I'm happy to host Ann Everett today on her blog tour for her new Bluebird, Texas Romance, TRUE. Ann sits down for an interview to talk about her life and her writing. And she's also giving away some awesome prizes. Make sure you enter the Rafflecopter below. Welcome Ann!
True
A Bluebird, Texas Romance
by Ann Everett
Ann is giving away five awesome prize packages. Please use the Rafflecopter below to enter. Remember you may enter every day for your chance to win one of the prize packages. You may find the tour locations here. About True:
Sometimes it takes losing everything…
True Shanahan must be the unluckiest woman in the world. Either that or she’s cursed. After another failed relationship, True leaves Dallas with a broken heart and new attitude. It’s time to walk on the wild side. But when she makes a wrong turn and ends up in Bluebird, Texas, the only man she wants is anything but reckless.
…to find all you’ve ever wanted.
Ritter Malone is the town’s favorite son and has the local hero awards to prove it. Seems he’s always in the right place at the right time. But when he crosses paths with True, his life takes a turn he never sees coming. Her songwriting skills may be questionable, but her ability to turn him inside out is indisputable. Welcome to Bluebird, Texas. Where a chance meeting gives two people a chance at love. Amazon Buy Link
Excerpt:
When Ritter arrived at the gym, he spotted Cole jumping rope. He stopped and glanced at the wall clock. “You’re late. Roommate didn’t have you tied up, did she?”
“Very funny. We got a dog. Stayed up playing with him. I hit the snooze one time too many.”
Cole ran a towel over his face, then his lips curled. “That’s not good.”
“What? Getting a puppy?”
“Naw. The we in that sentence sounds like a contract extension.”
Ritter stretched. “I won’t lie. I’ve gone home to an empty house so long, thought having someone there would drive me nuts, but it hasn’t—for the most part.”
Cole stepped on the nearest treadmill, turned it on, and ran a steady pace. “I gotta hand it to you. You’ve managed to sleep with her and keep your hands to yourself. Or have you?”
Ritter climbed onto the machine next to Cole’s and matched his stride. No need to confess he hadn’t exactly resisted, but he’d not passed second base—by much. Had it not been for the phone call, he would have hit a home run. He’d had the wood for it. “No.”
“Come on. No way you haven’t hit that. Especially after what you told me about her coming on to you.”
“That’s why I can’t let her stay. My resistance is wearing thin.”
Ritter and Cole’s phones sounded a text at the same time. Ritter read his, then shot Cole a look. “Turns out, we’re off this afternoon.”
Cole dropped his cell back into the cupholder. “I’ve never been to New Jersey. You?”
“Nope but looks like the storm is calling us there.”
Interview with Ann Everett:
Where did you get the idea for your new novel?
Even though this book is named for the lead female character, True, the idea began with the hero, Ritter. I received a magazine from my local electric company with a photo of a lineman on the cover. I thought he looked yummy enough to write about! And, there aren’t many books out there with power lineman as main characters, so I liked that aspect of it. For a look at the guy who inspired the story, you can go here: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/275564070934750185/
If you could change something about one of your books that’s already released, what would it be?
That’s the beauty of being an indie author. I can go back and change stuff in any of my books. And, I’ve done that. I went back to the first book I published…three years later and added a character, along with some other changes.
Do you have any words of advice to beginning writers?
Story trumps everything. You can get help with grammar, punctuation, and all other technical aspects of writing. But, if your story isn’t good, you can’t expect much success.
When were you first published and how did that happen? Was it a long or short journey?
I was first published by a small press in 2011. One of my reviewers from http://www.thenextbigwriter.com suggested I send one of my manuscripts she’d been reviewing to a small press in her state, New Hampshire. They were taking open submissions, which meant I didn’t have to query, just send the first three chapters of the story. I sent it on a whim, because I’d never considered using a publisher. I always intended to self-publish…if I published at all.
