@GoddessFish Interview & Giveaway: Dating Cary Grant by Emelle Gamble

Dating Cary Grant

Emelle Gamble



Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Soul Mate Publishing
Date of Publication: April 1, 2014
Number of pages: 254
Cover Artist: Rae Money, Inc

Available at the following retailers:
Amazon

A modern Manhattan fairy tale starring…

Tracy Connor, a New York City career woman who loves her job and classic movies.

Mike Connor, her estranged husband, a small town Mayor who loves his wife but doesn’t seem to have enough time to see her.

The handsome stranger, Philip Adams, who lives downstairs from the small sublet Tracy has temporarily moved into. He’s charming, funny and looks a lot like her very favorite screen icon, Cary Grant.

Dating Cary Grant is a romance all about New York City career woman Tracy Connor struggling with real issues with her real guy, her husband of six years, Mayor Mike Connor of Cukor, Connecticut. Tracy is a smart woman, but some of her problems with relationships are partially caused by her unrealistic expectations that real guys should – and can - behave like matinee idols. Mike’s problems are also caused by the fact that he’s such a great guy and overextends his heart, and his appointment calendar, to every constituent, friend or stray animal who crosses his path.

Tracy is also being stressed by a TV reality show intent on showcasing Tracy and Mike’s personal life, as well as the imminent takeover of her employer, a small, private television station, by a billionaire with unlimited funds and no taste.

Dating Cary Grant considers just how selfless a man needs to be to meet his wife’s expectations, and just how honest a woman must be with herself about what she’s willing to give, and give-up. And Cary Grant is along to help prove that any woman’s search for ‘Mr. Perfect ‘ might take her to a surprising place to find him.

Excerpt: 

Her husband rested his big hands on the door. “Look, can I just come in for a few minutes?”

Tracy stared at him and realized Mike was nervous.

Nervous.

She had never, ever, seen her husband nervous, in any situation, in all the time she’d known him. He was an experienced attorney as well as a public official, a man naturally at ease with people, all people, even people pissed off because their property tax bill went up or angry because the jury ruled against them. People didn’t make Mike Conner nervous.

He listened, shook hands, and proceeded to logically explain how he was going to fix everything, no problem.

He had never even seemed stressed when they met with the marriage counselor, she thought. But at this minute, Mike Connor was nervous.

She lowered her voice. “It’s the middle of the night, Mike. Please.”

“I know what time it is.” His eyes studied her face, and then swept down her body with the force of a physical touch. “And I know you’ve got a headache, but let me say you look great. Really great. And you smell wonderful. Is that new perfume?”

“No. It’s the same perfume I always wear.” She watched as Mike’s eyes dropped to her cleavage and her face burned over the fact she had chosen this sweater with another man in mind.

Suddenly she visualized that other man, showing up with a bottle of aspirin. Though she hadn’t done anything wrong, nothing positive would come from Mayor Connor meeting Philip Adams outside her apartment door, of that she was sure.

“Mike, you really need to go.” She stepped across the doorway as if to encourage him to head for the stairs.

“Am I interrupting something?” He pointedly looked over her shoulder.

“No. Of course not. Not that it’s any of your business.”

“How’s that? We’re still married, aren’t we?”

“Yes, we are. But after everything we’ve been through the last couple of years, I’m a little surprised you’d insinuate something like that.”

“Like what?”

“Like I’d cheat on you.”

Mike’s face paled. “I wasn’t insinuating that. Look, just a few minutes, okay? I smell coffee. And I could sure use a cup.”

Tracy sent another glance down the stairs. “There’s a 24-hour deli a block over. You can stop and get some on the way back to your car. I’m not trying to be difficult, but I just need some sleep. I’ve got to go into work all day tomorrow, and Sunday I promised to meet Posey early in SoHo, so whatever you’ve got to say --”

“--I’ll buy you pancakes. You love pancakes. Even in the middle of the night, right?” He reached out and gave her arm a squeeze.

Her heart softened but her tone remained unchanged. “I’m not hungry, Mike. I’ll call tomorrow and we’ll set up a time where we can talk more. Please, just don’t push me.”

Interview: 
Today, we welcome Emelle Gamble, author of Dating Cary Grant to Musings and Ramblings. Let's all give a great big Geeky welcome!

Let's start with some writer specific questions before moving into the fun stuff. That way everyone can really get to know the person behind the writer. We will finish things off with round of Think Fast. Ready for the interrogation to begin?

Writing Specific

1. How involved are you with Social Media and self-promotion?

Too involved. Not kidding. I spend about 10 hours a week just replying to FB posts, emails and lining up blogs, etc. As I work full-time in a professional job outside of writing books, the time necessary to be a small press author is a real killer. But worth it. And totally and completely necessary if you want anyone other than your sister or best friend to find your books.

