Sunday, February 19, 2012

SIX SENTENCE SUNDAY - 2/19/12

Another Sunday, another six sentence snippet from my Oscar-themed novel, BLAME IT ON THE FAME!  This week's offering is an exchange between indie actress and Academy Award nominee Jordan Schaeffer and her mother, Lisa Merrin, the divalicious former Bond babe who already has her own gold statue.  Although Lisa's thrilled that her daughter is following in her illustrious footsteps by receiving an Oscar nod, she's not so thrilled that Jordan was nominated for a role in a depressing film where she played a burn victim who wasn't miraculously restored to her former beauty in the final act.

*   *   *   *   *

“Reality be damned!” Lisa proclaimed as she flung her two-thousand-dollar limited-edition Louis Vuitton handbag on to the couch.  “People want happy endings.  Look at the movie I won my Oscar for.  My character may have been a drug-addicted prostitute, but she helped Bobby DeNiro catch a serial killer and he fell in love with her.”

“Very romantic,” Jordan snarked.
     
“At least, I looked good in the movie, and before you make another snide comment, sparkly blue eye shadow and spandex hot pants were a valid fashion statement back in the ‘70s.”   

*   *   *   *   *

Thanks so much for stopping by to take a look at my six sentence snippet!  Be sure to check out the work of all the other wonderful writers who participated this week at Six Sunday or search for the hashtag #sixsunday on Twitter.


Purchase BLAME IT ON THE FAME at AMAZON and SMASHWORDS



Friday, February 17, 2012

AUTHOR INTERVIEW - HEATHER THURMEIER

I have a very special guest here today at Books by Banister - Heather Thurmeier, author of the recently released contemporary romance Love on Landing.  I met Heather on Twitter (shout-out to #ChickLitChat!), and she is such a fun, interesting, and creative lady.  In fact, she was the one who came up with the brilliant idea that the two of us should interview each other using the same set of questions.  When you're done reading all of her great answers, I invite you to pop over to Heather's Site and read my interview there.

Without further ado, I give you the lovely Heather Thurmeier . . .



1) Can you give us a brief overview of Love on Landing?

Love on Landing is the second book in my Meadow Ridge Romance series (although books can be read completely independently of the others). Here’s the blurb!

When Tali tries to recover from a recent break-up with a trip to Paris for some retail therapy, she discovers shopping isn’t the only way to cure her broken heart. On route, she meets new pilot, Gavin. Tali and Gavin have instant chemistry and friction as their personalities clash at 30,000 feet.

One night in bed isn’t enough to quell the fireworks between Tali and Gavin and when tempers erupt, Tali’s ex-boyfriend is there to pick up the pieces. Too bad she’s finally realized what she really wants in life… and it isn’t her ex or the life her father has planned back home.

Now all Tali wants is the man who loved her enough to tell her what she didn’t want to hear, but can she win his heart back again on the trip home and find Love on Landing?

2) What's your favorite quality about your hero/heroine?

My favorite quality about Gavin is his take-charge attitude. I love that he’s confident enough in his abilities to pilot a plane. He knows exactly who he is and what he wants in life and is driven to achieve his goals. And his five o’clock shadow doesn’t hurt either. ;) My favorite quality about Tali is her sensitive creative side. She may come off as a bit of a diva, but there’s a lot more to Tali that you think.

3) What made you want to write this book?

When I wrote the first in the series (Love and Lattes) I introduced Tali since she was Julia’s best friend. I really liked the little bit we got to know about Tali and I knew there was more to her than I thought. I really wanted to help her find her man, so I wrote her story!

4) What are you working on now?

I always have a few projects on the go. One is contemporary romance and the other is a light paranormal romance.

5) What comes first for you -- character idea, plot idea?

Either. Every idea I get for a story seems to have a different origin. Sometimes I get hit with an idea for an interesting character and then the story develops around them. Other times I get an intriguing idea for a plot that I’d just love to tell and the more I think about it, the more the characters come into focus. Either way, I usually spend a good amount of time asking myself questions about who, what, when, where and why.

6) How do you think of titles?

Titles are tricky! With each of my books so far, I really had to brainstorm for the right title. I usually write down a bunch of words that I associate with the storyline then try to build titles off of those. Usually the title while I write the book is not the title that I publish the book with. However, Love on Landing is an exception to that. I thought of the title right away then brainstormed for other ideas, but this title just stuck.

