AUTHORPALOOZA INTERVIEW & GIVEAWAY - MEAGAN BRIDGES

This giveaway is now CLOSED!  Congratulations to Tobi Helton, the winner of Meagan Bridges' e-book, REJECTION.  And thanks to everyone for participating!


Today, I'd like to welcome debut novelist Meagan Bridges to Books by Banister!  Her Chick Lit novel, REJECTION, was recently released on both Amazon and Smashwords.  Read on for more info about this author and her work . . .

Meagan has generously offered to give away one Kindle copy of her e-book REJECTION.  So, be sure to leave a comment, including your e-mail address, below to be entered for a chance to win.  This giveaway is open to US residents only!  

1) Can you give us a brief overview of REJECTION?

It’s the story of a dorky documentary researcher, Maggie McKenzie. Anxiety ridden, unsure and heartbroken by the end of her relationship with the first man she ever loved, Maggie decides to figure herself out. Her adventurous mother with the 28 year old Italian boyfriend inspires her. Her overly sharing and incompetent coworker scares her. And her best friends do what they can to support her. It’s about turning anxiety into adventure and the small changes that transform us.

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

Maggie is sweet, funny and awkward, but what I admire most is that she always overcomes her nerves.  No matter how much she wants to run she pushes herself forward.

3) What made you want to write this book?

This is my first novel, it had long been something I had toyed around with and then one morning in the shower, I came up with the concept. I thought it would be great to combine two things I really enjoy - random facts and funny, self-deprecating stories together. Excitedly I started working and two years later I’m really happy with the end result.

4) What are you working on now?

Ideas are still percolating for my second novel.

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

What came to me first was really the basic arc of the plot, but figuring out how they get from point A to point B was really all character based.

6) How do you think of titles?

My first idea for the title was REJECTION IN THE PURSUIT OF LOVE AND ALL KINDS OF RANDOMNESS, but the overwhelming consensus was that it was way too long. I think REJECTION really sums up what Maggie most fears and what is coming at her from ever angle.

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?

Definitely sweet and romantic, I prefer to giggle rather than blush.

8) Who are the authors who inspire you?

I think its almost cliché to say at this point, but the incomparable Jane Austen. I read and reread her novels constantly. My copy of PERSUASION is actually worn out from over reading. I’m also a massive fan of Bill Bryson especially his books AT HOME and A SHORT HISTORY OF NEARLY EVERYTHING. They are entertaining, mind expanding and awesome.

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

I’m usually all over the place, but always have at least one or two on the go.

10) What was the last book you read that really WOWed you?

THEN WE CAME TO THE END by Joshua Ferris. I thought it was hilarious and really captured the tortures of office politics and how the drudgery of cubicle life slowly makes people lose their minds.

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

No preference really, although it can be agonizing waiting for the next novel in a series to come out.  

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

FLIGHT OF PASSAGE by Rinker Buck, it's all adventure and aviation.

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

Steven Moffat and Graham Linehan because they are brilliant.

Carol Burnett because she is hilarious.

Julia Child, she is just amazing, although I would probably regret it because there is no way I could impress her with my cooking.

And my best friend Iz because I’d want to know someone.

Fast and Flirty 

Favorite scent?  Rosemary

Favorite color?  Purple

Favorite food?  Fish and Chips

Favorite word?  Ninnyhammer
Dream vacation spot?  Prague   

Favorite time period in history?  1920s

Favorite girl's night out drink?  Pear Martini

Favorite date night activity?  Pinball

Coffee or tea or soda?  Soda, I’m addicted!

Strong but lean or built and burly?  No real preference, as long as he’s got a good laugh.

Scruffy or clean-shaven?  Clean-shaven

Dark-haired or blond?  Dark

Celebrity hottie on your laminated list?  Nathan Fillion

Novel hero crush?  Captain Wentworth 

Thanks so much for being a part of Authorpalooza, Meagan! Best of luck with REJECTION!

Leave a comment below telling me something positive that happened to you as a result of a rejection and you'll be entered to win a Kindle copy of REVENGE.  Don't forget to leave your e-mail address so that I can contact you if you win!  Contest is open to US residents ONLY!  Drawing will take place on Thursday, June 28th, so get your comments in by midnight on Wednesday, June 27th.

