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Character Interview: “Left at the Altar Series” Brides @JanaRichards_ #RLFblog
Always A Bridesmaid Jana Richards, welcome to Romance Lives Forever. We’re excited
to interview your heroines from the Left at the Altar series, Sarah Stevens, from
Her Best Man, Olivia Taylor from There Goes The Groom, and Dani Dipietro from Always
A Bridesmaid.Genre: Contemporary humorous romanceCover artist: Judith B GladLength: Each book is between 50,000 and 60,000 wordsHeat rating (based on movie
ratings): RHer Best Man When Sarah gets dumped at the altar she discovers
the best man for her really is the best man.There Goes The Groom Tony is given a second chance when fate
throws him back together with Olivia, the woman he left at the altar eight years
ago.Always A Bridesmaid A heart guarded too closely can’t be broken,
but neither can it find love.Always A Bridesmaid, releasing
today!Dani Dipietro has always considered herself an ugly duckling in a family
of swans. She’s the bridesmaid her friends count on, but never the woman any man
wants for his bride. So she plays the funny girl and guards her emotions, and her
secrets, closely.When Zach Morrison was dumped at his wedding, Dani was there to help him
through the humiliation. A year later they meet again and once more Zach needs her
help. To fend off the unwanted attentions of his former fiancé Chantal, he asks
Dani to pretend to be his girlfriend. They play their roles a little too well, and
make believe turns into reality. But their relationship comes crashing down around
them when Zach’s trust issues cause him to accuse Dani of cheating. Telling the
truth means that Dani will betray a friend, something she will never do. But keeping
her secrets means she may be destined to remain a bridesmaid forever.Buy This Book
Publisher: Uncial Press http://www.uncialpress.comBuy links: Her Best Man https://www.uncialpress.com/her-best-man.htmlThere Goes The Groom https://www.uncialpress.com/There-Goes-the-Groom.htmlAlways A Bridesmaid http://www.uncialpress.com/Always-a-Bridesmaid.htmlFor more buy links, please check my website at http://www.janarichards.comWhat are your main characters’ names, ages, and occupations?Sarah is a kindergarten teacher, Olivia works in promotions for
the National Museum of Canada, and Dani is a lawyer specializing in wills and estates.
They’re all about the same age at 29.Interview with Sarah Stevens, Olivia Taylor, and Dani Dipietro from the ‘Left
at the Altar’ series by Jana Richards.Jana: Tell us about yourselves. Why don’t
you go first Sarah?Sarah: Okay, sure. Well, I’ve been a teacher
for about seven years and I’ve been married to my husband Will for almost two years.Olivia: (laughs) Why don’t you tell the folks
how you met your husband, Sarah?Sarah: Funny story. He was the best man at my
wedding. His brother was my fiancé, the one who dumped me at the altar. Fortunately,
we can laugh about it now.Dani: As I recall, you weren’t laughing then.Sarah: No, not so much. It was the most humiliating
experience of my life and practically everyone I knew was there to witness my groom
become incoherent with fear at the thought of marrying me. Good times!Olivia: Unfortunately, I know exactly what you
went through, Sarah. At our first wedding, when Tony stopped the ceremony to tell
me he couldn’t marry me, I was mortified. But in a strange way I was also relieved.
I was barely twenty and I wasn’t ready for marriage, even though I loved Tony desperately.
I never stopped loving him during the eight years we were apart.Dani: If you never stopped loving Tony, who
happens to be my brother, why did you become engaged to someone else?Olivia: (shrugs) It seemed like a good idea
at the time. By the time I turned 28, I wanted a family, kids. Stuart was solid
and dependable, or so I thought. It turns out, we were both kidding ourselves.Sarah: Liv, do you realize that Dani is the
only one of us who hasn’t been dumped at the altar?Dani: (snorts) That’s because you can only
get dumped at the altar if you actually get engaged. I haven’t even had a date in
six months.Olivia: I’ve got a feeling that’s going to change
for you very soon.Dani: So are you psychic now?Olivia: No, I just have a good feeling.Dani: You’re delusion.Sarah: You really need to get laid. You’re getting
grumpy.Jana: Okay, play nice, ladies. Here’s another
question for you. What do you wish was different about your life?Sarah: I don’t know if I’d want to change anything.
