Victoria Dahl lives with her family in a small town high in the
Utah mountains. During the summer, she hikes and drinks margaritas (usually not
at the same time.) During
the winter she likes to curl
up with a book and a cup of hot cocoa and think about all those poor, freezing
skiers working so hard out in the snow.
She's published
eighteen books and novellas, including three USA Today bestsellers, and several of her books have
been nominated for the prestigious RITA® Award for excellence in
the romance genre.
CLOSE ENOUGH
TO TOUCH
For makeup artist Grace
Barrett, Hollywood isn't the land of golden opportunity. It's the land of
difficult divas, cheating boyfriends and unemployment. So when her great-aunt
offers her a free place to stay in Jackson, Grace thinks she'll spend a little
time in the sticks to figure out her life, and then move somewhere exciting to
live out her dreams. But it turns out that there are a few more thrills in this
small town than Grace was expecting....
Cole Rawlins is a rugged
Wyoming cowboy born and bred. Yet he can't help but be drawn to the fascinating
big-city girl who moves in across from him. He wants to get close enough to
Grace to see past her tough facade, but if he does, she might see the real
Cole. The one with a Hollywood history gone bad. As they discover a sizzling
attraction, it becomes harder for him to keep his demons at bay-and those fires
from long ago may burn them both.
One of Kirkus Review's Most Anticipated Titles of Fall 2012!
"...Hits the emotional high notes. Rising romance star Dahl delivers with this sizzling contemporary romance."
Read more about the book here: http://www.victoriadahl.com/books-Contemporary.php
Or browse the book here: CLOSE ENOUGH TO TOUCH
GET TO KNOW
VICTORIA DAHL
MAUREEN: What’s
your favorite movie of all time?
VICTORIA: The Color Purple, hands down. I have to stop and watch any time it’s on TV, and I’ll be
crying within five minutes of sitting down.
MAUREEN:
What’s your favorite kind of
story to get lost in?
VICTORIA: I love romance, obviously! But I also love to read
the kinds of stories I could never write. Suspense and thrillers and horror.
I’m also a huge fan of narrative non-fiction. When it’s done well, it’s my
absolute favorite.
MAUREEN: What’s
the first book you remember reading?
VICTORIA: When I was a girl I loved Nancy Drew books and
re-read them constantly. And then there was Sweet Valley High! But the first
stand-alone book that stuck in my head was a time-travel YA called Can I Get
There By Candlelight? Time travel,
history, horses…Ohmigod, girl heaven! The first adult book I remember reading
was Clan of the Cave Bear. Oh,
and Flowers in the Attic. I’m
sure reading those books at a young age had no lasting effect on me, though.
*Cough*
MAUREEN: Ha! What
really scares you?
VICTORIA: Strangely, I have a terrible fear of hydroelectric
dams. Or any large machinery having to do with water, like ship propellers or the
machines that make waves in wave pools. *shudder* Wave pools!
MAUREEN: Ship propellers scare me too... Did we see the same bad TV movie as kids? Do
you believe in ghosts?
VICTORIA: I’m not sure. I love the idea of believing in ghosts. And I love to be scared. In
fact, Ghost Hunters is one of my
favorite television shows, and I adore movies like Paranormal Activity. So yes, I believe in ghosts just enough that I’d
never be able to live in a really old house.
MAUREEN: Do
shapeshifters exist?
VICTORIA: Now that’s one thing I don’t believe in! Plus,
despite how much I love reading about hot werewolves, I have a terrible
suspicion they’d smell like wet dog when they, um, exerted themselves.
MAUREEN: Ha! Hiking
boots or high heels?
VICTORIA: Oh my God, BOTH! I live in the mountains, so I hike
at least once a week if it’s not snowing. But my very favorite shoes are my red
patent leather platform heels. They’re comfortable AND they’re, well…red patent
leather. ;-) I never even wore heels until I became a stay-at-home mom. Now I
feel the need to transform myself when I go out. Like Superman coming out of a
phone booth! A phone booth filled with Legos and dirty laundry.
