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.