Today Liz Flaherty joins us. She is a good friend and, as you will see, a fellow Carina Press author. Liz, tell us what you’ve been doing.
Life is new and wonderful for me these days. I retired from the post office in 2011, promptly gained 15 pounds–overnight, I swear!–and promised my grandkids, The Magnificent Seven, that I would make each of them a bed-size quilt. I also planned to write all day, every day.
What was I thinking?
I’ve learned to write when I feel like it, sew when I feel like it, and maybe even to eat a little less–or maybe not. For the first time, we’re wintering in Florida and I’m enjoying the newness of it. I’m having a Very, Very Good time.
I recently finished the sixth quilt and my sixth book–I’m not an overnight success, but I never give up. JAR OF DREAMS, is a new release by Carina Press. I am thrilled to the point everyone I know rolls their eyes as soon as I open my mouth.
Six quilts! I’m impressed. Liz, tell us a little about JAR OF DREAMS.
For as long as she can remember, Lucy Dolan has been jotting
down her hopes on slips of paper and saving them in a pickle jar—her jar of
dreams. It was the first thing she saved when the beloved family diner went up
in flames, and it’s safely buckled in her beat-up minivan when she lands in
Taft, Indiana, to start over. She rents a room and goes into business with her
landlady, but then Gert’s nephew comes charging in to “rescue” his
aunt.
down her hopes on slips of paper and saving them in a pickle jar—her jar of
dreams. It was the first thing she saved when the beloved family diner went up
in flames, and it’s safely buckled in her beat-up minivan when she lands in
Taft, Indiana, to start over. She rents a room and goes into business with her
landlady, but then Gert’s nephew comes charging in to “rescue” his
aunt.
Boone Brennan will be damned if he’ll
let Lucy take advantage of Aunt Gert, who raised him and his sister. Believing
that she’s just passing through, he’s deeply suspicious of her—despite the
sparks that fly between them.
let Lucy take advantage of Aunt Gert, who raised him and his sister. Believing
that she’s just passing through, he’s deeply suspicious of her—despite the
sparks that fly between them.
Just as Boone and Lucy are starting to
open up to each other, a series of fires throws Lucy under suspicion. Boone
wants to trust her and his feelings, but with the whole town against her, will
he stay by her side? Or will Lucy move on and find another place to make her
dreams come true?
open up to each other, a series of fires throws Lucy under suspicion. Boone
wants to trust her and his feelings, but with the whole town against her, will
he stay by her side? Or will Lucy move on and find another place to make her
dreams come true?
1. How long did it take you to write JAR OF DREAMS?
Goofy
as it sounds, I’m not sure. It’s a story I left and came back to. To keep it as
honest as I can, I’d say I probably spent a year in the writing of it.
as it sounds, I’m not sure. It’s a story I left and came back to. To keep it as
honest as I can, I’d say I probably spent a year in the writing of it.
2. How much research did you conduct for JAR OF DREAMS and what was the most
interesting thing you did while conducting your research?
interesting thing you did while conducting your research?
Tearoom
research was fun. I went to them, asked questions, got attached to delicate tea
cups!
research was fun. I went to them, asked questions, got attached to delicate tea
cups!
3. Why did you decide to write contemporary?
It’s my
comfort zone. I did write a historical romance once—HOME TO SINGING TREES—and I
loved it, but I never got comfortable with it.
comfort zone. I did write a historical romance once—HOME TO SINGING TREES—and I
loved it, but I never got comfortable with it.
4. Do you write multiple drafts or barely need revisions
when typing, The End?
when typing, The End?
Usually
only one draft that I corrected each morning before I started to write anything
new, then my editor sent me a TON of revisions!
only one draft that I corrected each morning before I started to write anything
new, then my editor sent me a TON of revisions!
5. When you are writing, who is in control? You or your
characters?
characters?
Well,
it’s certainly not me, and to this day, I’m not sure how I feel about that! J
it’s certainly not me, and to this day, I’m not sure how I feel about that! J
6. Have you had any “ah ha” moments as a writer?
When I
began to grasp Point of View. It was an excruciatingly difficult concept for
me. I still screw it up sometimes!
began to grasp Point of View. It was an excruciatingly difficult concept for
me. I still screw it up sometimes!
