Thursday, May 23, 2013

Guest Blogger: Kristen Beairsto


Storylines

Thanks so much for having me!!
I got the idea for Going After the Heart after I had a bad dream involving myself and my husband. Several brain storming and editing processes later, the story morphed into the form it takes now.
At first, although I loved the story and the characters, I was extremely nervous to publish it. This story line wasn't typical. Most second-chance-at-love storylines start after the couple has already broken up, giving space between the emotionally turbulent time of the break up and the next chapter in the couples' love life. Going After the Heart, for lack of a better term, dumps you right in the middle of Lizzy and Gavin's toughest time as they try to decide whether or not they stay together.
I knew the storyline made for a tough one. As a romance reader myself, I know that spark of chemistry and passion between characters is crucial. And finding that spark with a couple that had been together for over ten years would be extremely difficult.
I'm curious to hear what you think about storylines that don't run along the norm. Do you like to stick to the classic plot types and enjoy seeing the different ways authors manipulate them? Or do you prefer to seek out stories that are a little different than most? Or maybe, like me, you like both? 




Going After the Heart     

by Kristen Beairsto
Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Self/Indie
Release Date: December 18, 2012
Heat Level: Steamy
Length: 234 pages


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Description
Lizzy Bergstrum thought she finally reached a point in her life when she could honestly say she had it all. A thriving writing career. A wonderful daughter. And a marriage to the love of her life. But looks can apparently be deceiving because her husband just walked out on her and their eight year old daughter hates her.

Gavin Bergstrum can’t handle the direction his life has taken. Not only did he get laid off from his job, but his wife seems to barely remember he exists. Convinced he’s tried his best to change things, he begins to wrestle with the possibility of divorce. But he can’t think straight in the same house as Lizzy. Hating to leave his daughter, but needing time to think and come to terms with what he feels he needs to do, Gavin decides to return to his small home town in Oregon and stay at his family ranch with his father and brothers.

In shock, Lizzy gives Gavin his space. But as time passes and he doesn’t say a word about their marriage, Lizzy decides it’s past time she takes matters into her own hands. Without a word, she follows Gavin to Oregon.

Now facing a daughter who blames her for everything, an irritated husband, and a small town that feeds on the drama, Lizzy finds herself trying to figure out how to convince Gavin to give her another chance, teach her daughter it takes two to make a successful marriage, and overcome her own insecurities – all without compromising who she is.

Warning: This title is intended for readers over the age of 18 as it contains adult sexual situations and/or adult language, and may be considered offensive to some readers.



EXCERPT: He could kill her.

At this exact moment, Gavin Bergstrum could easily reach out and gladly kill his wife of ten years.  Well, almost ten years, in another two months anyway.

If she lived that long.

Gavin watched as the woman—who may or may not survive the next two months to be his spouse of ten years—pulled her Cadillac Escalade to a stop a few yards in front of him in the wide open dirt area serving as the driveway of his father’s ranch.  She climbed out of the driver’s side door of the big vehicle as though she belonged there, as though there weren’t a wall of issues between them.

Despite the dark trendy shades covering what he knew were deep violet almond shaped eyes, Gavin felt the heat being aimed his way and felt a morbid satisfaction in the fact she clearly wished violence on him at the moment too.

Well, at least they still had something in common.

About the Author   
In between her to-be-read pile and trying to bring the characters in her head alive, Kristen spends as much time as she can with family and friends. Much to her husband’s dismay, she enjoys collecting purses, shoes, and jewelry. During those rare times she’s not working at her day job, rushing her daughters somewhere, watching movies with her husband, and trying to meet a deadline, she can usually be found energetically cheering for one of her favorite New York sports teams.

As with just about every other writer on the planet, Kristen grew up an avid reader. She started with young adult before she technically hit the age range and moved on to sci-fi classics by Isaac Asimov and Ray Bradbury. At fifteen, her best friend gave her a book she just had to read! The book was Honest Illusions by Nora Roberts. Always a sucker for a happy ending, she was a goner and fell in love with the romance genre. Having started writing novel length stories at the age of eleven, Kristen’s stories all took a romantic turn from that point on.

Connect with Kristen Beairsto
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2 comments:

  1. Maria D.May 23, 2013 at 8:34 AM

    Good guest post - I like both books that follow a traditional trope with the author trying to come up with their own twist on it and unique themed books that showcase not only the authors imagination but their belief in doing things their own way. Thanks for the spotlight on Going After the Heart - it sounds really good

    ReplyDelete
  2. UnknownMay 23, 2013 at 4:21 PM

    Thanks so much!

    ReplyDelete

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