Gumbeaux Love by Jax Frey
Please welcome Jax Frey author of Gumbeaux Love
Gumbeaux Love
byJax Frey
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GENRE: Southern Women’s Fiction
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INTRVIEW:
- What or who inspired you to start writing?
I’ve always enjoyed the challenge of writing. When I was eight, I partnered with a girl in my neighborhood, and we hand-wrote a newspaper for our street called The Mithra Street Messenger. We put out one issue then our mothers made us quit because we had a Crimes section, which mostly featured the indignities inflicted upon me by my pesky brother. I still have a copy of the Messenger.
- How did you come up with ideas for your books?
You have to know first that I’m an artist. So years ago I started painting a series about strong women friendships. One day it struck me that the women in the paintings had a story to tell – one that would require me to sweat it out over a computer. What else could I do? Now I’m flat-out in love with the characters and don’t have a choice – I have to keep writing about them!
- As far as your writing goes, what are you future plans?
The Gumbeaux Sistahs adventures will continue! I have so many ideas for these women — they could stay in trouble for many years to come.
- If you could be one of the characters from any of your books, who would it be and why?
All of my characters are based on my real-life friends – and, believe me, I know some characters. I do love all the women in the book, but Dawn just cracks me up – so I suppose I might choose her.
- If you were the casting director for the film version of your novel, who would play your leading roles?
Oh I’ve never thought about this before – I’m completely lying. I think about it all the time. Here goes:
Judith – Diane Keaton or Annette Benning
Dawn – Jean Smart
Lola – Holly Hunter
Bea – Kathy Bates
Helen – Sissy Spacek
Bitsy – Octavia Spencer
OK that’s done – roll’em!
- What is the best and worst advice you ever received?
Best advice was given to me many years ago when I asked a mentor which marketing route I should pursue – blogs, ads, word of mouth, social media, articles, in-person sales, etc. He told me I had to suck it up and pursue them all until the best ones shook themselves out. I guarantee that put a fire under me!
- Do you have any hobbies and does the knowledge you’ve gained from these carry over into your characters or the plot of your books?
Oh yes – I’m an artist and so is Judith in the books. I’ve learned to work hard, educate myself, and be thick skinned. Judith has had to face all this as she develops her career as a full time artist too.
- Have you started your next project?
In fact, I’ve started this week on Book 3. I’m already having a blast thinking of how the Sistahs can get in trouble. The book should be out next summer.
- Can you tell us a little about the black moment in your book?
I don’t want to give anything away to those who haven’t read the book, but let me just say this: I wrote about the actual experience of one of my friends (with her permission, of course). What she went through and how she came out of it as the perfect, loving friend that I know today, I’ll never know.
- Can you tell us a little bit about what it’s like to write a series?
It’s almost as if the Sistahs have become real and I have to check in with them. I write to find out what they are up to lately —and they are always up to something. I find it very satisfying to be able to stay with the Sistahs over the years.
- Anything else?
Just let me say Thank you to the fans of the Gumbeaux Sistahs. So many women have written to say that they see themselves and their friends in these books and that it’s a joy to visit the Sistahs. Also, thank you for taking the time for this interview!
BLURB:
The adventures of the Gumbeaux Sistahs continues. Five, fiery southern women wage wars against their unique problems using their improbable friendships, hilarious evil-genius schemes, strategy sessions with oh-so-many cocktails, and a shared passion for good gumbo.
Single, Southern artist, Judith Lafferty, casually confesses to her Gumbeaux Sistahs that she is occasionally lonely and would like to fall in love again. Seriously – you’d think she would know to keep her mouth shut around these women by now. The sistahs tackle her problem along with their own with their usual unreasonable, extreme plots and schemes, including a kidnapping, a cupid costume, trying out pick-up lines at the cheese counter, and blind dates from hell. In helping out their friend, the sistahs help each other out as well and bring to light the many flavors of love in all of our lives. Be ready for twists, turns, laugh-out-loud times, and heart-wrenching moments. You’ll be sure to recognize yourself and your best friends in the unstoppable sistahs.
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EXCERPT:
Judith rinsed her juice glass in the kitchen sink just as the doorbell rang.
“Who in the world at this hour?” she thought, shaking her head and glancing at the clock on the wall. “It’s not even eight o’clock.”
She walked to the front door and started to open it, but before she could swing it open all the way, a hand clutching a paper coffee cup shoved its way inside, barely missing her face.
“What?” she yelped. Then she laughed. “Oh no, are you kidding me?” She opened the door to five Gumbeaux Sistahs, including Bea, Helen, Dawn, Lola, and Trinity who stood on her front stoop holding coffee. It was especially a surprise to see Trinity there since she lived across the lake and had a long way to come. But the most unexpected thing of all was Dawn, who stood there looking embarrassed as all get-out, wearing a big, red Cupid costume.
“Not again!” said Judith, rolling her eyes and remembering that this was exactly the way that the sistahs had originally kidnapped her and become her best friends in the world.
Dawn grimaced and said, “I don’t know why I’m always the one who has to wear a stupid costume.”
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AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Born in New Orleans, Jax came into this world with a sense of celebration of southern culture, food, family and fun. Translating that celebration into her writing and onto canvas is her true calling. Her colorful art depicts everything from her dancing Gumbeaux Sistahs paintings to her popular line of original Mini paintings of southern icons. Because over 25,000 of the mini paintings have been created and sold into art collections worldwide, Jax holds a world’s record for The Most Original Acrylic Paintings on Canvas by One Artist from the World’s Record Academy. Jax art and gifts can be seen at www.artbyjax.com.
Jax is also the co-founder of the Women of Infinite Possibilities, an empowering women’s organization started in Covington, LA, where Jax lives today with her loveable, tornado-of-a-pug named Lucy.
The Gumbeaux Sistahs’ series of novels is a work of love for Jax After painting the Sistahs for many years, she finally gives voice to these women characters who have something to say and constantly make Jax laugh when she writes about them. http://www.gumbeauxsistahs.com/
Amazon buy link:
https://www.amazon.com/Gumbeaux-Love-Book-Sistahs-novels-ebook/dp/B08GJ9FZX5/
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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE:
Jax Frey will be awarding a $25 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
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