Sweet
Home Alabama meets
Top Chef when Miami’s most determined
image consultant clashes with Samoa’s most uncooperative chef in a race to
rebrand him as South Beach’s newest star.
Not
an influential client-turned-stalker who’s up for parole.
Not
post-kidnapping panic attacks.
Certainly
not the stubborn, attention-phobic chef she’s challenged to transform into a
celeb in ninety days.
Will Te’o can almost
taste the dream he sacrificed American Samoa, culture, and cherished family
ties for—opening a four star restaurant in the most cut-throat culinary
location in North America.
Unfortunately,
that requires navigating it’s equally cut-throat social scene. When his first public
performance ends in a social media spectacle, his only option is turning to the
stiletto-wearing nemesis who’s invaded his kitchen.
Neither
expected to share anything but barbs, yet somewhere between accidentally
bonding over comfort food and office-wrecking sex, they’re named South Beach’s hottest
pairing. Until Brett’s stalker engineers a reputation-shattering reveal. She
may be going down, but she’s not taking Will’s dreams with her. Now Will’s
pulling out all his new skills and cooking up a last-ditch event. He’ll prove
to Brett that relying on the right person makes for the perfect recipe—or be left
heartbroken in the spotlight.
Ebook and paperback: April 21st from City Owl
Press
Good Reads Link
Amazon
There’s a tour-wide giveaway! Open to US residents only.
Rafflecopter link: http://www.rafflecopter.com/
Janet Walden-West lives in the southeast
with a pack of show dogs, a couple of kids, and a husband who didn’t read the
fine print. A member of the East Tennessee Creative Writers Alliance, she is
also a founding member of The Million Words craft blog. She pens diverse Urban
Fantasy and inclusive Romantic Suspense and Contemporary Romance.
A 2X PitchWars alum, 2019 Pitch Wars Mentor, and Golden Heart® finalist, her
debut multicultural Contemporary Romance, SALT+STILETTOS, is due out April 21st
2020 from City Owl Press. She is represented by Eva Scalzo of Speilburg
Literary Agency.
Author Interview:
Janet,
Thank you for
hosting me, and SALT+STILETTOS. I’m always happy to talk books and writing.
Janet
1.
What is your writing process like?
My characters show up, fully formed, and nag at me until
I give them their own story. Luckily,
since romance is character driven, that usually works out well. After writing
myself into a corner several times when I first started writing, I’m a reformed
pantser and die-hard plotter. I go allllll out on outlines. J Since mine are
detailed (15-30 pages) it usually takes me a few weeks to get to the point of
beginning a story.
After that, all bets are off. I can write
anywhere—waiting for kids, in doctor’s offices, at dog shows. Some days I only
get a few pages done, other days the words are flowing and I honestly lose
track of time. At least, until someone (kid, dog, or chicken) shows up
demanding dinner.
2.
What or who inspired you to become a writer?
I only picked up a pen about
10 years ago, thanks to a newborn. Who. Would. Not. Sleep. I multitasked while
also not-sleeping, and caught up on a favorite show. Where the writers killed
off my favorite character.
I swore I could write a more
fitting series ending. I couldn’t, at least at first, but that decision led to
conventions, classes, immersive writers retreats, and finally, to publication.
3.
What is your current WIP?
I write both contemporary romance and urban fantasy with
strong romantic elements, so I have several projects going. I’m outlining a
second book in the South Beach world (more chefs and kitchen fun), doing edits
on an urban fantasy short story due out in June, and finishing the last book in
an urban fantasy trilogy that I hope to have out in the Fall.
4.
Do you have any writing rituals?
Coffee. Anything else is negotiable.
5.
What advice would you give an aspiring author?
The best advice I ever got was to simply get involved. Find
classes or workshops dealing with craft. Once a draft of your story is completed,
find a few critique partners. Our world is in transition and no one knows what
the new normal will be, but there is a wealth of information, help, and
camaraderie online.
Yay! I love this interview. <3
ReplyDeleteThank you for stopping by! :)
DeleteNew author for me, sounds good!
ReplyDelete