Zoey’s Place by E. M. Bannock
Please welcome E. M. Bannock author of Zoey’s Place
E.M. Bannock will be awarding a $15 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
Zoey’s Place
by E.M. Bannock
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GENRE: Modern Adult Romance w/Erotic elements
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INTERVIEW:
1.What or who inspired you to start writing?
My best childhood memory of my father was his storytelling and how easy it was for him. Before the Internet and in a time when you only got a few TV channels, people did more facetime. Not like the kind we do today. I mean real face-to-face time. You interacted with people, your family, and your kids a lot more. On Saturday mornings, when my dad didn’t have to go to work, and we didn’t have to go to school, we kids would huddle together with dad in bed as he told us tales of a bad boy who put his nose in a hole in a fence and it got painted with blue paint that never came off, or of two friends named Pi-zellu and Za-ochu who explored places together. They got in trouble a lot but always found a way out.
I enjoyed reading at an early age. We had a lot of kids in our family and reading gave me a way to escape my life and live the adventure of my current book. I enjoyed poetry and wrote a bit of it. Unlike most kids in high school, I loved assignments that involved a lot of writing. I gave being an author a thought but quickly realized that I needed to put food on the table first. I always wanted to write a book. After my husband and I became empty nesters I had more time to do things I wanted to do, which meant writing my book. The desire came before the idea but once I got that, I knew it was the right time to actually write it.
I believe it was kismet that the small inheritance I got from my father’s passing gave me the funds to publish my first book. Thanks, dad.
2.How did you come up with ideas for your books?
The stories for my books begin with a thought. Then, like a seed in soil, it begins to grow. I’ve written two books and the storyline came to me quickly in each case but in a slightly different way. At the beginning of my first book, Totally Devoted, the main character is in a jet, circling over Detroit. In truth, I got the idea for that book, in a jet, circling over Detroit. The whole story from beginning to end came like a bolt of lightning, all the detail, the characters, the setting, the time period. Very strange.
My second book, Zoey’s Place, was a little different. It started as a story challenge. That one page snippet was the seed that got nurtured by my imagination and became the opening of the book. I quickly had a main character and a basic idea of her life and personality. I created a rough story line. Once I decided how I wanted it to begin and how I wanted it to end all I had to do was think of the detours that would occur in between.
When I am writing a book, my mind is constantly writing the next chapter. It doesn’t matter if I’m shopping, cleaning house, making dinner, the book and its story are always playing. Little things
I see, do, or say will trigger a thought as it relates to the story. That’s how it was with Zoey’s Place. I saw a picture of Lake Tahoe and decided to check it out on the Internet. I was amazed at its beauty and discovered that there is lakeside city named Incline Village that is situated on the Nevada side of Lake Tahoe. The homes in this exclusive city are very high end. It became the location of Zoey and Mickey’s hide-away home. Mickey often did work in Las Vegas. But he always found the time to be with Zoey at their private Shangri-La. A lot happens in that house. All of that from a picture I happen to see on the Internet.
3.What expertise did you bring to your writing?
I am a reader. I consider that a great asset. I know how a good book should read. I also have two college degrees. One is in Computer Science. I had to learn how to write technical manuals for the programs I wrote. You know, those pamphlets that no one reads. The expertise I got from that is logic and order. Without that your program doesn’t work. A good story doesn’t work without a logical natural flow. I always strived to make my manuals very user friendly. I try to carry that over in my books by using language that everyone can relate to in everyday context. I want everyone to feel like my characters are their friends.
4.What would you want your readers to know about you that might not be in your bio?
That I’m a fantastic cook. Being the oldest girl in a large family meant that I learned how to cook at an early age. By the time I was 10 I could make spaghetti sauce from scratch and often did. When I was twenty, I became a vegetarian. This meant that I had to learn to cook things for myself. Most of my married life I’ve lived in remote little towns that have no grocery stores within a 40 mile radius let alone take out. So, I’ve had to depend on my cooking skills even more. No one complains and everyone eats. My menu today includes fish, dairy, and eggs so I’m not vegan. I do cook meat for family and friends, just don’t eat it. I understand I make a mean elk stew. Wouldn’t know, never tasted it.
5.As far as your writing goes, what are your future plans?
As long as I am physically and financially able, I plan to continue writing. Ideally, I’d like to publish a book ever year or two, with a release of the audio book a year after publication. I’ve got lots of idea seeds in my brain that I think could bloom into fantastic stories.
6.If you could be one of the characters from any of your books, who would it be and why?
I kind of put my main characters through hell and back so I don’t think I want any of that.
I know this is the Zoey’s Place virtual tour, but Zoey is just a bit too busy for me. I think I would rather be Marie from Totally Devoted. I’m more inclined to the restful lifestyle she enjoys at the end of that book.
7.Do you outline your books or just start writing?
I’m a very visual type of person and find that an outline helps me with the order of events. The outline is very basic at the beginning before I begin the actual writing. I usually keep a timeline with dates and major events that I fill in as I write. I find it keeps me on track towards my end goal. I fill in major details as the chapters unfold.
8.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?
Except for horseback riding, the carry overs into my characters and plots for my books are more from my personal experiences, places I’ve lived or gone to, and people I have known and not from any hobby of mine. Although I like to keep busy, I have very few hobbies.
