Monday, May 28, 2012

Dancing Naked in Dixie Tour (GUEST POST & $25 Amazon GC)

As part of the blog tour for Dancing Naked ín Dixie, I would like to welcome the author, Lauren Clark to tell us about  what inspired her to write the novel. She brought a few giveaways with her so don't forget to take advantage of the chance to win.
Welcome, Lauren. We're excited to have you here.

GUEST POST

The inspiration for writing Dancing Naked in Dixie was the opposite of Stay Tuned, my first novel. The idea for Stay Tuned came about after a real-life fistfight between news anchors at a television station where I worked. (They were both fired!) For Dancing Naked in Dixie, the title came first and I built the story around it.

I had wanted to feature Eufaula and the Pilgrimage as a setting for one of my novels and it seemed the perfect fit. I created the character of Julia Sullivan, a travel writer with attention-deficit disorder. I wanted to see what this big-city girl would do when sent to small-town Alabama.

At first, when I decided a developer was going to try and ruin Eufaula's historic district by building condominiums, I had considered Julia discovering some locally made new cookie or dessert so delicious it would make people want to "Dance Naked." She could bring it back to New York City, share it with friends, and there would be a nationwide cookie craze or rush to buy the sweets. This would create an influx of money through tourism and job development and give the city enough revenue to fight off the developer.

However, as the story progressed, the baking creation turned out to be a better fit for PD, Shug's sister, who needed some softening around her sharp edges. By pursuing her dream of owning a bakery, we see more facets of her personality and how much she cares about her family and the Eufaula community. PD's Pillow Puffs become her signature treat and a significant way in which she contributes to the Pilgrimage.

With the tie-in for the title still needed, I looked at how Dixie explores the theme of bias and pre-conceived notions about culture and place. Julia throws a good-old fashioned hissy fit when she's pulled off a plum assignment and sent to Eufaula, so I stepped it up a notch and had her announce to her brand-new boss that she'd "rather dance naked" than go to Alabama for this assignment. (This also ties in nicely with some romantic tension in the last chapter.)

Eventually, Julia realizes that she was completely wrong about the Deep South, and along her journey, learns important lessons about herself, and grows as a person. You'll have to read the novel to find out how she does it and what changes her mind! 

Like Julia, have you ever had pre-conceived notions about a place or part of the country? What happened when you visited? What do you think now?

DANCING NAKED IN DIXIE 
BLURB

Travel writer Julia Sullivan lives life in fast-forward. She jet sets to Europe and the Caribbean with barely a moment to blink or sleep. But too many mishaps and missed deadlines have Julia on the verge of being fired.

With a stern warning, and unemployment looming, she's offered one last chance to rescue her career. Julia embarks on an unlikely journey to the ‘Heart of Dixie’—Eufaula, Alabama—home to magnificent mansions, sweet tea, and the annual Pilgrimage.

Julia arrives, soon charmed by the lovely city and her handsome host, but her stay is marred by a shocking discovery. Can Julia's story save her career, Eufaula, and the annual Pilgrimage? 

                                                                   EXCERPT

The Best Butts in Alabama, the huge billboard above my head brags. A robust pink pig, dressed in blue overalls and a cowboy hat, winks down at me. Next to the hog’s turned up nose, royal blue letters read ‘Phil’s Bar-B-Q.’ 

Phil certainly knows how to make a first impression. As does Mother Nature.

The sunshine beats down on my shoulder through the window. Is it always this muggy in December? I swipe at my forehead with the back of my hand and do quick surveillance.

Where is the historic, elegant city I was promised in the letter? There is a normal-looking church across the street, a run-of-the-mill real estate business to my right, and a tiny hole-in-the-wall place called The Donut King, which seems to be doing ten times more business than the Winn-Dixie grocery store I just passed.

So far, all I see of Eufaula, Alabama is more in-your-face commercial than traveler chic. Of course, I’m not in the best frame of mind to become one with my surroundings.

After a lousy Thursday morning of sulking and a rushed packing job, I sent an RSVP with regrets for the fundraiser, gave away my tickets to the Met, left a voice mail for Andrew, and changed my ticket to an earlier departure.

Hours later, after fighting through JFK security, surviving the cramped flight to Atlanta, I spent the night in Buckhead, Georgia, picked up my enormous rented SUV this morning (it was either that or a red minivan), and began driving the three-and-a-half hours to reach my pinhole-on-a-map destination.

All to save my job.

                                                                  AUTHOR BIO
Lauren Clark writes contemporary novels set in the Deep South; stories sprinkled with sunshine, suspense, and secrets.

A former TV news anchor, Lauren adores flavored coffee, local book stores, and anywhere she can stick her toes in the sand. Her big loves are her family, paying it forward, and true-blue friends. Check out her website at http://www.laurenclarkbooks.com/.

IMPORTANT LINKS
 



GIVEAWAYS

Lauren will be awarding a $25 Amazon GC to one randomly drawn commenter during the tour and to the host with the most comments.

Follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here:  http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2012/04/virtual-book-tour-dancing-naked-in.html

Good Luck.

14 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. Liz Grace - Thank you for hosting me on your lovely site ... I really appreciate you promoting Dancing Naked in Dixie! I love finding new bloggers to follow :)

      xx, Lauren

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    2. Lauren, you're very welcome. I wish your all the luck with your lovely book.

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  2. This story sounds like so much fun to read. I can hardly wait.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks MomJane! So glad that you stopped by Liz Grace's site ... Hope you have a chance to read Dixe :) Lauren

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  3. Hi Lauren...To answer your question, I grew up in the big city but have lived in the South for more than 2 decades now. However, when you talk about "pre-conceived notions," I think of getting my first professional job in West Virginia. My family immediately thought I was living in the sticks and I'd end up "barefoot and pregnant." LOL. It was nothing of the sort. It was the prettiest part of the state and quite upscale. I'd love to go back and retire there some day.

    catherinelee100 at gmail dot com

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    1. Hi Catherine ~ I actually lived in WV, too ... Near Princeton, WV! I thought that the trees were sooo gorgeous in the autumn ... nothing like it in the world :) I also enjoyed Charleston and seeing different parts of the state.

      Thanks for stopping by Liz Graces' site! xx, Lauren

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  4. I bet working at a TV station would give you lots of material for the future! Great post...

    vitajex(at)aol(dot)com

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    1. Yes, the TV and broadcast journalism world is full of crazy stories ... I covered cow judging at the county fair, the search for a lost Emu, murder cases, house fires, and farming stories. Very interesting people, fun staff to work with, never a dull moment (oh, and I was pregnant the first nine months of my job -- they used to joke that I would give birth during the 6 pm news) LOL

      xx, Lauren

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  5. Hi Lauren,

    You are a new-to-me author. It should be fun following your tour to get to know you better and find out more about your books. To answer your question, I'm a Michigan native transplanted in North Carolina. I've been here for 12 years and I'm loving the sweet tea & BBQ. I have to say, it was a bit of a culture shock when I first moved here but the people are a lot more friendly here than they are up north. That's not to say people in Michigan won't greet you on the street, but they are less likely to do so.

    Question for you: If your book was to be made into a film, who would you like to see play the lead characters?

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    Replies
    1. Hello Karen ~ So glad you are along for the tour! Michigan to NC is much like my NY to Alabama move! When I moved South, it was 100 degrees every day in July at 11 pm at night. I love the BBQ, but I am still an unsweet tea with lemon girl :)

      Lead characters for Dancing Naked in Dixie ......

      Julia - Amy Adams .... or Reese Witherspoon (my editor dreamed about Dixie being made into a movie and that Reese was the lead)
      Shug - I've thought about Patrick Dempsey, but Matthew McConaughey has also crossed my mind, because he was such a Southern charmer in "A Time to Kill."
      Mary Katherine - Audrina Partridge or Blake Lively
      David - Sam Neill or maybe George Clooney

      xx, Lauren

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  6. I think with such open access to information most people would have pre-conceived ideas about most places. It's the lovely unheard of aspects to a place that can intrigue & beguile.

    marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com

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  7. Sounds interesting... Love the title, BTW, really catches your, um, imagination :D

    anasmithblue AT gmail DOT com

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  8. I appreciate everything you have added to my knowledge base.Admiring the time and effort you put into your blog and detailed information you offer.Thanks. ein number

    ReplyDelete