Please welcome Mary Jo Burke with her new release,
Spicing Up Trouble
It’s All About the Book…
Please
tell us about your current or upcoming release.
Spicing Up
Trouble
Alexia Hale
works as a test kitchen writer for the Chicago News. But she gets her big break
toward reporting "real" news when she's given the opportunity to
interview the world renowned artist, Benjamin Nance Cobb. The catch: to get it,
Alexia has to pose as a nude model for Ben. What begins as an awkward
assignment quickly turns into a real friendship…and possibly more. But when a
photograph of Alexia is leaked to the press, their private life suddenly becomes
very public. Ben's father isn’t pleased, Alexia's sisters are shocked, and now
she's being hounded by the press. Dating a celebrity has its challenges and
rewards. The only question is, which one will outweigh the other?
What is
this book’s genre? Is this the genre you
usually write in? Are there any genre’s
you haven’t written that you’d like to try?
Spicing Up Trouble is a romantic comedy. I
write whatever pops into my head and think of the genre later. My other
published books are paranormal and fantasy romances with humor sprinkled in. I
won an award for a women’s fiction story about a policewoman fighting
corruption and trying to help a girl caught in prostitution. I’ve tried an
historical romance and it’s coming along too.
What
inspired you to write this book?
This is the first book I ever wrote. It has
been revised many times. My inspiration is from the tabloids. What would it be
like to date a celebrity? Alexia Hale finds it to be hard work and surrenders
all her privacy. Would love be worth having your life exposed to all?
How did
you pick its title?
Did it come first or
did you have to write the story first?
Alexia is a chef who loves spicy food
who has a penchant for finding trouble so luckily it came together. My book, All Hours Trading, is about a financial
planner whose clients are the undead and the supernaturally challenged. She has
to be available 24/7, hence the title.
How did
you create your characters?
Did you use
any real life people in their making?
My characters come to me. I have
notebooks stashed everywhere and write notes to myself. I thought of Alexia as
not looking for fame, fortune, or love and all show up in Benjamin Nance Cobb.
Celebrities tend to date and marry celebrities, may be finding people who share
the same complicated lives. When a civilian enters this world, it’s a
staggering and unforgiving learning curve.
Who is
your favorite character of this book and why?
I love Alexia. She is devoted to
her sisters and cooks for them. It’s how she shows her love for them. When she
meets Ben, he and his father aren’t getting along. She tries to bridge the gap
because family is important to her. She is a peacemaker surrounded by other
people’s drama, like a lot of women.
What is your favorite part of
this book?
Can you share an excerpt from
that part?
At the beginning when Alexia explains to her
sisters her latest idea
for a career boost.
"Sweetie, why so quiet?" Irene asked me.
A bold move required a first step.
"Good things come in threes," I said.
"Yeah like musketeers and stooges," Eleanor said.
"Don't forget caballeros," Irene added. "Wait,
I thought death came in threes."
"Only in Hollywood," Eleanor replied.
The silent sister had let life pass her by—until now.
"I have a few announcements to make. First, I submitted
my resume to Single Chicago and have
an interview next week," I said.
"You will be touting your favorite sister's bar,"
Irene said.
"And your beautiful sister's boutique," Eleanor
chimed.
"No promises, but if I'm hired, I'll steer someone to
write an article or five for each of you. Second, the sommelier at the Bergen
has agreed to work on the Thanksgiving menu at the newspaper's blog with me."
"What if you get the job at the magazine?" Irene
asked.
"Then she can write a guest article. I'm going to
mention it at my interview. I can deliver big names."
"Sweetie, is the sommelier acquainted with Single Chicago's more risqué serving
dishes?" Eleanor asked, sipping her wine.
"Like the pasty chef's quarterly column?" Irene
asked with a giggle.
"You mean pastry chef," I said.
"Honey, if you write for Single Chicago you better line up a few pasty experts too. There
are some racy suggestions for weekend activities. Remember 'Wrap it in Whipped
Cream?' I tried it on what's his name," Irene said.
"Charles. Whatever happened to him?" Eleanor asked.
"You have a fabulous memory. He married a
stripper/dominatrix. I awakened a buried need in him to be humiliated,"
Irene said as she picked her glass for a toast.
"The effect you have on most men," Eleanor added as
she tapped Irene's glass to hers.
"Don't sell yourself short, dear. Many of your exes have
yet to recover," Irene said.
"Excuse me again," I said.
"Sorry, Sweetie, but you should know by now not to give
us airtime," Eleanor said.
"She's right, honey. Now please continue," Irene
said as she filled the wineglasses.
I knew they were reptiles or amphibians; they inhaled through
their noses, exhaled, and talked at the same time. It explained so much.
