been to Canada, so Quebec is on my list. My daughter is
my favorite traveling partner. Last year we went to Rome and Naples. I’m hoping
we’ll have a lot more travels together in the future.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Is
there anything you’d like to say to your readers and fans?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">This
goes not just for my books, but for any book you read and enjoy. It is so
appreciated if you leave a rating or a review. A review can be as simple as
“Loved this story!” It helps authors so much! More ratings and reviews means
more exposure and the ability to get the next book published.</span><o:p style="font-size: 12pt;"></o:p></span></p><p><i style="color: #0b5394; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><u>To connect with Densie:</u></b></i></p><p><b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Website</b><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">: </span><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://densiewebb.com&source=gmail&ust=1690310833793000&usg=AOvVaw3sIGSTK2wWGIbovEZk2xUg" href="http://densiewebb.com/" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">densiewebb.com</a></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Email</b>: <a href="mailto:densie.webb@gmail.com" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">densie.webb@gmail.com</a><b> </b></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Instagram</b>: densiewebbbooks</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>BookBub</b>: @densiewebb</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Goodreads:</b> <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://bit.ly/2I1DoPF&source=gmail&ust=1690310833793000&usg=AOvVaw1H3vdYagEAbIUVmIKZnCwl" href="https://bit.ly/2I1DoPF" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">https://bit.ly/2I1DoPF</a></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Amazon:</b> <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://amzn.to/355CCsu&source=gmail&ust=1690310833793000&usg=AOvVaw3KlX4gGeEIubyIrcekjSE9" href="https://amzn.to/355CCsu" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">https://amzn.to/<wbr></wbr>355CCsu</a></div><div style="background-color: white; 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color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></div>Jill Hannah Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12007083642964545355noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3750342111299473419.post-30567489507182918872023-07-18T07:38:00.001-05:002023-07-18T07:38:29.063-05:00A TWISTED LOVE STORY, by author SAMANTHA DOWNING (debuts today!)<p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span class="a-text-bold" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-weight: 700;">From the bestselling author of </span><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;">My Lovely Wife </span><span class="a-text-bold" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-weight: 700;">comes a reckless, delicious thriller that gives a whole new meaning to the dangers of modern dating.</span></span></p><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Wes and Ivy are madly in love. They've never felt anything like it. It's the type of romance people write stories about.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />But what kind of story?<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />When it's good, it's great. Flowers. Grand gestures. Deep meaningful conversations where the whole world disappears.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />When it's bad, it's really bad. Vengeful fights. Damaged property. Arrest warrants.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />But their vicious cycle of catastrophic breakups and head-over-heels reconciliations needs to end fast. Because suddenly, Wes and Ivy have a common enemy--and she's a detective.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />There's something Wes and Ivy never talk about--in good times or bad. The night of their worst breakup, when one of them took things too far, and someone ended up dead.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />If they can stick together, they can survive anything--even the tightening net of a police investigation.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Because one more breakup might just be their last…</span></span><div><span face="Amazon Ember, Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #0f1111; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><h3 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 4px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><i><span style="color: #ff00fe;">Reviews ~</span></i></span></h3><div class="a-section a-spacing-small a-padding-small" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 22px; padding: 6px 10px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">“A deliciously clever thriller. I love Samantha Downing's books...If you haven't experienced the pleasure of reading her work, don't wait."<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />—</span><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">Sylvia Day</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">, #1 </span><span class="a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic;">New York Times</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> bestselling author<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />“Toxic relationships, dark deeds, and a cast of unreliable narrators. All the best ingredients for a deliciously disturbing read. Twisted indeed.”<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />—</span><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">Alice Feeney</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">, </span><span class="a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic;">New York Times</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> bestselling author of </span><span class="a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic;">Daisy Darker</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />"Samantha Downing’s writing is pure, twisted magic…will take you from the height of sexy, crashing-into-walls obsession to utter disbelief, loving every second."<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />—</span><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">Christina Lauren</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">, </span><span class="a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic;">New York Times</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> bestselling author <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />"Subtle, compelling, and clever. </span><span class="a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic;">A Twisted Love Story</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> will take you on a tense and emotional thrill ride that doesn't let up until the final page. Downing has crafted a complex, masterfully written tale that will have you rooting for the dysfunctional couple while simultaneously not trusting either of them."<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />—</span><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">Jeneva Rose</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">, </span><span class="a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic;">New York Times </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">bestselling author of</span><span class="a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic;"> You Shouldn’t Have Come Here</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />“This story about a toxic relationship spiralling out of control is dazzlingly, deliciously dark—and enormous fun.”<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />—</span><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">JP Delaney</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">, </span><span class="a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic;">New York Times</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> bestselling author of </span><span class="a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic;">The Girl Before</span></div></div><div><p><span style="color: #ff00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><i><b>Author interview with Samantha ~</b></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"><b>Tell us a little about
yourself and how you started writing.</b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I was always a big
reader as a kid, and eventually, I started writing. I started with short stories
and then wrote my first book. It was something I really enjoyed so I continued
doing it. Writing was a hobby for many years before I was published.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;">What are some things
you enjoy when not writing?</span></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I like storytelling in
general, whether it’s a book or music or TV and movies. I enjoy studying how
people tell stories, what perspective they use and how they approach the story.
It’s endlessly fascinating.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;">Do you have a particular
writing routine?</span></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Mornings are when I write. In
the afternoon I tend to work on revisions or editing, this is when I re-read
what I wrote earlier in the morning.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;">Is there anything major that
changed in this novel from when you first plotted it out?</span></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I don’t plot my books at all.
Sometimes I have a few vague ideas about where they will go, but that’s always
subject to change as I write. So I would say all of my books go through major
changes as I write them. That’s one of the challenges of being a pantser instead
of a plotter…there’s no road map for the book, so it can go anywhere. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;">It also
means I am constantly revising. If I make a major change when I write chapter
20, I have to go back and revise everything that came before. I do that as I’m
writing the first draft. Otherwise, I’m left with a huge mess when I finish!</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Finish this: “I</span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> can’t write without…”</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Coffee.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;">If I had to spend a week on a deserted island,
I would need…</span></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The internet! But if I can’t have that I would
say paper, a few pens, some books and…coffee.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;">What is something about
you that would surprise people?</span></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I don’t know if this is
surprising, but I am a completely boring person. Truly, I don’t do a lot and
lead a really quiet life. I’m not a “joiner.” I don’t drink, and at parties I
prefer to stand in the corner and watch everyone else. My daily life is wholly
unremarkable.</span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"><b> </b></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"><b>Do
you have a ‘day job’ as well?</b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">Not
right now.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"><b>What
was the original title of this book? </b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">My
original title was <i>Always Have, Always Will</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"><b>Where
do you get your ideas, or what inspired this book plot?<o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">Ideas
can really come from anywhere. It can be someone I see out in the world, just
the way they move or talk can inspire a character. Ideas can come from
documentaries or news stories. Sometimes I see something and it inspires a new
twist on the idea. I try to take something relatively normal—like a couple
living in the suburbs—and twist it into something more sinister.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"><b> </b></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"><b>Do
you have a manuscript(s) in your drawer? If so, will it ever see the light of
day?</b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">I
have a lot of manuscripts in the drawer and they will never see the light of
day!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"><b> </b></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"><b>If
you have written more than one book, which story would you choose to live?<o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">Oh,
I would live in any of my books. Just to watch! But after a while, I’m sure I
would want to escape.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"><b>Do
you have a go-to first reader after you feel your manuscript is ready?</b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">I
am part of a writer’s critique group and they are always the first ones to read
what I’m writing.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"><b> </b></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"><b>What
are you working on now?</b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">Another
thriller, although I can’t say much about it.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"><b> </b></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"><b>Is
anything in your book based on real-life experiences?</b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">Only
some small things. The locations, places I’ve visited or lived, and some
character traits. But I’ve never known anyone who kills people (that I’m aware
of!)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"><b>Do
you have a favorite chapter or scene?</b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">I
like writing about the interactions between characters. Millicent and her
husband in <i>My Lovely Wife</i>, the siblings in <i>He Started It</i>, Teddy
and the other teachers in <i>For Your Own Good.</i> In <i>A Twisted Love Story</i>,
I really enjoyed writing the scenes between Wes and Ivy. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"><b> </b></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"><b>Do
you have a favorite character?</b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">No,
they’re all my favorites!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"><b>Finish
this sentence: “If I could write about anything, it would be…?”</b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">That’s
a tough one. Sometimes I have too many ideas, other times I don’t have any, so
I guess it depends on what day it is. I start books and throw them out all the
time. Either the idea doesn’t take hold or I can’t figure out where to go with
it. But no, I don’t have one single thing or idea I want to write about. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"><b>Do
you have any advice for aspiring writers?</b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">Be
prepared to multi-task. Not only do you have to concentrate on the craft of
writing, you also have to know how to market yourself and successfully use
social media. It’s basically a necessity these days. My days are typically
split between the two.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"><b>What
are the downfalls of your writing career? The best parts?</b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">I
would say the downfall is the need to outdo myself, and this is something I did
not see coming. Ideally, every book should be better than the last, and every
book should sell better than the last. That’s what a career is. By definition,
a career progresses, it does not regress. So I am constantly trying to outdo,
outwrite, and outsell my last book. It’s something I think about and try to
achieve every single day.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"><b> </b></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"><b>Favorite
book and/or movie?</b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">I
have so many favorite books, but I’d have to say <i>Rebecca</i> by Daphne du
Maurier. As for my favorite movie, it really depends on my mood!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"><b>Is
there anything you’d like to say to your readers and fans?</b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Just
a huge thank you for reading my books! I am so grateful to everyone who has
read one (or more) of them!</span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"><b><i><span style="color: #ff00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">To connect with Samantha ~</span></i></b></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><b><i><span style="color: #ff00fe;"><br /></span></i></b></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;"><b><i>https://www.samanthadowning.com/contact</i></b></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;"><b><i></i></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;"><b><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiQGe4hBZhEBUFEz2iLcCIvmf8wUg9QDXjNtF2OnVQy3iu88aOg7sc0hUQoHrTvvQB16tYXSr_KMay4hB3PjP4OxkIyXCVmCLadVREzTCj7hSXk9JBlTYWcQGo_kmNnty-d8hEB8VCJ8vOrjC12SrffqjSGgTAfd9KtYmxQeZv07ZDEhPYG5zqYKpyzGQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="331" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiQGe4hBZhEBUFEz2iLcCIvmf8wUg9QDXjNtF2OnVQy3iu88aOg7sc0hUQoHrTvvQB16tYXSr_KMay4hB3PjP4OxkIyXCVmCLadVREzTCj7hSXk9JBlTYWcQGo_kmNnty-d8hEB8VCJ8vOrjC12SrffqjSGgTAfd9KtYmxQeZv07ZDEhPYG5zqYKpyzGQ=w212-h320" width="212" /></a></i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;"><b><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhY8FHEP-nzah0cKLkK4gRgikvQUhazuqdiE0BUbavuxACRZdjD5oWQn9-w-xaRpa9WMBZN8jo4-_Fvr3mpoSw5iox5dmj4Z4BpBaDM1LCXz5fRqMf5-LpIizVmDIc7SN-eV-ACu6AfzLgOvmj3KX-gsEGiJ6uWXv8vt3eaobONCCzNFRiBJAOg4LdwZQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="617" data-original-width="617" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhY8FHEP-nzah0cKLkK4gRgikvQUhazuqdiE0BUbavuxACRZdjD5oWQn9-w-xaRpa9WMBZN8jo4-_Fvr3mpoSw5iox5dmj4Z4BpBaDM1LCXz5fRqMf5-LpIizVmDIc7SN-eV-ACu6AfzLgOvmj3KX-gsEGiJ6uWXv8vt3eaobONCCzNFRiBJAOg4LdwZQ=w200-h200" width="200" /></a></i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;"><b><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgMhsDdn6bzKuQoQey4d9z3ucrGWR7_FFAhL1N0Ln7fwSBaboYZQuY0xG-5-ceBhbDfQbhIe-N5BxqgIczeprzmfOnBnsRKTopn2oUCTX5r_c4wyuuKUS37L2vkVqA4l8Jx5RIQOZLuAKFH4r1y3OXOsh-8uvjaopPPOKxnF4MmxLFM-Rq8JtSREG8UQ/s1640/blog%20banner%203%20books%202023.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="924" data-original-width="1640" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgMhsDdn6bzKuQoQey4d9z3ucrGWR7_FFAhL1N0Ln7fwSBaboYZQuY0xG-5-ceBhbDfQbhIe-N5BxqgIczeprzmfOnBnsRKTopn2oUCTX5r_c4wyuuKUS37L2vkVqA4l8Jx5RIQOZLuAKFH4r1y3OXOsh-8uvjaopPPOKxnF4MmxLFM-Rq8JtSREG8UQ/s320/blog%20banner%203%20books%202023.png" width="320" /></a></i></b></span></div><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;"><b><i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /></i></b></span></div><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;"><b><i><br /><br /></i></b></span><p></p></div>Jill Hannah Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12007083642964545355noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3750342111299473419.post-51453162673921937732023-07-13T08:23:00.000-05:002023-07-13T08:23:06.824-05:00THE BEAUTY OF RAIN, by author JAMIE BECK (out July 18th!)<p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span class="a-text-bold" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-weight: 700;">Two devoted sisters at a tragic breaking point discover the beautiful and painful truths of being alive in a powerful novel by </span><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;">Wall Street Journal</span><span class="a-text-bold" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-weight: 700;"> and </span><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;">USA Today</span><span class="a-text-bold" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-weight: 700;"> bestselling author Jamie Beck.</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Winning the lottery changed Amy Walsh’s life, but the cost was greater than she could bear. In the aftermath, she struggles to find joy and purpose. Only one thing feels certain now—she will never spend one cent of the prize money on herself.</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Worried, her older sister, Kristin DeMarco, invites Amy to live with her family while she heals. Unfortunately, this arrangement leads to trouble for Kristin: Divided focus affects her career. Her daughter prefers Amy to her. And Amy’s unsolicited opinions provoke tension between Kristin and her husband.</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Meanwhile, Amy is making drastic plans of her own, which include giving away all her money. But first she must convince Kristin not to squander her most valuable asset—time with her family.</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-size: medium;">As the sisters help each other reimagine their futures, life’s unpredictability sends them to surprising places that test their love and resilience. Will they learn to live in the now, before it’s too late?</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></span></p><h3 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 4px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: #ff00fe;"><i>Reviews ~</i></span></span></h3><div class="a-section a-spacing-small a-padding-small" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 22px; padding: 6px 10px;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">Selected by She Reads as a “Best Book Club Picks of Summer 2023”</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">“Heartbreaking, uplifting, and wise beyond measure, </span><span class="a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic;">The Beauty of the Rain</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> is a masterful tale rendered perfectly by an author truly hitting her stride. I was completely captured by the story of two sisters who each have to learn to really live—before they run out of chances. So powerful!” </span><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">—Barbara O’Neal, bestselling author of </span><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;">This Place of Wonder</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">“A thoughtful and clear-headed exploration into life’s most brutal challenges. Jamie Beck insightfully dives into the intricacies of grief, marriage, ambition, and love of family in a way that will make you stop and ponder your life choices. An important and meaningful read about what makes life beautiful.” </span><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">—Sonali Dev, bestselling author of </span><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;">The Vibrant Years</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">“Jamie Beck’s </span><span class="a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic;">The Beauty of Rain</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> is a poignant look at love and hope, grief and healing, and finding peace after life-shattering loss. At the heart of this wise, insightful book is a beautifully flawed family—sisters, spouses, children, parents—in all their messy glory. Be prepared to read into the wee hours of the night, because you’re going to keep promising yourself ‘just one more chapter.’” </span><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">—Mariah Stewart, </span><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;">New York Times</span><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;"> and </span><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;">Wall Street Journal</span><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;"> bestselling author</span></p></div><p><span style="color: #ff00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><i><b>Author interview with Jamie ~</b></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">What are some things
you enjoy when not writing?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">I love to travel with
family and friends, and I love to eat at funky restaurants. I’m always
listening to music (wish I had more opportunities to dance). To unwind, I love
a good dramatic movie or TV show. For outdoor fun, I like to ski and hike (and
recently picked up Pickleball!). And, of course, I love to read!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Do you have a particular
writing routine?</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">I used to be more regimented,
but life has gotten a little hectic lately, so I’ve learned to be more fluid. I
am a plotter, though. I start with a theme I want to explore or discuss, then
build a character who would struggle the most to adopt that message, and then
try to set up a plot that pushes that character through the meatgrinder to get
them to learn what must be learned.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Is there anything major that
changed in this novel from when you first plotted it out?</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">The ending! That’s all I’ll
say about that.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Finish this: “I</span></b><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> can’t write without…”</span></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">Chocolate!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">What is something about
you that would surprise people?</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">Although I’m
exceptionally punctual, I’m also chronically disorganized. My desk is covered
in papers (not files—just random pages of notes and such). Thank god my husband
enjoys being our in-house administrator!</span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">What
was the original title of this book? <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">This
is the original title, which was a riff off the Dar Williams song <i>The Beauty
of the Rain. <o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">Where
do you get your ideas, or what inspired this book plot?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">This
book is my most personal and was inspired by a health crisis that made me look
at my entire life differently. I hope it encourages every single reader to seriously
evaluate whether they are living each day with intention and joy/gratitude.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">Do
you have a manuscript(s) in your drawer? If so, will it ever see the light of
day?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">Sadly,
I just gave up on a manuscript that I’d been very excited about. It is difficult
to walk away at 60,000 words, but it wasn’t working, and I could not figure out
how to salvage it. Unless I wake up with a major epiphany, I don’t foresee this
one making it to market. But never say never…<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">Is
there a particular author or book that influenced or inspired your writing or
decision to write?</span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">When
I was a teen, I loved Danielle Steel’s books. As a young adult, I found Jodi
Picoult. In a strange way, I think my more recent work is sort of a blend of
these two types of novels.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">Is
anything in your book based on real-life experiences?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">Actually,
yes. There are some “afterlife” encounters that are based on things I, my
mother, and my daughter have experienced after losing someone close to us. That
makes the book sound paranormal, but it isn’t. It does, however, touch upon the
little signs we sometimes get from loved ones after they’re gone.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">Do
you have a favorite character?</span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">I
don’t have a favorite, but I can share which character is most like me:
Kristin. I didn’t start out planning for her to mirror many of my traits and
concerns, but she ended up more like me than not!</span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">What
would your dream job be if you didn’t write books? (assuming this is your dream
job!)</span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">Well,
if I had any talent for it, I would absolutely love to be a singer-songwriter.
