Today it is my pleasure to Welcome author Brooke Williams to HJ!
Hi Brooke and welcome to HJ! We’re so excited to chat with you about your new release, The Dating Itinerary!
Hello dear readers! I’m a fellow avid reader and I only hope you enjoy my books as much as I enjoy writing them!
Please summarize the book a la Twitter style for the readers here:
Imagine dating in every possible modern way. This romantic comedy features one bad date after another.
Please share the opening lines of this book:
Penny Coyne worried she looked like a disco ball. Or perhaps a baked potato. Why had she let her sister talk her into this outfit? She adjusted her silver shirt and surveyed the crowd. She’d never been to a speed dating event before, but it looked like a pretty decent showing to her. The restaurant had their private room closed off in the back, ready for the event. Tables for two sat scattered about the room with candles at the center. Penny’s nerves were at an all-time high.
Please share a few Fun facts about this book…
- Penny Coyne, the main character, has three sisters names Nickel, Dime, and Quarter.
- There are bad dates that include soup in beards.
- The Coyne sisters meet monthly for bowling/gossip dates.
- George, the male hero, stole Penny’s job once upon a time.
- Penny is sassy, just like her short, red hair.
What first attracts your Hero to the Heroine and vice versa?
George and Penny used to work together so there was a camaraderie there, but after they have a falling out and go separate professional ways, then run into each other again, he is attracted to her tell-it-like-it-is attitude. She, on the other hand, can’t seem to get past his broad shoulders and tappered waist.
Using just 5 words, how would you describe Hero and Heroine’s love affair?
Competitive professionals turned moon-eyed lovers.
The First Kiss…
Penny goes on a worse than rotten date and George saves her from it by pretending he’s an ex that wants her back. They take their roles a bit too far and end up in a lip lock for her date’s benefit. They are both surprised at the fit and try it out again for real later, which cements just how well they work.
Without revealing too much, what is your favorite scene in the book?
The scene I giggled the most over when writing was Penny’s blind date with a bearded man. He seemed nice enough, but he had issues with the food, let’s just say.
Penny rocked back and forth in her chair. She had absolutely nothing against facial hair, btu the man sitting across from her had braids in his long beard. Plus, all the chunks from his soup that had dribbled down his chin were not caught in the hair–and he hadn’t even attempted to pick up his napkin.
If your book was optioned for a movie, what scene would be absolutely crucial to include?
Dark Dating is one of the dating avenues Penny has to try and it’s something I made up. It’s a crucial scene because she and her interest find one another–in the dark. Dark Dating is an event, kind of like speed dating, but in complete darkness. The women are led from one chair to another and get to feel the men’s faces. Based on feeling alone, they get to choose a man to get to know in another room.
The heat beneath the shirt made Penny’s heart beat faster in her chest as she slowly moved her hands over to the hard muscles in the arms. By now, her vision was so blocked she could feel even more details with her fingertips. The veins in his biceps stood out beneath the pads of her fingers as she moved her hands up to his neck. She was almost certain goose bumps rose on his skin as she ran her fingers through the tips of the hair that met the back of his neck. It was a bit on the long side, as soft as could be…
And utterly familiar.
Penny took in a deep breath as her suspicions deepened. She drew her fingers up through the man’s hair to the back of his scalp. He shivered as she scooted her chair closer. Her knees bumped against his spread legs.
She ran her hands down the sides of his face, stopping to massage his earlobes gently with her thumbs and forefingers. She heard him swallow as she continued. Penny drew her hands along his jawline, now completely certain of what she felt. The man wasn’t clean shaven, but it felt like he had probably shaved that morning. She allowed his scruff to scrape against her hands, and she cupped his cheeks and ran her thumbs over his eyes. His lids were closed, and his eyelashes were a lot longer and fuller to the touch than she’d expected.
Penny ran a finger down his nose and then back around the side of his face until her hand was entwined in his hair again. Her other hand cupped his cheek as she half stood and shifted her weight onto his right leg. She knew she was breaking the rules, but what were they going to do? Kick her out? And so what if they did? Her sister had told her to go for it, and she didn’t have the power to stop herself.
Readers should read this book …
if they enjoy having breaks from the real world. There’s too much stress in life right now and it’s nice to just get away from it all. Romantic comedy is a good way to swoon a little, laugh a little, and forget everyday life a lot.
What are you currently working on? What other releases do you have planned?
