11/10/2014

Get Lost in a Story welcomes the ladies of Season of Magic, a holiday anthology

Good Morning, GLIAS friends!

I have the privilege of 
introducing 
you to my fellow
Season of Magic authors:

Cara Marsi, Bobbi Lerman, Gerri Brousseau, Merry Holly, and me-Vicki Batman.


Let’s get to know these fabulous ladies:    Cara Marsi, an award-winning author and self-proclaimed TV junkie, is a former corporate drone and cubicle dweller. Freed from her fabric-covered cage, she can now indulge her love of all things romance. She craves books with happy endings and loves to write about independent heroines and the strong heroes who love them.    Bobbi Lerman’s writing has evolved to cover a multitude of topics, from travel writing to historical medieval romance for blogs and is the founder of Scribblers Ink, an active online community and website offering interviews with authors, writing tips, and daily prompts.    Gerri Brousseau resides in Connecticut with her pug, Mimi, and their cats, Harry and Louise. Besides writing, she enjoys cooking and spending time with her 2-year old grand-daughter. Gerri's greatest wish is to meet J.K. Rowling.      Merry Holly: Unbeknown to her parents, at the age of five she started reading the New York Daily News story about the murdered nurses in Chicago and the investigation. Marian followed the story every day as authorities rushed to solve the brutal crime. To this day she stills checks her closet before going to sleep.

Here’s a bit about Season of Magic, our holiday anthology:

Hopes and wishes. And holiday kisses...the Season of Magic. 
Wrap yourself in the holiday spirit with five romantic stories 
filled with fun and forever after. 

Noel Noel Noel by Merry Holly - Dumped and lonely, is it possible to find love at the local mall? Noelle thinks not, but a chance encounter with Chase Clayborne while Christmas shopping has her rethinking her rigid set of rules, as sparks flare between them.

A Cinderella Christmas by Cara Marsi - Jessica Gallo no longer believed in fairy tales or happy endings. And she certainly didn’t believe she’d find her Prince Charming at Saks Fifth Avenue. Her Fairy Godmother thought differently.

Matchmaker Matchmaker by Bobbi Lerman - With Chanukah around the corner, is there enough magic left for a matchmaker to bring Molly's cynical heart back to life.

Holiday Disaster by Vicki Batman - The week before Christmas and all is in disarray when a librarian experiences horrible plumbing issues and a Mr. Maintenance Man who isn’t nearly as jolly as Santa Clause. This Christmas is a disaster.

Yuletide Bride by Gerri Brousseau - The Dowager Duchess’s decree that her grandson must marry before Twelfth Night or relinquish his title and fortune. Without any prospects and with only two weeks until Christmas, will Stuart Nelson find himself destitute or will he find The Yuletide Bride?


Find Season of Magic at:  Amazon


Deep Dark Q&A with the SOM girls:

Vicki:  I’m a huge handbag girl. What is your favorite accessory? CM: I love handbags also. My favorite now is a green Kate Spade I bought from an online discount place. I love it. VB: You know I adore Kate Spade bags! BL: Handbags and shoes are in a dead heat for my favorite accessories, maybe because items both are not determined by my size or weight. My favorite handbag is one I found when I got lost on a small street in Florence.  It is a deep burnt orange, rectangular in shape, large enough to fit all my stuff, and works for every season. VB: Bobbi, I have a beautiful bag I bought in Florence, too. GB: Vicki is a handbag girl, and Gerri is a shoe hound. MH: I love my handbags too. Jewelry to accessorize an outfit is a must for me.

How often to you get lost in a story? GB: How often do I get lost in a story - I read a lot so I would say at least once a week. I like to read when I'm curled up in the recliner with my pug, Mimi. I read in the evenings.

What’s the first book you remember reading?  BL: A Secret Garden by Frances
Hodgson Burnett. GB: The first book I remember reading, wow that's going back some. Not sure of the title but I'm sure it was Nancy Drew. MH: I loved my Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys books. VB: Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys sure were popular!

What’s your favorite “love” word? MH: Honey. VB: Handsome calls me Beautiful.

What’s your favorite fairy tale? CM: Cinderella. I love her transformation and her Fairy Godmother. I want a Fairy Godmother. GB: I recently saw Brave for the first time. I know it's been out a while, but I don't get the chance to go to see these types of movies often. Anyway, I loved this story because it was about a strong and smart girl and the love between a mother and daughter. I particularly loved the facial expressions of the mother when she was the bear. 

What’s your favorite cartoon character? CM: Daffy Duck. He makes me laugh. VB: That’s so funny, Cara. I love Bugs Bunny. Duck Season, Rabbit Season

Where do you read and how often? CM: Usually in front of the TV. Even if the TV is on, if a book intrigues me, I can block out all other sounds. Since I started writing, I don’t have as much time for reading as I used to. I try to read a little every night. BL: I read everywhere, in the car waiting to pick up someone, in the Doctors’ office, on the train, in bed when I first wake up, (it’s how I start my day and in bed at night, (it’s how I end my day). MH: In my recliner, the car, at work at lunch, and in bed. I read everywhere. Every single day at least a 100 pages a day.

What sound or noise do you love? CM: The sound of my son’s voice. He lives 2500 miles away. I love it when he calls, which isn’t often enough. GB: the sound of rain or the ocean. I recently moved and there's woods behind my house. There's a river in the woods with a waterfall and I really enjoy sitting quietly in the living room and listening to the sound of the waterfall while reading. The sound brings peace to my soul. MH: I love the whishing sound of the snow under my snowboard and the sound of violins.