Unfortunately, I cannot carry a tune (ask anyone who has the misfortune of
riding along on a road trip). <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">Is
there anything you’d like to say to your readers and fans?</span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">Thank
you for your time, your letters, and your encouragement and support. You have
not only given me this career, you’ve made me feel like I have made a
difference in your life, and that is the most precious gift. I treasure your
trust.</span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="color: #ff00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><i><b>To connect with Jamie ~</b></i></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="color: #ff00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><i><b><br /></b></i></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.jamiebeck.com&source=gmail&ust=1689110516963000&usg=AOvVaw2dnKnz2CbpnjDksGRjJrXU" href="http://www.jamiebeck.com/" style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: medium;">www.jamiebeck.com</span></a></p><div style="background-color: white; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="924" data-original-width="1640" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxG0ItaIGKBmFphtE_GQhmOdlPokWQzBPuX2o4v2sHc_7R2ElMwiY-MUmsXOG2O4PGcxbgm1kzCiq5V5Ye99i_HDpd8V4r5sXBxT-06RHlqxa6dtgOxSy_21Y5syoeM_JFKd5JsvizKri-ZdwOt1IfBI3q2ylCLu9pO-ecKg7qH2K9dVkZ1lCuza89q0Mo/s320/blog%20banner%203%20books%202023.png" width="320" /></a></b></i></span></div><span style="color: #ff00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><i><b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /></b></i></span></div><span style="color: #ff00fe; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><i><b><br /><br /></b></i></span><p></p>Jill Hannah Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12007083642964545355noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3750342111299473419.post-2648920626317752822023-06-05T07:40:00.003-05:002023-06-05T07:51:44.325-05:00CROW MARY, by author KATHLEEN GRISSOM (debuts June 6th!)<p><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><span class="a-text-bold" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">The </span><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;">New York Times</span><span class="a-text-bold" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;"> bestselling author</span></span><span class="a-text-bold" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: large; font-weight: 700;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span class="a-text-bold" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box;">of the “touching” (</span><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic;">The Boston Globe</span><span class="a-text-bold" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box;">) book club classics </span><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic;">The Kitchen House</span><span class="a-text-bold" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box;"> and the “emotionally rewarding” (</span><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic;">Booklist</span><span class="a-text-bold" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box;">) </span><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic;">Glory Over Everything </span><span class="a-text-bold" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box;">returns with a sweeping saga inspired by the true story of Crow Mary—an indigenous woman torn between two worlds in 19th-century North America.</span></b></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111;">In 1872, sixteen-year-old Goes First, a Crow Native woman, marries Abe Farwell, a white fur trader. He gives her the name Mary, and they set off on the long trip to his trading post in the Cypress Hills of Saskatchewan, Canada. Along the way, she finds a fast friend in a Métis named Jeannie; makes a lifelong enemy in a wolfer named Stiller; and despite learning a dark secret of Farwell’s past, falls in love with her husband.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />The winter trading season passes peacefully. Then, on the eve of their return to Montana, a group of drunken whiskey traders slaughters forty Nakota—despite Farwell’s efforts to stop them. Mary, hiding from the hail of bullets, sees the murderers, including Stiller, take five Nakota women back to their fort. She begs Farwell to save them, and when he refuses, Mary takes two guns, creeps into the fort, and saves the women from certain death. Thus, she sets off a whirlwind of colliding cultures that brings out the worst and best in the cast of unforgettable characters and pushes the love between Farwell and Crow Mary to the breaking point.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />From an author with a “stirring and uplifting” (David R. Gillham, </span><span class="a-text-italic" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-style: italic;">New York Times</span><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111;"> bestselling author) voice, </span><span class="a-text-italic" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-style: italic;">Crow Mary</span><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111;"> sweeps across decades and the landscape of the upper West and Canada, showcasing the beauty of the natural world, while at the same time probing the intimacies of a marriage and one woman’s heart.</span></span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111;"><br /></span></span></div><div><h3 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 4px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Reviews ~</span></span></h3><div class="a-section a-spacing-small a-padding-small" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 22px; padding: 6px 10px;"><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;">“Grissom offers an ambitious account of bravery and initiative inspired by the true story of a Crow woman who married a white man in late-19th-century Montana…With a flashback-heavy narrative, Grissom effectively conveys how Mary’s Crow childhood stays with her over the course of her new life. This moving story of one woman’s grit, survival, and resilience will keep readers turning the pages.”</span><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;">—Publishers Weekly</span><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />“Kathleen Grissom is a tremendously gifted storyteller. Here she combines intensive research and her own superb novelistic skills, to unveil one of our nation’s darkest eras. In the process she brings back to life her narrator, the real Crow Mary—a native American woman who with love, wit and pure strength of character, not only survives these seemingly impossible times, but prevails against all odds. A riveting tale, beautifully told.”<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />—</span><span class="a-text-bold" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700;">Jim Fergus, author of </span><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;">The Vengeance of Mothers</span><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />"My favorite novels shine a light on women that history books have forgotten. Over twenty years ago, Kathleen Grissom heard about an incredible woman named Goes First, and </span><span class="a-text-italic" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic;">Crow Mary </span><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;">is</span><span class="a-text-italic" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic;"> </span><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;">worth the wait. While reading </span><span class="a-text-italic" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic;">Crow Mary</span><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;">, I couldn’t help but think of </span><span class="a-text-italic" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic;">My Antonia</span><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;"> by Willa Cather, and the debt we owe to the women who came before us."<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></span><span class="a-text-bold" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700;">—Janet Skeslien Charles, </span><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;">New York Times </span><span class="a-text-bold" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700;">bestselling author of </span><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;">The Paris Library </span><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />"</span><span class="a-text-italic" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic;">Crow </span><span class="a-text-italic" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic;">Mary</span><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;"> left me breathless. Kathleen Grissom has the gift of waking up the past with fever, illuminating an aspect of American history that few know. Each page engulfed me in a world of conflict, love, and heartache. Tender, compelling, and a profoundly educational and satisfying read. The strength and sheer bravery of Crow Mary will stay with me for a long time."<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></span><span class="a-text-bold" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700;">—Sadeqa Johnson, international bestselling author of </span><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;">The Yellow Wife </span><span class="a-text-bold" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700;">and </span><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;">The House of Eve</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;">“Kudos to Grissom for weaving truth into masterful storytelling about Crow Mary’s epic journey. The result presents the fragile legacy of an emancipated woman determined to make her own destiny. Prepare to marvel at the strength and wisdom of Crow Mary. She is a heroine for all times.”</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10.5pt;">—Leah
Weiss, bestselling author of <i>If the Creek Don't Rise</i> and <i>All
the Little Hopes</i></span></b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: large;">Author
interview with Kathleen ~ </span></span></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0f1111; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #222222;">If I
had to spend a week on a deserted island, I would need… </span><b><span style="color: #222222;">A
friend, books, and all the chocolate available.</span></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0f1111; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">What was the original title of this book?</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b style="color: #0f1111;">Of
my three books, this was the only one that kept its original title.</b></span></p></span></div></div><div class="a-section a-spacing-small a-padding-small" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 22px; padding: 6px 10px;">
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background-color: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Where
do you get your ideas, or what inspired this book’s plot?</span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background-color: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background-color: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>I
was inspired when I went to visit Fort Walsh in Canada. There was a young
docent who told us her name was Crow Mary and that she had been only 16 years
old and newly married when she traveled to the Cypress Hills with her new
husband. A chill went through my body and I knew I was going to write her
story. </b>(See author's notes below.)<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background-color: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background-color: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Do
you have a manuscript(s) in your drawer? If so, will it ever see the light of
day? <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background-color: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background-color: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">I
do have a special journal about how I began to write, but I doubt it will ever
become a book. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background-color: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background-color: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">If
you have written more than one book, which story would you choose to live? <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background-color: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background-color: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">There
isn’t one of my stories that I would want to participate in. The times I wrote
about were rough. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background-color: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background-color: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Do
you have a go-to first reader after you feel your manuscript is ready? <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background-color: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background-color: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">I
have five early readers and they each bring something to the table. I count on
each person’s input.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background-color: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background-color: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">How
do you market your work? <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background-color: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background-color: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>I
mostly speak to book clubs. Word of mouth is hard to beat</b>. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background-color: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background-color: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Finish
this sentence: “If I could write about anything, it would be…?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background-color: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background-color: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">I’m
very lucky in that I’ve been given inspiration and then I’ve just followed the
lead. I believe that my writing is a spiritual gift and I just need to follow
through and do the best job that I can. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background-color: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background-color: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">What
was some unique research you had to do for a book? <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background-color: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background-color: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">For
<i>Crow Mary,</i> I had to do my very best to understand a foreign culture. The
language, the food, the spiritual practices, and the many important nuances unique
to that culture – all were a challenge. What saved me were the many wonderful
Crow elders who were so generous with their help and guidance. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background-color: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background-color: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Do
you have any advice for aspiring writers?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background-color: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background-color: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;">My
best advice is to just do the research and then write the book. Walk the walk. </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: medium;"><b><i>How this story came to be (taken from the author's notes at the back of the book):</i></b></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhz-e7kPr1HcRrJ59jtboOrCQG7pEf0qfrUqdZWDaSH5IJSxbrwnbquaCt-S6iOOitt3ivCDDFDlFekRhsWI4ajKNhpoMQEHIdCUbEtwC3OM1C4641lLdtLh0f-8raxEgMAS5Lgf7lFo36QwaRTbKt4AXZ8kNBZYd9Qlu4z45NrX4gy6SyVUuSiwQAv-g" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="763" data-original-width="677" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhz-e7kPr1HcRrJ59jtboOrCQG7pEf0qfrUqdZWDaSH5IJSxbrwnbquaCt-S6iOOitt3ivCDDFDlFekRhsWI4ajKNhpoMQEHIdCUbEtwC3OM1C4641lLdtLh0f-8raxEgMAS5Lgf7lFo36QwaRTbKt4AXZ8kNBZYd9Qlu4z45NrX4gy6SyVUuSiwQAv-g=w568-h640" width="568" /></a></span></div><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: medium;"><br /><i><b>Kathleen was the perfect author to take this on, writing Crow Mary's story with extensive research and care, creating another "must-read" for historical fiction lovers! Jill</b></i></span><p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background-color: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #cc0000; font-size: medium;"><b><i><u>To connect with Kathleen ~ </u></i></b></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background-color: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: medium;"><b>Facebook: /KathleenGrissomAuthor</b></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: medium;"><b>Instagram: @kathleengrissom</b></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: medium;"><b>Twitter: @KGrissomAuthor</b></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.kathleengrissom.com/&source=gmail&ust=1685996717006000&usg=AOvVaw0IweO4L_GUjPuBH-0MM8NN" href="http://www.kathleengrissom.com/" rel="nofollow" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-size: medium;"><b>www.kathleengrissom.com</b></span></a></span></p><div><br /></div><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background-color: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg7_FxQqZlU0HXzX1q_tIav9F7MdvxyTS2MP0T1yZY1xHFPvtMoxC6hAPL03HRaQSaaFCNh95_Xleyg34nspA1hk8sAosDfKUWU1IGcQdyYHJnavYfPUuzrrvOYnv7kponTpNU5ii4U3komod1HCnQqgd5EpSSHbH_g8lpVGp70W54mfS1L0xmRBWdp-A" style="margin-left: 1em; 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<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p></div>Jill Hannah Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12007083642964545355noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3750342111299473419.post-36760132243074486762023-05-31T07:52:00.002-05:002023-05-31T07:52:47.054-05:00ALL THAT IS SACRED, by author DONNA NORMAN-CARBONE (debuts June 6th!)<p><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><span style="color: #45818e;"><b>When Lynn and her husband set out for a weekend retreat to repair their rocky marriage,</b></span></i><span style="color: #0f1111;"> icy roads lead to a fatal collision that ends Lynn’s life. Stranded between the physical world and the afterlife, Lynn experiences the grief of her loved ones as they process her death.</span></span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif;" /><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111;">Lynn’s life-long friends are tortured by not only loss but also unspoken wounds in their friendship. With clever influences from above, Lynn coaxes them to reunite at a beachside cottage on the one-year anniversary of her death. Determined to prompt their healing so they can help her family move on, Lynn reminds them of a sacred promise, hoping it will lead to truths they can't face on their own. Will it be enough to remind them of the power of their bond?</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif;" /><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111;">As Lynn struggles to repair the relationships she left behind, she soon realizes the greatest challenge will be letting them go.</span></span><p><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><i>Reviews ~</i></b></span></p><p><span class="a-text-italic" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic;">"</span><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;">A heartfelt, life-affirming novel tailor-made for readers who love stories of female friendship." </span><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;">—<b>Kirkus Reviews</b></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">"All That is Sacred written by Donna Norman-Carbone is a stirring, thought-provoking piece of literature that I can only describe as art. [...] a beautiful story that is packed with satisfying thoughts and feelings that will stick with you long after you've turned the last page." </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">—</span><b style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Reader Views</b></p><p><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">"In </span><span class="a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic;">All that is Scared</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">, Donna Norman-Carbone creates a world where you continue to learn about the reality of your life in the afterlife. A novel that leaves you appreciating your friends and family in a whole new way." <b>Abby Fabiaschi</b>- International Bestselling Author of </span><span class="a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic;">I Liked My Life, </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Goodreads Choice Nominee</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">"Get ready to review your life, your friendships, your family, and possibly change the trajectory to live your life in a more thoughtful, forgiving way." </span><b style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Rebecca Rosenberg</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">- Award-winning author of Madame Pommery and Champagne Widows</span></p><p><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><i><b>Author interview with Donna ~</b></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: arial;">Tell us
a little about yourself and how you started writing.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">I began writing when I was given the
proverbial pink diary with a gold lock and key. I don’t remember how old I was
but very young. My first story was written at age eight when I was
people-watching while waiting for my parents to arrive at a train station. I
dabbled in poetry throughout middle school and high school–certainly a good
outlet for teen angst which hit me hard. My first writing class was an
introduction to creative writing during my junior year of high school; I was
hooked. Once I got to college, I minored in Creative Writing, taking every
course I could fit into my schedule. I had some very good mentors, including
author Richard Russo who was my college advisor, and a strong community of
writers. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">After I graduated, writing became a solitary/sometimes act for me, as
I had become an English teacher, then married and had children. When my three
children got older, I found myself gravitating back to writing, mostly for
myself. It wasn’t until a colleague said, “I know this agent. You should send him
your work.” I did. It was rejected, but in the kindest of ways. That started my
journey to publishing.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: arial;">Is
there anything major that changed in the novel from when you first plotted it
out?</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">This novel had two major (MAJOR) overhauls.
Inspired by an actual event, I started writing this novel to make sense of my
grief over the loss I suffered. It was very personal and therapeutic. Then I
set it aside for several years. When I revisited it, I changed it drastically
and morphed it to fiction. That draft included five voices, one for each of the
main characters. My critique partners kept asking me, “But whose story is
this?” That’s when I decided to give it a complete revision by using the dead
friend as the narrator. A lot of world building ensued.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: arial;">What
was the original title of this book?</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: arial;">My original title was <i>Affinity</i>, which there is a nod to in the final version of the book.
I liked that word because I wanted to highlight the everlasting bond of
friendships through time and place. One editor said it was too science fiction
sounding. I came up with <i>All That is
Sacred</i> from a line in the book where one character asks another not to
share a secret. The character responds, “I won’t. This is all sacred sister
stuff.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: arial;">What
are some things you enjoy when not writing?</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Of course, I enjoy reading; I do believe every
writer should also be a reader. While I gravitate to women’s and historical
fiction, I also enjoy rom-coms, dystopian, psychological, and certainly the
classics, nonfiction and poetry. My favorite place to read is on a sunny beach;
my back porch is a close second.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: arial;">Travel is essential for me. I’m happiest (if
not writing) planning my next trip. My happy places are Cape Cod and England.
Europe is currently my favorite travel destination; there’s just so much more I
need to see there. I love losing myself in a foreign cities and towns, veering
off to the places where the locals go. My next trip is to Italy, Turkey and
Greece for two weeks in July.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: arial;">I am a history buff. In that vein, I set out
on a journey in advance of a family reunion on my father’s side to track our
lineage. Ancestry.com was a huge help in allowing me to track my family back to
the 1700s. Fun fact, I am related to Paul Revere, very distantly by marriage;
something that was a bit of a folktale in my family for generations has been
traced and proven. Right now, I’m working on my mother’s side of the family,
hoping to find some relatives in Naples to visit on our upcoming trip.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: arial;">Do you
have a day job as well?</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">I’ve been a teacher for 30+ years. The early
part of my career was spent as an adult educator and a university adjunct. For
the last 21 years, I’ve taught junior and senior high school students. I
consider myself very lucky to be able to share my passions for writing,
literature and film with my students. I’ve also been lucky enough to take some
groups on tour through England in conjunction with my British Literature class
and to a Behind-the-scenes in Hollywood tour with my film class. I do believe
the best kind of learning is experiential.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: arial;">Is
there a particular author or book that influenced or inspired your writing or
your decision to write?</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">As a teacher of writing and classic
literature, this is a hard question. I admire the fluidity of Virginia Woolf’s
writing and her ability to capture her characters’ thoughts. I was first drawn
to Judy Blume, first reading </span><i style="font-family: arial;">Are You
There God, It’s Me Margaret</i><span style="font-family: arial;">, as a young reader, and later reading </span><i style="font-family: arial;">Summer Sisters </i><span style="font-family: arial;">which definitely
influenced </span><i style="font-family: arial;">All That is Sacred</i><span style="font-family: arial;">. I also
drew from Rebecca Wells’ </span><i style="font-family: arial;">Divine Secrets
of the Ya Ya Sisterhood</i><span style="font-family: arial;">; that book was a favorite of mine around the time I
picked up writing again. Finally, my favorite author over decades has been Anna
Quindlen. I love both her fiction and nonfiction.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: arial;">If you
had to go back and do it all over, is there any aspect of your novel or getting
it published that you’d change?</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">I would have begun getting serious about
publishing my writing at a younger age. I have enjoyed this journey so far. I
believe this is what I was meant to do. Of course, as a younger writer, I
didn’t have the confidence or life experience I have now, and I didn’t
prioritize myself as much as this stage of life affords me. I am a firm
believer that things come to us in life just as they are meant to and when
we’re ready for them.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN" style="color: #45818e; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><i><u>To connect with Donna ~</u></i></b></span></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>email: <a href="mailto:dncarbone727@gmail.com" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">dncarbone727@gmail.com</a></b></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>website: <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.donnanormancarbone.com&source=gmail&ust=1679230872378000&usg=AOvVaw3qleAVz5eYmmjFgBL5Xv7t" href="http://www.donnanormancarbone.com/" style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">www.<wbr></wbr>donnanormancarbone.com</span></a></b></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>linktree: <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://linktr.ee/donnanormancarbone&source=gmail&ust=1679230872378000&usg=AOvVaw0DRxih1uCf_inwEA0BauvF" href="https://linktr.ee/donnanormancarbone" style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://linktr.ee/<wbr></wbr>donnanormancarbone</span></a></b></span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: arial;"></span></b></span></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span id="m_4555212830536980327gmail-docs-internal-guid-7aaddf7d-7fff-f9cd-0634-fc9aeb8a8d4d"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; 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font-size: small; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: small; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p dir="ltr" style="font-size: small; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p></b></span></span><br /></div>Jill Hannah Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12007083642964545355noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3750342111299473419.post-6316896338539307302023-05-15T06:59:00.001-05:002023-05-15T06:59:12.783-05:00WHERE THE GRASS GROWS BLUE, by author HOPE GIBBS (new release!)<p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><i><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>Penny Crenshaw’s divorce and her husband’s swift remarriage to a much younger woman have been hot topics around Atlanta’s social circles.</b></span></i><span style="color: #0f1111;"> After a year of enduring the cruel gossip, Penny leaps from the frying pan into the fire by heading back to Kentucky to settle her grandmother’s estate.</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Reluctantly, Penny travels to her hometown of Camden, knowing she will be stirring up all the ghosts from her turbulent childhood. But not all her problems stem from a dysfunctional family. One of Penny’s greatest sources of pain lives just down the street: Bradley Hitchens, her childhood best friend, the keeper of her darkest secrets, and the boy who shattered her heart.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">As Penny struggles with sorting through her grandmother’s house and her own memories, a colorful group of friends drifts back into her life, reminding her of the unique warmth, fellowship, and romance that only the Bluegrass state can provide. Now that fate has forced Penny back, she must either let go of the scars of her past or risk losing a second chance at love. Can she learn to live an unbridled life?</span></p><h3 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 4px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></span></h3><h3 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 4px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><i><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: georgia;">Reviews ~</span></i></span></h3><div class="a-section a-spacing-small a-padding-small" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 22px; padding: 6px 10px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">"A sweet tale of finding love and redemption that fans of strong female leads will particularly enjoy." -</span><span class="a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic;">Kirkus Reviews</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /> <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />"Readers will enjoy this fast-paced southern story about second-chances, lifelong friendships, and the healing power of forgiveness." <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Julie Cantrell, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of </span><span class="a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic;">Perennials </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /> <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">"Hope Gibbs' debut, </span><span class="a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic;">Where the Grass Grows Blue</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">, is worthy of taking its place among true Southern fiction novels where the banter is witty and the women are true steel magnolias. It's a delightful, engaging story about following your heart."<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Grace Sammon, Award-Winning Author of </span><span class="a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic;">The Eves</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">, and host of The Storytellers</span></div><p><i><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>Author interview with Hope ~</b></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><b>Tell us a
little about yourself and how you started writing. </b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style="color: #252525;">I was born and raised in Scottsville, Kentucky,
but now I live in Tennessee with my husband and my persnickety Shih Tzu,
Harley. I’m the mother of five grown children, and I love playing competitive
tennis, singing karaoke, reading multiple books at a time, and playing board
games.<br />
I have a B.A. from Western Kentucky University, and I’m a member of the Women's
Fiction Writers Association, a Bookish Road Trip Tour Guide, and a member of
the Women's National Book Association.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style="color: #252525;">As for how I started writing, I actually
stumbled into it. A few years ago, I started re-evaluating my life. I had been
a stay-at-home mother to five children for almost two decades after leaving my
corporate job to raise my family. At that point, it hit me. My children would
soon be leaving for college. So I started "journaling" on a laptop.
That lasted about a week before I noticed I wasn’t writing about<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><em>my</em><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>feelings or goals—I was creating a
character. A few months later, in church of all places, my minister mentioned a
song title by Bob Dylan, Tangled Up in Blue. At that very moment, I knew I had
a story for this character.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style="color: #252525;"><b>What are some things you enjoy when not writing?</b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style="color: #252525;">I love to play tennis. I’m on several teams throughout
the year (this spring my number is seven). I’m usually on the court five to six
times a week, playing matches or practicing. But lately, I’ve also taken up
pickleball. My husband is an avid player, so it’s a great way to spend time
together now that we’re empty nesters.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style="color: #252525;"><b>Do you have a particular writing routine?</b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style="color: #252525;">Not really. I wrote my first book when I was
still juggling a busy home, so I wrote when I had the chance. In the beginning,
it was usually after dinner, when the kids were busy with homework, but I’ve
been known to pull out my laptop at basketball, lacrosse, and soccer games when
there was a break. Having a house full of active children who played multiple
sports, I took every "free" opportunity I could get. I’ve even
written during changeovers in tennis matches.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style="color: #252525;"><b>Is there anything major that changed in this
novel from when you first plotted it out?</b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style="color: #252525;">Looking back at my first draft, I barely
recognize it in the sense of the writing. I was so new, I didn’t obey "the
rules." But it’s still the same story I set out to write. One woman’s
journey to either accept her turbulent past by embracing the power of
forgiveness or risk losing a second chance at love in a small Kentucky town.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style="color: #252525;"><b>Finish this: "I can’t write without…"</b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style="color: #252525;">COFFEE and my little dog Harley, only because he
won’t tolerate being left alone for a second. I’m his emotional support person.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style="color: #252525;"><b>If I had to spend a week on a deserted island, I
would need…</b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style="color: #252525;">One, coffee. Two, my husband, because he makes
my coffee most mornings, and three a trunk of books. There’s nothing better
than reading next to the water with sand covering your toes.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: .25in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0.25in;">What
career did you think you’d have as an adult? <o:p></o:p></p><p><span style="color: #252525;">As a little girl, I dreamed of becoming a
writer—for soap operas. Every Friday afternoon, since that was
"cliffhanger" day, I created and wrote little storylines for my
favorite characters. Not exactly age-appropriate entertainment, but it certainly
stoked my creativity.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style="color: #252525;"><b>Do you have a ‘day job’ as well?</b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style="color: #252525;">Now that my children are grown, I’m writing full-time. But that’s only one part of my “writing life.” I’m also a tour guide for
Bookish Road Trip, an upbeat community of book lovers, authors, and
bibliophiles. You can find them on Facebook, Instagram, and on their website.
I’m in charge of the Author Take the Wheel program. It’s a week-long
"takeover" by an author I’ve selected. Then, on Thursday of that
week, I interview the same author for a thirty-minute Facebook Live event. We
talk about their books, their writing process, and their own path to
publication, as well as take questions from the BRT audience.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style="color: #252525;"><b>What was the original title of this book?</b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style="color: #252525;">Originally, it was Tangled Up in Blue, but I had
to change it after I signed my deal with Red Adept because there were several
books with that same title. Plus, it’s also a Bob Dylan song. For two weeks
last summer I was scrambling for a new title, but I’m so happy we changed it. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style="color: #252525;"><b>Where do you get your ideas, or what inspired
this book plot?</b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style="color: #252525;">Music has been a huge part of my creative
process. It really inspires me and allows my mind to go places, creating new
worlds. Also, running and exercise. Some of my best ideas happen when I work
out.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style="color: #252525;"><b>Do you have a manuscript(s) in your drawer? If
so, will it ever see the light of day?</b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style="color: #252525;">I’m almost finished with my second book, Ashes
to Ashes, and I’m already plotting out books three and four. So many ideas, not
enough time in the day.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style="color: #252525;"><b>If I wasn’t an author, I might be…?</b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style="color: #252525;">A chef. I love to cook. I’ve practically lived
in my kitchen for most of my adult life. One of my greatest joys is preparing
holiday meals for my family or whipping up a buffet for my children’s friends.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style="color: #252525;"><b>Do you have a go-to first reader after you feel
your manuscript is ready?</b></span></p><p><span style="color: #252525;">Actually, only three people read Where the Grass
Grows Blue before I began querying it to publishers and agents. One, I was very
protective of it since it was like my baby, and two, I really didn’t believe in
myself enough as a writer to share it with others. For my next book(s), I might
work with CPs (critique partners) and beta readers, but I think I will keep the
group small. Too many cooks in the kitchen might overwhelm me. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style="color: #252525;"><b>Is there a particular author or book that
influenced or inspired your writing or decision to write?</b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style="color: #252525;">Elin Hilderbrand. She’s the reason I started
writing in the first place. I adore her. I even traveled to Nantucket last fall
with a group of girlfriends to have the Elin "experience." It was an
absolute blast, plus I met her! On my website, you can find a blog post I wrote
about that trip.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><b>Can you
tell us about your challenges in getting your first book published (or this
book?)</b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: .25in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0.25in;"><span style="color: #333333;">To be honest with you, I had no idea what I was doing. I
spent about three and a half years writing, rewriting, and editing my novel,
WHERE THE GRASS GROWS BLUE completely by myself. This was the first book I had
ever written, so there was a lot of trial and error there. Finally, in late
July 2021, I felt it was ready to start the process. I compiled a list of
agents and started submitting. I was getting requests for partials and fulls,
but I was also receiving several rejections at the same time.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: .25in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0.25in;"><span style="color: #333333;">In August, a friend suggested I join the Women’s Fiction
Writers Association. That was one of the best decisions I made. First, it
connected me with hundreds of other writers, some of whom have become dear
friends, and second, it was a treasure trove of publishing advice. I started
consuming all of their informative posts, articles, and webinars.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: .25in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0.25in;"><span style="color: #333333;">One webinar episode in particular changed querying for
me. It was about alternative publishing. I’m embarrassed to admit it, but I
thought there were only two ways to publish a book: through traditional
publishing houses that required an agent, or by self-publishing. After that
webinar, I discovered “Hybrid” Publishing and submitted my manuscript to four
of them that day. A month later, I had three offers on the table, but I waited
because I’d also discovered, because of the WFWA, small presses. I submitted my
manuscript to Red Adept Publishing in early fall, and by the first week of
December of 2021, I received an offer. Of course, I jumped at that deal because
I knew and respected their writers and staff.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">If you had
to go back and do it all over, is there any aspect of your novel or getting it </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">published
that you’d change?</span></b></p><p><span style="color: #252525;">Before I sent out that first query letter, I
wish I had set up an author website and accounts on social media sites. Also, I
wish I had blogged BEFORE I signed my deal. One, it gives you a body of work,
and second, it really hones your skills as a writer. Having a footprint as a
writer on the internet is helpful, especially if it’s your first book.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style="color: #252525;"><b>How do you market your work?</b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style="color: #252525;">Right now, mainly through social media and word
of mouth.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style="color: #252525;"><b>What are you working on now?</b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style="color: #252525;">I’m finishing my upmarket fiction book, set in
the south of course, that focuses on a tight-knit group of women whose world is
rocked after the death of their dear friend, Ellen, who has died unexpectedly
and under mysterious circumstances. But before they can even process their
grief, they stumble across a web of secrets and lies, unraveling Ellen’s
perfect life—the one she tried so hard to project to the outside world. Now
they must rely on each other to find out who the real Ellen Foster was, while
grappling with the idea that they never really knew her at all.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><b>What is a
bestselling book you’ve been itching to read?</b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style="color: #252525;">It’s not a bestseller yet because it comes out
in a few weeks, but The Five-Star Weekend by Elin Hilderbrand. I always look
forward to June when she releases a new book. I’m in awe of her commitment and
speed.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style="color: #252525;"><b>Is anything in your book based on real-life
experiences?</b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style="color: #252525;">Of course there are characters and scenes I’ve
taken from my own experiences, but they are reimagined into something entirely
different.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style="color: #252525;"><b>Do you have a favorite chapter or scene?</b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style="color: #252525;">My epilogue is one of my favorites. It’s funny,
because in the first draft it was in the second chapter. I worked with an
editor who loved it but told me to cut it because I needed to get my character
to Kentucky sooner, that’s the heart of the story. I was so attached to it, I
rewrote it and made it my epilogue. It’s so much better as an ending than at
the beginning.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style="color: #252525;"><b>Do you have a favorite character?</b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style="color: #252525;">Of course, I’m emotionally attached to my
protagonist, Penny Ray Crenshaw. I mean, she’s the reason I have a book. Then
there’s her love interest, Bradley Hitchens. I think I developed a literary
crush on him. But some of my favorites are the "colorful" secondary
characters. Two stand out for me. One is Dakota, Penny’s salty best friend in
Atlanta. She’s blunt, crass, speaks harsh truths, but has a heart of gold.
