Monday, June 28, 2010

Interview of Author Nancy Lennea

Today it's my pleasure to interview romance author Nancy Lennea.

Latest Book: SECRET LOVE MATCH

Buy Link: http://redrosepublishing.com
Video Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k21mhLa-0Nc

BIO: Nancy lives the dream. After growing up in Huntington New York and raising two handsome sons in New Hampshire, Nancy and her husband moved to North Carolina where she writes full-time. She is a member of Romance Writers of America, Heart of Carolina Romance Writers, Celtic Heart Romance Writers, Fantasy-Futuristic Paranormal Romance Writers, and Sisters in Crime. She also writes paranormal romance as Nancy Lee Badger.

Q: What’s the first thing you did when you received word you’d sold a book?
A: I stared at the e-mail from Red Rose Publishing in disbelief, then scratched my head. What book? It was August 29th and I had sent them the manuscript for consideration in October 2008! SECRET LOVE MATCH is my 3rd completed manuscript and I was already working on number 6.I filled out the contract, mailed it away two days later, and took my son and husband out for dinner!

Q: What part of the book is the easiest for you to write? Why?
A: The beginning is easiest because I have all these stories running around my head screaming to get out. Then I have to stop and fill out a story board so I know where my characters are headed.

Q: What part of the book is the hardest for you? Why?
A: The end. Then the revisions start. Every time I read my stories, I find another way to describe something, or a better way for the story to flow. I finally have to say STOP. Then, an editor will come along and change it all.

Q: Who is your favorite character in your book and why?
A: I love Taylor Adams. He just turned forty and has money, but nothing else to show for it; no wife, no family, no career. His five years of fame on a TV Space Western ended 15 years earlier. He wants to be in film. Will anyone take him seriously? Becka appears and everything changes. He changes, for the better. I like how he goes from stuck-up to her knight in shining armor.

Q: If one of your books became a movie, which celebrity would you like to star as one of your hero? Tell us about your hero.
A: I had a picture of Starbuck in Battlestar Galactica (the original, not the remake)played by Dirk Benedict. That same color hair and build mixed with Star Trek’s mature Captain Kirk, played by William Shatner. If I had to pick someone today to play him, I think I could fall in love with Hugh Jackman, as long as they gave him some golden locks. He’s 42 and that’s the age group I threw Taylor into.

Q: Facebook, MySpace, Blogs, Chats, or Twitter. Which do you like best and why?
A: I like the instant messaging of Facebook, but I strive to make the best use of blogs, my own included. A blog article is ‘out there’ for a longer time and, as long as you copy its link, you can pop in and read it over and over. I have written articles under my Nancy Lee Badger moniker at http://historyundressed.blogspot.com where historical facts, mythology, castles, ale making all combine to bring history to life.

Tell us where to find you:
website: http://www.nancylennea.com
publisher’s page: http://www.redrosepublishing.com/books
blog: http://nancylennea-inlove.blogspot.com

BLURB:
Rebecca Delacourt has played and taught tennis for the last three years. At twenty-one, she knows what she wants. Without help from her wealthy parents, she buys a condo in Glen Cove, NY and plans to be on the Olympic Tennis team. She has no time for men, marriage, or children. Her mother gave up her acting career when she became pregnant with older sister, Laney, whose illegitimate son is mute due to recent emotional trauma. Rebecca still manages to squeak out some time for her charity work for breast cancer research in Baltimore every year.

Taylor, a former TV actor, notices Becka. She knows him—she’s dreamed of his TV persona for years. They meet at her parent’s country club. He thinks he’s found gold in the athletic blond. After beating him at tennis he meets her parents. Too bad he knows them—a former co-star, and the man helping get him auditions.

Her sister moves in—thwarting any privacy. She’s hiding out and is attacked. Taylor finds himself falling for Becka. Will he change his arrogant ways, save her nephew from kidnappers, and realize she’s the one? Becka wonders if dreams can still be reached with someone beside her. Will they reach their dreams together?

EXCERPT:
“I can’t go home with you. Not today,” She explained as she hung up her cell phone and stared down at her feet. Taylor’s dream of a perfect ending to a wonderful afternoon, ruined. Outside the museum, he flagged a cab. Only minutes ago he’d asked her to accompany him to his hotel. Before she could answer, her phone rang. He knew in his gut she’d been on the verge of accepting.

I’m really sorry,” she said, shaking her head.

A wave of disappointment crushed him the moment the words left her mouth…her luscious, plump, sweet mouth. “Why? It’s early yet, and we haven’t had dinner. I was going to surprise you with—”

She interrupted his plea with a look of pain. Etched on her face, accompanied by a long sinful sigh, her reaction did nothing to make him feel hopeful.

“The reason is my sister, Laney. As you might have guessed, she came home with me from Baltimore. I’m sorry, but she had nowhere else to go and she finally convinced me she’s in trouble.”

He yanked off his glasses.

She flinched.

A look of disbelief must have flashed across his face.

"Please believe me. I think her problem is serious. She has troubles concerning some guy and his friends. She insists they’re looking for her. She won’t let me involve the police so the best I can do is give her a roof over her head for awhile.”

“Can’t she stay with your parents? They’re her parents, too.” His temper flared. He clenched his fists, nearly crushing his glasses.

“Please try to understand, Taylor—”

“I don’t understand!”

“Laney and our parents are estranged. It’s complicated. I need time to sort out her problem before I send her on her way, and I will. She just called me crying hysterically, wanting to talk…” Pausing, she cupped his unshaven cheek, “I want to see you again, soon.”

Even now, he sensed she wanted to neglect her sister’s needs and succumb to her own pleasure. She intoxicated him with her touch, but he knew guilt would tarnish their night together.

“I promise to call you as soon as I can,” she whispered.

A cab slid to a stop at the curb. Taylor grumbled as he kicked a small stone off the sidewalk. Shoving both hands into the back pockets of his jeans, he pretended not to care. As Taylor watched her open the cab door, several screams broke the silence.

Anything else you’d like to add?
Secret Love Match is a full-length contemporary romance and is my debut novel, available as an e-book. If anyone is interested in the paranormal, visit my other website http://www.nancyleebadger.com and my blog
http://rescuingromance.nancyleebadger.com for the scoop on other releases.

5 comments:

  1. 'Secret Love Match' - what a great title for a book, Nancy. Enjoyed your interview. Smiled when you said "what book?" when you got the email from your publisher. I know the feeling. Hope you have tremendous sales. :)

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  2. Ooooohhhh...sounds GREAT Nancy:) Adding it to my TBB list.

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  3. Great interview. I see you love the reruns of the old favorites too. Nothing like Dirk and James.
    Thanks for sharing and good luck with the novel.

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  4. Congratulations on your first release. It sounds like an interesting story.

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  5. Ooh! A former Lawn Guylander! I grew up all the way south of you--in Copiague. Best of luck with your book--sounds like a winner. Wishing you oodles of sales.

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