Once I met the Coyne sisters myself and wrote a book revolving around Penny, I decided I wanted to write a book for the other sisters. I’m currently working on a book for Nickel entitled, “Flight Nanny.” I also freelance write for several clients so I’m often busy with that work instead of just fiction, sadly. ha
Thanks for blogging at HJ!
Giveaway: $5 amazon gift card
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Excerpt from The Dating Itinerary:
Penny almost giggled over the matchmaker’s name. Ivana Date. Then, the idea crossed her mind that the matchmaker could potentially put the two of them together. They’d both be in her dating bank, after all. If he happened to match enough of her answers or if they had enough in common, according to the matchmaker, they could end up on a blind date together, couldn’t they?
And what had Geo said about that? If she showed up as his blind date, “We’d know we were a match.” Penny shuddered. Was he just being flirtatious Geo, or did he wish for her to actually show up as his date?
“Penny Coyne?” The receptionist called her name and Penny stood, leaving thoughts of Geo and his fingers laced between her own on the squeaky chair behind her.
When she entered the office, the large desk took over the room and she almost thought the space was empty of anyone else until a voice called to her from the other side of the desk.
“Miss Coyne. That’s quite a name. Nice to meet you. Have a seat. I’m Ivana Date.”
Penny peered over the desk as a business card flew across it in her direction. Was a woman named Ivana Date making fun of her name? She picked up the business card and finally noticed an older woman who was smaller than anyone Penny had observed behind a desk that large sat in a chair on the other side.
Penny seated herself across from the desk, as instructed, and waited for Ivana to proceed.
“My receptionist gave me your file to look over. I see you like cats?”
Penny nodded. “I don’t have one myself, but I do love animals. I feel like a cat would be the best fit for me as a pet since I’m rather busy and don’t have time to be home to take a dog on walks regularly.”
“I see. And you’d definitely go to the beach over the mountains?”
Penny smiled. “Well, actually, I like both. But since I had to pick one, I guess I was in a beach sort of mood today.”
The woman chewed on the end of a pencil as she examined Penny’s questionnaire. She set the pages down and stuck the pencil in the bun on the back of her head.
“Well, dear, tell me about your ideal man.”
She doesn’t waste any time, does she? Penny took a deep breath and tried to picture the man of her dreams. “Are we talking physically or…”
“We’re talking whatever you want to talk.” Ivana’s sassy tone made Penny sit up straighter in her chair. She liked that Ivana was allowing her to go whatever direction she wanted with the description, unlike on the limiting questionnaire.
“Okay, well, physically, I like a tall man. I’m partial to broad shoulders and a tapered waist so you can tell he takes care of himself, but not overly muscled like he spends all day in the gym.” Penny took a deep breath. “I like hair that’s slightly too long, you know? Not quite business-like, but not over the top man-bun or anything, either. I’m usually drawn to brown eyes, but blue is nice as well.” Penny was certain she could go on, but her discomfort was rising as the woman took her glasses off and inspected Penny as she spoke. She could see why Geo seemed tired when he left Ivana’s office.
“You know, Miss Coyne, I had just that man in here earlier. You’ve described him to a T. He might be just the one for you.” The matchmaker shuffled some papers on her desk, looking for something in particular.
Penny could feel the blood draining from her face, positive she was as pale as a sheet. She had just described Geo Monais, albeit in vague terms. She definitely had. Was it because she had crossed paths with him in the waiting room?
Excerpts. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
Book Info:
As if it wasn’t bad enough to be deemed the “most single person” at her magazine’s office, budding reporter Penny has now been tapped to write a series of features called “The Dating Itinerary.” From speed dating to Tinder, old-fashioned matchmakers to up-and-coming “dark dating,” Penny now has to go on a lot of dates. Silver lining: meeting new people should be fun, right? But running into her old rival, George, at her first dating event is decidedly not. Not only does the arrogant know-it-all have zero trouble attracting women, wherever Penny goes, somehow he just. Keeps. Showing. Up.
Geo knows he’s right on the cusp of writing success with the chance to have his own syndicated column. All he has to do is follow his agent’s ideas for showcasing different dating avenues, and he’ll pull in enough to help his sister’s non-profit women’s shelter get off the ground. Sure, his itinerary is starting to look strangely similar to his old rival Penny’s, but all’s fair in love and syndication, right?
The more they look for love in all the wrong places, though, the more they start to wonder if it was right in front of their noses all along. Still, the brutal dating scene just might end them, if these two don’t kill each other first.