Purchase REJECTION at:

Amazon

Smashwords

Visit Meagan Bridges at:

Twitter

AUTHORPALOOZA INTERVIEW & GIVEAWAY - CINDY ROESEL

This giveaway is now CLOSED!  The lucky winner of Cindy Roesel's e-book, VIEWER DISCRETION ADVISED, is Meredith Schorr!  Congrats, Meredith, and thanks to everyone who left a comment!


Joining me for Authorpalooza today is Miami-based journalist-turned-author Cindy Roesel.  Cindy recently released her fun, fast-paced Women's Fiction novel VIEWER DISCRETION ADVISED, and she's here to tell you more about it.  

Cindy has generously offered to give away one Kindle copy of her e-book VIEWER DISCRETION ADVISED.  So, be sure to leave a comment, including your e-mail address, below to be entered for a chance to win.  This giveaway is open to US residents only!

Take it away, Cindy . . .

1) Can you give us a brief overview of VIEWER DISCRETION ADVISED?

In my novel, VIEWER DISCRETION ADVISED the sensationalism shown on television can only be topped by the drama that happens behind the camera! After being fired from her job in Los Angeles, Charlene “Charley” Thomas moves to sizzling Miami and begins working as news director at a local television station. Real life begins to mimic the drama of broadcast news when station personalities face life and death all for ratings and Emmys!  VIEWER DISCRETION ADVISED is a modern day “Sex and the City” meets “Broadcast News.”

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

My favorite personal quality of Charley’s is her loyalty to her staff and her backbone.  She sticks up for people no matter what happens.  The moods change quickly in a newsroom, the right thing isn’t always the popular thing, so sometimes you’re going to have to make a few people angry when you make a decision, but Charley backs her people if that’s what it takes to do her job despite possibly losing a popularity contest.  People may not like her at times, but they respect the fact she is consistent with her decisions.

3) What made you want to write this book?

I’ve been in broadcast news for nearly two decades, I’ve won an Emmy Award, so I thought I had a platform I could turn into a novel and sure enough VIEWER DISCRETION ADVISED was born.

4) What are you working on now?

What I’m doing now is promoting VIEWER DISCRETION ADVISED by being a part of events like Authorpalooza, I’m also going on a Web-Tour, which is like a book store, but you meet up with readers on the web, I’ve been doing lots of giveaways, and oh yeah, I want to write another book.  You know how hard it is to find time to write, but it’s important.  It’s what this whole journey is about, and juggling time is what all of us have to learn how to do well.

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

For me, I just had a flash of a woman being fired with Led Zeppelin blaring in the car and out of that moment, VIEWER DISCRETION ADVISED was born.  So you tell me.  I come up with plots while walking my shih tzu, Sassy.  I just start talking to myself and put them on my story board and begin writing.  The characters arrive, they’re very organic. I don’t have to think about them.  They’re either meant to be in the story or not.

6) How do you think of titles?

VIEWER DISCRETION ADVISED was a phrase I heard on the cable channel FX in the early 2000’s when television programming was getting kind of risque.  The language was spicy and the actors were showing skin.  I thought it was a clever warning, so I stuck it in the back of my mind and said one day I’ll use that and sure enough I did.  I even have the domain name.  Sometimes producers include “is”, but I think that slows it down.

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?

Writing love/sex scenes can be very intimidating.  I remember when my stories had none and readers asked me “Where’s the sex?” “You said this was a romance?” “All they did was kiss?”  Finally a few years ago, I wrote some real explicit sex scenes and took them to a writer’s group.  I was petrified.  I was told in a class once that if you’re not squirming while you’re writing, they’re not working. Well, I was squirming. They were too much.  But now with some trial and error, I’m comfortable writing my sex scenes.  They may be too much for some people, but I’m happy with my ability to write sex scenes.  It’s not for the faint of heart.  It takes work.

8) Who are the authors who inspire you?

Two authors who inspire me immensely are Charles Dickens and Mario Puzo.

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

I’m an eclectic reader of everything! Right now WIFE 22, BRIDGE OF SCARLET LEAVES, THE LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS, THE WEIRD SISTERS, BEST KEPT SECRET, and anything by Elin Hilderbrand.

10) What was the last book you read that really WOWed you?

THE UNDERSIDE OF JOY by Sere Prince Halverson just WOWed me and that was her debut! I can’t wait for her sophomore novel.

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

Stand alone

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

GONE WITH THE WIND - But when it was finished, I’d like to come right home, immediately to my family.

