Get Lost With Carolann Camillo

WHO IS CAROLANN?

Words always fascinated Carolann Camillo. This sparked a serious interest in writing and led to the publication (so far) of five romance novels and several short stories. Born in New York City, Carolann lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband and cat, Peaches.

WHERE IN THE WORLD IS CAROLANN?

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THE BLURB

When up-and-coming fashion designer, Allie Nash, becomes the target of a serial killer responsible for a string of West Coast murders, Detective Ben Sutter and his partner are charged with protecting her. Evidence confirms the killer, accompanied by one of Allie’s former neighbors, is heading her way. But Allie, a semi-finalist in a prestigious fashion contest, stubbornly refuses to vacate her San Francisco home as she needs access to all her equipment if she hopes to have her designs ready in time for the competition.

Ben and his partner reluctantly agree to take shifts staying with Allie, as long as she plays her part and continues the telephone conversations she’s inadvertently been drawn into with the killer, a man she knows only as Dave. However, the danger escalates when Dave claims another victim on his way to San Francisco, leaving his trademark heart imprinted with FOREVER MINE on the woman’s body.

Terrified of encountering the psychopath, Allie turns increasingly toward Ben Sutter for strength and assurance. For his part, Ben has sworn off women in the wake of a toxic breakup. Still, he finds himself drawn to the attractive young woman he’s tasked to protect. On the night of the competition, the detectives have all the angles covered.

Or so they think.

READ AN EXCERPT HERE!

AND NOW....
Alexa: How often do you get lost in a story?
Carolann: Every day if only for 20-30 minutes.

Alexa: What’s your favorite “love” word?
Carolann: Passion.

Alexa: What’s your favorite fairy tale?
Carolann: Beauty and the Beast. There’s a gorgeous French film by Jean Cocteau that came out many years ago. It’s worth finding.

Alexa: What turns you off like nothing else?
Carolann: Injustice no matter where in the world.

Alexa: Can you tell us about a real-life hero you’ve met?
Carolann: My father: Sent out to work at 13, he then completed his education at night and became a successful architect. Go, DAD!

Alexa: Fairy Tale or Action Adventure?
Carolann: Fairy Tale, especially if a handsome prince comes to the rescue of a damsel in distress. (Swoon here).

Alexa: Where do you read and how often?
Carolann: I usually read in bed just about every night. Sometimes in a warm bath. Oh, the luxury!

Alexa: What sound or noise do you love?
Carolann: My cat purring. We rescued Peaches from the Humane Society. She was five years old when we adopted her. She’s almost seven now. She has an Abyssinian body and striped legs and tail. I call her two cats in one!

Alexa: What was the first story you remember writing?
Carolann: It was a short story with a supernatural twist. Walking down the boarding ramp at an airport one day inspired it.

Alexa: What’s your favorite movie of all time?
Carolann: Casablanca. What a great love story. I cry every time I see it.

Alexa: How is it working with hot guys and sexy women all day?
Carolann: It’s like sitting on top of a volcano that’s getting ready to blow.

Alexa: Which of your characters would you most/least to invite to dinner, and why
Carolann: Most: Allie in Forever Mine because she’s smart and creative and has a sense of humor. And she doesn’t “cave” when faced with danger. Also, Ben Sutter because he’s strong, capable and has all the signs of being a great lover; Least: Dave because he’s a serial killer!

Alexa: What does it mean to love someone?
Carolann: Giving with no expectation of a reward

Alexa: Which era would you least like to have lived in, fashion-wise and why? Most?
Carolann: Least: That would be the Stone Age—animal skin tunics? No makeup? Get real! Most: The 1920s before the crash—Yeah, and all that jazz.

Alexa: what has been your most rewarding publishing moment?
Carolann: My most rewarding publishing moment came when more than one publishers expressed interest in Forever Mine. It’s always nice to be validated in any endeavor.

Alexa: Got a question you'd like to ask your fans?

Carolann: What do you most enjoy about a romance novel? What turns you off?

Alexa: And finally, will you have a giveaway?

Carolann: Yes, 5 signed copies of my award winning historical romance "Moonlit Desire."

Alexa: Great prizes, so get commenting! Thanks for joining us, Carolann! 

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Phyllis Humphrey & Carolann Camillo

Get lost in a high seas romance aboard the Southern Star!

