Bitten by Books
Hey, guys! I’m super excited to hang out with you classy babes (as well as you not-so-classy babes—we’re in good company, right?)
It’s release day for my new romantic comedy, Protector for Hire, and I’m stoked for readers to get their hands on this funny, sexy tale of a woman forced to hide out in the Montana wilderness with a hot, reclusive stranger as her bodyguard.
I’ll confess a few tidbits of this story were stolen from my own real-life experience living in a remote cabin in Montana right after college. Of course, I might have left out some of the….uh, less romantic details of wilderness living. Like having foxes ransack your garbage because you can’t make the 60-mile drive to the landfill. Or learning to “wash” your hair with baby powder because the pipes have frozen (again). Or accidentally smashing your own car bumper during a failed attempt to drive a snow plow.
Janelle and Schwartz don’t have to deal with any of those things in Protector for Hire, but they do find themselves in plenty of other compromising situations. I’m not sure I ever imagined myself writing sexy scenes about splitting firewood, fleeing a moose attack, or doing mud masques with wet clay from a creek bank, but those all made it into the book (and turned out pretty hawt, if I do say so myself!) I’m also guessing this may be the first time in the history of romance novels that two characters use PopTarts as an element of foreplay. Something tells me the folks at Kellogg’s won’t be adding that to their marketing materials anytime soon.
In any case, thanks for joining me to celebrate release day for Protector for Hire. Champagne and PopTarts all around!
Buy a Kindle copy of Protector for Hire from Amazon by clicking here. – ONLY $2.99!
Excerpt from Protector for Hire
“You were gone a long time,” she said. “Did you have
trouble finding something?”He frowned, not wanting to admit he’d been pacing
around the damn store avoiding the inevitable moment he’d
have to go back and face her and accept the fact that he’d
probably never touch her again. “Not everything,” he said,
poking the meat loaf with his fork but not taking a bite. “I
got the milk.”“No cond—coffee filters?”
“They were all out of cond—coffee filters.”
“All out?” She frowned. “I swear I saw a box when we
were there the other day. They were right up by the register.”He shifted on the bench, not wanting to admit he’d stared
at the same damn box of condoms and thought about having her again.
Maybe just one more time before she walked out of his life
forever. Instead, he’d forced himself to walk away. “The box
was damaged. Can’t risk having holes in coffee filters.”Across the table, Gordy wiped his chin with a napkin.
“You like the kind with the pointy tip, or the big wide ones?”
Schwartz blinked. “Uh— ”
Laverne beamed. “Oooh, I like the new ones they’re
making now with the flavor-enhancing micro-perforations.”Schwartz dared a glance at Janelle and saw that her face
had gone from pink to bright red. She opened her mouth to
say something, but Laverne cut her off.“You know, I just love the ones with the extra-large
base. The box says it makes for a deeper, bolder experience.”Janelle choked on her drink, and Schwartz turned to see
her sputtering into a glass that looked suspiciously full of
moonshine.“How much of that have you had?” he asked.
“Not enough,” she said.
About Tawna Fenske
Author Bio:
Tawna Fenske is a romantic comedy author who writes humorous fiction, risqué romance, and heartwarming love stories with a quirky twist. She traveled a career path that took her from newspaper reporter to English teacher in Venezuela to marketing geek to PR manager for her city’s tourism bureau. An avid globetrotter and social media fiend, Tawna is the author of the popular blog, Don’t Pet Me, I’m Writing, and a member of Romance Writers of America. She lives with her husband in Bend, Oregon, where she’ll invent any excuse to hike, bike, snowshoe, standup paddle, or sip wine on her back deck.
Tawna has published several romantic comedies with Sourcebooks, including Making Waves, which was nominated for contemporary romance of the year by RT Book Reviews. She also writes interactive fiction capers for Coliloquy and the steamy, heartwarming Front and Center series for Entangled Publishing. Tawna’s quirky brand of comedy and romance has won praises from Kirkus Reviews, which noted, “Up-and-coming romance author Fenske sets up impeccable internal and external conflict and sizzling sexual tension for a poignant love story between two engaging characters, then infuses it with witty dialogue and lively humor. An appealing blend of lighthearted fun and emotional tenderness.
Connect with Tawna
| Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Books by Tawna Feske
|
CONTEST INFO: Open to readers worldwide.
Prize 1: $25.00 Amazon Gift Card
Prize 2: 2 - $5.00 Amazon Gift Cards
Be SURE to TWEET and FACEBOOK this link using the SHARING is CARING buttons below so your friends can enter too.
Hola Tawna!
Welcome to the Bitten by Books Blog! It is fantastic to see you here.
My question for you is; What is your favorite type of doughnut or wine?
Hi, Rachel! I seem to have been magically born without a sweet tooth, so I can’t say much about donuts, but I loooooooove wine! On hot summer days, I’m partial to a crisp Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand’s Marlborough region. I’m also quite fond of Pinot Noir from Oregon’s Willamette Valley (which is where I grew up). On cold winter nights, nothing beats a good Chianti.