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

Without a doubt, I would invite Dorothy Parker and four of her friends from the Algonquin table over, or I could make it easy and go to their table.  The conversation would be out of this world.  I can’t even imagine observing the one up-man-ship in person.  It’d be brilliant beyond my dreams!  I’m sure I could only stomach one night though. 

Fast and Flirty 


Favorite scent?  Hyacinth
Favorite color?  Pink

Favorite food?  Stone crabs

Favorite word?  Plethora
Dream vacation spot?  Maui

Favorite time period in history?  '20s-'30s 

Favorite girl's night out drink?  Watermelon Martini  

Favorite date night activity?  Drinks, dinner, live music 

Coffee or tea or soda?  Diet peach Snapple 

Strong but lean or built and burly?  Built and burly

Scruffy or clean-shaven?  Clean-shaven

Dark-haired or blond?  Blond 

Celebrity hottie on your laminated list?  Jeremy Renner 

Novel hero crush?  Mitch Rapp (Vince Flynn novels)  

Thanks so much for participating in Authorpalooza, Cindy!  Best of luck with VIEWER DISCRETION ADVISED and all your future writing endeavors!

Leave a comment below telling me what your favorite TV news program is and you'll be entered to win a Kindle copy of VIEWER DISCRETION ADVISED.  Don't forget to leave your e-mail address so that I can contact you if you win!  Contest is open to US residents ONLY!  Drawing will take place on Wednesday, June 27th, so get your comments in by midnight on Tuesday, June 26th.

Purchase VIEWER DISCRETION ADVISED at:

Amazon

Barnes & Noble (Paperback)

Visit Cindy Roesel at:

Website

Blog

Twitter

Facebook

AUTHORPALOOZA INTERVIEW & GIVEAWAY - ANNE ALLEN

This giveaway is now CLOSED!  Congratulations to Savannah Page, the lucky winner of Anne Allen's e-book, DANGEROUS WATERS.  


Today's guest on Books by Banister is Anne Allen, British author of the romantic mystery DANGEROUS WATERS.  Don't you love the title?  It's so deliciously foreboding.  Anne is a fascinating woman - check out her website to find out what her day job is (Hint: I bet she has no trouble writing about the inner workings of her characters' minds!)

Anne has generously offered to give away one copy of her e-book DANGEROUS WATERS.  So, be sure to leave a comment, including your e-mail address, below to be entered for a chance to win.  This giveaway is open to US and UK residents.

1) Can you give us a brief overview of DANGEROUS WATERS?

It’s a romantic mystery set in Guernsey, Britain following the loves and losses of Jeanne Le Page. She’s a thirty-something who left the island 15 years before after a family tragedy and now is forced to return after her grandmother’s death. The old lady has left Jeanne her cottage but she doesn’t want to live there, planning to sell it and leave.  Heartbroken after the recent end of a relationship she is feeling completely lost.  But then Jeanne starts to unearth secrets going back to the German Occupation together with the truth behind the unexplained tragedy. Facing danger from an unexpected source, she eventually learns to live and love again.

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

She’s gutsy! Although life throws a lot at her she picks herself up again. At the beginning of the story she’s feeling very vulnerable and lost but by the end she’s achieved so much, not just love.

3) What made you want to write this book?

I’ve had a long love affair with Guernsey after having lived there for many happy years and it felt right to make it the focus of my first novel. I also wanted to write a romance with a twist, with sub-plots that gradually unfurl. I’m fascinated by old houses, believing they all have so many stories to tell, and the cottage in DANGEROUS WATERS has its own surprising secret!

4) What are you working on now?

Another book, FINDING MOTHER, based predominantly in Guernsey but with excursions to England, Spain and Jersey.  It’s basically a young woman’s search for her natural mother with the back stories of that mother and the grandmother.  Again hidden secrets!

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

Plot idea but I also have the image of my main character to focus on. 

6) How do you think of titles?

I’m not sure – the titles of both my books came into my mind quite quickly.  I’m a lover of short titles as I think they have more impact – as well as being easier to remember! I like a title to provide a sort of image of the book, if that makes sense?

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?

Perhaps something in between!  I’m not into graphic sex, either to read or write, but do like a little more than the likes of ‘the door closed behind them.’

8) Who are the authors who inspire you?

Mary Higgins Clark for the mystery element, Katie Fforde for the romance and Joanne Harris for general inspiration.

