Heather Thurmeier's Blog, page 30

Interview with Tracie Banister!

Today I have to awesome author Tracie Banister here with me. I met Tracie on twitter during one of our #chicklitchat sessions. (If you haven't checked them out, you should!) She is the author of the Hollywood inspired chick lit novel Blame it on the Fame and she's pretty darn awesome! She's agreed to answer some interview questions and guess what? I'm answering these same questions but on her site!

2 Authors, 1 set of questions = fun times!!

Check out my answers to these same questions by visiting Tracie's blog HERE!!

1) Can you give us a brief overview of Blame it on the Fame?

Here's the blurb on Blame it on the Fame, my debut Chick Lit novel:

 A power-trippin' bitch, a has-been, a skanky ex-model, a press-shy indie queen, and a British stage actress no one knows – this is how the Best Actress hopefuls in this year's too-close-to-call Oscar race cattily describe each other.  Which of them will win the much-coveted gold statue and what price will they be forced to pay as they travel the red carpeted-path to Hollywood glory?

Amidst all the press-schmoozing and angsting over which designer gown to wear, these Oscar contenders feud, commiserate, and face a succession of personal crises – scandalous secrets come to light, marriages implode, accidents land two nominees in the hospital while another receives news that could derail her career, all culminating on Tinsel Town's biggest night when anything can happen, and does.

You can find Tracie's book on AMAZON and SMASHWORDS.

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

I'd say that my favorite qualities of my heroines are:  Anaya – her sassiness (She says the blunt, outrageous things most of us would never have the guts to.)  Danielle – her single-mindedness (The woman knows what she wants and won't let anybody get in her way.)  Jordan – her practicality (She's the most down-to-earth character in the book, which is nothing short of a miracle considering her background.)  Laurel – her kindness (She is a truly good person; there's not a malicious bone in her body.)  Philippa – her quick wit (No one can quip like she can.)

3) What made you want to write this book?

I've always been fascinated by Hollywood and the lives of celebrities.  There's so much fanfare surrounding the Oscars every year; I wondered what it was really like for the actresses who were nominated.  How did receiving this honor affect their lives, both personally and professionally?

4) What are you working on now?

I've completed another Chick Lit novel about a Latina psychologist who works in Miami that will be released in May.  And I'm currently writing what I hope will be the first in a series of novels about the daughters of a Regency Era aristocrat (think Jane Austen with lots of wit and romantic entanglements.)

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

I almost always start with a premise first, then the characters just naturally spring to mind.  For example, with Blame It on the Fame, I started with an idea – following the journey of the five Best Actress Oscar nominees – and from there I thought about Hollywood archetypes and narrowed those down to the ones I was most interested in delving into – the hard-partying trainwreck, the stage actress who thinks she's above the crass film industry, the second-generation actress, the good girl who's a complete witch behind the scenes, and the retired actress trying to make a comeback.

6) How do you think of titles?

I don't.  I am terrible at thinking up titles.  So far, every book and short story I've written has been named by someone else, usually my mother who has a special talent for coming up with clever titles.

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 like to read and write both, actually.  It just depends on the characters and the type of story I'm telling.  With Blame It on the Fame, the characters all live and work in Hollywood, which is infamously debaucherous, so it would have been disingenuous of me not to have had some sex in the book.  Whereas with my next two books, the stories are all about the build-up to that amazing first kiss.  My pet peeve is when there is nothing but sex in a book and character development and plot are sacrificed on the altar of lust.  As a writer, that's just not interesting to me.

Who are the authors who inspire you?

The classic authors who inspire me are Jane Austen, the Brontë sisters, Georgette Heyer, and Shakespeare.  The author who made me want to become a writer was Kathleen Woodiwiss.  I discovered her in my late teens and fell in love with her strong female characters and the well-developed romances in her books.  The modern-day authors who inspire me are Lauren Willig, Gail Carriger, Elizabeth Peters, Nora Roberts, and Janet Evanovich.

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

I am very eclectic in my reading tastes.  The one common element in the books I read is that they all have romance in them.  I must have romance!  I enjoy Chick Lit, Paranormal, Historical Romance (esp. Regency), Classic Literature, (Light) Mystery, Steampunk, and I've just recently been getting into the Young Adult genre.

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

I was really enchanted by the YA novel Entwined by Heather Dixon.  I love fairy tales and Entwined is based on The Twelve Dancing Princesses.  Entwined has everything – love, loss, magic, several well-defined heroines to root for, a nefarious villain, handsome heroes, lots of great twists and surprises.  It made me laugh and cry and squee with delight.  I can't wait to see what Heather Dixon writes next.

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

I love a good series because it gives you a chance to really get to know the characters and watch them develop and grow.  Series characters become like old friends and you look forward to spending time with them.

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

It'd have to be a Jane Austen novel.  The question is – Which one?  Probably Pride and Prejudice because that one seems like the most fun – fancy balls, unexpected marriage proposals, handsome, well-born men, witty banter – yes, that's a world I'd like to be a part of.

