Sloane has always been the complete opposite of her fanciful, sweet-natured twin. While Willa's head is perpetually in the clouds, Sloane's feet are firmly planted on the ground where things are logical, concrete, and definable. The reason she loves numbers so much is because there's always a solution in math, and it can be found with the right formula and good reasoning skills. Sloane's mathematical prowess led her to Stanford, where she graduated with honors and multiple degrees. She's now employed as a forensic accountant at one of the top firms in San Francisco. People in her line of work are considered to be the "CSI of the accounting world," and Sloane loves the investigative aspect of what she does. "Numbers don't lie. People do." is emblazoned on her coffee cup at work, and that pretty much sums up (Ha!) her life's credo.
Sloane's ambition and obsession with her work do not leave her much time for a personal life, which is fine by her as she thinks relationships are "exhausting," "aggravating," and "a waste of time." The only use she has for men is in the bedroom. Beyond that, she doesn't want to deal with them and she can't comprehend why her sister is such a starry-eyed romantic.
Author's Notes: I can barely balance my checkbook, so I went out on a limb making one of my heroines in this book a math whiz. Fortunately, I do have access to several left-brained people as my brother and one of my beta readers have CPA experience, and my mother works in banking/finance. So, thank you to those folks for answering all my questions about the accounting world. In doing research for this book, I discovered that forensic work is pretty fascinating stuff. These people are responsible for bringing a lot of white-collar criminals to justice. Lest it be forgotten, it was an accountant who brought down Al Capone!
Like many highly intelligent individuals, Sloane is in her head a lot and doesn't have much patience for those who aren't as focused, productive, and quick-thinking as she is. I got a big kick out of writing her
running commentary about how incompetent and/or useless many of the
people she encounters during the course of the book are (I do love biting, observational humor!) Sloane doesn't hesitate to give credit where it's due, though. She often says Willa is just as smart as she is, but bemoans the fact that her twin doesn't apply herself (Of course, she thinks the pet psychic thing is ridiculous.)
Despite her prickliness, Sloane does have many commendable qualities. She is fiercely loyal and protective of her sister, shoulders the financial responsibility of keeping her family's historic home out of the creditors' hands (something her mother and sister don't want to deal with), and cares very deeply about doing right by her clients. If Sloane were a "real" person, she's someone I'd want to have on my side. God love Willa, but she is a bit scattered.
Sloane Quotes (non-spoilery): "No matter how much you want it to be, life isn't a Hallmark movie, Willa"
"I always consider it to be a good day at work when someone calls me a 'bitch.'"
"Gavin Shaw Dumps Another Blonde Bimbo . . . that's been the headline of so many of my diary entries since you hit puberty."
"Don't you dare mention The Evil One's name, or I will reach through this phone and smack the stubble off your face."
Casting: I'm feeling Victoria Justice as Teen Sloane and Jaimie Alexander as Adult Sloane. Of course, both ladies would have to sport glasses when playing the character as she's horribly hyperopic (far-sighted). Willa is too, but she prefers contacts.
Check back here tomorrow when I'll be giving you the scoop on the Men of Twin Piques and take a look at Sloane's Pinterest board where you'll find a few surprises, like who her celebrity crush was during her teen years.
The release date for Twin Piques is fast approaching (Two days and counting!), so I wanted to introduce you to the characters who populate this book. Hopefully, you'll enjoy spending time with them as much as I did! Let's start with the eldest (by six minutes) of the Tobin twins, Willa . . .
One might say that Willa is a little eccentric. She's a pet psychic by trade, enjoys wearing retro fashion, always carries a silly, smile-inducing purse (ladybug, Hello Kitty, and banana split handbags all have a place in her wardrobe), and is an unrelenting optimist in a world full of cynics. Described by others as "charming, "adorable," and "delightfully whimsical," Willa is liked, if not understood, by everyone she meets. Because of her "gift," she's very empathetic and strives to see the good in all people, even going so far as to make excuses for those who've wronged her, which drives her less forgiving sister crazy. Willa does have a long history of being taken advantage of by men, but she wants to believe in love and happily-ever-after so badly that she keeps on risking her heart in hopes that one of the frogs she kisses will turn out to be her prince.
