Promo: Romance author, J B Glazer...

1)   What is the best and worse thing you have learned from an editor/agent?

I must confess that I entered into the publishing process with an optimistic naivety. I thought my manuscript was in excellent shape and wasn’t expecting many comments from my editor. To my surprise, every page came back red-lined. I realized I had forgotten some basic rules of grammar. And apparently I like to use run-on sentences, so she added semi-colons. A lot of them. I’m not a fan of semi-colons but I trusted her judgment, so these pesky punctuation marks are as much a part of the book as the characters I so painstakingly created. Aside from a grammar refresher, the best thing I learned is that I can’t assume my readers know what I know. Working in the advertising industry there is some lingo that is second nature to me, but I ended up having to explain what it meant. Also, just because I introduced Rachelle’s character on page 59 doesn’t mean my reader will remember her when she reemerges on page 115. I’m so close to these characters that I take for granted readers will know who they are.

As for the worst (or possibly best) advice that I received was when my editor commented on one of my love scenes.  To quote verbatim: "It’s not recommended for people to keep condoms in their wallets, as they can get broken or weaken in wallets, so you might want to rephrase this." If that is what my readers are thinking about during that scene then clearly I haven't done my job!

2)   What is your typical day?

I work part-time, so my typical day depends on if I’m in work or mom mode. On my work days I wake up at the crack of dawn, get myself ready, and then wake the kids and get them ready. I make a mad dash for the train because I live in the burbs and work in the city. My day involves a lot of meetings, which means I don’t start actual work until the end of the day. Around 6:00 I make another mad dash for the train. Once I’m home I scarf down dinner and then help the kids with homework, baths, and bedtime. Around 9:00 I clean up (aka putting unopened mail and such in an ever-growing pile), pack lunches, and shower. If I’m lucky I’ll sneak in some time to write before I get in bed at 11:00, which is way too late so I wake up exhausted.

Scenario 2: I “sleep in” until 7:00 am. I get dressed (in much more comfortable clothing) and then get the kids ready. We seem to be on schedule, but inevitably time slips away and I end up rushing to get my daughter to school. Then I bring my son on an errand, usually a Target run, before we need to be at one of his activities. We come home, have lunch, play, and then it’s time to pick up my daughter from the bus stop. Then we’re off to our next activity. By the time we get home I need to prepare dinner and I still haven’t gotten a chance to straighten up or do laundry. So these wait until the kids are in bed, by which time I’m too tired.

Perhaps my days aren’t that different after all. They both involve me rushing around like a mad woman and feeling like I never have time to tackle all of the things on my to do list. Either I’m a mess or my house is a mess. But I wouldn’t have it any other way because I like being busy. It keeps things interesting!

3)   What do you read while in the midst of a project? Or don’t you?

I do read even when I’m in the midst of a project. I love reading because it provides a great escape and can serve as inspiration, sometimes in unexpected ways. I read a variety of genres, but Romance is my favorite. The only problem with reading while I’m writing is that I start comparing my style to that author’s. Doubt sometimes creeps in and I get the urge to scrap what I’ve written. But I tell myself that every writer has a unique voice so I must stay true to mine.

4)    What do you do with a paperback once you’ve read it?

Like my protagonist, Lexi, I prefer paperbacks vs. eBooks because I like holding onto something tangible. I tend to get immersed in what I’m reading, so it’s helpful to flip ahead and see how many more pages are left until the next chapter. I’m guilty of the “just one more” page approach, which inevitably turns into many. Likely another reason I stay up way too late.

Once I’ve finished a book I loan it out to my friends. Books are meant to be shared and enjoyed, not collecting dust on a shelf.

5)    Are you nervous about friends reading your book?

Yes, but more so my coworkers and family members. I’m not worried that they won’t like the material, I’m worried about how they will think of me once they read the material. Let’s just say I wrote the book after finishing the Fifty Shades series, so I felt compelled to take my intimate scenes up a notch, or two. It’s mortifying knowing people are reading sex scenes that I imagined and described in detail. While I felt it was important to show this development of my characters, people think it’s inspired by my love life. It’s not, for the record, though my husband would like me to say otherwise. J

6)    What things inspire you to write? Location, music, film or even in a book?

