Interview with romantic comedy author Ann Crawford

Novelist Ann Crawford joins me today to talk about her ‘romantic comedy that’s out of this world,’ Fresh off the Starship.

During her virtual book tour, Ann will be awarding a $25 Amazon or Barnes and Noble (winner’s choice) gift card to a lucky randomly drawn winner. To be entered for a chance to win, use the form below. To increase your chances of winning, feel free to visit her other tour stops and enter there, too!

Welcome, Ann. Please tell us a little bit about yourself.

I'm a fun-loving, world-traveling, high-flying, deep-diving, and living-to-the-max author of eight books. When I'm not flying planes, scuba diving, climbing every mountain (on the back of my husband’s motorcycle) or riding the world’s fastest roller coasters, you can find me in my writing nest with a view of Colorado’s Rocky Mountains out the window. I've lived all over--from both oceans white with foam, to the prairie, and now to the mountain. Yes, a little backwards, but what the hey.

My bestselling and award-winning novels go as high and deep as I do—they’re profound yet funny; playful although poignant; heart-opening and heart-lifting; thought-provoking and inspiring; and edgy while universal. I'm also a screenwriter and award-winning filmmaker and humanitarian.

Please share a little bit about your current release.
Fresh off the Starship is a fun, quirky look at what it would be like to wake up…human! I know we do that all the time and we’ve gotten quite good at it, but what would it be like to wake up as an adult human and experience a shower, the sun on your face, making love, a Starbucks Macchiato (which leads to a When Harry Met Sally “I’ll have what she’s having” moment)?

A starbeing wakes up in the body of Missy, in Western Kansas—but she was supposed to be in Washington, D.C. where she could help humanity on a grand geopolitical scale. Wrong place, right time, though? Through meeting the people there, she learns—and reminds them—how awesome and special this being-a-human thing is.

What inspired you to write this book?
I moved to Kansas—from the Northern California coast and after growing up in New York—thirteen years ago to marry my husband and be a stepmom to his two wonderful kids. I’d been through Kansas a few times as I crisscrossed the country over the years. He grew up halftime in Wichita and halftime on a farm in Western Kansas. When he took me out there, I fell in love with the people and the land. When I would tell people from big cities and the coasts that I was living in Kansas, they’d roll their eyes—like I probably used to. So I wanted to celebrate these people and the land as well as delve into some of the issues they experience there, as many places do. I wanted to show these Kansas folks’ depth, sincerity, and wisdom—they’re definitely not the bunch of “hicks” so many may think.

Also, I heard a line from the movie Starman many years ago: something along the lines of “You humans are at your best when you’re at your worst.” I’ve wanted to create my own starbeing for decades and have to look through her eyes to see how beautiful we humans can be and how amazing life on Earth is. It was really fun to have to imagine taking a sip of water for the first time as well as the many other fun things humans engage in.

Excerpt from Fresh off the Starship:

Matt hands her a large drink with a little mountain of fluffy white stuff on top, with stripes of brown dripping down the mountainsides.

      “Here, got you extra whipped cream and lots of car’mul on top, just the way you like it.”

      Missy takes a lick of the whipped cream and her eyes go wide. “Oh!”

      “Well, yer not supposed to lick it like an ice-cream cone. Sip it.”

      She does and then slaps her hand on the table.

      “Missy! You okay?”

      “Oh, my! How can you beings ever complain about anything?”

      “How’s that now?”

      “Nothing.” She takes another sip and moans again. Several customers seated nearby look over at her.

      “Missy, sweetheart, can you calm yourself a bit?”

      She takes a bite of the round treat on a stick he’d set down by her. The moans escalate.

      “Geez,” Matt says, trying to sink farther into his seat, “I feel like I’m straight out of When Harry Met Sally.”

      “Who’s Harry? Who’s Sally?”

      “The main characters in one of yer favorite movies. You made me watch it at least half a dozen times.”

      She takes another sip and bite. The moans escalate even more. By this time everyone in the café is looking at her.

      “Missy! Perhaps we should eat these in the car.”

      “Wherever you want!”

      The customers in the café receive one more rendition of “Ohhhhhhhh!” as Matt leads her out the door and she takes another sip of her drink. She climbs into the truck as he walks around to the driver’s side.

