Something Lost by Bernadette Marie

Please welcome Bernadette Marie author of Something Lost

Something Lost

by Bernadette Marie

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GENRE: Contemporary Romance

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INTERVIEW:

1. What or who inspired you to start writing? I wanted to write a movie, which I would star in at thirteen (ambitious huh?) But, that’s where the passion to put pen to paper started. Soon I was sucked into novels, which I shouldn’t have been reading, and the rest is history.
   2. How did you come up with ideas for your books? This series, Funerals and Weddings, came from a brainstorming session I’d blocked out for myself. I wrote down some names, paired them up, and the story built around them.
   3. What expertise did you bring to your writing? This series might be one of my darkest, tackling inner demons. Luckily, my demons have never been more than a bit annoying, but having learned to deal with them (anxiety) has helped me create these characters who believe that mental health is important enough to take care of.
   4. What would you want your readers to know about you that might not be in your bio? I have to write myself notes so I remember what I was doing if I walk away from it. I have at least sixty tabs open on multiple browsers, so its no wonder I get sucked into rabbit holes.
   5. As far as your writing goes, what are your future plans? I plan to keep cranking out the books. I do think I’m going to try my hand at romantic comedy now, though. I’m up for the challenge.
   6. If you could be one of the characters from any of your books, who would it be and why? This question always stumps me, because a little bit of me lives in all my characters. But, I suppose I’d go back to Kennedy Devereaux who owns the pink boutique full of girlie stuff. I’d love to do that.
   8. What is the best and worst advice you ever received? (regarding writing or publishing) WORST:I independently published before it was a norm. You were told that independently publishing your books was a last stand, it meant you couldn’t hack it in the real publishing world, and you shouldn’t publish yourself or no one will ever buy you. The thought that books aren’t of quality or have no story line is WRONG! Had I listened to that criticism, I would not be publishing my 50^thtitle this year. Nor would I have ridden #1 spaces on Amazon and iTunes for weeks a time.

BEST: The best writing advice ever given to me, which often is credited to me, actually came from a BIG time author. That advice was to puke out your book. Get every ounce of it out of you before you even think about editing. You can kill your progress, and the story by editing it too soon.
11. Do you outline your books or just start writing? There is always intent to outline, but in the end I just start writing and it keeps going.
12. 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? I am a second degree black belt and certified instructor of Tang Soo Do. That knowledge carries over into my characters often. Currently, they need my knowledge to get out of a sticky situation, and it helps for me to think in that way for them.
13. Do you have an all time favorite book? If Tomorrow Comes by Sidney Sheldon
14. Have you started your next project? If so, can you share a little bit about your book? The next project is to finish this series. After that, I will finish a “fake date” Christmas book, and hopefully have it out in time for the Holidays.
15. Who is your favorite actor and actress?Tom Hanks is a favorite at my house. As for actresses, I don’t know that I have one. Not a one comes to mind.
16. Can you tell us a little about the black moment in your book? Rachel has a lot of black moments in her story. She found her brother after his suicide, which led her to cutting and drinking. This is her backstory, but it turned her into wanting to help others, and she became a therapist. When she’s stuck in the crossfire of an active shooter situation, she relies on those moments to get her through.
17. What is your favorite reality show? I’m not into reality shows, but my husband love those Alaskan shows. Living there, mining there, building there…you know. So I suppose I have developed a like for them.
18. Can you tell us a little bit about what it was like to write a series. I love to write series. Mixing multiple characters together to build on other stories is intriguing. There are a lot of details to keep track of, and for the organizationally challenged, like me, that can be a chore. But, it’s so rewarding to keep letting characters grow from book to book.

BLURB:

Saying goodbye is sometimes the beginning.

Craig Turner was Coach Diaz’s star player, back in the day. He was held in high regard, until he broke the rules and dated the coach’s daughter. Young and stupid, his affection for her lasted until graduation, and then it was time to face the real world–but his love for her would never leave him.

Rachel Diaz became who her father wanted her to be, a well educated, well traveled, successful woman, but she holds a well full of secrets from the outside world. As a high school therapist, she uses her past traumas to help others overcome their own.

When the Fabulous Five arrive at Coach Diaz’s funeral, to pay their respects, a rekindling happens between them all—and between Craig and Rachel.

Is Rachel woman enough to face her demons and is Craig man enough to accept them? Or will their encounter be as brief as the affair they had a decade ago, behind her father’s back?

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EXCERPTS:

“Dr. Olivia Chasen,” Santa’s jolly baritone popped her mental fuzzy bubble.

She stopped as she struggled to whirl around. “Me?” She touched her chest with a dramatic flourish she didn’t know she possessed.

A powerful spotlight illuminated her; its heat burned her already flushed face.

She pressed a clammy palm to her chest. “How do you know my name?” The haze in her mind was paralyzing all cognitive function.

“My dear girl,” Santa chuckled, “you should know by now that Santa knows everything and everyone,” he tapped an index finger to his temple.

Santa Claus turned to address the waiting line. “Girls, Boys, Moms, Dads, everyone, if you don’t mind waiting for a brief moment, I’d like for Olivia,” he pointed a white gloved finger at her, “to please come up here on stage, and tell me what she wants for Christmas.”

She stood dumbfounded as the audience and the people in line clapped and chanted her name, “Olivia! Olivia! Olivia!”

Oh no! What was she going to do? She couldn’t possibly go up onto that stage. She was far too shy to address a theater full of people.

But if she didn’t go that would be so unexciting and so like the old Olivia.

But she wasn’t unexciting! She was the new Olivia, and she was exciting! And she wanted to have fun! Correction: She was determined to have fun. Besides, she’d never see these people—her fellow passengers—ever again.

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Bestselling Author Bernadette Marie is known for building families readers want to be part of. Her series The Keller Family has graced bestseller charts since its release in 2011. Since then she has authored and published over thirty-five books. The married mother of five sons promises romances with a Happily Ever After always…and says she can write it because she lives it.

Obsessed with the art of writing and the business of publishing, chronic entrepreneur Bernadette Marie established her own publishing house, 5 Prince Publishing, in 2011 to bring her own work to market as well as offer an opportunity for fresh voices in fiction to find a home as well.

When not immersed in the writing/publishing world, Bernadette Marie and her husband are shuffling their five hockey playing boys around town to practices and games as well as running their family business. She is a lover of a good stout craft beer and might have an unhealthy addiction to chocolate.

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3jPT74X

SOCIAL MEDIA/CONTACT

Email: info@bernadettemarie.com

Website: www.bernadettemarie.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/authorbernadettemarie

Twitter: www.twitter.com/writesromance

Instagram: www.instagram.com/authorbernadettemarie

Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/writerofromance

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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE

Bernadette Marie will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

RAFFLECOPTER:

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/28e4345f3852