This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Suzanne will be awarding a $25 Visa Gift Card to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.
Why do you write in your genre? What draws you to it?
Running Home to You is a romance novel with humor and suspense. I have only recently started reading romance, my genre of choice as a reader had always been suspense. Authors like Patricia Cornwell, Michael Crichton, James Grisham, and Dan Brown have been among my favorite go-to's. I decided that it was time to blend my new favorite genre with my first love, and the result is a romance novel mixed with enough suspense to keep the reader turning the pages and enough humor to make the intense moments even more powerful.
What research is required?
My books are firmly set in reality, and as such, it's critical that I get my facts right. I could get so much more writing accomplished if I didn't spend half my time fact checking. My main character is a professional athlete. That means that he finds himself in the company of other celebrities. I take pain-staking care to make sure that when I state that a real celebrity was at a basketball game or social function, that they've actually done these things. When I talk about the main character's contract negotiations, I took time to find actual NFL contracts. The list goes on and on…
Name one thing you learned from your hero/heroine.
I'm going to be brutally honest here. The heroine's reaction to adversary is based upon what I would do in a similar situation. I tend to overthink things and perhaps look at things pessimistically. I guess I'm a "glass half empty" kind of person. Some of the readers have commented early in the first book how some of the main character's choices annoyed them. If the character is flawed, that would be because my own character is flawed, too. But I've learned to accept it and try to use it as a strength. I can see things that are about to happen way before anyone else, and sometimes that comes in handy.
Do you have any odd or interesting writing quirks, habits or superstitions?
Yes, I do! My favorite way to write is to find a quiet room in the house, grab my laptop, and put on a movie that I've seen hundreds of times. This way, I can write without being distracted by the movie, but I can take short breaks to watch a powerful scene without missing a beat. Unfortunately, my favorite 'writing-time' movies are all romantic movies that include vampires and werewolves (I'm sure you can guess what I'm talking about), and no one else in the house appreciates this particular genre, so it's definitely best if I spend my time in a space away from the rest of my family.
Are you a plotter or pantser?
I'm a plotantser (is that even a word?). Before the first word is written, I plot and plan meticulously, taking pages and pages of notes and combing through the notes from my previous books. But once I begin, a lot of my ideas get thrown out the window. Some of my best ideas are the ones that come spontaneously. I usually know what I want to achieve and what my plot goals are, but sometimes I'm not quite sure how to execute. It usually comes to me when I'm watching a movie, reading a book, or listening to a song. Sometimes a good commercial can generate sparks, too!
Look to your right – what’s sitting there?
My husband is sitting alone at the dining room table eating dinner. My computer is in my kitchen, looking out a window into our backyard. Sitting at a computer is a very solitary activity, so by placing it in a place where family gathers is important to me. This habit began when my children were younger and I wanted to monitor their online activities. Of course, now each of us has a laptop, so when we need a quiet place to work, we take our computers with us and find a good hiding spot.
Anything new coming up from you? What?
Running Home to You is the second book in the Running Series. I'm now working diligently on the third and final book,Running Away With You, which should be available this summer. I have a laundry list of ideas for the next book, and probably the next book after that, too!
Do you have a question for our readers?
How many of the readers are genre-hoppers? I find that when I read a good mystery, I want to read more mysteries for a very long time. When I start dystopian fictions, I try to find more and more until I'm satisfied. When I'm on a romance jag, I can't seem to get enough. There's no genre-hopping for me!
Running Home to You: continues the journey of Juliette and Evan that began in “Running Back to You”.
Juliette Fletcher thought she had it all – a strikingly handsome man who adores her, a new business venture with her best friends by her side, and a dream house right on the beach. But appearances can be deceiving and everything comes at a cost.
Evan McGuire has just survived a vicious attack that almost ended his professional football career. He’s on the mends now, trying to piece his life back together again, and build a life with Juliette.
But Evan’s erratic behavior has Juliette worried. She must figure out how to save her struggling restaurant, her fragile friendships, and her now unhealthy relationship with the man she loves. Juliette and Evan find that they’ve placed their trust in the wrong people and the price they pay for that mistake may ultimately cost them everything.
Running Home to You is the second book in the Running Series.
About the Author:
Blog: http://suzannesweeney.wordpress.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Running-Series-Books/595007973866974?ref=hl
GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7151235.Suzanne_Sweeney>
Buy the book at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or Smashwords.
I guess I'm also a "glass half empty" kind of person hehe. I like to read flawed character, it makes the story more real!
ReplyDeleteI really love finding a good story that is part of a series. I want to read more if it is that good.
ReplyDeleteGreat cover
ReplyDeleteGreat cover and Q&A.
ReplyDeleteI hope to read this book.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the giveway!
v_theberge@hotmail.com
I know we'll appreciate the research!
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