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!
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.
ReplyDeleteThanks, 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! :)
DeleteA great idea for the posts, ladies . . . now I need to read the books!
ReplyDeleteIt 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!
DeleteWe 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
DeleteAnd 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! :-)
DeleteAw, you make me blush, Loree! I told you I thought we'd make a great team! :)
Deletethis 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. :)
ReplyDeleteYay! 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
DeleteWe're looking forward to hearing your comments on these titles, Anne!
DeleteSo cute! Love this idea and your dogs are the cutest. I would make a spot for them too!
ReplyDeleteI'm juggling them on my lap right now, Amy!
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ReplyDeleteI smiled during the whole thing. But, agree, the dogs were the best :) Great interview.
The pugs will be pleased to know they stole the show. ;) Then again, they always do. Thanks, Pam!
DeleteHow 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...
ReplyDeleteI 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. :)
DeleteOkay, you two...enough about macaroons! I'm pretending to be on a diet! LOL
DeleteNext time we're all in one place at a conference or such, I say we have a macaron party!! :)
DeleteOh my...a macaroon party. You can be sure I'll be there! :-)
DeleteFun post! Great idea:)
ReplyDeleteThanks, 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/
DeleteMany 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!
DeleteLove this! What a great way to showcase your hero and heroine!! I'll have to try this.
ReplyDeleteTOLD you this would catch on, didn't I Cerella! LOL
DeleteLoree, if you hadn't already come up with this for us, *I* probably would have copied your idea! :) So glad you liked it, Patricia!
DeleteFun post, a lot of work. Loved the book. The dogs are too precious.
ReplyDeleteThanks, 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. ;)
DeleteGreat. 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.
ReplyDeleteAnd thanks for you good thoughts, everyone. Cheyenne came through beautifully.
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!
DeleteHow fun was that! Nicely done!
ReplyDeleteIt 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!
DeleteZach and Summer are very different from Emma and Cole, but they're definitely not more entertaining! I loved 'em both!
DeleteWhat a great post! I love those pugs! What cute little faces!
ReplyDeleteDon't think for a second that those two faces are as innocent as they look, Kristine. ;)
DeleteA fun post. Great idea.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Marion! We appreciate you taking the time to read our ramblings! :)
DeleteEchoing 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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