7) What are your thoughts on love scenes in books?  Do you prefer to read/write sweet/romantic encounters between your hero and heroine or spicy ones?

I’m definitely a romantic! I like it when there’s some lead up to the hero and heroine getting together. I want the tension and romance and anticipation to get so big that you’re just cheering for them to hook up already! Then when they do finally get together, I like it to be sweet with a little spice and that’s what I try to give my readers. But each couple sort of charts their own path. Sometimes it’s spicier than others!

8) Who are the authors who inspire you?

There are so many wonderful authors that I’ve read. I don’t know if I can list just one or two. I really think that with every single book I read, I find some sort of inspiration from the author. Sometimes an author's writing or characters or plot is just so amazing that I walk away from the book inspired to challenge myself more as a writer, to push myself farther than I have before. I don’t really read for just pleasure anymore!

9) What genres do you like to read?  Do you stick to one or are you eclectic in your reading tastes?

I’m a bit eclectic. I read a lot of romance—contemporary, paranormal are my favorites—but I also read YA, urban fantasy and dystopian/post-apocalyptic. About the only thing I don’t read is horror or stories with dark content.

10) What was the last book you read that really WOW'd you?

There are two that I can think of and they’re both series. One was the Lucky Harbor series by Jill Shalvis. The other was the Fever series by Karen Marie Moning. Both series are so good and so completely different from the other!

11) Do you prefer a series or stand alone novels?

I definitely prefer series. I love when I fall in love with a set of characters and get to read about them for a few books.

12) If you could be plopped down in the middle of any book, which one would it be?

Any of the paranormal romances I’ve read. I love the thought that there could be paranormal creatures living alongside us. I love believing that there is more to this world than we see.

13) If you could invite any five people (living or dead) over for a dinner party, who would they be and why?

Josh Holloway, because he’s super hot and his voice would make dinner conversation sound so much more delicious.
Stephen King, because he’s just too interesting not to meet him.
Dalai lama, because I could use a little more infinite wisdom in my life.
JK Rowling, because I’d love to know more about the Harry Potter world.
My grandmother, because I miss her.

Fast and Flirty:
Favorite word?  Awesomesauce
Dream vacation spot?  A tropical island
Favorite time period in history?  Yesterday. I like living in the now, not the past.
Favorite girl's night out drink?  Frozen strawberry margarita
Favorite date night activity?  Dinner and a movie
Coffee or tea or soda?  Coffee, black with sugar.
Strong but lean or built and burly?  Strong but lean.
Scruffy or clean-shaven?  Scruffy.
Dark-haired or blond?  Either. Or bald. Whatevs.
Celebrity Hottie on your laminated list?  Josh Holloway (Sawyer from LOST)
Novel hero crush?  Noah from The Notebook

Purchase Heather's wonderful books:









Sunday, February 12, 2012

SIX SENTENCE SUNDAY - 2/12/12

Thanks for stopping by to read this week's six sentence snippet (try saying that five times fast!) from my Chick Lit novel, BLAME IT ON THE FAME.  My book follows the journey of the five fictional ladies who've been nominated for Best Actress at the 2012 Oscars, from the moment they receive the news right up to the big night when the envelope is ripped open and the winner's name is revealed.  One of these nominees is supermodel-turned-film star Anaya Reynolds.  She's young, she's brash, she likes to party, and she's always feuding with someone.  In the following excerpt, a hungover Anaya has been rudely awakened by her manager, Robert.  He wants her to figure out where she is so that he can pick her up and get her to the set on time, but she'd rather debate the merits of one of her most valuable assets.


*  *  *  *  *


"I have a great ass, an ass that sold eight million pairs of True Religion lo-rise jeans.  My ass brought dark wash denim back," Anaya reminded Robert as she left the apartment and staggered down the corridor towards a bank of elevators.

"I stand corrected.  You have an amazing ass.  We should have it bronzed for posterity."
      
"I think JLo already did that with hers and I'll be damned if I'm gonna copy that uppity, no-talent heifer."

*  *  *  *  *

Be sure to check out Six Sentence Sunday to read snippets from the works of some fabulous authors or search for the hashtag #sixsunday on Twitter.


