Interview with Marie Lavender, Author of Chasing Ginger (The Misfits Series)

Hello,

Today’s interview is with Marie Lavender, author of Chasing Ginger.

Please enjoy!

Thanks,

-Vincent Lowry

 

Interview

1)      What is your author name and in what state do you live (or country if not in the US)?

 

My name is Marie Lavender. I live in Indiana, actually.

 

2)      What is the title of your newest book and what is the genre?

 

Chasing Ginger is my latest book release. This novel is a steamy romantic comedy – adult contemporary/chick lit/BBW romance/billionaire romance.

 

3)      What is the book about? 

 

The book is about Ginger’s journey, which includes meeting a new man she likes, and deciding what she wants for her life – dreams and all. But it starts with her getting involved in a drug trial. What happens next is just chaos, and it triggers the rest of the story.

 

4)      Where did you come up with the idea?

 

Well, I was inspired by a conversation I had with a reader on social media. I’d posted some random meme about wishing the side effects of medications were cooler instead of unfortunate. In this case, the desired side effect was ‘extreme sexiness’. I just took it from there and added a plus-sized main character.

 

5)      How long did it take you to write it?

 

A year to a year and a half, but only because I was struggling with random bouts of depression from a loss in the family.

 

6)      Did you learn anything from the project?

 

(Laughs.) Yeah, for future reference, I probably shouldn’t approach a rom com project in that kind of mental state.

 

7)      Do you have an author website and/or blog? How about a book video?

 

Of course!

Official Website: http://marielavender.com/

Blogs: http://iloveromanceblog.wordpress.com/  – I Love Romance Blog
http://marielavender.blogspot.com/ – Writing in the Modern Age

http://marielavenderbooks.blogspot.com/ – Marie Lavender’s Books and Other Things

This is the book trailer for Chasing Ginger:  https://bit.ly/2vyy1Bc

 

8)      Do you have any success tips to pass on to fellow authors? How about any great editors/cover artists? 

 

I would say ‘patience and perseverance’. Both of these traits will get you through a lot of hurdles and headaches. The writer’s journey is never easy, but knowing you can achieve a goal despite the odds will help considerably.

Some great cover artists I’ve had are Kayden McLeod, Dawné Dominique, Select-O-Graphix, Deborah Melanie, SwoonWorthy Book Covers, Spellbinding Designs, Avdal Designs, and LDM Graphics.

The editors/proofreaders I liked include Shawna Williams, Kathi Sprayberry, Cynthia Ley, Kathy Collier, Anthony Kohler, Fred Crook, Tracy Guzzardo, Melissa Manes, Jennifer B. Gaubert, and Belinda Y. Hughes.

 

9)      What genres do you like to read? Are you open to reading new authors and reviewing their work?

 

I’ll read anything, I guess, but I prefer any subgenre of romance. I don’t like nonfiction all that much (unless it’s motivational or I’m reading it for research purposes). It’s difficult for me to get into hard science fiction, and erotic horror is just too weird for me (I don’t mind the two genres separated). My top likes would be paranormal romance, historical romance, and contemporary romance.

I was doing reviews for a while on my romance blog, but my TBR list got too big and I had to shut down requests until I can get caught up. So, right now, it would be a hard NO. It’s not because I want to, though (I am a major bibliophile), yet it’s just necessary so I’ll be able to fulfill the promises I made to review those other books. This is my latest book review.

 

10)  What is your favorite book of all time and why? 

 

I still have a weakness for J.R. Ward’s Dark Lover. Wrath is a total book boyfriend to me.

 

11)  Fun Question: Do you have any pets? If so, what kind?

 

Yep! I have two cats, one calico and the other is almost all black with a few white spots. Emma and Katerina are my babies.

 

12)  Fun Question 2: Do you own an electronic reading device? If so, what kind and how do you like it?

 

Sort of. I have a Samsung tablet which I use to read my Kindle books and the ebooks I’ve gotten through contests and newsletter sign-ups. I do like it. My problem, however, is that I’m still a bit old school, and I prefer to read a paperback or hardcover. Not to mention that being an epileptic as well as a migraine sufferer, it will always be easier for me to focus on reading an actual page rather than an electronic screen.