7. What advice do you have for other writers?
The
same advice I was given. Don’t give up. Don’t ever give up. And oh, yeah, don’t
burn bridges. Don’t say mean things about anyone in the business. It can
definitely come back to haunt you. Not personal experience talking there, thank
goodness, but I’ve seen it happen.
same advice I was given. Don’t give up. Don’t ever give up. And oh, yeah, don’t
burn bridges. Don’t say mean things about anyone in the business. It can
definitely come back to haunt you. Not personal experience talking there, thank
goodness, but I’ve seen it happen.
8. What was the most exciting thing that happened to you
after you signed your contract – besides receiving your first check as a
published author?
after you signed your contract – besides receiving your first check as a
published author?
I think
signing my next contract. J My great hope when I
was first published was, that I could step off the rejections train forever.
Ahem. That hasn’t happened. So my most exciting thing is always that next
contract!
signing my next contract. J My great hope when I
was first published was, that I could step off the rejections train forever.
Ahem. That hasn’t happened. So my most exciting thing is always that next
contract!
9. How does your family feel about your career as a romance
writer?
writer?
They’re
proud of me, I think, and they help—my name turns up in odd places on the
internet sometimes, prefaced by the words “my mom…”
proud of me, I think, and they help—my name turns up in odd places on the
internet sometimes, prefaced by the words “my mom…”
10. What do you want your readers to take away with them
after reading the story?
after reading the story?
In the
culinary scheme of things, my work is meat loaf and mashed potatoes. I don’t
believe what I write will change lives, but if it makes for a warm and
satisfying afternoon, I’m good with that.
culinary scheme of things, my work is meat loaf and mashed potatoes. I don’t
believe what I write will change lives, but if it makes for a warm and
satisfying afternoon, I’m good with that.
11. What was the defining moment that you considered yourself
an author?
an author?
When my
high school algebra teacher (bless you, Mr. Wildermuth) came to my house and
brought me a bouquet of roses. He hadn’t seen me in 25 years, but he’d kept up.
It was a wonderful moment.
high school algebra teacher (bless you, Mr. Wildermuth) came to my house and
brought me a bouquet of roses. He hadn’t seen me in 25 years, but he’d kept up.
It was a wonderful moment.
12. With so many changes in publishing over the past year,
where do you see the future of publishing going?
where do you see the future of publishing going?
Oh, boy. More directions than I can begin to
keep up with. And the truth is that I don’t
keep up. I’m not proud of this, but just as in the old days we went through the
Writer’s Market and chose what
publishers we were going to try, now we have to go through the available
methods and choose which of them we’re going with. It’s an exciting time in
publishing, but if you happen to be old as dirt (who, me?) it’s also
exhausting.
keep up with. And the truth is that I don’t
keep up. I’m not proud of this, but just as in the old days we went through the
Writer’s Market and chose what
publishers we were going to try, now we have to go through the available
methods and choose which of them we’re going with. It’s an exciting time in
publishing, but if you happen to be old as dirt (who, me?) it’s also
exhausting.
13. What makes a man attractive to you?
Being a
nice guy who’s more interested in the world around him than he is in himself.
nice guy who’s more interested in the world around him than he is in himself.
14. What is the most interesting thing you’ve ever done?
The
most interesting to me was going to Ireland. I loved it.
most interesting to me was going to Ireland. I loved it.
15. What’s your biggest dream?
No more
violence. As a writer, the NYTimes list.
violence. As a writer, the NYTimes list.
16. If you were a millionaire would you still write?
I think
so. Maybe not books anymore, but essays and blog posts almost certainly.
so. Maybe not books anymore, but essays and blog posts almost certainly.
Comment for a
chance to win a cup and saucer. Well, more than comment. Answer this
question and you’ll be entered into the drawing. What is your favorite time of
day and why?
chance to win a cup and saucer. Well, more than comment. Answer this
question and you’ll be entered into the drawing. What is your favorite time of
day and why?
