Ophelia London | Picture Speak A Thousand Words
November 19, 2012
A picture speaks a thousand words. Never did this statement ring truer in my
life than when my nine-year-old self was wandering around the house on a Sunday
afternoon in early 1982. Because of the celebratory whooping, my wanderings drew
me into the family room where my three older brothers and older sister were
huddled around the TV. As I drew closer, I saw an image on the screen that froze
me in place. At the tender age of nine, I suddenly understood the term "total hunk." I was looking at a man in a red football uniform, shoulder pads and all, helmet
off, being interviewed. He had blond hair (curling a bit around his ears from
sweat), striking blue eyes and an almost blindingly-gleaming smile. "Who is that?" I asked my sister, pointing at the screen. "That," she said, "is Joe Montana." And so it
began.
Seeing the 49ers' starting quarterback being interviews post their victory over
the Bengals in Super Bowl XVI, started my love affair with quarterbacks. Of
course I realize now that is rather cliché, but at nine years old, I only knew
beauty. After Montana betrayed us all and went the Chiefs, I had little problem shifting
my love to San Francisco's new starter, Steve Young. Talk about gleaming smile.
He was a regular Osmond brother with those pearly whites. When I decided to write about high school teachers in Playing
at Love, I knew that I wanted my hero to be a coach. Even though my sports
fan tendencies have gravitated toward baseball and basketball over the years, my
natural instinct, as well as adolescent love for football, came racing back once
I began writing. Without a shadow of a doubt, I knew my "Jack" would be a
football coach—and the hottest football coach I could invent. (Much to the
chagrin of my editor, he's got a little Mark Sanchez in him. Hubba-hubba)
I spend a few
weeks "researching" high school football by watching fourteen episodes of
Friday Night Lights and talking to boys about the gridiron...which was
dreamy-great fun. My Jack is tough and sexy, with a tendency to rescue damsels
in the park, kiss you in the rain, make a perfect omelet and then vow to love
you until the end of days.
Read all about him in PLAYING AT LOVE: Do you have a favorite sport? And who do you think is the all-time hottest
quarterback? I still stand by Joe.
Show choir teacher Tess Johansson loves three things: music, her job, and
sharing that passion with her students. But when a school budget crisis forces
funding to be pulled from either the sports or music programs, she finds herself
going head to head with Jack, the gorgeous new football coach who broke her
heart fifteen years ago. Jack Marshall wants two things: to be closer to his young daughter and to make
his mark as a football coach. Taking the new job, with the promise that he’d
have time to build a solid team, gave him both. But now he must win the season
with a group of boys who aren't anywhere near ready or he’ll lose everything
he’s worked so hard for. Being pitted against Tess, the summer love he never
forgot, is like being fourth and long with only seconds on the clock. On opposing sides of a fierce battle and with everything at stake, Tess and Jack
find themselves torn between doing what it takes to win and doing what it takes
to be together. Find Ophelia London
online at: Blog | Twitter Do you have a favorite sport? And who do you think is the all-time hottest
quarterback? One commenter will win PLAYING FOR LOVE
Comments
25 comments posted.
