Book Launch Party for Terri Osburn!

Today is the book launch party for Terri Osburn. Yay!

Champagne is on the house, so grab your glass.

Good morning, everyone. Thanks for joining me in celebrating the launch of Terri’s debut novel, Meant To Be.   

Isn’t this a fabulous cover? It says a lot about Terri’s story, and here’s the fantastic back cover blurb:

Beth Chandler has spent her whole life pleasing others. She went to law school to make her grandparents happy. She agreed to marry her workaholic boyfriend, Lucas, to make him happy. And, despite her fear of boats, she took a ferry to see Lucas’s parents just to make them happy.

While suffering through a panic attack on the ferry, Beth meets a tall, sexy stranger who talks her down from her fear—and makes her heart flutter in the process. Soon, she has a new reason to panic: her gorgeous, blue-eyed rescuer is Lucas’s brother, Joe. But could she ever leave her fiancé for his own brother—even if Lucas is more focused on making partner than on making their relationship work—and even if Joe turns out to be everything she never knew she wanted?

Welcome, Terri! Let’s start out with THE CALL? How did you learn your book was going to be published? Were you at work or at home? Did you scream? Did you cry? Did you have to sit down? Come on, spill all. : )

I was at work and I still feel guilty for my reaction. You’d expect the screaming and crying, but no. I was so calm, my agent asked if I was all right with a hint of disappointment in her voice. For some reason, my brain just shut down. Which is the total opposite of what happened when I received the call I’d finaled in the Golden Heart. I think by August 2012, I’d been so overwhelmed with awesome news, my brain simply could not take anymore.

I’ve promised to scream the next time she calls to say we landed a contract.

Meant To Be, is the first in a series of books set on Anchor Island. How many books will be in the series? Please tell us why you chose the location you did.

There are three books in the series and all the main characters are related by blood, marriage, or have become family of the heart. Anchor Island is described as a remote island at the base of the Outer Banks. Anyone familiar with the area might recognize the layout and details as they are completely based on a real place. Ocracoke Island is indeed a remote island at the base of the Outer Banks. Accessible only by ferry (and air, but only when really necessary.) The main industry is tourism, but this is not your typical tourist town. No shopping malls. No chain stores or restaurants of any kind. The island is a national treasure and protected as so. If you’re looking for a place to truly get away, you might want to schedule your next vacation on Ocracoke. I visited the island three years before I ever started this book. The place stuck with me that much.

Now I’m sure we all want to know…is this from real life? Did you have such an experience on a ferry? Do you have any research stories to share?

I mention above I have visited the real island Anchor is based upon, but I WISH I could say I met a hunky fishing boat captain and fell in love. Alas, I did not. I’m still searching for my own HEA, but don’t fret for me. I’m having a fantastic time writing them for my imaginary people. Oh, but the dog in the book is real. Or was. Dozer was a Chow-mix I had at the turn of the century (heh) that has crossed the rainbow bridge. But I loved that I could immortalize him in the pages of my book.

Why do you choose to write in this genre? Do you think you might ever try anything else? If so what?

We all know the old adage—never say never. Who knows what I’ll write in the future. I can’t imagine writing anything else, but then ten years ago I never imagined I’d be a published author let alone have written a book. I write Contemporary Romance because these are the stories that come to me. The characters show up, they tell me their names, let me know where we are, and we tell the story. I suppose if a devilishly handsome charmer of a Duke ever shows up, I’ll be venturing into new territory. (This is NOT a request to the universe. Seriously. No dukes.)

Can you tell us about your journey to publication? How long did it take you? Do you have an agent, want an agent, or are you happy going it alone?

My story isn’t as long as some, but I have been at this a while if you count the book I tried to write twenty years ago. Ironically, that was a Western Historical (they were all the rage then!) with a gambling heroine strapping a six shooter to her thigh and determined to avenge her father’s death. Original, I know. This current journey started in 2006 when I joined the Eloisa James Bulletin Board and then got involved in the Avon Fanlit contest. By the summer of 2007, I was trying to write a book (which I was completely clueless about) but also working on my Bachelor Degree. I joined RWA in 2007, attended my first Nationals in 2008, finished my degree in 2009, finished my first book in 2010, became PRO in 2011, and finaled in the Golden Heart in 2012 (with my 2nd ever MS.)

That put me on the bullet train to publishing. Before the conference in July, I’d already signed with Nalini Akolekar of Spencerhill Associates, and by Labor Day I had a contract. Pretty sure by the end of 2013 I’ll have a full head of gray hair and a drinking problem.

Are there any movies, books, or television shows that spark your creativity? Do you ever watch something and think ooooh, there’s a shiny little thing that I could twist and approach differently and then…?

Movies inspire me all the time. In fact, an element of MEANT TO BE is influenced by the Steve Carell movie Dan In Real Life. One brother brings his girlfriend to meet the family and the other brother ends up falling in love with her. That’s pretty much a one sentence tag-line for MTB. I’m working on a new proposal now and it’s sort of a book/movie combo. Hope Floats meets Susan Elizabeth Phillips’ AIN’T SHE SWEET. Fingers crossed it works out.

Thanks for sharing your good news with us today, Terri. Is there anything you’d like to share that would surprise people who think they know you?

What might be surprising? Good question. Maybe that I’ve been a NASCAR fan since I was little? That I have a degree in the music business and was a DJ for eight years on country radio? Oh, I know. For one afternoon many years ago, I was the Easter Bunny.

Well, dear readers, this is a wrap. But before you leave, there’s a chance to win a signed copy/ or electronic version of Meant To Be. Leave a comment and you’ll be entered in our drawing.

 

Terri may be contacted at:  Terri@TerriOsburn.com or go to my website at www.terriosburn.com and find the links to all her social media sites.