She’s Penny’s biggest cheerleader and pushes her to fight for herself. The
other is Miss Ada Pickert from Kentucky, an elderly spinster, Methodist-hating
pot stirrer who antagonizes Penny throughout the story. She’s a hoot and was such
a fun character to create.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><b>Do you
have other books you’d like to talk about here? </b></span></p><p><span style="color: #252525;">My third book is called Tobacco Road. It’s set
in Kentucky in the spring of 1973. Katherine “Katie Belle” Whitworth, is living
on the couch of her ex-boyfriend’s Brooklyn apartment after refusing his recent
surprise marriage proposal. Though in her heart, she knows it was the right
decision, she’s lost without her best friend. However, before she can even begin
processing the mess she’s made of her personal life, she’s been called back
home to Kentucky after Katie Belle’s father abandons her family, leaving town
with his mistress. Now it’s up to Katie Belle to not only console her stunned mother,
but to take care of her grandmother, and ailing great-grandmother who’s living
on the family’s massive tobacco farm, Windswept, which is knee-high in debt
thanks to her father’s secret gambling habits. If Katie Belle fails in raising
one last crop of tobacco, the bank will take over, leaving her mother,
grandmother, and great-grandmother homeless and in financial ruin. But the backbreaking
work of tobacco isn’t the only obstacle in her way. In 1973, as a woman, Katie
Belle cannot simply apply for a credit card, take out a loan, or even open a
bank account without a man's signature first, making her task even harder. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style="color: #252525;">But money is only half of Katie Belle’s problems.
There's the deep shame of returning back home because the last time she was
there, it was on the eve of her wedding. Now, she must return to her hometown, the
place she’s known as the town's most famous runaway bride.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style="color: #252525;">Because it’s historical, I’m doing a lot of
research on the era and also making sure I write authentically about raising
tobacco (even though I grew up around it). I’m having to read up on all the
stages of raising and selling this particular crop.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style="color: #252525;"><b>What would your dream job be if you didn’t write
books? (assuming this is your dream job!) </b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style="color: #252525;">I think I’m living a dream right now, being able
to write and actually call myself an author. I mean, that’s beyond what I ever
expected to do.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style="color: #252525;"><b>Finish this sentence: "If I could write
about anything, it would be…?" </b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style="color: #252525;">Strong southern women.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style="color: #252525;"><b>What was some unique research you had to do for
a book? </b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style="color: #252525;">For Where the Grass Grows Blue, I had to do some
serious digging into genetic diseases. All three of Penny’s siblings have three
different ones. Also, because I wrote some chapters as flashbacks from the
1970s and 1980s, I had to make sure any pop culture references, like songs or
movies, were in the right year.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style="color: #252525;"><b>Do you have any advice for aspiring writers? </b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style="color: #252525;">Write, write, write. It’s the only way to get
better. Also, I suggest joining writing groups. I’m a member of the WFWA
(Women’s Fiction Writers Association). It’s been a wealth of knowledge and has
connected me to so many authors and aspiring writers, who are the most generous
people on the planet with their time and advice.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style="color: #252525;">Another helpful hint is signing up for author
newsletters, joining Goodreads and starting to leave reviews, and subscribing
to Publisher’s Marketplace. That site has all the industry news and is a great
way to stay on top of trends and find agents and publishers.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style="color: #252525;">Finally, I tell writers to set up social media
accounts or an author website dedicated to their writing early on. I had no
platforms before I signed with Red Adept, so I had a lot of catching up to do.
Also, I wish I had started blogging before my deal. I resisted doing it, but
I’m so thankful I finally did because it’s helped me as a writer. It’s good
practice and gives you confidence by letting the world see what you can do.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style="color: #252525;"><b>What are the downfalls of your writing career?
The best parts?</b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style="color: #252525;">Well, I’m pretty early in my writing
"career," but I would say one of the hardest parts is now finding the
time to actually write my second and third books. I’m so busy with the other
aspects of being an author: promotion, blogging, interviewing other authors,
and my work at Bookish Road Trip, that I’m creatively exhausted by the end of
the day to work.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style="color: #252525;"><b>Favorite band or music? </b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style="color: #252525;">I love all kinds of music, but my husband would
say I’m into sad chick music, whatever that means. But I have a wide range of
musical tastes. My iTunes playlists have everything from bluegrass to 80s pop
to gospel to Joni Mitchell to Run-DMC. I listen to it all. Tyler Childers is a
favorite right now.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style="color: #252525;"><b>Favorite book and/or movie? </b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style="color: #252525;">The Age of Innocence is one of my all-time
favorite books. I also adore the movie.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style="color: #252525;"><b>Place you’d like to travel? </b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style="color: #252525;">Italy and Greece. I’ve always dreamed of going
there, and this fall, I will finally visit both!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style="color: #252525;"><b>Is there anything you’d like to say to your
readers and fans?</b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style="color: #252525;">I am so appreciative of this opportunity I have
right now, being able to reach an audience of enthusiastic readers and showing
them a little slice of small-town Kentucky. I really put my heart into this
book and I hope readers will fall in love with this special place.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><i style="font-family: georgia;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">To connect with Hope ~</span></b></i></p><p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Website: </span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.authorhopegibbs.com/&source=gmail&ust=1683589516381000&usg=AOvVaw1i4VOjn9MczbQoHwBZenHW" href="https://www.authorhopegibbs.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">https://www.<wbr></wbr>authorhopegibbs.com</span></a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Email: </span><a href="mailto:Cummiskeyhope@gmail.com" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Cummiskeyho<wbr></wbr>pe@gmail.com</span></a><u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Instagram: </span><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.instagram.com/authorhopegibbs/&source=gmail&ust=1683589516381000&usg=AOvVaw2zDYvrAwBj0VZfPAuC148_" href="https://www.instagram.com/authorhopegibbs/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">https://www.<wbr></wbr>instagram.com/authorhopegibbs/</span></a><u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Twitter: </span><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://twitter.com/HopeGibbstuib&source=gmail&ust=1683589516381000&usg=AOvVaw01QJid3DlXe7jDxPbTNDEE" href="https://twitter.com/HopeGibbstuib" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">https://<wbr></wbr>twitter.com/HopeGibbstuib</span></a><u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Facebook: </span><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.facebook.com/hopegibbsauthor/&source=gmail&ust=1683589516381000&usg=AOvVaw1MAfu0HkyrJDQ0I0a5__jr" href="https://www.facebook.com/hopegibbsauthor/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">https://www.<wbr></wbr>facebook.com/hopegibbsauthor/</span></a><u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Publisher: </span><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://redadeptpublishing.com/product/where-the-grass-grows-blue/&source=gmail&ust=1683589516381000&usg=AOvVaw3eot8G4kSr8gi1uYXeFq4_" href="https://redadeptpublishing.com/product/where-the-grass-grows-blue/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">https://<wbr></wbr>redadeptpublishing.com/<wbr></wbr>product/where-the-grass-grows-<wbr></wbr>blue/</span></a><u></u><u></u></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Goodreads: </span><span style="border: 1pt windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; padding: 0in;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/23026021.Hope_Gibbs?from_search%3Dtrue%26from_srp%3Dtrue%26fbclid%3DIwAR1VAfRel8OSCpgZk56xJgxQ8lRCsnJEY6LcICVWKwSCw85CDyIs5_tcKOo&source=gmail&ust=1683589516381000&usg=AOvVaw3rXviRpzdbcctUf-VYvYZk" href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/23026021.Hope_Gibbs?from_search=true&from_srp=true&fbclid=IwAR1VAfRel8OSCpgZk56xJgxQ8lRCsnJEY6LcICVWKwSCw85CDyIs5_tcKOo" target="_blank">https://www.<wbr></wbr>goodreads.com/author/show/<wbr></wbr>23026021.Hope_Gibbs...</a></span></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEij5cFSNb2DDi6vpS5BU7TzdoQhwWsa8D7cGts1sKpGw24Vq7553D6BvTi2ON7n3BK5AmAJBRMP1rwUIgYoAQknYrtbwoLkempbgp5OdHA0ufdzhSmIqC00cIBigGmvg5JszNl0TzBkOS_mjwjY3-ou_BXOoqPLR2OyO6-Di0LxQJEMkmCsnqfFGgSGzw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="313" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEij5cFSNb2DDi6vpS5BU7TzdoQhwWsa8D7cGts1sKpGw24Vq7553D6BvTi2ON7n3BK5AmAJBRMP1rwUIgYoAQknYrtbwoLkempbgp5OdHA0ufdzhSmIqC00cIBigGmvg5JszNl0TzBkOS_mjwjY3-ou_BXOoqPLR2OyO6-Di0LxQJEMkmCsnqfFGgSGzw=w200-h320" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiY55XFETFdAeDUGOrV9alUS6vz8bx8qJfJU3kiUho3kIvxokzJYxCOZob9VO91GxLD2Tvp-VPgyjmg-1e57Q2dJlLRo9wGBklFuvfPLGl0s-hEDDGlard3Wm27CJABA3TAk6CXFaC8csTGyp00UnVsxDSesKyBoPAVI333E1RdC1UfMna8CYiTcTnqDw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="831" data-original-width="831" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiY55XFETFdAeDUGOrV9alUS6vz8bx8qJfJU3kiUho3kIvxokzJYxCOZob9VO91GxLD2Tvp-VPgyjmg-1e57Q2dJlLRo9wGBklFuvfPLGl0s-hEDDGlard3Wm27CJABA3TAk6CXFaC8csTGyp00UnVsxDSesKyBoPAVI333E1RdC1UfMna8CYiTcTnqDw=w200-h200" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhDO5WuymFnNQUKaZvw21PXN-oVh8Pk43dLx192llY8uoQLzlUCB-SEgOZoBdyVNk1T135XsadJGwyiOA90j8s8HtqIsXuvXqWTWAy4VlWUcuY1dTT9Ck0EY1eo-RYsjHionl3WskmdQbrpiT0i0pO0623loHk_j4X8Kqvn2Ug5i-tgMY7CJ4TjGm1p0g" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="924" data-original-width="1640" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhDO5WuymFnNQUKaZvw21PXN-oVh8Pk43dLx192llY8uoQLzlUCB-SEgOZoBdyVNk1T135XsadJGwyiOA90j8s8HtqIsXuvXqWTWAy4VlWUcuY1dTT9Ck0EY1eo-RYsjHionl3WskmdQbrpiT0i0pO0623loHk_j4X8Kqvn2Ug5i-tgMY7CJ4TjGm1p0g" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><br /><br /></div><br /><p></p>Jill Hannah Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12007083642964545355noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3750342111299473419.post-34106023943687078842023-04-17T08:11:00.001-05:002023-04-17T08:11:30.011-05:00Saturday Night at the Lakeside Supper Club, by author J. Ryan Stradal (book debuts 4/18!)<p><span style="color: #00bbff; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><i><span class="a-text-bold" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">From the </span><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">New York Times</span><span class="a-text-bold" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;"> bestselling author J. Ryan Stradal, </span><span class="a-text-bold" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box;">a story of a couple from two very different restaurant families in rustic Minnesota, and the legacy of love and tragedy, of hardship and hope, that unites and divides them.</span></i></span></p><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> Mariel Prager needs a break. Her husband Ned is having an identity crisis, her spunky, beloved restaurant is bleeding money by the day, and her mother Florence is stubbornly refusing to leave the church where she’s been holed up for more than a week. The Lakeside Supper Club has been in her family for decades, and while Mariel’s grandmother embraced the business, seeing it as a saving grace, Florence never took to it. When Mariel inherited the restaurant, skipping Florence, it created a rift between mother and daughter that never quite healed.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /> Ned is also an heir—to a chain of home-style diners—and while he doesn't have a head for business, he knows his family's chain could provide a better future than his wife's fading restaurant. In the aftermath of a devastating tragedy, Ned and Mariel lose almost everything they hold dear, and the hard-won victories of each family hang in the balance. With their dreams dashed, can one fractured family find a way to rebuild despite their losses, and will the Lakeside Supper Club be their salvation?<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /> In this colorful, vanishing world of relish trays and brandy Old Fashioneds, J. Ryan Stradal has once again given us a story full of his signature honest, lovable yet fallible Midwestern characters as they grapple with love, loss, and marriage; what we hold onto and what we leave behind; and what our legacy will be when we are gone.</span></span><p><span class="a-text-bold" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-weight: 700;">Praise for </span><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;">Saturday Night at the Lakeside Supper Club</span><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;">:</span></p><p><span class="a-text-bold" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700;"><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 400;">“This is a perfect book.”<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></span><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic;">—</span><span class="a-text-bold" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box;">Roxane Gay, </span><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic;">New York Times </span><span class="a-text-bold" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box;">bestselling author of </span><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic;">Not That Bad</span><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 400;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />“Stradal...displays his gift for writing female characters who are fully realized, sometimes unlikeable, but always as flawed and compelling as real people. The Midwest setting is written with love and respect, and while the story is often heartbreakingly sad, there’s also real warmth and comfort in Stradal’s writing. A loving ode to supper clubs, the Midwest, and the people there who try their best to make life worth living.”<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></span><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic;">—Kirkus</span><span class="a-text-bold" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box;"> (starred)<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></span><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 400;">“Stradal’s novels...always resonate...He explores universal themes: love, loss, regrets for one’s past mistakes, and longings for what might have been—plus, of course, the importance of family.”<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></span><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic;">—Publishers Weekly</span></span></p><p><span class="a-text-bold" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #00bbff; font-family: arial; font-size: medium; font-weight: 700;"><i><u>Author interview with J. Ryan ~</u></i></span></p><p><span class="a-text-bold" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #00bbff; font-family: arial; font-size: medium; font-weight: 700;">(Side note: I'll have the pleasure of interviewing J. Ryan in person in June at one of his book events!)</span></p><p><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">Tell us a little about yourself and how you started
writing.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">I’m from Hastings,
Minnesota, and my family struggled financially for most of my early childhood.
My mom, already a big reader, returned to college when I was a kid to complete
her English degree (which, despite the opinions of some journalists, would help
our family finances substantially). She’d encouraged me to love books since I
was a baby, but when she’d read her homework assignments as bedtime stories,
her love of reading and writing seeped into me. I started writing stories
shortly afterward, just to impress her.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">What are some things you enjoy when not writing?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">Books, sports, wine,
beer, traveling with my family.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Do you have a particular writing routine?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">Write whenever my toddler is
sleeping or at preschool, that’s my routine.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Is there anything major that changed in this novel from when
you first plotted it out?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">Wow, quite a bit. The order
of the chapters changed dramatically, but settled into its current form early
in the revision process. There also used to be a lot more time spent with Ned
while he was in college. All of that’s gone. There were more recipes and menus.