      Okay, maybe it’s not thaaaat bad here.

What exciting story are you working on next?
I’m writing about three generations of women – an ex-flower child/hippie still living like it’s 1969, an arch conservative, and a 20 y.o. envelope-pushing trans woman—all under one roof….What could possibly go right? Readers can laugh and commiserate at their dismays over not only their contrasts, but even more over their surprising similarities…over their banter, but even more over what’s left unsaid…over their snarkiness, but even more over their ever-abiding love, despite all differences.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

Oh, age 3.

Do you write full-time? If so, what's your work day like? If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find time to write?

I am beyond grateful to be able to say I write full-time now. I generally wake up pretty early. Right after breakfast I sit down in my writing nest and meditate for about 15 minutes. Then I write for 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7—you get the idea—hours. After that comes marketing work. I’d stay home all day every day, but I make myself get out to the gym, improv rehearsal and performances, a women’s group that I love (it has great speakers), the movies, and things like that.

When I was working fulltime, I would write for an hour very early in the morning and then all day Sundays. I wrote a whole bunch of books that way. One of the things I’m most grateful for is…..Sundays!

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

I don’t write at a desk. I have one but I don’t like writing there. I have a couch facing out a window to a garden and a grove of trees that looks like Arthur and Genevere would’ve hung out in. I put my feet up on a hassock and my laptop on a big, thick, but flat cushion. I love this and my posture is probably much better.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

An author!

My mom was very, very ill as I was growing up, and she eventually died when I was a teenager. But one of her favorite things to do was read to me when I was little. Those were very special times, and the magic of a book has stayed with me.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?

I absolutely LOVE hearing from readers. You can reach me on my website, anncrawford.net. I’m so grateful to get to do what I love, and I’m even more grateful when readers tell me how my books have touched them.

Links:

Amazon | Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

Thank you for being a guest on my blog!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

New interview with author John Herrick

Novelist John Herrick is back with a new interview! Today we’re talking about his new romantic comedy, Mona Lisas and Little White Lies.

During his virtual book tour, John will be awarding a $10 Amazon or Barnes and Noble (winner’s choice) gift card to a lucky randomly drawn winner. To be entered for a chance to win, use the form below. To increase your chances of winning, feel free to visit his other tour stops and enter there, too!

Bio:

John Herrick is best known as a chronicler of the human heart. His complex characters and earnest tone prompted Publishers Weekly to write, "Herrick will make waves." When he is not writing, he loves long drives on the interstate. He is a sucker for 1990s music. Herrick lives in St. Louis.

Welcome back to Reviews and Interviews, John! Please tell us about your newest release.

Lily is an independent—and foul-mouthed—auto mechanic. Ryder is a commercial artist who meets her during a random encounter while she’s at her most beautiful and falls in love at first sight. From that point forward, Lily becomes his muse. He builds an imaginative world for her … a world in stark contrast to her reality! So what happens when Lily starts to realize she prefers Ryder’s version of her world better than her own? You’ll need to read the book to find out.

What inspired you to write this book?

About 20 years ago, I brought my car to the auto shop to have something worked on. The person working at the front counter was a woman in her 20s. You don’t see that very often, and I wondered how it felt for her on her job. I wondered what kind of work she did there, how she interacted with a staff that was, aside from her, male. I wondered how others perceived her—and how she perceived herself. I started planning the story about 10 years later, around the time I was planning my novel From the Dead. Then I set Mona Lisas aside, coming back to it every so often. Once it was finished, its publication kept getting delayed by my other books. By the time it was ready for Mona Lisas to be released, I had to go through the manuscript another time to update it. Technology had changed!

Excerpt from Mona Lisas and Little White Lies:

Lily considered the man handsome with his firm jaw and wavy, brown hair. In fact, he had one of those faces which could, with one glance, render you at ease. She sensed instant comfort in his presence. He also had the sort of appearance that made you feel as if you had met him before.

           

And Brooke was right. The woman looked exactly like Lily. Her hair color, complexion, nuances in her face and fingers—Lily recognized them all.

           

Brook leaned over her shoulder. “See what I mean?”

