10 – 4 Tuesday

Welcome to 10 – 4 Tuesday!  This is a forum where I’ll feature an author  who will answer 10 questions about their book along with a few personal things and then 4 questions for fun   So let’s get started.

Today I’d like to introduce you to author Vonnie Davis!  She’ll be sharing her 10, followed by her 4 and then an excerpt of her book MONA LISA’S ROOM.

Hi Vonnie, thanks for joining me for 10 – 4  Tuesday…I hope you’re ready for some fun because I’m ready to get to know you better.

Thanks for having me guest today! And, hon, I’m always up for a bit of fun.

I know already that you’re my kind of gal! lol

First the 10:

To start out, tell us a bit about yourself.

Me? You want to talk about me? I thought we were going to have fun. Drats, and I’m so boring, too. I’m a retired technical writer who’s traded her tailored office clothes for the feathered boa of a romance writer. Both my husband and I are published authors and retired from outside jobs. We spend our days writing and feeding the cat, otherwise known as the “Bottomless Pit.” Calvin has Jazzie on a diet because when he runs, his stomach swings from side to side—the cat’s, not Calvin’s. Jazzie has a fashion for going on twitter and begging for treats. If you ever see one of his tweets, please ignore him. He can sing a sad song, but he’s not starving as he claims. Never give your pet a twitter account. They tend to go amuck with it.

LMBO….if you wear a boa and have a cat with a twitter account, you’re far from boring! What’s genre (s) do you write?

I write what I love, which is romance. The characters determine the sub-genre—contemporary, historical or romantic suspense.

Nice answer! Share your blurb from MONA LISA’S ROOM! (which by the way has a fab cover…and I should know because I’m a total cover junkie)

Oh, I’d love to. It’s in the form of an email from my heroine in Paris to her sister back home in Asheville, North Carolina.

Gwen,

You won’t believe this email. I’m sitting in a French safe house, eating caviar and drinking champagne with a handsome government agent, Niko Reynard. He’s wearing nothing but silk pajama bottoms and mega doses of sex appeal. I’m in big trouble, little sister. He’s kissed me several times and given me a foot massage that nearly caused spontaneous combustion. I’m feeling strangely virginal compared to the sexual prowess this thirty-year-old man exudes.

When I came to Paris for a bit of adventure, I never imagined I’d foil a bombing attempt, karate-kick two men, and run from terrorists while wearing a new pair of stilettos. I’ve met a German musician, a gay poet from Australia, and the most delightful older French woman.

Don’t worry. I’m safe–the jury’s still out on yummy Niko, though. The more champagne I drink, the less reserved I feel. What an unforgettable fortieth birthday!

Alyson

I love that you put your blurb in the form of an email…very nicely done! How many books do you have published and if more than 1 would you please share the titles?

My debut contemporary, STORM’S INTERLUDE, was nominated as book of the year at Long and Short Reviews.

THOSE VIOLET EYES is part of the Honky Tonk Hearts series, and I have another entry in the series waiting for a release date—BACK WHERE YOU BELONG.

TUMBLEWEED LETTERS, a novella in the Love Letters series.

A TASTE OF CHOCOLATE, a magical short story.

A MAN FOR ANNALEE is a western historical set for release on the 19^th. Oh, I do love my cowboys.

Book two in the trilogy with MONA LISA’S ROOM releases on June 14^th—RAIN IS A LOVE SONG.

Congrats on all your success Vonnie! Describe Mona Lisa’s Room using 5 words.

Dangerous…Humorous…Passionate…Family…Surprises.

What’s the first line from Mona Lisa’s Room? A grim-faced guard stepped in front of Alyson Moore when she raised her camera to take a picture.

Now the last?

“Yes, my potent stud muffin, yes.”

Okay, that last line really intrigues me! lol How did you choose your hero and heroine’s name?

For my heroine, I wanted a name that didn’t necessarily lend itself to a nickname and then have the hero shorten it to annoy her. Which he did. Alyson became Aly. Niko was chosen for two reasons. His mother is Italian and his father French. And Niko suited him so well.

The name Niko definitely is stuf muffin worthy! lol What’s your favorite part about the writing process?

The opening scene. I love new beginnings. Developing a scene that will hook the reader in a few paragraphs. Each one is written and rewritten about twenty times to get just the right word and feel.

When did you truly feel like an author?

I felt something shift inside when I read the first review for my debut book. The reviewer praised my writing and gave me five-stars. I was totally blown away and cried like a baby.

What’s your current WIP?

Actually, I’m working on three. I tend to keep multiple projects on the go, so when I hit a rough spot in one I pop over to another for awhile until my subconscious works through the rough spot. I’m two-thirds finished with the final book in this romantic suspense trilogy. It’s titled JAZZBEAT OF SURRENDER. My other projects are SANTA WORE LEATHERS and ROSANNA’S BRACELET.

Love your titles Vonnie…nice job

Now the 4:

If you could compete on any game show—past or present—which one would you choose and why?

The Newlywed Game. I always loved the humor that popped out at the most unexpected moments.