2. What one thing do you wish someone had told you before you started writing?

I think everyone told me everything I should do and I just didn’t listen. #1 is learn how to make readers access and empathize with the characters. Without that caring for a character, few people will read your book, no matter how good the plot.

3. Tell us something about yourself that's not in your bio.

I am a Gemini and I believe in astrology even though there is no science to support it. And I married my mate, a fellow Gemini. Who needs Science when true love comes along?

4. What do you like to do when you are not writing?

I’m a HGTV junky. Love, love, love these shows, which are mini-Cinderella type fantasies, before and after, happily ever after at least as a decent kitchen or bath. HA! Especially love those Property Brothers and Love it or List it!

5. Is there any particular author or book that has influenced you or your writing?

Daphne DuMurier. I read Rebecca and My Cousin Rachel at thirteen, with my jaw dropping the whole time. She took me to another place and time and made the ‘real’ world disappear. She is more pessimistic than I, and more accomplished, but she taught me that suspense, really not knowing what was going to happen next, was essential in any type of novel. Take Romance, we know it will end Happily Ever After, but aren’t the best ones when you worry about it, doubt it, and think it just might not happen?

Fun Stuff

1. What was the name of the last book you read?

The Awful Mess by Sandra Hutchison. Quirky, compelling, thought-provoking and wonderful. It was her first book. I want more. Now!

2. Tell us 2 positive and 2 negative character traits you possess.

I am generous and loving. I hate to admit I’m wrong, and I am bossy.

3. You are going to be stranded on a deserted island and bring 3 luxury items. What would they be?

Electricity, water and a fully-stocked refrigerator. These are luxuries in most of the world. I wouldn’t care to live without them, and now I am luck that I don’t have too.

4. Pick two celebrities to be your parents. Who are they and why?

Julia Child is my mother. She cooks, she’s funny, and she’d push me to succeed. Tom Hanks is my dad. He seems wise, supportive, and he could introduce me to Ryan Gosling.

5. If someone wrote a biography about you, what do you think the title should be?

She Didn’t Regret Her Life. If I died today, this would be apt. I’ve got a great husband, two wonderful children and their two delightful and loving mates, a step-grandson who is a treasure, dear friends. And I am a writer, the career that makes me happiest of any that I’ve tried my hand at.

Think Fast

1. Elvis or Sinatra? Sinatra.
2. AM or PM? PM.
3. Italian or Chinese? Chinese.
4. Summer or Winter? SUMMERSUMMERSUMMER
5. Cake or Pie? Pie. Boysenberry, which you can only get during 4 weeks in the summer in LA. World’s best.

Thanks for coming by and spending some time with us. Any final words of wisdom to pass along?

Be kind to yourself, and kinder to others. I’ve recently lost a couple of friends, and all those clichés are true…never pass up the opportunity to tell someone you love them.

Giveaway: 

Emelle will be awarding a $50 Amazon GC to a randomly drawn commenter during this tour and the Reviews Tour. A digital copy of Dating Cary Grant will be awarded to 5 randomly drawn commenters also during this tour and the Reviews Tour.

So follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Tour Info: 
Don't forget to check out the other stops on the Book Tour:

April 1st
Lisa Haselton's Reviews and Interviews
Aly's Miscellany

April 8th
Cynthia Gail
Rose and Beps Blog

April 15th
Susana's Parlour

April 22nd
Rachel Brimble Romance

April 29th
Musings and Ramblings

May 6th
Queen of All She Reads
Room With Books

May 13th
Reviews By Molly
The Book Review

May 20th
It's Raining Books


Author Bio:

Emelle Gamble was a writer at an early age, bursting with the requisite childhood stories of introspection which evolved into bad teen poetry and attempts at 'real literature' all copies of which she has since, very sensibly, shredded. She took her first stab at romantic fiction in an adult education writing class when her kids were in bed, taught by fellow writer Carolyn Haines, in Mobile, Alabama. As M.L. Gamble, she published several romantic suspense novels with Harlequin. She is now contracted with Soul Mate Publishing for Secret Sister, summer of 2013, and Dating Cary Grant, an early 2014 release.

Always intrigued by the words ‘what if’, Emelle’s books feature an ordinary woman confronted with an extraordinary situation. She most enjoys reading stories that surprise and amaze her, and hopes her readers will enjoy the challenging and exciting journeys her characters take.

Emelle lives in suburban Washington D.C. with her husband, Phil, her hero of thirty years, and two orange cats, Lucy and Bella. Her daughter, Olivia, and son, Allen, are happily launched on their own and contributing great things to society, which has always been their mother’s fondest wish.

To connect with the author online:

Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads