Summer People
by Corinne LaBalme
GENRE: Cape Cod Romance
BLURB:
Jessica Stratton's long-cherished dream of opening her own Folk Art gallery in an idyllic Cape Cod setting finally comes true. However, her start-up is anything but smooth sailing. Her ten-year marriage hits the rocks and, when the hunk next door to her shop - a brooding ecologist on a mission to save the planet - proves too irresistible to ignore, she's got to relearn the rules of the dating game while working overtime to lure clients to her boutique. Unfortunately, someone's already far too interested in a 19th century example of advertising art in her collection and will go to any means - legal or illegal - to acquire it. Maybe the planet isn't all that needs to be saved...
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Excerpt:
Why on earth did that woman get under his skin so much? This was the second time he'd stomped off her property. Well, it had a whole lot to do with that chunk of jewelry on her left hand, didn't it? He didn't need anything to do with married women. Never again.
Had he said anything to her that would make them both cringe if they ran into each other in the mini-mart?
Oh yeah. Smallpox. Well, that was a low blow, considering that she personally hadn't poisoned any of his ancestors. All the fashion stuff was OK. But he'd added something about French can-can boots, hadn't he? Boots which had absolutely nothing to do with his sister's thesis. No, those kinky, lace-up boots were part of Martine's Halloween costume last year.
She hadn't taken those boots off either. Not even when they went to bed.
Just thinking about the sex that ensued made him feel like he needed another shower. But then he'd have to dry all that damn hair again. How did women stand all this stuff hanging around their shoulders? He'd read about hermits who refused to cut their hair until they'd atoned for their sins.
Well, Rick Starfire Martell had a helluva lot to atone for.
Interview with Corinne LaBalme
How did you become involved with the subject or theme of this book?
My grandmother lived on Cape Cod and my mother eventually settled in Brewster. Jessica’s house is more-or-less my mother’s dreamhouse. (The interior is almost the same although I changed the exterior.) I also used what I learned during a brief stint working in the American Art department at Sotheby’s in New York.
What were your goals and intentions in this book?
My goal was to create a feel-good romance with two people who have a lot to learn about themselves. Jessica thought she ‘had it all’ … but did she? Rick has made a giant lifestyle change and is coming to grips with the roots he’d ignored until now. Can they be stronger together than apart?
What was the hardest part of writing this book?
Even though the reader already suspected there was real chemistry between Jessica and Rick, the day-at-the-beach where THEY start to understand it was tough for me. Both of them had reasons to a bit wary of love. I was nervous for them.
What did you enjoy most about writing this book?
I really loved all the characters… not just Jenna and Rick but also wise-cracking Nancy with her sage advice; Melanie with her teenage crush; and the very troubled Max Stratton who also has a lot to learn about himself.
Were there alternate endings you considered?
Not really. I knew exactly where I wanted the story to end. I just wasn’t sure how I was going to get all the characters there!
Can you share some stories about people you met while writing this book?
Better that that, they’re IN the book… with their permission of course. My mother makes a cameo appearance, so do many friends and relatives. They aren’t exactly the clones of themselves. A Canadian poet has morphed into a retired newspaper executive with a collection of marine memorabilia. An ex-jockey from Marseille now owns an art gallery in Massachusetts. I’ve promised them that they will be surprised with their alternate lives…
What genre of books do you enjoy reading?
Mysteries and romance, of course, but I don’t limit myself to one genre. I’ve binged on so many volumes of Tana French’s fabulous Dublin Murder Squad police series that I think I’ve developed an Irish accent. I love science fiction – everything from André Norton to John Varley – and I’m a big fan of espionage sagas as well.
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Corinne LaBalme lives in France and loves everything about it… except eating snails. Her articles about European fashion, food and fun destinations have appeared in The New York Times Travel section, Diversion, La Belle France and France Revisited. Her favorite place to write? Any Parisian café with a good croissant connection…
The setting for SUMMER PEOPLE is founded on childhood memories of vacations on Cape Cod and based on my mother’s (very real) house in Brewster.
The romantic hero of SUMMER PEOPLE -- Rick Martell -- is the kind of guy who exists only in our sweetest & beachiest dreams…. sigh!
Connect with Corinne LaBalme
5 comments:
Thanks for hosting!
Thank you for the excerpt, I enjoyed it
Hi!
Delighted to be hosted on your lovely site!
Best wishes, Corinne LaBalme
Very best wishes, Corinne
Looks like a book I would really like.
That's awesome that you incorporated your mom and friends into the book
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