Hey everyone. Thank you for having me here today. I'm very excited to make the rounds on my blog tour and get the word out about my debut release – What Lies Beneath. I'm running a contest for the blog tour. The details are at the bottom of the post, but be sure to comment to get an entry for a beautiful pink sea glass locket.
Today, I want to talk about television. Lately, I don't get to watch much, and if I do, it's something I taped on my DVR. Honestly, there isn't much on TV that thrills me, even if I did have the time. If someone recommends a show to me, I rarely watch it because I'm either disappointed, or immediately hooked and get behind with my schedule. So I don't bother.
The trend of the last decade has been reality shows. I'll admit, I'm not a big fan of reality television. I don't watch the Bachelor, Amazing Race, Survivor or American Idol. I'll see an episode here or there, but I've never dialled in to vote for anyone. That's not to say I don't watch any. I do have a few I like. But I prefer the shows where skills and ingenuity under pressure are rewarded. My favorites include Project Runway, America's Next Top Model and RuPaul's Drag Race.
Project Runway is my top show, however. I have a massive crush on Tim Gunn. I envy the ability to design and sew clothing. I was barely able to stitch on my patches in Girl Scouts. Actual sewing… um, no.
Fortunately, I can live vicariously through my characters. My heroine in What Lies Beneath is a fashion designer. I guess I got to design dresses for her in a way, but I didn't have to execute them. She's a skilled seamstress that can whip out a gown in no time flat. At least she could until she's almost killed in a plane crash. Then she has to rediscover her skills, and her life. In doing that, my character got to shop at Mood Fabrics, where the contestants go on the show.
When I went to New York, it also meant I had a really good reason to walk around the Fashion District and see landmarks from the show, including Mood and Parsons School for Design. I got a t-shirt. I stood outside Liz Claiborne for a while and never saw Tim Gunn. Darn it. Not exactly sure what I would've done if I HAD seen him, but it would've been a good story.
What are your favorite reality shows? If you write, what's something you'd love to experience through your characters?
Andrea
WHAT LIES BENEATH
April 2012, Harlequin Desire #2152
She’s Awake. So Why Can’t She Remember?
They say she’s Cynthia Dempsey, fiancée of media mogul Will Taylor. But try as she might, she can’t recall their high-society life or the man sitting by her hospital bed. Though her body certainly remembers him. Even as she senses the distance between them, the electricity when they touch is undeniable.
Will can hardly believe Cynthia’s transformation. Gone is the ice queen who betrayed him, and in her place is a woman who seems genuine and warm. But can he risk his heart again, not knowing what might happen when her memory returns?
The winner will be chosen at random after the conclusion of the blog tour – Friday, April 27th and announced on the Writing Playground blog (http://www.writingplayground.blogspot.com/). The winner will have 7 days to contact the author at author@andrealaurence.com with her mailing information or the prize will be forfeited and re-awarded.