..read all about it !!
Something
to Prove
The
O’Learys
Shannyn
Schroeder
eKensington
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Your Favorite 5
Excerpt:
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Shannyn is a former English teacher, who now works as a part-time editor while raising her three kids.
Please help me welcome Shannyn Schroeder to A Passion for Romance. Hi Shannyn, can you tell us a little about yourself?
I’m a mom of 3, a part-time editor, and a part-time teacher. I like
the flexibility of all of my part-time jobs because it allows me to be at home
for my kids. I love to read and write (of course) and I spend a lot of time
watching TV.
What kind of research do you do for a novel and
how extensive do you get?
The research I do for my novels is usually about the profession for
each of my characters. I do most of my research online, but I will contact
people in the field and see if they’ll answer some questions for me. Other than
that, I’ll do small research as it pops up in my writing. For example, in Something to Prove, the characters have
a bowling alley and bar and I did some research about the licensing needed to
add a kitchen to the business. The O’Leary series is based in Chicago and since
I live there, I don’t have to do a ton of research to know where my characters
are.
Do you have a special place you like to do your
writing? Such as an office, a spare room, the dining room table, your couch?
I use the spare room in my house to write.
However, when my in-laws are visiting from Tennessee, I lose that space and
it’s back to writing wherever I can. When I first started writing, I would
write in my car, at my kids’ practices, and things like that. Now, when I lose
my writing space, I usually use the dining room table, but those chairs are NOT
comfortable for long writing sprints, so I’ll move to the couch (or have a
really sore butt).
As a reader, what types of works do you like to
read and do you think they influence the genre/genres you write in?
I love to read romance because life is depressing enough, so I want
to read things where I’m guaranteed a happy ending. I read mostly
contemporaries, but I also like romantic suspense and paranormal. I stay away
from historicals because it’s not my thing. I don’t think my reading has a
direct influence on my writing, but I think it has a long-term effect. I
believe that you become a better writer by reading good writing.
What is your favorite method of writing...as in
laptop, desktop, Ipad or the old fashioned pencil and paper?? And do you plot out your story or go with the
flow of your muse?
I use a laptop for my writing. In the past, I’ve written entire
novels in spiral notebooks (before I could afford a laptop to carry with me). I
don’t plot out my stories before writing. I spend time to get to know the
characters, and I have a general premise for the plot, but the story unfolds as
I write. I tend to see scenes in my head like a movie. That’s what I write.
When you need a break or some time off from the
trials of being a writer, what can you be found doing?
I watch a lot of TV. Like reading other authors, I think watching TV
is a good way to refuel because TV is still storytelling. I learn a lot about
characterization from watching TV. That’s not to say I sit there taking notes.
I watch shows for the entertainment value. Things I learn are just a bonus.
For fun, I have a few personal questions,
1)
Favorite color - purple
2)
Favorite dessert – chocolate cheesecake
3)
Favorite Season - summer
4)
Favorite sad song- I
don’t have a favorite, mostly because I listen to music all the time, so my
favorites change.
5)
Favorite Romantic movie – I have a lot of favorites. Movies that I always
put on when they’re on TV -- Dirty
Dancing, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, Jerry Maguire, Grease, Pretty Woman
And a bonus, what is your ideal romantic
vacation??
I’ve never had a romantic vacation (sad, isn’t it?). For me, ideal
would be a beach vacation without kids or work. I could sit by the water, read
a book, and sip a cold drink.
Where can our readers find you??
Email: Shannyn@ShannynSchroeder.com
Is there an upcoming or current release you
would like to share with us today and where can we find it?
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Something to Prove
Blurb:
Blurb:
Two ambitious people team up to prove themselves to their families—and find there may be more to their partnership than just business…
Elizabeth Brannigan is determined to show her father she’s capable of running the family business. Saving his struggling Chicago bar seems like the perfect project. But she’ll need a little help dealing with the rough crowd. Who better to assist her than the handsome co-owner of a thriving Irish pub? Of course, with so much work to do, there are bound to be a few late nights…
Colin O’Leary’s father passed away before he could prove to him that he wasn’t a screw-up. Now he wants to show his brother he’s responsible enough to own a bar of his own—and Elizabeth may be able to help him. But when their professional aspirations clash, tempers—and passions—flare. Are they mature enough to mix business with pleasure—or will they have to choose between the two?
“You don’t have the business management experience or education the other candidates have.”
He smiled. “Neither does my brother, but you went to him.”
“Like the saying goes, the proof is in the pudding. He’s a success. Just because you share a branch of the family tree doesn’t guarantee me anything.”
