We Talk To Ourselves...a Lot! by Cerella Sechrist and Loree Lough


Hello, Readers!

We’re tickled pink that you decided to take a break from your busy day and visit a spell with us! You have our promise we’ll make it worth your while, and that at the end of every blog entry, you’ll feel a bit happier than when you started reading. (It’s also possible that when you leave, you might scratch your head and say “What I’ve heard is true: Authors really are just a bubble off plumb!”)

In our first few posts, we’ll interview the heroes or heroines who ‘star’ in our latest releases. Now before you give in to that “Oh no, not another one of those” yawns, let us point out that we aren’t asking the questions…our characters are! (See? Once in a while, crazy-fun things happen when we talk to ourselves!)

We’re proud to introduce Cole Dorset, hero in Cerella Sechrist’s The Paris Connection:

(Cerella takes the mic): Though as his creator, I always had a secret infatuation with Cole, I never saw him as having his own story until the Heartwarming editors confessed they, too, were crushing on the charming ex-boyfriend of my heroine, Ophelia, in GentlePersuasion. After Ophelia rejects his marriage proposal in her story, Cole is left not only jilted but forced to take over the assignment in Paris that was meant to be hers. He’s not too crazy about relocating to Europe, even if it is for the plush assignment of CEO in his company’s merger with Emma’s firm. But despite their initial tensions, the two find they make an incredible team, wouldn’t you say, Cole?

COLE: Things definitely got off to a rough start with me and Emma, but I can’t say I blame her. She was meant to be promoted from senior executive recruiter to CEO, until our companies merged, and I was given the role instead. But what can I say? If you want to talk about charming, Emma ended up captivating me pretty early on. It just took me awhile to open up about my past and trust her with my heart.

EMMA: (taking his hand) Better a little late then never, right?

COLE: (squeezing her hand) That’s right. So, Emma…what’s it like, working with Cerella? Is she a quiet writer, or does she leave the TV or stereo on while she works?

EMMA: It depends on her mood, but mostly, she seems to be a quiet writer. She eschews the coffee shop atmosphere because of distractions, but it seems to me that her two pugs distract her equally as much when she sits down to write.

COLE: It sounds like her pets are pretty spoiled.

EMMA: Yes! Her two pugs, Charlotte and Darcy, are always wanting to crawl onto her lap while she’s writing. She’s even devised a seating system to accommodate them both. They’re very spoiled, I’ve noticed.


COLE: Cerella and Loree admitted in their blog title that they talk to themselves. Tell us a few of the crazy-strange things Cerella says out loud while she’s working!

EMMA: Occasionally, Cerella will talk through plotting points when she’s working on a story. The pugs just cock their heads and then snort before settling back to sleep when she does that. She also will often make faces while she works – as if she’s testing out character reactions. I don’t think her expressions do my own justice, though.

COLE: What’s it like, sorta sharing your brain with an author?

EMMA: It can be fun, like having a best friend in your head all the time. But it can also feel like an invasion of privacy, depending on the mood! My turn to ask a few questions! So, Cole, has Cerella ever forced you to do or say something you really didn’t want to do? If so, what?

COLE: I never wanted to take over my ex-girlfriend’s job in Paris after she moved to Hawaii at the end of her own story in GentlePersuasion. But since that’s what led me to you, Emma, I’m happy Cerella made me step out of my comfort zone.

EMMA: Me, too. Even though I wasn’t too thrilled about you taking the promotion that was meant to be mine, I couldn’t be happier that you ended up in Paris. But if you had been in control of the keyboard, what would you have done differently? 

COLE: I’d have stuck up for you sooner after our boss suspected you of corporate espionage. But it was a difficult situation, as you well remember. I’m just glad things worked out the way that they did.

EMMA: It sounds like readers will have to check out our story to learn more! So, describe what I look like, from your point of view, not Cerella’s. I’m really interested to hear your answer to this one.

COLE: From the first moment I met you, I thought you were beautiful.

EMMA: You did? But you were so irritated with me that day, when I showed up late to pick you up from the airport for your first day on the job!

