BEAUTIFUL ONE
Mary Cope
GENRE: Young Adult Romance
BLURB:
Transformation, empowerment, love and music come together in the book, Beautiful One.
Elizabeth Ryan is a beautiful, shy, naïve high school senior. Having never dated she meets the boy of her dreams, Aidan Mitchell. Despite his history of womanizing Liz is drawn to him. Soon Liz becomes the envy of all the girls on campus, when they become a couple and her dream boyfriend sweeps her off her feet and into the dating world that is all too new and strange for her. When other guys start to take notice of Liz, Aidan is troubled with fits of jealousy.
Elizabeth then meets the ruggedly handsome, Spencer Hayes and they quickly bond over their passion for music. Liz begins to struggle with the feelings that spark between them. In the end Elizabeth finds herself torn between helping Aidan overcome his jealousy and anger and giving into what her heart truly wants.
Excerpt:
“Elizabeth.” My heart leapt as I opened my eyes, and my breathing stopped for a second. My eyes roamed over his handsome face. His jaw was slightly swollen and bruised, but other than that, his face was untouched. His grey eyes were unusually light from the angle where I sat, and his dark hair was tousled in a way that made me ache to run my fingers through it.
“May I?” He motioned to the bench next to me.
I was still surprised to see him, so I just nodded.
Spencer sat and shifted his body so it was facing mine. “I’ve been looking all over for you. Didn’t you get my calls?”
In my rush to see Aidan, I had left my cell phone at home, so I shook my head no.
Spencer gave me a ghost of a smile and softly chuckled. “Are you gonna talk to me or just nod your head?”
“I’m sorry. I’m just shocked to see you.” I shifted my body so it was facing his.
“After last night, I wanted to make sure you were okay.” His soft gaze traveled from my face to the length of my body. When he saw the bruises, his jaw clenched before he frustratingly blew out a breath of air. He gently lifted my arm to examine it further. I could sense he was trying to rein in his anger. “Did he hurt you anywhere else?”
Spencer reached to place a stray lock of my hair behind my ear.
My eyes didn’t leave his. I whispered, “No.”
Interview with Mary Cope
Have you ever had an imaginary friend?
As a child, I never had an imaginary friend, but strangely enough, I created a story about one. When I was around 10 years old, my next-door neighbor Laura, who was a few years younger, loved hearing me tell stories about a fairy named Silverwings. I entertained her with tales of our adventures together, and she became convinced that Silverwings was real and only I could see her. Even back then, I had a vivid imagination and was quite the storyteller.
Describe your writing space.
Once I began writing, I thought, “If I’m going to be a writer, I might as well have a specific place to write.” I mean, “Isn’t that what writers do?” So, I bought the perfect desk, found myself a comfortable chair, designated a specific spot in my bedroom, sat down, opened my laptop, and began to write. But nothing... nothing came to me. To be honest, I spent most of my time staring out the window into my backyard. I then realized my bedroom wasn’t the place for me, so I picked up my laptop and headed downstairs to the kitchen table. I love my kitchen. It’s my favorite room in my home, and it is there I find my inspiration. The kitchen table is where I do all of my writing.
Do you listen to music when you're writing?
I always listen to music while I write. Since "Beautiful One" revolves around music, it's a significant influence on my writing process. While some writers might find music distracting, I find it stimulating. There are countless instances where a specific lyric or song has sparked ideas for entire chapters. I also find music serves as a soothing backdrop that helps me concentrate by masking other distractions. It keeps me focused and enhances my mood.
Do you ever read your stories out loud?
Yes, absolutely.
Reading my writing aloud is a crucial step in my editing process. It enables me to detect errors, identify awkward phrasing, and pinpoint areas that require improvement more effectively than silent reading. This practice provides me with a fresh perspective on my writing, making it easier to recognize sections that may need revision. Hearing my words spoken aloud allows me to evaluate the flow and rhythm of my writing. It helps me ensure that the intended tone and mood of the story are effectively conveyed. Most importantly, reading aloud allows me to experience my story as a reader would, helping me assess its overall impact.
Tell us about your main character and who inspired him/her.
As I dropped my daughter off at high school, we noticed an overweight teenage girl walking past our car. My daughter glanced at her, then looked at me and said, "Kids can be so mean. It must be really tough to be overweight in high school." Her words stuck with me, and that's when Elizabeth's story was born.
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Mary Cope is a passionate romance writer known for her ability to craft characters that feel undeniably real. Drawing inspiration from both her personal experience and vivid imagination, Mary’s words resonate with readers. A romantic at heart, Mary believes true intimacy is what love is all about.
Connect with Mary Cope
Website ~ Instagram ~ Twitter ~ Facebook
5 comments:
Thank you so much for hosting and featuring Mary Cope today.
The excerpt sounds good. I enjoyed the interview.
I really enjoyed the excerpt and think the book sounds good.
looks like a fun one
Really enjoyed reading the author interview!! Also, beautiful book cover!!
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