Romantic Reads: Interview with Anne Greene about "A Crazy Optimist"

Welcome Anne Greene to the blog today!

She's here to talk about her book, A Crazy Optimist.

Enjoy her interview! 

~*~

Interview questions for Anne Greene about her book, A Crazy Optimist:

Alexis: Why did you write this book and call it A Crazy Optimist?

Anne: I don’t usually write Romantic Comedy, but I love to read that genre. So this is one of my first Romantic Comedies. I found the book so fun to write, that it certainly won’t be my last. The title comes from the heroine Sparkle January’s personality.

Alexis: Sparkle January is quite a creative name! What was the inspiration behind it?

Anne: Her character sprang full-blown into my imagination as well as her name. I always give my books a sprinkle of action, mystery, and adventure, even my comedies.

Alexis: Why did you give Sparkle a passion for pet taxidermy?

Anne: I find taxidermy a bit gruesome and wanted to discover the brighter side, where owners who love their pets want to keep them in as lifelike posture as possible and a fun-loving person like Sparkle was just the woman to do the almost impossible.

Alexis: What’s involved in being a “Professional Maid of Honor” and why did Sparkle choose this new career?

Anne: Sparkle’s acted as Maid of Honor ten times with her friends. She knows the ropes. She takes the Diva from feuding friends and smooths the unexpected last-minute bumps that inevitably occur during the stress of weddings. Also, in New York, some brides don’t have a best friend she can ask to be her Maid of Honor, so Sparkle happily fills the gap.

Alexis: Why did Sparkle move to New York City? Where did she live originally?

Anne: Sparkle is from Podunk-Town, Texas and moved to New York looking for adventure.

Alexis: How did Sparkle first meet Nick Patrizio?

Anne: Sparkle has Directional Dyslexia which means she has absolutely no sense of direction. She claims she gets lost in a revolving door. When she arrived in New York, Nick rescued her by carting her nine bags to an apartment near his restaurant after she’d taken the wrong subway, then the wrong bus.

Alexis: What is it about Nick that compels Sparkle to pour her heart out to him over coffee quite often?

Anne: Nick fell in love with Sparkle the first moment he saw her. He gladly listens to her each day when she drops in for coffee and to tell him her troubles. He suggests that she turn down the job of being a Professional Hugger.

Alexis: Paint a picture with words of Harvey’s On The Harbor. What makes it special?

Anne: Harvey’s has a huge bay window overlooking the sun-tossed harbor. Nick fills his restaurant with the scent of gardenia and savory spaghetti sauce. Nick and his listening ear make the place special. Besides, Sparkle can only afford his highly aromatic coffee, and what other New York restaurant would give her coffee order a warm welcome rather than a cold shoulder?

Alexis: Why does Sparkle believe that she is an “ugly duckling” and not a beautiful swan?

Anne: She’d been a Maid of Honor at her ten friends’ weddings, why did she not have a fiancé? Her hair was a dishwater color and she’d gained weight since moving to New York. Her posh hair stylist called her mousy until he got his hands on her. Didn’t date much at Texas Tech. Majored in Meteorology but was told she was too fat to be on television.

Alexis: Let’s talk about Nick. What makes him tick? Describe his looks, personality, and his outlook on life.

Anne: Nick has six sisters and no brothers. He’s an almost handsome guy who loves to smile and was honest and sincere. On a scale of one to ten, at least a seven. He grew up Catholic, but became a Christian

Alexis: What is it about Sparkle that made Nick fall in love with her at first sight?

Anne: He loved her sparkling personality.

Alexis: What is the basis for Nick and Sparkle’s friendship?

Anne: Open honesty, especially while Sparkle is unaware of Nick’s love.

Alexis: Does Sparkle have a clue that Nick is in love with her? Why or why not?

Anne: No. She thinks he is her best friend.

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

Anne: First, I want them to laugh and enjoy the story. Then as Sparkle discovered, dates come and go, but a best friend is forever. Marriage is built on honest communication, shared ideals, and sharing of secrets—even if the secret could change the married life. But if one is really in love, one will accept the sacrifice and marry to give the loved one the best possible life.

Alexis: If you could step into this story as a professional counselor, what advice would you give Sparkle and Nick about life, love and their relationship?

Anne: I don’t think they need a professional counselor. I think they solved the problem themselves.

Alexis: Thanks for the interview, Anne! Do you have closing comments?

Anne: I love talking with my readers. I hope they will go to my website and sign up for my newsletter, so we can keep in touch. https://www.annegreeneauthor.com/

Thank you so much, Alexis for visiting with me.

~*~
Author Bio:

Anne Greene lives in the quaint antiquing town of McKinney, Texas, a few miles north of Dallas. Her husband is a retired Colonel, Army Special Forces. Her little brown and white Shih Tzu, Lily Valentine, shares her writing space, curled at her feet.  

Whether writing contemporary or historical, Anne’s books celebrate the abundant life.

Anne is an award-winning author of twenty-nine books. She loves writing about alpha heroes who aren’t afraid to fall on their knees in prayer, and about gutsy heroines. She hopes her stories transport you to awesome new worlds and touch your heart.

Her first book in her CIA Operatives series opens with Shadow of the Dagger. Her Women of Courage series spotlights heroic women of World War II. Blast off with Angel With Steel Wings. Her Holly Garden, Private Investigator series opens with Red Is For Rookie. 

Enjoy her award- winning Scottish historical romances. Anne hopes her stories transport you to awesome new worlds and touch your heart.

