A Cup of Joe and an Interview With Bethanne Strasser~
It was about five years ago that I had the honor of meeting the lovely Bethanne Strasser in a place called Romance Divas. Since the Diva Days, our friendship has grown and we’ve stuck by each other through the ups and downs of writing. Now I finally get the chance to share some of the inner demons fantastic things that make her so loveable. So let’s get started shall we?
Moira: So darling Betty, I have some mad little bakers in the back who are in need of something to bake. Cupcakes preferably. So if you could have them whip you up the cupcake of your dreams, what would it be?
Bethanne: Oh, oh, oh! I’m dying to try your Irish Creme frosting and I just know you can whip up an awesome mochaccino cake batter. Mmmm.
Moira: Hmmm, mochaccino huh? I might have to see what I can do, but for now I will get my lil baking zombies to work on those Bailey’s cupcakes with Irish Creme frosting. Would you care for some coffee to wash it down?
Bethanne: YES! Coffee, black with one sweetner, or is it sweetener?
Moira: Sweetener my dear…sweetener, but those of us that are southern at heart like to drop letters so sweetner works just as well. I know you will be or have been asked this a lot, but what got you started in writing?
Bethanne: When I was pregnant with number 3, I had insomnia. At the same time some big name NY publishing house started re-releasing Trixie Belden. I love TB! I also felt bad for her… 39 years worth of stories and she never left young adulthood. In a way–and I don’t admit it with pride–my first story was fan fiction. *blush* In case you’re curious…there is A LOT of TB fanfic out there and not all of it can be read by my grandmother. Bottom line? I was a reader. I never thought of writing a book until I was 28. Once the idea occurred to me, I couldn’t quite suppress it.
Moira: True-once the bug bites, it sticks with you. Is it difficult being superwoman? I mean you have five amazing kids and you are married to ‘the Army Man’ so where do you find the time to write?
Bethanne: Lately? I don’t seem to be doing much NEW writing. My polish isn’t as shiny as it looks from a distance. 
Mostly, I write when the kids are occupied. Bedtime, school, Wii, quiet time… Best of all, sometimes my husband lets me out by myself and I can go to a coffee shop or the library for a couple of hours. It’s wonderful! I pray and wish that for every one of my friends.
Moira: Well you might claim your polish isn’t that shiny, but I am not buying it. Tell me a genre you wish you read more of?
Bethanne: Ha! How about…romance, any genre! Because seriously, my reading hours seem so danged few! I’ve got a great idea about a young YA, step above middle grade…so I have been curious to pick up a few good middle grade books and a few good YAs.
Moira: Would have sworn you would have said Urban Fantasy. And the idea of you writing a YA always makes me smile. Any strange writing quirks or rituals? Perhaps you can only write with the worn out pink bunny slippers on your feet.
Bethanne: Honestly? I have no writing quirks… that I know of. What do you think?
Moira: Well, I’m not here to divulge all your dirty secrets – just the ones you give me permission to. If you could have dinner with your favorite author, who would it be and why?
Bethanne: I’d have dinner with Nina Croft. Because that would mean I’m in Spain sitting next to a pool. I’ve thought about having dinner with Nora Roberts, but I think… yes, I think I’d rather go to go Washington and sit with Christina Dodd. Again, because of the view. Plus, she seems more down-to-earth and smart ass than Roberts, which I would like.
Moira: Well, you and I can totally relate to being down-to-earth smart asses. The apocalypse is upon us. You wake to a world where there is only one person there, one book, and one additional item of your choosing. What are they and why?
Bethanne: OMG! One person?! That’s it! I just got a little verklempt thinking of my sweet baby Darla because, of course, my one person is Matt. Not that I don’t love the other kids just as much!!! But, ya know. Something about the baby. One book, I should say the bible. It would be good to pass that down to the kids as Matt and I repopulate the earth. I can always write what I want to read… or just talk it, for that matter. haha. one additional item… A knife.
Moira: Haha! Repopulate the earth! Love it. Betty you are priceless. Tell us about your current project.
Bethanne: Now–or as soon as I get For Love or Duty on the shelves–I’m opening my ms, Flashback, and rewriting the end. Shouldn’t take too long. Hopefully a month or so? Flashback is another military romance, this one with suspense. Emily Rogers is an FBI sharpshooter who has put down her guns, but when a threat appears in her life, she has to find the courage to pick them back up and get into a job she thought she’d left behind. It’s a strong woman kind of story.
Moira: I love a story about a strong female character, but while I can’t wait for more books 
from you to populate my Kindle, I want to know more about your release. Care to share a blurb from ‘For Love or Duty’?
Bethanne: Growing up the proverbial military brat, Valerie Standish has shed her old ways. Yet, she’s been around long enough to recognize that familiar arrogance when Kevin Morgan walks through the door. This time she is drawn to the persistent captain like she hasn’t been to any man before, making it harder to keep her promise—never get involved with an officer.
Kevin doesn’t have a problem with her unwillingness to commit long term. He isn’t quite ready to settle either. For years, he’s worked hard to earn a promotion to Major. He wants one last fling before tying himself to a wife for the rest of his life.
But time proves them both liars as they begin to fall for each other. Neither is prepared for the ache of betrayal as they come face to face with the truth about one another.
Will either of them be able to walk away unscathed or have the trenches of love already been dug?
Moira: Well if that doesn’t just scream READ ME! And if you haven’t had the pleasure yet, the lovely Bethanne will be giving away a copy to a lucky commenter! Have a burning question you would like to ask Bethanne about her publishing experience, life as an army wife, or even how she keeps her Super-Mom cape clean, here is your chance!
You can buy this fabulous e-book at these fine retailers:
Smashwords
Barnes and Noble
Amazon