OK, now I sound like a total wine snob, so I should mention that I’m also a complete cheapskate. I love hunting for inexpensive wine deals. Does anyone else have a Grocery Outlet near where you live? It’s the best place to find killer bottles of wine for $2.99 (and plenty of bottles of not-so-good wine, but I’m a glass is half full kinda girl!)
Tawna
We have a grocery outlet! I don’t drink anymore but I loved a good glass or three of wine back in the day. Are you still in OR? We are up in the Seattle area. Love it here.
How hot is it where you are today Tawna? Burning up here 81 with a high of 85 and 48% humidity. Or hot and shitty with a chance of hot and shitty tomorrow, basically hotter than a snake’s ass in a wagon rut. LOL (from Good Morning Vietnam)
I was about to make a joke about entering my own contest, and then realized I’d used the phrase “enter myself.” And I laughed and laughed and laughed….
How’s everyone doing today!?! Ready to party?
Tawna
Feel free to enter yourself as often as you feel the need to Tawna. LOL however I think your fingers will be busy typing today.hahahaha
LOL!!!!!!!
HA! Took you long enough to catch that one Tawna. Now, I wonder what you were really doing all this time. LMFAO! hehehe dirty birds!
I. Can’t. Breathe. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!!!
Perfect that is the way we like things around here Naima! LOL
LOL!!!!!
To answer your question that are on the contest widget.
1. What three things would you want if you were trapped in a remote mountain cabin with a sexy stranger?
hahaha Well
a. Sex
b. Condoms
c. all of the above!
What about you Tawna?
I should have thought about answers before I wrote those questions, huh?!
Let’s see….I’ve actually had the experience of being stuck in a remote cabin in the wilderness, like I mentioned in the post, so I know it’s a bit less romantic than you might think. I agree condoms are a necessity, and clearly a good partner with whom to enjoy them. Beyond that, I think I’d like a nice stash of sexy, steamy books!
Tawna
When would you possibly have time to read? LOL
2. In Protector for Hire, PopTarts are hero Schwartz Pattons guilty culinary pleasure. What’s yours?
hmmm my culinary guilty pleasure is Theo’s dark chocolate with salt and Walkers’s shortbread fingers.
What’s yours Tawna?
Rachel, I’m a neurotically healthy eater 99% of the time, and also a bit of a foodie who loves making gourmet meals from scratch using healthy, organic ingredients. That said, I could probably live on nothing but McDonalds Egg McMuffins. I only treat myself once a month or so, since a mild egg sensitivity means they don’t always sit well with my guts, but man I love those things!
Tawna
I can’t really eat a lot of sugar or fatty foods (long story) which is great. So, what’s your stance on Kale? LOL
3. POLL TIME! Getting frisky in the great outdoors: super-sexy fun, or soooo not worth the bug bites?
Well, in my younger years it was okay. Now in my old age, it is SOssosososos NOT worth the bug bites. Cabin in the woods a definite YES!
What about you Tawna? Bug bites? or No? LOL
Rachel, yeah, I’ll confess, I’m a big fan of outdoor trysts. My hubby and I actually just made a funny promo video for Protector for Hire that touches on the subject:
http://bit.ly/1dvhcrz
Tawna
O. M. G. Naima if you read this you have to watch this video. Totally hilar!
Love the crisco Tawna! And very nice TICS. My husband is over here dying laughing.
Do you laugh out loud while writing funny scenes?
Good question, Sarah! Sometimes I do, though I’ve found my funny scenes don’t always start out as funny as I want them to be. Often I’ll write a scene that’s downright boring, and it takes three or four passes of layering in amusing little details before it becomes genuinely funny. By then, I’m sometimes sick of it, but sometimes not. There’s a wood splitting scene in PROTECTOR FOR HIRE that flowed much faster than some of my comedic scenes, and that one had me cracking up the whole time.
Tawna
If you could only give ONE piece of advice to newbie authors and writers, what advice do you think is the most important one to give?
Raonaid, funny you should ask, I actually wrote a blog post a couple years ago titled, “My real advice for new writers.” While I answer that question all the time at conferences and speaking engagements and usually say something about reading a lot or not giving up, the post spells out my REAL answer
http://bit.ly/1IqHyrR
Tawna
Hi Tawna! If you could spend the day with any literary character, who would it be and why?
Becky, hmmmm, good question! You know, since I have Protector for Hire on the brain right now, I might have to say Schwartz Patton, the hero of that book. I know authors aren’t supposed to have a favorite among their heroes, but I’ve gotta confess, he’s mine. He’s sexy and gruff with a super dry sense of humor, and I think he’d be a kick to hang out with.
Just don’t tell my husband, OK?
Tawna
What three things would you want if you were trapped in a remote mountain cabin with a sexy stranger?
— What season? If its winter I best have a heating blanket. LOL. You know I have no idea what I would want in a mountain cabin…
In Protector for Hire, PopTarts are hero Schwartz Pattons guilty culinary pleasure. What’s yours?