My life is pretty terrific right now. Will is a wonderful, loving man, and he has
a fantastic body. Handsome face, buns of steel, six-pack abs. He’s the whole package.
And what a package he’s got.Dani: Sarah! There could be children reading
this!Olivia: No, there’s not. Geez Dani, I didn’t
know you were such a prude.Sarah: Told you she needs to get laid.Dani: Is this gang up on Dani day or something?Olivia: Of course not. Okay Jana, to answer
your question, I think the only thing I’d want to change about my life is that I’d
like to have a family. Maybe not seven kids like Tony and Dani’s family, but a few.
Having a baby with Tony would be so wonderful. We’re working on it. And I really
hope we keep working on it for a long, long time. My husband is amazing in bed.
Last night he–Dani: (sticks fingers in ears) La, la, la.
I can’t hear you. For cripes sake, Liv, this is my brother you’re talking about.Olivia: Well, he is amazing. In a lot of ways.
(winks)Dani: Ever since you two got married, all
you think about is sex.Sarah: Yeah, pretty much.Olivia: Sounds about right.Sarah: Dani, someday when you find the right
guy, you’ll understand where we’re coming from.Dani: The right guy. Sure.Olivia: You haven’t answered Jana’s question,
Dani. What do you wish was different about your life?Dani: Thanks, but I’m good. I don’t need
to change anything.Olivia: Do you mean it, or are you just saying
that because Sarah and I didn’t want to change anything about our lives?Dani: Okay, maybe there’s a couple of things
about my life I’d want to change. I could always stand to lose a few pounds. Or
twenty.Sarah: The question was what do you wish was
different about your life, not your body. You’re always so hard on yourself, sweetie.Dani: Maybe. I guess if I could wave a magic
wand, I’d want someone in my life who would love me just the way I am, warts, love
handles and all.Olivia: It’s going to happen for you, Dani.
I know it will.Dani0: (grins) Are you having a feeling again?Olivia: Absolutely!About the Author
When Jana Richards read her first romance novel, she immediately
knew two things: she had to commit the stories running through her head to paper,
and they had to end with a happily ever after. She also knew she’d found what she
was meant to do. Since then she’s never met a romance genre she didn’t like. She
writes contemporary romance, romantic suspense, and historical romance set in World
War Two, in lengths ranging from short story to full length novel. Just for fun,
she throws in generous helpings of humor, and the occasional dash of the paranormal.
Her paranormal romantic suspense “Seeing Things” was a 2008 EPPIE finalist.In her life away from writing, Jana is an accountant/admin assistant,
a mother to two grown daughters, and a wife to her husband Warren. She enjoys golf,
yoga, movies, concerts, travel and reading, not necessarily in that order. She and
her husband live in Winnipeg
with their Pug/Terrier cross Lou and several unnamed goldfish. She loves to hear
from readers and can be reached through her website at www.janarichards.comFind Me Here
Website: http://www.janarichards.comTwitter: http://www.twitter.com/JanaRichards_Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2892274Jana_RichardsNewsletter Signup: http://www.eepurl.com/m3UnT -
RLF Gems: Blog Stats for Oct 2013 #RLFblog #BloggerAward
In October, Romance Lives Forever had 31 posts in a 31 day month.
The last day of the month featured pizza favorites from over 30 authors — and
proved to be the biggest hit of the month. Here are the top posts (judging by page
views).1. Halloween Pizza Party2. SFRB Anthology3. Deanna Jewel4. Shara Lanel5. Kimber ValeHonorable mention: Jana RichardsAuthors who guest with us are promoted on Facebook, via Triberr
to a reach of over one million potential readers, are featured front page in the
daily Romance Lives Forever Paper.li ezine,
and the blog has its own hashtag (#rlfblog) on Twitter. The blog produces its
own yearbook in a collection of interviews. The
Booklover’s Guide to Romance Lives Forever with links to guest authors’ books
and social media. It is 110 pages crammed full of who to follow and what to read.