MAUREEN: I love both too. :) Would
you rather sky dive or scuba dive?
VICTORIA: I would love to scuba dive. Snorkeling is one of my
favorite things in the world, and I’d love to dive. I really would. But did I
mention my little issue with water and machinery? Scuba gear isn’t so bad, but
I’m not sure I could lose myself in the experience. I’d be pretty convinced
that something didn’t quite feel or sound right from one minute to the next.
;-) Maybe I’ll try Snuba first.
MAUREEN: What
sound or noise do you love?
VICTORIA: I went to New York for the first time when I was
twenty-seven. I thought I’d hate it, but I loved it, and I love it more every
time I go. The chaos and the craziness. When I’m there, I like to sleep with
the window open so I can hear all the street noise.
MAUREEN: Do
you write while listening to music? If so what kind?
VICTORIA: I don’t listen to music when I’m actively working,
but I absolutely need it for inspiration. Making a new playlist is like cheap
therapy for me. An emotional recharge. Some of my favorites are Liz Phair,
Little Dragon, Bon Iver, Kings of Leon, The National, Patty Griffin, and
always, always Kathleen Edwards.
MAUREEN: Kathleen Edwards. A nice Canadian girl. :) What’s
your favorite kind of cheese?
VICTORIA: Warm pecan-crusted goat cheese. Oh, yes. That.
MAUREEN: Drools...
GOTTA ASK --
GOTTA ANSWER
MAUREEN: You
write both historical and contemporary set romances. Which do you find harder
to write?
VICTORIA: Contemporaries are much easier to write, because the
dialogue flows so naturally. It’s like a conversation among my friends. But
historicals are so much fun to come up with. You can throw anything into the
mix. Kidnapping. Pirates. Forced marriage. Secret seduction. Evil stepparent.
So much to play with!
A QUESTION FROM VICTORIA
Did you read any scandalous
books in your youth? Which ones stand out?
GIVEAWAY
Victoria is very generously giving away three signed copies of CLOSE ENOUGH TO TOUCH!
Answer her question in
the comments for a chance to win! Please include your e-mail address in your
post.
Note: Offer void where prohibited. Prizes will be mailed to North
America addresses only unless specifically mentioned in the post. Odds of
winning vary due to the number of entrants. Winners of drawings are responsible
for checking this site in a timely manner. If prizes are not claimed in a
timely manner, the author may not have a prize available. Get Lost In A
Story cannot be responsible for an author's failure to mail the listed prize.
GLIAS does not automatically pass email addresses to guest authors unless the
commenter publicly posts their email address.
FIND VICTORIA DAHL HERE:
website: http://www.victoriadahl.com/index.php
Find me on Twitter: @VictoriaDahl
Find me on Twitter: @VictoriaDahl
Nothing particular stands out for me. I do remember my friends and I reading Forever by Judy Blume and thinking it was pretty scandalous. I think for us it was mostly scandalous because it was Judy Blume and she was writing about sex.
ReplyDeleteiqb99(AT)yahoo(DOT)com
My first real scandalous book was probably Wifey, another Judy Blume one! I read that one BECAUSE it was scandalous (especially for a 13 year old), unlike when I was about nine and read My Sweet Audrina by VC Andrews.
ReplyDeleteMy parents were so excited I was an advanced reader that it didn't occur to them to check out the dust jackets on WHAT I was reading... I remember that be VERY scandalous, but in a terrible terrible way that I'm lucky didn't mess up my psyche. :-)
alyssa [dot] kindofamess [at] gmail [dot] com
Welcome to GLIAS, Victoria. What a great interview.
ReplyDeleteJust bought my first pair of real hiking boots this year. I wish I could use them in the mountains more often.
Big fan here... ~Angi
I can't remember reading anything scandalous. I grew up in Australia and sometimes I would read my older sister's love comics.lol
ReplyDeleteKit3247(at)aol(dot)com
Congratulations on the new book Victoria! I don't remember reading any scandalous books in my youth, maybe my mom's Harlequins.