Book Links: Amazon | B&N | iTunes | Goodreads |
Meet the Author:
Brooke Williams is a radio producer/freelance writer/author. She works feverishly during school hours so once the bell rings, she can spend all of her time with her two daughters, ages 10 and 6. Brooke wrote her first book in kindergarten, but hopes her more recent foray into romantic comedy is a much better effort. When she isn’t writing for clients, working at her part-time radio job, putting away load after load of laundry, or playing UNO with her girls, Brooke enjoys reading, long walks, baking, and falling asleep on the couch by nine at the latest.
Website | Facebook | Twitter | | Instagram |
Jeanna Massman
I met my husband at college. A friend introduced us.
EC
In a place where we. Oth have an interest of, like a bookstore 😉 .
Mary Preston
We met at a party. Each dragged along by respective friends. We left the party and went for a drive.
Mya Murphy
I live with a man that I connected with on Facebook, but as for a soul mate? The only man that fit that was my late husband. He called the wrong number and got me. He had been trying to contact a business, which was 1 number off from mine. Chatting for 2 years, we fell hard for each other, not knowing what either of us looked like.. We were married for 17 years.
hartfiction
Sounds like he called the RIGHT number! 😉 I love your story.
Sonia
I would like to meet this person through a friend or family member:)
Debra Guyette
I met him in the parking lot of the commissary at West Point. He was an MP and wast raining my brother-in-law.
Amy Donahue
He was picking up his nephew from my daycare classroom 🙂
hartfiction
He asked me to dance. We went on a date the next day. We were engaged after 2 months and wed 10 months later. We’ve been happily married for 35 years. *blessed*
Lori Byrd
I knocked on his door selling Avon.
Kim
Through a radio station.
Rita Wray
My sister introduced us.
Lori R
I met him through a friend.
Pamela Conway
I met my late husband at a local bar. We were both out with our brothers who have the same name.
Debbie P
I met him through a friend.
Mari Ann
We met as teens at work in a retail store.
Pammie R.
Haven’t met him yet. I’d take him any way I could get him. I’m lonely.
Jillian Too
Through a friend.
Audrey Stewart
I met my husband at a bar.
Debra Branigan
The typical, we met through work. We worked in separate offices,but saw each other every day….
Caro
I haven’t yet, but I’d love a meet cute, lol. Something to tell the kids down the road. 🙂
Not sure exactly how, but something like that.
Joy Avery
We met in a pool hall
Anna Nguyen
i haven’t met him yet, but i would love to just run into him at a bookstore reaching for the same book.
[email protected]
I was on a girls basketball team his brother was coaching.
Lilah Chavez
On the light rail on the way home from work
Jana Leah
My co-worker introduced us.
Nicole (Nicky) Ortiz
I would like to meet him maybe through friends.
Thanks for the chance!
Patricia B.
I met mine in high school. We sat near each other in chemistry class. After we got married, we realized, we had been in third grade together.
lorih824
In a parking lot.
Shannon Capelle
We worked as teenagers together!
Ellen C.
Through a mutual friend.
Calvin
No experience like that yet!
Diana Hardt
I haven’t yet, but I would like to meet him through a family member or friend.
Anita H.
I haven’t met him yet but someday maybe through family or friends. Probably not through Speed Dating or Dark Dating!
Karina Angeles
Hooters! I was my sister’s date to my future husband’s birthday party. We were the only girls at his party (besides the workers). One of his sleazy drunk friends kept hitting on me, and he told me to stick with him so he could protect me. I found him too tall and annoying and he said I was too skinny and opinionated. We’ve been together every since…
bn100
friends
laurieg72
My husband first dated one of my roommates my Junior year of college. I started dating him the beginning of my Senior year of college.
Amy R
How did you meet your significant other? thru friends
Colleen C.
through a friend
Daniel M
none and seeing as i don’t go out much probably never
Glenda M
I had a 3 month job assignment halfway across the country with the company we both worked for. We shared a office part of my first day since his office mate was out for the afternoon. Twenty nine years later and we’re still together.
Natalija
We met on the internet.
Charlotte Litton
In college
BookLady
In school
Janie McGaugh
A friend introduced us a few days before the start of my freshman year of college.
Angela Smith
a friend introduced me to him
Terrill R.
I met my husband on a weekend in Whistler, BC, but we both were from the same town and worked out at the same gym.