—- Cheesecake. That’s my weakness and my brother in law. I’m his new best friend because I’ve been making desserts with cheesecake in them. The latest is called Banana Split Cake (has graham cracker crust, cheesecake, crushed pineapples, sliced bananas, vanilla pudding and whipped cream with cherries on top
POLL TIME! Getting frisky in the great outdoors: super-sexy fun, or soooo not worth the bug bites?
— Sooo not worth the bug bites or risk of getting poison ivy.. LOLOLOLOL.
Raonaid, good call on the electric blanket. When I lived in that remote cabin in the Montana wilderness, I was also too broke to afford to heat the place. Suffice it to say, I wore A LOT of layers!
Tawna
Answers to authors questions:
What three things would you want if you were trapped in a remote mountain cabin with a sexy stranger?
I’m not saying. I plead the 5th. lol
In Protector for Hire, PopTarts are hero Schwartz Pattons guilty culinary pleasure. What’s yours?
Strawberry Crepes….Yum!
Getting frisky in the great outdoors: super-sexy fun, or soooo not worth the bug bites?
I think it has the potential to be fun.
Becky, mmmm….now I’m craving strawberry crepes!
Tawna
Hi, Tawna!!
hee-hee!
I am a huuuuge fan! I haven’t read one of your books yet that didn’t have my stomach hurting by the time I put it down! And you know I’m telling the truth because I don’t get extra points for brown-nosing.
Soooo I have two questions. One…inquiring minds want to know. Why were you living in a remote cabin in the Montana wilderness? And did it have cable? That wasn’t question #2, but it popped into my mind. LOL!
And two, I saw the hi-lar-i-ous video of you and your husband and the bone…snicker! How did you convince him to do it?? Jedi mind trick? Help a sista out! LOLOL!!
Oh! And Pop Tarts have gone straight to the top of my grocery list!!
Hi, Naima! So great to get to chat with you! I’m thrilled you love the books. Thanks for the kind words!
To answer your questions, my ex got a job at a ski are in the middle of nowhere Montana, and since I was fresh out of college with nothing else to do, I tagged along. We could go for days without seeing another human, so it was certainly an educational experience!
Yeah, the videos are super fun to make. My husband is a professional video producer with a Masters degree in theater, so convincing him to do stuff like that isn’t terribly hard. He actually enjoys it. Here’s the video link for those who missed it:
http://bit.ly/1IqL853
And you know the funny thing about the PopTarts? I’m actually not a huge fan at all. It was sort of an inside joke for my agent, who’s a HUGE PopTart fan.
Thanks again for reading, and for the nice words about the books.
Tawna
“How much of that have you had?” he asked.
“Not enough,” she said.
There’s no such thing as “enough” of Tawna’s books. Congrats and happy book birthday to one of my favs. I couldn’t RSVP to this party fast enough.
Can’t wait to read it.
Terri Coop
LOL Terri! Thanks for the kind words!
Tawna
Congratulations on the release of your new book! Protector for Hire sounds hilarious. Loved the great excerpt. Who are some of your favorite authors and how have they influenced your writing?
Great question, Bonnie H! Jennifer Crusie and Kristan Higgins are two of my favorite romantic comedy authors. Outside my own genre though, I love everything from Kurt Vonnegut to Judy Blume to Diana Gabaldon to Barbara Kingsolver. You’ll pretty much never find me without a book (or five) in my handbag or on my nightstand.
As for how they’ve influenced my writing, everything I’ve ever read (even the not-so-stellar stuff) has taught me SOMETHING about writing. Maybe it’s how to write clever dialogue, or maybe it’s how to create compelling chapter hooks. I’m always learning something new and refining my skills. It’s why I’m flabbergasted whenever I hear aspiring authors say they don’t read much. I honestly don’t think it’s possible to be a good writer if you’re not also an avid reader.
Tawna
Hi Tawna and Congratulations! How long did you live in the remote cabin and why did you want to?
My answers to your questions:
1. Indoor plumbing, electricity and plenty of chocolate and books and wait, that’s more than 3…guess I’d better stop and I was just getting to the good stuff!
2. My guilty pleasure is chocolate!!!
3. Getting frisky outdoors—-not worth the bug bites…
BettyW, it was right after college, and I was dating a guy who got a job at a ski area in the middle of nowhere. I didn’t have a job lined up, so I tagged along. I was only there from November-ish through spring, but that was enough to make me pretty stir crazy! We could go for days without seeing another human.
I agree on the indoor plumbing! Maybe not on the outdoor friskiness. I’m kind of a fan
Tawna
Ok, that makes sense~the things we do for love, right?
I’m glad we agree on the indoor plumbing and the outdoor frisky…hmmm…maybe I should reconsider! I love your sense of humor!
Author questions
Trapped in a remote mountain cabin, I would want electricity, running water, and a comfortable bed.
Chocolate is my guilty culinary pleasure.
Sooo not worth the bug bites!