They accepted the story and I published the first two books of the trilogy with them. During my three-year contract with them, I learned a lot more about self-publishing. So, I waited for my contract to expire, ask for the rights back to my first two books, and published them, along with three more in the next few months. Best decision ever! In royalties, I made more in the first month, than I’d made with the publisher in three years. I am a huge supporter of self-publishing—and joining a writing website. The reviewers I have on The Next Big Writer are fantastic. They help me whip my rough drafts into shape. I have as many as fifteen writers critiquing/editing my work. A real bargain for about $6 bucks a month!
What book for you has been the easiest to write? The hardest? The most fun?
Whatever book I’m writing at the time is the hardest!! The most fun? Probably my Tizzy/Ridge Trilogy. Those books are set in the town I grew up in, and most every situation in the book actually happened. They’re light mysteries, with humor and a bit of steamy romance. Just about all the characters are family members. I even put myself and my sister in them. Of course, I made us younger and gave us bigger boobs!
How many books do you have under the proverbial bed? Will they ever see the light of day?
Believe it or not, none. If I write it, I publish it. I do have a few short stories that could be made into books, but they are SO bad, they’d need more work than I have time for. I went through them not long ago and destroyed some. They were bad enough, I didn’t want to take a chance on anyone reading them after I’m gone!
What’s one thing readers would be surprised to learn about you?
This is a biggie. Until I started writing romance, I’d only read one romance book in my life!
If you could get rid of something in your life that would give you more writing time, what would it be?
Eating, sleeping, peeing. If I didn’t have to stop to do those three things, I could write a lot more!
Do you have any pets? Are you cat person or a dog person? Or are you into totally different pets, like goldfish? What do you like best about your pet?
I’ve had a lot of pets over the years, but currently have none. I like cats and dogs equally but have had more cats. However, my characters always have a pet. At least one. I find it a good way to have one-sided conversations to let the reader know things other than using narration.
What genre is your favorite to read?
Romance, of course. I read a lot of unpublished work on the writing site where I’m a member. As a top reviewer on that site, I read a lot of different genres. And, a lot by first-time authors. For personal enjoyment, give me a book by Susan Elizabeth Phillips or Jennifer Crusie, and I’m happy. Those two are my favorites but I also read Rachel Gibson, Jane Graves, Jill Shalvis, and Lori Foster fairly often. I don’t read many new romance authors because so many write in first person, and I DETEST first person novels. I’ll read…and I even write some first person short stories, but a whole book wears me out!
If money were not an object, where would you most like to live? Why?
This answer will tell you just how boring I am. I’ve never wanted to live anywhere but Texas. I’m a fifth generation Texan and proud of it. Even with the hot, humid weather and threat of tornados, it is still heaven on earth to me. Truthfully, I don’t even like to travel. I have no desire to visit any other countries. My favorite place in the whole world is—home. I’ve always felt that way. I warned you I’m boring!!
What do you like best about your hero in TRUE?
In every one of my books, the hero has some aspect of my husband. Kindness. Faithfulness. Patience. Selflessness. Devotion. Strong sense of family. Naturally, I love those things. Ritter has all of those attributes.
Don’t want y’all to think my husband is perfect. As great as he is, I still want to knock him upside the head at least once a day!
What do you like best about your heroine in TRUE?
I like for all of my heroines to be a bit quirky in some way. True is no exception. I love that she writes terrible songs but thinks they’re good!
How do you choose the names and physical characteristics of your characters? Do you base them on real people?
As for the physical, I look at TV shows and search the web for actors I’d want to portray my characters if the book happened to be made into a movie. I pretty much cast all the parts before I write the book. I also score it with music for certain scenes. That way, when I write, I can visualize how Ritter and True look, and listen to songs that will inspire me.
For names, I keep a notebook of names I like. One of my prime resources is obituaries. I know. It sounds morbid, but Texans have definite types of names we use. Just this morning on the radio, a female caller was named, JimAnn. No doubt she had a daddy who had been hoping for a boy!!
