This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Victoria Grant will be awarding 3 signed paperback copies of the book to randomly drawn winners (North America Only) via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.
Welcome Victoria Grant! Please start off by telling us a little about yourself.
I’m a Pisces who can’t swim. I’m a decent cook who has probably added chocolate to every recipe I’ve ever made because you just never know, right? I am pet-free at the moment but thinking about it (again), and I can’t sing or dance, but I do it anyway when no one’s watching.
Is Stranded in Love a single title, or part of a series?
Stranded in Love is Book #1 in the Calderone Family Romance Series, which is about five siblings from a wealthy and powerful family. Book #2, Write to Love, is scheduled to be available next year. It’s about Noel, the youngest brother and playboy of the family, and sassy, raven-haired KC Dunlop, a murder mystery author.
I’m currently finishing Book #6, the final book in this series, which tells the story of the parents, Eve and Boyd, and the difficulties they had to overcome to find their happily ever after.
Please share your setting for Stranded in Love. Have you ever lived or visited there? If so, what did you like most?
The setting is the beautiful, multicultural city of Toronto in Ontario, Canada. I live about 30 kms from Toronto and love going into the big city! With its beautiful beaches, pretty parks, sensational shopping, and every type of restaurant you can imagine, Toronto is a world-class city in so many ways. And, it’s skyline, with the iconic CN Tower, appears on the cover of Stranded in Love. Bonus: it’s where Prince Harry meg Meghan!
When did the writing bug first bite?
Very early. I always loved to read and found writing stories such fun. When I was 12 years old, I wrote a letter to the Prime Minister of Canada, and he wrote back! It was such a thrill to get a letter from the leader of the country! It was a while later when I thought seriously about writing as a career choice, and it took me some time to get here, but I made it, and I’m enjoying every moment!
Who are your favorite authors?
My favourite authors in the romance/chic lit genre are Sophie Kinsella, Jennifer Crusie and Nora Roberts.
My favourite authors in the murder mystery genre are Agatha Christie, Elizabeth George, and fellow Canadian Louise Penny.
If you could have an author roundtable discussion with any authors, alive or dead, who would you invite?
I would invite Daphne du Maurier, Margaret Mitchell, Jane Austen, and the Bronte sisters. I can just imagine bringing them up to date with what’s happening in the romance genre today – fifty shades of scandalized, they’d be!
Do you listen to music when you write? What songs do you have on your playlist?
Yes, I love to listen to music when I write. Depending on what scene/chapter I’m writing, I will listen to either big band music (I love Glenn Miller) or the oldies, which, for me is the fabulous decade of music from the 1960s & 70s. This does sometimes backfire as I can’t sit still and have to get up and dance! When I’m writing love scenes, I’ll usually listen to classical with no vocals – I find that really helps me connect with the emotions I’m trying to evoke. And when I’m editing, I shut the music off so I can concentrate.
What is the one thing that you would tell an inspiring writer to do?
Read, write, repeat. It’s vital for all writers to be sponges and absorb as much literature as they can. Read everything - poorly written novels, well written novels, the classics, books by as yet unknown authors – because every writer has to start somewhere. This will not only help you define your own style, it will educate and inspire you, too – so, it’s all good!
Thanks for letting me visit!
If a gold medal was awarded for Worst Day Ever, Laney Calderone would win it today, hands down. She’s just discovered she's pregnant, her fiancé abruptly dumps her when she tells him, and her new car refuses to start as a brutal snowstorm hits Toronto.Good Samaritan Tyler Hammond offers to take her home; however, with the heavy snow falling and his patience dwindling, Laney’s gold medal day isn’t over yet.
Storms intensify both outside and in as Laney finds herself inexplicably attracted to this tall, dark and very handsome but infuriating stranger.
Can Laney fight her unwanted yet increasing desire for this man long enough to get through the relentless storm? And will Tyler let her walk out of his life as easily as she came into it?
Tyler took Laney into his arms and pulled her close. The music changed to that unforgettable jazz melody she knew so well, and out of the corner of her eye she noticed Stephen on the balcony with the band leader, a devilish grin on his face. Up to his old tricks again.
“You look ravishing tonight, Ginger.” Tyler whispered in her ear. “Did I ever tell you red is my favourite colour?”
Laney tried to move to the rhythm except her feet would not obey. She felt clumsy and self-conscious dancing with Tyler with so many people watching, especially her family.
“You feel a little tense, my love. Relax and enjoy.”
She closed her eyes wishing she could walk away, but that wasn’t going to happen. Tyler held her tight and guided her effortlessly around the floor. The mesmerizing scent of his cologne reverberated through her senses and she surprised herself when she realized she was smiling. The Tyler Trap, she thought. You’ve gotten stuck in it again, you idiot!
With a deep sigh, she let herself surrender and leaned into him. He smiled and pulled her even closer. It didn’t matter to her anymore who saw them, who noticed they were so close; she didn’t care.
As she floated around the hall Laney became immersed in her surroundings. The Christmas tree lights twinkling, the distant chatter and laughter of the guests, the captivating tune, and the wonderful feel of this amazing man in her arms.
Laney wanted to freeze time again. This man, this music, this moment. She rested her chin on his shoulder and let him take complete control. They moved as one, oblivious to every eye on them as they soared in the clouds, leaving all the other guests back on Earth.
My love of words and a creative imagination prompted English teachers to urge me to write for a living, especially after I got a letter from the Prime Minister who thanked me for writing to him! So cool for a twelve-year-old!
Through the years, I wrote while I earned a living as an Administrative Assistant in various companies; then I owned a Wedding Coordination business for six years (talk about romance!), all the while being happily married to the love of my life. These interesting jobs plus wedded bliss gave me oodles of ideas for romantic plot lines, tall, dark and handsome heroes and feisty, beautiful heroines, and, of course, the happily ever afters.
I currently live in Mississauga and spend time with family and friends, and struggle daily with the wine and chocolate that somehow magically appear in my house...
And, amidst the endless cups of strong tea, while the dead parrot sketch and Cole Porter songs whirl around in my brain, I write. I will always write romances because I love creating fascinating characters whose lives I can make completely miserable before I give them their happily ever after.
Website: https://www.victoriagrantromance.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/victoriagrantromance/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/VGrantRomance
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17693887.Victoria_Grant
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.ca/551c125bfc1823dfb5f031b29b2212/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vgrantromance/
Amazon Author Page: https://authorcentral.amazon.com/gp/profile
Buy Links:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Stranded-Love-Victoria-Grant-ebook/dp/B07995YY8Q
Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/stranded-in-love-victoria-grant/1127888894
Chapters: https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/home/search/?keywords=stranded%20in%20love%20victoria%20grant#internal=1
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