The FAQ page provides updated downloads of optional interview questions, and a guide
to the blog. You can also grab our button to promote your visit. Your cover can
be featured on the blog for a small fee. Check out our advertising
link for more information.My thanks to all who took part this month. You made Romance Lives
Forever a great place to discover new books and authors.Other participants this month in alphabetical order by first
name are:AM Griffin, Celia Breslin,
Cheryl Rhodes, Connie Hussey, Cynthia Arsuaga, Delaney Diamond, Donna Cummings,
Etsy Authors, Gail Bridges, H Lewis Foster, Janet Elizabeth Jones, Jessica Kong,
Kara Leigh Miller / Sharon Kleve, Katherine Grey, Kay Jaybee, Kiru Taye, Lynn Cahoon,
Margery Scott, Pamela Fryer, Pender Mackie, Rhyll Biest, Susan Shay, Susanna Carr -
Character Interview: Bridget Grant from First and Again @JanaRichards #RLFblog #contemporary
First and Again Jana Richards, welcome back to Romance Lives Forever. We’re excited
to interview your character, Bridget Grant, from the book, First And Again.Genre: Contemporary RomancePublisher: Carina PressCover artist: Morrow Creative Ltd.Length: 87,000 wordsHeat rating: SpicyTagline: Bridget Grant returns to her hometown in North Dakota, and finds all
the problems she left behind are still there, including her first love.Blurb:Bridget Grant is back in Paradise.
Paradise, North
Dakota, that is.She’s swallowed her pride and moved back to her hometown with
her daughter after her divorce and the loss of her catering company. Now she’s trying
to navigate the strained relationships she’d left behind – including her first love,
Jack Davison.Jack never forgot Bridget, or the day she left town – and him.
When Bridget caters a lunch at Jack’s tourist ranch, old flames reignite. They have
more in common than ever – Jack’s also a single parent. Though they both try to
keep things casual, Bridget, Jack and their girls are starting to look a lot like
a family.But Bridget’s only planning to stay in Paradise
until she’s saved enough to relaunch her business. Jack’s invested too much in his
ranch to leave. And with their daughters involved both have a lot more at stake
than heartbreak. How can they risk falling in love?Buy links:Carina Press http://is.gd/carina_1st_and_AgainAmazon http://amzn.com/B00E1UY6GEAll Romance eBooks https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-firstandagain-1291205-149.htmlBarnes and Noble http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/first-and-again-jana-richards/1116133465?ean=9781426896439What are your main characters’ names, ages, and occupations?Jack Davison is a North Dakota rancher and owner of the Lazy J Guest Ranch.
Jack is thirty-nine years old, and aside from a few years spent working in Texas, he’s lived in North Dakota all his life. Bridget Grant is a
chef. Her last job was as head chef of the catering company that she and her ex-husband
owned in San Francisco.
But her life fell apart, and she’s forced to return to the hometown she couldn’t
wait to leave twenty years ago. She’s thirty-eight years old.Interview with Bridget Grant
Tell us about yourself.There’s not much to tell really. I have a fifteen year old daughter
named Rebecca, who’s angry with me for moving her away from her father. Not that
he cared where we went. My first night in Paradise,
my sister humiliated me in front of Jack and a bunch of her friends. My mother and
I haven’t gotten along since before I developed breasts. Oh, and every time I think
about cooking, I have an anxiety attack. Not good for a professional chef.Aside from that, everything’s peachy. Thanks for asking.Tell us about Jack Davison.Jack’s a great guy. He’s funny and kind, and oh God, what a kisser!
Why the hell couldn’t he have gone bald and grown a paunch in the last twenty years?
