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I'm pleased to welcome the author of forthcoming contemporary romance DEAR MADDIE to the blog today. Read the interview and an excerpt below! Check it out...  G. Parker has been writing since she was 12. When not writing, she’s painting, cooking and tries to read anything she can get her hands on. She lives with her wonderful husband, assorted children and animals and loves to hear from her readers.  Genre: Contemporary Romance Release Date: 8/18/2020 Publisher: Anaiah Press The public turns to her with their relationship woes, but does she really know anything about love? “Dear Maddie – My boyfriend and I have been together for almost two years, but…” Maddie never dreamed she’d be writing a newspaper column to the lovelorn. Her co-workers think her nights are filled with glamourous dates, but in reality, her life is boring. Until the day her boss insists on running a contest to win a dream date… with her. Now Maddie is searching for someone genuine in the mountain of letters from fame- seekers, braggarts, mama’s boys, and stalkers. Does God’s plan include finding true love through a marketing stunt? Or will she only have more loveless fodder for her column? Excerpt from DEAR MADDIE... Ever thought you knew what God’s plan was for you? As I gazed at a letter—I think it was number 4,075—asking for boyfriend advice, I found myself questioning that plan. I eyed the ceiling. “Surely You didn’t intend for me to end up here?” At least, this letter wasn’t from a guy asking me on a date. I swiveled to look out my small window at the rainy streets. Growing up, I had known for sure that He was in my life and guided me. I wasn’t feeling guided now. As I turned back to my computer, the large framed letter on the wall caught my eye. The one that had started it all. Dear Editor, I am so frustrated with men. I finally find the guy that makes my heart pound, and he turns out to be a player, just like all the other men I’ve ever met. What is a girl to do? How am I ever going to find Mr. Right? Am I doomed to be a spinster the rest of my life? Please, help! Toni ------ The door to my office burst open, and Jayne, my best friend slash boss’s secretary, bounced in. “Hey! Aren’t you excited?” Her big blue eyes sparkled with excitement. Jayne was a petite blond who managed to be everyone’s friend. I stared as she perched on the corner of my desk, wondering what news I’d missed on the walk to my office. “Jason’s getting hair implants?” Jayne giggled and whacked my shoulder. “No, silly. About you and the date contest.” I blinked my confusion. She rolled her eyes. “Jason just said you’re running a contest for someone to win a date with you. Whoever wins takes you out on the town. Limo, dinner, the works.” She almost bounced off the desk with enthusiasm. “Won’t that be amazing? The best date ever.” “A date contest? You mean, as in picking someone from the applicants and actually going on a date with him?” Jayne focused on my expression of total shock, and her excitement level went down a couple of notches. “Didn’t you agree to this with Jason?” I shook my head. “I haven’t agreed to anything. This is the first I’ve heard about it. I mean, Jason’s really been on my case about accepting a date with one of these guys that keep writing, but that’s all he’s ever said. No one suggested a contest.” She licked her lips, obviously realizing she’d let something out of the bag, and slipped off the desk. “Well, maybe, I heard wrong.” She stepped over to the door. “I have to get back to work.” She was gone before I could gather my wits. A date contest? With my dating record, how was that even a possibility? The previous night’s date flashed through my mind, and I blinked. No way did I want anyone to know how miserably they always ended. I stomped out of my office and down the hallway to the elevator. Jason saw me coming, as his corner office opens to a clear view of the elevator. He was standing in the doorway, wearing a cheesy grin. “I was just coming to look for you.” “I’ll bet you were,” I said through clenched teeth. “What is Jayne talking about?” He chuckled but pulled me inside and shut the door. The better to block the screams. “Sit down and let me explain it before you go off half-cocked.” He retreated behind his desk. “Half-cocked?” I repeated, my voice rising as I stood—no way was I going to sit calmly—and put my hands on my hips. “I think someone else went off in that department. In our brief conversation the other day, you never said it was a possibility. You wanted me to think about it. The next thing I know, it’s for real, and I’m gonna have to date some dweeb?” I flung my hand toward his large office window, indicating the general population of men. Jason gulped, and I swore his ears were turning red. “I know this came as a surprise—” “Surprise?” I flopped down in one of the two chairs in front of his desk. “Surprises are roses from a handsome guy. Surprises are cupcakes your mom bakes for the class on your birthday. This is an ambush.” The Interview... Where and when and how did the writing life begin for you?
I’ve wanted to be a writer since I read The Diary of Anne Frank as a 12 year old. For some reason, that book told me I could write and tell stories. I’ve been writing ever since. How has the journey to this point been? Can you give us a basic rundown? I didn’t take writing seriously until I was in my 20’s and decided to enter a state contest. I was fortunate in that my boss was willing to let me use the company word processor to print it up. Nothing came of the contest, but I realized that I did want to be in print. Then I got married and had children exactly a year and two weeks later, which put things on hold for a while. After the children started being old enough to allow me a spare thought, the writing bug kicked in and I began writing again. It wasn’t till we moved and our children were teenagers that I joined a writing group and put some real effort into improvement. I went to writing conventions and read how to books. I’ve always been an avid reader, which always helps. Dear Maddie was the story that my writing group was the most enthused about and really pushed for me to finish. It ended up on the back burner to some other projects and I did some self-publishing of a series. My husband was always supportive and encouraged me to continue looking at the traditional route. When I heard about #faithpitch, I knew that was an opportunity placed in my path, and the rest is – as they say – history. What's been the hardest part of your writing/publishing experience so far? And the most enjoyable? Oh, the hardest part has been the whole editing process!!! Hand’s down, by far, etc. It has really opened my eyes into what it takes to get a book into print. The most enjoyable? Seeing that cover design and knowing that’s for my book. Seeing my name on the cover… it’s amazing. Would you go back and change anything? No – I don’t think I would. Of course I would have liked to have gotten my act together when I was younger, but I like to think I’m where the Lord wanted me to be in the process. Where would you like to be in 5 years time? And 10? I’m hoping that in 5 years I’ll be looking at a least one more published work, if not 2. 10 years is a little too far for my thinking at this point. Perhaps a children’s book for my grandchildren. What's one piece of advice you'd give to new writers just starting out? Keep at it!! Writing every day is an important part of honing your skills. And keep reading, don’t ever stop reading. And most importantly... Ketchup or Mayo? Ketchup! Night or Day? Night Inside or Outside? Depends on the time of year… Dogs or Cats? Cats Twitter or Facebook? Neither? Lol Facebook e-book or Paperback? Paperback!!! Sun or Rain? Rain Keyboard or Pencil & Notebook? Keyboard! Comedy or Drama? Comedy Chips or Chocolate? Chocolate!!
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