We’re also big on using the same letter for each name. A big no-no in writing, but I break that rule all the time because my stories all take place in Texas, so I want to follow Texas ways. In True, her twin is named Teague, then she has two more brothers, Tanner and Thacker. Todd is her dad. Tess was her mom.
How can readers reach you or find you online?
Lord, I’m everywhere. Here are all of my links.
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/AuthorAnnEverett/
Twitter http://www.twitter.com/TalkinTwang
Website http://www.anneverett.com
Blog URL http://www.anneverett.com/blog/
Newsletter http://www.anneverett.com/join-my-email-list/
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/texasauthoraeverett/
email ann.everett@rocketmail.com
Pinterest http://www.pinterest.com/loacl/
Amazon author page http://www.amazon.com/author/ann.everett
Goodreads profile https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5195211.Ann_Everett
Bookbub profile https://www.bookbub.com/authors/ann-everett
Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/ann-everett-96848238/
Tell us a little about your current work in progress.
Currently, I’m working on the third companion book in the Bluebird, Texas Romance series. They are all stand alone books, connected by location and some characters. The first in the series is Chirp, followed by True, released June 15, and the one I’m working on, Swan, which may or may not be the final book in the series. I’m still deciding that. I’m only two chapters in, so as the story progresses I may have a character begging for their own story!
What’s your tagline? Why did you choose it?
Sass, Sizzle, Suspense…. Texas style. I chose it because my female characters all have sass. Many of my books have an element of suspense. All of my stories have R-rated sex.
However, the tag may change. My web designer is big on Google indexing, and she’s recommending I change it to include words that Google actually gives weight to. We’ll see what happens.
If I was a first-time reader of your books, which one would you recommend I start with and why?
That’s a hard question. My favorite is Chirp, which is the first book in my Bluebird, Texas Romance series, and a Kindle Scout Winner. I’m still in love with main character, Rance. I’m trying hard to fall out of love with him, but so far it ain’t working!
Tell us about your current release.
True, is the second book in my Bluebird, Texas Romance series and released on June 15. I think she’s an interesting character and hope readers like her.
Is there anything you’d like readers to know I’ve not asked?
Yes. I’m having a contest to name twins. To enter, go to my website, http://www.anneverett.com and comment on any blog posting, OR email me your suggestion to ann.everett@rocketmail.com I haven’t decided the sex of the twins yet, so you can enter boy/boy, girl/girl/ or girl/boy names. Their last name is Shanahan.
The contest will run from June 15 through August 15, with the winner announced on my blog, FB, and Twitter on Sept. 1. Winner receives a $50 Amazon gift card and recognition in my next book.
Interview with Ann Everett:
Where did you get the idea for your new novel?
Even though this book is named for the lead female character, True, the idea began with the hero, Ritter. I received a magazine from my local electric company with a photo of a lineman on the cover. I thought he looked yummy enough to write about! And, there aren’t many books out there with power lineman as main characters, so I liked that aspect of it. For a look at the guy who inspired the story, you can go here: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/275564070934750185/
If you could change something about one of your books that’s already released, what would it be?
That’s the beauty of being an indie author. I can go back and change stuff in any of my books. And, I’ve done that. I went back to the first book I published…three years later and added a character, along with some other changes.
Do you have any words of advice to beginning writers?
Story trumps everything. You can get help with grammar, punctuation, and all other technical aspects of writing. But, if your story isn’t good, you can’t expect much success.
When were you first published and how did that happen? Was it a long or short journey?
I was first published by a small press in 2011. One of my reviewers from http://www.thenextbigwriter.com suggested I send one of my manuscripts she’d been reviewing to a small press in her state, New Hampshire. They were taking open submissions, which meant I didn’t have to query, just send the first three chapters of the story. I sent it on a whim, because I’d never considered using a publisher. I always intended to self-publish…if I published at all.