Instead he’s as fit and good looking as he was back then. I have enough problems
without my hormones running amok every time I see him.Jack is also a wonderful father. When I see him with Rebecca
and his daughter Leslie, I can’t help but think about the children we never had
together.What do you think is your strongest point?Lately my strongest point
seems to be my ability to piss people off.What would Jack say is your strongest point?He’d probably say I was
good mother. That’s one thing we can agree on. Rebecca is my first priority, always.
Jack also thinks I’ll get back on my feet soon and get my life on track again. I’m
not as confident as he is on that one.What would Jack say is your biggest weakness?Likely my inability to stay out his business. We disagree on
how he’s raising his daughter. Leslie needs to learn to do things for herself and
be more independent. Jack insists on doing everything for her. Just because she
has Down Syndrome doesn’t mean she’s helpless.What was it like where you grew up?I was born in Minneapolis but
we moved to Paradise when I was six, after my parents
broke up. I never saw my father again. My father was my hero and I’ve never understood
why my mother never allowed him to visit my sister and me after we came to North Dakota.Paradise was a safe place to
grow up, but I never felt I truly belonged here.What do you wish was different about your life?I can’t say I regret marrying my ex-husband because that marriage
gave me Rebecca. But I wasted a lot of years in an unhappy, unhealthy marriage.
I’m not sorry I left Paradise as soon as I finished
high school, even though Jack wanted me to stay. As much as I loved him back then,
I was afraid I’d grow to resent him if I’d stayed instead of following my dreams.
His life has always been here in Paradise, and
mine wasn’t.I wish I wasn’t always at odds with my family. I’d give anything
for a better relationship with my mother and sister. I wish my daughter wouldn’t
act out so much, and I wish she could understand why I had to move us out here.If you were given your fondest wish, what would it be?To work in a professional kitchen again, without panicking. And
if I was allowed two wishes, I’d love to be a mother to a second child.Describe a place of perfect refuge.Someplace where I’m free to do the
things I love. Someplace where I can be me. Someplace where I’m loved.About the Author
Jana Richards When Jana Richards read her first romance novel, she immediately
knew two things: she had to commit the stories running through her head to paper,
and they had to end with a happily ever after. She also knew she’d found what she
was meant to do. Since then she’s never met a romance genre she didn’t like. She
writes contemporary romance, romantic suspense, and historical romance set in World
War Two, in lengths ranging from short story to full length novel. Just for fun,
she throws in generous helpings of humor, and the occasional dash of the paranormal.
Her paranormal romantic suspense “Seeing Things” was a 2008 EPPIE finalist.In her life away from writing, Jana is an accountant/admin assistant,
a mother to two grown daughters, and a wife to her husband Warren. She enjoys golf,
yoga, movies, concerts, travel and reading, not necessarily in that order. She and
her husband live in Winnipeg
with their Pug/Terrier cross Lou and several unnamed goldfish. She loves to hear
from readers and can be reached through her website at www.janarichards.comPrevious Books
Seeing ThingsA Long Way from EdenBurning LoveFlawlessThe Girl Most LikelyHome FiresHer Best Man – Book 1, Left at the Altar SeriesThere Goes the Groom – Book 2, Left at the Altar SeriesBooks Coming Soon
Always a Bridesmaid – Book 3, Left at the Altar Series.Coming January 17, 2013Contest
Comment on this blog for a chance to win a $5 Amazon Gift Certificate.