Southern Star

Phyllis Humphrey and

Carolann Camillo

Avalon Press

Marilee’s inheritance, the yacht, Southern Star, is in default to the bank. To save it from the auction block, she decides to honor a Caribbean cruise planned for two couples. But with no captain available, she’s forced to approach Gary, a man she once loved but refused to marry. He agrees to skipper the cruise, but only if she comes along as crew.

In addition to the danger of succumbing again to Gary’s charm and good looks, she has other problems. Selling the yacht, the discovery of forgery, and the appearance of an unexpected visitor make the excursion anything but sea-worthy. Will the romantic but rocky voyage rekindle their love or scuttle it forever?

Carolann Camillo lives in the San Francisco Bay Area--talk about inspiration! She writes contemporary and historical romance, at times with her collaborator Phyllis Humphrey. Twice a year, she travels with her husband, a college professor. "We spend Christmas in New York where I have family, and in early June we go to Europe, usually France or Italy. Tough life!"

SOUTHERN STAR is Phyllis Humphrey's tenth published romance novel, but she has also sold a mainstream novel, short stories, articles and a non-fiction book during her 35 year writing career. She's a member of Mensa and listed in Who's Who of American Women.

Welcome to Get lost In a Story Carolann and Phyllis. Please feel free to co-author or trade off answering the interview questions!

Jillian: Besides getting lost in a story, what turns you on?

Carolann: I'd have to say my husband turns me on like nothing else!

Jillian: If you were given a chance to travel to the past where would you go and specifically why?

Carolann: King Henry VIII's court--such intrigue!

Jillian: What's something you'd like to tell your fans?

Carolann: I always fall in love with my hero (don't tell my husband)

Jillian: What dreams have your realized as a result of your writing?

Carolann: PUBLICATION!

Jillian: What does it mean to love someone?

Carolann: To love someone means doing what you can to make them happy--if you do, they'll make you happy in return.

Jillian: If you could't be a writer, what profession would you take up?

Carolann: If I couldn't be a writer, I'd be an actor.

Jillian: What's your favorite movie of all time?

Carolann: Pillow Talk with Doris Day and Rock Hudson--humor and romance--it doesn't get much better than that.

Jillian: What was the first story you remember writing?

Phyllis: I started a book about a girl who was adopted and set out to find her real parents. (Not true in my case)

Jillian: Tea or coffee?

Phyllis: I'm a tea drinker, especially peppermint tea or Constant Comment. Comes from my English grandfather, no doubt.

Jillian: If you couldn't be a writer, what profession would you take up?

Phyllis: That's an easy one, because I'm also an actor and singer. I'd love to play quirky characters!

And now for the Gotta Ask, Gotta Answer question:

Jillian: Since you are co-authors of SOUTHERN STAR, I'd love for you to tell us how you met your writing partner, and a bit about how you work together.

Carolann: Phyllis and I met at a writing class. We lived a few blocks from each other and usually walked together 2X a week. We started kicking around an idea for a book, and voila!

Sometimes Phyllis writes the first draft of a chapter and I polish it. In our book, Eye Witness, there are some chapters we wrote individually.

We burn through so many e-mails when we conference--fortunately, we're usually on the same page.

Jillian: Any tips for teaming up with another writer?

Carolann: Write with someone who thinks pretty much the way you do and has similar interests and taste in books. Kick around a story idea--if you come up a plot that intrigues you, go for it! Not surprisingly, Phyllis agrees: A writing partner has to be someone as much like you as possible, and also someone whom you trust and whose writing you admire.

Jillian: Phyllis, would you like to add anything else?

Phyllis: I'm a story person and Carolann is a word person. SOUTHERN STAR is our first collaboration, the second, EYE WITNESS, has been accepted by Knight Publishing and will be released in January 2012. We're working on a rewrite of the third, but, thanks to e-mail, it's not that difficult!

Phyllis has a reader question: Have you been on a yacht, or a small cruise ship, or been to the Bahamas? If so, what's your favorite memory of it? A free book to the person who gives the best answer!***

Phyllis invites readers to visit her website: http://phyllishumphrey.com

Don't forget to LIKE us on Facebook or FOLLOW us on Twitter to keep track of who's next to "Get Lost In a Story." Come back tomorrow when Angi hosts Lisa Spindler.

***Note: Offer void where prohibited. Prizes will be mailed to North America addresses only. If an Advanced Reading Copy (ARC) is available, the author may utilize that option for International participants. Odds of winning vary due to the number of entrants.