Please welcome my guest, author Darlene Fredette. Darlene resides
on the Atlantic Coast of Canada where the summers are too short, and the
winters are too long. She writes contemporary romances with a focus on
plot-driven page-turners. When not working on her next book, she can be found
with her husband, her daughter, and her yellow Labrador.
Darlene has graciously allowed me to interview today so we'll get started.
Tell
us something about yourself both writing and non-writing related.
I
enjoy writing stories in small towns, but not too far from the busy city. I
enjoy visiting a small town just an hour away. It’s very relaxing from the
hustle and bustle of the city.
Do
you have a writing routine or ritual that you do before you start writing?
I
always have the house cleaned and a thirty-minute walk with my dog before
writing.
Why
do you write in the genre/sub-genre that you do? Any plans in the future to
write in a different one?
I
write what I am familiar with – contemporary romances, but I am soon going to
venture out of my comfort zone to write a western/time travel and a fantasy.
How
do you stay motivated when writer’s block hits or your muse won’t cooperate?
I
step away from the computer to reflect on the scene. Usually, the time away has
me coming up with a better idea. A fresh perspective is best.
What’s
the strangest thing you’ve ever done in the name of research?
Writing
contemporary romances doesn’t result in a lot of strange research, but
definitely interesting. I’ve researched different places, and details for my
characters’ careers. I learned a lot about bipolar disorder for the mother of a
lead character. And most recently, ice cream recipes!
What’s
the best writing advice you were ever given?
Don’t
compare yourself to other writers. Write in your own voice.
What
do you like to do in your leisure time?
Hang
out with my family, day visits to the valley, read, and listen to music.
Tell
us about your current or upcoming release in a couple of sentences.
Carly
Redd is focused on her career and has no time for a relationship, until she is
coerced into attending her ex-boyfriend’s engagement party with a pretend
boyfriend.
Can
you tell us a little about your next project?
I
am currently writing the last chapter of book six in my Redford Falls series,
but this particular book is part of a series (The Marleys of Redford Falls),
which focuses on the five Marley brothers in Redford Falls.
Anything
else you’d like readers to know?
I hope visitors enjoyed getting to know a bit about me
and Cherry Red. Your interview was fun. Thank you for hosting me today!
Check out the blurb and excerpt for Cherry Red below.
This summer, ice cream entrepreneur
Carly Redd's only focus is expanding her business—until she's coerced into
attending her ex's engagement party. Showing up without a date is unthinkable.
She reluctantly agrees to be escorted by her brother’s co-worker, although
doing so breaks her rule of not dating firefighters.
The daughter of the town’s fire chief
should wear a Do Not Touch sign, but firefighter Noah Harding's interest blazed
the moment he saw Carly. Agreeing to be her fake boyfriend is a no-brainer, but
convincing Carly to trust him with her heart is harder than extinguishing a
fire.
Overstepping the
platonic-only rule is as dangerous as fire and ice swirling into a tempting
combustion.
Excerpt:
“This might seem like a strange question, especially since we’ve
just met, but would you be interested in going out for a coffee? Or an ice
cream?” Noah rested an arm on the bar.
Carly glanced down at her jeans and black T-shirt embroidered with the company name and logo…a cluster of
red cherries. In a room full of women all dolled up in fancy—and some a bit
scanty—dresses, why would this incredibly handsome man ask her on a
date? “I appreciate the offer, but I’m not interested…”
Noah raised a brow. “I know you like ice cream, so is it the
coffee, or me?”
“What? No. I mean, yes.” She took a second to collect her scrambled
thoughts. “I like coffee. I just don’t hang out with firefighters.” Not that he
was a real firefighter. Did impersonators count in her rules of men to avoid?
She never dated a stripper, but she wasn’t sure she could have a relationship
with a guy who was paid to take off his clothes and have other women fawn over
him. Not that the guy asked her on a date…just a simple coffee. His frown made
her feel badly. “I’m sorry. It’s nothing personal.”
“Burnt in the past? No pun intended.” He smiled.
She couldn’t help but smile back. “Something like that.”
The universal link below will bring you to Darlene's website which has links to all
distributing sites for her books.
Universal Purchase Link: http://darlenefredette.blogspot.com/2021/04/my-books-purchase-links.html
Social Media Links:
Author Web Site: http://darlenefredette.blogspot.com/
Blog: http://findingthewritewords.blogspot.com
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Darlene-Fredette/e/B005NAF660/
