Spring into Love: Character interview featuring Sloane Bradley

Interview with Sloane Bradley, heroine of the story, With No Reservations:

Alexis: What do you think of your author, Laurie Tomlinson? Did she tell your story well? Be honest!

Sloane: If anything, she exposed more than I was always comfortable with, but it was necessary. I could never write a novel like she does, though—too much chaos in her process for my liking! 

Alexis: How many years have you been blogging, Sloane? Tell us your blog’s name and describe its significance.

Sloane: I’m coming up on my blog’s ten-year anniversary! Can you believe it? It’s called Mise en Place, which is French for “everything in its place.” It’s a culinary term for getting all of your ingredients arranged before cooking, and I always include a photo of my own mise en place at the beginning of each post.

Alexis: What is the name of Cooper’s new restaurant and why were you wary about helping him to promote it?

Sloane: His new restaurant is called Simone, named after the woman who decided to sublet her upstairs to him when he lived in France. I was nervous about helping him promote it because I knew “the stories” about him. But it was mostly getting out of my routine. I have a little problem with control, but it’s getting better. 

Alexis: You and Cooper share a passionate love for food. In what ways has the kitchen (in the restaurant and at home) brought you together?

Sloane: We both speak the language of food, which gave us a common denominator when we thought we were nothing alike. Of course, we soon discovered we had much more in common with our pasts than we ever could have imagined.

Alexis: What is it about Cooper that makes your heart warmer than hot apple cider?

Sloane: He’s resilient. He’s been through so much and yet he’s constantly working behind the scenes and giving all he has. It doesn’t hurt that he’s easy on the eyes, too. And he’s a good kisser. Did I just say that out loud?

Alexis: What made you fall in love with Cooper and never want to leave his side? Where do you see your relationship with him five years from now? Details, please!

Sloane: I don’t know what it was that finally did it, but I do know that I’ve never felt safer with anyone else. He helped me realize that I couldn’t keep living the way I was living, and I’m so much stronger because of that. I don’t know what the next five years will hold, but I do know I want to be with him for the rest of my life!

Alexis: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a serious disability that people often think only affects American soldiers who are trying to transition back into civilian life. But clearly, it affects you. When were you first diagnosed with this disorder and how do you cope?

Sloane: Yes, PTSD is something that affects a lot more individuals than people think, but I’m so glad that veterans programs have created more awareness recently so more can get the help they need. I was diagnosed when I was 16 and had discouraging experiences with many therapists and counselors, so I sought help but didn’t really want to be helped, if that makes sense. While PTSD looks different for everyone, it looks like OCD in my case. Control is how I cope.

Alexis: Paint a picture of your home studio, with words. Describe the layout, paint color(s) that coat your walls and the aromas that radiate from your kitchen.

Sloane: There’s a lot of white and clean lines. I’m a little ashamed to admit I have expensive tastes, so there are a lot of minimalistic European influences in my décor. But I do like to have a few rustic and colorful accent pieces. My kitchen always smells like butter and either garlic or vanilla, depending on what I’m making in a given day. But real, Irish butter is a must in my home! 

Alexis: What are your thoughts about Cooper’s pet dog? What’s her name and how did her unconditional love help you heal?

Sloane: Maddie! I wasn’t really a dog person before I met her, but she has taught me the importance of playing. She is so warm and comforting and has this sense when her presence is needed. Do all dogs have that or just her? 

Alexis: Do you have a Starbucks habit? If so, what’s your favorite fix there and how often do you drink it?

Sloane: I usually get my morning coffee fix from my home espresso machine and all the fixings I have at home. The companies I’ve worked with have been so generous to send me fun coffee products to try. But on the go, I enjoy an almond milk latte from Starbucks every once in a while! 

Alexis: Thanks for the interview, Sloane! Do you have any closing thoughts?

Sloane: Thank YOU so much for the kind and thoughtful interview, Alexis! It’s been my pleasure. I hope people are inspired by this story that they can have a full and healthy and meaningful life – no matter what they’ve been through!

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Author bio:

Laurie Tomlinson is an award-winning contemporary romance author and cheerleader for creatives. 

She believes that God’s love is unfailing, anything can be accomplished with a good to-do list, and that life should be celebrated with cupcakes and extra sprinkles. 

Her novella "That’s When I Knew" was featured in the Love at First Laugh collection, and her debut novel, With No Reservations, is now available from Harlequin Heartwarming. 

You can connect with Laurie on her website, Facebook page, and Instagram.

