Blog Tour: Interview w/ Tracy Sumner + Giveaway!

Tracy’s story telling career began when she picked up a copy of LaVyrle Spencer’s Vows on a college beach trip. A journalism degree and a thousand romance novels later, she decided to try her hand at writing a southern version of the perfect love story. With a great deal of luck and more than a bit of perseverance, she sold her first novel to Kensington Publishing.

When not writing sensual stories featuring complex characters and lush settings, Tracy can be found reading romance, snowboarding, watching college football and figuring out how she can get to 100 countries before she kicks (which is a more difficult endeavor than it used to be with her four-year-old son in tow). After stops in France, Switzerland and Taiwan, she now lives in the south. However, after spending a few years in “the city”, she considers herself a New Yorker at heart.

 

Tracy has been awarded the National Reader’s Choice, the Write Touch and the Beacon – with finalist nominations in the HOLT Medallion, Heart of Romance, Rising Stars and Reader’s Choice. Her books have been translated into German, Dutch, Portuguese and Spanish. She loves hearing from readers about why she tends to pit her hero and heroine against each other and that great novel she simply must order in five seconds on her Kindle.

 

Where to Find Tracy:

Website | GoodReads | Facebook | Twitter

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TheBookQueen: Hi Tracy! Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

Tracy: Hello! And thanks for hosting me on The Book Queen's Palace. I've been writing romance for quite a number of years. Was traditionally published originally…but now I've gone the indie route. Which I am loving. I'm also a huge reader of the genre. My professional life is marketing/graphic design. And I'm a mom of a wild four-year-old.

TBQ: What made you decide to start writing? Why romance?

T: I read VOWS by LyVyrle Spencer during a beach college trip, and I was hooked. Absolutely hooked. I immediately began reading romance like a madman. And after reading them for a couple of years, I decided to try my hand at a novel. I had been writing since high school, and I was a journalism major, so I was interested in writing. But I had never tried romance, of course, until that time.

TBQ: Your series, Seaswept Seduction is currently being re-released (Tides of Love, Tides of Passion).  Can you tell us a little bit about these books, and why readers are going to love them?

T: Tides of Love and Tides of Passion were my third and fourth novels, and very personal to me. I based the setting on Beaufort, NC, and the marine laboratory built there. The hero of Tides of Love (the first book in the series) is a marine biologist in 1898 -- and he returns to his hometown to help build the marine laboratory. My research about the lab, women attending university at this time, the suffragette movement and the lifesaving service (due to all the shipwrecks on this part of the coast) is very factual. Noah Garrett is actually my favorite hero of all I have written (I personally love the sexy geek). But his brother, Zach, comes in a close second! I think readers will enjoy (and I take this from many reviews I have gotten) the lush setting, witty dialogue and fairly classic build-up. I say classic because I like to write longer novels. I wants lots of scenes showing the characters falling in love. And I write pretty intense love scenes -- but I like the characters to have a firm foundation as well.

TBQ: Are there other genres you would like to write about?

T: I am about to release a contemporary novella, True Fate, that will start my True Men series. Although this is a sub genre of romance. :) I think about nonfiction ideas sometimes, like every writer, I come up with all kinds of things I'd like to write about!

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?

T: Well, VOWS, of course. is a classic! And Dance, by Judith Ivory, must be read. Actually, all of hers are amazing. She is a very cerebral, complex storyteller. I love her novels. I'm trying to read many indie writers this year as well. Bella Andre & Marie Force, for instance. And I love the old standbys. Julie Anne Long, Elise Rome.

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?

T:Well, as I mentioned, Noah Garrett is MY type. Intelligent, perhaps too much, sexy, a bit introverted, passionate, complicated. I'm drawn to his intelligence and his vulnerability, his need to do the right thing, his honor. I love angst-ridden heroes, ones who struggle. [I agree, they do make some of the best heroes! :) ]

TBQ: What's next-- Can you tell us a little bit about your upcoming releases or WIP?

T:Out at the end of this month is the contemporary novella, True Fate, which is starting the True Men series. The next in the series, True Dreams, will be out in the winter. This summer, the final novel in the Seasweept/Tides series arrives, Tides of Desire. Readers have been asking for Caleb Garrett's story for years!!! He is the most emotional of the Garrett brothers, so it should be interesting.

SPEED ROUND:

A day on a secluded island OR a day at the spa?
SPA! Although could I have both? :) [Your wish is my command! :) ]

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

Spicy. I prefer spicy as a reader and a writer!

