The good ole Chic Flick!

Hello my name is Bernadette Marie and I'm addicted to romantic comedies...chic flicks. I'm not the girl who wants to watch a movie where I'm going to cry all night over. (okay, sometimes a romantic comedy will have this effect, but not always.) What I mean is I want to feel good when I'm done. Just like the books I write and the ones I read, I don't want to still be thinking too hard when I close the cover. I don't want my heart to still be aching.

Many of the male characters I draw from in my books are probably most like those you'd find in a romantic comedy. Let's admit it, the buff and brawn are not your usual romantic comedy type. Tom Hanks, for example. Sure, he's done roles where he was fit as a fiddle. Tough too. But for the most part he is your average, everyday Joe. (And that seems to be a character names he's also had many times if you're counting.) But his characters have, oh let's just say it, a little bit of a nerd quality. Forrest Gump, nerdiest of all roles, and yet you wanted to shake Jenny until her head spun off. C'mon, look at him! Even his tough guy roles (Turner and Hooch, Dragnet) where he was a cop, yeah, you were afraid of him toting a gun. But really, you still loved him because he wasn't perfect.

I'm a sucker for Nora Ephron movies too. And I've blogged about that. And once again we find Tom Hanks in all those lovable character roles. Though I adore Sam in Sleepless in Seattle my love goes to Joe Fox (yes one of his Joe's) in You've Got Mail (which is my go to movie ALWAYS) What an ass! He totally gave us the stuck on himself business man we wanted to loathe. How dare he put Kathleen Kelly out of business. Yet, there was that sweet, nerdy man underneath it all trying to find a real friend via the internet.

We've fallen in love with them all, haven't we? Tom Hanks, Matthew McConaughey, Adam Sandler, Vince Vaughn, Ben Stiller, Ashton Kutcher, Patrick Dempsey...oh the list goes on and on. And aren't their clumsy, nerdy, romantic comedy roles the ones you cherish over their gun toting, bar fight movies? Admit it, if you grew up in the 80's you fell in love with Patrick Dempsey riding a lawnmower, doing that African tribal dance at prom. Who knew years later that he'd be McDreamy. (Look, even Jackie Chan, Vin Diesel, and Arnold Schwarzenegger have done romantic comedies. They know a little quirky goes a long way with the ladies.)

Good ole romantic comedy chic flicks are good for the soul. And good motivation for writing men that need some love. And really, us women, all we want to do is make the ground shake under the feet of a man. And usually that man isn't toting a machine gun, he's toting an iPad with Angry Birds on it.

Guest Blogger author Susan Lohrer

First: thank you, Bernadette, for inviting me to your blog—but most of all for believing in me as a writer.

As I’m writing this, Release Day is fast approaching (yeah, I know I didn’t need the capitals, but I’m humoring myself in honor of my Big Day—whoops, let’s stop me right here before I get myself all diva’d up), I’ve been thinking a lot about the publishing industry. What it was, what it is, what it will be. I’m not sure anyone truly knows what’s in store for this rapidly evolving behemoth (publishing, that is). There’ve been huge changes in the last few years, and Rocky Road is coming out right in the middle of it all.

Wheee! :-)

Some background on traditional publishing and self-publishing: A lo-o-o-o-ong time ago, there were some notable authors who published their own books. People like Emily Dickinson and Jane Austin. Then for quite a while, the only respectable way to get a book published was through a big New York publisher. Which was about as easy as building a ladder to Pluto (the astronomy one, not the canine one). Then in the last couple of years came an explosion of self-published books (some fabulous, many not). I’ve self-published a couple of short pieces, too, to get a feel for that aspect of publishing. I’m an editor by trade, so it felt like a logical next step.

Why, then, in this exciting era of self-publishing, would I choose not to self-publish my debut novel?

Because there’s more—much, much more—to the care and feeding of a book than just making sure it’s perfect inside and out and getting it onto Amazon and other retail sites.

I did think about it a lot before I queried 5 Prince Publishing. I actually really enjoy the more technical aspects of the process, like creating a sleek, clean HTML file as the starting point for EPUB and MOBI files. Or developing an elegant print layout in InDesign. All that stuff is better than a hot fudge sundae with brownies and pecans in it (or if that doesn’t blow your hair back, substitute your favorite vice).

But see, marketing/promoting myself gives me hives. And my own publishing interests lie in the speculative romance arena, whereas Rocky Road is on the romantic comedy end of contemporary romance. And I don’t know anyone who’s a more natural marketer than 5 Prince Publishing’s Bernadette Giambrocco-Soehner, who’s all about contemporary romance.

I’ll bet you can tell where this is going.

While I have your attention (and before I lose my nerve), how about a blurb for Rocky Road?