I must admit, I'm an eavesdropper. People reveal the most interesting things in elevators, on the train, and around the office. I'm like a sponge, absorbing these snippets of conversation. I use them to inspire my writing. For example, I overhead a girl telling her friend about a recent date where the guy got so drunk he forgot about her and left—not only the bar but the bill as well. That guy will be making an appearance in book #2!

7)    What’s next for you?

I’m in the midst of a follow up to my debut novel, Out in the Open. While it’s not a series, per se, I will weave in some of my favorite characters. Titled I Should Have Said Yes, the book follows Tara Winters, Lexi's younger sister, on her journey to finding "the one." It’s a candid and entertaining look at a singleton’s dating journey when she must say yes to any guy who asks her out because of a pact. Bonus: readers will learn about Jake and Lexi's fate along the way.

Finish with details of where readers can find you – website, Facebook, Twitter etc

Want to learn more? I’m in all of the usual places. Visit my website at www.jbglazer.com, follow me on Twitter @JBGlazer, or connect with me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/jbglazer.

Out in the Open

by J.B. Glazer

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BLURB:

Advertising executive Lexi Winters had a plan, but leaving her cheating fiancé, her beloved New York, and a successful career weren’t on her agenda. At twenty-seven she faces the harsh reality of starting over again. She returns to her hometown of Chicago and lands a new job, where she meets Jake Hartman, the agency founder’s captivating nephew. Their chemistry is undeniable, but Lexi is protective of her fragile heart and isn’t ready to date again. Jake is on the fast track to leading the company and has vowed to his uncle never to let anything—or anyone—get in his way. What begins as harmless flirtation soon crosses a line that threatens to destroy Lexi and Jake’s promising careers. In a relationship plagued by secrets, will they risk everything to be out in the open?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

EXCERPT

“I like your dress,” Jake says, lightly touching the fabric on my shoulder. He slides his hand down the length of my dress, grazing my breast, and rests it on my knee. I raise my eyebrows at him.

           

“You don’t mind, do you?” he asks in a low voice.

          

“No,” I say, meeting his gaze.

           

He stands up, and I stand up too, thinking we’re leaving. “Wait here,” he says, then closes the curtains to our seating area, giving us complete privacy. He makes his way back toward me wearing a determined expression that makes my heart beat wildly in my chest. Is he going to kiss me here, in the middle of the bar? He looms over me and takes the drink out of my hand. I feel the color rise in my face, and my breathing becomes ragged. Jake tilts my chin so I meet his gaze and leans in close when suddenly the curtains part and Brad walks in. “Sorry, dude,” he says to Jake, “but Maurice just informed me there’s a girl here looking for you. She says you work together, and she’s on her way down.”

Jake’s demeanor immediately changes. He fully opens the curtains and moves to the other side of the couch, putting some distance between us. I look at him questioningly, but his flirty smile is gone, replaced with a cool stare. Then I see a brunette talking to the bouncer, and I’m guessing she’s looking for Jake. She makes eye contact, and he motions her over.

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

J B Glazer developed a love of writing at a young age. She followed that passion to the University of Illinois, where she graduated with a degree from the College of Communications. She pursued a career in advertising, a field that provided an outlet to express her creativity. She has fifteen years of experience at the renowned Leo Burnett advertising agency in Chicago, which served as inspiration for her novel. She’s also a wife, mom, marketer, referee, short-order cook, maid, chocoholic, shopaholic, and multitasker extraordinaire. Visit her website at www.jbglazer.com, follow her on Twitter @JBGlazer, or connect with her on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/jbglazer

Out in the Open is available at national retailers including Amazon and Barnesandnoble.com.

Links:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1495279308/ref=s9_simh_gw_p14_d0_i1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=1C28TCRYEJ80J81D11MB&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=1688200382&pf_rd_i=507846

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/out-in-the-open-j-b-glazer/1119906214?ean=9781495279300

The author will be awarding a $25 Amazon GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour, and a PDF copy of Out in the Open will be given to every host.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/28e4345f454/

Follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here: 

http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2014/09/review-tour-out-in-open-by-jb-glazer.html

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