I want to welcome all my friends to the Virtual Blog Tour for Joselyn Vaughn's new release, Courting Sparks, right here in My Odd Little World. I asked some questions I was sure you would all want answered, and got some interesting answers. Remember to leave a comment for a chance to win a copy of Courting Sparks or her first release, CEOs Don’t Cry. And bring your friends to the party, too. After all, the more the merrier, and who knows, your comment could be the winning one. Now for a few words from our visiting author...My fellow readers, may I present ... Joselyn Vaughn!
The Writer
What is the best thing about being a writer? The worst?
I love starting with a little idea or a picture and having a whole story come out of it. It’s so fun to watch the story grow and develop and take twists you never expected. The worst – finding time to do it. I have three children three and under and they don’t like to let me use the computer by myself. In fact, the youngest keeps trying to help me type.
What is your method of breaking through writer’s block?
I have an awesome critique group. Whenever I get stuck, I go to them and they come up with a whole bunch of ideas and set me off and running again. I recently had a problem with a timeline and they helped me figure out a plausible explanation.
Do you bring your own life experiences to your writing? Your own personality? If so how?
My own experiences definitely come into my writing. Not as a whole story, but as details. For example, in Courting Sparks, they talk about having goldfish as the table decorations in a wedding and my husband and I did that at ours.
The Person
Which season do you prefer? Spring, Summer, Fall or Winter?
I used to love winter and the anticipation of snow days, but now getting the kids ready to go out the door when it requires boots, hats, coats and mittens is daunting. I like the changing of the seasons, going from cold to warm and rainy to snowy and vice-versa. I think Fall is one of my favorites right now. I love the changing colors of the leaves and the scent in the air.
When you get a chance to read, what books do you love to read?
Romances, of course. I also like the classics and literary fiction.
What is your favorite food and what is your guilty pleasure food?
I love chocolate ice cream and it is definitely a guilty pleasure. I don’t have it very often because I’m lactose intolerant, so it has to be a very special occasion to make it worth it.
What do you think is romantic? What does the word Romance mean to you?
Having someone help you with something when you didn’t need to ask. Recently, our household was ravaged with the stomach flu. It was not pleasant. The day I was attacked, my husband stayed home from work, watched the kids and even folded the laundry. I was able to sleep all day and recovered much faster. It wouldn’t have been a pretty picture if I had been home alone with the kids all day. So I guess Romance means being there for someone you love.
What bores you as a reader?
Stories with characters I can’t connect with. I don’t know if that bores me or frustrates me. If I don’t know who I’m supposed to be cheering for, I get lost and usually put the book down.
Random thoughts
You’ve been given the honor of naming a planet, what would you name it?
What a unique question! I have no idea. Everything that comes to mind is astrological and probably already been used. If I was giving the planet to someone, I would probably name it after them. Maybe Krypton?
If you could share one major writing tip, to help other writers in their quest for publication, what would it be?
Find a supportive critique partner or writing group. Their advice and mentoring will be invaluable.
If you could write in any other genre what would it be, and why?
One of the members of my critique group said my current work in progress may be straying into literary fiction. It’s possible. I would like to write historical romance, but don’t have time for the type of research I would need to do. Maybe when the kids are off to school, that will be a possibility.
Where can we find out more about you and your work?
I have a blog where I write about the joys and trials of everyday life (http://joselynvaughn.com) . You can also find me on Facebook.
And finally, have you got a sneak peek excerpt from your current work in progress you can share with my readers and me?
This is from my current work in progress Locations of the Heart:
“Be right back.” Minnie patted her on the shoulder and headed for the door. She did a quick check in the hall mirror to make sure the fall wind hadn’t restyled her ivory curls. She feathered an errant curl back into place, then opened the door.
One should always put on a good face when meeting potential customers. It was mid-week, so walk-ins would be rare, but all her rooms were available—except the one with the leaky tub.
Minnie opened her mouth to say ‘Welcome to the Lilac Bower,’ but stopped before she made it to the second syllable, clapped her mouth shut and slammed the door. The slam wasn’t loud enough. Nor did it rattle the plastic skeleton hanging on the back of the door. She was tempted to open it and really give it a good swing, but that would mean setting eyes on a man she didn’t care to ever see again. Five decades hadn’t been long enough.
The doorbell rang again, and Minnie wondered if she could disconnect it. Desperate times called for desperate measures. But Mark warned her about playing with wires—or was it just the fuse box, she couldn’t remember. Unfortunately, it’d take too long and Gordon would just open the door and come inside.
How long could she could stall? Maybe he’d just go away. Back to whatever prairie dog hill he’d hid in for the last fifty years and stay there.
Fifty years? It couldn’t be that long, she thought, but a quick look at the math confirmed it. Seeing him again made it all feel like yesterday.
He rang the doorbell again, this time following it with an insistent knock.
I want to thank Joselyn Vaughn for making my blog the final stop on her blog tour for Courting Sparks, and I want to give everyone a brief look at what is in store from this one.
Joselyn Vaughn
Avalon Books
Dusting off the ashes of a failed relationship, Daphne Morrow decides she is ready to date again. But when her scorched prom photos are discovered to be the ignition point for a small forest blaze, marking her as the prime suspect for the arson, she finds they’re not the only part of her past sparking interest. After a friend’s wedding provides a romantic interlude with her longtime friend Noah Banks, Daphne tries to explain away her attraction to him: the atmosphere of the wedding, his resemblance to her ex, his heroic efforts as a volunteer firefighter. Still, their desire just won’t sputter out.
When the arsonist strikes much closer to home, Daphne fears she must risk Noah’s friendship to find the culprit and clear her name. She’ll know their love is real if his interest isn’t put out by her need to uncover the truth.
I want to thank Joselyn Vaughn for being my first ever Virtual Visitor.
After due consideration, and much checking of finances, I find that I am going to definitely sweeten the pot!! One lucky commentor to my blog today will win a $10 Amazon Gift Certificate. So be sure to come by!
Winner will be chosen using Random.org on January 22. Be sure to leave your email address so I can send your prize.