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

English lord! I'm very drawn to the "lords and ladies" and in fact ma try my hand at this in 2013. I have a novel (series), light paranormal Victorian, already sketched out. [Faints...I think that's the first vote for the lord! But really, I'd be happy with either one.]

Hot summer days OR cold winter nights?

Hot…summer…days. Though I love to snowboard -- so could take the cold winter, too. Apres ski isn't bad!

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?

NYC is my dream city. I loved living there and prefer the city.

If you could live in any time period, past or future, which one would it be?

Perhaps the 1920s. I loved Woody Allen's recent film, Midnight in Paris -- and if I could hang with Hemingway, that would rock.

Cover Lover OR Blurb Fan?

Cover!

Steamy Novella OR Sweet Novel? (aka, Quickie or Slow Build Up?)

Seamy novella -- though I do, as I mention, write a nice build-up. So, I need the build-up as a reader…but I like the scenes, when they arrive, to be fairly detailed. :)

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

I would be a college football coach, if not a writer/graphic designer.

I'm obsessed with orange tict-tacs.

I taught English in Asia in my late 20s. And adopted my son from Vietnam in 2007. [That is awesome! :)]

Thanks so much for stopping by, Tracy, and please know that you are welcome back anytime!

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Tides of Love by Tracy Sumner

Publisher: Tracy Sumner (November 10, 2011)

Series: The Seaswept Seduction, 1

Genre: Historical RomanceHe left all he loved behind...

Will he be able to return and win her heart?

An earth-shattering secret revealed in his recently deceased mother's diary causes harsh words between Noah Garrett and his brother. Desolate and totally bewildered, Noah leaves Pilot Isle and has no contact with his family or even Elle Beaumont, the girl who has been his shadow all through childhood. Now, ten years later, Noah is a renowned biologist and returns to Pilot Isle to head up a research lab. Coming back home opens up old wounds and uncovers buried feelings. Hoping to have a few days to cope with all the old emotions welling up within him, Noah really isn't ready to face anyone yet. However, it's just his luck that the first person he literally bumps into is Elle. The only difference is, Elle is no longer a thin red headed mischievous imp who is constantly in trouble and always needing to be rescued. This Elle is a gorgeous, passionate young woman who sets Noah's blood on fire.

Marielle Claire Beaumont has loved Noah since she was a child. As a sad little girl who'd recently lost her mother and couldn't speak English, Elle met Noah when he saved her from taunts at school. Ever since then Elle has loved Noah unconditionally and followed him around like a little puppy. Her world was shattered when he left so suddenly. His silence all these years has been very difficult, and Elle is stunned when she slams into him so unexpectedly. It's not long before she's disrupting Noah's life again as sparks of passion fly in every direction between the two.

 
Where to Buy*:

Kindle | NOOK (Bundle w/ Book 2 ONLY) | ARe

More Info:

Author's Site | Excerpt

Read my Review of Tides of Love

Tides of Passion by Tracy Sumner

Publisher: Tracy Sumner (October 17, 2011)

Series: The Seaswept Seduction, 2

Genre: Historical Romance 

She is his greatest temptation.

He is her forbidden desire.

A battle of wills leads to love.

AN UNCONVENTIONAL WOMAN

Spirited Savannah Connor is passionately committed to
stamping out social injustice. Yet when she arrives in Pilot Isle, North
Carolina, ready to take up a new cause, she quickly finds herself on the outs
with the town constable. Zachariah Garrett is the most arrogant, infuriating,
maddeningly attractive man it's ever been her misfortune to meet. And suddenly,
Savannah is fighting a whole new battle--this one against her own yearning for a
man who is impossible to resist.

AN UNCOMPROMISING MAN

Ever since his wife's death two years ago, Zachariah Garrett
has dedicated his life to keeping the peace. And avoiding love. But Savannah
Connor isn't an ordinary woman--and she proves hard to ignore. She's a beguiling
beauty with the power to awaken emotions Zach thought he'd never feel again,
and the tenderness to help him forget his fears. And risk his heart once more.

Where to Buy*:

Kindle | NOOK (Bundle w/ Book 1 ONLY) 

More Info:

Author's Site | Excerpt

Read my Review!

Coming Soon:

Book 3: Summer 2012!

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PRIZE INFORMATION:

Tracy will be giving away a Kindle to one randomly drawn commenter at the end of the tour!

                  

Be sure to follow the rest of
the tour for more great posts,
interviews and reviews and
chances to win!

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Thanks for stopping by, Tracy-- I enjoyed doing this interview! :)

Thanks to Goddess Fish Tours for hosting this tour and allowing me to participate and review the books.




Enjoy!



Until Next Time,

*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!