STARTING OVER ON BLACKBERRY LANE - Blog Tour & Author Interview
About the Book:
Title: STARTING OVER ON BLACKBERRY LANE Author: Sheila Roberts Publisher: Harlequin Mira Pages: 384 Genre: Women’s Fiction/Romance
Stefanie Stahl has a husband with renovation ADD. He can't seem to finish anything he starts and her house is littered with his "projects." If he doesn't smarten up, she swears she's going to murder him and bury him under the pile of scrounged lumber in the backyard.
Her friend Griffin James is suddenly single and thinking maybe she needs to sell her fixer-upper and follow her career bliss up the ladder of success, even if that scary ladder is clear across the country. Getting her place ready to sell proves harder than she originally thought. She needs help.
She's not the only one. Cass Wilkes, their neighbor, has an empty nest—with a leaking roof. When her ceiling crashes in, she knows it's time to do something. When Grant Masters offers his handyman services at a fund-raiser auction, the three women go in together to outbid the competition and win their man. (Cass's friends think she should win Grant in a different way, too!) Now it's time to make some improvements…in their houses and their lives.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Amazon
Interview with Sheila Roberts:
Hello Ms. Roberts, thank you for agreeing to this interview.
Thank you so much for having me!
What is the first book that made you cry?
Black Beauty. I was so sad when Ginger died.
Does writing energize or exhaust you?
Writing energizes me. I love escaping into a world of my own making. (One where I am in total control - what's not to like about that?) And I enjoy reading what I've written. I find coming away from a morning or afternoon with several pages of a story immensely satisfying. It makes me feel like I've managed to accomplish something with my time.
Which writers inspire you?
I am a big fan of both Jane Austen and Georgette Heyer. Of Jane because she accomplished so much in an era when women of her class were expected to do nothing more than marry, produce and heir and plan parties. Of Georgette because she inspired an entire genre of fiction (the Regency Romance) with the many stories she wrote. As for current day authors, my friend Debbie Macomber is a huge inspiration to me. In addition to being a writing machine and a smart businesswoman, she's also incredibly kind and generous.
Which actor/actress would you like to see playing the lead character from your most recent book?
I think Richard Madden would be perfect for one of my heroes. And, since my main hero looks like George Clooney, well ... wouldn't that be fun?
How much research do you do?
As much as is needed to help me understand my topic. One of my heroines wants to become a food photographer. Being a foodie, I had a great time researching that career.
What was an early experience where you learned that language had power?
Something teasing a teacher said to me when I was in high school. He teasingly called me an ugly duckling. An off the cuff teasing remark that hit my self-esteem like a poison dart. It stuck with me long into my adult life. Looking back, I can think of things I said to my own kids that I wish I could take back. As I've gotten older (and, hopefully, wiser) I have worked hard on thinking before I speak. What a concept.
What are the most important magazines for writers to subscribe to?
I used to subscribe to WRITER'S DIGEST and learned a lot from those articles. But I would encourage writers to not stop at magazines. Buy books on writing. Haunt the library and check out books on writing. Analyze your favorite books and ask yourself why like them.
What’s your favorite under-appreciated novel?
THE MASQUERADERS by Georgette Heyer.
What are your MUST HAVE must-haves when writing? (magic socks, lucky underpants, triple-caff caramel macchiatos, etc.)
Lucky Underpants - LOL! Not much. Really, all I need is my computer. But, I must confess, that an occasional dab of chocolate helps the creative process.
Thank you so much to Sheila Roberts for kindly taking time to be with us today. I know both my readers and I had a lot of fun. Best of luck with STARTING OVER ON BLACKBERRY LANE!
About the Author:
Bestselling author Sheila Roberts has seen her books translated into over a dozen languages. Her novels ON STRIKE FOR CHRISTMAS and THE NINE LIVES OF CHRISTMAS were made into movies for the Lifetime and Hallmark channels. When she’s not hanging out with her girlfriends or dancing with her husband she can be found writing about those things near and dear to women’s hearts: family, friends, and chocolate.