Virtual Tour + #Giveaway: Choosing Love Over Pride by Marielle de Vassoigne @GoddessFish

 

Choosing Love Over Pride

by Marielle de Vassoigne

GENRE: Fiction

BLURB:

"Max, do you remember the proposal-gate?"

"How could I ever forget, sweetie? You made sure no one would. Why do you ask?"

"Was it worth it? I mean, I recall being a fierce advocate for the 'I do.' But when I think of how much Dad and you have suffered because of love I wonder. Was it worth it?"

Maxime's stepdaughter refers to her father's legendary attempt to propose in New Beginning in Vancouver, the prequel to this book. This new stage of Maxime's life navigates us through a rollercoaster of emotions while she must face new joys and challenges.

I hope you will enjoy, laugh and cry reading their story as much as I did when I wrote it. I offer you an opportunity to complete the experience of reading this novel appealing to all senses with a soundtrack, available on my author website: marielledevassoigneauthor.com.

Finally, as I identify as a BIPOC and LGBTQ+ ally, this book reflects once again my core belief: a rich life is filled with kindness, curiosity, and exploration, as well as values of diversity and inclusion.

Enjoy!

PURCHASE Choosing Love Over Pride on AMAZON.COM, AMAZON.CA, AMAZON KINDLE, BOOKTOPIA, BARNES & NOBLE, BOOK DEPOSITORY, SMASHWORD, and IBOOKS

Excerpt:

“You two have something special as well. You’re soulmates too.”

“That’s exactly how we feel.” She’s beaming now. “Hmm. Love feels so good when it is reciprocated,” I concede, wistful.

“But Uncle Gab still loves you Max.” “Everyone but him knows it. That’s what hurts the most! And I can’t do the same and pretend with your father.”

My reaction to the first shock of Gabriel moving out was a warning. The discussion with my dear Sophia starts shaking me out of my emotional swamp. After spending time with Bloom, Emmy, Kim, and Josh I realize I can no longer focus on my pain only.

For their sake, that of Gabriel and Jason, of James and my two babies, the Blossom, and the Explorer but mainly for my own sake I bury myself in work. Spending my days at the Blossom. The Salon, always buzzing in the spring is the best distraction to my sorrow.

Interview with Marielle de Vassoigne

How many books have you written and which is your favorite?

I have published two books and I have started a third one.

It’s tough to pick a favourite one. I would say it depends on the day.

“New Beginning in Vancouver” was my first and writing it took me by surprise. I hadn’t planned for that to happen. Yet “Choosing Love Over Pride” is the story that challenged me the most and where I could see my progress as a writer.

If you’re planning a sequel, can you share a tiny bit about your plans for it?

I had an end in mind for the series when I started the sequel to “Choosing Love Over Pride”. But on the one hand, the characters took ownership of their story, and on the other hand, life happened in my real world. And reality became too close to fiction. I am now stuck, wondering what the plot for the sequel should be.

One sure thing is that the readers will meet the “Bothrops” — nickname to anyone with ill intentions in the story — again. And this time it will be embodied by the least expected characters.

And once again, they can expect to be surprised and go through a roller coaster of emotions. All driven by benevolence and curiosity.

Do you want each book to stand on its own, or are you trying to build a body of work with connections between each book?

“Choosing Love Over Pride” is the sequel to “New Beginning in Vancouver”. I wrote this book because I was missing the characters and their world.

I wrote in a way that the book could stand on its own, but it’s better to read the prequel to be even more surprised by the evolution of the characters and the impact of the events happening in their lives. In fact, the lead character, Maxime, writes the prequel herself in “Choosing Love Over Pride” as an exercise to unwind and put up with the challenges she must face in that story.

How did you come up with the title for your book?

This book remained “Book 2” until page 285 of 446. Until Maxime raises her glass for a toast she ended with those words:

“I beseech you to find the courage to choose love over pride. It’s something us women are more capable of doing, and it’s definitely worth it.”

How long did it take you to write this book?

I started a couple of days after ending the prequel. The characters and context were already created.

It took me about a year to have a first draft of this book, and three more months to edit the story to remain consistent with its prequel and what I have in mind for the sequel.

What does the title mean?

Maxime had to make a tough choice for herself in this story, as well as several other characters among her close friends and family.

I want my novels to convey values of benevolence, curiosity and (self) exploration. I wish my books to promote diversity and inclusion. So, the critical choices people in the story have to make must reflect those values of mine, that I lent to Maxime.

What did you learn when writing the book?

I believe I learned to become an authentic writer, by diving into my characters’ personalities, the events in their lives and their own emotion.

I learned to let them take the lead, even if it meant me to laugh out loud or cry my eyes out while writing.

When writing “Choosing Love Over Pride” I learned to write out of my comfort zone.

What surprised you the most?

I have a few surprises for the readers in this story and they were all surprises for myself.

The main one was how far I could go, out of my comfort zone, and how creative I can be when I let go of my preconceptions while writing.

This story requires us to remain open-minded and challenges us to reconsider our POV about relationships.

Have you ever killed off a character your readers loved?

I announce Granps, Smith Senior’s death in the epilogue of my first novel. I know I am not the only one fond of the character.

And spoiler alert, most probably more grieving to come in the third book.

What do you do to get inside your character’s heads?

They’re the ones getting in my head! (laughter)

The toughest part of writing is to become disconnected from the characters. When this happens, what works for me is to start over the reading of the story to dive back into their world. Ideally, I then take a long walk with inspiring music, and they come back to me.

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

After spending half her life in Montréal, Marielle de Vassoigne moved to Vancouver during the pandemic in January of 2021.

Just like her main character Maxime, she was born in France and grew up in Martinique, a French Caribbean Island, before moving in Canada.

An organic writer, she's publishing her first novel, which is an outcome from her many experiences. The story has been influenced by her core belief—that a rich life is filled with kindness, curiosity, and exploration—as well as values of diversity and inclusion.

CONNECT WITH MARIELLE DE VASSOIGNE

WEBSITE ~ FACEBOOK ~ INSTAGRAM

Giveaway:

$15 Amazon/BN GC 

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