This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. One randomly drawn commenter will receive a $50 Amazon/BN GC. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.
To some, it’s nothing more than a dream.
To others, a pretty fairy tale handed down through the generations.
For those in critical need of their own happy ending, a gift.
To give those who are needy a treasure so dear.
They who come to my roots, touch my bark, stroke my leaves
Find the soul of their lives if they but believe.
When I call and you listen, your prize will be great
If your heart remains open and you don’t hesitate.
Do you yearn? Be you lonely? Is your time yet at hand?
Reach for me and I’ll give to you. I’m yours to command.
For your trust, for your faith, keep my secrets untold
And I’ll gift you forever, to have and to hold.
What is your favorite ice cream flavor?
Peppermint Candy Cane, only available around Christmas. Best with chocolate syrup drizzled over.
Which mythological creature are you most like?
A dragon. I have a dragon tattoo on my calf. It does represent me. It’s protecting three lotus flowers, which represent my children. I’m protective and fierce.
First book you remember making an indelible impression on you.
The Bobbsey Twins, a series of children’s novels. I love them because of the adventures and mysteries.
How do you develop your plot and characters?
I first write a short one-page synopsis of the book. Then I write character sketches and find photos that look like the hero and heroine as I imagine them. Next, I begin to map out plot points on an easel-sized post-it, based on the inciting incident and required action and reaction to unfolding events.
Describe your writing space
My favorite place to write is my oversized armchair. I curl up with my laptop and have at it.
When he runs into a sweet kindergarten teacher who is vacationing in St. Augustine and staying at Essence everything changes. A sudden, inexplicable encounter with a mystical tree known for its legend of bringing lovers together, convinces Mark the schoolteacher is his destined match. However, his encounters are disastrous.
His only hope of persuading the woman he wants to even consider a date with him is working with Essence’s on-site relationship guru, Athena Sullivan. A reknowned relationship coach, Athena is the opposite of everything Mark wants in a woman. She’s feisty, independent, and challenges him at every turn. Sparks fly between the two from their first meeting and flare into a blazing inferno as Athena helps him navigate the dating scene.
After a series of too-perfect, mis-queued dates, Mark realizes maybe the woman of his dreams is not a sweet schoolteacher after all. Maybe she’s a feisty, independent, sexy relationship coach who stands up to him and is everything he’s always wanted or needed in a woman.
If he opens himself up to true love, he might just find second chances at love are possible and that his perfect soul mate is closer than he thinks.
Two days later Jamie came bounding into his office at Ancient City Brewery. “Hey, Daddy-o.”
“Uh oh. She wants something,” Mark commented to no one in particular as he pushed away the stack of invoices in front of him. Running a brewery was work he didn’t usually mind. Today, though, his focus was shot. “What do you need now, dollface?”
“Nope. I don’t want anything. I’ve got something for you. It’s a surprise.” She waved a folder in his face.
He went to grab for it and she snatched it back. “Hold on. Not so fast.”
Mark settled back into his chair and laced his hands behind his head, prepared to wait for the reveal. “Okay, so what’s this all about?”
“Weeeeeeeell. It’s good for you, but you’re not gonna like it.”
“Sounds like what I used to tell you about eating your Brussel sprouts and broccoli.”
“Eww.” Her face comically contorted. “You don’t need to get nasty.”
Amazing. The girl still hated broccoli and Brussel sprouts to this day.
“It’s in no way as bad as Brussel sprouts.” She blessed him with one of her brightest smiles. He was in so much trouble.
“This is going to be bad.” He groaned. “Out with it. What is it? College is ten grand more? You want to go to school in the Grand Caymans?”
“Can I? Is that a possibility?”
“Ah, no, not even a chance. You’ve been accepted into the University of Virginia. That’s where you’re going.”
She pretended to pout for a few moments, then smiled. “Okay. Charlottesville it is, then. Sooooo. Ready for your surprise?”
“Girl, you better share before you burst.”
She studied him warily. “All right. So. Here’s the deal. I bought something . . .”
“This never ends well for a man.” Mark sighed and pulled at his ear. “How much did you spend?”
“For me, what is a mini-fortune.”
Mark groaned. “How much?”
“A thousand dollars.”
His front chair legs slammed to the concrete floor. “You what?”
“Now, listen. It’s a good cause.” Her face started to get red. “And, well, I spent my own money.”
“Jamie, what money?”
“I work part-time.”
“Yes, and you were saving your money for school. Books and such.”
“Right.” Her gaze skittered away. “I’ll get by. Most of the books are online anyway these days.”
“What did you spend the money on?”
“I told you, I spent it on you.”
Mackenzie Lucas is an avid reader of genre fiction. She writes contemporary and paranormal romance, and listens to an eclectic mix of music. She loves a good story, whether it’s an erotic short, a full-length romance novel, or the narrative slice-of-life found in country music. In any story, emotional integrity and authenticity are most important to her as well as a big dose of romping hot sexual tension. She enjoys smart-mouthed, sexy heroines, hunky alpha heroes who know how to take care of their women, and plot twists that surprise her, but most of all, she just wants to experience the satisfying emotional arc of a character falling in love and finding what he or she needs most in life.
Mac is a small-town country girl with a world-traveler’s heart. She grew up in the Allegheny Mountains of Pennsylvania and she’s lived in Dublin, Ireland, within spitting distance of New York City in Long Island, and now in the Washington, D.C. area. She obtained her undergraduate degree in English Literature from Dickinson College and received her M.F.A. in Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University. She’s currently an author for Soul Mate Publishing and is represented by Otis and Mackintosh Literary Agency.
With Mackenzie Lucas—whether you’re reading her light paranormal romance or her small-town-based contemporary romance—you’ll always find a heart-warming love story about connectedness, community, and emotional authenticity. And, no, it doesn’t hurt that all her heroes are panty-melting gorgeous alphas and all their sexy, sensually aware heroines know how to stand up to them, give no quarter, and love them just as they are.
Watch for new titles by Mackenzie Lucas.
http://www.mackenzielucas.com/
https://www.facebook.com/MackenzieLucasFanPage
https://twitter.com/MacLucas_writer
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6915570.Mackenzie_Lucas
https://www.amazon.com/Make-Match-Soul-Mate-Tree-ebook/dp/B06XRHYDDV/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8
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Thanks for hosting!
ReplyDeleteMy family and I all appreciate you bringing to our attention the book description of another great book to read. Thanks so much!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for hosting me today!
ReplyDeleteMackenzie - enjoyed the interview. As authors of the second book of this series, Can't Stop the Music, we've been enjoying finding out things about our fellow authors.
ReplyDeleteI liked the excerpt.
ReplyDeleteI'm the author of book 1, Realm of the Dragon, along with my BFF and co-writer, Char Chaffin. We hope you check out Mackenzie's story, as well as all the other fun reads in this fantasy collection. Thank you for following our tour.
ReplyDeleteIt was so wonderful to work with all the other authors on the Soul Mate Tree project. Mackenxie's book was great fun to read.
ReplyDeleteLooks like fun!
ReplyDelete--Trix
Sounds like a lovely story. I bet you have some stories to tell from your travels. I love all the different takes my fellow authors made on using the soul mate tree in their books.
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