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Book Blurb for With No Reservations:

There can be more than comfort in food…

What could well-known and wealthy Graham Cooper Jr. have in common with a blogger like Sloane Bradley, a woman with secrets she's kept firmly out of the public eye? That is, besides a love of food. 

Sloane still can't believe Cooper's the chef at the restaurant she's been assigned to promote. But she's boiling to prove to him that her "little blog" can put his place on the map. 

She can also fall head over heels for the guy, who has secrets of his own, it turns out…except for one thing. She can't get past the post-traumatic stress disorder that keeps her walled up in her home studio.

Available for purchase on:

Amazon | Kindle | Barnes & Noble | Harlequin.com | Google Play | Goodreads

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Enter this book giveaway contest for your chance to WIN a copy of this book by filling out the entry form on the Rafflecopter widget below:

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Interview with Laurie Tomlinson, author of "That’s When I Knew"

Welcome my writer friend Laurie Tomlinson to the blog today! 

She's here to talk about her novella, That's When I Knew. It is part of the "Love at First Laugh" collection of novellas.

Enjoy your time with Laurie! 

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Interview with Laurie Tomlinson, author of That’s When I Knew:

Alexis: That’s When I Knew belongs to the book collection, “Love at First Laugh: Eight Romantic Novellas Filled with Love, Laughter, and Happily Ever After.” Your story is in company with award-winning authors. Congrats! How does it feel to be part of that box set?

Laurie: It feels phenomenal! I am so honored that they invited me, the only previously unpublished author, and I have learned a tremendous amount from them.

Alexis: What is the story-behind-the-story of your novella, That's When I Knew?

Laurie: The tiniest early kernel of story idea came from two darling neighbor kids of mine who are the best of friends. Then I figured out Chelsea’s career, and the theme unfolded as I was writing the novella and had recently read Present Over Perfect by Shauna Niequist.

Alexis: Chelsea is the heroine in this story. Tell us about her personality, hopes and life goals.

Laurie: She is spunky, tomboyish, and a bit of a hot mess, but incredibly loyal. Her main goal in life is to do right by her employees because she recognizes that she and her company wouldn’t be where they are today without them.

Alexis: Nick is the hero of this story. Describe his looks, dreams and character flaw.

Laurie: Nick has dark blond hair, blue eyes, and “a solid, muscular frame that told the story of a man who’d done some hard work.”

Alexis: Chelsea and Nick are childhood sweethearts. How far back do they go? Describe the moment when they met and let us know how they knew that they would be lifelong friends.

Laurie: They met when she was eight and he was ten, spending the summers at his aunt’s house while his parents were going through a divorce. Since she was the only other kid in their baseball group whose parents were divorced, they had this special bond beyond their years, and every time he showed up for the summer, it was like they’d never been apart.

Alexis: Describe the grown-up versions of Chelsea and Nick. What do they do for a living? What are their hopes for their careers? Do they still like each other?

Laurie: Chelsea runs an accidentally popular planner/stationary brand, torn between taking the company to the next level and staying true to herself. Nick loves working for his dad’s moving truck company but wants to bring a fresh take and help their fleet grow. When Nick and Chelsea reunite as adults, it’s…complicated.

Alexis: What kind of past mistakes is Chelsea regretting? How could those mistakes ruin her chances in career and love?

Laurie: Well, the last time they saw each other, twelve years earlier, Nick told Chelsea he loved her, and she sort of ran. She’s also made some emotional decisions that put her company in jeopardy, so she wants to make sure she’s level-headed. Nick complicates that, too.

Alexis: What was the most challenging part of writing this story?

Laurie: Oh, man. This was my first novella to ever write, and I certainly learned that it’s much different. I had to rewrite pretty much the whole thing, but it was worth it!

Alexis: What’s your favorite scene in this story? Why?

It involves breaking down on the side of the interstate and stumbling upon a homeschool Revolutionary War dance. It was so fun to write!

Laurie: How did your personal faith in God impact your telling of this story?

One of my biggest faith journeys has been overcoming the myth that I have to perform and be perfect to be worthy of God’s love, when what He really wants from me is to know Him and delight in spending time with Him. That was a major theme in this story! 

Alexis: If you could spend a day with Chelsea and Nick, what would you do? Why?

Laurie: Play a game of baseball, of course, followed by mile-high ice cream cones. That’s when they are most themselves.

Alexis: What do you want your readers to remember most about this story?

Laurie: Not to do life in fear like they have two strikes, but to swing for the fences because they’re loved whether they hit a homerun or strike out trying!

Alexis: In non-baseball lingo, that’s to not live in perpetual fear of failure, but to go for the abundant life God intends for us.

