Today it is my pleasure to Welcome author Wendy S. Marcus to HJ!
Hi Wendy and welcome to HJ! We’re so excited to chat with you about your new release, Stargazer!
Hi Everyone! I’m so excited to be here to chat about my new release, Stargazer, which is part of Sarina Bowen’s World of True North, Speakeasy, series.
Please summarize the book for the readers here:
Stargazer is a contemporary romance set at Speakeasy, a brewpub in Vermont. It’s a grumpy vs. sunshine, opposites attract, workplace romance between a sexy bartender and a surly Marine. There’s an opinionated French bulldog with separation anxiety, a secret admirer, and a scene where Lily, a resin artist, creates a beautiful resin river coffee table. (If you’ve never seen one, look them up! They’re beautiful!)
Please share the opening lines of this book:
For me, hitting rock bottom happened when, in a moment of irrational panic, I reached out to a dealer I knew back in college, who I hadn’t spoken to in almost ten years, trying to score some oxycodone. Or something comparable. Just my luck, he’d found Jesus and, rather than hook me up, he’d staged a long-distance intervention (of sorts) in the form of another college buddy, Griff Shipley.
Please share a few Fun facts about this book…
- My sister is a resin artist. While she doesn’t do big projects like the resin river tables, her passion for the craft is the inspiration for main character Lily.
- I think I spent more time watching resin artists on YouTube and Instagram (for research!) than I did writing the book.
- Stargazer Lilies are my favorite flower. (You’ll see how I came up with the book’s title in chapter 10.)
Please tell us a little about the characters in your book. As you wrote your protagonist was there anything about them that surprised you?
When I first thought about the story, Lily was an upbeat optimist who oozed positivity. As I started to get to know her by creating her backstory, it surprised me how much she’d overcome in her life. I knew R.D. would be surly and difficult (because I’d created him to be!) But the depth of his caring for Lily, in his own way, surprised even me.
If your book was optioned for a movie, what scene would you use for the audition of the main characters and why?
I love the back and forth banter between Lily and R.D. Here’s an example:
Lily starts off. The scene is in R.D.’s point of view.
“You said you had enough self-control for both of us.”
Not how I remembered it. “You said you wouldn’t make a move on me. Yet here you are on my side of the bed.” Not that I minded.
I didn’t make any attempt to change our position.
Neither did she.
Until she pressed her butt back again and said, “Maybe we could—”
I cut her off with, “Do not finish that sentence.”
For a few blissful moments, I held her in my arms, wide awake, neither of us talking. Unfortunately, we couldn’t lie there all day. To change the subject from sex, I asked, “How is your search for the perfect roommate going?” Important to remind her, and myself, that I would not be sticking around.
“I already found the perfect roommate,” she replied. “You.”
As much as I liked the sound of that, I countered with, “I’m only temporary. Could be gone next week.” Not likely, but possible.
“Can’t we enjoy ourselves while you’re here?”
If she were someone else? Probably. But her friendship with Griff and her bad breakup and me leaving soon to return to my real life and so many other reasons stood in the way. “I am trying to do the right thing, here. You’re the one who set down, in no uncertain terms, the no-sex rule. Why am I the only one trying to follow it?”
She didn’t respond.
“What do you have to say to that, Lily?”
“Condoms are in the top drawer of the bedside table behind you.”
What do you want people to take away from reading this book?
That everyone is carrying a burden we can’t see so don’t be so quick to judge.
What are you currently working on? What other releases do you have planned?
After taking a break from writing, Stargazer is my first book release in over three years!! Right now I’m playing around with ideas for a holiday story and possibly a book about Lily’s best friend, Katie, a part-time waitress at Speakeasy who is also a bestselling romance author!
Thanks for blogging at HJ!
Giveaway: I will be giving away a $5.00 Amazon gift card to one lucky commenter. Open to readers with accounts on Amazon US, CA, UK, and AUS.