Hey Tawna — Sam & the Patton brothers are great, but I really loved the bonds between the female characters. They felt genuine. Are they inspired by your real life.
NZ Sauv Blancs — Matua!!!
Laurie, wow, that’s a really great question. I never thought about whether the bonds between my female characters are based on my real life, but I suppose you could say they are. I have several core groups of girlfriends that I adore, and we’re all prone to saying whatever we feel like to each other (in a spirit of love and compassion, of course!) When I went through a pretty brutal divorce five years ago, my girlfriends were a rock solid force around me, so I suppose some of that would naturally seep into my writing.
When my agent first read Fiancée for Hire, she made a comment about how I’d written myself into my own book. I was like, “Holy shit, you’re right – and I need therapy!” But it’s true that Kelli’s brassy, ballsy, humorous outlook on life is probably closest to my own personality than any other character I’ve written.
I’m curious, is there a particular female relationship in one of my books you like best?
Thanks so much for the feedback!
Tawna
Kelli & Sheri — I think I said something in a review that they knew where the bodies were buried and probably brought shovels.
And of course I love Stella.
Oh, and P.S., I LOOOOOVE Matua! Discovered that one when we were visiting my parents in Kauai, and we bought a whole case of it to enjoy while we were there!
Tawna
Right??? Also Spy Valley is quite nice.
Answers to the questions:
1) 3 things — beer/wine, socks & coffee filters. LOTS and LOTS of coffee filters
2) Guilty pleasure — really good dips
3) not necessarily in the woods, but perhaps a secluded deck or water feature.
Who are your favourite protectors from TV, books, movies or real life?
MinnaP, hmmmm, good question! I don’t actually know how to operate the television set (though there is one in my house) and we don’t have cable, so suffice it to say, I don’t watch much TV
I kinda lack the attention span for movies as well, so I’m having a hard time coming up with any good movie examples. I’ll admit there’s something fun about Bruce Willis in the old Die Hard movies. I love when a big, bad protector also has a sense of humor. I remember kinda digging Arnold in the Terminator movie where he played a good guy. Was that the second one?
OK, I kinda suck at this
As for books, have you read any of the ones Jennifer Crusie (my romantic comedy idol) co-wrote with Bob Mayer (a former Green Beret)? He writes the male POV, and Jenny writes the female one. His heroes are especially compelling, and I might have a small crush on Shane from “Agnes and the Hitman.”
Tawna
Oh hell yes.
In Protector for Hire, PopTarts are hero Schwartz Pattons guilty culinary pleasure. What’s yours?
Anything made out of chocolate.
Getting frisky in the great outdoors: super-sexy fun, or soooo not worth the bug bites?
It depends… Is there a lake and a sauna near by? I’m a Finn, so I can put up with a few bugs, as long as there is a lake and a sauna where to escape them.
MinnaP, hmmmm, good question! I don’t actually know how to operate the television set (though there is one in my house) and we don’t have cable, so suffice it to say, I don’t watch much TV
I kinda lack the attention span for movies as well, so I’m having a hard time coming up with any good movie examples. I’ll admit there’s something fun about Bruce Willis in the old Die Hard movies. I love when a big, bad protector also has a sense of humor. I remember kinda digging Arnold in the Terminator movie where he played a good guy. Was that the second one?
OK, I kinda suck at this
As for books, have you read any of the ones Jennifer Crusie (my romantic comedy idol) co-wrote with Bob Mayer (a former Green Beret)? He writes the male POV, and Jenny writes the female one. His heroes are especially compelling, and I might have a small crush on Shane from “Agnes and the Hitman.”
Tawna
Hello! Has your varied career path offered any inspiration for your stories?
SusanS, for sure! I’ve definitely relied on my day job career for inspiration with a couple of my most recent books. ABOUT THAT FLING (which comes out later this summer) has a heroine who does PR for a medical center, which is similar to a job I held for nearly 8 years. I also have a new series launching with Entangled in December, and all three books will be based around a PR and branding agency. The first stars the woman who owns the agency, and the CEO who asks her to rebrand HIM to make him a bit less geeky and more like a polished, charming CEO. Sparks fly, as you might imagine
Tawna
Are you a cat or dog lover?
Lisa Brown,
I’m typing this with a cat on my lap, and he’s one of five (yes, FIVE) in our household. We also have a dog, a hermit crab, and a bunch of fish, so I’d say I’m an animal lover in general.
That was one thing I really loved about writing Schwartz in PROTECTOR FOR HIRE. He’s this big, surly, reclusive guy, but he has this hybrid wolf as a pet, and there’s a sweet rescue story behind how the two came to be companions. Sherman (Schwartz’s pet) is actually based on a wolf/dog hybrid owned by a landlord of mine when I lived in Montana.
Tawna
wheres your favorite place to write?
Amanda,
I have a home office I’m actually quite fond of. It looks out over an elementary school playground, and 90% of the time it lends a fun, cheerful energy to my writing (which is useful when writing romantic comedy). The other 10% of the time I feel vaguely like a pedophile for writing these steamy, sexy scenes while kids romp and frolic just a few hundred feet from my window.