~*~
Book Blurb for A Crazy Optimist:

This Romantic Comedy stars a Crazy Optimist who owns a Pet Taxidermy shop and supplements her income by becoming a Professional Maid Of Honor. 

Sparkle January recently moved to New York City. She finds a best friend in Nick Patrizio, whose Harvey’s On The Harbor restaurant is around the corner from Sparkle’s apartment. She visits Harvey’s daily, not to eat, but to tell her troubles to Nick and drink coffee.

Sparkle finds that building both her new professions brings unexpected difficulties and dilemmas. And she’s intent on transforming herself from Ugly Duckling into Acceptable Swan. 

Nick is the voice of reason and safety in the storms. Nick’s had tragedies of his own but falls for Sparkle the first moment she breezes into his restaurant. But Sparkle hides a secret that forces her to guard her heart. And what is the key to Sparkle’s optimism?

~*~
Connect with Anne:

To learn more of Anne, join her newsletter, and view her art and pictures of her extensive travel, visit her at www.AnneGreeneAuthor.com.

Anne’s books are available at www.AnneGreeneAuthor.com.

To contact Anne, visit her at www.facebook.com/AnneWGreeneAuthor.

To view Anne’s books go to www.annegreeneauthor.com/anne-s-books.html.

~*~
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: 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

True Love Stories: Love Online

Here it is, the very first guest post in my true love stories series taking place every day this month of February! Are you excited? I know I am! :) 

Featured on my blog today is Carol McClain, a woman of faith and words. She met her husband on the Internet. Sometimes online dating works for you in a wonderful way, such is the story of Carol and the man she married. 

Curious to know how it worked out for Carol? Read on...

~*~

Love Online

Carol McClain's True Love Story

Living in the northern reaches of New York where even New Yorkers don’t believe anything exists, men are scarce. Couple that with a tiny church populated by two types of people,

1. Happily married

2. Good reason not married (there existed a good reason I remained a single mom for so long).

Then, along came the Internet, and I took my chances. And what was the chance of finding a devout Christian, single, my age, living in my teensy town?

Actually, very good.

I met a man. He wasn’t computer savvy and didn’t realize his profile had gone through on this particular match-making site. After filling out the fifty pages of questions, getting it notarized, signing it in blood, he had gotten a notice that an error had occurred, and his profile could not be posted. He gave up.

Not me. Being computer savvy, I sniffed out that profile, emailed him, chatted, and we decided to meet in real time.

However, being foolish, I violated every principal of online mating. Not only did I have him pick me up at my house for our first date, I invited him in after dinner, as well. After all, he had told me he was a minister, and a quick check of his church proved he didn’t lie. If I couldn’t trust a preacher-boy, life would be grim. Of course, if he murdered me, my life would have been grimmer than a Grimm’s fairy tale.

But—God is merciful.

When he knocked on my door for that first date, I opened it not knowing what to expect—a hideous creature with halitosis or a Prince Charming to salivate over.

I got the latter.

And apparently, he got the woman of his dreams because he flashed me the most enchanting smile I’d ever seen—white, even teeth framed by a distinguished beard and mustache. Topping off that smile were warm, brown eyes, a shock of white hair sporting no baldness at all. I could go on this date and not be ashamed of being seen in public.

We further confirmed our suitability during dinner. We received our menus and forgot to look at them. Our entrée came before we remembered the salad bar. When asked if we wanted dessert, we remembered we were supposed to eat our now cold meal.

At my house after dinner, our conversation continued…and we talked well into the evening. At last, he got up to go since I had to leave for family obligations early the next morning. I walked him to the door. His eyes sparkled with the dawning of love, more than likely reflecting my own. He opened the door. Turned to me. Here it came. I closed my eyes, held my breath, leaned in.

Shook my hand!

Now it’d been ages since I had dated, but shaking the hand was not how a date was supposed to end, even if you were a Christian.

The next morning as I packed my car, I got a phone call. Neil.

“I forgot something last night. Can I stop by? I’ll only keep you a minute.”

“Of course.” What else could a smitten lady say?

Within ten minutes he knocked at my door. Diffidently, he stepped into my living room. “I was so stupid last night. I meant to give you this.” He leaned in, took me in his arms and gave me the first of a million kisses that were to follow.

Almost one year from the day we met, we married. 

Carol's note to blog readers: Have a blessed and romantic Valentine’s Day. As for me—will cuddle with a silver-haired man who has the best teeth in the United States.

~*~

Carol's *new* personalized blurb for her book, DWF: Divorced White Female:

Only Neil’s teeth and the manner we met made it into my debut novel DWF: Divorced White Female. My protagonist meets her date at Porta Bella’s—her town’s swankiest restaurant. They met online, never saw a picture of each other, and she’s smitten with his intellect. When Cheryl meets Carlton, she’s also dazzled by his teeth.

But could those choppers possibly be real? How does one find out if a potential spouse has false teeth? Hmmm.

I’m ashamed to say, that thought plagued me. I had to wait many months to find out. And I’ll let you know: Neil’s teeth are as real and original as our love—even ten years after we’ve been married.

You can read the antics of Cheryl Chandler and her quest to tame her children, her hair and hook a man in DWF: Divorced White Female, a romantic comedy. The e-books can be found wherever e-books are sold. The print copy currently appears only on Amazon.

Buy Carol's book:

Amazon.com - http://amzn.to/1zJmaeo

BarnesandNoble.com- http://bit.ly/1DjwZ4e