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

Princess Diana, because she was such an icon of the '80s and I was totally fascinated with her as teen.

Jane Austen, because of her sense of humor and wonderful conversational abilities (these are evident in not only her books, but in her correspondence with her sister.)

Anderson Cooper, because he's well-informed, funny, cultured, knows how to ask the right questions and can tell a great story.

My friend, Tim, because he was such a warm, talented, interesting person who always kept me entertained.

Kenneth Branagh, because he's one of the most brilliant actors on the planet and we could discuss the finer points of Shakespeare's works.

Fast and Flirty 

Favorite word?  Serendipity

Dream vacation spot?  Greece

Favorite time period in history?  The Roaring '20s

Favorite girl's night out drink?  I don't drink alcohol, so club soda with lemon.

Favorite date night activity?  There's nothing better than a wonderful meal (preferably in a restaurant with a romantic ambiance) accompanied by a great conversation.

Coffee or tea or soda?  I live for Diet Caffeine-Free Coke.

Strong but lean or built and burly?  Built and burly, thank you.

Scruffy or clean-shaven?  Scruffy.

Dark-haired or blond?  I like dark-haired men, but there have been one or two blonds in my life who were exceptions to the rule.

Celebrity Hottie on your laminated list?  Choosing just one is difficult, but I'll go with Joe Manganiello (hunky werewolf on True Blood.)

Novel hero crush?  My first novel crush was Laurie in Little Women, and I adore him to this day.  My most recent novel crush would have to be Reyes in the Grave series by Darynda Jones.  He's mad, bad, and dangerous to know . . . YUM!

Nook Book Signing Success!

Myself and author Gianna Simone

Last week I mentioned that I would be participating with some fellow romance authors in our first ever Nook Book signing this past weekend. I've been told it was the first of it's kind…ever! But I have no real way to confirm that. So I'll just say it was the first Nook Book signing that we'd heard of.

The store had posters advertising our singing and somehow I lucked out as the author with the cover on the poster! I was beyond thrilled to see my cover on a poster out front of a huge Barnes & Noble!

Me and the poster with my cover on it!

There were nine authors from my RWA chapter that came out to the signing. We filled two tables with cover flats, pens, magnets, giveaways and lots—LOTS!—of chocolates. Apparently we all thought romance readers would enjoy a chocolate treat with their signed cover flats. We had many people stop by and chat and walk away with signed cover flats and treats! Barnes & Noble also provided our ISBN information so customers could actually go right up to the register and buy our ebooks in store! They were given a receipt with a code that they could then redeem themselves or give to someone else as a gift!

Authors Kat Attalla and Charmaine Gordon

Authors Wendy S Marcus and Jennifer Probst.

Authors Charmaine Gordon, Elf Ahearn (our RWA chapter Pres!) and Janet Lane Walters.

Overall, I think the signing was very successful! I haven't been able to find my Nook readership yet, but the signing definitely led to some sales which means new readers!! Besides sales, just getting out there and meeting readers was awesome. It felt *really* great to be on the other side of the signing table for a change. I could definitely get used to this part of the job. And as an added benefit, it was a blast to hang out with my fellow RWA ladies and support each other. Many times I spoke about a fellow author's book if it sounded like something a reader would like. Being a writer isn't always about making a sale—it's really about making a reader happy, and I think we did that at the signing. I call that a success.

Authors Liz Matis, Me, Giana Simone, and Kat Attalla.

 

Barnes & Noble said they'd love to have us back and I can't wait! I'm ready to get out there for another Nook Book signing!

Certainly an ebook signing of any kind is fairly unheard of still, and I'm thrilled to have been a part of something new, different and forward-thinking.

And the Winner is…

The winner of the $10 Amazon.com gift card is…

June M!

Congratulations June M. You will receive an email from me shortly!

To all those who didn't win this time, please stop by my blog again for more chances to win during the next blog hops:

March 16th and April 6-8th.

See you soon!!

Six Sentence Sunday 2/12

Welcome back for another awesome Sunday. Check out all the other amazing authors participating HERE!

This week I'm sharing a little more from LOVE ON LANDING. Last week things were getting pretty heated between Tali and Gavin. I wonder what happened next…

Without thinking it through, Gavin crushed his mouth against hers, stealing her breath. He flicked his tongue across her lips and her mouth opened, inviting him in. He tangled his hand in her hair as he explored every crevice of her mouth then gently bit her lower lip.

Tali went limp in his arms and he held her tighter against his body, his hand pressed firmly into the small of her back, holding her to him—every hard inch. He moved against her, pressing her up to the wall beside her door. Even with her every contour melting into his, he still couldn't get close enough to her to satisfy his growing need.

Need to read more? Buy your copy for KINDLE or NOOK or from SILVER PUBLISHING in any format!

With Love–Valentine's Day Blog Hop!!

Thanks for stopping by my site for this lovely–and huge!–Valentine's Day blog hop! Wowza, I've never been a part of a blog hop this big before! I hope you stop by all the other awesome sites participating because each one is doing their own giveaway! Check out all the other sites by CLICKING HERE!!!

