Welcome Debut Author Eliza Daly

ABOUT ELIZA DALY

My first attempt at creative writing was in fourth grade. My friends and I were huge Charlie’s Angels fans and I would sit in my bedroom at night writing scripts for us to act out at recess the following day. I was Kelly Garrett. Fast forward to the present, I’m still writing stories about beautiful women who always get their men. The journey from fourth grade script writer, to published author, wasn’t an easy one, but it was always an adventure and the final destination was well worth it.

When I’m not traveling for my job as an event planner, or tracing my ancestry roots through  Ireland, I’m at home in Milwaukee working on my next novel, bouncing ideas off my husband Mark, and my cats Quigley and Frankie.

ABOUT UNDER HER SPELL

When a series of failed relationships and business ventures have Monica Jackson doubting her self-worth, she turns to spell casting to attract positive energy and the opportunities needed to achieve her goals.  But can Monica’s belief in spells restore her belief in herself? 

Under Her Spell. Crimson Romance October 15, 2012.

Monica creates a spell to find her soul mate, and one to ensure the success of her new romantic event planning company, Enhance Your Romance.  Monica is confident she has found her niche until divorce lawyer Reed Walker opens a practice next door to her office.  The anti-marriage slogan plastered on his office window, and his down-on-love clients, quickly prove detrimental to Monica’s business.  When his arrival appears to trigger a string of bad luck, Monica fears one of her spells sent negative energy into the universe and it has returned to her threefold.  Although Reed is beyond sexy, and she admires his self-confidence, she’ll do whatever it takes to get the universe back on her side, and Reed out of her life. No way is she losing another business.

Reed finds himself attracted to Monica’s beauty and her optimism. His job and his parents’ divorce have made him a pessimist, especially when it comes to love. However, he soon finds that Monica’s pro-love attitude is rubbing off on him, causing him to lose his edge.  If Reed doesn’t distance himself from Monica, he’ll likely destroy his reputation as a pit bull divorce lawyer.

Can Monica and Reed look past what they might be losing, to realize the love they have found?

Under Her Spell is available at Amazon or Barnes & Noble.

GET TO KNOW ELIZA DALY

ELIZA: I’d like to thank Maureen and the Get Lost in a Story gang for helping me celebrate the release of my debut novel, Under Her Spell, a lighthearted contemporary romance. This is a very exciting time for me and I’m so glad to be sharing my news here today!

MAUREEN: You’re very welcome, Eliza! Congratulations on your debut and we’re thrilled to have you. What’s your favorite holiday?

ELIZA: I’m obsessed with Christmas. I have 32 Rubbermaid tubs filled with Christmas decorations for my small ranch house. I decorate the weekend before Thanksgiving, and I don’t take them down until January. The only thing I don’t get into is baking Christmas cookies. A few years ago, I bought gingerbread cookie dough, so all I had to do was cut out the dough and bake the cookies. I got home and realized I didn’t own a rolling pin or cookie cutters. That should have been a sign to forget it, because it went downhill from there. The cherry on the whole experience was finding my cat Cujo on the counter licking the frosting off my gingerbread masterpieces, so I had to toss them all out. 

MAUREEN: What’s the most romantic thing anyone ever did for you?

ELIZA: I travel a lot for my job. One time I came home from a trip and opened the door to find rose petals trailing up the front hallway to the bathroom. Lit candles lined the top of the bathtub filled with bubbles. A glass of wine sat next to a Victoria’s Secret box. This was followed by a candlelit dinner with my hubby and a wonderful evening. I hope I can use this in a book someday.

MAUREEN: What’s your favorite kind of story to get lost in?

ELIZA: I tend to read humorous books. I’ve read the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich like a dozen times. It has humor, romance, and a flawed heroine I’d love to be.

MAUREEN: Tea or Coffee? And how do you take it?

ELIZA: Tea, straight up. Maybe with a bit of honey if I’m feeling really adventurous.  I started a teacup collection a few years ago when my grandma passed away and I received several of her cups.

MAUREEN: What’s your favorite movie of all time?

ELIZA: That would be a tie between Overboard and My Cousin Vinny. I’ve seen both movies 20+ times and I still laugh just as hard every time. I find myself often quoting both movies. “Oh yeah, you blend.” “Eat your checkers.”