One of my most unique writing experiences happened last September when a crazy deadline meant I had to get up every morning of my honeymoon and write a new scene for a book that was (ironically enough) based loosely on some of my experiences with divorce. Can’t say it was a huge hardship though, since I got to sit on a balcony overlooking the ocean in Belize. The book is ABOUT THAT FLING, by the way, which comes out in September and is up for pre-order here: http://amzn.to/1OZdtPb
Tawna
Who is your favorite Muppet and why?
LOL Trix! I’m going to have to say either Beaker or the Swedish Chef!
Tawna
What was your favorite thing to do/eat in Venezuela?
Bethany C, wow, so many things, both on the doing/eating front. Hiking in the Amazon and in the Andes was pretty spectacular. I loved eating cachapas (sort of like their equivalent of a taco, only much tastier) and batidos (a bit like smoothies). OK, now I’m hungry!
Tawna
I particularly like the authors who have influenced you and agree even those you aren’t all that fond of can teach you something.
Now, to the moose: How did you learn about them since I deal with them on a near daily basis here in my neck of the woods-literally-AK?
Kathleen, I went to college in Montana, so I had to deal with moose regularly, too! When I was living in that remote cabin I mentioned, I walked out one morning to discover a mama moose and her baby snoozing in the path between me and my car. I decided that was a good day to miss work
Tawna
Depends on the guy and his moves: if they motivate me enough, I can deal!
So, how much of your sexy guys is based on Craig Z. How envious should we all be?
Terri
LOL Terri Coop! I will say there’s a little bit of Craig in all my books. You’ll notice every hero I write has huge hands, and it’s probably not a coincidence my husband shares that trait. Also, I may or may not have given one of his signature moves to Mac in Fiancée for Hire
Tawna
1) Coffee, food/water, “supplies” (ahem)
2) I don’t believe in guilty pleasures, food or otherwise!
3) After getting a horrid rash on my arms from weeding this winter, I shudder at the thought of getting something like that elsewhere! So, no trysts among the plants for me…
IS there a particular genre you think could use more humor?
Fox, I think ALL genres could benefit from a bit of humor! Even in serious memoirs or gritty detective novels, doesn’t it break up the tension and add a bit of humanity to the story when a little humor is incorporated?
I’m always surprised there aren’t more authors writing romantic comedy. When I first started out in the biz, my agent and I had a lot of editors tell us rom-com was a tough sell and there wasn’t a market for it. It seems to be enjoying a bit of a resurgence lately, so I’m happy to ride that wave!
Tawna
Seriously everyone, take this to heart.
I was having a terrible time getting through the big love scene in my first book. It all felt awkward.
I turned to the queen of funny-sexy, Ms. Fenske on FB and after some discussion read a couple of shorter works that had a lot of comedy in them.
After that, I decided to embrace the awkward. My beautiful confident female main character ends up sleeping in the same bed with the hero. There’s nowhere else to sleep. When he wakes up, it turns her into a high school kid in her first back seat tussle and the whole thing is almost short-circuited by a squeaking bed.
The next morning he is struggling to get his boots on (he’d been injured in the big firefight and had a bandage on one leg. She helps him. And, while she’s on her knees . . .
Even a thriller can use romantic comedic relief. Everything doesn’t need to be so damn serious.
Terri
If you decided to change your name, what would you call yourself?
Mary, I’ve always loved having an unusual first name, so I wouldn’t change that for anything. I’m also quite fond of my last name, so I never even considered changing it when I got hitched last fall. Can I just have a cool job title instead? I kinda like Empress of Funny Smut.
Tawna
Are any of your books available on Audible?
Cheri, I know they’re in the studio recording the audio version of ABOUT THAT FLING right now, so that will be out the same time the printed/ebook comes out in September. There’s been talk of doing the whole Front and Center series for audio, but I don’t know where things stand on that just yet.
Tawna
Girl, do you have a super duper thing for shower nookie? I’ve noticed a theme…
Gina, ha! I always wonder how many people pick up on that. I feel like I should have a prize for you or something
I have no idea why I’ve ended up writing so many shower scenes, and I didn’t even realize I was doing it until one of my critique partners pointed it out a few years ago. While I can’t say I’m averse to shower nookie personally, it’s not my top turn-on by any means. I was determined not to do it with Protector for Hire, so when I realized I’d landed Schwartz and Janelle in the shower and things were heating up, I deliberately moved them to the bedroom for the big moment.
Tawna
*snerk* I’d JUST gotten to the start of that scene when I posted.
hi Tawna,
?1 food, water, toothpaste, lol
?2 I wont give up my coca cola, lol
?3 not worth the bug bites, as they eat me alive
what is the thing you can not live without?
Dina, the thing I can’t live without? Hmmm….I suppose my husband isn’t a “thing,” though one could suggest the battery-powered version of him is
But I might have to say either music or a huge glass of ice water. I have to have both of those things around me at all times when I’m working.