Sometimes the best road to love is a Rocky Road…

Physical therapist Nancy Anne Robertson has her sights set on her dream promotion. Problem #1: she’s engaged to one of her patients, and if her secret gets out, she’ll lose her job altogether. Problem #2: her ex-fiancé is back in town, shooting for the same promotion. Complicating matters are two mothers (and one fiancé) with alarming secrets, an autistic brother with a penchant for wandering off at the most inconvenient times, and four rings—the fake diamond kind, the stolen kind, the sticky wax kind that belongs under a toilet… and maybe, just maybe, the kind meant to make a girl say I do.

Which is why the brilliantly whimsical book cover (designed by Viola Estrella, if you’re wondering) sports engagement rings topped by big, honking diamonds.

A little more background: A few years ago, I was Bernadette’s editor. We developed a strong working relationship over the course of several of her novels, and we could really appreciate each other’s strengths. And we became tremendous friends, but that’s the cherry on top of our sundae rather than the basis of our professional relationship.

As the idea of entering a publishing relationship with Bernadette simmered for a while, I grew more and more convinced it was the right answer for Rocky Road. Fortunately, the manuscript struck a chord with my publisher—oh, how I love saying my publisher even amidst the tectonic shifts in the publishing industry—and she even got excited about my writing! I tell you, I’ve cried bucketsful of happy tears over that because I have so much respect for Bernadette as a romance author.

And as it turns out, 5 Prince will be publishing my second romantic comedy, Over the Edge, which you can get a sneak peek at after the last chapter of Rocky Road (self-promo, owwww, it burns…).

Almost as thrilling for me as being a published author is the amount of involvement I’ve had during the process; I actually requested that I be the one to do my own e-book formatting and print layout because for me those parts are almost as exciting as being present for the birth of my own child (OK, slightly weird simile, but you get how exhilarating I find that stuff). I’m not sure I could be happy with a “big” publisher after this, because what I have in 5 Prince is a partnership that works for me on every level.

I want to take a second to point out a couple of things: My situation isn’t the norm at all and shouldn’t be used as an example of how one should interact with a big traditional publisher. Seriously, do not send a chatty e-mail to the head editor at his/her personal address to say you have a novel he/she might be interested in (completely forgetting to mention what said novel is about), and definitely do not close the message with “Feel perfectly free to say nuh-uh. :-) I’ll love you either way!" (Told you it wasn’t normal, didn’t I?) And if you’re not an industry professional, don’t ask to do the technical stuff on your own. The second thing is a clarification about terminology; when I talk about a partnership, I mean a collaborative effort, not a situation in which the author must buy x number of books from the publisher. That wouldn’t have worked for me at all, and of course I know Bernadette has a distinctly pro-author attitude about the way a publisher should treat an author.

This is an exciting time for authors. Go forth, write your best book, educate yourself about how publishing works, and go after your publishing dreams with your whole heart.

About the Author:

Susan Lohrer grew up in more towns in western Canada than she has fingers to count them on. She currently lives in southern BC with her husband of more than two decades, their two teenagers who are still at home, three dogs, and far more aquariums than a reasonable household should contain. She believes life, on good days and the not-so-good days, is always better with a healthy dose of humor, and so she writes heartfelt romantic comedy.

You can find all the buy links to Susan's book here: www.5princebooks.com/buy.html

Launch Day for 5 Prince Publishing author, Susan Lohrer

All 5 Prince Publishing authors are special to me. That is why my job is so satisfying! But Susan Lohrer couldn't have made me happier than the day she emailed me her submission!  Susan and I have been "co-workers" since January 2010. She was my first editor and I credit her with leading my way to where I am today as a published author. Susan and I have come a long way together and I have enjoyed the journey and look forward to what is to come!  So with out further ado... An interview with Susan Lohrer.

About Susan Lohrer:

Susan Lohrer grew up all over western Canada and lives in BC with her husband, their two children who are still at home, three dogs, and far too many aquariums. She believes life is always better with a healthy dose of humor.

What do you hope readers take with them after reading one of your stories?

A healthy dose of humor can get you through just about anything life throws at you. Especially if you’re in a relationship. When we embrace the difficult moments and learn to laugh at them—and at ourselves—the world turns into a brighter, more sparkly place. And who doesn’t like bright, sparkly things? (Dh, if you’re reading this, just an FYI: I like bright, sparkly things.)

How much time did it take from writing your first book to having it published?

Oh, gosh. Let me count on my fingers… It was eight years. Which goes to show you, if something’s important to you, you should never give up.

Are any of your characters based on real people or events?

Only by the broadest stretch of the imagination. For example, in Rocky Road, Ancy’s brother, Will, is autistic. One of my daughters has Down syndrome, and I wanted to write about how amazing and inspirational a person with certain challenges can be. (Not to mention the hilarity that can ensue—once I was trying to explain to said daughter that it’s my job as a mom to make sure she gets up and gets ready for school, which she didn’t want to do that day, and after about a millisecond of thought she shot back, “You’re fired!”) But Downs didn’t fit the storyline of my book. After doing a lot of research, including reading books by Donna Williams (an author who happens to be autistic), I settled on autism.