           

“Yeah…” Stunned, Lily examined the woman closer but couldn’t find the words to speak. An honest-to-goodness lookalike! Yet somehow, that red dress and fancy environment had transformed her into a different person altogether. The change had escorted her into another world!

           

Even though this woman was a fictional character, Lily tried to imagine her background and what she did for a living. The superficial differences between Lily and this woman were obvious, but Lily knew something else must have come into play between a couple like this. What did this woman have that Lily didn’t? What would draw this particular man to this particular woman?

           

A hint of jealousy stabbed Lily’s heart, but she shoved the feeling aside.

           

Before she knew it, Lily pictured herself in the woman’s place—which wasn’t difficult, given the similarities.

           

She imagined the floral scent of that wine…

           

The brush of the red dress against her thighs…

           

His arm around her waist…

           

What am I doing?!

           

Lily snapped the magazine shut and tossed it on the dining room table.

What’s the next writing project?

It’s a drama about a police officer in Manhattan. It combines family, love, loss, the paranormal—and documents what happens when they all come crashing together. I’m bursting at the seams to share that story with you!

What is your biggest challenge when writing a new book? (or the biggest challenge with this book)

My biggest challenge is showing up every day when it feels like I’m dead inside. It happens with every book, until something unlocks, the dam opens up, and the ideas suddenly fall into place. But until that happens, to be honest, I feel like a failure. I sketch everything in detail—a 100-page mini version of the novel—before I write the first draft. So in my case, most of the creative work occurs before I write the book. Writing the book is a matter of showing up each day and expanding on a story I’ve already told once.

If your novels require research – please talk about the process. Do you do the research first and then write, while you’re writing, after the novel is complete and you need to fill in the gaps?

I conduct research before outlining my novel, to get a feel for my characters’ world. It also helps prevent logistical issues down the road. If I don’t conduct research first, I risk making an assumption about a detail on which the entire novel hinges. That would mean rewriting the whole novel, and if I learned nothing else from working in the IT field years ago, I learned the value of efficiency!

For Mona Lisas, I visited the studio of a commercial artist. I’d never seen so many color options in my life! What fascinated me is that his studio was filled not only with his current projects and past work, but it was filled with books. Tons and tons of books throughout his two-story studio. Topics covered everything from history to automobiles. I learned a good artist is much like a good writer—he researches his projects before he begins.

What’s your writing space like? Do you have a particular spot to write where the muse is more active? Please tell us about it.

My writing space is a Starbucks around 5:30 a.m. I write for 2-3 hours while watching the sunrise. I’ve learned to write anywhere and have tried to transition as much as possible to digitally-based methods, which has increased my productivity while expanding my options.

What authors do you enjoy reading within or outside of your genre?

I love John Grisham’s early works. I also try to get my hands on everything by Joseph Finder, Sheldon Siegel, and others. I read a ton of James Patterson because he’s a master a writing with a particular commercial goal in mind, so I study what he does. But I tend to read everything from suspense to American history to politics. I love memoirs/biographies about U.S. presidents and media giants like Clive Davis, LA Reid, and Tommy Mottola. One recent read was The Real Coke, The Real Story, about the rise of Coca-Cola and the New Coke debacle of 1986. I followed that up with Salt Sugar Fat: How the Food Giants Hooked Us. So I never know what’s next!

Anything additional you want to share with the readers today?

Thanks so much for letting me stop by! If you enjoy a chuckle and books by Nicholas Sparks or Emily Giffin, you will probably enjoy Mona Lisas and Little White Lies. And feel free to follow me on my socials!

Links:

Website | Facebook | Goodreads | YouTube | Amazon

Thank you for coming back to Reviews and Interviews!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Interview with debut romance author Shalini Dua

Author Shalini Dua is here today and we’re chatting a little bit about her new YA new adult romantic comedy, The Secret Lives of Royals.

During her virtual book tour, Shalini will be awarding a $50 Amazon or Barnes and Noble (winner’s choice) gift card to a lucky randomly drawn winner. To be entered for a chance to win, use the form below. To increase your chances of winning, feel free to visit her other tour stops and enter there, too.

