Thursday, June 21, 2012

Interview: Lillie Spencer


It's Contemporary week here at TBQ's Book Palace as part of my 4 year blogoversary celebration! I'm all for show-casing new authors, and, for me at least, Lillie is a new author. I'll be putting her books on my list though, and I hope you do, too! Enjoy! 

And don't forget to stop by this post to enter my Week 3 giveaway for the event!


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Lillie likes to joke that she is a mother, author, and wife – usually in that order. Although she holds a degree in Wildlife Biology, writing has always been her passion. She was a teaching assistant for English Composition and English as a Second Language in college, and wrote countless stories in her free time before she was brave enough to submit one for publication. A preview of Manhunt was an editor’s choice recipient at textnovel.com in 2009, where it is still #10 on their “Most Popular” list, and was a semi-finalist in the Dorchester Next Best Celler (sic) contest. Lillie was also recently awarded an Honorable Mention in the 2011 RWA-Passionate Ink’s Stroke of Midnight competition for her work-in-progress, The Circle, a paranormal romance. When not writing or freezing at soccer games, Lillie loves to cook and play video games with her family.


 
Where to Find Lillie:
 WebsiteFacebook | Twitter | GoodReads



The_Book_Queen: Hi Lillie! Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
Lillie: I'm a mother of two wonderful middle-school aged children who are my whole world.  I also have a very spoiled cockapoo who we found on the street in the middle of a thunderstorm and an overweight Persian cat I inherited from my grandfather. 


TBQ: What made you decide to start writing? Why romance?
L: When I was a teenager, I used to spend the weekend at my great aunt's house.  She taught me my love of crafts, of cooking and baking, of scrapbooking, and of reading, although I don't think she knew about the last part.  She had a subscription with Harlequin, got a box full of books from them every month, so the guest bedroom closet was literally filled with them.  Fabio was everywhere!  I used to sneak and read them after I went to bed.  I loved being swept away to other worlds, caught up in the romance. 


TBQ: Your debut, Manhunt, came out in May. Can you tell us a little bit about this book, and why readers are going to love it?
L: It's a story about a young woman named Nikki, who wakes up in the hospital with amnesia.  In storms this handsome stranger who tells her they have to leave, and her gut tells her she should follow him, so she does.  The man, Michael, turns out to be her high school sweetheart who claims to still love her.  She doesn't learn until later that he is wanted for the murder of the man who put her in the hospital.  Nikki starts to remember her life a little at a time while they are on the run, primarily through dreams.  At its heart, it's a story about love, loss and redemption.


TBQ: Are there other genres you would like to write about?
L: I will always stick to romance, but I like to write other subgenres.  I am currently working on a paranormal romance.




TBQ: I know we all hate this question, author and reader alike. :) But I have to ask: What are a few of your favorite books and/or authors?
L: I love the classics, and I'm a huge fan of Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicles.  As for contemporary authors, I have too many to name.  Check out my favorites list at Goodreads  lol. [Yep, that is a much more precise and easy answer! lol]


TBQ: Have you ever fallen for a hero, either from one of your books or from another author? If so, who is he and what drew you to him?
L: I can still remember reading The Outsiders in high school and falling hard for Darry.  He was really a minor character, and my girlfriends were all about Ponyboy and Johnny, but I loved Darry.  He was their caretaker, and even though he struggled with that role and made mistakes along the way, I loved him for stepping up to the plate and taking responsibility.  He's probably the reason I am drawn to the broken bad boy lol. [Ah, loved that book! :) Brings back memories..]


TBQ: What's next-- Can you tell us a little bit about your upcoming releases or WIP?
L: I'm currently working on a paranormal romance called The Circle about a shapeshifting immortal druid.  It was a semi-finalist in the RWA-Passionate Ink Stroke of Midnight contest last year, and I'm very excited about it.  After that, I'll be writing a companion piece to MANHUNT about Michael and Nikki's best friend, Christian.

SPEED ROUND:

A day on a secluded island OR a day at the spa? 
Can I have a day at a spa on a secluded island? [Wish granted!]

Reading a spicy romance novel OR a sweet “my-heart-skips-a-beat” one?  Spicy romance

Which would you rather have an affair with: a sexy highlander OR a devilishly handsome English lord?
Sexy highlander

Hot summer days OR cold winter nights? 
Cold winter night with a fire, warm blanket, mulled wine and either a good man or a good book. [Hehe, oh what a choice to make--good man or good book...hmmm..... :) ]

Where would your dream house be: in the city, where all the action is OR nestled in the mountain where you can enjoy the quiet and the wilderness? 
Mountains, definitely

If you could live in any time period, past or future, which one would it be?
Medieval Scotland [A girl after my own heart! :) ]

Cover Lover OR Blurb Fan?
Blurb fan

Steamy Novella OR Sweet Novel? (aka, Quickie or Slow Build Up?) 
Novel - I love the build up to the steamy parts

And finally, tell us 3 unique/wacky/fun things about yourself:

1 - I worked for Wendy's in college and one day they made me dress up like Wendy and wave to people on the street.  It was the middle of August and I had grease-pencil freckles and no sunscreen.  At the end of  the day I was sunburnt with white dots all over my face where the freckles were! [Ouch!]
 
2 - In my work with wildlife, I've been hugged by a real bear, crapped on by a komodo dragon, and bit by a donkey.  He was a real ass.  ;) [*Snort*]
 
3 - I was never able to learn Spanish or French, but I learned Swahili.

  
TBQ: Thanks so much for stopping by, Lillie, and please know that you are welcome back anytime! Do you have any questions for our readers—something to spark a good discussion? :)
Lillie:
Do you have a friend that you can call at 3am, for any reason at all, and they'd be there for you?

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Manhunt by Lillie Spencer
Publisher: Tulipe Noire Press (May 1, 2012)
Genre: Contemporary Romance

Sometimes you have to forget it all to remember what really matters.

Michael Brennan's life and career come to an abrupt halt when he receives a phone call telling him the love of his life, Nikki Wright, is in the hospital after another attack by her ex-boyfriend Sebastian Cross. Rushing back to Hershey, PA, Michael turns up at Nikki's hospital bedside covered in Sebastian's blood and telling her they have to leave immediately. Though her injuries have induced amnesia, Nikki inherently feels she can trust this man with her life. Soon, they find themselves on the run from both their own troubled pasts and authorities hunting for Sebastian's killer. But with each new day and each touch drawing her further into Michael's embrace, Nikki remembers more about this fugitive she once loved, and who still loves her enough to risk everything to protect her and keep her safe.
 

Where to Buy*:
Amazon | Kindle | BN | NOOK
ARe | Publisher
 

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Thanks so much for stopping by, Lillie; I enjoyed reading your answers, and I hope the readers do as well! :)

And don't forget to answer Lillie's Question:
Do you have a friend that you can call at 3am, for any reason at all, and they'd be there for you?


See what else is going on for Contemporary Week!
Enter the Contemporary Week Giveaway (US)




Enjoy!


Until Next Time,
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*TBQ's Book Palace is a member of both the Amazon and Barnes and Nobles affiliates program. By using the links provided to buy products from either website, I receive a very small percentage of the order. To read my full disclosure on the matter, please see this post!

2 comments :

Kathleen O said...

Oh I have a few friends that I could call at 3am, but I am a considerate friend and would not call until 6am....

Lillie said...

Thank you so much for having me! My friends know thy can call me any time, but I am a night owl, so I might be incoherent before 8am LOL!