“But you’ve seen me with people.” He thunked the chair back down on all four legs. “I was good with you.”
Between his intense blue eyes and his low bedroom voice, his words warmed her blood again.
“And that would be another reason to not work with you. I don’t have time for someone who’s more interested in flirting than working.”
“Sweetheart, you flirted with me. I took your cues and acted on them. I’m completely capable of working with a partner without sleeping with her.”
Part of Elizabeth felt relief at his statement. More of her felt another sting of disappointment.
His steely blue gaze bore into her. No sign of lust. Nothing to imply that he planned to kiss her again. Not even a hint of sexual attraction. If they pretended that night had never happened, a partnership could work.
She steadied herself for a strong negotiation. “I’ll offer you twenty-five percent profits and a bonus twenty percent when I sell, assuming you hold up your end of the bargain and bring in the customers. I remain the manager and boss and all decisions go through me.”
“Make it forty percent profits and thirty percent on sale.”
“You bring personality to the table. No proven experience, and you expect me to give you almost half the business?” She leaned back in her chair.
“My personality is the one thing you need most. It can’t be taught or bought.”
“Thirty profits and twenty-five at sale.”
He narrowed his eyes as if computing, then leaned forward. “Deal.”
“One more thing. No flirting. Just business.”
He sighed like she was being insufferable. “Contrary to popular belief, I am capable of being professional. When do we start?”
“It’s locked up, so we can start tomorrow. I’ll have the contract drawn up for you to sign when you get there. Nine a.m.?”
“I’m closing at O’Leary’s tonight. Make it eleven. Even I need my beauty sleep.”
“You plan to continue to work at O’Leary’s?”
“It’s my family’s bar.”
“I’m not a simpleton. There are only so many hours in a day. I won’t have you thinking you can drop by The Irish just to collect a check.”
His smile was disarming. “Sweetheart, simple isn’t what anyone would call you. I’ll prove my worth soon enough. Seems a lot of people expect that.” He rose and extended his hand. “I’ll sign your contract, but a handshake will do for me.”
She shook his hand and tried to ignore its strength and warmth and the zing of her nerves. As he turned to leave, she enjoyed the view and immediately began to question her sanity. She’d just created a business partnership based on a man’s charm. What the hell was she thinking?
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 but it's totally up to you.
Each of the O’Leary books has a recipe
that is special to one of the characters. In Something to Prove, it’s
traditional Irish soda bread. Here’s the recipe:
Traditional Irish Soda Bread
3 ½ c flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 ¾ c buttermilk*
*Although the recipe can be
made using regular milk, the taste and texture are much better if you use
buttermilk.
Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
Grease and flour a round cake pan (8 or 9 inch).
In a large bowl, sift the dry
ingredients together. Pour in 1 ½ c of buttermilk and mix quickly. Add in
remaining ¼ c buttermilk and mix. Turn dough out on a lightly floured surface
and knead for only a few seconds to make sure it holds together. Shape into a
round disk and place in the prepared cake pan. Cut a cross in the top of the
bread. Cover with another cake pan.
Bake for 30 minutes. Remove
top cake pan and bake an additional 15 minutes. When bread is done, you will
hear a hollow sound when you thump the bottom.
Slice and enjoy with butter.
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Don't forget to follow the rest of the tour : http://tastybooktours.blogspot.com/2013/09/now-booking-tasty-virtual-book-tour-for.html
Author Info
Even though she wrote from high school through college (mostly poetry), she’d never considered a career as an author. Writing fell by the wayside as she focused her energy on creating lesson plans and new and fabulous ways to torment her teen students. One group in particular dubbed her “The Torture Master,” a title she carried into motherhood.
After the birth of baby number two, Shannyn resigned from teaching and fell in love with reading romance novels. She read so many books so quickly that her husband teased, “If you’re going to read so many damn books, why don’t you just write one?”
So she did.
That first book is safely buried on her hard drive, but the process set Shannyn on the path to where she is today—agented with a debut ebook coming out with Kensington in late 2012.
She is recovering from her Diet Coke addiction, fears putting her foot in her mouth on social media, and has a renewed appreciation for the bad girls of the world.
Author Links
Rafflecopter Giveaway:
(Nook Simple Touch ($79.00 Value), TWO Digital Copies of Winner’s Choice O’Leary Romance or FIVE Keeper Kase with O’Leary’s cards
(Nook Simple Touch ($79.00 Value), TWO Digital Copies of Winner’s Choice O’Leary Romance or FIVE Keeper Kase with O’Leary’s cards