Tawna
Three things I’d want: (assuming here that this was Back In The Day and I was single)
A good razor
Chocolate sauce
Costco size box of condoms
Food guilty pleasure: Cadbury mini eggs. I stock pile them after Easter and hide them so I have some all year long.
Outdoor nookie: Hella no. I don’t want sand or mosquito bites anywhere near my tender bits.
3 things I would want trapped on remote place.
Water
Clothes
And definitely a hot guy
My secret please is - chocolate.
So not worth it
What is the strangest thing you have done for research?
DebraG, huh. You stumped me. I know I’ve done plenty of odd things, but my mind is blank at the moment.
OK, here’s one…..have you read BEST MAN FOR HIRE? It’s the third book in the Front & Center series, and it came right before PROTECTOR FOR HIRE. There’s a scene in that book where Anna and Grant get it on in Hanalei Bay on the Hawaiian island of Kauai. That may have been a “researched” scene
Tawna
I do most of my research via the Internet. Clearly your way is better
What three things would you want if you were trapped in a remote mountain cabin with a sexy stranger?
— Lol! Good wine, full refrigerator, lots of wood logs for the fire
In Protector for Hire, PopTarts are hero Schwartz Pattons guilty culinary pleasure. What’s yours?
—- Popcorn
POLL TIME! Getting frisky in the great outdoors: super-sexy fun, or soooo not worth the bug bites?
— Depend on the partner…. Hmmmm what I will suffer for this kins of chance;)
Sarit, I’m a popcorn fanatic, too! I like to joke that my air popper is my second favorite small appliance in the house
Tawna
Glade to here that I am not the only one
I loved your video with Craig.
So here’s my question. What is the toughest thing about living with a romance writer?
As for the three things I’d want in a cabin…wine, chocolate, and MacGyver. (I’m a simple girl.)
LOL Deborah Blake. Thanks! We had a lot of fun with those videos.
I take it your question is for Craig?
I just asked him and he said, “random bursts of exclamations.” I didn’t know what the hell he meant by that, but apparently it’s when we’re in the middle of a conversation and I suddenly yell, “STOP TALKING RIGHT NOW I HAVE AN IDEA AND I HAVE TO WRITE IT DOWN OR I’LL FORGET!”
Tawna
Doesn’t everyone do that?
My guilty culinary pleasure is popcorn with lots of butter and salt. But at least I make it at home and both the butter and the popcorn are organic. Does that mean it doesn’t count?
And to answer your other question-I’ve actually had quite a lot of fun outdoors
Amen, sistah!
Tawna
Tell us 5 things we may not know about your writing life…
Hey, Lisa! Let’s see, 5 things…
1) I still have a part-time day job to get my introverted author butt out of the house a few days a week. Mondays and Fridays are my designated author days, and I work in public relations three days a week.
2) I am a research junkie. It stems from my early career as a journalist.
3) I have to have music playing at all times while I write. Every book I write has a designated playlist.
4) In addition to music, I also need a beverage beside me at all times. It’s usually tea in the mornings, and ice water for most of the day. I don’t usually drink wine while I write, but on occasion it’s helpful to switch off my inner editor.in addition to music, I also need a beverage beside me at all times. It’s usually tea in the mornings, and icewater for most of the day. I don’t usually drink wine while I write, but on occasion it’s helpful to switch off my inner editor.
5) I didn’t expect to enjoy writing the Front and Center series as much as I have!
From any of your books, what has been one of your favorite scenes, or types of scenes, to write?
Lindsey, I love envisioning a scenario that is incredibly unsexy, and then figuring out a way to make it be sexy. As a romantic comedy author, that’s my favorite type of scene to write
Tawna
Do you have any writing or reading rituals?
Amy, definitely! I’m a morning person, so I’d like to start my writing days nice and early. At the start of the day, I need to have a big mug of black tea with milk and sugar in one of my favorite mugs. I also have to have ice water with me at all times while I’m writing.
I can’t stand to work in a quiet office, and have to have music playing at all times. Every book I write has its own playlist, and I listen to it a lot in the final editing stages.
I have worked with the same three critique partners and three beta readers for many years, and can’t imagine navigating the process without each of them.
Tawna
Questions Answered:
1. What three things would you want if you were trapped in a remote mountain cabin with a sexy stranger?
mints, condoms, and maybe some wine lol
2. In Protector for Hire, PopTarts are hero Schwartz Pattons guilty culinary pleasure. What’s yours?
lindt truffles are my guilty pleasure…or actually any kind of chocolates lol
3. Getting frisky in the great outdoors: super-sexy fun, or soooo not worth the bug bites?
Umm no lol i like the great outdoors but not that way lol i hate creepy crawlies
Two-parter question:
1. What is the best thing you have ever read (book, poem, essay, etc)?
2. What is the best thing you have ever written (published or unpublished)?
Gawd, Jessica! You’re catching me with a very intense question after a couple glasses of wine
I majored in English literature in college, and have always been a reading junkie from the time I could string words together. It’s almost impossible for me to choose a favorite, but I would say the e.e. cummings poem “since feeling is first” ranks up there pretty high for me.
