CLP Blog Tours Interview & Excerpt: The Tantalizing Tale of a Bitter Sweetheart by Jessica Ashley Dafoe
**Interview**
When did you know writing was for you?
Writing has been a passion of mine from the time I was a child. I found joy in creative writing and would cheer when the teacher told us it was creative writing time in school. Even on my free time at home I would work away on stories. My mom would then take my hand written stories, type them up on her type writer and make book covers for them with a label indicating author and title, as if they were published creations. Story-telling through the written word has always been in my blood.
Why was The Tantalizing Tale of a Bitter Sweetheart a book you wanted to write?
After living in Toronto, Canada’s largest city for 7 years, a city that can be unforgiving to the determined, career-minded single woman, and after experiencing some of the turmoil (some in hindsight, quite entertaining) first hand, and also hearing about stories from friends and acquaintances) I just began to want to scribble down a confessional that I intended to be partially autobiographical. My own narrative voice began to get lost as I found myself meshing circumstances together and combining my own experience with friends’ experiences. I suppose I was always meant to write fiction. I scratched the autobiographical genre and allowed the fictional voice to take the lead. Portia was born and I had never even expected her!
I love your cover! Can you tell us who created it and how much input you had?
I am extremely pleased with the cover and how it was developed. I knew that seeing as the Parisian visit is the pinnacle of the story and involves a huge transition in the plot, I wanted the Eiffel Tower somewhere on the cover. I bought the rights to the sketch from an online stock photo artist. The original was in full colour. I sent it off to Friesenpress and they worked their magic. My request was to leave only the flowers and her lips in colour and for the rest to be made black and white. I wanted to visually meld the transition in Portia’s life, from dark and uncertain, to a glint of brightness and cheer on the horizon. I also requested the textured border and a smudging of the line between the border and the sketch to give it an original and eye-catching appeal. The Friesen design team was on point and I couldn’t be happier with the results.
What is the hardest part of the writing process for you?
I am a bit of a perfectionist so often times get hung up on editing all of the formatting and the grammatical correctness while I’m generating the first draft. I wish I could just let it go and focus purely on the story then worry about that all on second or third revision. Sometimes I feel that this interrupts my ideas and train of thought.
What are your favorite genres to read?
I absolutely love the classic romances. Jane Austen tops the chart, obviously. I also enjoy historical fiction, but after reading such complicated novels during my English Literature degree days, lately I prefer to read purely for entertainment. I love to laugh and therefore enjoy humorous women’s fiction. I suppose that’s why I have chosen to become an author of the same genre. I seek to entertain and make people laugh.
What do you want readers to take away from your story?
In all honestly, I simply want women (and maybe some men) to be able to identify with the characters and become inspired by the eventual tenacity and change that occurs in a few of the characters’ circumstances. Mostly, I just want readers to be entertained by the fun and frivolity of it all.
How important do you think social media is for authors these days?
It is paramount. Promotion tools are right at our fingertips and it makes connecting with readers so much simpler.
What would be your advice to aspiring writers?
You’re not a writer if you’re not actually writing anything, so write! Just put pen to paper or open up that lap top and you’ll be amazed with the stories that will take hold of you.
**Excerpt*
“Portia!! Portia!! Get up already! You’re about a zillion minutes late for your first day. Come on you lazy imp!”
Oh, I hate being torn out of a lovely slumber when I’m in the middle of the most wonderful dream; woken up by the horrendous bellowing of none other than my meddling, unbearable roommate, Minnie. The dream was perfection, and waking to a reality that can only be described as the exact opposite of perfection, is highly undesirable, yet this similar feeling each morning as I come to, has been my lot in life.
I slowly open one eye to see a familiar, thin, curly haired red head glaring at me from my bedroom doorway. I quickly shut it and feign being back in a deep sleep. Why oh why can’t I wake up to a dark haired, charming and handsome man as opposed to this?
“I saw that, Portia Delaney!” she sounds frustrated. “Not only are you late, but you’re making me late too, because I’m doing my duty as your friend and roommate to be sure that you don’t screw this one up! Now get on with it! Up, up, up!”