Bio:

An international upbringing and a love of stories laid the foundation for wanderlust. Shalini aspires to spend her time country-hopping and consuming pop-culture, comedy and good food but the reality is often frantically downing coffee, meeting deadlines at exactly the last second and working her unglamorous corporate job to fund all of the other pursuits.

The Secret Lives of Royals is Shalini’s debut novel. Her other work includes published poetry and scripts only she has read.

Welcome, Shalini. Please share a little bit about your current release.The Secret Lives of Royals is a contemporary fairytale about a royal secret society. Olivia is trying to make it in the New York publishing world and she is failing spectacularly. Until, out of the blue, she is handed her dream job.

As Olivia steps into the world of New York media, the secrets to her life upgrade are soon revealed. When Olivia learns of The Circle, a secret society with membership based on royal blood, she must decide if the cost of her dreams is worth the price she must pay. Can Olivia handle the weight of the crown?

The Devil Wears Prada meets The Adjustment Bureau in this YA/New Adult crossover tale.

What inspired you to write this book?

The Secret Lives of Royals has been rattling around in my head for years. Inspired by school history lessons, my travels and wanderlust for places I haven’t yet managed to visit, and by my love of food and art; Olivia’s story is a culmination of my journey thus far and the daydreaming I’ve done along the way. This novel is self-published, so I hope you will look past its raw state and enjoy the magic in this contemporary fairytale world.


Excerpt from The Secret Lives of Royals:

We reach a pair of French doors that lead to the main event and they swing open as we approach.

“Welcome to the annual Royal Ball.” Our butler bows as he backs away.

We are greeted head on by music, lights and the brilliance one only finds at a Royal function. An usher directs us down a beautiful marble staircase, covered with a deep red carpet, to the party, which is already in full swing. We begin to descend and I gaze longingly at the gold banisters which would really help to navigate this obstacle course, heels on marble and carpet in front of many important people, as we are being announced.

I’m horrified and sure my face gives me away as I feel myself give in to my natural instincts and trip, about to plummet to a social death if just a physical bruising. Suddenly, I feel a hand around my waist steadying me and hear the announcer say,

“Miss Olivia Grace Thorpland and Mr. Alexander Windsor.” I gasp and find Alex by my side.

“The irony of your temperament and your name, Gracie.” He grins at me and winks subtly. “Don’t worry, I’ve got you. Look ahead, smile, no one noticed.” We glide down the staircase together, and I feel hot where his fingers are touching my arm. When we reach the bottom, I make my excuses and insist Sophia accompany me to somewhere else, anywhere else. But before I can escape, Alex takes my hand, kisses it and lets me go.

The music fluctuates between classic Hollywood and jazz styles applied to pop songs from the last three decades. It takes me a while to realize these are all being performed by Sheffield and Adeline. I’m at an event where the talent is a three-time Grammy winner and this year’s most trendy pop star. They are accompanied by what I’m sure is a very famous orchestra. To say this evening is surreal would be an understatement and the sensory assault is giving me a dizzying out of body experience. Connor introduces me to a lot of people I apparently should be knowing. However, I’m a little distracted, drinking it all in, and don’t get a lot of what he is telling me.

The most delectable hors d'oeuvres are passed, and I’m enjoying sampling all of them until I almost gag when Sophia says,

“The escargot is divine isn’t it?” and unintentionally informs me that I have just eaten a snail. Right, forgot I’m in France. Unfortunately, Alex chooses that moment to walk over, and I’m gagging as he is trying to get my attention.

What exciting story are you working on next?

I’m working on the follow-up to The Secret Lives of Royals, a new novel about a circus and a book of poetry.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

When, after graduation while working in finance, I couldn’t bring myself to stop writing, even though there was no assignment, no deadline and no impetus for the work.

Do you write full-time? If so, what's your work day like? If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find time to write?

I work in marketing and content production from 9-5 and I’m a writer 5-9. My day job does involve some copywriting work for a variety of clients. I have to make time to write. It’s very important to me so I have to really commit to it.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

I doodle on myself, giving myself temporary tattoos, when I write.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

A singer – quickly realized that would never happen as I do not possess even the remote ability to sing.

Links:
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Thank you for being a guest on my blog!

a Rafflecopter giveaway