Although, literally as I was writing the previous paragraph, my daughter texted me this: “So, Ancy likes Josh Groban and not Credence Clearwater Revival. Hmmm, sounds familiar.” So yes, there are tidbits of real life in my stories. Actually, she was there during the moment I developed a profound (but temporary) dislike for that particular band. Not because of the music but because hubby cranked it up loud on a hot day when I had morning sickness. I don’t mind CCR now, so all’s well.

As for Ancy’s sticky situation with the wax toilet ring… they do say to write what you know. Yes, that came straight from firsthand experience, and yes, I’m that big a klutz. Now you know.

What books or authors have most influenced your life?

It’s an odd combination, but I grew up devouring books by Stephen King and Maeve Binchy, so they were major inspirations for me. My favorite writing quote is from King’s On Writing, in which he says, “If you feel you need permission to do all the reading and writing your little heart desires, however, consider it hereby granted by yours truly.” And of course there’s the fabulous Katie Fforde. I adore her humor and love how endearing her characters are. I was so thrilled when I e-mailed her and she e-mailed me back—swoon! But there are so many authors I know through writing groups or have worked with in my editing career, regular people following their dreams and writing their hearts out, and every one of them is a huge inspiration.

Has your life changed significantly since becoming a published writer?

Oh, absolutely! I do nothing but traipse about in silk gowns and sip champagne. Ha! Um, actually? I’m still pecking away at my computer just like always, but now with a debilitating terror that people will read my books and think I’m:

a)     Funny

b)     Not funny

c)     Crazy

d)     All of the above

e)     None of the above

Susan's Romantic Comedy Rocky Road is available today!

Available from 5 Prince Publishing www.5princebooks.com  books@5princebooks.com

Genre: Fiction, Romance, Contemporary

Release Date: June 6, 2013

Digital ISBN 13:978-1-939217-62-2  ISBN 10:1-939217-62-8

Print ISBN 13:978-1-939217-61-5  ISBN 10:1-939217-61-X

Purchase link : www.5princebooks.com/buy.html

Rocky Road:

Physical therapist Nancy Anne Robertson has her sights set on her dream promotion. Problem #1: she’s engaged to one of her patients, and if her secret gets out, she’ll lose her job altogether. Problem #2: her ex-fiancé is back in town, shooting for the same promotion. Complicating matters are two mothers (and one fiancé) with alarming secrets, an autistic brother with a penchant for wandering off at the most inconvenient times, and four rings—the fake diamond kind, the stolen kind, the sticky wax kind that belongs under a toilet . . . and maybe, just maybe, the kind meant to make a girl say I do.

  

How to contact Susan Lohrer:

Website: http://www.susanlohrer.com

Twitter: @susanlohrer

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Author.Susan.Lohrer

E-mail: susan@susanlohrer.com

Excerpt from Rocky Road:

Jen swung the stall door open, pocketed the quarter she’d used to jimmy the lock, and folded Ancy into her arms.

What’s the matter? What wasn’t the matter?

“Jen, I don’t know what to do,” Ancy wailed, dampening her friend’s shoulder, but Jen didn’t seem to mind.

“Well, why don’t you march right back out there and say hi to Steve?” Jen loosened her grip on Ancy and dabbed at her wet face with a square of stiff toilet paper. “You’ve moved on with your life, and I’m sure he has too. It’s been a year, after all.” She smiled, and the corners of her dark brown eyes crinkled.

Jen was right. Steve had surely met someone else by now too. Of course, it was probably only a rebound relationship, but still, it hadn’t taken Ancy long at all to find Mr. Right.

Oh, it was torture. Jen was closer to her than anyone was. Not telling her best friend about her relationship with Mark was the hardest thing she’d ever done. Keeping it quiet at work didn’t feel right, but if she didn’t, she’d lose her job. She’d almost convinced herself it was just a matter of bad timing. Almost. But Jen and Ancy had told each other everything since they were three years old.

Everything.

“Jen, about Mark—”

“You never mind about Mark.” Jen grinned. “You’ve been spending so much time worrying about him, you haven’t been able to think about what’s really important.”

“Like?” Like telling her best friend the truth.

“Like a very nice man is standing out there wondering why you took off as soon as you laid eyes on him.”

“I know, but I really need to tell you about Mark.” This was it, nothing was going to stop her, and it didn’t matter if she lost her job. A best friend came along just once in a lifetime.

“You’ve got to stop letting your work interfere with your life.” Jen shook her head. “It would be different if you were dating him, but only a complete idiot would get involved with a patient. Especially here, under Doris’s iron fist.” She chuckled.

“Dating him.” Ancy’s voice was a faint echo of Jen’s.

“I’m so glad you’ve got your head screwed on straight.”

Join us tomorrow when Susan visits again as our guest blogger!