They accepted the story and I published the first two books of the trilogy with them. During my three-year contract with them, I learned a lot more about self-publishing. So, I waited for my contract to expire, ask for the rights back to my first two books, and published them, along with three more in the next few months. Best decision ever! In royalties, I made more in the first month, than I’d made with the publisher in three years. I am a huge supporter of self-publishing—and joining a writing website. The reviewers I have on The Next Big Writer are fantastic. They help me whip my rough drafts into shape. I have as many as fifteen writers critiquing/editing my work. A real bargain for about $6 bucks a month!
What book for you has been the easiest to write? The hardest? The most fun?
Whatever book I’m writing at the time is the hardest!! The most fun? Probably my Tizzy/Ridge Trilogy. Those books are set in the town I grew up in, and most every situation in the book actually happened. They’re light mysteries, with humor and a bit of steamy romance. Just about all the characters are family members. I even put myself and my sister in them. Of course, I made us younger and gave us bigger boobs!
How many books do you have under the proverbial bed? Will they ever see the light of day?
Believe it or not, none. If I write it, I publish it. I do have a few short stories that could be made into books, but they are SO bad, they’d need more work than I have time for. I went through them not long ago and destroyed some. They were bad enough, I didn’t want to take a chance on anyone reading them after I’m gone!
What’s one thing readers would be surprised to learn about you?
This is a biggie. Until I started writing romance, I’d only read one romance book in my life!
If you could get rid of something in your life that would give you more writing time, what would it be?
Eating, sleeping, peeing. If I didn’t have to stop to do those three things, I could write a lot more!
Do you have any pets? Are you cat person or a dog person? Or are you into totally different pets, like goldfish? What do you like best about your pet?
I’ve had a lot of pets over the years, but currently have none. I like cats and dogs equally but have had more cats. However, my characters always have a pet. At least one. I find it a good way to have one-sided conversations to let the reader know things other than using narration.
What genre is your favorite to read?
Romance, of course. I read a lot of unpublished work on the writing site where I’m a member. As a top reviewer on that site, I read a lot of different genres. And, a lot by first-time authors. For personal enjoyment, give me a book by Susan Elizabeth Phillips or Jennifer Crusie, and I’m happy. Those two are my favorites but I also read Rachel Gibson, Jane Graves, Jill Shalvis, and Lori Foster fairly often. I don’t read many new romance authors because so many write in first person, and I DETEST first person novels. I’ll read…and I even write some first person short stories, but a whole book wears me out!
If money were not an object, where would you most like to live? Why?
This answer will tell you just how boring I am. I’ve never wanted to live anywhere but Texas. I’m a fifth generation Texan and proud of it. Even with the hot, humid weather and threat of tornados, it is still heaven on earth to me. Truthfully, I don’t even like to travel. I have no desire to visit any other countries. My favorite place in the whole world is—home. I’ve always felt that way. I warned you I’m boring!!
What do you like best about your hero in TRUE?
In every one of my books, the hero has some aspect of my husband. Kindness. Faithfulness. Patience. Selflessness. Devotion. Strong sense of family. Naturally, I love those things. Ritter has all of those attributes.
Don’t want y’all to think my husband is perfect. As great as he is, I still want to knock him upside the head at least once a day!
What do you like best about your heroine in TRUE?
I like for all of my heroines to be a bit quirky in some way. True is no exception. I love that she writes terrible songs but thinks they’re good!
How do you choose the names and physical characteristics of your characters? Do you base them on real people?
As for the physical, I look at TV shows and search the web for actors I’d want to portray my characters if the book happened to be made into a movie. I pretty much cast all the parts before I write the book. I also score it with music for certain scenes. That way, when I write, I can visualize how Ritter and True look, and listen to songs that will inspire me.