Re: Ophelia London | Picture Speak A Thousand Words
I like sports I get to go see in person. Those are my favorite. It's hard to tell which quarterback is the hottest. I need a line up :) Thanks! (Sally Hannoush 12:04pm November 19, 2012)
I love sports. Anything but golf (lol)....Wow! The sexiest quarterback?? That is a tough one but who doesnt love Joe Montana!!!! (Dawn Staniszeski 12:13pm November 19, 2012)
I was able to meet Ophelia at a book signing and I loved hearing her passion for writing about love. I totally see her personality and the boys she may or may not of fallen in love with in the book. Everyone loves a hero and she knows to write one that I wouldn't mine being a fan of :) (Jennifer Palmer 12:35pm November 19, 2012)
Tennis and golf are my favorite sports to watch, ones that at one time I enjoyed participating in myself. Blessings, marjorie (Marjorie Carmony 12:53pm November 19, 2012)
I like the excitement of football and in our house Eli Manning is the favorite. (Maureen Emmons 1:01pm November 19, 2012)
Not really a sports fan... I do like NASCAR... but I do enjoy reading about characters that play sports. (Colleen Conklin 1:01pm November 19, 2012)
I admit that I don't have a favorite sport and I don't have a favorite all time sexy quarterback opinion. However, this is why it is such fun for me to read about such a character because the mix of who he is and what he does can become such a revelation. (G. Bisbjerg 1:08pm November 19, 2012)
It's hockey for me. Not a big football fan so can't tell you who I think is the hottest football player. (May Pau 2:04pm November 19, 2012)
I'm a huge hockey fan so I'm upset that there haven't been any games this year. (Rita Wray 2:25pm November 19, 2012)
I like football and baseball. My son's favorite QB is Tin Tebow. Thank you for the great giveaway. (Gayle Oreluk 2:29pm November 19, 2012)
I am a Nebraska Cornhusker football fan! Their QB is pretty good looking! (Sarah Handrich 3:32pm November 19, 2012)
deffinately football...fav QB? I don't know, I guess I'd have to go for Tim Tebow. (Mary Hay 4:16pm November 19, 2012)
My favorite sports are golf and basketball. I really don't like football much--but I guess Peyton Manning is kind of a hunk. (Sue Farrell 4:40pm November 19, 2012)
My favorite sports are golf and hockey. Who knew!! Two entirely polar opposites. One a very fast paced team sport and the other very slow paced individual sport. Not sure who I would place at the top for the sexiest quarterback, but I do think Tom Brady and Tony Roma are right up near the top!! (Beth Charette 5:10pm November 19, 2012)
Peyton Manning is not only a hunk, but he's a truly giving individual... did wonderful things in Indianapolis and will certainly do the same in his new hometown... Eli is pretty cute also! (Cate Sparks 5:32pm November 19, 2012)
I spent most of my childhood at Candlestick park watching the Giants play baseball. My parents had season ticket and that's where I learned to keep score and ate many chocolate frostys. As for quarterbacks, being from San Francisco I am going to go with Steve Young. He is both smart and talented and easy on the eyes. (Ann Sheiring 5:40pm November 19, 2012)
My favorite sport to watch is baseball. A quarterback I like is Brian Sipes who was called the Cardiac Kid because he could make a play at the last minute and it worked. (Alyson Widen 6:47pm November 19, 2012)
I hate to disappoint you, but my favorite sport is hockey!! LOL Where I'm living now, I only get Canadian tv, and I'm unable to get any sports, so I couldn't really give you a name of a quarterback. I used to watch College Football as opposed to pro sports, since I felt the players were less coddled, and played with more grit. I do have to agree with your choice, though!! I do remember him well, and always thought he was a cutie!! Perhaps someday I'll be able to get American tv installed where I live, and be with the "real" world again!! (Peggy Roberson 9:58pm November 19, 2012)
I'm a basketball fan. However, Payton Manning is the hottest football player. I also think Joe Montana is still hot. Joe may be old but he still have that Hotness. (Kai Wong 10:19pm November 19, 2012)
The only sport I ever watch is NFL Football and I mis most them as well. (Jane Thompson 11:30pm November 19, 2012)
I don't have a FAVORITE sport, but I do enjoy watching a variety such as you find during the Olympic Games. (Mary Preston 5:08am November 20, 2012)
My favorite sport to watch is baseball. As far as the hottest quarter back, I think Kurt Warner, formerly or the St Louis Rams, is hot! Thanks so much for the giveaway! (Christine Mead 5:28am November 20, 2012)
My sport was showjumping, anything with well-cared for horses in it is good. I do like reading books involving horses and I review them so other potential readers can get an idea of whether the details are authentic. I don't think anybody outside the US actually watches or understands American football or baseball, can't help you there. (Clare O'Beara 7:38am November 20, 2012)
I like basketball, I am from Kentucky and basketball is an all consuming sport for us. We eat,sleep and watch University of KY play basketball.I do not have a favorite person to watch, I like theam all. It just seems that our players keep going pro and they are not here for very long , they are so good! Yea Kentucky!!!! (Susan Atkins 2:50pm November 20, 2012)
What a cool story - I am so totally the armchair athlete and love watching The Olympics, mainly - but I do like basketball the most - football freaks me out since an injury in the first or second game can sideline a player for the rest of the season and then some - but, my favoritest, hunkiest QB? LOL....dare I admit here that I don't really have one? Yes, I am a heathen! (Felicia Ciaudelli 7:56am November 21, 2012)
Registered users may leave comments.
Log in or register now!
|