Most were stripped out.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="font-family: arial;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Finish this: “I</span></b><b style="font-family: arial;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> can’t write without…”</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">QUIET.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">What career did you think you’d have as an adult?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">I hoped I’d have this
one, but as I kid, I think I believed I’d end up in advertising, which I’ve
never done.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">What is something about you that would surprise people?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">My first paid job was
as a professional baseball statician for STATS, Inc. I applied for the job via
mail and aced their application process. They had no idea how old I was until
they called me to tell me I had the job.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">Do you have a ‘day job’
as well?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">Not
since 2014, and I feel extremely fortunate to say so. Every day I wake up and I
still can’t believe it. There’s been some lean years along the way, but I feel
incredibly humbled and grateful. I’ll say this – the work never stops.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">What was the original
title of this book?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">Luckily,
this book never had another title. That was also the case with Kitchens of the
Great Midwest. Both titles came to me early and stuck. I love it when that
happens, because titles are so difficult. When I was a young writer, if I’d
think of a good title, I’d come up with a story to go with it – just to not
waste it.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">Where do you get your
ideas, or what inspired this book plot?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">This
one was inspired by a lot of things – becoming a father for the first time, my
mother’s experiences as a waitress at Perkins, my own summer job at a supper
club on high school, and unpacking the causes of inherited trauma while
searching for paths to its cessation.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">Do you have a
manuscript(s) in your drawer? If so, will it ever see the light of day?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">Yes
and no! Never!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">If I wasn’t an author,
I might be…?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">Wow,
probably back working in television in some capacity, which is what I did
before I sold my first book.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">If you have written
more than one book, which story would you choose to live?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">Whoa,
that’s tough. Maybe Lager Queen?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">Do you have a go-to
first reader after you feel your manuscript is ready?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">Yes,
my partner of ten years, Brooke Delaney. I could not do any of this without
her.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">Is there a particular
author or book that influenced or inspired your writing or decision to write?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">Early
on, I was influenced by Ben Katchor and Denis Johnson, and I was fortunate to
have met them both. Later, the short stories of Alice Munro – and her rural
Canadian settings – unlocked what I could do with my Midwest settings.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">What is a bestselling
book you’ve been itching to read?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">Quite
a few. I’m finally reading The Overstory by Richard Powers. Demon Copperhead by
Barbara Kingsolver may be next, along with the newest Jennifer Egan.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">Is anything in your
book based on real-life experiences?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">Yes,
I put some of the memories I had of my supper club work experience in this
book, and interviewed my old boss, Mike Rowan, for some of his stories.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">Do you have a favorite
chapter or scene?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">I
like the scene where Ned orders popcorn at Metropolitan Stadium. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">Do you have a favorite
character?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">All
of them. But Julia stands out. Her chapters are my favorites of the book.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">What was some unique
research you had to do for a book?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">I
got to interview Sean Sherman (of Owamni in Minneapolis) to get the details
right for the Native restaurant in my own novel. Owamni hadn’t opened yet, so
there was no template for the success of such a restaurant in Minnesota, but I
was optimistic.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">Do you have any advice
for aspiring writers?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">There
is no single path to follow, and some of my favorite debut novels have come
from authors over 50.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">What are the downfalls
of your writing career? The best parts?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">Sometimes
it requires me to spend a lot of time away from my family, which is tough – and
my son is too young to tolerate, let alone enjoy, the strenuous book tours I
commit to. Also, some years are better than other financially – any year I
haven’t sold a book or had a book published can be pretty lean; I had to
develop a financial acumen and budget accordingly.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">The
best parts? Waking up in the morning and writing, again and again. Hearing from
readers and meeting them. Communicating with my mom through my work and keeping
her alive in my characters.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">Favorite band or
music? </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">My
favorite bands are Radiohead and R.E.M. – and I’m afraid that’s been true for
about 25 years. I listen to ambient or downtempo minimalist music when I write,
though – stuff like Stars of the Lid, Aphex Twin, Rachel’s, Brian Eno, Harold
Budd, Lucinda Chua, Max Richter, Ai Yamamoto, and Morton Feldman.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">Place you’d like to
travel?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">Wow,
so many. Top of the list might be Honshu. I’ve been to Japan, but only Okinawa.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">Is there anything you’d
like to say to your readers and fans?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">Thank
you so much – especially to those of who are teachers and librarians. I’m able
to do what I do today because of you.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="color: #00bbff;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="color: #00bbff; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><i><u>To connect with J. Ryan:</u></i></b></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: small;">Twitter: @jryanstradal</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: small;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: small;" /><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: small;">Instagram: @jryanstradal</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: small;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: small;" /><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: small;">Facebook: </span><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.facebook.com/JRyanStradal/&source=gmail&ust=1679316845684000&usg=AOvVaw1rd3tNO5pPVlD0DNAa0AhM" href="https://www.facebook.com/JRyanStradal/" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-size: small;" target="_blank">https://www.<wbr></wbr>facebook.com/JRyanStradal/</a></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><br /></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><br /></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><br /></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEheTuDrwUhG76RIQChA0BtH1jN2LY_tItRvEd60hkpvEtDhBseQuDn0jYh8iQ5cB5DFIf9GlLbDNuKU6QWHKRDEIc3VvR0puHLvZMtJqixk35d5vvwbwyMuHCqau4OhHTk-JmvvYHbxJ0wXPZ4Br84jwmx87suKZZ9p5LhYjhViNezzfRHB-Sdyh5ILxQ" style="margin-left: 1em; 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text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /><p></p>Jill Hannah Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12007083642964545355noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3750342111299473419.post-24555942892362180812023-02-27T08:23:00.000-06:002023-02-27T08:23:08.340-06:00GOOD FOR YOU, by author Camille Pagán (debuts March 1st!)<p><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><span class="a-text-bold" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box;">A warm and witty love story about making the most of life’s not-so-little curveballs by the #1 Amazon Charts bestselling author of </span><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic;">Life and Other Near-Death Experiences</span><span class="a-text-bold" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box;">.</span></b></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Aly Jackson has waited her whole life to become editor-in-chief of </span><span class="a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic;">All Good</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> magazine. But six months into the job, she overhears her coworkers belittling her. Aly’s clapback? A very public, career-jeopardizing meltdown. To undo the mess, she agrees to a monthlong unpaid leave.</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: medium;">Reluctant but determined to turn misfortune into opportunity, Aly retreats to the Lake Michigan beach house her brother, Luke, left to her when he died nearly a year earlier. Except when Aly arrives, she discovers Luke’s slacker best friend, Wyatt, inherited the place, too.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: medium;">Wyatt is unkempt, unmotivated, and totally uninterested in Aly’s desire to sell. Yet as battle lines are drawn, Aly wonders whether she and this wild card have more than Luke in common. But is she willing to swap her lifelong dreams for a shot at healing her broken heart?</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #674ea7; font-family: arial; font-size: 18px;"><i><b>Reviews ~</b></i></span></p><div class="a-section a-spacing-small a-padding-small" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 22px; padding: 6px 10px;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">“</span><span class="a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic;">Good for You</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> is a love story that weathers grief and profound self-discovery, written in the way only Camille Pagán can: with a frank tenderness that leaves us with a happily ever after that is deserving of the novel’s beloved characters. Raising a glass to Aly and Wyatt!” </span><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">—Tif Marcelo, </span><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;">USA Today</span><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;"> bestselling author of </span><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;">In a Book Club Far Away</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">“I love everything Camille Pagán writes, and </span><span class="a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic;">Good for You</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> had me spellbound from the beginning. Aly Jackson is living the life of her dreams—except for a bit of PTSD and the grief she’s kept hidden since her brother’s death. When she falls apart in a very public way, she is forced to take a good, hard look at her life. Pagán takes us on a very moving, emotionally resonant journey as we root for Aly all the way.” </span><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">—Maddie Dawson, </span><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;">Washington Post</span><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;"> bestselling author of </span><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;">Matchmaking for Beginners</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">“With her trademark style of wit, wisdom, and true-to-life characters, Pagán has hope, home, and healing coming alive on every page. Dealing with life, loss, and, most important, love, </span><span class="a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic;">Good for You</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> is tender, real, and emotionally satisfying, and the story will have your heart soaring.” </span><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">—Samantha Vérant, author of </span><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;">The Secret French Recipes of Sophie Valroux</span></p></div><p><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><i><u>Author interview with Camille ~</u></i></b></span></p><p><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Tell us a little about yourself and how you started writing.</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">I’m the #1 Amazon Charts and <i>Washington Post</i> bestselling author
of ten books, a master certified coach, and a journalist who has contributed to
<i>Forbes, The New York Times, O: The Oprah Magazine, Real Simple, Time, WebMD,
</i>and numerous other outlets. Like many novelists, I always wanted to write
fiction, but I was the first person in my family to attend college and I didn’t
know anyone who made a living from writing or art. In fact, even my English
professors advised me to do something “practical”! So I went into health
journalism—my youngest sister had a lot of serious health issues as a child,
and I’m passionate about health and psychology—and worked at a handful of
health publications before striking out as an independent journalist in 2004. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">I loved journalism and made good money from it … but in the back of my
mind, I kept thinking, “When are you going to write a novel?” Then, just before
I turned 30, I gave birth to my daughter, and one of my dear friends was
diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer. It was one of those “what am I even </span><i style="font-size: 12pt;">doing
</i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">with my life?” moments, and I decided to stop waiting for the ever-elusive
“one day” or “right time” and just do it. Every night, after my daughter went
to bed, I sat down to write. Four months later, I had a draft on my hands, and
that became</span><i style="font-size: 12pt;"> </i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">my debut,</span><i style="font-size: 12pt;"> The Art of Forgetting. </i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">There have been
plenty of ups and downs since then, but now I publish at least a novel a year
and have the kind of career I once only dreamed of.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">What are some things you enjoy when not writing?</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">To be honest, outside of exercising and spending time with my family, I
don’t really have any non-writing or reading-related hobbies! But I am a master
certified life coach and run a busy practice helping aspiring to established
writers create even better careers. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Do
you have a particular writing routine?</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
write for three hours in the morning, five days a week. Occasionally, I write
longer when I’m on deadline or in the middle of edits, but three solid hours is
enough for me to write a draft in about three to four months. I use that same
chunk of time for editing, but I do marketing in small chunks in the
afternoons. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Do you have a ‘day job’ as well?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">I spend most of the second half of my
day coaching and working on that side of my business. For me, neither writing
or coaching really feels like a “job”—they’re both a joy. I come away from
coaching conversations feeling clear and inspired, and when I write, I feel
most like myself. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">What was the original title of this
book? </span></b><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Good for You</span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">! I come up with all of my titles and I have yet to have a publisher
change them (knock on wood). For me, titles are a crucial part of the creative
process and inform the tone of the book. I usually come up with the title right
before I begin writing, or at the latest, several chapters in. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Do you have a manuscript(s) in your
drawer? If so, will it ever see the light of day?</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> Yes—four of them, actually! I wrote three truly terrible novels between
my debut and my second published book, <i>Life and Other Near-Death
Experiences. </i>Then, a few years ago, I wrote a book that I swore would be
“the one”—the novel that would take my career to the next level. My agent was
excited about it, too, but when we brought it to my publisher, they said (to
paraphrase), “Yeah, no—this is off-brand for you.” I decided to set it aside
and move forward with another book, which, frankly, didn’t perform well (I
don’t think that’s a coincidence, and I no longer write books based on an idea
approved by a publishing board or committee). The experience inspired me to hire
a coach, which then ultimately led me to become a coach, so I’m profoundly
grateful for it. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">If I wasn’t an author, I might be…? </span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">I’d either be a full-time coach or a full-time health journalist. I
almost went to graduate school for public health in my twenties, only to
realize that after I graduated (with 100k in debt!), I’d go right back to
writing about health. But truly, if I ever couldn’t or no longer wanted to
write fiction for some reason, I’d find a way to combine coaching and
journalism. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Do you have any advice for aspiring
writers?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Absolutely: ignore all the people
(even the industry “experts”) who say you’ll sooner be struck by lightning than
become a successful author. In fact, I suspect one big reason I was able to
write and sell my debut quickly was because I didn’t tell anyone other than my
husband and my dear friend who had cancer that I was writing a novel; I just
didn’t want to hear well-meaning people tell me not to get my hopes up.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I’ve now worked with hundreds of
writers of all backgrounds, writing in numerous genres. From that view, I
believe that finding success as an author is maybe ten to twenty percent talent
and perhaps a quarter know-how. The rest is mindset. It’s not an easy
profession; setbacks are inevitable. The only way to succeed is to keep going,
and that requires managing your thoughts and emotions. If you’re willing to do
that, and develop the belief that it’s possible for you to have the career you
want, then it will, in fact, be possible. (If this resonates with you, I have a
weekly newsletter that’s focused on mindset and career strategy:
Evenbetter.co/howto)</span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Avenir Book"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><i><b>To connect with Camille ~</b></i></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: arial; font-size: medium; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><i><b><br /></b></i></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">https://www.instagram.com/camillepagan/</span></p><div style="background-color: white;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;">https://www.facebook.com/CamillePaganBooks/</span></div><div style="background-color: white;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #500050; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgs0MQV3NsLwl1F9DUs2-SWI6ft_wGSgvGIN16hKEr5ckBkgZjbTNWESaivqfQ7uWLs33UWCEi00UL4EOHNPIoh8Qbm7ZIjKa0Ug9OzI93OlrSnqex9TLHGdY6Z_U4l0ER4twBj_RbqTHCGB7VQm60SfR8zhDG5ZuJPuq58drMMLoNSRXPDLlix292tqQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="333" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgs0MQV3NsLwl1F9DUs2-SWI6ft_wGSgvGIN16hKEr5ckBkgZjbTNWESaivqfQ7uWLs33UWCEi00UL4EOHNPIoh8Qbm7ZIjKa0Ug9OzI93OlrSnqex9TLHGdY6Z_U4l0ER4twBj_RbqTHCGB7VQm60SfR8zhDG5ZuJPuq58drMMLoNSRXPDLlix292tqQ=w213-h320" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></div>Jill Hannah Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12007083642964545355noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3750342111299473419.post-31349328080228734592023-02-13T08:41:00.001-06:002023-02-13T08:42:35.766-06:00ANGELINE, by author ANNA QUINN (debuted February 7th!)<p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-weight: 700;">A moving, lyrical, melancholy, and spiritual novel by the acclaimed author of </span><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;">The Night Child</span><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-weight: 700;">, in which Sister Angeline, unwillingly sent to a radical convent and confronting her tragic past, asks the deep question, follow your heart or follow the rules?</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">After surviving a tragedy that killed her entire family, sixteen-year-old Meg joins a cloistered convent, believing it is her life’s work to pray full-time for the suffering of others. Taking the name Sister Angeline, she spends her days and nights in silence, moving from one prayerful hour to the next. She prays for the hardships of others, the sick and poor, the loved ones she lost, and her own atonement.</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">When the Archdiocese of Chicago runs out of money to keep the convent open, she is torn from her carefully constructed life and sent to a progressive convent on a rocky island in the Pacific Northwest. There, at the Light of the Sea, five radical feminist nuns have their own vision of faithful service. They do not follow canonical law, they do not live a cloistered life, and they believe in using their voices for change.</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">As Sister Angeline struggles to adapt to her new home, she must navigate her grief, fears, and confusions, while being drawn into the lives of a child in crisis, an angry teen, an EMT suffering survivor’s guilt, and the parish priest who is losing his congregation to the Sisters’ all-inclusive Sunday masses. Through all of this, something seems to have awakened in her, a healing power she has not experienced in years that could be her saving grace, or her downfall.</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">In </span><span class="a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic;">Angeline</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">, novelist Anna Quinn explores the complexity of our past selves and the discovery of our present truth; the enduring imprints left by our losses, forgiveness and acceptance, and why we believe what we believe. Affecting and beautifully told, </span><span class="a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic;">Angeline</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> is both poignant and startling and will touch the hearts of anyone who has ever asked themselves: When your foundations crumble and you’ve lost yourself, how do you find the strength to go on? Do you follow your heart or the rules?</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #800180; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #800180; font-size: medium;"><b><i>Reviews:</i></b></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">"Anna Quinn's novels dive deep into the human psyche, exploring our capacity to harm and heal. Angeline is a call to open arms, a clear-eyed view of our often-flawed humanity, and how the power of compassion can change everything. It is a novel of gorgeous sentences and beautiful messages. It left me feeling stronger, wiser, and in complete awe." --</span><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">Erica Bauermeister, </span><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;">New York Times</span><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;"> bestselling author of </span><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;">The Scent Keeper</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">"Sister Angeline is a character for the ages. Anna Quinn has created a deeply moving portrait of a great soul at the precipice of faith and duty and the shadows of a wrenching past. It's beautiful, and like all true beauty, the book is haunting, if not haunted." --</span><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">Luis Alberto Urrea, Pulitzer Prize finalist and bestselling author of </span><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;">The Devil’s Highway</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">"</span><span class="a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic;">Angeline</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> is a mystical hymn to the power of women in community, with an entry point that only the rare writer has the guts to brave. Quinn does it with empathy and acumen, never vilifying. Instead, as you read her lyrical prose, you feel her pure, seeking spirit. Her never heavy-handed, third-eye-wide-open aperture, as she links arms with you from the first sentence…all the way to the last. I loved this gem of a novel." --</span><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">Laura Munson, </span><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;">New York Times</span><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;"> and </span><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;">USA Today</span><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;"> bestselling author of </span><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;">This Is Not the Story You Think It Is</span><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;"> and </span><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;">Willa’s Grove</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #800180; font-size: medium;"><i><b>Author interview with Anna ~</b></i></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="background-color: transparent;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></b></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="background-color: transparent;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Tell us a little about
yourself and how you started writing.</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">My love for writing began
when I was a child. My mother taught me to write when I was four. I watched in
awe as she showed me how letters could form words, could form sentences, could
form language, could form stories. From then on, I wrote whenever I could. I
wrote the stories I wanted to be in, the stories from my imagination, the
stories I most wanted to read.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: medium; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Do you have a particular
writing routine?</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background: white;">I try to write every morning, even for half an hour but often for three
to four hours, five to six days of the week. I try to take a day or two off to
clear my head. </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #333333;">Most mornings, before I write, I take a walk outside for an hour
or so, ideally in nature, and take photos of anything that creates some kind of
sensation in my body—patterns in the sand, <span style="background: white;">a
child’s sandal on a tree stump, a ripped flag blowing from the mast of a sailing
ship. </span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #333333;">Once I’m home, I look at the photos and choose the one with the
most energy and use it as a warm-up. I write long-hand—there’s something about
the hand, pen, paper, mind connection that’s freeing for me. On the mornings I
don’t take photos I </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">usually free-write through my senses—what I see, hear, touch,
taste, and feel in the moment. Sometimes I write about the strongest feeling I had
the day before. I’ve learned a lot about how my mind works from freewriting—
knowing how it works has helped me to trust the process more. After the warm-up,
I read a poem or two or maybe meditate for a while. When I feel ready, I move
into my manuscript.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="background-color: transparent;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #333333; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">What do
you love most about writing?</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #333333; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">I love
the process of writing. I’m deeply in love with the process—the mystery and
surprise of it. I love exploring my imagination and trying to recreate what I
experienced in my mind into language on the page. Writing to me is freedom. I’m
free to explore the things I’m drawn to, concerned about, fear, the things I
love and wonder and dream about.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">What
was the original title of this book?</span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">It’s
always been <i>Angeline.</i> How and why Angeline received her name is a
significant reference point and carrier of meaning in this story.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Where
do you get your ideas? <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Imagination,
dreams, nature, conversations, traveling, obsessions, everywhere really, anything
I see or hear or experience viscerally, anything that gives me an intense urge
to write.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif">If
I wasn’t an author, I might be</span></b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif">…? An oceanographer.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif">Do
you have a go-to first reader after you feel your manuscript is ready?</span></b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">My
husband is my first and best reader, then my writing group, then my editor,
then my agent. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">What
are you working on now?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">A
novel set in the 1500’s. That’s all I can say for now, but it’s completely
absorbing me.<b> </b>I feel like the universe has handed me a spectacular gift.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Do
you have any advice for aspiring writers?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #050505;">Pay attention to what you pay attention to. What's calling
you? What catches your breath? What are the images that show up in your dreams?
Play often in your imagination. Allow it to run wild. Read, read, read. Get out
and live life. </span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif">Be
willing to take risks. Be willing to be uncomfortable. Be willing to be
vulnerable. Write as if no one is looking over your shoulder. Stay true to
yourself rather than writing about what other people think you should write
about or what you think other people think you should write about. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Try not to think too
much about the end game—querying, agents, publishing—or it will get up in your
head, freeze your imagination, keep you from the rich, alive work. </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Don’t try to cater to an audience—serve your story and your
characters instead. Learn the craft but don’t become obsessed with technique. Sometimes
we forget why we were drawn to writing to begin with and start following all
the </span><i>shoulds</i><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> and </span><i>how-tos</i><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> and our writing becomes forced and
resistant. Write what you want and stand by it. Listen to your deepest self.
Cherish yourself.</span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif">Favorite
book? </span></b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif">The
Bone People by Keri Hulme. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Is
there anything you’d like to say to your readers and fans?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Thank
you. Thank you for reading and having all the conversations. Thank you for being
here. </span><o:p style="font-size: 12pt;"></o:p></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;">
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #800180; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><i><b>To connect with Anna ~</b></i></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><br /></p><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>author website: <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://annamquinn.com&source=gmail&ust=1676383234663000&usg=AOvVaw06MVF7bwe235dujwyWwiEC" href="https://annamquinn.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://annamquinn.<wbr></wbr>com</a></span><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">instagram: annaquinnpt<br /></span></div><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: medium;"></span></p><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.facebook.com/anna.quinn.9277/&source=gmail&ust=1676383234663000&usg=AOvVaw1dw40F_G0FdJtO6la3ZvT1" href="https://www.facebook.com/anna.quinn.9277/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">facebook.com/anna.quinn</a></span></div><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjUTQ6pL7tMvqkfEsspuRFDucxi2u44xKSEU3RyG7biLIMCVgjknd6rw-EzIEsdZURvy5SyvpHm7ST_xtorzH3ibVjaDv5yjCobPiMmsp9xB4OnQusiINQ4E83lKpSXB-Knxg2kPoG7W0wgMB8C938OINfnIxyMblpuYh4NM0EZuLmD4xDr1yETTap6RA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="313" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjUTQ6pL7tMvqkfEsspuRFDucxi2u44xKSEU3RyG7biLIMCVgjknd6rw-EzIEsdZURvy5SyvpHm7ST_xtorzH3ibVjaDv5yjCobPiMmsp9xB4OnQusiINQ4E83lKpSXB-Knxg2kPoG7W0wgMB8C938OINfnIxyMblpuYh4NM0EZuLmD4xDr1yETTap6RA=w200-h320" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><p></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></span></p>Jill Hannah Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12007083642964545355noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3750342111299473419.post-56226105248131175612023-02-06T07:59:00.002-06:002023-02-06T07:59:59.151-06:00THE HOUSE GUEST by author HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN (releases February 7th!)<p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: large; font-style: italic;"><b>The House Guest</b></span><span class="a-text-bold" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b> is another diabolical cat-and-mouse thriller</b></span><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 700;"> from </span></span><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: large; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;">USA Today</span><span class="a-text-bold" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: large; font-weight: 700;"> bestselling author Hank Phillippi Ryan—but which character is the cat, and which character is the mouse?</span></span></p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111;">After every divorce, one spouse gets all the friends. What does the other one get? If they're smart, they get the benefits. Alyssa Macallan is terrified when she's dumped by her wealthy and powerful husband. With a devastating divorce looming, she begins to suspect her toxic and manipulative soon-to-be-ex is scheming to ruin her—leaving her alone and penniless. And when the FBI shows up at her door, Alyssa knows she really needs a friend.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />And then she gets one. A seductive new friend, one who's running from a dangerous relationship of her own. Alyssa offers Bree Lorrance the safety of her guest house, and the two become confidantes. Then Bree makes a heart-stoppingly tempting offer. Maybe Alyssa and Bree can solve each others' problems.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />But no one is what they seem. And the fates and fortunes of these two women twist and turn until the shocking truth emerges: </span><span class="a-text-italic" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-style: italic;">You can't always get what you want. But sometimes you get what you deserve.</span></span><p><span style="color: #f7900a; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i><u>Reviews:</u></i></b></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700;">Library Journal * Starred review "Bingeworthy!"</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700;" /><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700;">Publishers Weekly "Ryan is a master of supense!"</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700;" /><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700;">GOODREADS A Most Anticipated Thriller 0f 2023</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700;" /><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700;">BOOKBUB A Most Anticipated Thriller 0f 2023</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700;" /><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700;">CRIME READS A Most Anticipated Thriller 0f 2023</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;">“Hank Phillippi Ryan is one of my favorite authors, and THE HOUSE GUEST proves why. This riveting novel twists and turns through the pageturning story...events turn shocking, with revelation after revelation in a thriller that never forgets to touch the heart.” ―<b>Lisa Scottoline</b></span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;" /><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;">"THE HOUSE GUEST is great! Ryan creates memorable characters―then pulls off the nearly-impossible: she orchestrates half a dozen twists, turns, and backflips―and then sticks the landing. What a pleasure to read this!" ―<b>James Patterson</b></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #f7900a; font-size: medium;"><u><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i>Author interview with Hank ~</i></b></span> </u></span></p><p><b><span style="font-family: arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Tell us a little bit about yourself,
and how you started writing:</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I’ve
been a television reporter for 43 years! I’ve wired myself with hidden cameras
and confronted corrupt politicians and gone undercover and in disguise. And won 37 Emmys for investigative reporting.</span> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial;">But one day, gosh, 16 years ago? I had what I
knew would be a good idea for a novel. I came home and said to my husband: “I’ve
got a great idea for a book! I’m going to write a thriller.” And my husband
almost laughed, (he’s very supportive, truly), but he said: “Honey,
do you know how to write a book?” And I replied – – I remember it so well – – “How
hard can it be?” As soon learned how
hard it could be, but that turned out to be my first novel, PRIME TIME, which won
the coveted Agatha Award for best first novel. And that was the beginning of my
career </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What
are some things you enjoy when not writing?</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">When
I am not writing, I am usually thinking about writing, or worrying about
writing, or thinking I should be writing. But I do love reading, I know, busman’s
holiday.) And cooking, and walking in our
garden, seeing what flowers are arriving and departing. I love good movies, good TV, and sitting by the ocean with my husband, watching the pelicans skim
across the water. I also enjoy sleeping, which becomes one of my major
goals. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Do
you have a particular writing routine?</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I try not to have a routine because I worry
if I had one, what would happen if I didn’t do that? Would I not be able to
write? I’m very focused, though, and promise myself, I will write 540 words a
day, whether it takes half an hour or five hours. Sometimes, I even set a timer
for 34 minutes and promise myself I will not do anything else--not do the
laundry, not get a cup of coffee, not get the mail, not plan dinner – – until
those 34 minutes are up. I think my routine is to be completely focused on
writing, and try not to be distracted. But my “routine” is to force myself to be
utterly present and focused.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
love to write on airplanes, I think because it is so enclosed with a set time
to begin, and a set time to end. I have finished several novels on JetBlue! I
have to say. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Is
there anything major that changed in this novel phone when you plotted it out?</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
have not plotted one bit of The House Guest. Every page was a surprise.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What
career did you think you’d have as an adult?</span></b><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
I always thought I’d be a lawyer, or maybe a geneticist. I know those sound
different, but they both seemed like problem-solving to me. It’s funny to think
back and ask myself: What did I want to be when I grow up? And I will confess
to you that I honestly had no idea. Everything in my life — from working in
political campaigns to being a radio reporter, to being legislative aid on
Capitol Hill, to working for Rolling Stone magazine, to being a television
reporter, and then an author --has been a serendipitous surprise.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What
was the original title of this book?</span></b><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
Oh, great question! It was originally called Her New Best Friend. But my editor
worried that because the previous book was called Her Perfect Life, it might
feel like a sequel. I’m really glad we changed it. I absolutely adore The House
Guest. (Because which character is really The House Guest?)</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What
inspired this book's plot? </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background: white; border: 1pt none windowtext; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;">It’s so much
fun to try to deconstruct how the character and plot of THE HOUSE GUEST
evolved. It’s like a Rubik’s cube, where you take a million little squares of
different things, and twist and turn and click-click-click and then, somehow,
it’s a finished puzzle. You just don’t know what the puzzle pieces will be the right way. </span><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: arial;">SO for THE
HOUSE GUEST, a few things became the puzzle pieces. First, since the beginning
of the pandemic, my criminal defense attorney husband and I have worked from
home—me in my study and him in the breakfast room-turned-law office. For many
hours a day, we don’t see each other. But we can kind of, sometimes, hear each
other. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I hear things
like “plea bargain” and “mandatory minimum sentence” and “absolutely not
guilty” and “how was he supposed to know there was money in the dropped
ceiling?” (Once, even—"I know it seems unlikely that he would
commit a crime wearing a GPS bracelet, but there you have it.”) </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: arial;">But I began to
realize that he was lawyering for eight hours a day, and I actually had no idea
what he was doing. I mean, we’ve been married for 27 years or something, and I
know what a lawyer does. And we talk about his cases in general, and about the
law, and it’s very rewarding to have in-house counsel. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white;">I
started thinking—what, </span><i>specifically,</i><span style="background-color: white;"> was going on in the
breakfast room? I realized I had no idea. And then I started
thinking about how many couples are shocked when one of them is accused of some
crime--and the other one says those very words: oh, I had no idea!
