Welcome to my stop on the VBT with Darlene Panzera. The last few weeks I've shared the blurbs and excerpts from Darlene's cupcake Diaries series, and today I have the author here for an interview. Please help me welcome her to the blog!
Tell me about yourself, and your
writing.
Thank you for having me here today! My
husband and I grew up in New Jersey but after we married we followed
our best friends out to the Northwest, bought a tract of land, built
a house, and had three kids. We love the lakes, rivers, mountains and
the fact we are just a short ferry ride away from Seattle.
I write sweet, fun-loving romance! I
love writing stories that help inspire people
to laugh, value relationships, and pursue their dreams.
How long have you been writing? How
many published books do you have, and what genres?
I've been writing all my life and have
several short stories published in addition to my novel and
novellas—all sweet, contemporary romance. But my career launched a
year and a half ago when I won the "Make Your Dreams Come True
Contest" sponsored by Avon Books which led my novella,
THE BET, to be published with Debbie Macomber's FAMILY AFFAIR. The
full length novel, re-titled, BET YOU'LL MARRY ME, released December
2012 and my new series is THE CUPCAKE DIARIES: Sweet on You, Recipe
for Love, and Taste of Romance.
Do you write in multiple
genres or just one? If just one, do you ever consider straying
outside your genre?
Right now I am published in only the
one genre, but in the future I would definitely like to branch out
into different types of stories. My daughter and I are in the middle
of putting together a children's picture book featuring our two
horses. I'd also like to write an inspirational, maybe a suspense,
time-travel, medieval, or even young adult.
Are you a plotter or do you write from
the seat of your pants?
I am somewhere in-between. I love to
plot and fill out crazy charts, but I don't really get to know my
characters or the plot until I begin writing the story.
What is a typical writing day like for
you?
I'm not sure I have a typical day. I
try to get up, check email, and get to work, but the reality is that
I have a busy household and have to remain flexible. If I fall behind
in my writing I will stay up late after everyone goes to bed to get
it done.
Who do you love to read? Favorite
authors, favorite books?
I love to read all kinds of things. My
favorite romance authors are: Judith McNaught, Jude Deveraux, Julie
Garwood, Jane Porter, and Debbie Macomber.
What is something you'd like to
accomplish in your writing career next year?
I would like to write more full
length sweet contemporary romance novels and go to the Romance
Writers of America National conference. I have never been and I would
love to mingle with thousands of other writers and meet new friends.
If you could have one paranormal
ability, what would it be?
To fly. When I was little I had dreams
where I really believed I could fly and feel the wind against my face
and hair. It felt so real.
If you could keep a mythical/
paranormal creature as a pet, what would you have?
A tiny, little fairy with magic powers.
Or maybe a Leprechaun.
Tell us a little about your latest
release.
When my editor at Avon Books asked if I
would like to write a series of novellas featuring a cupcake shop, I
knew it would be great fun! Set in the artsy, historical fishing
community of Astoria, Oregon, two sisters and their friend follow
their dream to open a hip little shop named Creative Cupcakes and
find themselves fighting off a fanatical Zumba dance instructor, a
conceited French bakery chef, and an elusive thief dubbed, 'The
Cupcake Bandit.' Is there any time left in their busy schedule to
search for true love?
What is something that you absolutely
can't live without? (Other than family members)
Hmmm, other than family members? I
don't think there is anything that I absolutely can't live without
except my faith in God, food, and water. Most days I'm grateful just
to be alive. I love to camp so I know what it's like to "rough
it," but if you want me to name something I would really miss if
there was no more power left in the world it would be a hot shower. I
really love the fact we have hot showers in this part of the world.
Could you ever co author a book with
someone? If so, who would you choose, and what would you write?
Since each author has their own unique
'voice' I'm not sure if co-authoring a book together would work but
it sure would be fun to try! I don't know who I would pick but if we
wrote about a schizophrenic we could each write sides of the
characters different personalities. (Like Gollum/Smeagol in The
Hobbit.)
What are some of your other hobbies
outside of writing?
I have two horses and enjoy horseback
riding and feeding them carrots. I do arts and crafts and cheer my
sons on at football games and metal band concerts. I hike, ski, swim,
camp, and play the piano.
What is something you've always wanted
to do, but haven't done yet. Why not?
I want to go to Hawaii but other
obligations within the family have had us flying back and forth to
other destinations. I also want to save money so when I do get to
Hawaii I can rent a jet-ski.
If you were on the staff to have a
book adapted to movie, what would you pick?
I'd say, "Pick mine!" I
would love to see my full length novel, BET YOU'LL MARRY ME, made
into a movie. It's packed with action and vivid scenes perfect for a
movie.
What is a talent you wish you had, but
don't?
I wish I was a better singer. I can
sing in tune but lack the power in my voice to project across a room.
Favorite color?
Blue.
Weather: Hot or cold?
Hot.
Favorite place to read?
In bed, or by the lake.
Favorite meal?
Roast beef, mashed potatoes, and green
beans.
Favorite non-alcoholic drink.
Milk. I love milk so much I could do a
commerical.
If you could travel anywhere and do
anything, no limits or money holding you back, where would you go?