COLE: That was before I realized how crazy Paris traffic can be. And even through my frustration, your beauty was obvious. You had your hair down, and your dark brown waves were falling over your shoulders. Your business suit was a pewter color, and it matched your dove gray eyes perfectly.

EMMA: You were paying more attention than I thought that day!

COLE: (dropping a kiss on her forehead) You’re a hard sight to ignore. And I know Cerella would like it if I'd remind readers she has an entire Pinterest board dedicated to you, me, and her visual inspiration for The Paris Connection right here.

View more at http://www.pinterest.com/cerellasechrist/the-paris-connection/


EMMA: What, in your opinion, is my most admirable quality?

COLE: Your loyalty. You never give up on those that you love, not even when they betray you.

EMMA: And my most annoying trait?

COLE: Um, I think I’ll take the safe answer and say you don’t have any.

EMMA: Are you sure about that?

COLE: None of your traits are annoying, sweetheart. Just endearing.

EMMA: You really are a charmer, aren’t you? Without spoiling the ending for those who haven’t yet read our story in The Paris Connection, what do you hope readers will ‘take away’ from the book?

COLE: What I learned is to be open to new experiences and not so tied to the place you think you should be. Sometimes, there’s love waiting on the path to a new place, whether it’s across the ocean or just around the corner.

EMMA: What’s next for you…will you appear in future Cerella Sechrist titles?

COLE: I’m happy that I got to be featured in two of Cerella’s Heartwarming stories, with Gentle Persuasion and The ParisConnection. Her next book is going to take place back on American soil and will feature a disgraced food critic and the chef whose career she tarnished with a defaming review. It promises to have plenty of flavor, though, so I can’t wait to read it!

EMMA: I’m with you, Cole. I know you can’t wait to introduce Zack Marshall and Summer Lane from Loree Lough’s next release, Once a Marine, but we’ve taken up enough of our readers’ time for today. But we invite you all to come back next month, on Friday, October 10, for more interviewing entertainment! You won’t want to miss it!

To order The Paris Connection and read Cole’s and my story, check out the following links. Thanks for listening to us ramble!


About Cerella:

Cerella Sechrist lives in York, Pennsylvania with two precocious pugs, Darcy and Charlotte, named after Jane Austen literary characters. She has won various competitions and a scholarship for her writing, which include devotionals, full-length plays, and novels. She divides her time between working in the office of her family’s construction business and as a barista to support her reading habit and coffee addiction. Her novels exhibit her love for both the written word and food in fiction. You can find her online at her website www.cerellasechrist.com where she pens “Literary Fare: Fiction & Food”, a blog for readers.

About Loree:

With nearly 5,000,000 books in circulation, best-selling author Loree Lough's titles have earned numerous 4- and 5-star reviews and industry awards. She splits her time between her home in Baltimore and a cabin in the Alleghenies (where she loves to show off her “Identify the Critter Tracks” skills). The release of Once a Marine (#1 in the “Those Marshall Boys” series for Harlequin's new Heartwarming line) brings Loree’s number of books in print to 104! Loree loves to hear from her readers and answers every letter, personally. Visit her at Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and www.loreelough.com!

Comments

  1. I loved Cole and Emma in The Paris Connection; such a great book. This post brought back sweet memories of that great story. If I didn't have so many other reading commitments I'd read it again. My friend Mildred who received my extra copy loved it too. Thanks for this fun post of your book's characters.

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    1. Thanks, Laurie! I loved our chats about The Paris Connection. And I'm so glad Mildred liked it. I got to go to a macaron shop last week, while I was on vacation, and it brought back sweet memories for me, too! :)

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  2. A great idea for the posts, ladies . . . now I need to read the books!

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    1. It was all Loree's idea, but I love it! It was so much fun having the roles reversed with the characters interviewing us for a change!

