I was so stoked to be tagged by my pal Laurie London in this sort of author chain-letter-blog-post-thing called The Next Big Thing. It’s a chance for you to find out what your favorite (and new to you) writers are working on now. Take a sec to check out Laurie’s post from last week. I can’t wait to read her next novella!
What is your working title of your book?
Where did the idea come from for the book?
The hero and heroine in Paradise are secondary characters from the first two books in my Shelbyville, Texas, series. Beck is the sheriff’s chief deputy and Eden is the owner of Paradise Garden Cafe. Both have secrets and are a little uptight. Needless to say, they’re going to help each other unwind :-).
What genre does your book fall under?
Contemporary romance.
Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?
Yow – I’m so bad with this because I didn’t watch much TV for the five years my family lived overseas. Now, I only watch a few select shows and movies. Maybe Anne Hathaway (with a couple of inches shaved off) for Eden and Paul Walker for Beck.
What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?
Paradise Garden Cafe owner Eden Durant wants to bury her family’s sordid Hollywood history, but when men get sick after eating in her restaurant, Chief Deputy Beck Childress realizes someone set Eden up to take the fall for food poisoning charges, and his promise to serve and protect takes on a whole new meaning.
Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?
Problems in Paradise will be published by Carina Press as part of a four-book series. The release date for Paradise is TBD, but some time in 2014. Personal Assets, the first in the series, will be released August 26, 2013.
How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?
Oh, great question. I just started this week :-). But I’m giving myself about 10 weeks for the draft. I write a horribly dirty draft, so the better question might be how long it takes me to revise the draft.
What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?
I think if you love authors like Jill Shalvis, Shannon Stacey, or Carly Phillips, you might enjoy my voice and the tone and heat of my books.
Who or what inspired you to write this book?
I began writing this series as part of a class through UCLA after I moved overseas. I’d wanted to write a book for several years, but was busy—as many of us are—with a day job and a young child. When we moved to the Middle East, I found I had time to indulge my love of writing and Shelbyville, Texas, came to life!
What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?
The heroine Eden isn’t from Texas, but was born and raised in California (where I recently moved from). She’s hiding a secret from her past that she’d not eager for her new friends or lover to discover.
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Check out The Next Big Thing from these authors on either December 26 or January 2!
Kristina Knight, author of What a Texas Girl Wants, The Saint’s Devilish Deal and What a Texas Girl Needs.
Joan Leacott, writer of contemporary romantic fiction told with heart, humor and heat.
Wendy S. Marcus, Harlequin author of Once a Good Girl, The Nurse’s Not-So-Secret Scandal and more!
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This is Gluten Free Baking week. I’m honestly bummed for folks who’ve been forced to go gluten-free, especially around this time of the year. Good news is more and more grocery stores are stocking great gluten-free baking products. If you can’t find gluten-free in your community, there are tons of great resources online.
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