Around The Fire with today's guest Gretchen Lovett

Greetings and Salutations! Thank you for joining me and my special guest today. We're so glad you're here. Before we jump in I have to share about the great weekend I had with NJ Romance Writers. Special shout out to fabulous Rose Jacobs for organizing the Barnes & Noble author event. What fun with Maria Imbalzano, Elizabeth John, Leigh Cavanagh, Stacey Wilk, and Erica Alexander. Pete was given honorary membership for being such a help.
Now without further ado let get to todays guest who is new to the fire.

​Welcome, Gretchen. Why don't you tell our other guests a bit about you, while I grab us a beverage.
I've always wanted to write for a living.  In fifth grade, I discovered the Song of the Lioness Trilogy, and I was hooked on reading forever after. I passed up the opportunity to pursue English in college because I thought I writing was a hobby rather than a career.  "Don't quit your day job," and all that.
Recently (in no small part due to COVID) I did quit my day job, and began applying to writing gigs full time.  I dove into ghostwriting and grant writing and copywriting, anything that involved sitting at the computer and thinking of words.  While I still do some of all of that, my true passion is novel writing.  I would *love* to be as successful as Nora Roberts; and I won't read James Patterson because I'm jealous.

Covid changed many lives. I'm glad your experience gave you the opportunity to do what you liked. What interests besides writing do you enjoy? For instance, what do you read or hobbies you have?
I like watching late night talk show hosts on Youtube. I also have a friend who is a content creator who does make up tutorials. I’m not real big into makeup, but I like watching her videos.

I used to (careful I'm dating myself) enjoy Johnny Carson and David Letterman. I went to see DL once. Who is your network or support system? 
I have a big family, and there are a few of my aunts who are great supporters of my work. One aunt will read anything, and she reads very quickly. One aunt used to read my work, but she doesn’t like the steamier scenes. The book I’m highlighting today does not have any steamy scenes, and it is partly because I wanted to write something that my aunt could enjoy.

Aww! Hello Auntie! Who or what books or authors are your inspiration?
When I’m reading romance, I like historical romance. I’m fascinated not only by the characters but by the authors’ mastery of historical information. I feel like I just don’t know that much about 18th century England, so I write contemporary. But I am definitely inspired by and in awe of historical writers.

Historical is very popular and spans such a wide variety of time. Something for everyone. Do you have any fun or outrageous talent?
I’m good at cooking. I don’t know if that is fun or outrageous.

I love to cook. I never realize so many people didn't. Chopping and slicing is very cathartic. I enjoy building flavors and often feed the neighborhood. Speaking of which, what is your neighborhood like? Are there any places you frequent? What makes them special?
I live in a very ritzy part of North Carolina and to be honest, I’m a little house poor. I spend the lion’s share of my income on the apartment and don’t have much left over for other things. I enjoy walking around, going to the gym and my apartment has a golf simulator that I’ve been playing with.

Sounds wonderful. Favorite childhood book? Or writing that inspired you to become an author.
Tamora Pierce. She writes fantasy for middle grade, and she’s quite famous. When I was in fourth grade, I discovered her Song of the Lioness series and I read those books over and over again.

If you could only choose one song to play every time you walked into a room for the rest of your life, what would it be?
I don’t think I could listen to one song every time I walked into a room for the rest of my life. I really like Daddy Yankee, but I haven’t been listening to him lately. I’ve been listening to DNCE, Cake by the Ocean, and One Republic Counting Stars, but I know there will come a time when I’m not interested in those either. I guess if I had to listen to one song for the rest of my life, I would have to pick a classical piece. Maybe Brahms or Vivaldi. When I’m writing, I like music but it has to be classical.

When I'm home alone and writing often classical plays softly in the background. If you could eat anything in the world right now, what would it be?
Cookies. I could always eat cookies.

If you could time travel, where would you go and when? Why?
The roaring 20s. I would love to be a flapper.

Do you have a particular object like a piece of jewelry or a keepsake of some sort? Can you tell us what makes it special to you?
I have a stuffed animal that I’ve had since I was two. By this time, the fur has come off, the eyes have been replaced many times and the thing looks like Frankenstein’s monster with stitches everywhere. But I’ll never put it up in the attic.

My brother still has "fuzzy" a stuffed toy from childhood, so I get it. Gretchen, thank you so much for joining us today Around The Fire, it was so nice to get to know you. Before you head out, will you leave us a bit about your book and where we can find it and more about you? 

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Second Chance Louisiana
by
Gretchen Lovett 
Tyler went to the bank to take out a loan. He was down to his last dollar, and his new wife and baby girl didn’t even know they were in financial trouble.
Fifteen years later, he is released from prison. Two masked men robbed the bank and framed Tyler for the crime. He missed his daughter’s entire childhood and hardly recognizes the woman he’s still married to.
As he and Misty attempt to reconnect, Tyler feels jumpy. It seems like someone’s watching him. He can’t be sure, but he thinks he recognizes the man in the feed store.
The progress they’ve made burying the hatchet is encouraging. But will there be time for a second honeymoon when the past is coming up behind them?

Get your copy today
https://www.amazon.com/Second-Chance-Louisiana-Western-Redemption-ebook/dp/B09TTN6W1C
 
For more about the author
Website:   gretchenlovettwrit.wixsite.com/writerwithoutabrand
Twitter:   https://twitter.com/Gretchen19761
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/Lovettromancebooks/
Instagram: Gretchen Lovett (@abookabout2020author) • Instagram photos and videos
 
 

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