1)
Did you
set any goals for 2012? I would never set long-term
goals because life is always changing. I do make short goals, like “I need to
finish writing this before vacation.” Those are easier to keep!
2)
What is
the best part of the writing process for you? R &
R. No, not rest and relaxation – I’d be bored. Research and Revisions. Research
because I LOVE non-fiction and learning. So diving into a character’s career or
an issue within scenes is exciting for me. Revisions is always great because
the hardest part of writing, for me, is getting the story down, making sure the
scenes are in order, and having a strong plot that keeps the story moving.
During revisions I can relax and enjoy the story, add details, squeeze in a
little more romance, heighten the sexual tension, and just have fun.
3)
The worst
part? Hmm…I’d have to say the worst part would be not
being able to type as fast as my mind works. I have so many thoughts I have to
jump to different scenes to write something down before I forget it. I have so
many story ideas it’s hard to decide which one to work on next. Oh, and the
worst part of the business is finding a publisher AFTER you’ve completed
a manuscript. Just because you sold a novel, doesn’t mean you’ll sell a second
to the same publisher.
4)
What is
the book you wish you’d written? Palomino by Daniel Steele. I was never a reader. But after watching
this movie on Lifetime, I HAD to read the book. I think I’ve read every
Daniel Steele book she’d written prior to 2000 because of that movie.
5)
Favourite
author/s & book/s? I’m not a big reader so I will
try a book if it is recommended. However, I will always buy a Carly Phillips,
Vickie Lewis Thompson, Linda Conrad, or a Pamela Britton novel.
6)
Tell us
about your latest release? Could you fall in love with
the man you blamed for killing your husband? That is the premise.
7)
Tease us
with a blurb/short except: Blurb
MaKayla
Adams has always been curious about the wild side of life. Making love with her
late husband wasn’t exciting, and she never could understand the big deal…until
hunky nightclub owner Dustin James hires her as a public relations consultant.
His touch arouses feelings she’s never known, and his kiss tempts her to cross
the line between business and pleasure.
Dustin doesn’t remember the
car accident that put him in a coma three years ago, but since his recovery,
he’s pushed his own needs aside to be a single father to his young daughter.
When MaKayla offers to help publicize his country nightclub, however, she
ignites deeper feelings he can’t ignore.
But there is more than mutual
attraction between MaKayla and Dustin—there is a shared past connected to her
husband’s death. Will the truth bring them together or tear them apart?
8)
What is
your favourite attribute of the hero and heroine? Dustin – the way he unselfishly put everything aside to raise his
daughter. MaKayla – finding an outlet to occupy herself during her
golden years. For some parents, kids leaving the nest can be devastating. They
feel unneeded and have no idea what to do next. I believe finding a hobby is SO
important for parents. MaKayla does that and finds love at the same time.
9)
What’s
next? I’ve recently finished and submitted a
contemporary to The Wild Rose Press (LASSOING LOVE). Now we wait. I am working
on book two in the No Bulls Series. It’s Jesse’s story. Right now the title is
COUNT DOWN TO LOVE, so if you visit my website, you can follow the progress.
I recently sold an erotic short story to The Wild Rose Press under
the pseudonym www.reneeashleywilliams.com,
which comes out June 29, 2012. The title is UP ALL NIGHT. I am also working on
another erotic short titled LUCKY WATERS.
10)
Tell me
where you write? At my kitchen table, in my recliner,
or in my car while I’m waiting for my son to be dismissed from school. I like
to print out chapters during revisions, so in the summer I can sit outside on
my swing and write while I work on my tan.
11)
Where
would you like your career to be in 5 years? Writing
more and faster. Have a HUGE fan base. ::wink:: Making the New York Times Best
Sellers list and earning millions to send my son to college. Oh, wait. Sorry… I
was in every writer’s dream world. J
To Purchase the Book from my publisher:
Ebook:
Paperback:
You can order it at your local bookstore or at any
online bookstore.
The Patriot Girl
by Toni Lynn Cloutier
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BLURB:
MaKayla Adams has always been curious about the wild side of life.
Making love with her late husband wasn’t exciting, and she never could
understand the big deal…until hunky nightclub owner Dustin James hires her as a
public relations consultant. His touch arouses feelings she’s never known, and
his kiss tempts her to cross the line between business and pleasure.
Dustin doesn’t remember the car accident that put him in a coma three
years ago, but since his recovery, he’s pushed his own needs aside to be a
single father to his young daughter. When MaKayla offers to help publicize his
country nightclub, however, she ignites deeper feelings he can’t ignore.
But there is more than mutual attraction between MaKayla and
Dustin—there is a shared past connected to her husband’s death. Will the truth
bring them together or tear them apart?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
She tilted her head toward his. “We do have an unusual chemistry, but anything more between us would
complicate things.”
“In what ways?”
“Alex wouldn’t understand. Not to mention
Paul’s parents.”
