There is nothing better than reconnecting with an old friend. Years may have
passed, yet once reunited, it feels as if it were merely days. The comfort of
experiencing unconditional love quickly washes away life’s worries. Like that
first cup of coffee in the morning, an old friend wakens your spirit like none
other.
This month’s Jen’s Jewels
Susan Elizabeth Phillips shares my love for reconnecting with old friends
in her latest release CALL
ME IRRESISTIBLE. Using former characters from previous bestselling novels,
Phillips whips up an unforgettable romantic read about a free-spirited woman
named Meg Koranda. Set in the tiny town of Wynette, Texas, the story takes off
at full speed and never once slows down.
As part of this interview, William Morrow, an imprint of Harper Collins
Publisher has donated five copies for you, my favorite readers, to try to
win. So, don’t forget to look for the trivia question at the end. And as
always, thanks for making Jen’s Jewels a part of your reading adventure.
Jen: A New York Times Bestselling romance writer, your exemplary career
has been quite extraordinary. So that my readers may get a glimpse into the
life of the woman behind the words, please share with us your educational and
professional background.
Susan: I have a Bachelor
of Fine Arts degree from Ohio University and did post graduate work at the
University of Iowa. I taught high school until our first child was born.
Jen: Describe for us the defining moment when you decided to take the
plunge and pursue your dream of becoming an author.
Susan: It’s a long story! The best place to read about it is right here.
Jen: After co-writing a novel, you were somewhat pushed into writing on
your own. In terms of the creative process, what did you discover to be the
most challenging part of writing solo? And, what did you enjoy most?
Susan: I quickly discovered it wasn’t nearly as much fun writing alone
as it had been with a friend. I suppose there was more freedom, but I did miss
the camaraderie.
Jen: Your latest endeavor CALL ME IRRESISTIBLE truly mirrors its title. I couldn’t put it
down! What I found fascinating about it was its connection to three prior
novels. Why did you choose to incorporate previous characters into one, new
story? And, please give us a brief overview of the premise.
Susan: Thanks for the compliment. CALL ME IRRESISTIBLE is a
novel for everyone who thinks life is too short to read depressing books. It’s
a classic attraction of opposites. Ted Beaudine is Mr. Perfect. Meg Koranda is
Ms. Screw Up. He blames her for the way his bride bolted from his wedding. Now
she’s stuck in a town that hates her?a town where he holds all the power. It’s
a love story, but it’s also a story about friendships and how we have to carve
our own path through life. Both the hero and heroine of CALL ME IRRESISTIBLE are
children of the heroes and heroines of FANCY PANTS and GLITTER BABY; so of
course, I had to check in on those characters. I’d also written about Wynette,
Texas, twice before, and I sure didn’t want to ignore its citizens, especially
Kenny Traveler and Lady Emma Wells-Finch from LADY BE GOOD. That said,
even though my characters tend to wander between books, CALL ME IRRESISTIBLE can
absolutely be read as a stand alone novel. I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Jen: Lucy and Meg have a tight bond of friendship that spans many years.
Like oil and water, these two girls are polar opposites when it comes to goals
in life; however, they are the closest of friends. What makes these two click?
Susan: These two have more in common than is immediately evident.
They’re both the children of high achieving celebrities, but each has handled
that in her own way.
Jen: Ted Beaudine is your typical hunky Texan who oozes charm and
charisma. Why is Meg so put off by this man’s presence? What makes her believe
that he is up to no good?
Susan: I think I’ll let the readers figure this one out. (I love that
man!)
Jen: From bad to worse, Meg’s life quickly falls apart. Stranded and
penniless, she must fend for herself in a town where she is hated by almost
everyone. Why does Meg refuse to reach out to her rich and famous parents for
help? What makes this particular situation of hers different from past
debacles?
Susan: Yes, why won’t she reach out? She’s certainly done it before.
What makes this time different? Hmmm….
Jen: Like any small Southern town, the women in Wynette, Texas are a
tight-knit group not willing to let outsiders into their circle. Why, then, do
they feel so threatened by Meg?
Susan: These women love Ted Beaudine like mother wolves. Anyone who
upsets him, upsets them, and they can be mighty ruthless. (I adore them. Does
that make me a bad person?)
Jen: Let’s switch gears now and talk about your promotional plans. Will
you be participating in a media tour?
Susan: My tour began in St. Louis the day before the book was
published. I then hit Tulsa; Dallas; Austin; Rancho Mirage; Orange County,
California; Cocoa Beach and Merritt Island, Florida; and the Chicago Area. 13
days…10 flights…a lot of fun!
Here’s a link with more details of some more upcoming appearances. Hope to see everyone!
Jen: Do you participate in Author Phone Chats? And if so, how may my
readers go about scheduling one?
Susan: I don’t. As everyone knows, I’m one of the planet’s slowest
writers. When I’m not on tour, I pretty much have to limit myself to daily
posts on Facebook and
my website message board. Otherwise, I’d
never get a book finished.
Jen: Please take us on a tour of your website.
Susan: Gladly. Everybody take your shoes off and let me have your
coats… Can I get you something to drink? There’s a
lot to do here, so I take your time.
Jen: Are you currently at work on your next book? And if so, what can
you share with us?
Susan: It will be evident to everyone who reads CALL ME IRRESISTIBLE that
the story of Lucy Jorik, the runaway bride, is next up. As of this moment,
I’ve written about 300 pages and I am loving her adventure.
Jen: Thank you so much for taking time out of your busy schedule to stop
by and chat with my readers. I highly recommend CALL ME IRRESISTIBLE to
all of my readers. Best of luck in 2011!
Susan: Thank you, Jen. I hope you’ll all take a few moments to visit me
on either Facebook or my Message Board. Happy reading, everybody!
I hope you have enjoyed my interview with Susan. Please stop by your favorite
bookstore or local library branch and pick up a copy of CALL ME IRRESISTIBILE
today.
Better yet, how would you like to win one instead? Okay, be one of five readers
to answer the following trivia question and you’ll could win. Good luck!
What is the name of the hunky guy in CALL ME IRRESISTIBLE?
Next month, I will be bringing to you my interview with one of my favorite
authors, Linda Francis Lee. You won’t want to miss it.
Until next time…
Jen
7 comments posted.
Ted Beaudine - I love your books. The messes your girls get into on the way to romance are great!
(Caroline Kolb 7:09pm February 19, 2011)