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

I’ve found over the past few years that my tastes have changed to become much more eclectic. I now read suspense, crime (but not too graphic!), historical novels of all types and romance when there’s an interesting story involved.

10) What was the last book you read that really WOWed you?

SANCTUS by Simon Toyne.  It’s an unusual conspiracy theory book, probably along the lines of the DA VINCI CODE, although I haven’t read that. It encompasses a shocking secret (of course!) that left me gasping.  I’m now reading the next one in the 3-part series, ‘THE KEY’.

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

It depends on the author.  For example, I loved all the Stieg Larsson books and you really had to read all of them. For other authors I’m quite happy to read stand alone novels – at least I’m not left hanging in suspense till the next one comes out!

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

Pride & Prejudice – as long as I could bag Mr Darcy!

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

Queen Elizabeth I – She lived through so much turmoil, intrigue and adventure.  What stories she could tell!

Charles Dickens – For an insight into a brilliant novelist’s mind.

Cleopatra – Another woman with an amazing life. I’d like to know how beautiful she really was!

William Shakespeare – I’d like him to declaim his beautiful sonnets to me!

Colin Firth – So that I can imagine myself as Elizabeth Bennet!

Fast and Flirty 

Favorite scent?  Origins ‘Ginger Essence’

Favorite color?  Blue

Favorite food?  Fish

Favorite word?  Love
Dream vacation spot?  Seychelles

Favorite time period in history?  Renaissance

Favorite girl's night out drink?  Mojito

Favorite date night activity?  Theatre/cinema and dinner

Coffee or tea or soda?  Coffee

Strong but lean or built and burly?  Strong but lean

Scruffy or clean-shaven?  Clean-shaven

Dark-haired or blond?  Dark-haired

Celebrity hottie on your laminated list?  Colin Firth

Novel hero crush?  Mr. Darcy

Thanks so much for participating in Authorpalooza, Anne!  Best of luck with DANGEROUS WATERS and all your future writing endeavors!

Leave a comment below telling me about your favorite vacation spot by the water and you'll be entered to win an e-book copy of DANGEROUS WATERS.  Don't forget to leave your e-mail address so that I can contact you if you win!  Contest is open to US and UK residents!  Drawing will take place on Tuesday, June 26th, so get your comments in by midnight on Monday, June 25th.

Purchase DANGEROUS WATERS at:

Amazon UK

Amazon US

Barnes & Noble

Visit Anne Allen at:

Website

Facebook

Twitter

AUTHORPALOOZA GUEST POST & GIVEAWAY - ROMI MOONDI

This giveaway is now CLOSED!  Congratulations to Lysette, the winner of Romi Moondi's e-books, YEAR OF THE CHICK and LAST-MINUTE LOVE, and thanks to all who left comments.


Life’s Not a Movie...And That’s Okay!

By Romi Moondi

Hello readers,

I’m the author of the rom-com series YEAR OF THE CHICK, and Tracie was nice enough to let me post here today (thank you!) I will use this time to talk about something I think about A LOT when I’m writing my books:

-Those cute Meg Ryan/Tom Hanks rom-com moments, and why they never make it into my books:

I guess it all goes downhill when I end up writing fiction “inspired by real life.” It’s the funniest thing, that as soon as you dip your writing toes into the inky waters of awkward real life (and yes, I churn out word count with my toes), those precious rom-com moments rarely appear.

I’m not saying I’ve never experienced the “beginnings” of rom-com moments; I mean trust me, there are numerous moments filled with “oh my god, could this be the one?!” potential. But just as I start to hold my breath, widen my eyes, and envision my romantic and totally-not-arranged-marriage happy ending...the entire scenario explodes into a symphony of farts.

Not literally of course (though that CAN be the case sometimes---I mean come on, it’s real life!), but more like the nervous anticipation that quickly falls flat on its face. This lack of execution manifests itself into all kinds of everyday scenarios. Here are some recent real-life examples:

-The train has arrived downtown, I rise from my seat, but still groggy from my drooly train nap (I know, sexy), my lunch bag falls to the floor. In a seemingly perfect act of serendipity, my apple rolls along the ground towards the feet of a polished-shoe-wearing business man. Eyes focused on the apple, we both reach for it at the same time...just like that our fingertips touch. “This is it,” I think, “my introduction to a handsome well-off suitor”. I raise my eyes, and with my face mere inches from his, I get a waft of his putrid breath with a view of his jagged-toothed smile.

