I'm delighted to welcome fellow author Darlene Fredette to my blog today. Make yourself at home, and lets find out more about Darlene and her latest release.
HL: Tell us a little more about yourself - and is there something that most people don’t know about you?
DF: Most people don’t know I am a home-body. I’m socially interactive on social media with my author friends, but once my laptop closes, I just want to be with my family at home.
HL: I think a lot of us can relate to that! What is your latest release and what was your favourite part of writing this book/series?
DF: Nothing To Lose is a fun romance where the heroine applies for a job in a bakery that she is not qualified for. There are lots of delicious desserts being baked that will have you craving a treat.
HL: Sounds mouthwatering! What do you do for fun when not writing?
DF: Hanging out with my family, either at home or day visits to the Valley. I also enjoy crafting items for giveaways, lounging in the yard, or reading a goof romance in my comfy chair.
HL: So what comes first: the plot or the characters?
DF: Inspiration usually hits when I’m doing household chores. The plot will come first and the characters soon evolve. By the time my housework is done, I have a complete story outlined. Then the hard part comes…getting it from my head and onto paper.
HL: Yes. I find inspiration when I'm busy working too - it's surprising how many ideas have come to me when mucking out a stable!
Just for fun - if someone were to play one of your characters in a movie, which character and actor would it be and why?
DF: For Nothing To Lose, I pictured Travis as Ryan Paevey from General Hospital, and Jesse as Evangeline Lilly from Lost. Both actors would be fitting to play the roles as hero and heroine in this story.
HL: Great choices there! What have you learned about writing since you were published that surprised you the most?
DF: From the time you start writing a new story to writing the end is the easy part. It’s the ‘waiting’ from submission to a contract offer then the process to get to publication is the hardest part. The time delays never change.
HL: Isn't that a fact! What’s you’re writing process? Has it changed since writing your first book?
DF: When I first started writing, I had a full time job, so I wrote during breaks or in the evenings. Now I write full time, so my writing schedule is more flexible. After a quick browse through emails and social media, I write into the late afternoon. However, daily life sometimes puts a wrench into my perfect plan.
HL: Do you listen to music when you write and if so, what kind of music – or do you find it distracts you?
DF: I love all genres of music, especially the oldies. I used to listen to music while writing, but I found more singing than writing got done…lol, so no more music for me.
HL: LOL - I don't sing, not when anyone can hear me anyway! :) Do you have a support system? Do you have a writing community? What valuable lessons have you learned from them?
DF: My family is my biggest support system. However, to encourage my daily writing progress, I’m part of an online writing group (Trans Canada Romance Writers) where we celebrate and shout-out each other’s success. I recently joined ABA (Awesome Bad-Ass Authors). My first participation in that group will be later this month with a spotlight blog post, as well as a being part of their Halloween blog tour.
HL: Oh I must make a note of that - the Halloween blog tour I mean. What sort of research do you do for your books and what’s your favourite source of information?
DF: The internet is my go-to source for research. While the stories I write are romance fiction, as a writer you want to get the details of locations, events, or specific items as accurate as possible.
HL: I agree. Thank goodness for Google! Thank you so much, I’m so happy to have you featured on my blog and I wish you much success with 'Nothing To Lose'.
Title: Nothing To
Lose Release Date: October 05, 2016
Publisher: Escape
Publishing
SubGenre(s):
Contemporary
Rating: Sweet (PG)
Rating: Sweet (PG)
Tagline:
She has one last hope – a small, family-run bakery that might just be baking up second chances.
Blurb:
Dwindling finances has Jesse Robinson running out of options. With a past filled with failures, she longs for a new beginning. Applying for a job she isn’t qualified for may be another crazy mistake, but at this point Jesse has nothing to lose.
Juggling two jobs, Travis Cooper has absolutely no time for a relationship and isn’t looking for one. But when his mother hires an unqualified baker, he has more to worry about than three-tiered wedding cakes. Like whether to break his own no-dating-employees rule and make a little room in his life for love.
Excerpt:
‘How hard can baking be? Easy‐peasy. Right?’
She knew her words to be untrue. She’d watched shows on
the Food Network. The chefs on television made creating desserts appear simple,
yet Jessie’s attempts always ended with opening a window and the lid on the
garbage can.
‘I have no choice, and at this point I
have nothing to lose.’ Jessie had thought the same before her previous four
jobs. Though, she did excel at one particular skill—making bad choices. If only
she could include that talent as a positive trait.
She drew in a deep breath to calm her
racing pulse. Desperation rolled in the emptiness of her stomach. She’d just go
into the bakery and win them over. She had to. The two hundred dollars in her
bank account would cover her car payment. As long as I don’t eat or drive anywhere,
I’m good.
Bio:
Darlene resides on the
East Coast of Canada with her husband, daughter, and Yellow Lab. When not
working on her next book, she enjoys spending time with her family. An avid
reader since childhood, Darlene loves to develop the
many stories swimming in her head. She writes heartwarming contemporary
romances with a focus on plot-driven page-turners.
Contact
links:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DarleneLF
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DarleneLF
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/DarleneFredette/
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/DarleneLF
Purchase Links:
Escape
Publishing:
Amazon.com:
Amazon.ca:
GIVEAWAY - Darlene is giving away a delightful Silver bookmark with measuring cup and cupcake charms to one lucky person who comments on any of the blogs on her tour. She is also giving a lucky Silver key chain with measuring cup and cupcake charms to a commenter on her blog. Full details HERE
Also - join us on 14th October at The Author Roast and Toast, where Darlene will be the guest of honour at a virtual party where anything goes!
For insider news and subscriber-only info, subscribe to my occasional Newsletter. I promise not to spam and your in-box will only see an email from me every 3 or 4 months or so - unless of course I have something really Newsworthy to share! http://madmimi.com/signups/196357/join Every new subscriber will get a FREEdownload of my fantasy novella 'Dancing With Fate' (If this doesn't arrive within two days just email me at hywelalyn@btinternet.com)