For names, I keep a notebook of names I like. One of my prime resources is obituaries. I know. It sounds morbid, but Texans have definite types of names we use. Just this morning on the radio, a female caller was named, JimAnn. No doubt she had a daddy who had been hoping for a boy!!
We’re also big on using the same letter for each name. A big no-no in writing, but I break that rule all the time because my stories all take place in Texas, so I want to follow Texas ways. In True, her twin is named Teague, then she has two more brothers, Tanner and Thacker. Todd is her dad. Tess was her mom.
How can readers reach you or find you online?
Lord, I’m everywhere. Here are all of my links.
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/AuthorAnnEverett/
Twitter http://www.twitter.com/TalkinTwang
Website http://www.anneverett.com
Blog URL http://www.anneverett.com/blog/
Newsletter http://www.anneverett.com/join-my-email-list/
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/texasauthoraeverett/
email ann.everett@rocketmail.com
Pinterest http://www.pinterest.com/loacl/
Amazon author page http://www.amazon.com/author/ann.everett
Goodreads profile https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5195211.Ann_Everett
Bookbub profile https://www.bookbub.com/authors/ann-everett
Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/ann-everett-96848238/
Tell us a little about your current work in progress.
Currently, I’m working on the third companion book in the Bluebird, Texas Romance series. They are all stand alone books, connected by location and some characters. The first in the series is Chirp, followed by True, released June 15, and the one I’m working on, Swan, which may or may not be the final book in the series. I’m still deciding that. I’m only two chapters in, so as the story progresses I may have a character begging for their own story!
What’s your tagline? Why did you choose it?
Sass, Sizzle, Suspense…. Texas style. I chose it because my female characters all have sass. Many of my books have an element of suspense. All of my stories have R-rated sex.
However, the tag may change. My web designer is big on Google indexing, and she’s recommending I change it to include words that Google actually gives weight to. We’ll see what happens.
If I was a first-time reader of your books, which one would you recommend I start with and why?
That’s a hard question. My favorite is Chirp, which is the first book in my Bluebird, Texas Romance series, and a Kindle Scout Winner. I’m still in love with main character, Rance. I’m trying hard to fall out of love with him, but so far it ain’t working!
Tell us about your current release.
True, is the second book in my Bluebird, Texas Romance series and released on June 15. I think she’s an interesting character and hope readers like her.
Is there anything you’d like readers to know I’ve not asked?
Yes. I’m having a contest to name twins. To enter, go to my website, http://www.anneverett.com and comment on any blog posting, OR email me your suggestion to ann.everett@rocketmail.com I haven’t decided the sex of the twins yet, so you can enter boy/boy, girl/girl/ or girl/boy names. Their last name is Shanahan.
The contest will run from June 15 through August 15, with the winner announced on my blog, FB, and Twitter on Sept. 1. Winner receives a $50 Amazon gift card and recognition in my next book.
NAME THE TWINS CONTEST:
Submit your name choices via comment Ann's blog post, http://www.anneverett.com/2018/06/15/contest-and-new-release/ or to her email ann.everett @rocketmail. com. (without spaces)
About the Author:
Award winning author, Ann Everett embraces her small town upbringing and thinks Texans are some of the funniest people on earth. When speaking to writing groups, businesses, book clubs, and non-profit organizations, she incorporates her special brand of wit, making her programs on marketing, self-publishing, and the benefits of laughter, informative and fun.Social Links:
Website: anneverett.com
Facebook: facebook.com/AuthorAnnEverett
Twitter: twitter.com/talkintwang
Blog: anneverett.com/blog/
Facebook: facebook.com/AuthorAnnEverett
Twitter: twitter.com/talkintwang
Blog: anneverett.com/blog/
Jana, Thank you so much for taking part in True's release tour. I "truly" appreciate it. ~Ann
ReplyDeleteAnd I'm "truly" happy to have you as a guest!
DeleteThis sounds like a great read.
ReplyDelete