-This one happens to me often. It’s when some “soulmatey” love song comes on the radio when I’m driving. My car slowly rolls to a stop at a traffic light, just as the song reaches its crescendo. It’s the perfect moment to turn to my left or right, to find a Daniel-Craig-like lover boy staring at me seductively, with his heavily-veined forearm on display as he grips the steering wheel. In real life, first I look to my right. I see an angry soccer mom in a minivan screaming at her kids in the back. Then I look to my left, and see a guy who looks like any one of my creepy Indian uncles...like the hardcore ones from India wearing turbans.

-This third one happened on June 14^th, and I posted about it on my Facebook Author Page, in case you think I’m making it up. Okay...at Starbucks they take your name for your latte, and they call out "Romi" so I confidently approach, only for another hand to also reach out for my cup. Again, I start to think “this is it.” When I turn I see a portly Indian man, who smiles and says "Your name's Romi too?” First of all...WTF I have a guy's name?! Secondly, all the "Kellys" and "Johns" around us laugh, like it was fate that the Romis had this special thing in common. If this was a rom-com, the guy with my name would be “Romi Gosling,” but because it’s real life, of course it’s the portly Indian man. Yeah.

Now before I depress all the single-women readers into thinking that life’s not as good as a movie, there’s a flip side to all of this. It’s the part where when you least expect it, and when you don’t even think you want it, you meet an interesting guy that you just can’t forget. This guy turns out to be someone who reads books for fun, who has a great job, who you can talk to for hours, and who is an amazingly talented musician. So talented he is...that he makes you a love song in French. Something like this is SO hard to believe, that it wouldn’t even make it into a movie, because what perfect guy would need a borderline nut-job like me? The viewers (if it was a movie) and the readers (if it was my book) would scoff, and so, when I actually wrote a fictionalized version inspired by events from my life...I made my intelligent, addictive, and talented musician guy more flawed.  This way, at least it could be believable enough for an “escape from reality” book.

Now is that crazy, or is that CRAZY?

Both real life and the book were not without their complications and romantic doom...but I’ll leave that to you if you decide to pick up LAST-MINUTE LOVE . . .  :-)

So remember: real life can actually lead to twists and turns that are a whole lot better than those “Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks' utterly perfect attempts at imperfection.”

So embrace real life, enjoy each day, and you’ll probably end up pleasantly surprised...

Sincerely,

Romi Moondi


Romi has generously offered to give a copy of both her e-books, YEAR OF THE CHICK and LAST-MINUTE LOVE, to one lucky winner!  To enter this giveaway, leave a comment below telling me about your own real-life rom com moment - Did it work out well?  Or was it a disaster?  Don't forget to leave your e-mail address so that I can contact you if you win!  Drawing will take place on Monday, June 25th, so get your comments in by midnight on Sunday, June 24th.  

Book blurb (YEAR OF THE CHICK):


An awkward family homecoming at Christmas.

A humiliating public weigh-in, with two judging parents as the audience.

The announcement of a deadline for arranged marriage doom.

And that's just the first two chapters.

In YEAR OF THE CHICK, Romi Narindra must find love before her parents find her a husband.

But this is North America, not Calcutta! Who lets their parents choose their husbands?!

Easy to say, less easy to live through, as this book takes you deep inside "awkward Indian living in the West."

To escape her fate, Romi wades through the waters of secret-dating, where self-consciousness is at an all-time high, and experience at an all-time low. It's the sort of thing that would turn almost anyone into a man-crazy freak with romance tunnel-vision, and that's exactly what happens to her. All the while, a lack of inspiration in her corporate job leads Romi to her love of writing, in what quickly becomes a man-quest play-by-play.

From whiskey-breath scum bags to uni-brow creeps and everything in between, Romi and her wingmen come up empty time after time. 

And that's when she meets a fellow writer.

On the Internet.

So will it be arranged marriage doom, or an Internet affair that's not as creepy as "To Catch a Predator"?

Time will tell in the YEAR OF THE CHICK, a twelve-month quest to find love.

Tick-tock.

LAST-MINUTE LOVE is a sequel to YEAR OF THE CHICK, so I'm not going to post a book blurb as it would be spoilery!

Romi Moondi's books are available exclusively at Amazon:


Year of the Chick


Last-Minute Love


Visit Romi Moondi at:


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