This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Eric Grandy will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.
Welcome to It's Raining Books. Why do you write in your genre?
Fiction allows for what I call “reality based creativity”. I take real events from what I’ve experienced or heard or what others have shared with me and weave a “fictional reality” that, hopefully, readers can relate to.
What research (or world-building – for fantasy/paranormal/Sci-fi) is required?
I don’t write sci-fi or paranormal or fantasy. I do research when I want to get important facts straight. For instance, my next novel involves a main character who travels to Lagos, Nigeria. My neighbor is from there and he and I sat and talked several times about life, culture, the people and his personal experiences growing up there. I write fiction but it is always fact based.
Name one thing you learned from your heroine.
Through LaVern Whitaker, I have relearned the value of always doing what’s right. It may not seem like the right, or easiest thing to do at the time, but in the long run, it’s always the right thing. After she received an unexpected scholarship to a prestigious performing arts school, her father shared this cogent advice. “Always do the right thing, LaVern. You never know who’s watching that can make your bumpy road smooth.” That’s one of those reality based lessons I’ve tried to live by.
Do you have any odd or interesting quirks, habits or superstitions?
One unexpected aspect of writing is that I listen and observe all the time. I don’t eavesdrop, but I listen to nearby conversations and I watch others' mannerisms. You pick up a lot of character traits that way. A coworker once mentioned that he was “earhustling”. I had never heard the word before so he explained what it meant. I knew I would use it somewhere in my novel. And I did. And, I carry around something to write on because I don’t trust my memory when the time comes to recall what I saw or heard.
Are you a plotter or a pantser?
You could call me a hybrid. Most of the time I jot down the major plot points in a chapter. But sometimes I write myself into a corner and have to figure my way out. I was more than halfway through my novel when I realized I didn’t have a villain. I had to revisit my story to find a suitable character, then weave his presence into the mostly completed manuscript.
Look to your right. What’s sitting there?
I’m looking through my dining room window onto my front porch, a favorite place where I often sit and read and listen to the birds. Beyond that is my wife’s beautiful garden. Most of the colorful, summer blooms are gone now but the greenery is soothing. I need to give the lawn one final cut though.
Anything new coming from you? What?
I’m working on my second novel. I don’t have a title yet. That’s always the last decision I make. It’s about a private detective who reluctantly takes on a local drug dealer as a mentor. The dealer agrees only because he wants to avoid probation. Their relationship is tumultuous with lots of shouting, cursing and some physicality. A trip to Lagos, Nigeria is an epiphany for the dealer which causes him to re-examine his life.
Do you have a question for our readers?
Yes. I always want to know what readers like and don't like about my novel.
Natural talent, hard work, and a childhood friend help LaVern Whitaker find her calling as an actress. When her life becomes overwhelming, they discover a small town where her true identity can remain unknown and she can stay out of the spotlight. The more she visits her secret getaway, the more deeply she feels connected to the history, the lifestyle, and the people. Could this place be her home away from home, or become the home she has dreamed of? Or will sinister forces rip it all away?
Read an Excerpt
Oh, this is our second time here and we love Louiston.”
LaVern removed her shades and looked down at the little girl.
“Oh, pardon me. This is my daughter Brittany. Brittany, this is Miss James.”
“Hello Miss James. It’s nice to meet you.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you too, Brittany. You look so cute in your bathing suit and crocs.”
“Thank you.”
There was an awkward moment of silence before Brittany spoke up.
“Daddy, can we get my ice cream cone?”
“Oh, I’m sorry,” said a slightly chagrined LaVern, “don’t let me interfere. I just wanted to say hello.”
“That’s alright Miss James. No need to apologize.” Wilson looked down at his restless daughter. “I think I should be on my way though. It was a pleasure meeting both of you again.”
“Likewise.”
From underneath the umbrella came a final salutation. “It was nice meeting you again too.”
Wilson and Brittany resumed their journey to the ice cream stand. LaVern returned to her shaded chair and replaced her sunglasses. She turned and looked at Shaundra.
“See, that didn’t hurt, did it? I removed my shades and he still didn’t recognize me.”
“Like I said before,” reminded Shaundra, “nobody would expect to find a movie star in a place like this.”
That’s exactly why LaVern, again, reserved her space a year in advance. Louiston was part of them now. As indispensable and as life-giving as a pulse. And Mary Scales was a member of their family.
About the Author: Eric Grandy was born and raised in Baltimore City and graduated from City College. After he graduated from Essex Community College, he was drafted by the Chicago Cubs and played six years for that team. He went on to a variety of jobs: photographer, lab manager, driver for DHL and warehouse manager. After retirement, he decided to devote himself to writing, producing several short stories and Accidental Paradise, his debut novel.
Grandy still lives in Baltimore with his wife Rhonda and his daughter Marti.
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Accidental-Paradise-Eric-Grandy/dp/B0FKPYYH8S