Laurie: Thanks for the interview, Laurie! Would you like to share any closing thoughts?

Alexis: It was so much fun! Thanks for hosting me and the novella collection!

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Blurb for Laurie’s book: On most days, Chelsea Scott feels like her rapidly growing planner and stationery business should belong to someone else. Maybe if it did, it wouldn't be hovering near the red due to one costly decision. But the collaboration that will save her company awaits her pitch at the trade show she's keynoting. When her transportation falls through at the last minute, she accepts help from Nick Pearson, who’s unexpectedly come back into her life. 

The last time Nick saw Chelsea, he told her he loved her, and she ran. Twelve years later, their lives are different, more complex than the summers they spent playing baseball and eating ice cream cones at their dock with their toes in the lake. But as they spend time together on the road, their feelings for each other become clear: all those years couldn’t take away how good they can be together.

When Chelsea's past decisions resurface at the convention, her newly rekindled relationship with Nick – and her business – are in jeopardy. Will their love be enough to keep them together or will another summer end with them apart?

The Love at First Laugh Collection is now available on Amazon – eight inspirational romantic comedies for only 99 cents! Purchase link, http://amzn.to/2l0mqka

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Author bio: 

Laurie Tomlinson is an award-winning contemporary romance author and cheerleader for creatives. 

She believes that God’s love is unfailing, anything can be accomplished with a good to-do list, and that life should be celebrated with cupcakes and extra sprinkles. 

Her debut contemporary romance novel, With No Reservations, releases in May 2017 from Harlequin Heartwarming. 

You can connect with Laurie on her website, Facebook page, and Instagram.

Words of Faith: Laurie's story about God's unconditional love

All We Need
A Words of Faith story written by Laurie Tomlinson 

“Each time he said, ‘My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.’ So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.” 

~ 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NLT)~

For most of my upbringing, my people-pleasing, perfectionist nature permeated every aspect of life—including my faith. The strategy was to do all I could to please the Lord, and the only messages I believed said I could never do enough to be in right standing with God.

Just like I obsessed over studying to make good grades, I obsessed over doing all the things to be a good Christian. Reading my Bible, praying, going to church every time the doors were open, and practically running to answer every altar call so I could ask for forgiveness.

Now I know that God doesn’t work like that.

That false picture of God I had painted told a story of distance instead of intimacy. Of a love that was granted with disclaimers instead of no questions asked. And when I fell asleep praying, zoned out during a sermon, and couldn’t make sense of my Bible reading, I wondered: If I couldn’t be perfect, why try at all? I went through the motions—still concerned with appeasing the people in my life who would notice—but I didn’t value a connection with God.

In this Instagram-filtered culture that glorifies busy, I think it’s easy to miss the point. It’s easy to think that faith is a series of pics-or-it-didn’t-happen hoops to jump through. That God is a wish-granting genie in the sky who holds us to an unattainable standard of perfection.

But just like the adolescent version of me, we’re all giving ourselves too much credit.

I’m grateful for a high school teacher who helped me realize that righteousness, holiness—the ability to go to heaven, for that matter—don’t have anything to do with anything we do. The blood of Christ, the ultimate sacrifice made because of His great love, is the only thing that makes it possible.

Kind of takes the pressure off, doesn’t it?

Once I understood the depth of that love, it was a game-changer. It was inspiring. It was transforming. It turned faith from a series of rules to a relationship that never changed no matter how much I failed. And the amazing thing is, our human understanding can’t even begin to scratch the surface of that love.

Now my goal is not perfection but to live in a way that focuses less on what I do and more on the bridge between Christ and me, the perfect power that redeemed me. We don’t have to wait until everything’s lined up or certain parameters have been met to commune with God, because when do we ever have it all together? He sees our hearts and only cares that we show up. Even when life is crazy and all we have to pray is a single word, He meets us where we are.

As the verse mentions above, His grace is all we need.

~*~
Author bio: 

Laurie Tomlinson is a wife and mom from Tulsa, Oklahoma, who is passionate about intentional living, all things color-coded, and stories of grace in the beautiful mess. Previously a full-time book publicist, she owns a freelance copywriting, editing, and PR consulting business called 1624 Communications. 

She's a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, a two-time Genesis Award winner, and the runner-up in the 2015 Lone Star Contest's Inspirational category. Her work is represented by Rachel Kent of Books & Such Literary.
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Connect with Laurie:
Facebook - AuthorLaurieTomlinson
Twitter - @LaurieTomlinson
Website - www.LaurieTomlinson.com