Monday, May 14, 2012

GUEST POST: Erin Nicholas (Author of Anything You Want)


Today I would like to welcome, Erin Nicholas, the author of Anything You Want. Her novel is currently on tour and Novel Moments is one of the stops. Erin, welcome to Novel Moments. Please tell us a little more about the book. 

Anything You Want was my fifth book.  You’d think by that time, the writing would have gotten easier wouldn’t you?  Well, no.  In fact, for much of the writing I referred to it as This f#%$-ing Book!  It would not cooperate.  Or I should say, the characters would not cooperate.

I wrote a synopsis, a summary of the story.  Had it all laid out nicely.  Everyone had a part to play and there was a definite direction. 

But the characters didn’t read the synopsis.  And kept insisting on doing things their own way. 

Here’s how it went down.  I had this idea for a book.  I love reunion stories.  Especially childhood sweethearts reunited.  They know each other, have some history and obviously have some conflict.  It’s so fun.  So, I developed the characters of Sabrina and Luke.  Sabrina broke Luke’s heart, now she’s down on her luck and needs help and he’s the only one she knows she can call.  He shows up, disgruntled but unable to say no, and things happen and they fall in love, etc, etc, etc.

Sounds good right?  Sure.  But Luke had this friend, Marc.  Marc did not like Sabrina.  He hated that she always leaned on Luke and Luke never stood up and said no to her.  I started noticing that things with Sabrina and Luke just weren’t resolving, it didn’t feel right.  Not to mention all the sparks that always flew between Sabrina and Marc.  Whenever they were together they got each other all riled up.

Just what the heck was going on?!  

I finally stopped and just thought about that.  Why was I having a hard time getting Luke and Sabrina together and things between Sabrina and Marc were so interesting?

Yep, you guessed it.  Marc and Sabrina belonged together.

Which meant… ugh… rewriting the whole book.

I’m not kidding.  I wrote the whole book with Luke, but was just never happy with it.  

When I finally accepted my fate and went back and let them do what they wanted well, it was actually quite easy to write!  Things fell into place, everyone was happy (well, except Luke—who really thought he was in love with Sabrina.  But then I assured him I’d write him a book too and he felt better).

Now that it’s done, I love how it turned out.  Marc and Sabrina are absolutely perfect for each other (and Luke got his happily ever after now too in Everything You’ve Got).  But yeah, the process was complicated and I don’t want to go through that again.  

Which means that I’m even less likely to write a synopsis ahead of time.  If my characters aren’t going to read it anyway, what’s the point? 

Anything You Want
by Erin Nicholas

 
BLURB:

Suppose the solution to all your problems is the one thing you never wanted…

It figures the one time Sabrina Cassidy is determined to do the responsible thing, karma kicks in. After four years on the road chasing her musical dream, she’s stranded six hours from home with no money, a ruined credit history—and morning sickness.

Out of options, she swallows her legendary independent streak and calls the only person who won’t hang up on her. Luke, the man she left behind.

Marc Sterling’s first instinct is to protect his business partner and best friend from another broken heart. That means letting her think she’s talking to Luke, then finding a way to send her in the opposite direction.

When he shows up at her hotel room, there’s something in the air beside their customary insults. Sure, her rebellious attitude, smart mouth—and purple panties—still drive him crazy, but now it’s a different kind of crazy. The kind that has him driving her home instead of to the nearest airport.

And when Luke offers to solve all her problems if she’ll only say “I do”, Marc realizes he’s just crazy enough—about her—to forget whose heart he wanted to protect.

Warning: Contains two people who don’t like each other very much, a Toyota that can’t quite handle the road trip home, and a spontaneous proposal. Or two. Or three. And foreplay with—what else—pie filling. 

EXCERPT 
 
The urge to kiss him was nearly overpowering. “You have to stop.”

“Stop what?”

“Being so…all of this.”

“Sexy?” he suggested with a grin. “Hot? Hard to resist?”

She rolled her eyes, but couldn’t stop her smile. “Yes. All of it.”

“You think I’m hard to resist?” He sounded surprised.

“Isn’t that obvious?”

His smile changed from cocky to something much warmer. Her entire body felt it.

“It’s really, really fun, isn’t it?” he asked.

It really, really was. But she couldn’t shake the weirdness of it. This was Marc after all. Marc who had come to Wyoming to keep her away from Luke…

And that was what was bugging her.

“You’re very attentive for a guy who doesn’t like me much.”

“Until a couple of weeks ago, I didn’t like you at all.”

“Thanks for clarifying. And for making my point.”

“You’re wondering why I’m suddenly so…”

“Attentive is the word I’m most comfortable with.”

He chuckled. “Okay, you’re wondering why I’m suddenly so attentive.”

She wasn’t sure she wanted the answer to her next question. “Because you don’t want me with Luke?”

He crossed his arms and leaned his hip against the back counter. “I don’t want you with Luke.”

“Are you trying to make him look bad?” She regretted it as soon as she’d said it.

He looked very interested in that. “What does that mean?”

She shook her head. “Never mind. Forget it.”

She started to move past him, but he caught her arm and pulled her around to face him.

“I’m making him look bad?”

“You’re not trying?”

“Dammit, Seattle.” He hadn’t let go of her yet and he pulled her closer. He sounded intent rather than annoyed. “Tell me how I’m making him look bad.”

“You’re making me want you more than I want him.”

 

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Erin Nicholas is the author of sexy contemporary romances.  Her stories have been described as toe-curling, enchanting, steamy and fun.  She loves to write about reluctant heroes, flawed heroines, sex with food and happily ever afters.  She does not like to write dark moments, synopses or bios.  You can find Erin on the web at www.ErinNicholas.com, www.ninenaughtynovelists.blogspot.com, on Twitter (http://twitter.com/ErinNicholas) and even on Facebook (when necessary).


TOUR GIVEAWAYS

Erin will be awarding a grand prize of an Anything You Want Apple Pie Pack—red and white tote filled with red pot holders, a red & white apple apron and towel set, apple pie cookbook, gourmet apple pie filling and an apple pie scented candle to one randomly drawn commenter (US/Canada only please) and choice of an eBook from her backlist to one commenter at every stop.
Please 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/2012/03/virtual-book-tour-anything-you-want-by.html

Thanks so much, Erin, for spending a bit of time with us today. I wish you the best of luck with your novel. 

17 comments:

  1. Thanks for letting me stop by your site to talk about Anything You Want! :)
    Erin

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi Erin,
    By the end of this tour I am going to feel like a major stalker...LOL
    I was introduced to you and your books yesterday at the beginning of the tour. I am glad I read the post because your books sound absolutely wonderful. I look forward to learning more about you and your books on this tour. Congratulations and good luck.
    Michelle
    koonie2888 at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  3. Love the tour. This book sounds like a fun read. Can't wait to get it to see how everything plays out. See you at the next stop.

    e.balinski(at)att(dot)net

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hi, Michelle and Joanne!
    Thanks for following along! :) I promise not to get a restraining order! lol

    Erin

    www.ErinNicholas.com

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hi Erin,
    I'm a stalker too!
    Glad you finally found a perfect match for Sabrina. And I hope I'll win This f#%$-ing Book! Lol!
    Kanya :)
    kanyachhetATyahooDOTca

    ReplyDelete
  6. Erin...It's so interesting that the book just would not work the way you thought it would; the way that you had planned it. I sometimes hear writers talk about the characters driving the story and it sounds like they truly did in this case.

    catherinelee100 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  7. Great post. I'm going to buy Anything You Want right now. I can't wait to read it.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hi, Kanya! Glad to have you along for this ride! :)
    Catherine, Yes, they certainly did. Actually, having the characters drive the book is what usually happens to me. Not always to this extent but I've given up even trying to specifically plot. I figure out point A and point B and then just enjoy the journey *g*
    Thanks, Janna! What a huge compliment! Let me know what you think! :)
    Erin

    ReplyDelete
  9. Love this tour. I love the way your characters take over the story.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Erin,you're very welcome. I'm so happy to help share this wonderful novel with the world. I don't recall my characters ever doing what they wanted but I did have to write the ending of Chocolate Aftertaste maybe three or four times because Nora, my main character just wasn't happy. It can be hard to make sure everyone is happy isn't it?

    Your book certainly sounds very interesting and I'm sure it will take you far.

    Thanks everyone for passing by. I wish you a lovely day.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Hi, MomJane! Thanks for following along! :)
    Liz, oh... making everyone happy drives me crazy! Endings are the hardest for me!
    Erin

    ReplyDelete
  12. LOL, Erin. I love that your characters wouldn't let you write your original story. I'm glad you all were able to work things out.

    Good luck with the new release!

    Geishasmom73 AT yahoo DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  13. I think I am supposed to be entering for Linda (Kim's mom). Anyway, here's to the Magic Pixie (in my special cup)!

    ReplyDelete
  14. It seems that characters, like people, will do what they want to...I'm glad that yours did...
    Susan Shapley
    susanshapley@sutv.com

    ReplyDelete
  15. Very nice post and excerpt. The characters sound very interesting.

    bn100candg(at)hotmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  16. ROFL, Erin! Well, that's one reason to be a pantzer, right? Drat those uncooperative characters! :D Glad that they ended up with the people they were supposed to, even if they weren't the ones you'd thought at first! Thanks for the fun interview!

    f dot chen at comcast dot net

    ReplyDelete