To enter Giveaway: Please complete the Rafflecopter form and Post a comment to this Q: This past Saturday my dog, Buddy, crossed over the Rainbow Bridge after 17 years and 9 months of unconditional love and companionship. And I am heartbroken. But thinking about Lily’s opinionated French bulldog, Tulip, always makes me smile. Do you like romances where animals play a role in the plot? What are some of your favorite romances with dogs in them? Do you have a dog? Please tell me about him or her and some weird thing they do that you find adorable. (It may wind up in a future book!)
Excerpt from Stargazer:
Reviewers LOVE R.D. and how he cares for Lily. But she looks out of him too!
This scene is in R.D.’s point of view.
My hopes for a good start to a decent shift, without incident, plummeted when a big, burly, bearded guy plunked his glass of beer on the bar in front of me and called out, “Hey, Lily. The new guy is trying to pass off Budweiser piss as Red Rover.”
Red Rover. A Belgian-style amber ale. Which was what I’d served him, an amber ale from the tap labeled Red Rover.
Lily hurried over. “Sorry, Jack.” She took his glass, dumped the contents in the sink, and retrieved a clean glass. Pushing in next to me, she pulled the tap handle labeled Red Rover. Same as I’d done. With only about an inch of beer in the glass, she stopped, studying the brew. Shaking her head, she tasted it. Dumped it.
Then she pulled the tap labeled Budweiser, tasted the beer that came out. Then she did that for every beer on tap. The crowd seemed to swell, everyone watching Lily work, waiting to be served. Watching me.
“Hey, Kurt,” Lily called out.
What the hell was he still doing here?
Kurt showed up beside me. “Yeah?”
“These tap handles are all messed up. Can you fix them real quick?”
I answered with, “I can fix them,” even though I had no idea how to go about doing that. Better me than Kurt.
Lily turned to me. “Griff told me you don’t drink alcohol.”
“I don’t.”
“These brewer tap handles screw on and off so they can be moved depending on which beer line is attached. If you don’t drink, you won’t be able to taste the beer coming out of the spout to match it to the correct handle.”
Fair point.
“I’m happy to help, Lily,” Kurt said, elbowing me aside. “Anything for you, hot stuff.”
I imagined how he’d sound trying to speak around my fist shoved down his throat.
As Lily got back to work serving the thirsty masses, I watched Kurt, trying to memorize which tap handle went where. Katie came over to the waitresses’ order/pick-up area. “Odd how the taps got messed up on your shift, Kurt.” She tilted her head and raised her pierced eyebrow, a non-verbal message I received loud and clear.
Kurt set me up. Asshole.
“Shit happens,” he answered. “Glad I’m here to fix it.”
I bet he was.
Coincidence?
I didn’t believe in coincidences.
I waited until he had the last tap handle in hand before I moved in close, lowered my voice, and said, so only he could hear, “Actions have consequences, Kurt. You want to know what those will be if something like this happens again?”
He turned, his smirk disappearing the instant he got a good look at me. Rage coursed hot through my veins. The urge to do battle, strong—to make him pay, even stronger. That he’d intentionally tried to make me look like an incompetent fool. In front of Lily. In front of everyone.
Kurt swallowed, his eyes looking from left to right nervously.
I’d made my point.
Lily interrupted my stare-down to say, “I need two cans of Green State Lager and an Unstrung Harp. From the cooler. Two house cabs. Six-ounce.” To Kurt, she said, “Thanks for the fix. We can talk about how that happened tomorrow.”
Atta girl. I didn’t need her to stand up for me but appreciated the gesture all the same.
Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
Book Info:
Randall Dickson is coping. Sort of. An upcoming medical eval, one that could end his military career, has him stressed and making bad choices. So when a concerned friend issues a strongly-worded “invitation” to Vermont, R.D. is all in for a change of scenery, a temporary job as a bartender, and the opportunity to shake himself out of his self-destructive routine.
Then he sets eyes on his seriously sexy new co-worker…
Lily Reynolds, an artist by day, Speakeasy’s favorite bartender at night, works hard to stay positive, unlike her surly new coworker. He may be a treat to look at, but that grumpy attitude and terse manner are not her type. So when Lily finds herself in desperate need of someone to share expenses, she convinces R.D. to rent her vacant room. There’s no way she’ll find herself falling for him.
