Return of the Runaway Bride by Nancy Fraser

Posted: July 14, 2021/By: achristay@aol.com

Please welcome Nancy Fraser author of Return of the Runaway Bride

Nancy Fraser will be awarding a $25 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

Return of the Runaway Bride

byNancy Fraser

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

GENRE: Contemporary Romance – Steamy

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

INTERVIEW:

1.What or who inspired you to start writing?

As crazy as it sounds, I started writing on a dare. A co-worker who was an avid reader of romance offered me a book to read on lunch break one day. I made the foolish statement that “anyone could write one of those”. She dared me to try. So, as a lark, I read the offered book, wrote three chapters of my own, and I was hooked. That was 1994, and I’ve been writing and publishing ever since.

2.How did you come up with ideas for your books?

I actually have a couple of different processes. Sometimes, it’s just something that comes to me when I’m doing something mundane (like housework). Most often, it’s a picture of a woman or man. From that, I’ll often create a mock book cover, and from that and idea for a story. I have covers made for books all the way through 2024. Now, all I have to do is write the books.

3. What expertise did you bring to your writing?

Not that I want to make a big deal out of being ancient, but I had three full careers prior writing full time. When I say “full”, I mean 10+ years in each. I bring experience from the legal, medical, and education field. I often write attorney heroes/heroine, professors, architects, and even a few military types. My longest run of “expertise” was in the medical field. Yet, out of 40+ books, I’ve only got one doctor hero.

4.What would you want your readers to know about you that might not be in your bio?

Something fairly new on the business side of writing. In addition to moving from traditional publishing to self-publishing, I’ve also taken on the task of publisher for multi-author group projects. On the fun side of personal…I’m a Las Vegas groupie. I love the place and can’t wait to go back.

5.As far as your writing goes, what are your future plans?

Ah … so much to do and so little time. I put out a book a month, so my plans are always to write, edit, promote, and repeat. In August I’ll be publishing one of my group projects, an anthology of four full length books that cover four centuries. Our tag line: Four different centuries. Four to-die-for romances. The same two ghosts. It’s been a real challenge but pleasure putting this together.

If you could be one of the characters from any of your books, who would it be and why?

The obvious answer is almost any of my much younger, sexier heroines. However, seriously, I’d love to be Professor Cate Matthews from my Cougars & Cubs story, Seduced by the Handyman. She’s 42, has a wonderful career she loves, a brand-new condo, and a sexy man who’s 15 years her junior. Who wouldn’t want to be her?

9.When did you first decide to submit your work? Please tell us what or who encouraged you to take this big step?

This question takes me back to question #1. I eventually finished that dare book, and had it rejected by Harlequin. Back then, they gave you great advice with their rejections. I practiced with a few less than stellar stories. Then, in 1996, I met the wonderful Kate Duffy from Kensington Books. After a brief meeting at an RWA conference in Dallas, she nudged me to send in my book. That was my first published novel, Courting Trouble. The rest is history!

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

So much advice. The best: grow a thick skin. You’ll never survive without it. Whether it’s overcoming a rejection, or receiving a bad review. You have to accept that everyone has an opinion and a preference. And, your book might not be what they wanted. The worst advice: Stay away from self-publishing, it’s for those who can’t cut it with the real publishers. I’m so glad I ignored that advice. It took me awhile, but I love being my own boss … even when I send myself a rejection memo.

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

At the moment I’m putting the finishing touches on my September release. Titled, Never Enough, it was originally supposed to be my Last Chance Beach story. However, the book got away from me. It took on a life of its own and morphed into something far steamier than what I wanted for Last Chance Beach. It’s also set on an island, but it’s a take on a one-night stand. Two broken people meet at a resort and embark on a one-week affair. The problem will be walking away afterward. An author friend did a quick beta read for me and told me two things: she needed a cold shower, and her hubby said “thank you”.

Can you tell us a little about the black moment in your book?

There are a couple. The first is predictable, given she’s a runaway bride and he’s the jilted groom. As badly as they want each other, can they face the possibility of it falling through a second time. The less predictable one involves a mutual friend and a confession that was a long-time coming.

At the moment I have four series in different stages. Some are linked only by the subject matter. For instance, my Cougars & Cubs series, is linked only by the fact that all the books are older women, younger men. They don’t interconnect.

My Love’s a Gamble Series, is a family saga. So, each book leads into the next. All the books are complete stand-alone stories with their how HEA. However, the characters, locations, and supporting characters, move from book to book. The logistics for keeping it all straight requires a couple of very intricate spreadsheets.