And the rest of us all raise our eyebrows and sneer, and say, </span><i>come on,
that person lives with you! There’s no way you don’t know what they’re
doing. </i><span style="background-color: white;">And I was among the scornful disbelievers. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white;">Not anymore. I started to realize how my husband could be doing
who knows what in the other room, and if the feds swooped down on him, I would
be utterly shocked. Now, you know my darling husband, he’s a paragon and
adorable and brilliant and perfect, but I’m just saying. I think of all the
people--Bernie Madoff‘s wife, Ted Bundy’s wife, Anna Delvey’s pals-- who insist
they had no idea, and we think </span><i style="background-color: white;">well, then you’re not paying attention</i><span style="background-color: white;">. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: arial;">But it’s <i>possible,</i> I began to realize, that it
was true. What if they really didn’t know? Or—successfully pretended they
didn’t? So that was one idea. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Then. I had an acquaintance, long ago, who thought she was happily
married, and she’d go to work every day and send her husband off to whatever he
did, accounting, or insurance or something financial. And for him, ‘the next
big sale’ and ‘the next big deal’ was always around the corner, and she was
incredibly supportive. And then one day the police came. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: arial;">She found that he had been trading in child pornography at home on
the computer all day, and had never never never even been to that supposed
job! </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: arial;">She was a really smart woman. Truly. And she absolutely had no
idea. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: arial;">So then I put those things together. And I was interested in
what it would be like to be the woman whose husband is accused of a terrible
thing, and add to that that he’s dumped her. So she’s baffled, and angry, and
terrified of being alone for the first time in her life – – what does she do?
Does she believe his denials? Or law enforcement’s accusations? And what does
she do then? </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: arial;">So it’s a story about Alyssa Macallen getting her power back. You
can see glimmers of <i>Gaslight</i>, and <i>Thelma & Louise</i>,
and even <i>Strangers on a Train</i>-- but it’s not any of those. But it
certainly was a joy to write. I have no idea how my books will end, so in the
end, I will admit there were days that I sat at my computer and read my
screen--and applauded. Thinking <i>wow, who would’ve thought that would
happen? </i> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Greed. Betrayal. Gaslighting. Female empowerment. Revenge. THE
HOUSE GUEST is a high-stakes psychological cat-and-mouse game. But which character is the cat, and which
character is the mouse?</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Do
you have a favorite chapter or scene?</span></b><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
It’s so funny, but in THE HOSUE GUEST, I
absolutely love Chapter 6. Isn’t that random and strange? But a lot happens in
that chapter. And then, I also adore the second to last chapter of the book. I
honestly, I will admit, I was by myself in my study as I wrote it. And when I
finished, I stood up and uploaded. We take our joys when we can, right? </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Do
you have a manuscript in your drawer?</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">No,
I really don’t. Isn’t that odd? But my first book was prime time, and that’s
all there ever has been.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Do
you have any advice for aspiring writers</span></b><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">?
Oh, golly. There’s something about trust. It’s all about trusting the process.
The process of storytelling. Being a
successful author is much harder than anyone could ever have imagined. It takes
a long time, and it takes even longer to be good. It can be depressing and
intimidating. An incredible amount depends on luck and timing, and those are
things you can’t control.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial;">But
you can control is writing the very best book you can every single minute of
every day. Do not compare yourself to others, just keep forging forward.
So much in your life is being decided by forces that you can’t change, so
one step at a time, just keep going. Be
kind, be generous, be happy for others. Be patient with yourself. Your turn will come. <span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: arial;"><u>About Hank and how to connect with her ~</u></span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial;">HANK PHILLIPPI
RYAN is the USA Today bestselling author of 14 psychological thrillers, winning
the genre's most prestigious awards: five Agathas, five Anthonys, and the
coveted Mary Higgins Clark Award. She’s also an investigative reporter for
Boston's WHDH-TV, winning 37 EMMYs for groundbreaking journalism. Her newest
novel is the page-turning standalone THE HOUSE GUEST – a story of psychological
manipulation exploring the dark heart of marriage and friendship. <i>Publishers
Weekly</i> says “Ryan is a master of suspense” and the <i>Library Journal</i>
starred review calls it "Binge-worthy.”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: arial;">www.HankPhillippiRyan.com</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>https://www.facebook.com/HankPhillippiRyanAuthor/</b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>https://www.instagram.com/hankpryan/</b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiZ9DHCjtxSzQM1U9_J7l0wWb5mb4cfuZplbX6vOhuKwdWKGmVA5iTfPVADXX0Y47yEJCKIE1OFWS53XdQX1e6pjwS9k-GijFxCjgVW7fahOzGahU8Qgh5U--31ZigmX-SejWdbWhzCyTeDc74qWyhNV6-XZ6l5XtpWjrwhOOl-uIsVsEdTTHdXF4xlzw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="332" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiZ9DHCjtxSzQM1U9_J7l0wWb5mb4cfuZplbX6vOhuKwdWKGmVA5iTfPVADXX0Y47yEJCKIE1OFWS53XdQX1e6pjwS9k-GijFxCjgVW7fahOzGahU8Qgh5U--31ZigmX-SejWdbWhzCyTeDc74qWyhNV6-XZ6l5XtpWjrwhOOl-uIsVsEdTTHdXF4xlzw=w212-h320" width="212" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmRcOyIQgl-wbz68s-8Y3tRsGw-kGuyL3uwGkF4jVduiNXyuYHTM2UBUNWJBByG-IwrdfLDZ31QLoLvx0RBZoYsihLB46HHl1_e7zNK5GNGrP9HuWThG-hwoZda_QbswSf8-qlG5Flh8q8mHWmeECBJs_Sq5njRcPo1px4AMKvKPfoBBeF1lFS3BMLrw/s1801/Hank%20Iden%20Ford%20Primary%20Headshot%20sm.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1801" data-original-width="1491" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmRcOyIQgl-wbz68s-8Y3tRsGw-kGuyL3uwGkF4jVduiNXyuYHTM2UBUNWJBByG-IwrdfLDZ31QLoLvx0RBZoYsihLB46HHl1_e7zNK5GNGrP9HuWThG-hwoZda_QbswSf8-qlG5Flh8q8mHWmeECBJs_Sq5njRcPo1px4AMKvKPfoBBeF1lFS3BMLrw/w166-h200/Hank%20Iden%20Ford%20Primary%20Headshot%20sm.jpg" width="166" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpKMcTYzqahuj5Km9gYpagsNOqUruhx7fZuJlgMWCvEEF7flS0SaOzT7VkYTIAPY28mpgeWjZTG5TOX1boCGexJp4QdLGhFza7hxQ6zPMnLMshrJt_LoOpYA63wdHeBcGqwGDWK2PxjsfmLLkBxxDf-FRL6oV12CrtLahkd68-9unOomxo_Amdz0QBFA/s1640/blog%20banner%203%20books%202023.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="924" data-original-width="1640" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpKMcTYzqahuj5Km9gYpagsNOqUruhx7fZuJlgMWCvEEF7flS0SaOzT7VkYTIAPY28mpgeWjZTG5TOX1boCGexJp4QdLGhFza7hxQ6zPMnLMshrJt_LoOpYA63wdHeBcGqwGDWK2PxjsfmLLkBxxDf-FRL6oV12CrtLahkd68-9unOomxo_Amdz0QBFA/s320/blog%20banner%203%20books%202023.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;"><br /></span></p><br /><br /><p></p>Jill Hannah Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12007083642964545355noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3750342111299473419.post-31977540144897801842023-01-29T18:36:00.000-06:002023-01-29T18:36:21.313-06:00THE SWEET SPOT, by author AMY POEPPEL (out January 31st!)<p><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: x-large; font-style: italic;">In the heart of Greenwich Village, </span><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;">three women form an accidental sorority when a baby—belonging to exactly none of them—lands on their collective doorstep.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #0f1111;">Lauren and her family—lucky bastards—have been granted the use of a spectacular brownstone, teeming with history and dizzyingly unattractive 70s wallpaper. Adding to the home’s bohemian, grungy splendor is the bar occupying the basement, a (mostly) beloved dive called The Sweet Spot. Within days of moving in, Lauren discovers that she has already made an enemy in the neighborhood by inadvertently sparking the divorce of a couple she has never actually met.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="color: #0f1111;">Melinda’s husband of thirty years has dumped her for a young celebrity entrepreneur named Felicity, and, to Melinda’s horror, the lovebirds are soon to become parents. In her incandescent rage, Melinda wreaks havoc wherever she can, including in Felicity’s Soho boutique, where she has a fit of epic proportions, which happens to be caught on film.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="color: #0f1111;">Olivia—the industrious twenty-something behind the counter, who has big dreams and bigger debt—gets caught in the crossfire. In an effort to diffuse Melinda’s temper, Olivia has a tantrum of her own and gets unceremoniously canned, thanks to TikTok.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="color: #0f1111;">When Melinda’s ex follows his lover across the country, leaving their squalling baby behind, the three women rise to the occasion in order to forgive, to forget, to Ferberize, and to track down the wayward parents. But can their little village find a way toward the happily ever afters they all desire? Welcome to The Sweet Spot.</span></span></span></span></p><p><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><i><b>Reviews~</b></i></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="a-text-bold" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;">"Amy Poeppel brings her signature “big-hearted, charming” </span><span class="a-text-bold" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;">style to this wise and joyful novel that celebrates</span><span class="a-text-bold" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;"> love, hate, and all of the glorious absurdity in between."<b> </b></span><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic;">The Washington Post</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;">"With sly humor and sharp understanding, Amy Poeppel hits The Sweet Spot in this funny, twisty, goodhearted novel about families lost, found, and made." — </span><span class="a-text-italic" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;">Virginia Kantra,</span><span class="a-text-italic" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic;"> New York Times </span><span class="a-text-italic" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;">bestselling author of MEG & JO and BETH & AMY </span><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />"Unabashedly warm-hearted and fun, THE SWEET SPOT serves up a fresh story about the chaos of family, flavored with classic components of the most entertaining dramedies: a charming New York setting, endearing core characters, and a hilarious supporting cast that often steals the show. Irresistible!" -- Mary Laura Philpott, author of BOMB SHELTER: LOVE, TIME, and OTHER EXPLOSIVES<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />"THE SWEET SPOT is an absolute delight. With its quirky characters, humor, and lovely writing, it is my favorite book of late. Amy Poeppel has the freshest, funniest voice around." -- Jane Green, <i>New York Times</i> bestselling author of SISTER STARDUST</span></span></p><p><b style="background-color: white; color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-family: arial;">Author interview with Amy ~</span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">Tell us a little about yourself and how you started
writing.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">I guess you could say
I’m a bit of a late-bloomer when it comes to writing. After doing a hundred
other things with my life (from tutoring the Boston University ice hockey team
to acting in plays to moving all over the country and raising three fabulous
kids), I got this crazy idea to write a story about an unusual fact about my family:
Although my grandparents were married to each other for over sixty years and
seemed very much in love, they decided early in their marriage to design a
house for themselves with separate his-and-her bedrooms. I was so puzzled by
this arrangement as a kid, but never dared ask them about it. It was too
personal! So I began to write a novel to invent an explanation for why a loving
couple might choose to sleep in separate rooms for most of their marriage.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">While I had a great
time writing that book—a quirky southern comedy about a sexless, geriatric
couple—it was never published (surprise, surprise) and will never be published.
But the good news is that writing that flawed book taught me a lot about how to
(and how not to) structure a novel. It also taught me how to create believable
characters and develop a workable narrative arc. As soon as I finished writing
that book, I began the next one, which was published after I turned fifty. I’ve
been writing ever since.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">What are some things you enjoy when not writing?</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">I love to cook, take walks
with my dog, go to movies and plays, spend time with my grown kids, travel with
my husband, wander around museums, and read.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Do you have a particular writing routine?</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;">No! And I wish I did. I’m
what you might call a “binge writer” – meaning I spend a lot of time thinking
and </span><i style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;">not</i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;"> writing … and then I write
for long stretches and fail to do anything else (like walk the dog, shower, or
sleep). I would like to have a better and healthier schedule that would allow
time for writing, exercising, and doing things to relax. #goals</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Is there anything major that changed in this novel from when
you first plotted it out?</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;">When I was writing </span><i style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;">The Sweet Spot</i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;">, I made a huge mistake
and told the entire story from the wrong character’s perspective. After the
book was finished, I had to start all over again, changing the narration of the
book from 1</span><sup style="color: #222222;">st</sup><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;"> person to 3</span><sup style="color: #222222;">rd</sup><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;"> person. Instead of telling
the entire story from one (minor) character’s perspective, I rewrote it to give
several characters a voice in close 3</span><sup style="color: #222222;">rd</sup><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;"> person. Starting over from
scratch was so disheartening, but I’m very glad I did the rewrite. The story
just didn’t work the way I initially wrote it.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I can’t write without …</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">… keeping my sense of humor.
Also, I need my dog by my side, Scrivener (the software application), and a bag
of Haribo gummy bears.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">If I had to spend a week on a deserted island, I would need…</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">… a stack of books, bug
spray, white wine, and a hammock.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">What career did you think you’d have as an adult?</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">As a kid, I always
thought I would become a librarian. I loved going to my local public library as
a kid, and I thought that would be the perfect job for me. But instead of
becoming a librarian, I was a high school English teacher for many years, which
was another great way to honor my love of books and reading.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">If you have written
more than one book, in which story would you choose to live?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">I
have two answers to that question! I would truly love to live in the fabulous
Greenwich Village brownstone I made up for my characters in <i>The Sweet Spot</i> (although I’d hope to
renovate it before I move in, lol). Or I’d be very happy living right by
Central Park in the spacious Upper West Side penthouse that my fictional
pop-star moves into while he performs on Broadway in my novel <i>Limelight</i>. BONUS: The condo in <i>Limelight</i> comes with a butler. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Arial; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">
<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">How do you market your
work?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">Marketing
is a challenge for many writers, and I’m no exception. I think the best strategy
is to find what you’re most comfortable doing, whether it’s Instagram, TikTok, and/or
newsletters, and lean into that. I found that one thing I like to do is to make
funny, original book trailers. I write a script that is in some way related to
my book, and then I go about filming it, thanks to my oldest son who is
fabulous at editing videos. Readers can find my book trailers—for <i>The Sweet Spot</i>, <i>Small Admissions</i> and <i>Musical
Chairs</i>—on my website and on YouTube. I hope these videos give readers a
laugh and make them want to dive into my books. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">What are you working on
now? <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">I’m
working on my fifth novel, tentatively titled <i>Far Flung</i>. It’s a story about two families—one in Texas and one in
Germany—that swap homes for a year. I grew up in Dallas and spent a lot of time
in Berlin, so I’m having fun writing scenes in these fabulous settings. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">Is anything in your
book based on real-life experiences?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">So
many things! From my work in admissions to my love of Broadway theater to the
shenanigans of my family, many of my life experiences become fictionalized and
find their way into my books. The book trailer I made for <i>Musical Chairs</i> is about exactly that: how the elements of my life somehow
end up on the page. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">Do you have a favorite
chapter or scene?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">In
<i>Musical Chairs, </i>I wrote a big family
dinner party scene and introduced a new character named Jackie, an outsider who
is seeing all of these characters for the first time. Jackie, a young woman in
her twenties, is aghast at some of the things the family members do and say,
and her inner monologue was so much fun to write. She notes that the family’s
big dog helps himself to the cheese board, that the siblings fail to
acknowledge their privilege, and that the adults go back and forth between
completely ignoring her and putting her under the magnifying glass. I loved the
chance to bring Jackie’s special perspective to the story. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">Do you have any advice
for aspiring writers?</span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">I
never feel like I’m in a position to give advice because I’m still figuring
things out. But one thing I tell myself is that writing isn’t magic; it’s simply
hard work, just like anything else. The most important thing is to have the
willingness and the stamina to sit down and write, to edit the same paragraph
over and over again, and even to throw out a whole book and start over when
necessary. (I hope that won’t be necessary!) <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">The
only other thing I know for sure is that to be a writer you have to be a
reader. Read in your genre, read out of your genre; make sure you’re reading a
wide array of books! <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">Is there anything you’d
like to say to your readers and fans?</span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Thank you!</span></i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> That’s my main message
to readers – Thank you so much for reading, for reviewing, and above all, for
reaching out. It means the world to authors to hear from you. It’s because of
all the wonderful readers out there—whether they check out books from the
library or buy them from their favorite stores, download them onto their
e-readers or listen to them while they commute—that writers get to keep writing.
So thank you, thank you, thank you! And happy reading! <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><i style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></b></i></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><i style="color: #cc0000;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">To connect with Amy~</span></b></i></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><b>Twitter and Instagram: @amypoeppel </b></span></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Facebook: <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.facebook.com/amy.poeppel&source=gmail&ust=1673359280758000&usg=AOvVaw0lUeArPTWMqZ0ZfwuUUSMp" href="https://www.facebook.com/amy.poeppel" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">https://www.<wbr></wbr>facebook.com/amy.poeppel</a></b></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Website: <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.amypoeppel.com&source=gmail&ust=1673359280758000&usg=AOvVaw3tKRGCgx6LekeXk9k9w0Ir" href="http://www.amypoeppel.com/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">www.amypoeppel.com</a></b></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjcV1NoNnW5eYEEQ0IXzHiXkzwfzyHBhLdFxZ7tA3LBuTyHU0tQhiggPTTFAfudE_YrxYVw5fkX3y4JQiJzD3cZyTb_O0Cmn0utY3xwPMABN3PnK5TrExcHC5zA19HXJAz4pEui-JrblHPd_im2aA5swGANAnjiESYa7sSLd6OYkHSZx0bZZqLp7jFLA/s500/the%20sweet%20spot.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; 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color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3CYfghbAZ2mwlJLgv8dzHZqk8TMQY6VJocjc4Mog58kry56PMyaSYZrcjfxJsiGuFZhrdVTvdQZpPHpMym_O7S9KFUTyra5PmgtrDv1H32BDN0iL2rtMJFaNzauJ89MlchSUsbysUpmv2So-83GL3UJLOurFENQqKdm5B071bvVFTvBzbf-5yWYzKVA/s1640/blog%20banner%203%20books%207-2022.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="924" data-original-width="1640" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3CYfghbAZ2mwlJLgv8dzHZqk8TMQY6VJocjc4Mog58kry56PMyaSYZrcjfxJsiGuFZhrdVTvdQZpPHpMym_O7S9KFUTyra5PmgtrDv1H32BDN0iL2rtMJFaNzauJ89MlchSUsbysUpmv2So-83GL3UJLOurFENQqKdm5B071bvVFTvBzbf-5yWYzKVA/w400-h225/blog%20banner%203%20books%207-2022.png" width="400" /></a></div><br />Jill Hannah Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12007083642964545355noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3750342111299473419.post-61261884667445963622023-01-23T08:36:00.000-06:002023-01-23T08:36:32.638-06:00WHEN YOU SEE HER by author BARBARA BOEHM MILLER (debuts January 24th!)<p><i><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>What if you needed to find a perfect place to hide in plain
sight.</b></span></span></i></p><p style="background: white; margin-bottom: 10.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 10.5pt;"><span style="color: #0f1111; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Trapped
and isolated in small-town Wisconsin, Sarah wants nothing more than to blend in
and lead a normal life away from her abusive brother. Weighing five hundred
pounds and having no job or formal education, however, makes this almost
impossible.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="background: white; margin-bottom: 10.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 10.5pt;"><span style="color: #0f1111; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">When
Sarah commits an unthinkable act, she seizes the only opportunity available to
escape the consequences of her actions. She contacts the carnival man who
previously offered her a job as a sideshow act. Burying her guilt, Sarah leaves
home and begins performing under the stage name Lola Rolls.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="background: white; margin-bottom: 10.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 10.5pt;"><span style="color: #0f1111; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Traveling
from town to town, Lola wonders if it's possible to hide in plain sight and
truly outrun her past. She builds lasting friendships along the way, and as the
quality of her performances improves, she starts on a path to self-reliance and
self-acceptance.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="background: white; margin: 0in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #0f1111;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Set in the late 1970s, <span class="a-text-italic"><i>When You See
Her </i></span>is an immersive page-turner that explores what it means to be
both visible and invisible, simultaneously desired and reviled, while carving
out space in a too-small world.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i style="background-color: white; color: #38761d; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Reviews~</b></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><a name="_Hlk124778399"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 12pt;">Dramatic yet heartwarming, this dazzling debut
pulsates with all the fun and ferocity of the fair, quickly drawing you into
the underworld of a 1970s traveling carnival. Miller is a gifted storyteller,
displaying a conjuror's dexterity as she leads you through Lola's dramatic
escape from reality to her introduction into this new, volatile world and her
spectacular new colleagues.<o:p></o:p></span></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 12pt;">--Jennifer Ryan, international
bestselling author of <i>The Chilbury Ladies Choir<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;">Barbara Boehm Miller’s “When
You See Her” is vivid and visceral, the perfect read for when you want to
inhabit another world … or another body. While at first you might think you’re
sneaking a lurid peek at the sideshow fat lady, in Miller’s capable hands
you’ll move quickly beyond the spectacle of the carnival world and into the
fully realized life of a courageous, dynamic woman. We all long to be seen
exactly as we are; this novel isn’t afraid to look.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">--</span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;"> Julia Rocchi, author of <i>Amen?:
Questions for a God I Hope Exists<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">In
</span><i style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">When You See Her</i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">, author Barbara Boehm Miller creates a rich and
colorful world that is inhabited by believable individuals who display
remarkable resilience in the face of their difficult lives. Miller’s dialogue
is masterful, and she writes with great authority. The first-person point of
view and narrative in Sarah’s voice work together to give the reader a profound
understanding of Sarah and her motivations.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Sarah’s
character is drawn with compelling dexterity and empathy. From the opening
scene where she is standing with a skillet in her hand to losing her virginity
to a man more than twice her age, to her transformation into a self-sufficient
woman, Miller hardly puts a foot wrong. The audience is hooked, drawn in and
held to the last page.</span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">When
You See Her </span></i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">is a story that is
well-written, gripping and emotionally charged.</span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">--Thomas
Anderson, Editor-In-Chief, <i>Literary Titan, </i>5-star review </span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><u><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #38761d; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif;"><b>Author interview with Barbara ~</b></i></u></span></p><div><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Tell us a little about
yourself and how you started writing.</span></b></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Making up stories was
my favorite activity as a child. As I got older, I began to write some fiction
and kept a series of journals for about 10 years. In college, I focused on
studying foreign languages because I wanted a career that could take me to
different parts of the world and because I believe, to paraphrase a quote from
Charlamagne, that in learning a second language, a person gains a second soul. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Following graduation, I sought out language immersion opportunities in foreign
countries, eventually earning the equivalent of a master’s degree from the
Universidad Nacional in Costa Rica. After settling in the Washington, DC area,
where I still reside, I began working as a diplomatic translator and pursued a
degree in fiction writing. Some of the other students I met in that program are
part of the writing critique group that read the many drafts of <i>When You See
Her.</i></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">What are some things
you enjoy when not writing?</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Writers are readers, so
reading, of course, and also spending time with my family, which includes a
wonderful husband, inspiring twin daughters, and a comical brown dog. I like to
cook too and host parties for friends and play piano (poorly).<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Do you have a particular
writing routine?</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Because of my schedule, I have
to write in my spare moments. The upside of this approach is that I’ve learned
to block out pretty much all background noise and can make the most of even
small snippets of time. Whenever possible, I like to write in the morning
because it makes the rest of my day that much better.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Is there anything major that
changed in this novel from when you first plotted it out?</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">So much has changed! I
rewrote <i>When You See Her </i>many times. Some earlier versions had a dual
timeline, and others were framed more as a fictitious memoir. The most
significant changes, though, were in the characters. With each rewrite, they
grew and became more complex and appealing. In short, they became better
people. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Finish this: “I</span></b><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> can’t write without…”</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A collection of my favorite pens and a
notebook for jotting down ideas and possible plot items. I love pens, so
they’re like toys as well to keep me entertained and engaged when my writing
stalls. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">If I had to spend a week on a deserted island,
I would need…</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">If it’s a recently deserted island that has a
nice, non-haunted hotel with a well-stocked kitchen and bar, I’d just need a
couple of good books and some of my favorite people. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">What career did you
think you’d have as an adult?</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">I thought I would be a
writer, so publication of my first novel is very much a dream come true.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">What is something about
you that would surprise people?</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">I
sound like a Costa Rican when I speak Spanish. I also make a killer falafel and
can tell fortunes using playing cards and know how to read palms.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Do
you have a ‘day job’ as well?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">I
have an entire “day career” and have worked for many years translating
documents from Spanish and French into English. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">What
was the original title of this book? <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">“Lola
Rolls,” which is the stage name of the main character. In effort to help
potential audiences understand more about the book upfront, I later switched
the title to the more descriptive “Lola Rolls, Sideshow Fat Lady.” </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">After being
accepted for publication, the book was renamed “When You See Her.” Even though
adjusting to this change was no easy task, the new title is a much better fit
in that it reflects the underlying themes of the book, rather than just its
content. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Where
do you get your ideas, or what inspired this book plot?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">For
me, writing fiction is like a series of what-if questions. <i>When You See Her </i>starts
with a plus-sized protagonist. Then I asked myself: What if her weight were
extreme enough to keep her trapped and isolated? What if she lived in a time
period when there were few overweight and virtually no morbidly obese people?