I'd tour the world, (first stop -
Hawaii) and meet the people from all the different lands.
The
Cupcake Diaries
Sweet
On You, Recipe for Love, Taste of Romance
By:
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The
Cupcake Diaries Book One: SWEET ON YOU
(Avon
Impulse; on-sale May 7th, 2013; e-book ISBN: 9780062242662)
Fans
of Debbie Macomber will love THE
CUPCAKE DIARIES: Sweet
on You, the
first in the new and exciting three-book romantic comedy, by Darlene
Panzera. Set in the small seaport town of Astoria, Oregon, Sweet on
You begins the delicious and charming mini-series with Andi Burke’s
adventure through love and cupcakes.
Sisters
Andi and Kim, along with best friend Rachel, haven’t had the best
luck in recent months: unemployment, divorce, and heartbreak. After
so many disappointments, what can the trio do to change things
around? Open up a much needed gourmet cupcake shop of course!
Andi
has always had a dream—a kitchen big enough to bake and dance in,
while still being able to support her dear daughter Mia, and
hopefully find true love (one day). Could opening up a cupcake shop
make it all a reality?
Together,
the best friends are determined to open up Creative Cupcakes. But,
with no business experience or money to finance the project it seems
their dream won’t come true. Until, Jake Hartman, the hunky Astoria
Sun reporter, offers to partner up with them.
Trying
to hold it together as a single mom hasn’t been easy, and the
thought of dating hasn’t crossed Andi’s mind since her divorce.
But, the way Jake keeps looking at her might change her mind. After
all, what could go wrong?
Plenty!
There's a shady tattoo parlor behind their shop and a crowd of crazy
Zumba dancers out front—ready to ruin them. The trio is forced to
think quick to counter the attacks from Zumba fanatic Pat, while
still finding a way to bring in business. It seems the only thing
that’s going right is Andi's blooming romance with Jake. As if
things weren’t hard enough, Jake’s media crew captures a story
that could shut them both down forever.
The
Cupcake Diaries Book Two: RECIPE FOR LOVE
(Avon
Impulse; on-sale May 14th, 2013; e-book ISBN: 9780062242686)
For
fans of Debbie Macomber comes Recipe
for Love, the second
installment in the Cupcake Diaries series Relationships can be
tricky, but will Mike the magician convince Rachel to break her
two-date rule? Rachel Donovan believes first dates are fabulous,
second dates are fun, but third dates? She never sees a guy three
times in a row for fear he'll break her heart, but she's tempted to
make an exception when her coworkers, Andi and Kim, hire Mike Palmer
to drive their Cupcake Mobile. Mike meets Rachel when he's wearing
his black-masked magician costume at a Creative Cupcakes birthday
party and then tries to saw her in half. He draws closer while
helping Rachel devise promotion plans to outsmart the arrogant new
French pastry chef threatening to put the shop out of business. When
a rat runs through the middle of her glitzy promo party and the video
is uploaded to YouTube, Rachel fears she won't be able to save the
shop, help her mother pay for her grandfather's medical treatment, or
win back the heart of the one guy she's come to love . . . or will
she?
The
Cupcake Diaries Book Three: TASTE OF ROMANCE
.jpg)
(Avon
Impulse; on-sale May 21st, 2013; e-book ISBN: 9780062242839)
For
fans of Debbie Macomber comes Taste
of Romance, the third
installment in the Cupcake Diaries series. Kimberly Burke has avoided
all types of risk since her mother's deadly plane crash—including
risky relationships. Seems like everyone is always leaving her
behind: her ex-boyfriend, her mother, and now her sister Andi and
best friend Rachel—who have each found the man of her dreams. Then
she meets Nathaniel when she mistakes his backyard for the new
community park. He loves her passion, and when he learns of her
wistful desire to travel, he takes her up in a hot air balloon,
hoping to overcome her fear of flying so that she can accompany him
abroad. But before he leaves, they must catch the Cupcake Bandit and
replace the money stolen from Creative Cupcakes before the shop is
shut down. Will discovering the thief's identity persuade Kim to take
a risk on love ... or will she stay behind and let Nathaniel fly off
without her?
About
the Author
.jpg)
Darlene
Panzera is the winner of the “Make Your Dreams Come True” contest
sponsored by Avon Books. The win led her novella, The Bet, to be
published with Debbie Macomber’s Family Affair. The award-winning
novella (chosen in a blind-read by Debbie Macomber) was then
published as a full length novel retitled, Bet You’ll Marry Me.
Born and raised in New Jersey, Darlene is now a resident of the
Pacific Northwest where she lives with her husband and three
children. When not writing she enjoys spending time with her family,
two horses, and loves: camping, hiking, photography, and lazy days at
the lake.
Author
Links
@DarlenePanzera
https://twitter.com/DarlenePanzera
Thanks for the fun and informative interview! i think it's neat that Darlene got her start in writing by winning an Avon contest and how cool to be in a book that has a Debra Macomber story (I love her books). I have all of Darlene's "Cupcake" novellas on my kindle and look forward to reading them.
ReplyDeleteThank you for having me as a guest today! (So sorry I am late in expressing my thanks - I just returned from driving cross country with my family.
ReplyDelete