Okay, on to my Valentine's Fun! I'm not a huge Valentine's Day person. I like the day just fine, but I don't really get all bent out of shape if it isn't the most perfectly romantic day in all history. I like the spend the day with hubs, watching a movie, nibbling on an assorted box of chocolates and sipping super tasty strawberry lime margaritas.

So now I want to know something about your favorite Valentine's Day! What made it your favorite? Did you get a wonderful surprise? A fantastic present? Best dinner ever? What what is? Share your answer in the comment section and include your email for a chance to win a $10 amazon gift card!! Enter between Feb 11-14th for your chance to win!!

If you want to hear about other great news and giveaways from me, please be sure to subscribe to my blog by enter your email on the right hand side! Also, by entering your email into this contest, you are subscribing to my "only if I have big news" newsletter. I promise to respect your inbox.

Need some Valentine's Day reading?? Check out my newest release, LOVE ON LANDING!

AMAZON

NOOK

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?

Barnes and Noble "Nook Book" Signing!

Hi everyone!

This Saturday, Feb 11, from 1-3pm at the Barnes and Noble in Palisades Mall (West Nyack, NY) myself and a bunch of other romance writers will be holding a "Nook Book" signing! I'll be signing cover flats and I have some little goodies to give away. If you're in the area, I'd love you to stop by and say hello!!

For more information about the event, CLICK HERE!!

Six Sentence Sunday 2/5

Happy Super Bowl day! I'm not a huge fan myself, but I do plan on hanging out with friends for some pre-game fun.

CLICK HERE to check out the other authors playing today!

Today I'm sharing more of LOVE ON LANDING which is now available on AMAZON and NOOK. In this snippet, Tali and Gavin's tempers may finally be getting the better of them. The bottle of wine they shared over pizza probably isn't helping much.

 

Gavin narrowed his eyes at her, his gaze never straying from hers. "Maybe when you prove to me there's more to you than money, I'll finally believe it."

"Maybe when you finally stop thinking you're hot shit, I'll have the chance to prove there's more to me than you think, but right now I can't seem to get out from behind your giant ego." Tali's chest heaved as she tried to catch her breath.

He watched mesmerized as her breasts fought against the tight corset he'd tied hours early. He suddenly wanted to rip the material from her body to free her of its confines.

… Tune in next week to find out what happens next…

Heather's Guide to Surviving Super Bowl!

If you're like me, you don't really care who's in the big game this weekend.

*Tuck and cover, ladies!*

It's true. I'm not a sports fan. Although if I ever watch sports, it's the big games—Super Bowl, Grey Cup (I'm Canadian, eh!), World Series…Are there any others? See, I TOLD you I'm not a sports person.

So anyways, what's a girl to do if she's not into this weekend's festivities? Here's my 3 easy tips to get you through the weekend with your sanity intact!

1. Load up a plate full of snacks and game treats. I'm talking piggies in a blanket, taco dip, burgers—whatever you've been roped into making for the boys—that! Eat some of that stuff. And grab it before the boys get their hungry hands on it and there's none left for you.

2. Most definitely, get thee a drink! STAT! You're going to need it to get through all the yelling at the TV as your husband and his friends cheer or curse the teams. And really, isn't any excuse for a cocktail in the middle of the afternoon a good thing?

3. Grab your kindle, nook, smart phone, laptop or any other ereader you have handy and make yourself comfy on the bed all by yourself. With snacks and drinks, all you need is some reading material! Luckily, you came to the right place and I can help you out!!

Want to fall in love with a millionaire bachelor in a brownstone bookstore? Read LOVE AND LATTES!

KINDLE                                       NOOK                                      SILVER PUBLISHING

Want to get wisked away to Paris for some retail therapy and the hottest pilot in the skies? Take a trip with LOVE ON LANDING!

KINDLE                                       NOOK                                      SILVER PUBLISHING

Dreaming of snow? How about heating up a hot tub with a hunk who only has eyes for you? Steam up your ereader with BUNNY HILLS AND BIKINIS!

KINDLE                                     NOOK                                        SMASHWORDS

It's Here!! It's Here!! LOVE ON LANDING on Nook and Kindle!

 

Today is an exciting day for me! My newest release, LOVE ON LANDING, the second Meadow Ridge Romance, is available on Kindle and Nook!! So if you've been waiting to buy it, wait no longer. Here's the links:

AMAZON

NOOK

Now, can I ask a little favor?? If you plan on buying my book sometime in the future but you're not sure when, would you consider buying it today or this weekend? I'd love to make an amazon.com list and the only way you do that is with a day of plentiful sales.

Can I ask another favor while you're there buy my book? Can you please click the little 'like' button on amazon page as well as click on my tags closer to the bottom of the page? I don't know why, but I've been told they help your book come up on the system more.

Chick Lit Central!

Hi everyone,

Be sure to stop by Chick Lit Central today!! I'm there chatting about my chick flick favs and I'd love to hear about yours. AND there's also a chance to win an ebook!!!

What are you still doing here? Go click on that link and earn a chance to win!!