What if she needed to go on the run? What if her only option was to join the
sideshow? What if she could find a way to live a bold and meaningful life? What
if she didn’t try to fit in?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Do
you have a manuscript(s) in your drawer? If so, will it ever see the light of
day?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Yes,
and no way! I cringe now to think about that manuscript, containing, as it did,
many instances of every mistake a fiction writer can make. For a while, I
thought it might be possible to revise that work. It could not be fixed or
improved enough to make it readable, however. Writing that first book did show
me that I had the stamina to complete a novel. To my mind, an unredeemable mess
of a rough draft far surpassed an unwritten or unfinished book.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">If
I wasn’t an author, I might be…?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">I
would be a person brimming with stories who never wrote anything down. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Do
you have a go-to first reader after you feel your manuscript is ready?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">After
working through the manuscript with the members of my writing critique group
and before submitting it for publication, I give also it to one of the members
of my book club because they are perfect examples of my target audience. Both
groups are good, sensitive readers, and their feedback is spot on.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Is
there a particular author or book that influenced or inspired your writing or
decision to write?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">I
read <i>The Grapes of Wrath</i> when I was young. That was the first time I
understood how powerful a book could be—how it could wring your soul with both
hands. <i>The Hotel New Hampshire</i> by John Irving showed me what a wonderful
and outrageous thing plot can be. I try to capture both of those ideas in my
own work. I want my writing to tell a vivid story and have an emotional impact.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Can
you tell us about your challenges in getting your first book published (or this
book?)<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">The
biggest challenge was learning what I needed to do and then developing and
acting on a plan. The path to publication also included a lot of rejections and
raised hopes that then crashed hard. No matter how I rationalized these
“thanks, but no thanks” responses, they still took an emotional toll. The
upside is that my skin has become alligator-thick.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">If
you had to go back and do it all over, is there any aspect of your novel or
getting it published that you’d change?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">I’m
very excited that my novel is soon to be published, so I wouldn’t want to
change anything that led me to this place. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">What
are you working on now?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">I’m
revising a book I wrote about a troubled family, crushed together in the
isolation of the Covid-19 pandemic. The father is a survivalist. The mother is
having an affair, and the daughter is incandescent with her desire to move away
from the small town where they live. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Is
anything in your book based on real-life experiences?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">I’ve
lived with weight issues for all of my life and I wanted my main character to
be a fat woman who lives a fulfilling and unapologetic life despite the
obstacles thrust in her way.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Do
you have a favorite chapter or scene?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">There
is a wedding scene toward the end of the book that I loved writing. By that
point in the story, the reader knows the characters well, and the wedding is a
chance for all of them to interact and celebrate with each other.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Do
you have a favorite character?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Probably
Gigi. She is funny, endearing, and has an unconventional outlook on life. She
also loves the main character, Lola, as much as I do. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Finish
this sentence: “If I could write about anything, it would be…?”<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">I’m
fascinated by closed-off or secret societies. At some point, I would like to
write a book set inside a cult or a prison. I can only imagine the amount of
creative planning needed to research the latter. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">What
was some unique research you had to do for a book?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">When
You See Her</span></i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">
takes place in the late 1970s, and much of the book is set in the sideshow of a
rundown traveling carnival. I had to learn the business side of the carnival,
which is quite complex, and also studied the lives and careers of various
sideshow performers. One of the most interesting things I learned in the course
of my research is that carnival people have their own secret language that they
use to hide their conversations. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Do
you have any advice for aspiring writers?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Keep
at it and find your reward and satisfaction in the writing itself, not in how
others perceive it. In my case, and I think this is true for many people, I
wrote for a very long time before being published.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">What
are the downfalls of your writing career? The best parts?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Writing
is a solitary act and can, therefore, be a lonely experience. As a bit of an
extrovert, I really struggle with that. The best part of being an author is the
privilege of making up stories and creating entire worlds in which you make all
the decisions about what happens and to whom. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Place
you’d like to travel?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">I
love to travel and am fortunate that, in building my career as a translator, I’ve
had the opportunity to live in various countries. At present, my foreign
adventures are limited to vacations, though. When the pandemic hit, we had just
begun to plan a visit to Thailand to celebrate a milestone birthday. I hope to
take that trip within the next year or so. Also, I don’t know when it will happen,
but I would like to visit the Galapagos Islands.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Is
there anything you’d like to say to your readers and fans?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;">
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Thank you for reading my work! Being able to share my
stories is a true privilege, and I’m so grateful to the readers who make that possible.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><i style="color: #38761d; font-family: arial;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">To connect with Barbara (all links):</span></b></i></p><p><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://linktr.ee/barbaraboehmmiller&source=gmail&ust=1673723960659000&usg=AOvVaw1i-_NWGCCwCEfgJcTrKenL" href="https://linktr.ee/barbaraboehmmiller" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" target="_blank">https://linktr.ee/<wbr></wbr>barbaraboehmmiller</a></p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS5XuCdcuT-v6bU5yM8aGKUO4soupErvAbfU0u8fBHU8nRbT1FxJ2TrrlWCg2XtoTNe-yGXOSIx80dP2KMY7EwcqMtGdl5UqbDcXIQWBnl6vU3vzyqg8GD2f_btN8FyVuxEu6qW7YPc0PGakdQS_0cI-mTCpcudmY5OPu-HXET-xDyT7CJ_3hSiRIDOA/s475/When%20you%20see%20her.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="297" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS5XuCdcuT-v6bU5yM8aGKUO4soupErvAbfU0u8fBHU8nRbT1FxJ2TrrlWCg2XtoTNe-yGXOSIx80dP2KMY7EwcqMtGdl5UqbDcXIQWBnl6vU3vzyqg8GD2f_btN8FyVuxEu6qW7YPc0PGakdQS_0cI-mTCpcudmY5OPu-HXET-xDyT7CJ_3hSiRIDOA/s320/When%20you%20see%20her.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhD7_Z3einSpPSxBt9sdEi_6T-u1Q_HZgyzEnZiUA_Af0ITMrzpGIlBfFr-MzujliDbwEzvp3ALjqHVrWOsP3TPMOGllRyCbis9HiaLLozuFSkxJnGB3E3nvE_MvXsCj6b2U4S5ST2nfeA-AwPf_dmieA9mLFDCJqEevGI8I87_QVbw9fF_ffJSsdPKPA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhD7_Z3einSpPSxBt9sdEi_6T-u1Q_HZgyzEnZiUA_Af0ITMrzpGIlBfFr-MzujliDbwEzvp3ALjqHVrWOsP3TPMOGllRyCbis9HiaLLozuFSkxJnGB3E3nvE_MvXsCj6b2U4S5ST2nfeA-AwPf_dmieA9mLFDCJqEevGI8I87_QVbw9fF_ffJSsdPKPA=w200-h200" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiVEdToBmQ0MA2Y681BNTOkblT0_a3ibpP4xpsorW1zNKfGs3MuiA0USP7lHoL-Z0TnwZCxvJOkIwFwUparxycHB9PYL7dd_UcxMugMb4ermsQHyJ7ptWqfZsUMnYR5lznjbd6AtuUbVuDBZutgMdjYbwKa-FkAGykkQsl9wmZOxB0gjVlKbuZKWlZSg/s1640/blog%20banner%203%20books%202023.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="924" data-original-width="1640" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiVEdToBmQ0MA2Y681BNTOkblT0_a3ibpP4xpsorW1zNKfGs3MuiA0USP7lHoL-Z0TnwZCxvJOkIwFwUparxycHB9PYL7dd_UcxMugMb4ermsQHyJ7ptWqfZsUMnYR5lznjbd6AtuUbVuDBZutgMdjYbwKa-FkAGykkQsl9wmZOxB0gjVlKbuZKWlZSg/w400-h225/blog%20banner%203%20books%202023.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /><p></p>Jill Hannah Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12007083642964545355noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3750342111299473419.post-47859012192649245852023-01-16T07:52:00.000-06:002023-01-16T07:52:54.699-06:00AN ENEMY LIKE ME, by author TERI M. BROWN (book debuts January 24th!)<p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><i>How does a man show his love - for country, for heritage, for family - during a war that sets the three at odds?</i></span><span style="color: #0f1111; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #0f1111; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">What sets in motion the necessity to choose one over the other? How will this choice change everything and everyone he loves?</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Jacob Miller, a first-generation American, grew up in New Berlin, a small German immigrant town in Ohio where he endured the Great Depression, met his wife and started a family. Though his early years were not easy, Jacob believes he is headed toward his 'happily ever after' until a friend is sent to an internment camp for enemy combatants, and the war lands resolutely on his doorstep.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: arial;">In </span><span class="a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: arial; font-style: italic;">An Enemy Like Me</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: arial;">, Teri M. Brown uses the backdrop of World War II to show the angst experienced by Jacob, his wife, and his four-year-old son as he leaves for and fights in a war he did not create. She explores the concepts of xenophobia, intrafamily dynamics, and the recognition that war is not won and lost by nations but by ordinary men and women and the families who support them.</span></span></p><div><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><i><b>Reviews ~</b></i></span></span></div><div><span class="a-text-bold" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="a-text-bold" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700;">BookLife Reviews Says</span><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;">: The pro-Nazi Volksbund movement, its anti-German backlash, and the anxiety it induced in German Americans is seldom addressed in popular literature—and Brown's depiction of a unique angst within a much-chronicled American era sets this novel apart.</span></div><div><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></span><span class="a-text-bold" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700;">Feathered Quill Says</span><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;">: </span><span class="a-text-italic" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic;">An Enemy Like Me</span><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;"> is a tremendous read that showcases the indelible mark the many facets and effects war leaves on the human spirit.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></span><span class="a-text-bold" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700;">Independent Book Review Says</span><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;">: The power of Brown's writing is such that she makes us all feel how we did when we were left all alone to figure out life and its hardships, whether in a foreign place or in a place that once felt like home but now feels like anything but.</span></span></div><div><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111;"><i><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></span></span></div><div><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box;"><i><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>Author interview with Teri ~</b></span></i></span></span></div><div><b style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Tell us a little about
yourself and how you started writing.</span></b></div><div><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">As a child, I said I
wanted to be a writer, but I also wanted to be a brain surgeon and an Olympic
ice skater. So, I feel like those were just childhood fantasies. As a teenager,
I wrote the typical romantic angst poetry and dabbled with a few short stories,
but I never saw writing as an actual career. It certainly was not something to
go to college for. My parents felt that writer was synonymous with “starving
artist waitress.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">However, when my
children were young, I wanted to be a stay-at-home mom, but we needed a second
income. I began writing for small businesses. I found that these business
owners had great ideas but didn’t know how to get them down on paper. I spent
17 years writing non-fiction business-related materials, but somewhere deep
inside, I wanted to try my hand at writing fiction.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Unfortunately, I was in
a second marriage, and my husband was emotionally abusive. I didn’t believe in
myself and was told, repeatedly, that just because I could write nonfiction
didn’t mean I could write fiction. As soon as I got out of that relationship, I
began to write.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">The first manuscript will
likely never see the light of day, but it showed me that I had what it took to
write 50,000 words with a beginning, middle, and end. As one of my children
said, “It had good bones.” It gave me the courage to try a second, then a
third. My fourth and fifth manuscripts became my debut novel, Sunflowers
Beneath the Snow, and now my second release, An Enemy Like Me.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;">Do you have a particular
writing routine?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;">This question used to worry
me because the answer is no. I figured if I didn’t write every single day, like
James Patterson, then I must be doing something wrong. However, I’ve come to
realize that whatever works for me is the right way to write!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;">I’m a pantster. This means
that I write by the seat of my pants without an outline. I let my characters
tell me what is going to happen next. I listen to what they have to say and,
remarkably, the book comes together and makes sense!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;">However, I go one step further
and call myself a binge pantster. I tend to write furiously for several days –
often forgetting to do the laundry or cook meals – and then, I may not write
again for several weeks. I wrote the first draft of An Enemy Like Me during a
two-week writer’s retreat.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;">Is there anything major that
changed in this novel from when you first plotted it out?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;">As a pantster, I don’t plot
out the novel. However, there are significant changes between the first draft
and the final draft. I started the book in a different spot – using a flashback
scene to set the action. I also initially had three chapters that were the same
scene but from different character viewpoints. That slowed the story down, so I
made significant changes to those chapters.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">What career did you
think you’d have as an adult?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">When I went to college,
I got two majors and two minors. I have a degree in Elementary Education and
another in psychology. I have a minor in math and sociology. I had no idea what
I wanted to do, so I just kept taking classes. I realized that I didn’t want to
be a teacher while completing my student teaching portion of the degree, but I
had no idea what else I might consider.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">In the end, I worked at
a bank for a couple of years and at a daycare center once my son was born so
that I could be with him. Then, I became a stay-at-home homeschool mom while
writing for small businesses. Finally, I became an author.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">What is something about
you that would surprise people?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Despite being a desk
jockey, I wanted to have a big adventure – something that would prove to me and
to others that I still had a lot of life left in me. So, when I married my
husband, Bruce, in 2019, we decided to ride across the country on a tandem bicycle.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">In 2020, we
successfully rode 3102 miles from the coast of Oregon to Washington DC raising
$34,000 for Toys for Tots. Every child that asked for a bicycle through the
program in our campaign area got one and every organization that asked for help
got what it needed.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Not only that, but the
ride significantly changed me. I came away with a healed heart and a sure
knowledge that I could do anything I put my mind to. It was that ride that gave
me the courage to get Sunflowers Beneath the Snow published.</span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">What
was the original title of this book? <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">I
considered several different options. Originally, I just saved it as “WWII
Novel.” Obviously, that wouldn’t work! I considered calling it “Change.” Then,
I considered calling it change in German, “Ändern.” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">When
I sent the manuscript to my publisher, I liked An Enemy Like Me, but also sent
them the alternative of “A Heart Divided.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">What
inspired this book plot?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">My
grandfather fought in WWII in Germany. Our family is of German heritage.
Although we had lived in the US for generations before the war, my grandfather
said something to me when I was a teenager that always stuck with me. He said,
“I always wondered if the person on the other side of my gun was a cousin.” It
was this idea that inspired the book’s plot.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Do
you have a go-to first reader after you feel your manuscript is ready?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">I
have a couple of people that get to read the manuscript, often before it is
completely ready – my husband and my oldest daughter, Kimberly. I also have a
friend who is an avid historical fiction reader who beta reads for me and helps
me see if there are any holes in the plot.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Do
you have a favorite chapter or scene?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">I
don’t want to give away anything, so I’ll be a bit cryptic. However, there is a
point when William, the son of the soldier, discovers how his father really
felt about leaving for the war. Even though I wrote it, it still makes me cry.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Do
you have a favorite character?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">It’s
as hard for me to pick a favorite character as it would be to pick a favorite
child! Because the three main characters are loosely based on my grandfather,
grandmother, and father, I would have to say that I love them all! However, I
did enjoy the challenge of writing from the point of view of a four-year-old
boy.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">What
are you working on now?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">I’m
working on a book about an NC woman who lives in the Appalachian Mountains
during the late 1800s. She is a healer. The book explores NC mountain folklore
and folk medicine through three generations of women healers. It also looks at
how modern medicine changed the landscape of healing, and how people adapt to
such changes. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Do
you have any advice for aspiring writers?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">I
have learned that to be an author, you have to do more than write. Although
writing is essential, an author also has to market their work – and to market,
an author has to believe that what they have is valuable. So, my advice would
be to come to understand that what you’ve written has worth, and then take that
understanding with you as you learn how to market. By all means, don’t do what
I did the first time and wait to begin the marketing process until after the
book launches!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Is
there anything you’d like to say to your readers and fans?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Thank
you! Thank you for reading my books. Thank you for reaching out to me. Thank
you for joining my newsletter. Thank you for leaving reviews. Thank you for
being a reader. Without you, there would be absolutely no reason to write!<o:p></o:p></span></p></span></span></div><div><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111;"><i><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></span></span></div><div><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box;"><i><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>To connect with Teri ~</b></span></i></span></span></div><div><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box;"><i><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></i></span></span></div><div><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box;"><p dir="ltr" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Facebook.com/TeriMBrownAuthor</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Twitter.com/TeriMBrown1</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Instagram.com/TeriMBrown_<wbr></wbr>Author</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">LinkedIn.com/in/TeriMBrown</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Goodreads.com/terimbrown</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Pinterest.com/terimbrownauthor</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tiktok.com/@terimbrown_author</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.youtube.com/@TeriMBrown_Author&source=gmail&ust=1673363977403000&usg=AOvVaw3GIPvQSYU4f0ZWybCSCrvE" href="http://www.youtube.com/@TeriMBrown_Author" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">www.youtube.com/@TeriMBrown_<wbr></wbr>Author</a></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Amazon Author: <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.amazon.com/author/terimbrown&source=gmail&ust=1673363977403000&usg=AOvVaw1jYEeH0LE3iSlwgo0TXLZh" href="https://www.amazon.com/author/terimbrown" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">https://www.amazon.com/author/<wbr></wbr>terimbrown</a></span></p></span></span></div><div><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: white; 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box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111;"><i><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></span></span></div>Jill Hannah Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12007083642964545355noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3750342111299473419.post-22258348517944967092022-12-05T08:48:00.000-06:002022-12-05T08:48:13.909-06:00LAST CIRCLE OF LOVE by author LORNA LANDVIK (out December 6th!)<p><span style="color: #01ffff; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><span class="a-text-bold" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box;">A funny, heartwarming story about a feisty group of women who shake, spice, and heat things up with a “recipe” book for romance, from the bestselling author of </span><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic;">Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons</span><span class="a-text-bold" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box;">.</span></b></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: medium;">Newly installed at All Souls Lutheran, Mallory “Pastor Pete” Peterson soon realizes that her church isn’t merely going through turbulent waters, but is a sinking ship. With the help of five loyal members of the Naomi Circle, the young, bold minister brainstorms fundraising ideas. They all agree that the usual recipe book won’t add much to the parish coffers, but maybe one with all the ingredients on how to heat up relationships rather than casseroles will…</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: medium;">Pastor Pete has her doubts about the project, but it turns out the group of postmenopausal women has a lot to say on the subject of romance. While Charlene, the youngest member at fifty-two, struggles with the assignment, baker-extraordinaire Marlys, elegantly bohemian Bunny, I’m-always-right Velda, and ebullient Edie take up their contributions enthusiastically. After all, their book is really about cooking up love in all its forms.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: medium;">But not everyone in the congregation is on board with this “scandalous” project. As the voices of opposition grow louder, Pastor Pete and these intrepid women will have to decide how hard they’re willing to fight for this book and the powerful stories within—stories of discovery, softened hearts, and changed lives.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">“A feel-good read for book clubs.” </span><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700 !important;">―</span><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic !important; font-weight: 700 !important;">Booklist</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #01ffff; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><i><u>Author interview with Lorna~</u></i></b></span></p><p class="Body" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Tell us a little about yourself and how you started
writing.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="Body" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">My dad, proud of our Norwegian ancestry, used to tell me
that the name Landvik meant ‘Land of the Vikings.’ It does not, but he was a fanciful and funny
raconteur and it’s both his and my mother’s senses of humor as well as their
love of a good story that first influenced me.
Loved to be read to; loved to be told bedtime stories and when I learned
how to read — wow! I decided then and
there, in lovely Miss Carlson’s first grade class that I decided I wanted to be
a writer. </span></i><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p><p class="Body" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;">What are some things you enjoy when not writing?</span></span></p><p class="Body" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">I love reading (what writer doesn’t?), getting my steps in,
being on stage either as a speaker or performer, drawing and painting, yoga
(when I’m disciplined) cooking, baking, seeing plays and movies, harmonizing to
the radio or with my musical friends, daydreaming.</span></i><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p><p class="Body" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;">How do you start your day (a
routine of sorts?)</span></span></p><p class="Body" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><span style="background: white; font-size: 12pt;">I ‘Wordle’ before I get out
of bed. Once having found that magic 5 letter word, I get up and chug down a
cup (or two or three) of the coffee my husband always makes (nice guy), read
our local Minneapolis paper and ‘The New York Times,’ and do their crossword
puzzles. Then it’s off to the dog park with husband and hound. I might get to
writing in the afternoon or I might get to writing by the evening; whatever the
time, I TRY to get some writing done each day.</span></i><i><span style="background: white; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p><p class="Body" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background: white; font-size: 12pt;">Finish this: “I</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> can’t write without…”</span></span></p><p class="Body" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">…the knowledge that I </span></i><i><u><span style="font-size: 12pt;">can</span></u></i><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">. A writer’s confidence (however shaky it may
be at times) in herself and the stories she tells is paramount to getting the
writing done. We have to be our own
little engine — I think I can, I think I can, I think I can…</span></i><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p><p class="Body" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;">If I had to spend a week on a deserted island,
I would need…</span></span></p><p class="Body" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">All the amenities of the deserted luxury
hotel on that deserted island — fully stocked kitchen,Tiki bar and library, a
working hot tub, a notebook and sketch pad, night skies crowded with stars and
the ability to contact the Coast Guard to pick me up. </span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="Body" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;">What career did you think you’d have as an adult?</span></span></p><p class="Body" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">I wanted to be writer since I learned how to read and so
that course was set early. I’ve also always loved performing so assumed I’d
translate that into being a movie star.
(There’s still time, right? Although no young ingenue roles for me…) </span></i><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p><p class="Body" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;">What is something about you that would surprise people?</span></span></p><p class="Body" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">I will rarely turn down chocolate but will not touch it if
it contains hazelnuts. Not because of an
allergy, but because of an extreme distaste for. Also I can speak good German
if the discussion is about cleaning.</span></i><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Do you have a ‘day job’ as well?</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Hallelujah, no.</span></i><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></i></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">What was the original title for this book? </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Ha! It was ‘The ABCs of Erotica’
but my editor said anyone Googling that title would come up with a lot of
things I might not want to be associated with.