"Thank you. Shelley Carpenter, the art critic, left the
newspaper and had been lined up to interview Benjamin Cobb," I said.
"The reclusive, gorgeous, single, famous artist,
Benjamin Nance Cobb?" Eleanor asked.
"He has been the modern art world for the last fifteen
years. Tall, moody, and richer than all the Kardashians and Jenners,"
Irene said.
"How do you get to see him? He doesn't speak to the
press or on the record to any other living soul," Eleanor said as she leaned
toward me.
"I'm going to model for him," I said.
"What?" they yelled in unison.
The other patrons swiveled around and stared.
"My editor knows the owner of the modeling agency Cobb
uses. He requested a blonde. On Wednesday, I'll go there. While he paints, I'll
make conversation and covertly interview him."
Stone cold silence from my sisters. The minutes ticked by. They
must be trying to set a new world's record.
What was the hardest part of this
book to write?
Can you share an excerpt from that part?
Alexia has a brilliant idea to
honor Ben’s late mother’s memory. She was a children’s book author and
illustrator. Alexia suggests a museum be built to house and celebrate her
legacy, but plans go wrong and Ben blames her.
He slammed down the phone and glared at me.
A disadvantage of working for my husband was being home when
things went south. Also, being the person who initiated the idea, which he now
hated, didn't help.
"Could we ask the contractors to sign an affidavit,
swearing to only employ union workers?" I asked.
"And pay their legal fees, too? Every employee has to be
verified. At least two hundred people have set foot on the property. Some may
have been day labor. Tracking them down would take time and money. Why am I
being punished?" he asked.
Because he listened to me.
Next a few subcontractors put a lien on the property because
they were not paid. City inspectors showed up and issued citations for safety
violations. Finally, building material had been stolen. New orders were placed
and the overruns were climbing.
Donors grew skittish because the once pliant press declared
war on Ben, especially my former employer. Costs were touted as outrageous and
printed as truth. Pictures of the gangly skeleton of a building stood in sharp
contrast to the majestic Art Institute. Reporters staked out the site, pleading
for anyone to complain and bash Ben.
Two weeks of an angry husband preceded a week of stony
silence. He never accused, but I could read it in every gesture. This
catastrophe rested on my shoulders. I ate and slept alone. I only saw him at
Tad's office. The nurses cut him a wide berth.
Mark reported Ben's own staff was ready to bolt. The phones
rang incessantly: reporters, lawyers, collection agencies.
I packed a bag, left, and camped with Eleanor. I didn't hear
from Ben.
After two days, I placed a call to Florida. Ben needed the
big gun.
Did you
have any special rhythm or quirks while writing this?
I readily admit I don’t
cook. I watched a lot of videos on websites to understand spices. I also
checked cookbooks out of the library. I picked the worst time for food
research, over the holidays, when everyone is looking for something new or
different to serve.
Is this a
stand-alone book or is it part of a series?
If so, we want to hear about it and what’s next in the series. If not a series, what comes next to be
released?
For now, it’s a stand-alone. I do have ideas for an Eleanor book and
an Irene book. Both are in the planning stages. What’s next is in the
preliminary stages, but addresses my favorite kind of music, rock and roll.
* * * * *
Spicing Up Trouble
Mary Jo Burke
Contemporary
Romance/Romantic Comedy
Gemma Halliday
Publishing, 332 pages
Alexia Hale works as a test kitchen writer for
the Chicago News. But she gets her big break toward reporting
"real" news when she's given the opportunity to interview the world
renowned artist, Benjamin Nance Cobb.
The catch: to get it, Alexia
has to pose as a nude model for Ben. What begins as an awkward assignment
quickly turns into a real friendship...and possibly more. But when a photograph
of Alexia is leaked to the press, their private life suddenly becomes very
public. Ben's father isn't pleased, Alexia's sisters are shocked, and now she's
being hounded by the press.
Dating a celebrity has its
challenges and rewards. The only question is, which one will outweigh the
other?
Buy Links:
Gone with the Wind in the theater. She was ten. The
story never left her. She read the book three times. She saw the movie every
time it was re-released. GWTWwill be seventy-five years old this
year and is her favorite movie. She would only make a minor change: Leave
Ashley to Melanie and hold on tight to Rhett. Her writing sprung from reading,
watching, and always wanting to edit.Mary Jo was born in Chicago and has never strayed far from home. She majored in Accounting and received her MBA in Finance. She worked in the investment and banking businesses.
Mary Jo is a member of the Romance Writers of America, Chicago North RWA, and Windy City RWA.
Website
Giveaway: $20 Amazon Gift Card
Thanks for hosting me on your blog!
ReplyDelete