You’ve just won the lottery but due to some crazy personal reasons you can’t keep any of it and have to donate it to a charity for displaced authors down on their luck. The groups of authors are divided into the genres they write. Which genre would you choose to receive your good fortune?

Since romance writers are usually regarded as the red-headed step-children of the literary world, I’d donate to all the lovely romance writers.

Congratulations, you were chosen by the royal family to name William and Kate’s first child. Tell us what name you’d choose for a boy and also a girl.

Winston William Charles and for a girl, Victoria Elizabeth Grace.

A magic genie offers you the chance to live the life of any fictional character in any book for one week. Which book and which character would you choose?

Mary in MACKENZIE’S MOUNTAIN. There’s something about Wolf…sigh…

Loved your answers and totally agree with you about The Newlywed Game…always a lot of laughs. Thanks for being sharing your 10 and your 4.  Please share an excerpt from Mona Lisa’s Room.

Oh, I’d love to. I call this scene “seduction in a shoe store.”

Niko perched on the stool at Alyson’s feet, opened the first box and deftly flicked back the tissue paper on a pair of black kidskin pumps with skinny gold looking heels. “It’s rumored Da Vinci invented the high heel.” He removed her flip flops and placed her bare foot on his thigh. Warmth from his muscled leg flowed up hers, causing her foot to give an involuntary wiggle.

His gaze lifted to hers and locked. Slowly he slid his hand from her heel up her leg to cup her calf. Thank God she shaved her legs that morning. “Stop.” The rawness of her voice surprised her. His touch made her very aware of her body, and her body was very aware of him. She couldn’t count the years since she was touched in such a manner—if ever.

Still, it was nice to know she could respond to a man’s touch. Thanks to her ex-husband’s avoidance, she thought herself sexually dead, certainly sexually unappealing.

“High heels do wonders for a woman’s figure, Aly. They make the legs look long and shapely, lift the bottom and make the hips sway.” His hands moved in a descriptive manner while he talked. “They make a woman look sexy and confident. Men’s eyes naturally pivot to a woman in stilettos.” Niko shrugged. “We can’t help it. We are men, after all. Weakened by women.”

Alyson stared at him. Men made weak by women? She’d never heard such talk, especially from a male, a very virile male if looks meant anything. He was gorgeous, arrogant as all get out, but gorgeous just the same.

Niko slipped the shoes onto her feet, stood and extended his hand. “Stand. See how you like the feel.” His gaze focused on hers again and for a second or two, when she looked into his eyes, her world stopped.

Ten minutes later, Alyson wobbled in front of the cashier ready to pay for the black kidskin three-inch Pradas she wore. As soon as she saw the bow at the back of the heel, she fell in love with the shoes. Gwen called her a “bow freak.” When Niko reached for his wallet, she elbowed him. “Look, as long as they take Visa, I’ll pay for my own shoes.”

“Please, allow me.”

“Absolutely not. I planned on having an expensive birthday meal at the Eiffel Tower Restaurant tomorrow. With all that’s happened today, that plan is ruined, too. So I’m rationalizing since I won’t be paying for my birthday meal, I can pay this ungodly amount for the shoes.”

Niko placed his hand over hers. “I don’t mind. Let me treat you since I goaded you into buying them.”

“Really, that’s not necessary. Even my husband…er…ex-husband never bought me things. I’ve always paid my own way.”

He leaned an elbow on the glass counter and looked at her. “You’re kidding me. He never bought you little surprises? Little treats? A woman like you should be spoiled, treasured—” his voice lowered as he slowly trailed a finger up her arm  “—loved often and well.” Merciful heavens, he was trying to seduce her in a shoe store. Gwen would squeal in delight when she told her about this.

“Down, buster. American women are different than French women. We’re not so easily seduced by glib words or smooth moves.”

His eyebrow arched and his demeanor turned insolent. “You think I’m trying to seduce you?”

Typical male. He touched her almost nonstop since they stepped into Minelli’s. Now that she called him on it, he wanted to deny everything. “I think you’re toying with me, seeing if you can make an old, lonely American woman quiver at your feet.”

“First of all, you’re not old. Second, if you’re lonely, that’s your fault. Third, if I wanted to make you quiver—” he leaned in, his lips against her ear  “—I damn well could.”

Great excerpt! So excited you joined me for 10 – 4 Tuesday!  Before we wave good-bye, let us know if there are any other links you’d like to share so that we can find you and your book (s) online.

View this Book Trailer: http://bit.ly/MonaTrailer

BUY LINKS:

THE WILD ROSE PRESS (digital) — http://bit.ly/MonaLisaDigital

THE WILD ROSE PRESS (paperback) — http://bit.ly/MonaLisasRoom

AMAZON (paperback) — http://amzn.to/QQZGyD

AMAZON (eBook) — http://bit.ly/MonaLisasRoomeBook

FIND ME ONLINE AT http://www.vonniedavis.com

BLOGGING AT http://www.vintagevonnie.blogspot.com