ReplyDeletemce1011 AT aol DOT com
Thanks again for doing the interview, Victoria!
ReplyDeleteThe first book I remember actively hiding from my mother was Princess Daisy by Judith Krantz. And I remember the VC Andrews books too... And Sidney Sheldon. Am I dating myself?
I really didn't start reading until after college. I hated it when I was yonger! Now I cannot put a book down! I have read a few scandalous books, yours included!
ReplyDeleteLove Victoria's books so I'm so glad you're hosting her!
ReplyDeleteI remember the first book I read as a young adult and was shocked by - it was by Sidney Sheldon and I think I was 10 or 11. Crazy too young!
sabrina.shields @live.com
I can't remember the title, but I remember sneaking my mom's Harlequin's when I was a teen...more so the Blaze ones. To a 14 year old, that was pretty scandalous...boys still had cooties!
ReplyDeleteandrewsnic @ live.ca
I do remember devouring the Nancy Drew and SVH series. I like characters that are memorable and have strong traits. I think the most scandolous books I read in my youth would be V.C. Andrew books.
ReplyDeleteCambonified(at)yahoo(dot)com
Great post. I remember reading Judy Blume - Are you there God? It's me Margaret. I think I was around 12 or 13 years old. Thanks.
ReplyDeletekidsue99@yahoo.com
I don't remember reading scandalous books in my youth. I was very "follow the rules" type. But I think the closest to that would've been the Devils's Earl by Deborah Simmons. It had some really hot scenes the for a 14 year old. But it sure became one of my favorite books of all time. lol.
ReplyDeleteyazmin593 AT msn DOT com
It's last period in Middle school. Girls are giggling in the back of the room around one desk. Open on that desk is Kathleen Woodiwiss' Flame and the Flower. Yeah, that was my book. There was also Rosemary Rogers as well. :-)
ReplyDeleteForgot my email addy: apfaffnc at gmail dot com
DeleteCongratulations, Victoria! You are always a favourite...
ReplyDeleteHmmmm... scandalous books? There were so many - I had brothers who were 8 and 11 years older, and I always remember finding their girlie mags when I put away their laundry. I remember peeking in one once and being a little icked out by it all, frankly.
As for books - Forever by Judy Blume was a big one, but Go Ask Alice was almost taken from me by my mom until my dad interceded (yay for voice of reason!). I read Judith Krantz really, really early as well, and loved them. Scruples or Mistral's Daughter, anyone?
My email is:
lostinagreatbookATyahooDOTca
Hi
ReplyDeleteI remember reading Johanna Lindsay's and Rosemary Rogers' western historicals when I was a teenager and thought they were amazing and a little scandalous.
Thanks for the chance
Pam
tpibrew@msn.com
This dates me but . . . I remember reading my mom's copy of the Valley of the Dolls (published in 1966 by Jacqueline Susann). Very risque for the time. I went to school later on that week and compared notes with all my friends in fourth grade. My mother still does not know to this day that I read her book.
ReplyDeleteI have always been a fan of victoria. My mom got me hooked on her and now i cannot wait until her next book comes out.
ReplyDeleteAngelbiker82@gmail.com
I have seven older sisters and one of them used to read the Super Harlequin Romance novels, this was the early 1980's. I don't remember the name of it but it has a purple cover with the couple on the beach with the ocean in the background. Anyway, I snuck her book out of the house and took it to as my "free read" for my 1st grade class with Mrs. Carl! I had a crowd under my desk waiting for me to show them the word breast. How I knew it was something racy I have no clue. Maybe that says a lot about me. It was the first time I had a phone call home but not the last.
ReplyDeleteIn my teens I found a book my mother had called Coffee, Tea or Me about the sex lives of flight attendants.
Red3horn@yahoo.com
I read The Valley of the Dolls and Forever by Judy Blume in my youth. At 12, i was reading at a college freshmen level, so I did read some adult books when I was young.