I will randomly pick a winner from all comments received by Wednesday, October 9
at 12 noon, CST. Good luck!Find Me Here
Website: http://www.janarichards.comTwitter: http://www.twitter.com/JanaRichards_Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/author/janarichardsNewsletter sign up page: http://www.eepurl.com/m3UnT -
Contemporary: There Goes the Groom @JanaRichards_ #RLFblog
There Goes the Groom Jana Richards, welcome to Romance Lives Forever. Let’s talk about
your book, There Goes the Groom.Genre: Contemporary RomancePublisher: Uncial PressCover artist: Judith B. GladLength: 52,500 wordsHeat rating: SpicyTagline: Tony is given a second chance when fate throws him back
together with Olivia, the woman he left at the altar eight years ago.Blurb:Eight years ago Tony left Olivia at the altar. He was sure she
didn’t really want to marry him. Now he’s back, and they’re forced to work together.Coming home isn’t easy for Tony, because his father wanted him
to work at a trade instead of going off to college. Their relationship is still
unsteady. Even before Tony’s return, Olivia began questioning the depth of her love
for her fiancé, a man she chose because he was safe and reliable. The last thing
she wants is a loveless, faithless marriage like the one her parents suffered through.When Tony, who never stopped loving her, insists her fiancé is
the wrong man for her, Olivia sets out to prove him wrong. But the sexual chemistry
between them is still strong, and so are her feelings for him. Even so, how can
she break her engagement, hurt her fiancé as she was once hurt? And how can she
trust Tony not to abandon her like he did before?If anyone does the jilting this time, she will.Buy links:Uncial Press https://www.uncialpress.com/There-Goes-the-Groom.htmlBarnes and Noble http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/there-goes-the-groom-jana-richards/1115360337?ean=2940016730424Kobo http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/There-Goes-the-Groom/book-pcSC2Shck06K5-mypxVttA/page1.html?s=Q9jwA15qO0aKNMtxh0hgCw&r=1
; http://store.untreedreads.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=6_506&products_id=944ARe https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-theregoesthegroom-1213327-149.htmlWhat are your main characters’ names, ages, and occupations?Tony DiPietro is a thirty-one year old archeologist. He specializes
in studying the artifacts and cultures of the aboriginal peoples of the Americas. Aside
from his work in the field, he is a visiting professor at Simon
Fraser University
in British Columbia, Canada.Olivia Taylor is twenty-eight years old and is the Director of
Public Relations for the National Museum of Canada in Ottawa.Interview
How did you get your start
in the industry?You might say I had rather a slow start. For several years, I
wrote and submitted stories to print publishers like Harlequin and Silhouette, and
received enough rejection letters to paper my walls. I know now I got those rejection
letters because my writing wasn’t ready, but that didn’t make it any less painful.
I was on the verge of quitting writing when a friend urged me to submit to her publisher,
www.uncialpress.com. I sent “Her
Best Man” to Uncial Press and was thrilled and amazed when it was accepted.
Publishing with them gave me the confidence boost I needed to keep writing and to
continue submitting. I currently have ten works of romance published or under contract
with three different epublishers.If you could change something
about your first book, what would it be?My first published book, “Her Best Man”, was always
meant to be the first in a series that I called my “Left at the Altar”
series. If I could change anything about this book, it would be that I wouldn’t
wait six years before finishing and publishing the second book in the series! When
I wrote the second book, I submitted it for critique to a published writer who was
visiting my writing group. Her vision for the book totally differed from mine, but
since she was multi-published, I figured she must know what she was talking about.
Using her suggestions, I re-wrote the book, but I didn’t like the result, so I left
it languishing on my harddrive while I worked on other projects. I finally took
a second look at the book in 2012, and in the middle of trying to re-write the book
yet again, I had an epiphany. The revision I was trying to do, based on the published
writer’s suggestion, was ripping the beating heart of out this story. This was my
book, no one else’s. So I went back to my original concept, and I’m glad I did.
I’m definitely not against critiques and critique groups, but I learned that I have
to be true to the story I want to write.What do you enjoy most
about writing?Creating characters, I think. I love creating real people with
real problems, and I love putting their personalities together, one layer at a time.
