Thursday, May 1, 2014

Author, author.... @karenbbooth and LOVE FINDS A WAY + a $25 Publisher GC

...read all about it !!!

Super excited to be the second stop on the tour for the LOVE FINDS A WAY boxed set by four amazing, best-selling authors!  It was my pleasure to be able to personally interview Karen Booth, the author of Bring Me Back.




Welcome Karen, so great to have you here with us.  Can you tell us a little about yourself?

I’m a MN girl living in Chapel Hill, NC, a married mom of two, a romance and women’s fiction author, and an unrepentant Duran Duran fan.

Do real life events find their way into your stories? Absolutely!

It’s never exactly as they happened, but real life offers so much inspiration, especially the things that happen with my husband and kids. In ‘Bring Me Back’, several of the things that Christopher says to Claire are things that my husband has said to me.

Do you ever mimic family members or people you know when you choose characters?

I usually only draw on the small details, like specific ways of dressing or mannerisms. I would never make a caricature of the people I know and love, mostly because they would likely never forgive me. That being said, people always ask, “So, who am I in your book?”

Do you find yourself going back to the same inspiration for each story or is it always something different?

The answer is somewhere in-between. I don’t think I could write a book that doesn’t include a love story. I’m too drawn to it. My ideas almost always stem from a specific character, and I am very attached to writing books about heroes and heroines who are creative—musicians, painters, writers. I don’t think I could write a book about a steel magnate, but I could write the heck out of a hunky basket-weaver.

When do you write?  Early morning? During the day sometime or all day?  After the kids go to bed?

I write off and on all day, but my best time is super early in the morning, before the kids get up for school. I can accomplish more in an hour when the house is quiet than for the rest of the day. My second prime time is in the minivan in the middle school parking lot, waiting for my son to get out of school. Ah, the glamorous life of a writer!

How do you feel about marketing your book?

I love the social aspect of it, but I don’t really think of it as marketing—there’s very little in the way of precision to this part of an author’s job. I believe in selling one book at a time and taking the time to connect with every reader who’s interested in connecting with you. That’s the best marketing. That, and writing more books.

What social sites do you feel work best for marketing?
I think Twitter and Facebook are the best. It’s possible to have a conversation. It should always be a back-and-forth, not pushing something in someone’s face and hoping they’re interested.

Do you like to pitch stories to your publisher or do you wait until you have written the story and have a final manuscript to turn in?

I prefer to submit completed manuscripts, but I don’t have the luxury of time anymore. It’s necessary to submit books on proposal so that I can keep a steady stream of releases. In the age of digital books, you need at least two new titles a year and preferably more.

Is there any other genre that you would love to try writing?  If so, what is it?

I would love to learn how to write romantic suspense—there’s a real art to building suspense and I know that I haven’t yet mastered it.




Do you always/ever see yourself as the heroine/hero when you write a story?
Claire, the heroine in ‘Bring Me Back’, is probably the most like me, but that’s probably because it was my first novel. I think I had a lot in my head that had to come out and Claire was my vehicle. Now I merely try to put myself in their place, while remaining at least a little objective about what they are doing.


Just for fun, I have a few personal questions, 

Favorite 5

1)      Favorite Male Actor  - I’m a wee bit obsessed with Idris Elba. He is an incredible actor and more than a little handsome.

2)      Favorite vehicle – Aston Martin. Preferably with John Taylor as my personal driver.

3)      Favorite way to relax – Sitting on the screen porch on a warm afternoon, drinking a cocktail and listening to music.

4)      Favorite ice cream – I was going to say that “ice cream” is my favorite ice cream, but I’ll say Mint Chocolate Chip. Love it.

5)      Favorite outfit – a sleeveless top, busted jeans (rolled up), and flip-flops. I’m a total summer girl.

And for a bonus:  If you could pick any place in the world to live, besides where you are now, where would it be?  (Of course, without the hindrance of jobs or money needed)
 Any place that’s warm and on the beach, with a writing space that overlooks the ocean. That would be perfect.


Where can our readers find you??    
Email    Twitter    Facebook   Website  

Is there an upcoming or current release you would like to share with us today and where can we find it?

‘Hiding in the Spotlight’ is my next book, which comes out May 29th from Turquoise Morning Press.

Alex Halford’s rock-star husband, Glenn, steals away in the middle of the night, leaving her with their two boys, a mountain of debt, and one person to turn to—his lifelong friend and band mate, David Callahan. David helps Alex pick up the pieces of her shattered life, happy to have any time with the woman he’s loved for seventeen years. Every moment with her is ripe with opportunity, and every last idea running through his mind would destroy his brotherly bond with Glenn. 
Out from under Glenn’s thumb, Alex can see the person she was before marriage, finding feelings for David she thought she’d left behind in high school. A single kiss and the floodgates open, giving her new hopes of happiness. But when David and Glenn’s band has a chance to be back on top, David must convince Glenn to return. With every passing day, success comes closer, Glenn’s ego inflates, and David and Alex find it more difficult to hide. One misstep and the secret comes out, forcing David to choose between his life’s work and the woman he doesn’t want to leave behind.
One last thing before we let you leave us today :)  Do you have a favorite recipe you'd like to share?  I like to cook and am always looking for new recipes to try and share...

I’m sharing my recipe for Olive Oil Cornmeal Pound Cake—it’s SO delicious, sweet and moist. Always a home-run.

Olive Oil Cornmeal Pound Cake

¾ cup olive oil, plus more for the pan

1 ½ cups all-purpose flour, plus more for the pan

¾ cup finely ground cornmeal

½ t baking powder

½ t baking soda

½ t salt

¾ C buttermilk

2 large eggs

1 1/2 C sugar

1 t vanilla

zest of ½ orange


Directions:

Heat over to 350 F. Oil a loaf pan and dust with flour, tapping out the excess. Be thorough—this pound cake likes to stick.

In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, cornmeal, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. In a medium bowl, whisk together the olive oil, buttermilk, eggs, sugar, vanilla and orange zest. Add to the dry ingredients and mix just until combined. Do not over-mix—lumps are okay.

Transfer the batter to the prepared pan and bake until golden and a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean, 50 to 55 minutes. Let cool for 20 minutes in the pan then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Slice and enjoy!
*   *   *   *   *   *
LOVE  FINDS  A WAY  Boxed Set



Bring Me Back
by
Karen Booth



Blurb:

Music critic Claire Abby is a single mom dreading her daughter’s departure for college and worried that turning forty will leave her career running on fumes. She’s floored when she lands a Rolling Stone cover story on 80s British rock legend Christopher Penman. She spent her teenage years fantasizing he was her boyfriend. 
In person, Christopher is everything Claire feared he’d be—charming, witty and unwilling to address the rumors he’s dodged for a decade. Still, she contains her adolescent fantasies and manages to earn his trust, unearthing the truth and the devastating secret behind it. His blockbuster story is her first priority when she returns home, a nearly impossible task when Christopher starts calling and flirting. She knows she should maintain a professional distance. She knows she should focus on the story. She knows it would be best to simply walk away. But how can she say “no” to the man she could never forget?
For a limited time only, get this 4 book boxed set for a special promotional price of $ .99.
| ALL ROMANCE EBOOKS | PUBLISHER


Giveaway:

 These 4 great authors are giving away a $25 Gift Card to Turquoise Morning Press.

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1 comment:

  1. OMG -- You had me at poundcake! That recipe looks fabulous. (I must try!) And the books look even more fabulous. Good luck with your tour, Karen!

    ReplyDelete