ReplyDeleteyenastone@aol.com
Judy Blume was considered 'Scandalous' in my days. That was about it...
ReplyDeleteThe Sweet Valley High series.
ReplyDeletebn100candg(at)hotmail(dot)com
I was all about sneaking in the Nora Roberts when I was in jr high!
ReplyDeleteI can't say it was scandalous, but I did a 6th grade book report on Stephen King's Thinner. The teacher was amazed that I even understood the subtext. From there, I was hooked on horror novels until I discovered Pride and Prejudice. I still love a paranormal or urban fiction; but have been on a contemporary kick for the last couple of years. jolaceywood@gamil.com
ReplyDeleteWifey was the most scandalous book we had back in the day! or at least that I could get my hands on lol
ReplyDeleteGreat interview! You are hilarious, Victoria!
ReplyDeleteHmm, I didn't read a lot of scandalous things. I do remember constantly looking over my shoulder when I was in the romance section for the first time. I was sixteen and I still have my first romance purchase. It was Sam's Letters to Jennifer by James Patterson. Not too scandalous, but still, I was so embarrassed that I hid the book under my mattress. Hahaha!
Thanks for the giveaway!
edandemsreviews(at)gmail(dot)com
I wasn't to big of a reader when I was young, but I dead read Flowers in the Attic by VC Andrews in high school. It was disturbing to my impressionable mind. In my early 20s I started reading romance nd my friends thought it was really racy.
ReplyDeleteAwesome giveaway. I adore Victoria Dahl!
Ohhhh....the memories this is dredging up! I think I started reading my Grandma's old school Harlequins when I was in 5th grade. You know, the ones with the governess and her high profile suitor that had a VERY chaste kiss as the height of passion. I remember Wifey - yowza, after "Are You There God, It's Me Margaret", I doubt that I saw THAT coming. (Amazing that after 20...ok, maybe closer to 30...years that I still have vivid memories of that book!)
ReplyDeleteProbably the MOST scandalous book I ever read was at Girl Scout camp when I was in 7th or 8th grade. Another girl in my cabin brought a book that we took turns reading aloud by flashlight after we were supposed to be sleeping. I don't remember the name of (it's probably just as well!), but I remember it being an incestual relationship between a mother and son. Ewww. Thankfully that genre held no appeal after my week at camp. ;-)
no, i've never read any scandalous book when i was young.
ReplyDeleteagatha christie not scandalous enough, i think... lol
congrats on the new release victoria :)
rosalinarusli at gmail dot com
I remember when I was a teenager I read Ian Fleming's James Bond books and was scandalized by all the "adult" action going on in them. I loved 'em. :D
ReplyDeleteWhen you stay at home with kids you still need an outlet to be a woman and yourself. So heels, a must =)
ReplyDeleteOh the books we read when we are young (too young). They capture our imaginations and get us hooked for life!
I graduated high school in 1961 and way back when I was in my late teens and early 20's, I read such books as Peyton Place, The Catcher in the Rye and Valley of the Dolls, all considered scandalous for the times. Now, looking back, they seem very tame by today's standards.
ReplyDeleteOops...looks like I forgot my email address.
Deletekareninnc at gmail dot com
I'm still in my youth (18) so maybe every book I've read until now counts? :D
ReplyDelete2009 was a big year for me: I was 15 and started reading all the scandalous books I could get my hands on, the first one was a Johanna Lindsay novel, I think it was A Glorious Angel. Oh, and there was also this book by Toni Blake, Tempt Me Tonight, which I thought if my parents ever caught me reading it and figured out what it was about, I would be grounded forever, though now I don't really think they would have done it.
Larissa
larisoares.13@gmail.com
Brazil
Random.org picked comments #1, #2, #23
ReplyDeleteSkipping over GLIAS members, and replies to comments, that gives us:
Danielle Gorman, Alyssa, and Emily.
Congrats to the winners!!