Cheryl Douglas ~ Contemporary romance of the Country-Western kind.

Hello Cheryl, welcome. I’m looking forward to hearing about your newest release, Shameless, a contemporary romance and book 1 of your Nashville Nights series. Before we get started with the interview, please tell us a bit about yourself, Cheryl…

It took me thirty-seven years to decide what I wanted to be when I grew up. I thought I'd found my calling. In fact, I worked as a nutritionist for twelve years before I finally admitted to myself that while I enjoyed my work, I couldn't imagine doing it for the next thirty years.

My sub-conscious knew that I wanted to be a writer long before the conscious part of my mind decided to get with the program. While my sub-conscious was hard at work creating character profiles, plots and storylines, my conscious mind was telling me it was crazy to give up a successful business on the off-chance one of my manuscripts might rise to the top of someone's never-ending slush pile. After years of listening to that negative voice, I was finally ready to stop making excuses, face the fear and follow my dream of becoming a full-time writer, no matter the outcome. I'm so thankful I did.

I love bringing my characters to life and I am so grateful to have readers who love those characters as much as I do.

When I take a break from writing it's to spend time with my husband (a.k.a. my real life hero), my son, and my writing partner, Tia, a spirited Havanese who enjoys tapping her paw on my keyboard whenever I need a little comic relief.

Okay…let’s hear about that book and your story-stars…

KDR ~ Please tell us how the idea came to you for Shameless, Book One in the Nashville Nights Series. Please include all the fun details.

CD ~ The Nashville Nights series was inspired by my love of music, specifically country music. Cowboys have always been popular in contemporary romance, and a personal favorite of mine. Country singers are often cowboys who are blessed with a beautiful singing voice, so it seemed like a natural twist on an old favorite. Shameless was a book that had been in the back of my mind, begging to be written for years. When I finally sat down to write it, one book morphed into six books. I fell in love with the secondary characters and knew their stories had to be told. I am currently working on the fifth book in this series and I love the characters as much today as I did when I started this journey. Writing Trey and Sierra in the fifth book is like visiting with old friends. I love it.

KDR ~ Your story-stars sound like an awesome reason to read their stories. *smile*

What drives Trey Turner, motivates, and/or inspires him?

CD ~ The hero in Shameless, Trey Turner, is a country music artist at the top of his game professionally, but his personal life is a hot mess. He’s battling an alcohol addiction because he can’t come to terms with his past mistakes. He wants one more chance with his ex-wife, Sierra, but he knows that isn’t going to happen until he becomes the kind of man she deserves. This is a story about redemption, healing, and coming to terms with the past. 

 

KDR ~ What’s Sierra’s job? What does she do for a living?

CD ~ Sierra started a non-profit organization, The Rainbow Fund, to support parents who have lost a child. The charity was inspired by her personal tragedy.

KDR ~ Give us some insight into Sierra. What’s a bit of her back story?

CD ~ Sierra had to grow up too fast, raising her younger sister, Lexi, when her mother lost her life to a terminal illness and her father lost his battle with the bottle. She had to learn to be strong and independent at an early age. She’s a care-taker, compassionate, loving, and always willing to help a friend in need. She has strong connections to Trey’s family, even after the divorce, because they gave her the unconditional love and acceptance she had been craving as a child.  

KDR ~ Tell us what Trey first means to Sierra?

CD ~ Trey is the love of Sierra’s life. They met in college, long before he was famous. They built a life together based on mutual goals for the future, but his career quickly began to take over their lives. When she couldn’t take it anymore, she made the difficult decision to end their ten year marriage and start a new life on her own.

KDR ~ Who is Sierra to Trey? Can you give us a bit about the first time they met each other?

CD ~ Sierra and Trey first met during college. Trey was playing football, but an injury ended his hopes of going pro. She helped him pick up the pieces and set new goals for the future. During the early days of their marriage, she was the co-writer on many of his songs and his muse.

KDR ~ Love the additional tie of song writing together. So  Shameless is included in a series, tell us titles and a tagline for other books if you know them?

CD ~ Shameless is the first book in the Nashville Nights series. All six books will be released in 2012. The second book is Fearless, the third book is Ruthless, the fourth book is Reckless, the fifth book is Relentless and the last book is Heartless. Readers can learn more about the series at www.cheryldouglasbooks.com.

KDR ~ Love those titles! Which scene was your favorite to write? Can you share a little of it?

CD ~ My favorite scene to write was the prologue. It told a bit of the couple’s back-story and helped us to understand how they got to such a dismal place after so many years of loving each other. It was my favorite scene to write because I think it touches on what can go wrong in a marriage when both partners aren’t fully committed to putting in the effort to maintain the relationship. It deals with raw emotion and the heartbreak of saying good-bye to a first love.

Quickie Quiz

        Getting to know Cheryl Douglas…

2 Things you do to relax:

Go for a drive in the country or take a bubble bath.

Favorite sport to watch:

Hockey

Cat or Dog:

Dog. She’s a one year-old Havanese named Tia. 

Favorite places to write:

My cottage.

Place you’ve always wanted to go, but haven’t:

Belize. Hopefully, I’ll be able to visit there next year.

Breakfast drink:

Coffee. I can’t function without a shot of caffeine first thing in the morning.

Favorite season ~ why:

Spring. It represents new beginnings. Everything is so fresh and beautiful. It always reminds me to stop and pay attention to the beauty of nature surrounding us.

What are your hobbies /past times (besides writing):

Reading, boating, walking, shopping, surfing the Internet, travelling, spending time with family and friends.

Giveaway:  One lucky poster will win a free PDF copy of Shameless (drawing on March 8). We appreciate your participation and look forward to your comments. Remember to leave your email addy so we can contact the winner. Good Luck!!

Shameless

By Cheryl Douglas

Release Date – February 2012 

Trey Turner may be topping the country music charts but his life has been going downhill since his wife left him five years ago. He’s desperate to make amends for the mistakes he’s made and convince Sierra their love deserves a second chance.

Sierra Brooks is happy for the first time since her divorce. She has a career she loves and a fiancé who loves her. Unfortunately, her fiancé isn’t the only man professing his love. He may be able to offer her safety and security but will she decide to risk everything for another chance with the man who broke her heart?

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Cheryl, thank you for making my place one of your Bewitching Book Tours stops. Congratulations on the release of Shameless, awesome Nashville Nights romance. I’m looking forward to your next in the series…along with wishes to you for many, many more successes.

Thank you Everyone, for stopping in to visit with Cheryl…don’t forget to make a comment and your email addy for a chance to win Shameless.

Until Next Time…Warm Hearts & Hugs,

Kay Dee

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