Author's Notes: Willa is the sweetest character I've ever written for, which proved to be a challenge as I am not naturally as kindhearted and non-judgmental as she is. It was fun to shift my brain into a different gear to get into her perpetually sunny mindset, though. I feel like I really learned something from this character. A positive attitude can take you a long way, and if you project happiness, it will usually reflect back on to you.
The one aspect of the Willa character I related to very strongly was her deep and abiding love of animals, especially dogs. Like Willa's canine bestie, Cicero, my dogs are colorful characters who are full of personality and have a variety of unique quirks. I am always wondering what they're thinking, and that's why I thought it would be fun to write for a character who believes she can read animals' thoughts (Whether or not Willa can actually do this or if she just imagines she can, I will let you decide!)
I should note that I did visit a pet psychic with two of my dogs as research for Twin Piques. I'm sorry to say that it was an underwhelming experience. I was expecting a Patrick Jane (The Mentalist) type psychic who would put on a show and "wow" me with her observations, but what I got was someone who just asked a lot of questions, then made innocuous comments that really didn't help me gain any insight into my furry friends. So, I decided to take creative license and ramp up the fun factor when I wrote about Willa's unusual ability and her sessions with clients in the book.
Willa Quotes (non-spoilery): "I don't plan things like my sister does. I just follow my heart."
"I'm elated, ecstatic, on cloud nine, can't stop smiling, have been dancing around the apartment for the last half-hour; Cicero thinks I've lost it."
"Just because casual hook-ups aren't my thing, it doesn't mean I can't grasp the concept of them."
"Last time Cicero and I came by for a visit, the mean, old guard in the lobby wouldn't let us up, even though I promised to carry Cicero the whole time we were in the building. It was very upsetting to encounter that kind of canine prejudice."
Casting: Willa (and Sloane) are slim and leggy, with big eyes and long, dark hair. It's hard to think of an actress who could convincingly play sweet, friendly Willa as well as brainy tough cookie Sloane, but I think Thor actress Jaimie Alexander could pull it off.
Since there are several flashback scenes to the twins' childhood and adolescence in the book, I feel like I should cast a Teen Willa/Sloane, too. I vote for former Nickelodeon star Victoria Justice.
I'll be back later today to give you the scoop on Willa's sister, Sloane. Remember, Twin Piques will be out this Wednesday, January 7th, and you can read all about the Tobin twins then!
Meanwhile, I invite you to check out this Pinterest board I created for Willa. Here you'll find a variety of images, including lots of retro fashion, that inspired me when writing the character.
I am SO excited to share all the details about my upcoming release with everyone! First of all, the book's title is Twin Piques, and it will be released on January 7th, which is just three weeks from tomorrow! I had so much fun writing this book and I can't wait for readers to meet my twin heroines, Willa and Sloane Tobin.
Check out this gorgeous cover art created for me by the incredibly talented Lyndsey Lewellen. Not only did she do an amazing job bringing my creative vision to life, she added many of her own special touches that really made the cover unique. I heart the purple and red color scheme! (FYI: Willa really does wear that cherry-printed dress in the book, and it plays an important role in the story!)
If you want to know more about Twin Piques, you'll find the blurb below the cover art.
Forensic accountant Sloane Tobin and kooky pet psychic Willa
may have the same face, but that’s the only thing these identical twins have in
common.
How she can read the hearts and minds of animals has always
been a mystery to Willa, and her rotten luck with men is equally baffling.