Find BLAME IT ON THE FAME on SMASHWORDS and AMAZON





Friday, February 10, 2012

GUEST POST - AUTHOR JENNA ANDERSON

I'm so pleased to have Jenna Anderson, author of Off Leash and Healing Touch, here on Books by Banister today.  All of you dog-lovers will love her post!


A Pooch Named Phoebe

Thank you for having me on your blog today, Tracie.  I’m always happy to hang out with other writers and readers.

I thought I’d talk a little bit about the inspiration for my latest release, Off Leash.  She’s a cute little doggie named Phoebe.  A purebred Bichon Frise - although this picture is showing her wilder side:



She was the first dog I ever owned.  My husband is deathly allergic to cats.  When we bought our first house we knew felines were out.  Actually, early on in our relationship, he secretly went in for allergy shots.  He planned to end the series of clinic visits with a trip to the pet store.  How sweet is that!?  Unfortunately, he ended up in the emergency room not once but twice!  Can you say super sweet!  Even after the first ER visit he was bound and determined to get over his cat allergies just so I could get one.

Awwwww.  Love that guy.

Back to Phoebe.  She is no longer with us, but I have fond memories of our time together. She loved to run laps around the couch, dig in the dirt, and sleep on her back with her legs twitching above her.  She could even read minds.  You think I’m kidding?  I swear she knew when I was thinking about going for a walk.  I wouldn’t flinch, look at the leash, or move a muscle.  All I had to do was think - walk - and BAM!  She’d be flying all over the house in a tizzy.

No one believed me or my husband when we told them, so we stopped telling them.  Until…my college-aged niece came to house and dog sit for us for a week.  We left her instructions on feeding, securing the house, etc.  All went well and we returned to an intact abode and happy pet.  She hesitated on her way out and my husband and I were a bit concerned.  She finally said, “You’re going to think I’m crazy, but I think Phoebe can read minds.”  We assured her she wasn’t crazy and that our dog was a very special little girl.

My latest title, Off Leash, is the story of a purebred pooch on her way to meet Charles the Conqueror - the ‘date’ all set and paid for.  Her owner, Candice, is hoping for a nice litter of puppies.  Things don’t go quite as planned.  Candice gets lost in the Indiana countryside and Phoebe decides to go - off leash.  There isn’t any mindreading in this story - just a lost city gal, a cute farmer, and a mangy mutt named Jack who is in the right place at the right time.

Thanks again for having me, Tracie.


More about the author:



Jenna Anderson ~

I'm a fulltime mom, wife, sister, & friend.  Throw in a little housework and the need to watch every episode of Forensic Files & I guess you could call me a busy woman.  There are just not enough hours in the day.  My escape is writing.  I hope you enjoy reading my stories as much as I enjoy writing them.

Jenna's titles:




Where you can find Jenna:
FACEBOOK

Sunday, February 5, 2012

SIX SENTENCE SUNDAY - 2/5/12

It's Six Sentence Sunday here on Books by Banister, and that means I get to share a little snippet from my recently released Chick Lit novel, BLAME IT ON THE FAME, with you.  My book tells the story of the five nominees for Best Actress at this year's Academy Awards.  One of these nominees is British stage actress, Philippa Sutcliffe.  Philippa's caught between a rock and a hard six-pack when she's forced by the studio to go out and promote her Oscar-nominated film with her co-star and former lover, Miles McCrae.  The first stop on their Reconciliation Tour is a chat show called "Eye on London," where the combative exes come face-to-face for the first time since their acrimonious break-up . . .


*  *  *  *  *

“You look good, Phil.  You’ve put on some weight . . .,” his eyes traveled up and down her body, which was encased in a form-fitting wrap dress that showed off every womanly curve, “. . . in all the right places.”


“Well, you look like hell,” she commented waspishly after taking note of his rumpled hair, unshaven face, and drooping eyelids.  “Did you even bother going to bed last night?”
     
“Oh, I went to bed.  I just didn’t get any sleep.”  

*  *  *  *  *  


Thanks for stopping by!  Be sure to check out Six Sentence Sunday to read snippets from the works of some fabulous authors or search for the hashtag #sixsunday on Twitter.


BLAME IT ON THE FAME can be purchased on Amazon and Smashwords