Stranded in Love by

Please welcome  author of Stranded in Love

Victoria Grant will be awarding 3 signed paperback copies of the book to randomly drawn winners (North America Only) via rafflecopter during the tour.

Stranded in Love

by Victoria Grant

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GENRE: Contemporary Romance

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INTERVIEW:

1. What or who inspired you to start writing?

My parents instilled a love of reading in me at an early age and that naturally evolved to me writing stories.  Every English and Creative Writing teacher told me I had a natural ability and that I should find a career where I could use it.  One of them even said I was a playwright.  I haven’t penned a play yet, I’m having too much fun writing romances, but you never know!

2. What expertise did you bring to your writing?

I bring my life experiences to my writing. If I’d written this book in my twenties or thirties, it would be very different because I’d only just begun to live my life. Learning how to handle the real-life problems that were thrown into my path through the years made me a stronger person and I know those experiences add depth and spice to my writing.

3. If you were the casting director for the film version of your novel, who would play your leading roles?

If I were the casting director for the film version of Stranded in Love, I would choose the very pretty actress Julie Gonzalo as Laney Calderone and the handsome Henry Cavill as Tyler Hammond.  For Laney’s parents, Eve and Boyd, I know Susan Sullivan and James Brolin are perfect. Laney’s eldest brother, Stephen, would be played by Dylan McDermott. For Laney’s ex-fiancé, Ramone DeSantis, I choose Nicholas Gonzales, and for Tracy, Tyler’s soon-to-be ex-wife, I like Nina Dobrev. To round out Laney’s brothers, I have in mind a young Robert Redford for Charles, Chris Hemsworth for Jamie, and a young Pierce Brosnan for Noel.

4. What is the best and worst advice you ever received? (regarding writing or publishing)

The best advice I was given was to write what I love to read. You can’t please everyone, so you’ve got to enjoy what you write. There’ll always be someone out there who won’t like it, but there’ll always be that reader that understands your words and whose day is made brighter because they’ve enjoyed your novel.

The worst advice was to not bother writing at all because the contemporary romance genre is already swamped. Okay, that may be true, but no other author writes like I do, so, even though I’m a newbie, I know that my “voice” (my unique writing style, beautiful settings, exciting plots and sizzling dialogue) will appeal to many readers.

5. Do you outline your books or just start writing?

I always outline; however, I don’t always stick to every element I’ve outlined. If I discover a more interesting turn in the plot when I’m in the middle of it, I’ll go with it. But for the most part, especially for a series, there are certain storylines and scenarios I have to follow in order to keep the characters and the timelines moving forward.

6. Does the knowledge you’ve gained from your jobs or hobbies carry over into your characters or the plot of your book?

I recently began writing a novel where the leading lady is a wedding coordinator, which is a job I know very well – I owned a wedding and event planning company for six years, so my experience will be invaluable in creating interesting characters and an entertaining plot.

7.Do you have an all-time favorite book?

No, I love reading so much, I couldn’t choose just one favourite. I do have favourite books by my favourite authors.  For instance, I read The Man with a Load of Mischiefby Martha Grimes every Christmastime, it’s a witty and clever holiday murder mystery. I also read The Big Fourby Agatha Christie at least once a year. She’s been a favourite author of mine since I was a young girl, I have her complete collection in my library. I could go on, but we’d be here a while. J

8. Have you started your next project? If so, can you share a little bit about your book?

Yes, I’d love to. Stranded in Loveis Book #1 in the Calderone Family Romance Series, which is set in the beautiful city of Toronto. Book #2, Write to Love,is scheduled to be available next year. It’s the story of Noel, the youngest brother and playboy of the family, and the issues that arise when he meets sassy, raven-haired KC Dunlop, a newly published author.

I’m currently finishing Book #6, the final book in this series, which tells the story of the parents, Eve and Boyd, and the problems they had to contend with to find their happily ever after.

9. Can you tell us a little bit about what it was like to write a series.

When I first wrote Stranded in Love, I didn’t even think about it becoming a series, but the idea took up residence in my mind and it wouldn’t budge, so I decided why fight it? I created spreadsheets for each character (their likes/dislikes, etc.), each novel (major and minor plot lines) and constantly refer back to them. I enjoy continuing with my characters’ lives, and although each Calderone sibling has their own love story, all the other siblings and their new partners make an appearance. I think readers like knowing that once they’ve finished a novel, they’ll still be able to check back in with the characters they’ve come to know and love and enjoy catching up with them.