Living in a rural community usually means you ride horses and you explore the countryside when ever you can. I did this in California, Oregon, and Wyoming. The horse knowledge played heavy in Totally Devoted. It enabled me to describe the Oregon mountains in that book with great detail. And it came out in Wil’s horsemanship and knowledge of mountain living.
In most cases if I am describing a city or a natural setting like mountains, or lakes, then chances are that I’ve really been there. In Zoey’s Place I give you a glimpse of what it’s like where I live now. She describes a character’s eyes as being “as blue as a wild Wyoming sky.” That’s the sky I live under every day.
It seems like we do more ATV riding in the mountains these days. The horses are more pets than anything. But I sure have been in some of the most beautiful places on earth on the back of my horse through the years and the memories stay fresh in my mind.
9.Do you have an all time favorite book?
Without a doubt it is the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon. The love story between Claire and Jamie Fraser is the greatest love story ever told. They are romantic, sexual, brave, and willing to give their life for the other. Their love withstands great trials and endures through it all. Diana Gabaldon has a way of weaving such an exciting story. It’s even better now that there is a TV series based on the books. The casting is perfect. I love having faces to put on the characters as I read the books.
The first book is about how Jamie and Claire meet and fall in love. At this point in the series they are about to reach their sixties. I feel as if I’ve been lifelong friends with them.
10.Have you started your next project? If so, can you share a little bit about your book?
Yes, I have started my next project and I’d love to share a bit with you. My local lady friends have been on me to write a book about the rural community we live in and highlight some of the more memorable personalities of its residents. Erotic romance books like mine are frowned upon by more than a few of my neighbors. And there are many men who not only cannot take orders from a woman but feel a threat to their masculinity when around strong minded women.
To protect the guilty, the book will take place in the late 1800’s when outlaws and Native Americans were plentiful in these parts. It was still very wild and free, only for the brave. The main character, of course, will be a strong-willed woman who has to struggle for survival in a male dominated world. It will be fun to show how much things have changed and also how much they haven’t. She will find love but he’s got to be a rare breed to be able to tame that filly.
11.Anything else you might want to add?
In closing I’d like to thank my host, Christine Young, for this tour stop. And give a huge thank you to all that stop by. I’m happy to share my thoughts with you all and hope you find my books exciting, sexy, and that they leave you wanting more.
BLURB:
Zoey DeLucca is a successful Michigan divorce attorney. Growing up the center of a bitter custody battle between her neglectful mother and her caring father convinced her to become a Family Law attorney and champion the father’s that seldom won in court.
Her handsome husband, Mickey, works for an oil development company. The money is great but as he climbs the corporate ladder, he must spend more time traveling and away from home.
It was love at first sight when they met in college. Their storybook marriage is the envy of all of their friends. They keep the spark in their marriage glowing red hot with wild, uninhibited behaviors in the bedroom. So why does the feeling of impending doom occupy Zoey’s thoughts?
Zoey’s Place is a modern erotic romance about bonding friendships and life’s lessons. See how Zoey handles the challenges that come her way. Experience her joys, fears, and unusual solutions.
This book contains explicit sex scenes and very mature subject matter. It is intended for adult pleasures only. So, turn on the fan, because it’s going to get hot!
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EXCERPT:
It was early evening. A scarlet sunset had faded into muted grey tones. The shimmering reflection of the moon danced on the surface of the lake as the lovers emerged naked, hand in hand.
The subject of love was not brought up nor was the word uttered by either. But it was love that was made that night. It was passionate and personal. They were two unwittingly becoming one.
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AUTHOR Bio and Links:
E.M. Bannock grew up in the Detroit suburbs. She is the second child of seven and eldest daughter of a working class family. Her parents had traditional, old style, European ideals which clashed with her modern, adventurous personality. The daughters were not encouraged to attend college. Instead they were expected to get married, have children, and be homemakers.
Her father was a great storyteller and sparked her love for writing. In high school she enjoyed writing short stories and poetry.A small inheritance from her father gave her the funds needed to begin her career as a published author. She has published two books, Totally Devoted, which is also available in audio, and Zoey’s Place.
Born with the wanderlust, she found herself in Los Angeles. LA was an exciting place to be in the early 70’s and she experienced all that it had to offer. She met her husband there.
Marie and her small family have lived in California, Oregon, Alaska, Florida, and Wyoming, where she now lives with her small family which includes a spoiled dog and cat, two horses, also spoiled, and a brood of chickens that live like queens in the chicken-coupe-de-ville.
She has made her living as an office manager, computer programmer/analysts, project manager, clothing sales person, substitute teacher, and buffalo meat packer. Throughout it all, she never lost her love for writing.
E.M. Bannock is a Goodreads Author, a BookHub Author, a member of the Romance Writers of America, and a Rocky Mountain Fiction Writer. Her book, “Totally Devoted” is a finalist for a 2019 NERFA (National Excellence in Romance Fiction Award) in two categories.
Web site: www.embannock.com
Facebook: E.M. Bannock – Author https://www.facebook.com/EMBannock/
Twitter: @EMBannock
Instagram: e_m_bannock
Buy links: https://www.amazon.com/Zoeys-Place-M-Bannock-ebook/dp/B07SCPT611/
The book will be $0.99 during the tour.
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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE:
E.M. Bannock will be awarding a $15 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
Please use this rafflecopter code on your post:
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