At this point she has found her way to the bottom of my bed and is now dragging me by my perfectly pedicured feet, because you never know when you may end up on a date with a gentleman who is won over by a well-cared for set of tootsies, (although I haven’t been on a date with a “gentleman” in over 6 months), and has just about gotten me to the point of full on bailing off the bed when I give in.
“OK! OK! You maniac! I’m up and I can be ready in 5 minutes flat, so get your skinny rear out of my room and let me get myself together. Thank you and please be on your way now.” I quickly jump to my feet after Minnie has unhanded them, and sternly guide her out into the hall slamming the door behind her. “Have a lovely day!” I manage to say in a sharp and clearly irritated voice.
Minnie is a workaholic, freakishly organized, highly paid executive at an ad agency. Why she still wants or needs a roommate is beyond me. I suppose it’s because work is her life and any ounce of energy she has, she wants to be poured into her career, not her home life or even love life for that matter. Minnie is the power-hungry career oriented woman who honestly, no word of a lie, could not give a damn whether she ever marries or has a family of her own. Sometimes I wish I had that mindset, because I, Portia Delaney, am ever hopelessly focused on finding that one soul mate
Now what? Dressed, yes I must choose an outfit for the first day at yet another mind-numbing, low paying office job at yet another medical office. I really want to be styling the rich and famous, not to mention designing clothes that are intended to be strutted down the runways of Paris and Milan; not to be stuck in a dead end job that has me working for pompous and self- absorbed doctors, who get to drive off in their luxury cars and head home to their glamorous trophy wives not to mention who give absolutely no notice of the front desk help. Why didn’t I listen to my heart instead of my nagging parents?
Alright, outfit, yes outfit. Well this is the most inexcusable tidbit of all. I’m here selecting an outfit for a first day at a job where my only selection can be from an assortment of various coloured scrubs, when I want to be making a selection between Gucci and Versace. Lavender it is, I suppose. With that disgruntled decision made, I reach for my terribly ordinary lavender scrubs, quickly pull them on, jet into the bathroom and whisk a brush through my hair while applying a pinch of foundation and blush. A bit of tinted lip gloss and a quick once over with the toothbrush and I’m set to go. Yes to go to my …well…bore of a career. Pay increase or not, just the thought of getting compensated to give up my dreams on a daily basis makes my stomach turn, and anxiety take over.
“But enough of this negativity Portia Delaney” I say out loud to my reflection in the hall mirror, “You are a successful, adorable, intelligent, creative and inspirational woman with amazing potential. For you nothing is impossible!” Ok, so do I actually believe this bunk… not a word. My shrink surely is trying to make me think I do, but let’s face it I’m at rock bottom with S.O.S. carved in the sand and flare guns blazing.
I suppose, however, there is nowhere to go but up. Work is blah, love life is blah, family life is… well, is what it is. My friends are mostly amazing, but sometimes having great friends, who seem to have it all together, just help to highlight everything lacking in your own life. With that summation of my view on my life circumstance, I slip on my god awful, yet comfy crocs, grab my Mark Jacobs purse, because I must still demonstrate some good taste in my daily wardrobe, and strut out the door while working those lavender scrubs to the max.
Author Bio:
Jessica Ashley Dafoe resides in Toronto where she is an educator by day and a literary enthusiast and writer by night. She attained her BA in English Literature at The University of Ottawa and her B Ed at Brock and Queen’s University.
When Jessica does not have her nose in a book or is not scribbling out her ideas for her newest tantalizing tales, she’s most likely keeping busy trying out various exciting activities and delicious cuisine that the great city of Toronto has to offer or planning her next getaway to her immediate destination of choice. The travelling bug bites her often.
A romantic comedy addict to the core, she enjoys all things silly, frivolous and emotionally endearing which is the reason she writes stories that encompass all of these qualities.
Connect with Jessica!
Google + is https://plus.google.com/u/0/117399747869953006853/posts
Twitter is https://twitter.com/City_Rhapsody
Linkedin is https://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=349932591&trk=spm_pic
Goodreads is https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8419937.Jessica_Ashley_Dafoe
Buy the Book!
Amazon: amzn.to/1sWNBYZ