As for the best thing I’ve written, I’m probably supposed to say Protector for Hire since that’s what we are promoting here
I do love that book best of all out of the Front and Center series, and it’s a fun beach read that I’m super thrilled about. That said, I would say my forthcoming romantic comedy, About that Fling, is the book I am most proud of . It comes out in September, and you can find it now on Amazon for preorder.
Tawna
Who is your favorite author?
Thomas, too many to name! I love Jennifer Crusie, Diana Gabaldon, Barbara Kingsolver, Judy Blume, Kurt Vonnegut, Jonathan Tropper…. I feel like I should put together and alphabetized list with at least 300 names on it
Tawna
What things inspire you to write books ?
Alexandru, I’m a magnet for absurd things like waxing off my eyebrow and by mistake and accidentally drawing it back in with green eyeliner, or dropping a piece of gristle into someone else’s purse at a professional luncheon and getting caught trying to fish it out. The random absurdities of my day to day life are the ultimate inspiration for writing romantic comedy
Tawna
Happy release day Tawna! I don’t think I knew you’d spent time out here (I live in Montana) before, that’s so neat. So I figure my question has to be what was your favorite thing about Big Sky Country?
Rihanna, yes indeed! I lived in Montana for a little more than three years, and hold a degree in English literature from Montana State University. There were a lot of things I loved about Montana, but I would have to say the wildlife was my favorite thing. I loved writing about some of that in Protector for Hire, with random appearances by moose, cougar, and other critters.
Tawna
I want to hear more about the real life adventures in Montana, especially how you ended up staying here.
Condoms,cwine and maybe a toothbrush
Diet Dr Pepper
No way
Zonell,
I grew up in Oregon (fourth generation Oregonian!) and that’s where I live now, but I graduated from Montana State University with a degree in English Lit. The guy I was dating at the time got a job at a ski area in the middle of nowhere Montana, so I tagged along after graduation and hung out there from November through late spring that year. We could go for days without seeing another human, so it was VERY isolated!
Tawna
Great excerpt!
Do you have a mantra, motto or phrase to keep going and not give up?
AnnL,
I had a pretty bumpy path to publication, which you can read about here: http://bit.ly/1Gqgkll
That post was actually written five years ago before my first book came out, so I’ve had a lot of successes since then with about a dozen books published and some great things in my career. But I also had a lot of setbacks in that time, both personally and professionally (divorce, editorial rejections, etc.)
I guess I’d just say that I’m old enough now to have survived plenty of setbacks and realized I’m always capable of getting back up, shaking myself off, and forging ahead. Also, nearly every setback in my life has turned out to be a positive thing in the end. The divorce I didn’t want? Turned out to be a blessing in disguise, and I’m now happily remarried to the best guy in the universe. The book I poured my heart and soul into as the third one in my contract with my first publisher, only to be told “it’s not the right next book for your career”? It just sold to a different publisher with a much better vision for that story (and for more money, too!)
So….I guess that’s not a mantra so much as an understanding that personal setbacks and rejection might suck royally at the time, but if you learn to shake them off and keep going, you’re bound to keep learning and growing and heading in a better direction.
Tawna
Are there any other genres you have considered writing in ?
MichelleB,
My first book deal was actually for a line Harlequin launched several years ago called Bombshell. It was a women’s action/adventure line, and it was cancelled one month before my debut was scheduled. I was notified about this the day my cat died. It was also the day my employer at the time informed me I was going to be fired if I continued disobeying the company’s hosiery policy. It was also my 32nd birthday.
Quite a day, right?
But at the end of it, I sat on my back deck with a glass of wine and thought, “It’s actually kinda funny if you think about it.” The fact that I could find humor in what was arguably one of the worst days of my life is part of what sent me down the path of writing romantic comedy.
Tawna
Will you be doing anything special for the July 4th holiday this weekend?
Linda,
My step-kids will be with their mother this year (we alternate holidays) so it will just be my husband and me and a bottle of wine in the driveway watching fireworks from our new house. We’ll probably attend our city’s pet parade in the morning (my dog loves wearing her star-spangled tutu!) and then go standup paddleboarding in the afternoon. Sounds like a pretty good holiday to me! How about you?
Tawna
While no sweet tooth would be good sometimes i couldn’t imagine life without dark chocolate!
My question…do you prefer print or e-books?
MariaS,
I do nibble the occasional bite of dark chocolate, since it pairs nicely with red wine!
I never thought I’d become such a huge fan of ereaders, but that’s mostly all I read these days. It’s just so convenient to stash my Kindle in my handbag and have dozens of books at my fingertips all the time. It’s also handy to read about new book releases and know I can own that book with a couple easy clicks.
