Jennifer Patricia O'Keeffe
GENRE: RomCom
BLURB:
Melody is a simple woman with simple needs that include good clean books, safe and intelligible television, and a job that she loves. As far as she’s concerned, she has everything she needs, including a beloved gig as the assistant librarian of her local public library. When a Winter Reads program turns chaotic and Melody is caught in the crossfires of a massive child-induced food fight, her dream job becomes a nightmare – a nightmare that continues into a snow-covered, accident-prone next day. After waking up to a sudden massive snowfall covering her town, she becomes the unwilling victim of a snowball fight between two identical twin brothers. Melody must then decide if she has met her very own Mister Right, or if her perfect life can handle an imperfect interruption. Lighthearted laughs and endearing moments fill this modern romantic comedy by humorist Jennifer Patricia O’Keeffe
NOTE: this book will be on sale for $0.99 for the duration of the tour.
Purchase SNOWFALL on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Smashwords, and Kobo
Excerpt:
“Well… their hunt for me paid off I guess.” Melody smiled and sipped her drink. “I got my necklace back, I got a wonderful new boyfriend, and… well… I don’t think I’ve shared this news with you yet.”
“You’re getting married?” Cocoa asked, throwing out a wild guess.
“Nope.”
“You’re pregnant!”
“Oh, god no!” Melody exclaimed.
“Well then, what is it?” Cocoa put her hands on her hips and Melody could see she was growing impatient.
“I… think… I’m in love.”
“No!” Cocoa shouted. Her voice was pretty loud and she looked around with a quirky smile as several customers looked her way. Then, she looked at Melody again, not caring who had heard her shout. “Not you, little Miss I’m Happy with My Quiet Little Life?”
“Quiet little life…” Melody rolled her eyes. “You make me sound so boring. But… my life’s not so quiet anymore, and honestly, I’m loving it more than I ever thought I could.”
Cocoa began to sing softly. “You’re in love! Love, love, love, love, love!”
“Oh, hush,” she said and blushed.
“I expect to be Maid of Honor at the wedding,” Cocoa continued. “I’m picturing very tacky beige bridesmaid dresses, a small church service, and lots of hokey pictures of us doing wacky poses in our outfits!”
“Aren’t you rushing things a little?”
“Well… someone has to. If I know you, the two of you haven’t even had –…”
“Don’t even say it!” Melody cut her off. “Good things come to those who wait.”
“He’s going to be gray-haired old man by the time you give up the –…”
“No!” Melody exclaimed and then laughed nervously. “Goodness, Cocoa!”
Cocoa laughed heavily. “Okay, fine. But tell me then what all you two have planned for your one-month anniversary tonight.”
“All I know is he’s taking me out to a restaurant but won’t tell me what it is,” she explained. “And he has something for me, but he won’t tell me what that is either.”
“I bet it’s a ring,” Cocoa noted. “It’s gonna be a ring. He’s going to pop the question. I know it!”
“After just a month? No way,” Melody discouraged. “Maybe a promise ring?”
“A promise ring? Are you both twelve?” Cocoa huffed and grabbed a rag to wipe down the counter. “That’s kid stuff.” She then paused and smiled a little mischievous grin. “By the way…”
“Yes?”
“What did you get him for your one-month anniversary?”
Melody’s smile disappeared and her eyes became concerned. “Is – is that a thing?”
“Yes, girl!” Cocoa exclaimed and put her rag down. “This isn’t the nineteen fifties, you know. Present giving is an equal thing now. He gives you a gift. You give him a gift. It’s called gifting.”
Interview with Jennifer Patricia O’Keeffe
What is your favorite part of the book?
There are so many fun areas in ‘Snowfall’ that this is actually a pretty hard question, but I honestly believe my favorite moments in the book happen inside Cocoa’s Café. Cocoa is a good friend of Melody, my protagonist, and they have some very fun banter. Cocoa is Melody’s confidant and she makes a mean cup of coffee. I’m a firm believer that everyone needs a best friend to chat with, bounce ideas off of, etc., and Cocoa does her best at helping Melody maneuver her way through a blossoming romance.
Does your book have a lesson? Moral?
A moral or lesson… Not really. It’s a romantic comedy. It’s just fun. Sometimes, people need to read for fun, and I think that’s what this book provides. Having said this, if there is a lesson to be learned from ‘Snowfall,’ it’s treat your books well and don’t dogear your page corners.
Are your characters based off real people or did they all come entirely from your imagination?
Yes, but only one. Ms. Pam, the librarian, is based off a librarian I met when visiting a friend in a neighboring town. She’s fun, funny, sweet, caring and considerate. She’s also a little loud, which I find to be a fun trait in a librarian.
Of all the characters you have created, which is your favorite and why?
In ‘Snowfall,’ my favorite character is Cocoa. I would love to one day write a story about Cocoa, before she moved to the city ‘Snowfall’ takes place in. A little bit of her backstory is revealed through her conversations with Melody, and her story is intriguing. Not to mention she’s fun, feisty, and not afraid to say what is on her mind.
What character in your book are you least likely to get along with?
The locksmith. Just writing him irritated me, but his irritation was important to move the story along. Still… that man needs to learn some manners.
What would the main character in your book have to say about you?
Melody and I are a lot alike, but I’m sure she’d want me to get out more, meet new people, and maybe – just maybe – find that man of my dreams I’ve been hunting for.
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?
Everything I’ve written so far stands on its own. I like to write shorter novels and novellas that make people laugh, feel good, and explore aspects of life that are exciting and calm all at the same time. If I were ever to write a sequel… hmm… I don’t really know. There is a second in ‘Snowfall’ where Melody finishes reading a book and starts hoping for a sequel, but she eventually finds out the author’s reasons for not writing one. That author’s reasons are pretty much the same as mine.
Thank you so much for hosting me on this leg of my book tour promoting the romantic comedy ‘Snowfall!’ It has been a pleasure!
You are welcome! We are glad you could stop in for a visit. You are welcome anytime.
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Jennifer Patricia O’Keeffe is a humorist fiction author whose works include the stories My Name is Not Cupid, The Scent of a Man, and the beautifully reviewed thriller about a mother who would stop at nothing to save her child, Hot Chocolate on a Cold Winter’s Night, among others. Known for her quirky romantic comedies that feature realistic women of various ages and races and the trials and tribulations of adulting and dating, Jennifer’s writings allow real women to see themselves in her characters. Jennifer is also a proud LGBTQ+ ally and often features gay characters in her stories, including the tale All I Want is to be Happy, which features a wonderful gay protagonist. Jennifer, herself, is a single straight woman, still looking for love, and living with her cats in an apartment in Nashville, Tennessee.
Connect with Jennifer Patricia O'Keeffe
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10 comments:
Thank you for featuring SNOWFALL.
Sounds like a good story. Thanks for sharing.
Fun excerpt! Thanks!
What does a "successful" writing day look like to you?
Thank you so much for hosting me today!! You're always one of my favorite stops on these tours!
Oh that's an easy one - a successful writing day for me is a day when I both have the time to write AND the muses are working with me. Sometimes, I'll have the time, but my muses are missing. Sometimes, it's the other way around.
Thank you for stopping by today!
Thank you for coming by and checking it out!
I liked the excerpt, sounds good.
Looks like a good book.
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