Welcome prolific romance writer, Ellen Butler...



So happy to invite back the author of Poplar Place, Ellen Butler. Welcome back, Ellen! I am so looking forward to catching up with you and finding out more about your new release, Heart of Design from Crimson Romance. Let's start with the questions...

1)   Did you set any goals for 2014?
Yes, to survive it. LOL! Between November 2013 and July 2014 I will have 3 newly released books with smaller publishers. What does that mean? Marketing, garnering reviews, public appearances, networking, and running contests. I’ll have two more books release in 2015, so the there’s no getting off this merry-go-round any time soon. I’m looking forward to August 2015, when it will calm down a bit and I can hunker in to write the next series.

2)   How long does it take you to write a 50,000-60,000 word manuscript?
I usually write during the school year from September thru May. If I didn’t have kids, I’d probably be able to bang one out in a considerably shorter time. However, in addition to the marketing – snow days, sick kids, doctor appointments, laundry, and cooking – cut into my writing time. The novella I wrote took me about 4 weeks, due to a deadline. But, 25,000 words is a heck of a lot less than 75,000 which is what my novels tend to run.

3)   Tell us about a new author you’ve recently discovered
I found a new indie Chick Lit writer named, Debbie Howells. She wrote a book titled Wild Flowers that I thoroughly enjoyed.

4)   Tell us about your first car.
My first car was a crappy red Nissan Sentra, stick shift. It had been ridden hard and handed down by my sister. I remember it had one of those pop-up sun-roofs which, accidentally, got left open in the rain a number of times. Luckily, the interior was genuine pleather, so no harm came to it however; we were left with a slight mildew scent. The car had air conditioning, but it sucked so much of the engine’s energy, when you were entering the highway you had to turn the A/C off in order to accelerate quickly enough to join traffic. Once you reached cruising speed of 60 MPH, it would rattle along adequately for the remainder of the trip. However, the vehicle was so light weight that you had to be careful of passing tractor-trailers; they’d practically blow me off the road. The car got me through college and was eventually passed on to a guy delivering Domino’s Pizza. Later, I found out the car died on him within 2 months. Apparently, it preferred women.

5)   Tell us something you’ve lied about?
My weight.

6)   Kissing in public? Yes or no?
Depends, a short smackeroo is sweet. However, a sloppy, tonsil-hockey make-out session should be done behind closed doors.

Title: Heart of Design, first in the Love, California Style series
Author: Ellen Butler
Publisher: Crimson Romance
Release Date: July 7, 2014
ISBN: 978-1-4405-8364-3
Genre: Romance, Romantic Comedy

Blurb:
Sophie Hartland has recently turned 30, and is five years out from a confidence crushing divorce. She’s sworn off men in favor of making her interior design business a success when her best friend introduces her to LA Heat’s hot, new star, Ian O’Connor. He’s one of Hollywood’s beautiful people, with an Irish accent that makes Sophie’s toes curl. Ian hires her to renovate his home, and at their second meeting he initiates a scorching kiss that knocks her socks off. Even though she would love to drop down and go for it on the funky kitchen floor, Sophie sticks to her guns and enforces her “no dating clients” rule.

The tabloids portray flirtations Ian as Hollywood’s latest playboy who has women falling at his feet, and Sophie refuses to be another notch on his bedpost. But Ian isn’t the type to take no for an answer, and he finds Sophie a refreshing change from the actress wannabes trying hop aboard his new gravy train of success. Using his charm, he tries to persuade Sophie to break the rules.

Can Sophie ignore her traitorous libido and hold Ian off for the next five or six weeks until the renovations are finished? Or will she cave in to his pull on her heartstrings, and end up doing the knicky-knacky on the new velvet sofa? More importantly, can she protect her heart in this game of wills?

Giveaway
Signed Hard Copy of Ellen’s Novel Poplar Place & $5 Starbucks Giftcard



Short Bio:
Ellen Butler in 140 characters or less: author, mother, wife, shoe lover, chocoholic, fashion fan, sarcastic wit, autumn enthusiast, dancer, book worm, and good-time devotee.

Longer Bio:
Ellen Butler lives in the Virginia suburbs of Washington, DC, and is new to novel writing. She holds a Master’s Degree in Public Administration and Policy, and her history includes a long list of writing and editing for dry but illuminating professional newsletters, and windy papers on public policy. The leap to novel writing was simply a creative outlet for Ellen’s over active and romantic imagination to run wild.

Heart of Design is her third release in 9 months. You can find her first two releases, Poplar Place and Second Chance Christmas at Amazon and other major eBook retailers. Professionally, she belongs to the Virginia Writer’s Club, the Northern Virginia Writer’s Club, and is a founding member of the Tempting Romance blog. When she’s not writing, Ellen is either, running around after her children, decorating a neighbor’s house, or holed up in her favorite lounge chair reading. Ellen is an admitted chocoholic and confesses to a penchant for shoe shopping. Book club questions for Ellen’s novels can be found on her website.

Twitter: @EButlerBooks

Ellen is waiting to chat! Questions?? Comments??

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