Then, there’s also the multi-author series, like Last Chance Beach. Return of the Runaway Bride is the second in the LCB line, with 18 more books by various authors scheduled over the next two years. I also have a multi-author holiday series, Dickens Holiday Romance, that will publish every holiday season. While these books are the responsibility of the individual authors, because they all take place in the same location, coordination is key. So, again, intricate spreadsheets. I’ve become the spreadsheet queen!

BLURB:

Five years earlier, Emily Bennett ran out on Chase Michaels on the eve of their wedding. At twenty-two, she wanted more than the island of Last Chance Beach could offer. Intent on making a name for herself as a world-class journalist, she left to take a job with a big city newspaper.

Chase Michaels left Last Chance Beach not long after having his heart broken and joined the Coast Guard in an effort to rebuild his life. Returning four years later for a family emergency, he decided to stay and go into business with his best friend.

Emily’s returning as well. Not as the journalist she’d hoped to be but as a bestselling romance author. One of her books is about to be made into a movie, and filming will take place on Last Chance Beach and in the mainland town of Summerville.

Will Emily’s return give them a second chance at the love they once shared? Or, will her ‘other’ reason for leaving put a wedge between three best friends that can’t be healed by time or intention?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

EXCERPT:

Last Chance Beach Wedding Chapel

Five Years Earlier

Chase Michaels stood at the front of the non-denominational chapel, in muted conversation with the justice of the peace. He turned slowly, surveying the half-dozen guests who’d been invited to the wedding rehearsal.

The only persons missing were his best friend Jared, Mr. and Mrs. Bennett and Emily, his bride-to-be.

Carly and Becca, Emily’s bridesmaids, hovered nearby.

“I’ve heard of a bride being late for the wedding before,” Carly whispered, “but the rehearsal?”

“You know Emily,” Becca responded, shaking her head in teasing resignation. “She does like to make an entrance.”

When the back door of the chapel opened, everyone raised their gazes in anticipation. Rather than the blushing bride, it was Jared Wilson, Chase’s best man, who entered the sanctuary and made his way down the narrow aisle.

Stopping just short of the flower-covered altar, he pulled Chase aside.

“She’s gone,” Jared said, his words falling like a lead brick on Chase ’s ears.

“What do you mean ‘gone’? Gone where?”

“Mrs. Bennett said Emily packed her suitcase, gassed up her car, and left. She’s on her way to Boston for a job interview.” Jared stuck his hand in the pocket of his jeans and withdrew a velvet pouch. “She left this for you.”

Chase didn’t need to look to know what was in the bag. After all, he’d been the one to give the modest ring to Emily in the first place. Drawing a deep breath, he spun around and faced his friends and family.

“Thank you all for being here for the wedding rehearsal.” Blinking back the threat of tears, he met his mother’s worried gaze. “However, there will be no need to practice. The wedding’s been called off.”

“Called off?” Carly asked. She and Becca exchanged glances and then closed the distance between themselves and where he stood. “If Emily’s got cold feet, we’ll straighten her out.”

Chase gave a quick shake of his head and bit back the string of curses welling up from within. “Emily’s gone. She sent back the ring and, as we speak, she’s on her way to Boston, eager it seems to put both me and Last Chance Beach in her rearview mirror.”

One-by-one, the guests slowly filtered out of the chapel, Carly and Becca giving Chase a hug of support. His mom wrapped her arms around his middle and squeezed, nearly drawing the tears he was fighting so hard to contain. Within minutes, he was left standing at the altar alone, but for the best friend he’d known since kindergarten.

“Are you okay, Chase?” Jared asked.

“No, but I will be. Just not anytime soon.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

NANCY FRASER—Jumping Across Romance Genres with Gleeful Abandon—is an Amazon Top 100 and Award-Winning author who can’t seem to decide which romance genre suits her best. So, she writes them all.

Like most authors, Nancy began writing at an early age, usually on the walls and with crayons or, heaven forbid, permanent markers. Her love of writing often made her the English teacher’s pet which, of course, resulted in a whole lot of teasing. Still, it was worth it.

Nancy has published over forty books in full-length, novella, and short format. When not writing (which is almost never), Nancy dotes on her five wonderful grandchildren and looks forward to traveling and reading when time permits. Nancy lives in Atlantic Canada where she enjoys the relaxed pace and colorful people.

Website: www.nancyfraser.ca

Facebook: http://facebook.com/nancyfraserauthor

Twitter: https://twitter.com/nfraserauthor @nfraserauthor

Bookbub: http://bookbub.com/profile/nancy-fraser

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Nancy-Fraser/e/B004AOL61Y/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7206382.Nancy_Fraser

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3gC68iMStwKCr4v_S6fMIA

Newletter Sign Up: http://eepurl.com/bxkKvD

Website~ Facebook~ Twitter~ Bookbub

Amazon Author Page~ Goodreads~ YouTube~ Newsletter

The book will be $0.99 during the tour.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~