</span></i><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Where do you get your ideas?</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">From the world and all its offerings.
</span></i><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Do you have a manuscript(s) in your drawer? If so, will it ever see
the light of day?</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Yes, one hard copy of a partial novel is gathering dust in a drawer
along with old check receipts; there are also about seven (!) novels in various
stages of completion in my ‘Documents’ file.
</span></i><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">If I wasn’t an author, I might be…?</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">On stage or on a movie set. </span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Do you have a go-to first reader after you feel your manuscript is
ready?</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">I usually hand it off to my husband who goes into the bedroom, shuts
the door and reads it. He always gives me the only response I want/need: “I love it!” and I don’t care if he’s lying.
Sometimes I give it to a couple friends whose opinions and insight as readers I
value; other times it’s straight to the agent/editor. </span></i><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Is there a particular author or book that influenced or inspired your
writing or decision to write?</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The Dick and Jane books that taught me to read; CADDIE WOODLAWN in
elementary school (I loved her adventurous, daredevil spirit) and TO KILL A
MOCKING BIRD, taught in Mrs. Harper’s 8th grade English class. That book
grabbed me from its opening paragraph, to its characters, to its scope, and
lastly, to Harper Lee’s voice. </span></i><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Can you tell us about your challenges in getting your first book
published (or this book?)</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">There were so many — the biggest challenge being the word ‘no.’ It took a long time for me and a lot of
rejections to find an agent for my first novel, PATTY JANE’S HOUSE OF CURL and
then a longer time and more rejections for that agent to find a publisher. What I’m most proud of in my writing career
is my decision to not take all those ‘nos’ as my final answer.</span></i><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span></i></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">How do you market your work?</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Not well — promotion is anathema to me, although I’m trying to get
better. </span></i><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">What are you working on now?</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">A novel (well, actually I’m zigzagging between two) and a screenplay
for my novel, OH MY STARS.</span></i><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">What is a bestselling book you’ve been itching to read?</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><i>THIS IS YOUR MIND ON PLANTS by Michael Pollan.</i></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Is anything in your book based on real-life experiences?</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">I grew up in the Lutheran church and my mom was a long-standing church
circle member who really valued the friendship and fellowship she had within
that circle. I guess I wanted to explore more in-depth a group that’s easy to
write off as unhip or irrelevant. </span></i><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></i></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;">My mom
was fun-loving, imaginative and creative but would she and her church circle
have come up with the fundraising idea that the circle in my book did? It makes me smile to think about…</span></span></i></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Do you have a favorite chapter or scene?</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">I love the chapter in which the women come up with their particular (and
peculiar) fundraising idea, but the most fun for me was figuring out what
alphabet letter had what significance to the characters. </span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Do you have a favorite character?</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">If I named one, the others would feel bad. </span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Finish this sentence: “If I could write about anything, it would be…?”</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">…<i>The novel that has been #1 on the ‘New York Times’ bestseller list
for a record-breaking two years…</i></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?</span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I always enjoy reading books about how writers write, thinking I might
learn some secrets or shortcuts. Mostly they’re heartening because you learn
there’s no right way to write. Whatever works for you, be it outlining or ‘pantsing’
or a hybrid of the two, is the way you should write. </span></span></i></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Also, believe in yourself! When I was writing my first novel, I pictured
myself holding a little flame of confidence — while others tried to blow it out
(“do you know what the odds of getting published are?” etc., etc.) — my job was
to shield that little torch and keep it lit. Find out if you like to write
alone or it’s more productive to belong to a writers’ group. Read, read, read! And most of all, don’t give up.</span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">What are the downfalls of your writing career? The best parts?</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Any time I’ve faltered in my writing career is when I didn’t trust my
own voice. That’s not to say I’m always right (not <u>always</u>, haha) but not
speaking up for yourself or your work is never a winning strategy. But my complaints are minimal when compared
to the great privilege of writing and then getting that writing published and
out in the world. </span></i><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Is there anything you’d like to say to your readers and fans?</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: arial;">
</span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Thank you for taking my books with you under the covers, in the
bathtub, onto the recliner, and hopefully, into your hearts! </span></i><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="color: #01ffff; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></i></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in;"><u><span style="color: #01ffff; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>To connect with Lorna:</b></span></u></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">website: <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://LornaLandvik.com&source=gmail&ust=1670248818177000&usg=AOvVaw1pSkM3gpQUgzF01eKrYh51" href="http://lornalandvik.com/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">LornaLandvik.com</a><span style="color: #222222;"> </span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111;"><span style="color: #222222;">Facebook: </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="color: #222222;">facebook.com/LornaLandvikAuthor</span></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; 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margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><br /></p>Jill Hannah Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12007083642964545355noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3750342111299473419.post-47405924971652695202022-11-28T07:11:00.000-06:002022-11-28T07:11:49.874-06:00THE WIDOW by KAIRA ROUDA, & THE PERSONAL ASSISTANT by KIMBERLY BELLE (both out this week!)<p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><i><b>We've got a double feature this week! </b></i>Two bestselling suspense thriller authors with new releases this week! And both are members of the <i>Killer Author Club</i> (see link with their social media links.)</span></p><p><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>THE PERSONAL ASSISTANT~</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;">USA TODAY</span><span class="a-text-bold" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700;"> bestselling author </span><span class="a-text-bold" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700;">Kimberly Belle</span><span class="a-text-bold" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700;"> returns with a deeply addictive thriller exploring the dark side of the digital world when a mommy-blogger’s assistant goes missing. </span><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />When Alex first began posting unscripted family moments and motivational messages online, she had no intention of becoming an influencer. Overnight it seemed she’d amassed a huge following, and her hobby became a full-time job—one that was impossible to manage without her sharp-as-a-tack personal assistant, AC.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />But all the goodwill of her followers turns toxic when one controversial post goes viral in the worst possible way. Alex reaches out to AC for damage control, but her assistant has gone silent. This young woman Alex trusted with all her secrets, who had access to her personal information and front-row seats to the pressure points in her marriage and family life, is now missing and the police are looking to Alex and her husband for answers. As Alex digs into AC’s identity – and a woman is found murdered – she’ll find the greatest threat isn’t online, but in her own living room.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Written in alternating perspectives between Alex, her husband, and the mysterious AC, this juicy cat-and-mouse story will keep you guessing till the very end.</span></span></p><p><span face="Amazon Ember, Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #0b5394; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b><i>Reviews~</i></b></span></span></p><p><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;">"A missing assistant to an Instagram influencer, a mysterious dead body, and a nesting box of family secrets drive this cat-and-mouse thriller to a deliciously unexpected finale. A great page-turning read!" </span><span class="a-text-bold" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700;">—Wendy Walker, bestselling author of </span><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;">Don't Look for Me</span><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />“Kimberly Belle has delivered another twisty, tense and terrifying tour de force! </span><span class="a-text-italic" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic;">The Personal Assistant</span><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;"> shows the consequences of living in an online world where nothing is as it seems, turning the glamor of an insta-worthy life into a nightmare. If you ever had dreams of being an Instagram influencer, this book will have you thinking again. Unputdownable and impossible to forget.” </span><span class="a-text-bold" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700;">—Julie Clark, </span><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;">New York Times</span><span class="a-text-bold" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700;"> bestselling author of </span><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;">The Last Flight </span><span class="a-text-bold" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700;">and</span><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;"> The Lies I Tell</span><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></span></p><p><b style="color: #00b3ff; font-family: arial; font-size: large;">THE WIDOW~</b></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">A husband with secrets. A wife with no limits. A riveting novel of marriage, privilege, and lies by Kaira Rouda, the </span><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;">USA Today</span><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;"> bestselling author of </span><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;">The Next Wife</span><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">.</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: arial;">Jody Asher had a plan. Her charismatic husband, Martin, would be a political icon. She, the charming wife, would fuel his success. For fifteen congressional terms, they were the golden couple on the Hill. Life was good. Until he wasn’t.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: arial;">Martin’s secret affair with a young staffer doesn’t bother Jody personally. But professionally? It’s a legacy killer. Soon a reporter gets word of this scandal in the making, and Martin’s indiscretions threaten to ruin everything Jody has accomplished.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: arial;">When Martin suddenly dies, it’s a chance to change the narrative—but the reporter won’t let go of his lead. As the balance of power shifts in the Asher house and on the Hill, it’s time for Jody to take control. And there’s nothing the ruthless widow won’t do to secure the future she’s entitled to. Even if she has a secret of her own.</span></p><p><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white;"><b><span style="color: #0099ff; font-size: medium;"><i>Reviews~</i></span></b></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">“A deliciously diabolical take on marriage, politics, and the lies that bind.” </span><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">—</span><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;">Library Journal</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">“[A] wild mix of intrigue, secrets, and corruption.” </span><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">—</span><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;">Publishers Weekly</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">“What happens when ‘the woman behind the man’ has a dark secret of her own? Slick and rocket-paced, </span><span class="a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic;">The Widow</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> by Kaira Rouda is a top-notch political thriller. With hairpin twists and turns, insider knowledge, glamorous settings, and a whole cast of untrustworthy characters, Rouda expertly ratchets the tension, keeping her readers breathlessly turning the pages. And the deliciously devious Jody Asher is as cold and calculating as she is riveting. A captivating read!” </span><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">—Lisa Unger, </span><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;">New York Times</span><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;"> bestselling author of </span><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;">Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six</span></p><p><i style="font-family: arial;"><u><span style="font-size: large;">Author interviews:</span></u></i></p><p><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Kimberly~</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><b><u>Tell us a little about
yourself and how you started writing.</u></b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">I worked in nonprofit
fundraising for years, both in the Netherlands and in the States, until 2008,
when the economy crashed and so did my job. By that point I was pushing forty,
and I still hadn’t written that novel I’d always dreamed of writing. I decided
to see my sudden unemployment as a now-or-never moment, so I sat down and my
computer and….realized I had no idea what I was doing. I spent the next couple
of years learning how to build a story. I took courses, read everything I could
get my hands on, found some critique partners and mentors, and then I wrote a
book and then another. I was almost done with the second story when I attended
a local conference and pitched it to a couple of agents. I ended up signing
with one by the end of the month, and eight+ books later, we still make a great
team.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><u>Do you have a particular
writing routine?</u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;">When
I’m working on a story, I’m usually behind my laptop by eight, and then I give
myself an hour or so to warm up by reading the news and checking emails and
social media feeds. After that, I jump right in to writing, and I keep going </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;">until I hit my daily word
count, usually by afternoon sometime. I’m not a fast writer but the words I
produce each day are generally keepers, and my first draft is pretty clean.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><u>Is there anything major that
changed in this novel from when you first plotted it out?</u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;">I write from an outline, but
even the most detailed plans can go sideways once I get into the weeds of
writing. Sometimes the pacing is off, or a character’s actions don’t fit their
personality. Sometimes a character I didn’t plan for walks into a scene and has
something essential to say. I always give myself room to rework the story as
I’m writing, but my beginnings and endings rarely change—and they didn’t in The
Personal Assistant. What did deviate from the outline, though, were Anna
Claire’s chapters. My editor loved that character and she wanted more, so I
went back in edits and expanded, adding three more chapters in her voice.
Luckily, they were easy to weave into the current story.</span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><b><u>What
was the original title of this book? </u></b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><b><u><br /></u></b></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">My
original titles have never stuck, and honestly, I’m okay with it. The marketing
and sales folks at Harper Collins are so much better at it than I am, and
they’re thinking about things like title trends and catchy words, so I’m happy
to let them do their thing. When I turned in The Personal Assistant, its title
was “book 8.”</span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><b><u>If
I wasn’t an author, I might be…?</u></b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><b><u><br /></u></b></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">I worked for years in
non-profit fundraising, and as much as I loved the job, I’m not sure it’s
something I would go back to. I would miss the flexibility of working from
home, and the creative kick I get from finding just the right word. But I do
love to travel, so I would probably look for a job that allowed me to see the
world. Especially now that my kids are grown, I could spend much of the year on
the road and not get homesick for a single minute.</span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><b><u>Do
you have a go-to first reader after you feel your manuscript is ready?</u></b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><b><u><br /></u></b></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">My
agent is my first reader. She’s so good at story and plot and holding the
suspense until the last possible moment, and I really trust her vision for not
just my individual books but the Kimberly Belle brand as a whole. That’s one of
the many surprises I had when I began in this industry, that books really are a
team effort. Yes, I write the words, but my agent and editor and all the folks
at my publishing house creating covers and writing back copy are really helping
to elevate the book and make it as good as possible.</span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><b><u>What
are you working on now?</u></b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><b><u><br /></u></b></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">I’m
currently working on two projects: Desperate Deadly Widows, an Audible original
and second book in the Widows series, coauthored with Vanessa Lillie, Layne
Fargo and Cate Holahan. My solo book is The Paris Widow, a thriller about a
couple vacationing in Paris when the husband is killed, the victim of what
looks to be a freak accident—but when the gendarmerie point to him as the
target of the explosion, she begins to wonder what kind of man she married…and
worse, if his killers might be after her next.</span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><b><u>Is
anything in your book based on real-life experiences?</u></b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><b><u><br /></u></b></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Yes,
finally! I’ve been dying to write about my second hometown of Amsterdam, and in
The Paris Widow I got to set a scene there. I also based a character on a real
life Dutchman, an art detective known as “the Indiana Jones of the Art World”
for his remarkable recoveries of looted artifacts. My character in The Paris
Widow is the female version.</span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><b><u>What
are the downfalls of your writing career? The best parts?</u></b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><b><u><br /></u></b></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">So much of what happens
once we send a book out into the world is out of our control. Market trends,
publicity that doesn’t quite catch on, a pandemic that comes out of nowhere.
Success isn’t always predictable, and penning a bestseller often feels like a
mixture of hard work and pixie dust…which is why I’ve worked very hard to find
my tribe. Fellow authors who are not competition but a refuge. I use them as
sounding boards, brainstorm buddies, and accountability partners. I ask them
questions, get their advice, let them talk me off the ledge. They make this job
so much more fun and fulfilling.</span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><b><u>What
do you do to support other authors?</u></b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><b><u><br /></u></b></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Every
month, I choose my Top 5 favorite new releases and announce them via livestream
on Instagram and in the Facebook group Readers Coffeehouse. One lucky winner
goes home with all five books, so make sure to check it out on the last
Wednesday of every month at 11 am ET. And on the Killer Author Club, Kaira
Rouda, Heather Gudenkauf and I interview killer authors every other week in our
Facebook group and on YouTube, and we’ve recently started a monthly book club,
as well. All the links and past shows are at </span><b style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">killerauthorclub.com. </b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><u><br /></u></b></p><span style="color: cyan; font-family: arial; font-size: x-large; font-weight: 700;">Kaira~</span><div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><u>Tell us a little about
yourself and how you started writing.</u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">My first novel, </span><i style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Here,
Home, Hope</i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">,</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">published in 2011 and it
represented a lifelong dream come true. I knew I wanted to be an author in
third grade. Needless to say, it took a long time for the dream to happen, but
I never gave up. Resilience is the name of the game in publishing, and in life.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><u>What are some things
you enjoy when not writing?</u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">I love to travel,
especially with my family. We have four adult kids and any time we get to spend
with them is a treasure. I love to play pickleball with friends.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><u>Do you have a particular
writing routine?</u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;">I prefer to write in the
afternoon. But aside from that I just write.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><u>What career did you
think you’d have as an adult?</u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">I always wanted to be
an author, as I mentioned, and I also loved marketing. My dad was a marketing
professor in the business school for Harvard, Ohio State and UT so I always say
I earned a homeschooled MBA.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><u>What is something about
you that would surprise people?</u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">I lived in five states
growing up, and went to college in a sixth. I like that I had experiences
living all across the country. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><u>What
was the original title of this book?</u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><u><br /></u></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">The
original title of The Widow was The Widow’s Mandate. The tradition of The
Widow’s Mandate is what inspired the novel. First there was Mae Ella Nolan from
California who became a US Representative after her husband died in 1922.
Throughout the next century, 47 additional American women followed in her
footsteps most notable recently including Mary Bono, Sonny Bono’s wife, and
Cindy McCain, John McCain’s wife. Their husbands’ deaths made them widows. The
Widow’s Mandate made them politicians. When I realized that statistically
speaking, for women aspiring to serve in congress, the best husband has been a
dead husband. This notion could lead to the ultimate perilous power struggle.
And that’s where my story began. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><b><u>What
do you do to support other authors?</u></b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><b><u><br /></u></b></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">During
the pandemic, it was both isolating and frustrating not to be able to have book
events, especially around the launch of a new book. So my fellow authors,
Heather Gudenkauf and Kimberly Belle and I, got together and created the Killer
Author Club, a bimonthly show where we host suspense and thriller authors. It
was a great way to connect during the pandemic and we decided it is a fun way
to stay connected now. We have a private Facebook page – Killer Author
Clubhouse – that’s growing every day, and our YouTube channel, Killer Author
Club, is, too. For more, please visit our website: </span><a href="http://www.killerauthorclub.com/"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">www.killerauthorclub.com</span></a><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
</p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6egAm8UCFFLIV-8MK4avEFgCSDfPh6sWrxepWXtSOQ_PfiGDZccjaTMjdCIeopuo5DaT82gIT6Eks7LhEjxS43TKmCJssvXm2IQy3JF6lMVrvmhax40Y8OWmlvQtYquInC8H2ZR5l7ZkPvZsoUzfz7Jb2HXYAolexwc9c-ZwOVoJ8OBz2r-Th2RrTgw/s2476/Rouda-The%20Widow-30878-FT.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2476" data-original-width="1651" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6egAm8UCFFLIV-8MK4avEFgCSDfPh6sWrxepWXtSOQ_PfiGDZccjaTMjdCIeopuo5DaT82gIT6Eks7LhEjxS43TKmCJssvXm2IQy3JF6lMVrvmhax40Y8OWmlvQtYquInC8H2ZR5l7ZkPvZsoUzfz7Jb2HXYAolexwc9c-ZwOVoJ8OBz2r-Th2RrTgw/s320/Rouda-The%20Widow-30878-FT.jpg" width="213" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9mwhg3dQ8ED3Gj3kIbMg6s-dJdWC2kZP0YwVv4XCnAuMLjF7D1kwZkM7BMJDTlfdJKXPKoiXJqLFLy-POLwhTk7Z1fxf2B8qMny3VX7T1Cola4IioXywkso83Jh6v51XJ9xpw-ylaCh3WVlbLUcBURmtehew_Kdz84NA-Tc6YuKljCuCXngiO3Qnr_A/s3700/kimberly%20belle.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3700" data-original-width="2434" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9mwhg3dQ8ED3Gj3kIbMg6s-dJdWC2kZP0YwVv4XCnAuMLjF7D1kwZkM7BMJDTlfdJKXPKoiXJqLFLy-POLwhTk7Z1fxf2B8qMny3VX7T1Cola4IioXywkso83Jh6v51XJ9xpw-ylaCh3WVlbLUcBURmtehew_Kdz84NA-Tc6YuKljCuCXngiO3Qnr_A/s320/kimberly%20belle.jpg" width="211" /></a><br /><br /></div><br /><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><u>To connect with these authors:</u></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b style="background-color: white;"><span>Kimberly Belle:</span></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.kimberlybellebooks.com&source=gmail&ust=1669405742923000&usg=AOvVaw3FT_Vhmg354SXE1llJkZ-f" href="http://www.kimberlybellebooks.com/" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;" target="_blank">website</a><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;"> </span><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.instagram.com/kimberlysbelle&source=gmail&ust=1669405742923000&usg=AOvVaw3FtALYNl9RO11o6ZdMmn9I" href="https://www.instagram.com/kimberlysbelle" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;" target="_blank">instagram</a><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;"> </span><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.facebook.com/KimberlyBelleBooks/&source=gmail&ust=1669405742923000&usg=AOvVaw109LaDBvPEjAl4ePaCacoV" href="https://www.facebook.com/KimberlyBelleBooks/" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;" target="_blank">facebook</a><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;"> </span><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://twitter.com/KimberlySBelle&source=gmail&ust=1669405742923000&usg=AOvVaw3qc6WPPRhXb0ZX9KGjMq2q" href="https://twitter.com/KimberlySBelle" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;" target="_blank">twi<wbr></wbr>tter</a><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;"> </span><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.goodreads.com/KimberlyBelle&source=gmail&ust=1669405742923000&usg=AOvVaw0S-dwXfrxicTMftdg7j62v" href="https://www.goodreads.com/KimberlyBelle" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;" target="_blank">goodreads</a></span></p><blockquote style="background-color: white; font-size: small;" type="cite"><div dir="ltr"><span class="im"><div class="gmail_quote"><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0px 0px 0px 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;"><div style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"></div></span></span></span></div></blockquote></div></span></div></blockquote><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Kaira Rouda:</b></span></p><p><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.facebook.com/KairaRoudaBooks/&source=gmail&ust=1669384218049000&usg=AOvVaw2fAtxpNVxoPnFwvnwpGW-4" href="https://www.facebook.com/KairaRoudaBooks/" target="_blank"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial;">https://www.facebook.com/<wbr></wbr>KairaRoudaBooks/</span></a></p><div><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://twitter.com/KairaRouda&source=gmail&ust=1669384218049000&usg=AOvVaw1w-FOG47oizI-pdypSC7Pw" href="https://twitter.com/KairaRouda" target="_blank"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial;">https://twitter.com/KairaRouda</span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: black; font-family: arial;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.instagram.com/kairarouda/&source=gmail&ust=1669384218049000&usg=AOvVaw1FT3QyalyGNzkjDbURjsIr" href="https://www.instagram.com/kairarouda/" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/<wbr></wbr>kairarouda/</a><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>And check out the <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.killerauthorclub.com&source=gmail&ust=1669405742923000&usg=AOvVaw120wpHfcfiMwlxt7PiTPMZ" href="http://www.killerauthorclub.com/" target="_blank">Killer Author Club</a> </b></span></div><div style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2WbI-Fw3HZQC8-KC6fmCnscVk7CrFKb51jovUPld-OMdoapHT1CvHQkrkA8Eu_g9vB9c8QfXXaiUvzQaNBTNjl9vGgS7owg2T_4sPZ1m63022MDj6PNVi1qxDyqkF0-zjgVWaKwmYaRW6-kyDX5w67gjlzS7bm3a_jTa8E38iXH6PQNpRopV9QDcz2A/s1640/blog%20banner%203%20books%207-2022.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="924" data-original-width="1640" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2WbI-Fw3HZQC8-KC6fmCnscVk7CrFKb51jovUPld-OMdoapHT1CvHQkrkA8Eu_g9vB9c8QfXXaiUvzQaNBTNjl9vGgS7owg2T_4sPZ1m63022MDj6PNVi1qxDyqkF0-zjgVWaKwmYaRW6-kyDX5w67gjlzS7bm3a_jTa8E38iXH6PQNpRopV9QDcz2A/w400-h225/blog%20banner%203%20books%207-2022.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><b><br /></b></span></div><blockquote style="background-color: white; font-size: small;" type="cite"><div dir="ltr"><span class="im"><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="gmail_quote"></div></span></span></div></blockquote></div><div><blockquote style="background-color: white; font-size: small;" type="cite"><div dir="ltr"><span class="im"><div class="gmail_quote"><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0px 0px 0px 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;"><div style="font-family: Avenir; font-size: 14px;"><br /></div></blockquote></div></span></div></blockquote></div></div>Jill Hannah Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12007083642964545355noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3750342111299473419.post-46175168904302377092022-11-09T19:36:00.003-06:002022-11-09T19:37:43.476-06:00THE QUARRY GIRLS, by author JESS LOUREY (out 11/1!)<p><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><i><span class="a-text-bold" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box;">Killers hiding in plain sight. Small-town secrets. A girl who knows too much. From the Amazon Charts bestselling author of </span><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box;">Unspeakable Things</span><span class="a-text-bold" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box;"> and </span><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box;">Bloodline</span><span class="a-text-bold" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="box-sizing: border-box;"> comes a nerve-twisting novel inspired by a shocking true crime.</span></i></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Minnesota, 1977. For the teens of one close-knit community, summer means late-night swimming parties at the quarry, the county fair, and venturing into the tunnels beneath the city. But for two best friends, it’s not all fun and games.</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Heather and Brenda have a secret. Something they saw in the dark. Something they can’t forget. They’ve decided to never tell a soul. But their vow is tested when their friend disappears—the second girl to vanish in a week. And yet the authorities are reluctant to investigate.</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Heather is terrified that the missing girls are connected to what she and Brenda stumbled upon that night. Desperately searching for answers on her own, she learns that no one in her community is who they seem to be. Not the police, not the boys she met at the quarry, not even her parents. But she can’t stop digging because she knows those girls are in danger.</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: arial;">She also knows she’s next.</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></p><h3 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 4px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: normal;"><i><span style="color: #cc0000;">Reviews ~</span></i></span></h3><div class="a-section a-spacing-small a-padding-small" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 22px; padding: 6px 10px;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">“[</span><span class="a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic;">The Quarry Girls</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> is] one of the most anticipated thrillers of the fall season…[The] novel is about innocence lost, the unwritten rules of silence in small towns, what ‘broken men’ do to others, and what boys growing into men do in packs that they would never do alone. And then there’s the courage of one woman who will not allow herself to be killed.” </span><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">—</span><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;">St. Paul Pioneer Press</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">“Jess Lourey’s new novel </span><span class="a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic;">The Quarry Girls</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> is a love letter to Gen-Xers and Murderinos everywhere.” </span><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">—</span><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;">The Big Thrill</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">“Few authors can blend the genuine fear generated by a sordid tale of true crime with evocative, three-dimensional characters and mesmerizing prose like Jess Lourey. Her fictional stories feel rooted in a world we all know but also fear. </span><span class="a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic;">The Quarry Girls</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> is a story of secrets gone to seed, and Lourey gives readers her best novel yet—which is quite the accomplishment. Calling it: </span><span class="a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic;">The Quarry Girls</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> will be one of the best books of the year.” </span><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">—Alex Segura, acclaimed author of </span><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;">Secret Identity</span><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">, </span><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;">Star Wars Poe Dameron: Free Fall</span><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">, and </span><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;">Miami Midnight</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">“Jess Lourey once more taps deep into her Midwest roots and childhood fears with </span><span class="a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic;">The Quarry Girls</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">, an absorbing, true crime–informed thriller narrated in the compelling voice of young drummer Heather Cash as she and her bandmates navigate the treacherous and confusing ground between girlhood and womanhood one simmering and deadly summer. Lourey conveys the edgy, hungry restlessness of teen girls with a touch of Megan Abbott, while steadily intensifying the claustrophobic atmosphere of a small 1977 Minnesota town where darkness snakes below the surface.” </span><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">—Loreth Anne White, </span><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;">Washington Post</span><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;"> and Amazon Charts bestselling author of </span><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;">The Patient’s Secret</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">“Jess Lourey is a master of the coming-of-age thriller, and </span><span class="a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic;">The Quarry Girls</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> may be her best yet—as dark, twisty, and full of secrets as the tunnels that lurk beneath Pantown’s deceptively idyllic streets.” </span><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">—Chris Holm, Anthony Award–winning author of </span><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;">The Killing Kind</span></p></div><p><u style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>Author interview with Jess ~</i></span></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Tell us a little about
yourself and how you started writing.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #171815; font-family: Helvetica;">It all started when I was six. I wrote this
Minnesota haiku for my awesome grandpa: </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 16.8pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt; margin: 12pt 0in 16.8pt;"><span style="color: #171815; font-family: Helvetica;">Grandpas are full of love. Grandpas are full of tickles. But grandpas are especially full of pickles.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 16.8pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt; margin: 12pt 0in 16.8pt;"><span style="color: #171815; font-family: Helvetica;">People loved it. Aunts hugged me, cousins were
jealous, uncles asked me to immortalize them next. My poetry skills have not
evolved since that day, but the enchantment with words and their power grew
inside me like a watermelon seed. I wrote my first novel when I was 26. It was
also my Master’s thesis and featured three women traveling across the United
States, three women suspiciously like myself and the two best friends I had
taken a road trip with a couple years earlier. Like most first novels, it was
embarrassingly self-involved, full of overwritten description and twenty-pound dialogue
tags:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 16.8pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt; margin: 12pt 0in 16.8pt;"><span style="color: #171815; font-family: Helvetica;">"Why doesn't my alcoholic father accept
me for who I am?" Hannah asked pityingly, rubbing the burning, salty tears
from her chocolate brown eyes.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 16.8pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt; margin: 12pt 0in 16.8pt;"><span style="color: #171815; font-family: Helvetica;">Amazingly, no publisher would take a look at
the first three chapters. (The fact that I was submitting directly to
publishers shows just how green I was.) I tried some light revising, working
under the misconception that my work was great and the world just wasn't ready
for it yet. When the adding of more adjectives didn't net me a three-book deal,
I took a sabbatical from writing the Great American Novel and got a real job.