MAUREEN: Where do you most like to read and how often?

ELIZA: I do most my reading on a plane. Not my favorite spot, but the most convenient. When I’m home I try to focus on my writing and do very little reading. One of my New Year’s goals this year was to read more. (Another was to hit platinum status on my Pier1 card, which I’ve almost accomplished.)

MAUREEN: Which era would you most like to have lived in and why? Least?

ELIZA: The big band era. The Singers and Swing station is actually playing on my TV right now. My grandma would tell me stories about living in Milwaukee in the 1930s and how they would go out dancing until their feet hurt too bad to wear shoes. I love old movies from that era, His Girl Friday, The Philadelphia Story and Bringing up Baby. I would not have fared well during medieval times. I’m not a roughing it kind of gal. Although I’d have done better in the very late middle ages. I love attending the Renaissance Faire every summer.

MAUREEN: What’s the first thing you do when you finish writing a book?

ELIZA: I celebrate with a Big Mac and fries, something I only allow myself on special occasions, or if I’m having a total meltdown.

MAUREEN: Do you read reviews of your books? If so, do you pay any attention to them, or let them influence your writing?

ELIZA: I wish I had reviews to read. This being my first book, I’m not sure what to expect. However, I’ve been preparing for reviews over the past twelve years. I’ve had my share of not-so-kind contest judges and agent rejections. I’ve never let their feedback influence my overall writing. I would never quit writing because an agent didn’t like my voice or get my humor. If I agreed with a comment about a specific aspect of the story, I would take that under consideration. I really don’t think a bad review will cause me to do anything but pop a cork on a bottle of wine. I tend to reach for a glass of wine, rather than chocolate, for comfort.

MAUREEN: What’s next for you as an author?

ELIZA: My next book from Crimson Romance, Identity Crisis, comes out in March 2013. It’s a romantic suspense and completely different than my quirky lighthearted romances. I have always been intrigued by the witness protection program and art forgery. One day a story idea popped into my head, so I started writing it.

I’m currently working on a women’s fiction book set in Ireland. It’s in the initial stages, but I hope to have it done by next summer. My hobby is tracing my Irish roots and I’ve been to Ireland three times in the past five years to visit my newfound rellies. I’m thinking maybe I need to rent a writing cottage in Ireland for a month to feed my muse.

GOTTA ASK -- GOTTA ANSWER  ☺

MAUREEN: What was your favorite book when you were twelve?

ELIZA: I was around twelve when I read The Shining. It scared the bejeezus out of me, but I loved it. I’d never been so sucked into a book. I remember reading the book while being home alone, sitting in my wicker peacock chair in my bedroom during a thunderstorm.

A QUESTION FOR READERS

ELIZA ASKS: Just before Halloween is the perfect time for Under Her Spell to be released, with the book’s spell casting elements. If you’re dressing up for Halloween, what costume are you wearing? If you’re not dressing up this year, what’s your favorite costume you’ve ever worn?

GIVEAWAY

Eliza will be giving away a copy of her e-book Under Her Spell and a $10 Amazon or Barnes & Noble gift certificate.

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 ELIZA DALY ONLINE:

http://www.elizadaly.com

www.facebook.com/ElizaDalyAuthor

www.twitter.com/ElizaDalyAuthor

www.goodreads.com/ElizaDaly

A Note from Eliza:

Thanks for stopping by today. Please check out the upcoming stops on my blog tour, October 22-November 21. I’ll be giving away a variety of gifts, such as e-books, writing journals, Amazon and B & N gift certificates, and Godiva chocolate on Halloween. If you comment on 5 or more of my 20 blog stops, and are a Facebook fan, you’ll be entered in a drawing to win one of two $25 Amazon or B & N gift certificates at the end of my blog tour. Winners will be announced on my website’s news page the end of November.

A Note from Maureen:

Thanks everyone for stopping by to wish Eliza well. Please, check out her book!

And don’t forget to come back to GLIAS for our pre-Halloween event starting tomorrow and.... next week... the RELEASE OF DEVIANTS!!! 

Can you tell I’m just a little excited about this book coming out?

To tide you over until October 30^th, you can read Chapter One of Deviants here.

And/or you can enter to win a copy on Goodreads.

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Deviants

by Maureen McGowan

Giveaway ends November 09, 2012.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter to win