Rogue's Angles Present: Adding Lib by Kathryn Elliott

Please welcome Kathryn Elliott author of Adding Lib.

Kathryn will be awarding a $25 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour, and a $25 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn host.

Don't forget to use the Rafflcopter code below for a chance to win.

Adding Lib

by Kathryn Elliott

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INTERVIEW:

Interview Questions for Rogue's Angels

Please answer 10 to 15 of the questions. Oh, and don't forget to use examples from your book to elaborate on the questions.

Adding Lib – Kathryn Elliott

1. What or who inspired you to start writing?

When I was in fourth grade, and mastodons roamed the earth, my teacher, Mrs. Schmitt called me over to her desk during reading time. Being one of the few who cherished reading time, I was not pleased; my trademark scowl made her giggle. Turns out she wanted me to enter a statewide writing contest – why, I had no clue. The one riveting thing I’d turned in at that point in the school year was a synopsis of Nancy Drew’s latest greatness and I didn’t see it as Pulitzer quality, but Mrs. Schmitt saw more. Low and behold, I won – and the writing bug bit.

2. How did you come up with your idea for your novel?

Adding Lib was a series of characters chatting up a storm in my cluttered brain before anything else. They got annoying – fast. I had a basic storyline outlined in about a month, no title, no names, but I knew I wanted to tackle the difficult subject of dementia with a humorous approach – it was risky, and it took a Herculean sign from above to transfer the first scraps of paper into a workable plot.

The short version: I lost one of my best friends to cancer. On the final trip to chemo runs, a trip we both knew was futile she said something that struck a chord so deep I knew it was my sign to stop dreaming and start writing.

“Life’s funny,” she said. “You never know what’s coming – I guess we add lib through the tough parts to get to the laughter.”

Boom – Adding Lib was born.

3. What expertise did you bring to your writing?

I’ve written professionally my entire career. After college I started out in public relations for a record label, kind of a dream job for a 20-something music geek, and the skills grew from there into an odd combination of local reporter/publicist. Finding the right words is my Super Power. (Punctuation = kryptonite.) In addition to the day job, I’ve done extensive ghost writing and social media management. (Shh…I occasionally help politicians look good. It’s an art.)

4. As far as your writing goes, what are your future plans?

Adding Lib is the first of the McGinn Series. The second installment, Finding Caroline is in the editing phase and focuses on the relationship between Sean McGinn, Libby’s brother and her best friend Caroline Duffy.

Lovers in their youth, Sean and Caroline kept their relationship a secret from the family, but after Caroline moves back to town post-divorce – sparks fly. (Ragingly repressed sparks) The smolder starts in Adding Lib; here’s a snippet.

Sean grabbed onto the back of her neck and deepened the kiss before she could pull back. Her lips parted, and a moan from deep in her dormant sex drive sent his mouth into frenzy. She found the bottom of his soft cotton T-shirt and slipped her hands under the hem. Running her fingers over his chest hair, his nipples snapped to attention, along with his common sense.

“Whoa,”—he reluctantly pulled an inch back—“I have to breathe. Give me a second.” His panting was matched only by hers. His low growl warned, “You’re opening an old door here, Duffy. Once it’s open, I’m coming in, slamming it shut, and putting up the Do Not Disturb sign until neither one of us can move. No one in, no one out. I’ve waited too long.”

She licked her plumped-with-kisses lips.

He groaned. “You play dirty,” he said. “I like it.”

The sound of a car in the driveway sent them scrambling to their feet and to the truck ramp.

Caroline waved to Libby and Mae as they got out of the car. “I feel like I just got caught making out on the front porch,” she said between her smiling teeth.

“You’re lucky they came when they did,” he said. “If it were up to me we’d be testing the springs on that old couch right now.”

Sean mirrored her clenched smile and waved to Mae and Libby as he said, “Forget what I said in the office the other day. This is not over. Not by a long shot. We’re just getting started.”

5. If you could be one of the characters from this book, who would it be and why?

The safe answer is Libby, the lead; however I have to go with Dolores – Libby’s librarian boss. There’s something about pent up 70 year old sexual frustration – she’s a hoot! Thank God for Dom, the dashing retiree with a love of homemade pineapple upside down cake and women in sensible cardigans.

6. Can you give us a sneak peek into this book?

Absolutely!

Libby O'Rourke has a short fuse. Her mother, Mae, carries a big match. Engulfed in the never-ending life-juggling of suburbia, Libby fails to notice Mae's emerging dementia symptoms until a kitchen fire puts the problem on the front burner. Proficient in the art of denial, Mae brushes the shattering diagnosis aside and sets her sights on a matchmaking crusade for her eldest son. After all, if her lucid days are numbered, Mae’s going to make damned sure he makes it down the aisle while she still recognizes the groom. It’s going to take a razor wit and an iron stomach to handle Mae's diagnosis. Thankfully, just like her mother Libby has both.

7. Do you belong to a critique group? If so how does this help or hinder your writing?

I adore my critique group! If you write –GET ONE! These are the men and women who are brave enough to tell you when the words on your page resemble a babbling ransom note rather than a working storyline.

Criticism is hard, no way around it, but it is imperative to a polished book. Editors are great, (thank you, Maggie!) but get yourself a group of people who sing your praises AND point out flaws. If you want back pats and a cookie, call your grandmother! (Actually, do that anyway – she’d love to hear from you.) Having a supportive team behind any career choice is a fantastic gift, I’ve been blessed with family, friends and critique partners honest enough to tell me what to scrap or save. And trust me – the early Adding Lib scrap heap rivaled the NY City Dump.