10.Anything else you might want to add?
Thank you for hosting this Blog.  I hope your readers will take a chance on a new author because Stranded in Loveis a sexy, fun, romantic comedy, and each subsequent novel in the Calderone Family Romance Series will be just as exciting to read. And I’d love to hear from you, so please drop me a line and let me know how you liked my debut novel.

Thanks, I enjoyed my visit.

BLURB:

If a gold medal was awarded for Worst Day Ever, Laney Calderone would win it today, hands down. She’s just discovered she’s pregnant, her fiancé abruptly dumps her when she tells him, and her new car refuses to start as a brutal snowstorm hits Toronto.

Good Samaritan Tyler Hammond offers to take her home; however, with the heavy snow falling and his patience dwindling, Laney’s gold medal day isn’t over yet.

Storms intensify both outside and in as Laney finds herself inexplicably attracted to this tall, dark and very handsome but infuriating stranger.

Can Laney fight her unwanted yet increasing desire for this man long enough to get through the relentless storm? And will Tyler let her walk out of his life as easily as she came into it?

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EXCERPT:

Laney slammed the door shut then lifted the hood. Now, she thought, what exactly is it I’m supposed to be looking for? Her eyes roamed the assorted engine circuitry wishing she could see a flashing neon sign with the words Push this Button to Restart Engine.

No such luck. The heavy, wet snow covered the engine and she shivered again trying to brace herself against the powerful squalls.

“Need any help?” a deep voice penetrated the howling wind.

Laney heaved another sigh as she looked up and saw someone approaching. “No, of course not!” she snapped, in no mood for stupid questions. “I often come out here late at night during raging blizzards to study the complexities of my car engine! Would you like to join me? Perhaps later we could pop into the coffee shop down the street for a latté and scone, just to finish the evening off right.”

A low chuckle escaped the stranger’s lips. “All right, as you seem to have the situation under control, I’ll leave you to it. Goodnight.”

“Wait —” Through the swirls of snow Laney was now very much aware of the man approaching. Her eyes took in his massive shoulders hidden beneath a black leather jacket, and as he got closer, her gaze wandered higher taking in the full lips creased in a smile, a finely chiselled nose and steel grey eyes that seemed to be twinkling, then thick, dark curls which refused to be flattened by the huge, wet flakes.

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Born in England to a Monty Python-loving dad and a Lawrence Welk-loving mum – tea drinkers all – we moved to Canada when I was seven. “Say book, say look” my new classmates would hound me just so they could have a good chuckle at my accent. But being incredibly shy, this was a great way for me to make friends.

My love of words and a creative imagination prompted English teachers to urge me to write for a living, especially after I got a letter from the Prime Minister who thanked me for writing to him!  So cool for a twelve-year-old!

Through the years, I wrote while I earned a living as an Administrative Assistant in various companies; then I owned a Wedding Coordination business for six years (talk about romance!), all the while being happily married to the love of my life.

These interesting jobs plus wedded bliss gave me oodles of ideas for romantic plot lines, tall, dark and handsome heroes and feisty, beautiful heroines, and, of course, the happily ever afters.

I currently live in Mississauga and spend time with family and friends, and struggle daily with the wine and chocolate that somehow magically appear in my house…

And, amidst the endless cups of strong tea, while the dead parrot sketch and Cole Porter songs whirl around in my brain, I write. I will always write romances because I love creating fascinating characters whose lives I can make completely miserable before I give them their happily ever after.

Victoria

Social Media Links:

Website: https://www.victoriagrantromance.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/victoriagrantromance/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/VGrantRomance

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17693887.Victoria_Grant

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.ca/551c125bfc1823dfb5f031b29b2212/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vgrantromance/

Amazon Author Page: https://authorcentral.amazon.com/gp/profile

Buy Links:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Stranded-Love-Victoria-Grant-ebook/dp/B07995YY8Q/

Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/stranded-in-love-victoria-grant/1127888894

Chapters: https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/home/search/?keywords=stranded%20in%20love%20victoria%20grant#internal=1

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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE

Victoria Grant will be awarding 3 signed paperback copies of the book to randomly drawn winners (North America Only) via rafflecopter during the tour.

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