Genre: Contemporary Romance

Publisher: Boroughs Publishing Group

Buy links:

Boroughs Publishing Group http://BoroughsPublishingGroup.com

Cover artist: Kim Killion

Length: 80,000 words

Heat rating: mildly sensual

Tagline: Bitter news leads a San Diego widow and widower to true
love–and to a scheme to marry off their adult children, a plan that goes deliciously
awry.

Blurb:

Gaetano Lorenzo was the sweetest man that the widowed Estelle
Bennett had ever met. That morning began terribly, with awful news, but now the
owner and head chef of a local San Diego ristorante was offering up Italian delights:
red wine, delicious food, walks on the beach, laughter when she’d never thought
she’d laugh again…. Estelle felt twenty-five. She and Gaetano had found the recipe
for love, and a simple variation might just get their adult children to settle down,
too. A scoop of sugar, two ladlefuls of lust, a pinch of deception and a whole 24
oz.-can of danger– Suddenly, ingredients were coming from everywhere! But kitchens
are crazy places, and variety is the spice of life. And for anything to get cooked,
things have to get hot.

What are your main characters’ names, ages, and occupations?

Estelle Bennett is a 50+ widow.

Gaetano Lorenzo is a 50+ widower the owner and head chef of a
popular Italian restaurant. Estelle’s son Alex, 29 year old son, Alex, who traipses
all over the world as a photo-journalist

Gaetano’s 28 year old daughter, Gina, an up-and-coming attorney
who can’t boil water.

Tell us about yourself. What are you like?

I was widowed about a year ago and I miss Marty, but I try to
keep busy. I have one son who travels everywhere so the little time I spend with
him is precious. I helped Marty in his business until we had Alex. Then I was a
stay-at-home mother and active with his school and other projects. I have my Garden
Club now and some friends, but there are times, I admit I get lonely.

What do you think is your strongest point?

I don’t give up. I pride myself on being able to overcome problems.
I had to be strong when Marty was ill–for Alex’s sake. Now, I must be strong again
because I may very well be at the end of my life.

Do you have a weakness? (If so, what do you think it is? What
does your lover think it is? What does your enemy think it is?)

Weakness? Goodness, I never thought about it. I guess if I have
a weakness it would be wanting my son to be happy and maybe a bit more settled in
his life. My lover? Oh, well, oh my, lover? I never placed Gaetano in that role,
but I guess in a way, we are lovers. God knows he’s opened up a part of my life
I thought was gone forever. It’s been quite wonderful; actually, I mean I have something,
someone to look forward to. Gaetano would probably say my weakness was him. He is
persuasive. I’m not sure I have an enemy–unless of course you count this illness.
My doctor says it’s nothing but I heard what he said.

What drives you to do the things you do? What makes you want
to be the “good guy?”

Instinct drives me to do the things I do. I always want to do
what’s right. I’ve always played by the rules.

What’s your favorite guilty pleasure?

Oh, I wish you hadn’t asked that question. My guilty pleasure
is Gaetano. I wouldn’t tell everyone this, and especially not my son, but that man
has awakened parts of my body and soul that I forgot I had. He’s so charming and
so handsome and …oh well, I’ve said enough.

If you didn’t know how old you were how old would you be?

While I enjoyed being a young mother, I like being just the age
I am now, but I’m sorry I’m not as healthy as I used to be.

A biography has been written about you. What do you think
the title would be in six words or less?

Love knows no age limits.

If money were not an object, where would you most like to
live?

Right where I live now–in the beautiful community of La Jolla,
the suburb of San Diego that is known as the jewel of the ocean.

What song would best describe your life?

Misty — It describes what I feel when I’m with Gaetano.

If you were a tool, what would people use you to do?

I’d probably be some sort of kitchen tool–maybe a hand mixer
because I do like to stir things up.

Picture yourself as a store. Considering your personality
and lifestyle, what type of products would be sold there?

Oh, it would have to be a store like Williams Sonoma–you know
the one that features lots of cooking appliances and little items that make a kitchen
special. Items that people can do without but the ones that add just a special touch
and show their personality. Maybe a sterling silver coffee measure, or an imported
honey utensil with a special jar of organic honey.

As a child, what was your favorite thing about school?

Lunchtime.

Tell us an embarrassing story that has to do with a pet. If
you have no pets, a story about a significant other will do.

Well, we never had a lot of pets, Marty was so busy and didn’t
think Alex could take the responsibility. However, you know as mother we see things
differently and I knew how much Alex wanted a puppy, so I told a little white fib
and told Marty that we were pet-sitting for the Nelsons’, thinking that he’d get
used to the dog and then we’d tell him it was really our puppy. Unfortunately, we
ran into the Nelsons’ at a social function and Marty asked them when they were picking
up their dog. Obviously, I had to confess but Marty relented and we all loved Snickers
for a long time. He did dig up a few of my prize plants, however.

If you came with a warning label, what would it say?

Oh, my, I never thought about having a warning label. Perhaps
it would be “Handle with care. Excessive shaking could result in an explosion. I
do have red hair and you know what they say about a red-head’s temper.

I love pizza with green bell peppers and pineapple.

I’m always ready for adventure which Gaetano seems to produce
no matter where we go.

When I’m alone, I usually like to read or catch up on taped
TV shows.

You’d never be able to tell, but I’ve cheated death.

If I had a halo it would be lopsided.

If I could turn back the clock, I’d say all the things
I meant to say to Marty and never did.

I can never regret all the mistakes I’ve made because
they have made me a better person.

I grew up with a love of books and read before starting school,
which was not always welcomed by my mother. She passed me off as under five so she
didn’t have to pay bus fare for me and then was embarrassed when I read all the
ads on the bus. I fell in love with my husband at first sight, even though I was
just three weeks away from my wedding to my high school sweetheart. Needless to
say, that marriage never took place. I had almost a half-century with my soul mate.
He’s gone now, but remains my hero forever. We raised 3 sons and a daughter and
I now am the proud grandmother of four granddaughters and one grandson. Writing
is my passion and saves me from going crazy when loneliness threatens to creep into
my life. I dream a lot of my plots and when I write, I become each character.

Hmmm, does that mean I have multiple personalities?

“Fly Me” and A Son by Any Name

Website: http://Writeswild.com

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