And since I’m a romance writer, I enjoy showing them that love can make their lives
better and happier.If you could give the younger version of yourself advice what
would it be?I would tell my younger writer self that it’s okay to fail. All
those rejection letters served as a wonderful apprenticeship. It’s how I learned
my craft.Do things your family
or friends do ever end up in a book?Sort of. I think a little bit of every writer ends up in their
work. Sometimes, especially when I’m creating a secondary character, I’ll find myself
giving them the characteristics or quirks of people I’ve met. Stories I’ve heard
also end up in my work. Years ago, someone I worked with told me a story that he’d
heard from a friend who attended a very unusual wedding. When the bride arrived
at the altar, the groom turned to the congregation and said there would be no wedding,
and if they looked under their seats and opened the envelopes taped there, they’d
understand why. The envelopes had pictures of the bride and the best man in bed
together. I still don’t know if that story was true, but I’ve wanted to use it in
a book for years. I finally got my chance in “There Goes the Groom”!What are some jobs you’ve
done before (or while) you were a writer?Over the last several years I’ve worked as an office administrator/bookkeeper.
I’ve been lucky enough to work part-time for many years, which gave me time to look
after my children when they were young, as well as to write. I’m hoping that within
the next couple of years I can fully retire from my day job and concentrate exclusively
on writing.Which of your books would
you recommend to someone who doesn’t normally read your genre, and why?I would recommend “Her Best Man” because
it’s light and funny and has wonderful, quirky characters. It’s also the first in
a three book series, so hopefully if the reader enjoyed “Her Best Man”,
she’d go on to read “There Goes the Groom”, and then “Always a Bridesmaid”,
to be released January 17, 2014 by Uncial Press.What kind of books do
you read when taking a break from your own writing?I read a lot of research books when I’m not writing, especially
history relating World War Two. I have a special interest in the era, and have written
two books with WW2 as the background. I hope to write several more, hence the research.For fun, I’ll read all kinds of romance, mystery or suspense
novels, with the occasional literary novel thrown in for something completely different.What was the proudest
moment of your life so far?On a person level, I’ve had many proud moments—marrying my husband,
the births of my two daughters, watching them graduate from high school, and then
university. As a writer, my proudest moment so far was when my editor, Jude Glad
of Uncial Press, told me I was a ‘real writer’ for going the extra mile with my
edits on my first book.What is your favorite
holiday and why?Christmas is my favorite holiday. I love putting up the tree,
baking cookies, and shopping for presents. But mostly I love getting together with
family.Where were you at midnight,
on December 31st when the new century started?I distinctly remember this. My husband’s office was concerned
there might be problems with Y2K, so he had to be close to the office that night
in case something went wrong. His employer put us up at a hotel about a block from
the office. He stayed at work most of the night, while my daughter (then twelve)
and I watched movies before checking out the New Year’s Eve fireworks from our hotel
window.What do you like to do
when you’re bored?When I’m bored I can usually lose myself in a good book. If that
doesn’t work, I’ll read blogs, go to a movie, or phone someone. If all else fails,
I’ll resort to exercise, but only as a last resort. I’m kidding, sort of.If you were a color, what
color would you be?Interesting question. I don’t consider myself a bright red, out-in-the-front,
extroverted kind of person, but I hope I’m not a dull grey person either. I think
I’m a soft buttery yellow. I’m bright and warm, but not in your face. I’m a color
you can live with for a long time, but I don’t fade into the background.Please underline which statement is more like you:
“I am a vacation spa because I am laid back and relaxed.”“I am a ten-countries in ten-days tour vacation, because
I do things as fast as possible.”Actually, I think I’m somewhere in-between these two extremes.
My husband would never say I was laid back (grin). I used to be a terrible procrastinator,
and I still struggle with it to some extent, but nowadays, having writing deadlines
scares me silly. I’m terrified I’ll miss a deadline. So I work hard to get things
done on time, or usually, before my deadline.Please complete the sentences
I love pizza with everything on it.I’m always ready for chocolate.When I’m alone, I enjoy the quiet.You’d never be able to tell, but I’m very shy.If I had a halo it would be dusty, like my house.If I could lose weight I’d be thrilled.I can never fall asleep on a plane because I’m an insomniac.Website: http://www.janarichards.com
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/JanaRichards_Amazon author page: http://www.amazon.com/author/janarichardsNewsletter sign-up: http://eepurl.com/m3UnT