(By the way, I'm forever thankful it wasn't so easy to self-publish back then,
or that stinker would be out there, following me everywhere.) I ended up with
two Master's degrees, one in English and one in Sociology, and a teaching job
at Alexandria Technical and Community College while living in rural Battle
Lake.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 16.8pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt; margin: 12pt 0in 16.8pt;"><span style="color: #171815; font-family: Helvetica;">But, like most writers, I couldn't stop
thinking of book ideas, scribbling down sparks of description or snatches of conversation
that I overheard and would love to work into a story, feeling lazy and envious
when I read a fantastic novel. When a traumatic life event reminded me of the
true power of writing, I started penning MAY DAY, the first in my
Murder-by-Month mysteries for adults. Complete story here on that is here, in
my TEDx Talk: </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5vSLh3oPXI&t=2s"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Helvetica;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5vSLh3oPXI&t=2s</span></a><span style="color: #171815; font-family: Helvetica;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 16.8pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt; margin: 12pt 0in 16.8pt;"><span style="color: #171815; font-family: Helvetica;">It turned out mystery writing fit me well. I
enjoy structure, adventure, humor, justice. My first draft was complete, I
thought, at 45,000 words. Confident that I had found my niche, I sent out 50
query letters and received 50 rejections. I researched the field, poring over
the Mystery Writers of America and Sisters in Crime websites, reading all that
Preditors and Editors had to offer me, camping out in Jeff Herman's fantastic
reference book as well as the Literary Marketplace and AAR. Out of all those
resources, two points stuck with me: no one would read a book shorter than
50,000 words, and if you're writing a mystery, publishers only want series.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 16.8pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt; margin: 12pt 0in 16.8pt;"><span style="color: #171815; font-family: Helvetica;">I hired a freelance editor and pumped MAY DAY
up to 52,000 words. Next, I wrote JUNE BUG. Then I implemented my systematic
plan to wear down the publishing behemoth. I sent out 200 query letters. When
the rejections started trickling in, I sent out 150 more. Not an agent or small
press was spared. If they represented mysteries, they were queried.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 16.8pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt; margin: 12pt 0in 16.8pt;"><span style="color: #171815; font-family: Helvetica;">If you're keeping score, that was three books
written, zero books published. Why did I put so much effort into this? Because
when I write, I feel like I'm in the right place at the right time. How did I
know MAY DAY and JUNE BUG didn't suck on five different levels like my first
novel? Because they were inspired by crucible experiences and I had done the
research, including reading nearly forty books in the mystery genre. I had
studied what made them great, and I had sought out and adhered to feedback from
a reliable and well-recommended editor.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 16.8pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt; margin: 12pt 0in 16.8pt;"><span style="color: #171815; font-family: Helvetica;">Finally, a bite. I found an agent. We never
met -- she lived out west on a commune, where she edited technical manuals and
studied the healing power of crystals. After six months and a handful of offers
from publish-on-demand companies, we parted ways amicably. I found another
agent shortly after that, and after a year of rejections from New York
publishing houses, she found my books a home with Midnight Ink, an innovative
new imprint of a respected Minnesota publishing house. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 16.8pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt; margin: 12pt 0in 16.8pt;"><span style="color: #171815; font-family: Helvetica;">MAY DAY was released in March of 2006, happily
received critical acclaim, and is available anywhere you can buy books. The
rest of the series followed—12 books total, all set in Battle Lake. I love
reading and writing mysteries, but in 2008, around the time my kids started
reading chapter books, I realized that there is this amazing genre called young
adult (YA). I started devouring my kids' books (figuratively speaking, munch
munch bwahaaa, crazy mom), and somewhere in there, the kernel for my own YA
trilogy sprouted. I called the series THE TOADHOUSE TRILOGY, and the first in
the series Book One (Yes. I know). Alas, although my agent loved Book One, she
couldn't sell it, and so began my odyssey into the world of self-publishing. I
also ended up self-publishing THE CATALAIN BOOK OF SECRETS, which is set in a
fictionalized version of Fergus Falls (I call it Faith Falls in the book).<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">I moved to my current agent
in, I believe, 2012. I loved my other agent, and we still hang out when I’m in
New York, but business-wise, she and I were not an ideal fit. My current agent
and I, though? It’s magic. With her help (as well as an incredible editing team
at Thomas & Mercer), I had my breakout book in 2021 with <i>Unspeakable
Things,</i> a thriller inspired by my time growing up in Paynesville in
the 1980s, when boys were getting abducted and returned. My next three
thrillers—Bloodline, Litani, and The Quarry Girls—are also inspired by
Minnesota true crimes. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 16.8pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt; margin: 12pt 0in 16.8pt;"><span style="color: #171815; font-family: Helvetica;">I've written two books a year since 2006, and
I write whatever story idea captures my mind at the time, regardless of genre.
As of today, I'm at over 400 rejections, twenty-one novels, and one nonfiction
book. Most people would have given up a while ago with those odds, and there is
a word for those type of people: sensible. The rest of us, we're called
writers.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif">What are some things
you enjoy when not writing?</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">I absolutely love to
read and travel. Now that I’m writing full-time, I’ve got more time for both.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #222222;">Do you have a particular writing
routine?</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #222222;">I’m under contract to write
two books a year, so I have to be disciplined. Or, I <i>should</i> be
disciplined, and mostly I am. </span><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: Wingdings;">J</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #222222;"> I try to write in the
morning because if I meet my goals for the day, it makes everything else more
pleasant. I usually spend two-three weeks outlining a book using my Book in a
Bag method (<i><b>https://www.etsy.com/listing/884177250/book-in-a-bag-kityour-bestseller-is-in</b></i>) </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">and then another two-three months writing it. Once I have my first draft done,
I sit on it for a week, edit it, then send it on to a freelance editor I hire
and my agent. After I get and make their edits, I send it to my publisher.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #222222;">Is there anything major that
changed in this novel from when you first plotted it out?</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">When I wrote the first draft
of </span><i style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">The Quarry Girls</i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">, Beth—who turned out to be a central character—was
never in the book. She didn’t enter the scene until I was in first round edits
and was lucky to catch Mare of Easttown on TV. Watching that show made me realize
my story was missing a ticking time clock. That’s when Beth showed up.
Surprisingly, it didn’t require a major rewrite to add her. It’s like the story
was waiting for her…</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #222222;">Finish this: “I</span></b><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222;"> can’t write without…”</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222;">An outline. I’ve tried because it seems so
very creative and free to be a pantser, but I need my plots before I can write.
I never follow them exactly, but they’re my security blanket.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif">What career did you
think you’d have as an adult?</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">I thought I’d be a
psychologist because growing up, I was surrounded by so many people struggling
with their mental health. I am forever grateful that I ended up with my dream
career of being a full-time writer.</span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Do
you have a ‘day job’ as well?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">In August
2021, I retired from 22 years as a college professor to write full-time. I
loved so much about teaching, but I don’t miss the grading. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif">What
was the original title of this book? <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><i><span face="Arial, sans-serif">The
Deep Dark Below</span></i><span face="Arial, sans-serif">.
I’m terrible at coming up with book titles, and I’m glad my publisher passed on
this one.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif">How
do you market your work?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">When
I first dreamed of becoming an author, I never realized how much marketing it
would take. I have a publicist and marketing team who handle the big picture
stuff; that leaves me to send out a regular newsletter and post regularly to
social media. I also send out about 100 promo boxes when I have a new book. For
my indie-pubbed books, I add BookBub feature deals, Facebook ads, and Amazon
ads to the marketing to-do list.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif">What
are you working on now?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">I
just turned in edits on The Taken Ones, a new series I’m writing for Thomas
& Mercer. It introduces Agents Reed and Steinbeck of the Minneapolis BCA,
and it has a touch of paranormal a la <i>The X Files</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif">What
is a bestselling book you’ve been itching to read?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">I
just bought Barbara Kingsolver’s latest release, Demon Copperhead, and can’t
wait to dive in!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Is
there anything you’d like to say to your readers and fans?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Thank
you for your time and support! This wouldn’t be nearly as much fun without you.</span></p><p><i style="background-color: white; font-family: arial;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000;">To connect with Jess ~</span></b></i></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Facebook: <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.facebook.com/jessloureyauthor&source=gmail&ust=1668105511004000&usg=AOvVaw1EA0nGr0WwfXhSfhIWLiyS" href="https://www.facebook.com/jessloureyauthor" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">https://www.<wbr></wbr>facebook.com/jessloureyauthor</a></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Twitter: <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://twitter.com/jesslourey&source=gmail&ust=1668105511004000&usg=AOvVaw1wF2kYsbKFnUIla2Sh8WmK" href="https://twitter.com/jesslourey" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">https://twitter.com/<wbr></wbr>jesslourey</a></div><div style="background-color: white; 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text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p>Jill Hannah Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12007083642964545355noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3750342111299473419.post-36315287711320203442022-10-24T19:15:00.000-05:002022-10-24T19:15:07.729-05:00WHEN WE WERE FRIENDS, by author NANCY YEAGER (debuts 10/25!)<p><span style="color: #10b5ce; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; font-style: italic;"><b>They were best friends. Sisters of the heart. Partners in crime. Until they got caught…</b></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Five years ago, Frannie Willets committed grand larceny to help her best friend, Lexi Maddox, escape an awful situation. Now paroled and prospectless, Frannie needs to disappear from her dead-end life. To do so, she’ll need her share of the stolen money that Lexi has been hiding all these years. But Lexi has other plans.</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">By all appearances, Lexi is thriving, but in truth, nothing in her life is going according to plan. She can’t carry a pregnancy to term, her sweet stepdaughter hates her, and even the family’s new rescue dog knows she’s a failure. Lexi’s only path to happiness is making amends with the friend she dearly misses. But the only thing Frannie wants from Lexi is cash.</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Out of desperation, Lexi offers Frannie all the money, with one catch: Frannie must stick around for one month. Stranded in their suffocating small town, Frannie gets tangled up in Lexi’s issues, her mother’s questionable dating life, a lonely kid’s desperate attempts to find friends and a high-school crush’s fantasies about what could have been. Suddenly, leaving doesn’t look as easy as it once did. But when an old enemy surfaces, Frannie realizes her staying endangers everyone she loves. And even though she might have found her heart’s true home, there’s no guarantee she can keep it.</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: #10b5ce; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><h3 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 4px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><i><span style="color: #10b5ce;">Reviews~</span></i></span></h3><div class="a-section a-spacing-small a-padding-small" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 22px; padding: 6px 10px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">"A touching tale of the ability of friendship to weather adversity and heartache. In order to become best friends again, Frannie and Lexi must confront their pasts and conquer their demons all while dealing with family issues, a misbehaving mutt, and a high school crush." - Maria V. Snyder, </span><span class="a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic;">New York Times</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> bestselling author of </span><span class="a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic;">Poison Study</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />"How far you would go for your best friend? Prison? In the compelling </span><span class="a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic;">When We Were Friends</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">, Nancy Yeager explores how trauma, a fateful decision, and a cache of stolen money can test the bonds of friendship. Add in a touch of romance and an irredeemable villain, and you have the recipe for your next weekend read." - Jennifer Klepper, USA Today Bestselling author of </span><span class="a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic;">Unbroken Threads</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />"Told in dual timelines where the innocence of a childhood friendship must stand up to the rigors of adulthood and all its complicated ugliness, Yeager spins a bold tale of truth and lies and peppers it with a passion that will leave you breathless." - Barbara Conrey, USA Today bestselling author of </span><span class="a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic;">Nowhere Near Goodbye </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">and </span><span class="a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic;">My Secret to Keep</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /> <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />"Taut, intricate and ultimately warm-hearted, WHEN WE WERE FRIENDS is one of the best girlfriend friendship stories I've read. Yeager's romance chops are on full titillating display when Frannie is re-introduced to an old crush. Escalating danger, accelerating romance—[this book] is one fun, precipitous ride! - </span><span class="a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic;">Read+Worthy Reviews</span></div><div class="a-section a-spacing-small a-padding-small" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 22px; padding: 6px 10px;"><u style="background-color: transparent; color: #10b5ce; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><i><b>Author interview with Nancy ~</b></i></u></div><p><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Tell us a little about
yourself and how you started writing.</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">The important things
about me are laid out in my official author bio: I write historical romances,
contemporary romantic suspense, and women’s fiction books. When I’m not
reading, writing, or binge-watching stories, I’m often pursuing physical goals
like completing 90-day fitness challenges and aspiring to achieve the perfect
crow pose. I also spend my time drinking too much coffee, not enough red wine,
and just the right amount of bourbon. I live in Maryland with my husband and
our spoiled rescue cats, not too far from my adult daughter and son-in-law.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">As for writing, it was
the first thing I ever wanted to do, but I followed a circuitous path. I
studied sciences and pursued other careers. Perhaps unsurprisingly, though, I was
often recognized for my writing skills and eventually hired for new positions
because of them. Along the way, I decided to pursue fiction writing on the
side.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Shortly after I made
that decision, I was visiting my hometown, about an hour from where I live, and
walked into a bookstore where a local author was speaking. After her
presentation, I asked her if she knew of any local writing groups. I don’t know
why I thought that was the time or place to ask that question, but she had an
answer and gave me the name and phone number of another writer. I called that
stranger, learned about and started attending a monthly critique group, and
eventually attended semi-annual writing retreats with them. It took me a long
time to realize I also needed to study my craft and pursue more formal
training, but from that wonderful, supportive group, I learned the basics of
fiction writing and formed my first author friendships.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Is there anything major that
changed in this novel from when you first plotted it out?</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;">There have been two major changes
in the novel since the early draft. The first came before I sent the book out
on submission. I knew there was something missing in the story, but I couldn’t
put my finger on it. I started fiddling with the structure and added a second
timeline, and finally the story clicked for me.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;">Weirdly, though, while the
“now” of the story was written in third-person point of view, the earlier
timeline was written in first-person. When my editor at the publishing house
asked me why I’d used first-person, my only answer was that it had come to me
in that voice. I’ll fight to keep something I think is integral to a story, but
that reasoning sounded lame, even to me, so I agreed to change it. Thus began
the second major revision, which moved the earlier timeline into third-person
perspective. During that revision, I also changed one significant plot points,
but that will have to be my little secret because I can’t explain it without
revealing spoilers.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">If I had to spend a week on a deserted island,
I would need…</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;">Let’s see… Indoor plumbing, running water,
electricity, my own pillow. What can I say? I’m a comfort hound. Maybe it would
be best just to send me to Richard Branson’s private island some week when he’s
not using it.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">What is something about
you that would surprise people?</span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">I
think people who don’t know me or have just met me IRL don’t realize what a
klutz I am. Maybe because I’m small, the size of a ballerina or a gymnast, they
think I’m graceful like those athletes. Meanwhile, I regularly trip over pets, sidewalk
cracks, and occasionally, my own feet. I get minor injuries during workouts all
the time. Then there was the time I fell <i>up</i> the stairs and broke a
finger.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">What
was the original title of this book? <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Originally,
this was was going to be a caper book. The main characters were going to be a
less destructive, and less doomed version of Thelma and Louise. The title of
that book was <i>Take the Money and Run</i>. That idea didn’t survive the trip
from my brain to the page, and once I realized I’d written a friendship story
with a colorful cast of secondary characters and a strong romantic subplot, I
knew I had to change the title.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Is
there a particular author or book that influenced or inspired your writing or
decision to write?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">I
owe a lot to Dr. Seuess! I was about four years old when I realized he was a
person whose job was to write books. I think I asked my mom multiple times if
that was really something you could do when you grew up. Books were my favorite
things in the world, so if being an author was an option, I was all in.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">What
are you working on now?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">I
don’t like to say too much about books-in-progress, but I’m very excited about
my current commercial fiction project. It’ about a group of women who are
friends through their suburban book club. Of the two main characters, one is in
politics and the other is a “mommy influencer.” The book group members read a
high-profile book by a hot new author, draw undue attention to themselves,
nearly derail the author’s book tour, and get themselves cancelled on social
media. And that’s just the beginning of their problems.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">What
would your dream job be if you didn’t write books? (assuming this is your dream
job!)<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Truly,
the very first thing I ever wanted to be was an author, so I’ve come full
circle now. But I’ve taken a lot of detours. As a teenager, I wanted to be a
vet, and I started my college career as a biochemistry major with a pre-vet
advisory. I also loved archaeology, which is a subfield of anthropology. In my
second year of college, I changed my major to and ultimately earned my degree
in anthropology.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Another
subject I’ve loved since childhood is astrophysics, although I could not have
told you that was the name of the field when I was six and desperately wanted
to be an astronaut. I’m still a big NASA fan and delight over every new
collated image that comes in from the space telescopes.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">What
was some unique research you had to do for a book?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">I
have a romance series set in Victorian England, and in one of the books (<i>Four
Corners of Heaven</i>), the female protagonist is trying to get into medical
school. Among the subjects I researched for that book were Victorian-era
surgery (yikes!), the Edinburgh Seven (the first class of women medical
students at the University of Edinburgh), and all the hoped-for and abandoned
medical uses of the poison curare.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Favorite
band or music? <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">I
am a lifelong, die-hard Beatles fan, even though I’m not old enough to remember
when they were still together as a band. And of course I have a favorite
Beatle! It’s Paul, and not just because he was the cute one and I’m shallow. I
also love that he’s a huge reader, and I think that love of story comes through
in his music and creative projects. But also, he was (and still is) super cute!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Is
there anything you’d like to say to your readers and fans?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">To
my biggest fan, I’d like to say, “Hi Mom!” To other readers, I’ll just say that
if you like stories about strong women weathering life’s ups and downs with
grit, determination, humor, and snark, you should check out my books. Also, I
love to hear from readers, so feel free to drop me a line. </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><b><i><span style="color: #10b5c3;">To connect with Nancy ~</span></i></b></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #0b5394; font-size: 12pt;"><b>nancyyeagerbooks.com</b></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #0b5394; 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