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    2. We figured our blog posts should be just as original (and offbeat? LOL) as our novels, so this seemed perfect! I'm tickled pink to be partnered with such a talented and sweet lady! <3

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    3. And you know what? Next month, following Cole's interview with Zach Marshall and Summer Lane (hero and heroine of ONCE A MARINE), we'll have some extra special freebies for TWO of the lucky people who comment on "We Talk to Ourselves...a LOT" blog! So be sure to come back on October 10th! :-)

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    4. Aw, you make me blush, Loree! I told you I thought we'd make a great team! :)

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  3. this was so much fun--I love reading "interviews" with the characters (and thanks for the link to the Pinterest page!) and now, like Kate, guess what's on my TBR stack! Can't wait to dive in--thanks for a great start to the weekend, guys. :)

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    1. Yay! I'm glad you'll be checking out the book, Anna. Make sure you munch on some macarons while you read. It's the best way to immerse yourself in the story. ;D

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    2. We're looking forward to hearing your comments on these titles, Anne!

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  4. So cute! Love this idea and your dogs are the cutest. I would make a spot for them too!

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  5. I smiled during the whole thing. But, agree, the dogs were the best :) Great interview.

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    1. The pugs will be pleased to know they stole the show. ;) Then again, they always do. Thanks, Pam!

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  6. How fun! Really enjoyed this, especially since I have read the book. Like Laurie mentioned, it brought back great memories of that very sweet romance. I think of you often when I see "Paris" themed stuff. There were macarons on the cover of Martha Stewart Living a few months ago and I thought I hope Cerella saw this...

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    1. I don't think I did see the magazine, Carol! But I do have a recipe for Martha's macarons. It's so funny how, once a story is set somewhere, it becomes a part of you. I think of you every time I see Alaska photos. :)

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    2. Okay, you two...enough about macaroons! I'm pretending to be on a diet! LOL

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    3. Next time we're all in one place at a conference or such, I say we have a macaron party!! :)

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    4. Oh my...a macaroon party. You can be sure I'll be there! :-)

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    1. Thanks, Jennifer! It was pretty fun to let the characters take the reins for once. ;) I actually let my heroine in my debut novel (Love Finds You in Hershey, PA) do an entire blog while promoting the book. It was a ton of fun to write in her voice. It's still up, actually, at http://suncatchersadie.blogspot.com/

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    2. Many years ago, I interviewed the hero in one of my early books. The idea caught on, and happily, we see lots of "interviews with heroes" now! But I really love that Cerella and I found a whole new way to introduce these handsome hunks (and their pretty ladies, of course) to our readers!

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  8. Love this! What a great way to showcase your hero and heroine!! I'll have to try this.

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    1. TOLD you this would catch on, didn't I Cerella! LOL

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    2. Loree, if you hadn't already come up with this for us, *I* probably would have copied your idea! :) So glad you liked it, Patricia!

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  9. Fun post, a lot of work. Loved the book. The dogs are too precious.

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    1. Thanks, Roz! There was quite a bit of work that went into this post, but it helps having a great partner in Loree who came up with the idea, questions, and intro! But of course, my pugs are my favorite part. ;)

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  10. Great. Now I need macaroons AND a Pug! Fun post, Guys. Enjoyed seeing your characters as interviewers. Love to just gaze at the Eiffel Tower and dream.
    And thanks for you good thoughts, everyone. Cheyenne came through beautifully.

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    1. I think macarons and pugs are two of life's best little pleasures. ;) I love looking at all the Paris photos out there, too, Muriel! Hugs to you!

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    1. It was too fun to write, Mel! And Loree's characters are even more entertaining so I can't wait to post her half next month!

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    2. Zach and Summer are very different from Emma and Cole, but they're definitely not more entertaining! I loved 'em both!

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  12. What a great post! I love those pugs! What cute little faces!

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    1. Don't think for a second that those two faces are as innocent as they look, Kristine. ;)

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    1. Thanks, Marion! We appreciate you taking the time to read our ramblings! :)

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    2. Echoing Cerella's comment, Marion. And we hope you'll enjoy all of our future blogs (always appearing on the 2nd Friday of the month) just as much! (Shh...don't tell anyone, but there will be super giveaways in upcoming blogs, too! :-) )

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