One thing that’s been interesting in my career is the print vs. ebook thing. My first three romantic comedies with Sourcebooks had PHENOMENAL distribution. They were in WalMarts and Fred Meyers and Meijers across the U.S. and Canada, and translated into other languages and sold in places like Turkey. While the sales for those books were fine, my first three months of ebook sales for MARINE FOR HIRE (my first book in the Front and Center series) were higher than my first three YEARS of sales for MAKING WAVES (both ebook and printed books combined). Crazy, right?
Tawna
I’m all for getting it on in the outdoors ad long as the company is worth it. Three things I’d want in the cabin: my Kindle for music and books, candles to make things more intimate, and a nice supply of food and water so we never have to leave for long. My guilty pleasure is popcorn drizzled with Hershey’s chocolate syrup. My question for you is are you a Narnia kind of girl who believes there are alternate worlds other than our own? Or are you more of a traditional thinker and what you see is what you get?
Karla,
Does it make me kinda unimaginative if I admit I haven’t given it much thought?
I like to think there are probably alternate worlds and aliens and angels and things like that, but I don’t think about it too much. I’m too busy making up alternate worlds in my books
Tawna
How many books will be in this series?
bn100,
Protector for Hire is the fourth and last book in the series. Have you read the others?
I have a new series launching in December with Entangled Publishing, so I’m looking forward to that.
Tawna
What is your favorite movie that was based on a book??
Natalie,
I know I’m lame, but I very rarely watch movies or TV. I just don’t have the attention span for it. I did actually see GONE, GIRL in theaters last fall because my husband wanted to, but I didn’t think it was all that great (and clearly all the surprises were spoiled by the book). Sorry! I wish I had a better answer, but I’m a loser.
Tawna
Of the books that you have written, which one was your favorite?
LOL Brandy! I’m sure I’m supposed to either answer “they’re all my favorites!” or something like that, but I have to confess that ABOUT THAT FLING (which comes out later this summer) is my absolute fave. You can find that for pre-order here: http://amzn.to/1dCTTwc
But as for the Front and Center series (which is the series I’m promoting now, and what I’m best known for so far) I would say the book that just came out, Protector for Hire, is my favorite.
Tawna
how old were you when you wrote your first book or story?
Stacey,
I’m sure I was scribbling things in kindergarten, but my mom told me she found the start of my first novel in my desk drawer when I was in the second grade. That’s probably not what you meant though
As far as actually getting serious about it, I spent my teens and 20s pursuing journalism, and that’s what earned me scholarships and paid the bills. It wasn’t until my final semester in college when I took a short story class that I realized I could actually MAKE STUFF UP. But I didn’t really take a stab at writing a book until my late 20s or so. You can read my whole path-to-publication story here: http://bit.ly/1Gqgkll
Tawna
question I saw you answer about your first book and was wondering do you still work for that company. Also if you could have three folks to dinner living, dead, real, or imaginary who would they be and why?
PamK,
You mean the company that threatened to fire me over the pantyhose issue? Nope, though that’s not why I left. They actually ended up changing the rule, and I stuck around for another year or so after that. Then I decided to get serious about pursuing fiction writing, so I started moving DOWN the corporate ladder in terms of hours and job expectations so I could devote more attention to becoming an author. The job I have now is absolutely perfect. I work three days a week as the PR & Communications Manager for my city’s tourism bureau, which is a fancy way of saying I take journalists out to drink beer or go standup paddleboarding, and I write blog posts and Facebook content about kayaking and snowshoeing and the city’s best mac & cheese. It’s a pretty killer job, and I plan to hang onto it for as long as I possibly can, since it gets my introverted author butt out of the house a few days a week while still allowing me plenty of time to do the author thing.
As for three people I’d have dinner with, that’s a tough one. I might have to say Lucille Ball, Betty White, and Amy Schumer. That would be one hilarious meal.
Tawna
what’s your favorite cocktail?
Steve,
Are you planning to buy me one?!
My favorite cocktail varies, but this time of year I’m awfully fond of a good Moscow Mule. In the winter months, I’m more partial to Bloody Marys.
Tawna
1. books, foods, and indoor plumbing
2. Reece’s any shape or variety lol
3. so not worth and that is the voice of experience or was when I was much youngers lol
Have your job experiences ever found a way into your books? What was the worst job you ever had?
Dovile,
Many of my job experiences have made it into books! I have a whole series launching with Entangled in December that’s centered around a PR & marketing agency, which is the industry I’ve worked in for the last 15+ years when I’m not being an author. The heroine in ABOUT THAT FLING (which comes out in a couple months) is a PR person for a medical center, which is similar to a job I held for nearly eight years. I had a period about five years ago where I didn’t have a day job at all and just did the author thing for nine months. It was the LEAST productive nine months of my whole writing career, and my creativity took a nosedive. For me, it’s crucial to get out and interact with people and rack up the life experiences that give me the ideas to write the books in the first place
Tawna
2) ice cream with chocolate, nuts, syrup and lots of tasty calories:)
3) no bugs for me
thank you and congrats ladies