GET LOST IN FABULOUS WOMEN'S FICTION
Today, Maria Geraci, author of Bunco Babes Tell All and Bunco Babes Gone Wild, is here to tell all, (to go a little wild), and to celebrate the release of her latest novel, The Boyfriend of the Month Club.
Maria Geraci was born in Havana, Cuba and raised on Florida’s Space Coast. She lives in Tallahassee, Florida with her husband and children where she works part time nights as a labor and delivery nurse. During the day she avoids housework by writing fun, romantic women’s fiction.
Berkley Trade Paperback
December 2010
At thirty, Grace O’Bryan has dated every loser that Daytona Beach has to offer. After the ultimate date-from-hell, Grace decides to take matters into her own hands and turns her dwindling book club into a boyfriend club, where women can come together to discuss the eligible men in their community. Where are the real live twenty-first century versions of literary heroes such as Heathcliff and Mr. Darcy?
Could it be successful and handsome Brandon Farrell, who is willing to overlook his disastrous first date with Grace and offers financial help for her parents’ failing Florida gift shop? Or maybe sexy dentist Joe Rosenblum, who’s great with a smile but not so great at commitment? Unfortunately, just like books, men cannot always be judged by their covers.
“Romance readers will revel in the Austen-perfect happy ending and the warm friendship among members of the club.” Publishers Weekly
“Geraci (Author of Bunco Babes Tell All) is not the first to compare her characters to Mr. Darcy and his brethren, and while this device isn’t unique, her quirky characters and colorful setting certainly are.” Booklist
You can read Chapter One of The Boyfriend of the Month Club right here.
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And now we reach the part of this post during which, like her bunco babes, Maria tells us all!
Maria, how often do you read and to you have a particular place where you love to read?
I read as often as I can, and I read anywhere I can. But I think my “favorite” place is in bed. No matter how tired I am, I absolutely cannot fall asleep without reading, even if it’s just a page or two.
I'm the same way. If you couldn’t be a writer anymore, what profession would you take up?
I still work part-time as a labor and delivery nurse (I have 2 kids left to get through college!) and I love doing that too. Being a part of someone’s “big” day gives me a great high.
I can only imagine the uplifting and heartbreaking drama in a job like that. But, on to something really important.... Is Elvis really dead?
Of course not. He works as a sushi chef at Osaka’s (that’s my local Japanese steak house). He’s pretty awesome with a pair of knives.
Sounds fishy. :) What’s your favorite cartoon character?
Speedy Gonzalez. I even do a little “tribute” to him in my latest book.
What turns you off like nothing else?
Arrogant, rude people.
Tulips or roses?
Neither. I’m a daisy girl.
Which of your characters would you most like to invite to dinner, and why?
I would most like to have dinner (and especially dessert) with Charlie O’Bryan (the brother of my main character in The Boyfriend of the Month Club). While writing the book I developed a little crush on him. I wish I could have written more scenes for him, but he was a secondary character and I had to trim pages in the end.
Oh, I already hope that Charlie gets to be a lead in another book! What do you like on your burger? (and do you take your burger veggie or beefy?)
This is a really important question. Hamburgers are my favorite food. The perfect burger is a nice big hunk of meat, cooked medium rare on some really good, fresh bread (slightly toasted) with a little catsup, some thinly sliced onion, pickles, lettuce and one slice of tomato. And absolutely no cheese. Not ever.
Why am I suddenly hungry? What soundtrack or playlist do you recommend for your current release?
Anything by Colbie Caillat. She’s awesome.
Tea or Coffee? And how do you take it?
Coffee. With just one packet of Splenda and lots of half and half. My husband likes to say that I take a little coffee with my cream.
What would you say is your most interesting quirk?
Well, I don’t know if it’s interesting, but I talk to myself. Like all the time. It took my husband a long time to get used to it. He’d come home from work and ask who was at the house, because he’d hear me talking to someone. Now, after 25 years of marriage, he’s surprised if someone real is actually there.