Although she’s been looking for “The One” for what feels like forever (A
teenage marriage to a French mime and dating a guy named Spider seemed like
good ideas at the time!), optimistic Willa refuses to give up on love. When she
meets Brody, the handsome rose expert hired to save her grandmother’s garden,
she’s instantly smitten, but why does he keep sending her mixed signals? Does
he return her feelings, or is their attraction all in her fanciful head?
Unlike her twin, Sloane has zero interest in romance. Her
passion is her job, where she uses her gift for numbers to take down slimy
embezzlers and asset-hiding spouses. When she’s assigned two high profile
cases, Sloane feels confident the promotion she’s been angling for is within
her grasp. But will her plan to climb the corporate ladder be thwarted by
difficult clients, her co-worker-with-benefits, or –
most surprisingly of all – her own sister? And
how’s she supposed to stay focused on the drama at work when her childhood friend,
Gav, moves in next door and the spark between them becomes impossible to
ignore?
To get what they both want, can Willa and Sloane band
together and rely on each other’s strengths? Or will their differences drive
them apart once and for all?
I hope you'll add Twin Piques to your TBR pile in 2015! The plan is to release both the e-book and the paperback on 1/7/15, so my lovely readers will have options.
Before signing off, I want to give a special shout-out to my friend, Karan, at Bliss Book Promotions. She is responsible for the fabulous new look here at Books by Banister, and I am so grateful for her help. Don't you just love the glittery backdrop, the new header, and the cute, little, illustrated version of me?
I like nothing better than hearing from my followers. So, let me know what you think of Twin Piques, my new blog, etc. in the comments below! Thank you for visiting BBB and being so supportive of my work. Happy holidays to all!
Congratulations to the winners of In Need of Therapy's birthday giveaway - Glynis Astie and Courtney Giardina!
In Need of Therapy was my second book, and it's now turning two! How time flies! Seems like just yesterday that I released my little darling into the world, and I'm gratified that it's been received with such warmth and love. THANK YOU to all of my wonderful readers for your kind words and support! They mean so very much. Check out a pic of my littlest book fan, Miss Bella Engel (daughter of the wonderful Marlene Engel, who runs the amazing Book Mama Blog) below. Chick Lit readers start early! :)
It wouldn't be a party without presents, so I'm going to be doing a super fun giveaway to celebrate this INOT milestone. Included in this birthday prize pack will be two items relating to the book:
- The Notebook (Limited Edition DVD Gift Set, which contains tons of bonus features - featurettes, actor screen tests, deleted scenes, and commentaries, as well as a color scrapbook!)
It's mentioned several times in In Need of Therapy that The Notebook is heroine Pilar's favorite movie (Who can blame her, right? It doesn't get any better than Wet Ryan Gosling!)
- Pride & Prejudice (2-disc Collector's Edition DVD Set, which contains featurettes and commentaries.) I dare you not to swoon over Matthew Macfadyen and his billowing coat!
In Need of Therapy is a modern, Latinized riff on P&P. Revisit the classic characters who inspired Pilar, Ford, Izzy, Victor, Mitch, and Mamá.
So, what do you have to do to be eligible to win this awesome giveaway? It's simple. Purchase a copy of In Need of Therapy on Amazon or Barnes & Noble between July 1st and August 31st, 2014. You'll receive one entry for the purchase. You just have to e-mail or message me on Facebook with your receipt.
Earn another entry by leaving a review for In Need of Therapy on your blog, Amazon, Goodreads, or Barnes & Noble. For those of you who've read INOT recently, but haven't had time to leave a review, here's your incentive. ;) Again, e-mail or message me on Facebook with a link to your review so that I can enter you in the drawing.
I will pick a winner for this giveaway on September 1st, using Random.org.
***Please note that this giveaway is for US residents only as shipping fees outside the country are cost-prohibitive.***
For those of you who've already read, reviewed, and loved on In Need of Therapy, I haven't forgotten about you! You can win your choice of one of the DVD sets listed above by entering this Rafflecopter giveaway.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