You can get your copy of JAR
OF DREAMS at http://ebooks.carinapress.com/9FAA186B-F22E-4C59-B2B2-DB2848E16899/10/134/en/ContentDetails.htm?ID=0A99E660-1246-4502-A9FF-9B8D34FD6E93
and on http://www.amazon.com/Jar-of-Dreams-ebook/dp/B00A22UVXC
OF DREAMS at http://ebooks.carinapress.com/9FAA186B-F22E-4C59-B2B2-DB2848E16899/10/134/en/ContentDetails.htm?ID=0A99E660-1246-4502-A9FF-9B8D34FD6E93
and on http://www.amazon.com/Jar-of-Dreams-ebook/dp/B00A22UVXC
Find Liz at her website/blog
http://lizflaherty.com
http://lizflaherty.com
On Twitter @LizFlaherty1 and Facebook http://www.facebook.com/lizkflaherty
She loves to hear
from readers so drop her a line at lizkflaherty@gmail.com
from readers so drop her a line at lizkflaherty@gmail.com
Thanks for stopping by Liz! Enjoy that Florida sunshine. It’s 36 degrees here in New Jersey!
Thanks for having me today, Ruth. I'm having a great time giving away cups and saucers and looking forward to the release of JAR OF DREAMS!
I'm so excited to see this wonderful book getting released. They are characters you'd want to have as your next door neighbors. Congrats!
Great interview Liz! And Jar of Dreams sounds WONDERFUL!
Sounds like a great story, Liz! Favorite time of day? Whatever time it is that I down that first gulp of Dr. Pepper…oh, my! Nothing beats it. LOL
You have me hooked. I'm so looking forward to "Jar of Dreams" coming out.
And I look your style of writing when you feel like it and quilting when you feel like it. Doing the things you love to do helps make your writing better.
Congrats on your 6th book.
Thanks, Delia. Dr. Pepper is a good time, isn't he? 🙂
Thanks, Christi and Molly!
You have me hooked. I'm so looking forward to "Jar of Dreams" coming out.
And I look your style of writing when you feel like it and quilting when you feel like it. Doing the things you love to do helps make your writing better.
Congrats on your 6th book.
My favorite time is late at night after everyone is tucked in. Having teenagers, sometimes that is very late! Lol
The jar is a cute idea and has me intrigued. Is the town fiction?
Liz! Love the idea of the book and the charm of the title – I'm terrible at titles! Can't wait to read it!
Favorite time of day is after dinner, when the kitchen is clean (we're always eating, so it's never really clean) and Ron and I settle down under a blanket to watch television after he's been in his studio all day and I've been writing. We reconnect and relax.
Happy Days, Liz!
Muriel Jensen
Hi Liz,
You know the Brits think good cuppa can cure almost anything frm heartbrake to frostbite. Now thee is medical research that it does help.
Who knew?
Good luck wth Jar of Dreams.
Love the cover and the concept of keeping dreams in a jar. And, I'm with you, the best day is signing the next contract.
Liz, your story sounds fun – great premise. You're also a woman after my own heart – promise the world and do your best to make it happen. Jealous about the retirement but congrats. My favorite time of day: early mornings. I love to watch the dawn break. Something about the transformation from night to day – dark to light, rejuvenates me. Thanks to Ruth for a fun author spotlight.
Great interview. I tweeted.
Jar of Dreams sounds wonderful! Loved this interview:) My favorite time of the day is morning. There is something magical about natural light and quiet.
Nice interview gals. Liz, I love the sound of your book. So, my favorite time of day? That depends on the season. In spring/summer I enjoy sitting on the porch to write in the early morning. In winter and late fall it's curled up on the couch with my laptop sipping hot coffee with the occasional hot chocolate or hot tea.
Thanks to everyone for stopping by!
I thoroughly enjoyed the interview. It was great learning more about Liz and how she came up with the idea for Jar of Dreams. I can't wait to read it! (Wish I could sew!) I was impressed with the 7 quilts. My favorite time of day has got to be early morning. Then my brain is refreshed; it's quiet, and I'm ready to write!
My favorite time of day is when I get home from work. Because I'm home and not at work.
Or early in the morning–especially in the spring when the air is fresh, crisp, and new.
More thanks for more visitors–I so appreciate the support.
Liz –
Thank you again for sharing your story and answering our questions. Best wishes on release day.
Now, the winner of the give is Pamela Tracey. Congratulations, Pamela. Liz will be in touch with you shortly.
… Ruth
I wish I could quilt. My BFF does and they are so beautiful!