She’d like to find the secret admirer who’s leaving her secret love notes around the bar, though. But he won’t reveal himself…
This standalone contains: opposites who definitely attract, a workplace romance and an opinionated French bulldog.
Book Links: Amazon |
Meet the Author:
Wendy S. Marcus is an award-winning, multi-published author of contemporary romance. Wendy lives in the beautiful Hudson Valley region of New York…where she spends way too much time indoors on her computer. Writing. Really! Okay, more like…where she spends way too much time on Twitter and Facebook! To learn more about Wendy and the books she’s managed to write, in spite of her social media addiction, visit her website: http://wendysmarcus.com
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | GoodReads |
Mary Preston
Dogs are a beautiful way to being characters together.
I don’t have a dog right now. My neighbour has a full sized chocolate poodle that greets me each morning. One morning I was distracted and forgot to say good morning to him. He gave me such a look and did not turn and go about his day until I had acknowledged him.
EC
I do enjoy pets in books. Can’t think of a good book with them at the top of my mind, nor had there been a dog in my home for a long time, so no stories. Sorry :-l
Barbara Bates
No and No.
Pamela Conway
I am a dog lover & a dog owner. I love when books have animals in them!! I’m so sorry about your dog, it’s heartbreaking to lose a pet.
Lori Byrd
I love dogs in stories. I have a great dane who is a big ole funny boy that always makes me smile.
lorih824
I’m sorry for your loss!
We have 2 dogs. We have a Border Collie and miniature Beagle. They make us smile everyday with their antics but I don’t believe they are unusual behaviors. My collie follows me everywhere and thinks he’s a lap dog.
I have read romance with animals and did enjoy them. I don’t have a favorite though.
Nina Lewis
I love romances with dogs in them. I have a 6yo white boxer: Ellie. My princess. She naps almost as much as her owner. 😀
Debra Guyette
I do love books with animals. Sorry about your honey. We just lost a cat, much too early for her to go though. She was only 8.
Nicole (Nicky) Ortiz
Saving Shelby by PJ Fiala has a support dog in it.
I use to have dogs.
My brother’s dog when she was younger use to walk the banister on the back deck, once caught her swinging from a tree branch and she liked to sit on top of the table on the deck like it was her throne.
Thanks for the chance!
Janine
I am so sorry to hear about Buddy’s passing. I really do love books with animals in them. I do not have dogs. I have three cats.
Latifa Morrisette
I love romances with animals in them.
bn100
no fav
Tammy V.
I do like animals in my books. I have a rescue dog, Ren. I got him at 3 years old and he had been abused. It took a while for him to come out of his shell but he is the most loving dog in his way. He is not a big cuddler but will when he wants to. He will be 9 this weekend.
Lori R
I do like books that have animals playing a part. I can’t think of a title at the moment to share and I don’t have any pets now. My cat liked to hide under my bed and grab my foot when I walked by.
Rita Wray
I don’t have a dog.
Glenda M
I’m sorry you lost you dog. I do love romances with pets since pets add so much to our lives. We are currently without a dog but plan to get one soon. We lot our wonderful almost 15 year old golden a year ago. Even our cats mourned his loss
Bonnie
I enjoy reading romances that feature animals. One of my favorites is A Dog Called Valentine by Roxanne Snopek.
Amy R
Do you like romances where animals play a role in the plot? Yes
What are some of your favorite romances with dogs in them? Wallbanger series by Alice Clayton
Do you have a dog? yes 2
Pammie R.
I like animals in my books so much that I wrote one. It’s not published (yet), but I wrote one. As for dogs, I have 4 right now but had my own little guy cross the Rainbow Bridge last summer to join my mom who passed that spring. He was a Yorkie and his name was Bandit. When he was young, my niece gave him a little panda and he used to grab it up in his mouth, throw it in the air then go after it and do it again. He had a buddy, My dog Maxie, a terrier mix, had a funny thing she did, too. I’d stick out a leg, pat my chest, and she would run up my leg and into my arms. She died in 2017.
SusieQ
I enjoys pets in the plot. I have 3 cats.
Jana Leah
So sorry to hear about Buddy. It’s hard to say goodbye to our furbabies. Pets make great characters in romances. No dog, but I do have a cat. She makes me laugh every day.
Diana Tidlund
I love romances with pets or animals ! I have 4 cats ( 1 passed a few months ago )
Kathleen O
I love books where animals play a part. Especially dogs and horses. So very sorry for your loss.
Teresa Williams
We had a pit bull but he passed away and we haven’t had the heart to move on from him.
He would get on a three wheel trike toy and ride it off the porch drag it up and do it again.
Texas Book Lover
I absolutely love the animals in Robyn Carr’s Sullivan Crossing Series especially Romeo the great dane in The Country Guesthouse. He reminded me of my great dane, Bear. I also have a shepherd mix, Ruby and a year old golden lab, Theo. Our lab has some series separation anxiety on top of being a pandemic puppy who didn’t get as much social interaction as the others so he does not like to be alone but he doesn’t like new people. He also notices ANYTHING out of place or new. For example if we get a delivery and put a box on the table we hear about it until we remove it, we are cleaning and move the chairs, he tells us, put a new blanket on his bed…ah no! Oh and food delivery…we know before they ever get to the door…although since he doesn’t like people he’s barking from the other side of the room. New toys are okay…he LOVES new toys and balls. It used to be so quite in my house before we got him…good thing he’s so damn cute…and loves to cuddle!
Kim
I love having animals in general in books. Unless it’s a snake. I don’t like those. I started blogging because of a rescue dog we got. It was supposed to be my husband’s dog, but I was the one who had to always take it out during the day. My husband would come home and I would tell him about everything that happened in “a day in the life of Sammy”. This was my first time having a dog that didn’t have a backyard, so that first poop clean up was an experience. I also can’t forget him running all over the condo complex and jumping up on this elderly lady for a hug. Did I mention that he was about 70 pounds?
Colleen C.
I love animals in books 🙂 My dog gets so excited going on a coffee run… on days she does not get to go, she pouts big time!
Jeanna Massman
I enjoy reading books that feature pets. Due to my husband’s allergies, We have not been able to have pets. I remember my childhood dog liked to crawl up on the porch and scratch at the window when she wanted to come in the house.
Charlotte Litton
I’m so sorry for your loss. I don’t have a dog but I have 4 cats.
Anita H.
So sorry for the loss of your beloved Buddy, I don’t have any pets but really enjoy reading about them in books. Jill Shalvis’ Animal Magnetism series has some really fun animals who steals the spotlight from the humans!
Kathy
Love books with animals in them – any of Jill Shalvis’ are great!
JanD
I have a dog that doesn’t bark much and loves to cuddle.
Janie McGaugh
My condolences on your loss. I do enjoy animals in books as long as they have interesting personalities.
Patricia B.
So sorry to hear about Buddy. They are such important members of our families.
We have had 10 dogs in the past 45+ years. Our first, a beagle mix, blessed us with 17 + years moving cross country with us twice. My other favorite, Olivia, a black lab mix, also graced us for 17+ years. We have had up to 4 dogs at a time and all have made it over 10 with one making it to 15. We are down to one now, a pit bull rescue our son brought home and then moved out. She is pretty much my husband’s dog now. She is sweet, but doesn’t really get along that well with others. She will be an only. We fostered puppy litters for the local shelter for several years and had over 15 dogs here sometimes. Our lab was from the first litter we fostered and our 15 year old from the last. I can’t imagine being without a dog for any length of time and I know my husband won’t want to be. We may foster again until we find one we want. We are both of an age where a puppy might not be the best choice. We will likely look for an older dog.
I like dogs in books. Aside from adding their own personalities to the story, how a character treats an animal tells you much about what kind of person they are. If they don’t treat animals or children well, they drop out of the hero, heroine, or nice person category. Not books, but Hallmark Channel has had some good romances where the dogs are critical to the story. Several of those movies are based on romance novels.