8. What is the best and worst advice you ever received? (regarding writing or publishing)

Before I even attempted Adding Lib’s first draft, I took more writing seminars/webinars/kill-me-now-inars than any sober person should. Yes, they helped; however, advice, albeit well-intended is not elastic waist pants – one size does NOT fit all.

For example, several experts suggest writing every day regardless of what your muse has to say about it.

Don’t do that. She hates that. At least don’t do it if it’s not your writing style. If I force myself to write when the creative juices aren’t flowing the end result is a puddle of crap. Edit when the muse is missing – this makes her happy, so does wine.

The best advice – be tenacious, in your dreams and in your writing. Don’t rest until you get it right. Then sleep like the dead – you will be.

9. Do you outline your books or just start writing?

I’m a free-form outliner.I jot; notes, character development, romances and heartbreaks. I find a strict format limits where the story goes. And I hate the term pantser – makes me feel like some pimple faced bully is going to give me a wedgie on the school bus, but I suppose a pantser I am. I let the characters take me where they want to go, say what they want to say, and if I disagree they tell me to bug off until we find common ground.

10. How do you maintain your creativity?

I drink. Oh, you’re serious? Well then…Like my mother, I rarely sit still. My mind goes in a million directions, all typically leading to a creative place. Whether gardening, cooking or redecorating on a shoestring budget, I find immersing myself in self-expression is the best way to combat writer’s block.

Creative minds are impossible to shut off, and when I’m not writing I lend a well-wrinkled publicity hand for dementia advocacy groups, local non-profits and the American Cancer Society. I love putting my public relations roots to good use for a greater purpose. (Hell, that sounds sappy. I’m not sappy.) At one point I was fairly well known for my marketing skills – then I had children. Enough said.

11. Are your plotting bunnies angels or demons?

Demons – complete and utter lit-sadists! And they love to speak to me just when I’m about to fall asleep and refuse to let up until I drag my flannel ass downstairs and back to the laptop. Fortunately, my Labrador, Maggie is a good late night writing buddy. She also gets snacks and tummy rubs between chapters – she’s kind of needy.

12. Anything else you might want to add?

Just my sincere thanks, and sincere hope Adding Lib finds a way to tug your heartstrings and deliver the laughter life truly needs. Thank you!

BLURB:

Libby O'Rourke has a short fuse. Her mother, Mae, carries a big match. Engulfed in the never-ending life-juggling of suburbia, Libby fails to notice Mae's emerging dementia symptoms until a kitchen fire puts the problem on the front burner.

Proficient in the art of denial, Mae brushes the shattering diagnosis aside and sets her sights on a matchmaking crusade for her eldest son. After all, if her lucid days are numbered, Mae’s going to make damned sure he makes it down the aisle while she still recognizes the groom.

It’s going to take a razor wit and an iron stomach to handle Mae's diagnosis. Thankfully, just like her mother Libby has both.

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EXCERPT:

At three o’clock, excess wine and a bladder weakened by two pregnancies woke Libby from a sound sleep. She crept to the bathroom as quietly as two-hundred-year-old floor boards would allow and, on the way back, noticed the phone’s blinking message light.

“Crap.” Mae’s message taunted from the answering machine. “What to do?” she said to herself. “Check it, or go back to bed?” Years of maternally ingrained guilt won out as she pressed play.

“Hi Lib,” Mae’s recorded message played. “It’s your mother.”

“Color me surprised.” Libby groaned.

“I just got back from my visit with Dr. Cooper. You remember him, he removed Daddy’s planter’s wart.”

“TMI Mom, TMI.”

“Anyhow, he did a splendid job with my colon and said I had none of those dirty pollocks.”

“Polyps, unless you’ve got a ten-foot abstract in your small intestine.”

“You can watch now. Did you know that? They have a camera in your bum the whole time, fascinating really. Anyway, a few of my other test results were a bit off, and he wants me to see a neurologist for some silly reason. Nothing to worry about, just a little blip to check out. Anyhow, I need someone to take me for the appointment, and I was hoping you could find the time. If not, don’t worry, I’ll call your brother Sean. I’m sure he can drop anything less important than his mother.”

“Of course. He’s Jesus.” Libby’s eyes rolled.

“Take care, sweetie. Call me when you can, love to all.”

Libby replayed the message and returned to bed. Blip speculation haunted her dreams.

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Kathryn Elliott is a lifetime journalist with awards in political satire, human interest, and commentary. A Connecticut native, she is a happily married mother of two sons with high hopes one of them will pay for a delightful rest home.

A true believer in laughter's healing power, Kathryn writes characters whose flaws resonate with readers long after "The End."

ADDING LIB is her debut novel, and the first in The McGinn Series.

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/KathrynElliottAuthor?ref=bookmarks

TWITTER: @CandidKathryn

BLOG LINK: http://candidkathryn.com/

GOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5961246-kathryn-elliott

BUY LINKS:

The Wild Rose Press: http://www.wildrosepublishing.com/maincatalog_v151/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=191&products_id=6006

Amazon:http://www.amazon.com/Adding-Lib-Kathryn-Elliott/dp/1628306408/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1416509045&sr=8-1&keywords=adding+lib

Nook: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/adding-lib-kathryn-elliott/1120959745?ean=2940149968862

iBook: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/adding-lib/id946791906?mt=11

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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE

Kathryn will be awarding a $25 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour, and a $25 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn host.

Please use this rafflecopter code on your post:

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/28e4345f967/