How is it working with hot guys and sexy women all day? CM: Exhausting. VB: *fanning self*

Be honest, when reading...do you put yourself in the heroine’s role? CM: Yes, I do. That’s why I don’t like reading about heroine’s who are “perfect” in every way. I want my characters to have flaws, like real people. MH: Yes, but sometimes, I become the hero—depends on the story.

Do you write while listening to music? If so what kind? BL: I listen to classical music or if I’m writing a historical, period music of that time-period. I don’t like listening to music with lyrics. I find it distracts me.  VB: Hey, Bobbi, I like classical, too, especially classical guitar.

What do you do to unwind and relax? CM: A nice glass of wine and a good book. VB: Needlepoint

What is something that not a lot of people know about you but you WISH more people COULD know? MH: I love the beach.

Do you read reviews of your books? If so, do you pay any attention to them, or let them influence your writing? GB: Yes, I read them all. I love to know that readers enjoy reading my stories as much as I love writing them. I pay attention to every comment because I'm always interested in improving my writing skills. 

What dreams have been realized as a result of your writing? CM: I wanted to be a published author since I learned to read. But life got in the way. My dream is here at last. I get to give life to hot men and the strong women they love.

Tea or Coffee? And how do you take it? GB; Coffee in the morning and Tea in the evening. MH: Flavored Coffee, Black. VB: diet Dr. Pepper.

What does it mean to love someone? MH: Love is all about trust, respect and loyalty to me. I really believe you can't love someone if you don't first trust them. Next, and very important is the respect. If you have the first two, the third flows naturally. VB: Unbounding joy. 


What three things are, at this moment, in your heroine’s purse, satchel, reticule, weapons belt or amulet bag (whatever she carries)? MH: Noelle's purse is like her bathroom cabinet. She has the usual things, wallet, brush, lipstick, mini make-up case, tissue package, a book, her e-reader and mints.

What’s the best birthday (or any holiday) present you ever received? BL: My husband built me a Gazebo in the corner of our yard, overlooking my garden as my own special place to write. MH: The Tressy Doll. It was the first doll where her hair grew. VB: A Walther and a trip to Paris.

What drew you to write in the genre(s) you do? CM: I’m a sucker for a good love story and I love happy endings.

What has been your most rewarding publishing moment? GB: Reading the reviews and emails of the readers.  MH:  I love meeting readers. Every appearance and signing enriches me when I get to connect with a reader who loves books as much as I do.

Complete this sentence. When I want to relax, I...  MH: Besides reading, I like to walk and knit.

What do you love about the holidays? CM:Getting together with friends and families. And all the food! No dieting then. GB: I love the feeling of goodwill and the general kindness and love.  MH: Family and friends getting together.

What is your favorite holiday food? MH: All the desserts, especially the chocolate mousse. VB: Every Christmas morning, my family and I have a huge pancake breakfast.

Any other holiday thoughts? CM: I love Christmas songs and start listening to them right after Thanksgiving. MH: I love preparing the holiday meal and hosting everyone. There's nothing better. VB: Me, too, Cara, the more the better.


FIND  Season of Magic authors at:  Website


GOTTA QUESTION to ask: What is your favorite holiday dessert?

Leave your comment with your EMAIL address and 
we shall have a drawing for a $15.00 Starbucks card!













27 comments:

  1. Apple pie

    Bn100candg at Hotmail dot com

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  2. Ladies, that was a fabulous interview with some terrific answers. The Christmas stories sound really good. I will be checking them out!

    Penny Estelle
    pennyestelle@yahoo.com

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  3. Looks like some great Christmas reads! Thanks for letting us know about them.

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  4. This sounds fantastic! :: sigh:: I'll never get through my TBR pile, will I?

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  5. Thank you to Get Lost in the Story for hosting us today. It was so much fun to do the interview.

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  6. Vicki, thank you for having us SOM ladies. I'm honored to be part of the set with these talented women.

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  7. Favorite holiday dessert? Oh, so many goodies to indulge in but probably as long as it's not fruitcake, I'm down with it! :)

    thebigbluewall77 (at) gmail (dot) com

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    Replies
    1. LOL, Anita, I love fruitcake. Good luck.

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    2. Hi, Anita! I adore fruitcake, especially chocolate covered fruitcake. I bet you would be a convert if you had some of it. Maybe you should read my story The Great Fruitcake Bake-off. LOL.

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  8. Christmas cookies. . Love them. They go well with books too.

    Maybe31 at Yahoo. Com

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  9. Great interview, ladies!! My favorite holiday dessert is sugar cookies. Can't get enough of 'em! Especially when they're all prettied up with sprinkles :D

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    Replies
    1. Ada, I love cookies, especially sugar cookies.

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  10. The decorated sugar cookies - as long as I didn't have to make them. :)

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    Replies
    1. Your so funny, Rhonda. They're one of my favorites too.

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  11. Hi, Ada and Rhonda! I like decorated sugar cookies and Rhonda, as long as I'm not decorating...I'm not that good. lol

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    1. I bet you're great at it,Vicki. I've seen your beautiful needlework. You're so talented.

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    2. Decorating's the best part, Vicki! And they don't have to look pretty, just have a ton of sparkles ;)

      Forgot to leave my email before - ahui89 at hotmail dot com

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  12. bn100 you won the Starbucks card. Please email me at: vlmbatman@hotmail.com so I can get it to you. Hugs!

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  13. Coconut Cream Delight!

    missionwife@hotmail.com

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  14. I'm looking forward to partying with all the authors, especially Mairi Norris. Thanks for the invitation Mairi. :)

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