That Guy and That Girl by Natalia Albrite
Please welcome Natalia Albrite author of That Guy and That Girl
Natalia Albrite will be awarding a $50 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
That Guy and That Girl
byNatalia Albrite
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GENRE: New Adult Contemporary Romance
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INTERVIEW:
1. What or who inspired you to start writing?
I was a frustrated screenwriter and lifelong lover of romance when I started writing That Guy and That Girl in May of 2018. I had just completed a feature length screenplay (with a long and twisty plot —that’s a story for another time). I wanted to write and I also needed a break from screenwriting. I turned to my lifelong love and refuge—romance novels!! So, I guess my inspiration came from a tired me but really and truly I was inspired by the amazing women who came before me and offered their incredible books to the world! I am forever grateful for the many long, restful hours I’ve had the privilege to spend between the pages of a romance novel!
2. How did you come up with ideas for your books?
I have this theory that I unconsciously write for and about myself in my books. Confession: sometimes I’m fully conscious of what I have in common with my characters. I also take my writing as the opportunity to give myself the fantasy that I’d love to live out. Would I love to be wrapped up in the arms of an elite athlete with a chiseled body? Heck yes! But of course, what would any good book be without struggles and obstacles. Those parts I wouldn’t necessarily wish on myself but I do enjoy getting in their heads and helping them find their way out. So basically, I come up with my ideas by allowing myself to play and fantasize about things that I am interested in exploring.
3. What expertise did you bring to your writing?
As I mentioned before, I’ve been screenwriting for years so I already had a strong sense of structure. Also, I’d like to make a case for being a lifelong consumer and lover of romance novels as a measure of expertise. I wish I knew how many I’ve read but I have to believe that the huge number has helped me learn quite a few things by osmosis!
4. What would you want your readers to know about you that might not be in your bio?
I feel like I should go ahead and explain that I haven’t had any of my screenplays bought or produced yet but a girl can dream! And I still have that dream. In fact, I hope to see my romance novel characters on the screen someday and dream of a series of produced movies. Wouldn’t that be amazing!? Also, I’m an actor though I’ve stepped back from auditioning recently. I’ve had bit roles in movies and commercials. You can find one on Youtube if you search for Capri Sun Big Pouch: Driver’s Test. I play the mom and you seriously can’t blink or you’ll miss me.
5. As far as your writing goes, what are your future plans?
I’m hooked! I plan to keep building out this series, Artists and Athletes. I currently have solid plans for a prequel novella, three more novellas that will fill in around the next two full-length novels. I won’t leave my readers hanging when it comes to the big side characters!
6. If you could be one of the characters from any of your books, who would it be and why?
Oh, that’s fun to think about! I would be John and quite simply because I’d love the experience of being in a man’s body. What would it feel like to move through the world so confidently? I’d sure like to find out!
7. If you were the casting director for the film version of your novel, who would play your leading roles?
Again, what a cool thing to ponder! What’s funny is that I posted the real life star inspirations for my second full length novel but I didn’t do that for this one. My dream casting would be Zoe Saldana for Olivia and a younger David Gandy for John. It’s gettin’ hot in here!!
8. Do you belong to a critique group? If so how does this help or hinder your writing?
I belong to a screenwriter’s group (shout out to the MoJoes!!). When I told them I would be taking a break from screenwriting to write a romance novel, I was met with encouragement and kindness. It has been essential to me to have a supportive community in every creative art that I try out. My actor friends are also amazing. So to answer the question, I’m not part of a novel writing critique group but I am part of a screenwriting critique group and they are tremendously important to helping me stay hopeful and grounded!
9. Do you outline your books or just start writing?
I am a mega outliner and I think it mostly relates back to my start in screenwriting. It’s a highly structured form so I really take rest in structure and crave it. Now, don’t get me wrong, I try to leave room for surprises but I don’t start writing until I can see the whole piece in outline form first. I started too many screenplays back in the day that never went anywhere because I reached the inevitable “what comes next?” wall. I don’t like that wall so I avoid it by outlining!
10. What is your favorite reality show?
I am OBSESSED with Queer Eye! Those guys and those episodes give me all the feels! They elevate reality TV to an amazing place because I find EVERY. SINGLE. EPISODE. to be so hopeful and so darn entertaining. I’m pretty sure I’ve laughed out loud and shed tears in every single one! But you know what? I’m not a reality TV snob. I have my guilty pleasures too. I keep getting hooked into The Bachelor and Bachelorette and my biggest guilty pleasure of late is Temptation Island which is a total hot mess but so fun to watch!
11. Anything else you might want to add?
I am so amazed at the generosity and sisterhood in the world of romance! I’m still such a newbie and barely have gotten my feet wet but I have easily found every resource I could wish for! I have wondered lately what took me so long to make this awesome decision! But, I’m not looking back, no way! I send out major shouts of gratitude to all and any connected to the world of romance! Thanks for all you do whether it’s write, read, or a combo!!
BLURB:
Olivia Meadows is excited to finish her senior year of college as a volleyball national champion beside her teammates and best friends. A complication arrives in the form of John Hunter, that guy, her brother’s best friend whom she has had a secret crush on since she was eleven years old. Effortlessly charming and handsome, with a body honed by years of playing football, John initiates his charm offensive and Olivia finds herself unable to resist him.
John Hunter is pumped to finish his senior year of college as a football national champion beside his teammate and best friend. The only thing missing is that girl, Olivia Meadows, his best friend’s little sister. He needed to sow some wild oats before settling down with Olivia but now he is ready for something serious with the girl he has always admired.
Be careful what you wish for. John and Olivia find themselves dealing with adult consequences very quickly and wondering if their young love can endure the pressures of adulthood. Will they find deeper love or implode from the pressures of their own making?
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EXCERPT:
I spot Marcus in my dad’s hand-me-down Maxima with John in the front seat next to him. Oh jeez. John Hunter. He’s that guy. He’s the stuff of young girls’ dreams and I gave him up long ago by trying to turn my eyes to other guys. The way I see it, it’s like this: 1) he’s Marcus’s best friend and I have no interest in messing up their friendship; 2) he’s not an intentional player but he’s a player just the same; and 3) thank you, but I’ll skip the broken heart, please. I’ve grown up in proximity to this handsome devil for most of my life and he still manages to make my stomach drop when I see him.
It’s such a cliché to say that he’s tall, dark and handsome but clichés work for a reason—they’re inescapable kernels of truth. John is tall at a striking six feet and four inches. He’s dark with his almost-black hair and deep brown eyes. I can’t forget the handsome with his perfectly structured jaw line. Ridiculous. Just by looking at him, I can feel my adrenaline kicking in and the sweat gathering. Great.
I plaster an annoyed look on my face because that’s how we interact with each other. That’s part of our unwritten script. He plays the charming rogue and I play the cynical wallflower who is suspicious of all his kind gestures. He jumps out and does a half-bow. “Madame, your chariot,” he says as he gestures to the front seat.
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AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Natalia is a lifelong reader and lover of romance novels. Before finally tapping away at her keyboard to create her own stories, she tried all sorts of professions: elementary school teacher, barista, seller of make-up, baker, and the list goes on. When she isn’t pursuing the arts, she’s hanging out with her husband, two wacky children, and full-figured Corgi.
Website:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/NAlbrite
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCD-cYs7QgaRDMJMSy2QimNA
Instagram: http://instagram.com/nataliaalbrite
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nataliaalbrite/
Buy link:
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B07PCQ1H6S/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i0
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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE:
Natalia Albrite will be awarding a $50 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
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