Interview and Giveaway with Cate Lord author of Lucky Girl

Welcome to Sugarbeat’s Books – The Home of the Romance Novel!

Today we are taking part in a blog tour to celebrate the release of Cate Lord’s newest book – Lucky Girl.  Lucky Girl is being released today – Yay!!  Cate has agreed to not only share some information about her and her books, but to also offer a copy of her book to a lucky winner!  To be entered into this contest, just leave a comment below with an e-mail address so that I can contact you if you win.

Sit back and read about this very interesting sounding book:

Barb –  Tell us about your new release without using the blurb?

Cate – Thanks so much to Sugarbeat’s Books for inviting me to do an interview! J  I’m delighted to be here to talk about Lucky Girl, a quirky, funny, lighthearted romantic comedy that’s a September release from Entangled Publishing.  Jessica Devlin, the twenty-nine-year-old heroine, is the beauty editor of Orlando’s O Tart magazine and she takes a long overdue vacation to be maid-of-honor in her English cousin’s wedding.  Jess is a bit uneasy about the trip, however, after recently being dumped by her fiancé while planning her own wedding, and an embarrassing episode two years ago after her beloved grandfather’s funeral that involved an English pub, too many drinks, and a handsome Brit who held her in his arms and soothed her while she cried.

Of course, Jess believes there’s a one in a gazillion chance of her running into James Bond gorgeous Nick Mondinello again—but guess who is at the wedding?  Jess firmly believes marketing exec Nick isn’t right for her, since he’s a playboy like her dad who left when she was twelve.  Fate, though, keeps throwing her and Nick together in ways she never expected.  He couldn’t possibly be Mr. Right.  Could he?  J  Lucky Girl is a story that I hope will keep readers entertained and smiling until the very last page.

Barb – How would your friends describe you in 20 words or less?

Cate – A creative, shy, loyal, family-oriented kitchen goddess and cosmetics junkie who adores cats.

Barb – If you couldn’t be a writer, what you would be?
Cate – An antiques collector.  My husband will say I’m already pursuing this career, with the number of books, antiques, and collectibles collecting dust around our house. J

Barb – When you made your first sale, how did you celebrate and with whom?

Cate – I was very, very thrilled to get that first sale.  I shrieked, did a crazy little dance by my computer, then called my husband.  He was excited for me, and took my daughter and me out to dinner at a nice restaurant that evening.  It’s a time I will never forget.

Barb – What is it you love most about writing? What’s the hardest part of writing for you?
Cate – I love finding that creative zone where the words flow and the story seems to unfold all on its own.  It’s the most amazing, exhilarating state of inspiration.  This doesn’t happen every time I sit down at the computer, though.  Some days, I’m tired or I have other things sapping my focus, and I struggle to write two or three solid pages.  That’s the hardest part of writing—producing when the words don’t come easily.  I make myself write even when it’s difficult, because I can always go back to what I’ve written and revise it.

Barb – Which character do you most relate to – or like the most?
Cate – I really adore Jess.  She’s not “perfect,” and that appeals to me, because it makes her fun, sympathetic, and interesting.  In Lucky Girl, she deals with insecurities that most women experience.  She stresses about her weight, appearance, work performance, being embarrassed, saying the wrong thing, being inadequate in the dating scene, and more.  I think of her as a close girlfriend.

Barb – What is your favorite scene?

Cate – I have many favorites in this book! J  However, I especially like the scene where Jess and Nick end up together on the nightclub’s dance floor. Whew!  Hot stuff. J

Barb – Did you know the title before you started writing?

Cate – Yes!  This book was definitely called Lucky Girl from the very beginning.  I love the title; I think it’s perfect for Jess’s story.

Barb – Do you have any advice for unpublished authors?
Cate – It’s a tough market right now.  To increase your chances of getting published, it’s important to keep writing, refining your craft, and submitting manuscripts, including to contests that offer finalists the chance of having material read by an acquiring editor. Also, don’t just write a partial manuscript and move onto a new project; I recommend finishing the whole book. That way you’ve got a completed project to shop.

Barb – Where do you get your inspiration?

Cate – I get my ideas from conversations with my friends and family, magazine articles, traveling, even shopping days with my teenage daughter.  Lucky Girl was inspired by the year I spend studying in England—the year I met the charming, witty Brit who later became my husband.  I lived with my uncle and aunt in Hertfordshire and traveled by train down to London every day.  On weekends, I partied with a great group of friends I met through my English cousins.  Jess’s love of gin and tonics is definitely something she got from me! J

Barb – Are there any particular books and/or authors that inspired you and continue to do so?
Cate – There are too many to list! J  Just about every author I’ve met has been an inspiration in some way.

Barb – If you could write with anyone who would that be and why?
Cate – I’d love to write a novel with my daughter.  She has terrific ideas and an amazing author voice, and I think we’d make a great team.

Barb – Are you working on anything new and if so when can we expect to see it?
Cate – I have several new writing projects in the works, including two paranormal novels.  I’d also love to write a follow-on book to Lucky Girl.  I can’t say much more right at the moment. J

Barb – How can readers stay in touch?

Cate – Readers are welcome to visit my website: www.catelord.com.  I also love to connect with readers and new friends via Facebook and Goodreads.

Barb – Where is your work available?

Cate – Lucky Girl is available in print and ebook formats and can be purchased at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and all major ebook retailers.

Thanks again, Sugarbeat’s Books!  I enjoyed the interview. J

We’d like to thank Cate for stopping by and sharing some information with us about her new release.  I’ve included the blurb for this book as well as an excerpt.  Remember to leave a comment to be entered to win a copy of Lucky Girl.

Jessica Devlin isn’t looking for love. Heartbroken after being dumped by  her unfaithful ex-fiancé, she’s  determined to have a fabulous time during her  vacation in England where she’ll be maid-of-honor at her 

cousin’s wedding. After working overtime as beauty editor of Orlando’s O Tart magazine, avoiding dating, and putting on ten pounds, Jess is ready  to toss her past like an empty lipstick tube and party like a single gal.

But when she steps into the church on her cousin’s wedding day, she sees the one man who could sabotage  her plan—James Bond gorgeous  Nick Mondinello. She’s never forgotten the London marketing exec who held her in his arms after her beloved grandfather’s funeral two years 

ago. Ambitious, and lusted after by women everywhere, Nick is completely wrong for guarded, Plain Jane Jess. 

Could Spy Man Nick ever fall for her? Nope. Not unless Jess is one lucky girl.

Amazon Purchase Link for Lucky Girl