GOTTA ASK -- GOTTA ANSWER ☺
What’s your idea of a fabulous girls’ night out?
Dinner at a really good restaurant, followed by a few drinks, then maybe either a play (I love musical theatre) or some karaoke. Of course, Bunco is always fun too!
MARIA'S JUST GOTTA ASK HER READERS:
If you could be any literary heroine for a day, who would you be? And why?
Thanks for stopping by and sharing, Maria!
You can find Maria on the web here:
Website http://www.mariageraci.com/
Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/MariaGeraciBooks
Twitter: http://twitter.com/MariaGeraci
Maria would like to offer a copy of her latest book, The Boyfriend of the Month Club, to one lucky commenter!
Wonderful interview and welcome to GLIAS, Maria. Your title sounds like something my daughter would love to read.
ReplyDeleteWow...Your question is actually hard for me to answer. There are too many to choose from. But you know, I've always wanted to be JOAN WILDER from Romancing a Stone. What an awesome adventure for a "hopeful romantic." And of course, she won her hero...what's more exciting than that?
~~Angi
Hi Angi,
ReplyDeleteI love Joan Wilder! That's such a fabulous, fun movie:)
That is a tough question! I do love Claire Fraser from the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon. She is such a strong, resourceful person. I wish I could be more like her!
ReplyDeleteooh! I love Claire too. Sometimes she came across as a bit of a cold fish, but then she always redeemed herself. One thing for sure, she's one lucky heroine to have Jamie Fraser;)
ReplyDeleteThanks again for coming to visit our blog, Maria! I'm having trouble picking a heroine. But I like Angi's answer. Although Joan Wilder was a bit too timid at the start (and had a cat!) at the beginning, I'd love to have that adventure. (And some time with a younger Michael Douglas.)
ReplyDeleteAmelia Peabody, from the Elizabeth Peters series. I'd love to muck about in Egypt.
ReplyDeleteYour book title is a winner! Such fun. :)
I have to say Elizabeth Bennett from Pride and Prejudice. She always knew how to handle herself, how to work with the family she was given, and how to accept people for who they are. And she has a real capacity for compassion and forgiveness. Plus she's smart and spunky. What more could you want?
ReplyDeleteMargay
*waving to Maria, Maureen, and all the Get Lost in a Story gals!!*
ReplyDeleteGREAT interview and LOL about Elvis being a sushi chef!!
Like Margay, I'd love to get to be Elizabeth Bennet for a day...or maybe Trillian from the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy ;-).
I have to agree with the others I would love to be Joan Wilder , she is full of passion and once she leans how ,she certainly knows how to handle herself !
ReplyDeleteThanks for a great post ! Happy holidays !
Desere
I would have to pick Elizabeth from Pride and Prejudice because she's awesome and, well, I might have a little crush on Mr. Darcy ;-)
ReplyDeleteWelcome, Maria! Your book sounds so fun!
ReplyDeleteI'm going to go out on a limb and be Scarlett O'Hara for a day. She's just so selfish. I think it would be fun to be the woman who tells everyone to go to hell, just for a day :)
Simone
HI Maria!
ReplyDeleteLove Lizzy from P&P. She's smart, sassy and prideful. I'd have to say I find Kathleen Turner as Matty Walker in Body Heat more interesting than Joan Wilder in Romancing The Stone. And if I could be Matty for the day, well, William Hurt in his prime, not bad, huh?
And don't get me started on Scarlett O'Hara! She may be one of the most interesting heroines ever written in romance. She actually exists between protagonist and antagonist. It is ridiculously hard to write a heroine who is so unsympathetic. But Scarlett is such a survivor. And it is her antagonist side that gives her strength and allows her family to survive. Not sure I would want to be her, but one of my goals as a writer is to one day attempt to write a heroine as complex as Ms. O'Hara.