“What about what MaKayla wants?” A loaded
question she didn’t know how to answer.
She wanted what she couldn’t have—not to
be alone, the noises in her backyard to go away, a
husband to spoil, and another child to mother. “It doesn’t matter what I want. What matters is doing the right thing.”
husband to spoil, and another child to mother. “It doesn’t matter what I want. What matters is doing the right thing.”
“For who?”
“For everyone.”
“Even if it means being unhappy? When was
the last time you did something for MaKayla without worrying about
consequences?” He rolled his tongue and smiled.
“There was liquor involved. Otherwise, I
never would have growled at you.”
“Why not?”
She shrugged. “Because it’s
inappropriate.”
“A tease?”
“Yes.”
He cupped her cheeks between his palms. “I
find you sexy as hell and I’m going to kiss you. The time to stop me would be
right now.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AUTHOR Bio and
Links:
The youngest of
five children, Toni was born and raised in Rhode Island. After graduating East
Providence High School as a member of the Rhode Island Honor Society, she held
several jobs from accounts receivable to billing before attending Rhode Island
Associates of Realtors. She has a wonderful husband and is a stay-at-home mom
to their teenage son. She is the author of two educational word search puzzle
books. Her week is filled with writing romance novels and listening to country
music while cleaning house, rearranging furniture, and playing with the cat
they adopted from the shelter.
You can learn
more about her and her work at:
on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/authortonilynncloutier
or on twitter at https://twitter.com/#!/ToniLCloutier
Toni will be awarding prizes as follows:
1 - $10.00 Amazon gift card to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour
1 - $10.00 Amazon gift card "Stalker Prize", randomly drawn from those commenters who comment on each Blog stop during the tour.
1 – $15.00 Amazon gift card to the HOST with the most comments
Note: All WINNERS have the option to have a personalized word search puzzle
created by the author! See FREE STUFF at www.tonilynncloutier.com for sample
puzzles.
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/2012/02/virtual-book-tour-patriot-girl-by-toni.html
Over to you guys! Comments??
Good morning, Rachel. Thanks for having me today! Looking forward to answering more questions and seeing familiar "faces!"
ReplyDeleteThank you for hosting Toni today.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on this release. I know you've waited a long time for this day, and now it's here :-) Well done, you!!
ReplyDeleteHey, Kem,
DeleteThanks for the congrats. Yes, it's been a long journey but I wouldn't trade ANY part of what's happened along the way to get here.
Thanks for stopping by!
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteHey Toni! I loved this book and look forward to many more!!! I love your style of writing and will always be in your corner!!
ReplyDeleteLOL...literally you are on my corner! (((hugs))) Thanks for always being there, Jane! It means a lot. Working on book two of the No Bulls series. If it's done before you return to school, you'll be the first to read it!
DeleteIt sounds like a great story. Congratulations on the release!
ReplyDeletevitajex(at)aol(dot)com
Thanks for stopping by and for the congrats.
DeleteCongrats on the new release. Thanks for the great interview. This book sounds fantastic. Can't wait to read it to see how MaKayla feels about falling in love with Dustin, the man she blames for her husband's death.
ReplyDeletee.balinski(at)att(dot)net.
Hey, Joanne,
DeleteThanks for the congrats. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I've enjoyed writing it.
Have you thought about how you would feel if you fell in love with a man you blamed for killing your husband?
Think about and then compare your emotions with MaKayla's!
Thanks for stopping by!
Hey Toni,
ReplyDeletecongrats to your new release and I hope The Wild Rose Press will accept your story. Waiting is always the worst part, at least for me. :)
My mom is a big Daniel Steele fan and got me into reading the books.
Jibriel.O at web dot de
Hey, Jibriel,
DeleteThanks for stopping by. Yes, waiting is the hardest part. What do you write?
I haven't read anything recent by DS. Any recommandations?
This sounds like such a tender story. I love reading about people who are a little more mature.
ReplyDeleteHey, MomJane,
DeleteThanks for stopping by. This is a story about a mom learning to live with an empty nest. A subject so many women deal with when their children no longer need them. ::sniff::
Rachel, thanks again for having me today.
ReplyDeleteThank you to everyone who stopped by. Check out my website to see where I'll be tomorrow. I hope to see you all there!
An interesting interview. It seems imposible at first to bring them together.
ReplyDeletelyra.lucky7ATgmailDOTcom
Hey, Lyra,
ReplyDeleteLOL...nothing is impossible when you have love!
Thanks for stopping by!
Short term goals are always more doable I always feel. I enjoyed the interview thank you.
ReplyDeletemarypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com
thank you for the great interview. Gale pgan427@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteI missed commenting on this one...I had to come back and add my comment about the NY Times Bestseller list. I think that a dream even for us non-writers (LOL)...and it would be much harder for us to achieve than for someone, like you, who actually IS a writer! You can't be on the list unless you write and keep plugging away.
ReplyDeletecatherinelee100 at gmail dot com