Hi, Maria, love the concept of your book, and your answers remind me of me! Of course Splenda and cream in coffee and who doesn't talk to themselves? I also love that you can't judge a man by his cover.
ReplyDeleteHi, Maria.
ReplyDeleteJust saw the note that you were blogging here today.
I liked your mention of becoming attached to a character in your story.
That's happened three times to me in six novel ms. so far.
1. in my first novel I had a walk-on, 60-something lady who cleaned houses with her sister and sister-in-law. She not only stole that scene, but I had to write more scenes for her. Naturally, I brought her back for my second novel in that series and she played a pivotal role in a major scene. Of couse, she returned for the third novel in that series and was a featured player. If I ever get back to that series, I'd like to have her take the 'lead' in a story.
2. In my fourth ms., the mom of the boyfriend makes a walk-on. But I liked 'mom' so much, I broadened her role. By the time I'd finished that ms., she was a major catalyst who got the heroine and hero back together after a huge blow-up.
3. In my sixth ms., the heroine's brother had a walk-on. But he captured my sense of humor so much that I wrote two more scenes with him. If I write another in THAT series, the brother will definitely be back!
I can't think of a female literary character I'd want to be, but my wife laughs so much when she reads Steph. Plum, that maybe she'd be a good choice.
However, of the male literary characters, I think it'd be interesting to be Gulliver (can't recall his first name)... albeit briefly.
Hi Maureen, thanks again for having me here. I have to admit to catching up on comments. I spent all day yesterday at Harry Potter World, which is making me want to claim Hermione Granger as my own personal heroine:)
ReplyDeleteGillian, I'm ashamed to say I've never read the series. However I would love to muck about Egypt too;)
ReplyDeleteAnd I love the title of my book too!
Margay, I love Lizzie too;) Currently, I'm reading the Heroine's Bookshelf and it has a great chapter on P&P's Elizabeth Bennet and the similiarities between her and Jane Austen.
ReplyDeleteMarilyn, Thanks for stopping by and commenting! I haven't read Hitchhikers Guide but I've always loved the title;)
Hi Desere,
ReplyDeletethanks for commenting and Happy Holidays right back;)
Chelsea, What woman (sane woman anyway) doesn't have a crush on Mr. D?? He's hot, rich, and ultimately kind. Sigh...
Simone,
ReplyDeleteScarlett O'Hara is one of the most complex female characters ever. If she were a man, she'd be a hero, no questions asked. I love her too!
Gjillian, Body Heat is one of the movies that every time I watch it, I like it more. And I find more little bits of dialogue and small details that I've never noticed. I have to admit, a young WH was hot. Love the scene where he's jogging and wearing the Florida State shirt:)
ReplyDeleteHi Donnell, you sound like a fabulously intelligent and wonderful person;)
ReplyDeleteHi Jeff, thanks for stopping by and commenting:)
ReplyDeleteI love how small secondary characters who were only supposed to have a bit role can come in and take over everything. It's like they have a life of their own and can't be stopped.
I love Stephanie Plum and I'd love to be her in a scene with Joe;)
Maria,
ReplyDeleteYes, that's exactly it: the characters are so life-like that you 'know' they'd be involved it this aspect of the story or that portion of the conflict (or resolution).
I'm not that familiar with the male characters in Plum stories, but my wife seems to like them.
Your very welcome and thank you for the holiday wishes! This is a great post !
ReplyDeleteAll the best
Desere
I would definitely have to be Stephanie Plum! She's tough all while being her self and not caring too much about what others think. Not to mention she loves dessert!
ReplyDeleteLoved your book Maria! As a native to Daytona Beach it was really fun to read!
AmandaRose, I'm so glad you enjoyed the book! When writing the book, I struggled thinking about different locales for Florida Charlie's. And then it came to me. Daytona Beach was perfect:)
ReplyDeleteThe winner of my book is Gillian Layne. Again, thank to everyone who commented!