Blog Tour: Mammarazzi by Brooke Williams

Mamarazzi Release Promo Post

Mamarazzi

By Brooke Williams

Release Date: September 11, 2015 from Prism Book Group

Order HERE

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Enjoy giveaways with a dozen different authors!

Danica Bennett isn't sure what she hates more...her job or the fact that she's good at it.  As one of the many Hollywood paparazzi, she lives her life incognito and sneaks around trying to get the best shot of the latest star.  When she is mistaken for an extra on a new, up and coming TV show, her own star rises and she becomes the one being photographed.  Add that to the fact that she's falling for her co-star, Eliot Lane, and Danica is in a whole heap of trouble.

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Guest Post from the Author
Mamarazzi Research Guest Post by Brooke Williams

Mamarazzi is a book I’ve been preparing in my mind on and off for a good 15 years. I first came up with the idea in college when I had to write a portion of a screenplay for my Screenwriting class. I titled the piece “Paparazzi” and had the same basic premise, only with a male lead character. Once I began writing romantic comedy novels, the idea came back and started haunting me. I threw it around in my mind and decided to change the lead to a female and change the name to “Mamarazzi.”

I have my fair share of favorite TV shows and movies as well as favorite actors and actresses, but I can’t say that I did any intentional research before or during writing the book. I do read People Magazine weekly and most of my national news comes from those articles. And I, like many people, have always been fascinated by the lifestyle of the Hollywood stars. I personally find it hard to imagine and it’s not something I would ever want for myself. But what if it happened unwittingly?

Several stars proved inspiring when it came to the novel. I was thinking of Colin Farrell when I wrote about one actor, who only has a bit part in the novel. I needed the character to have rugged appeal and a bad boy reputation. I didn’t base the main male character, Eliot Lane, on anyone, really. But if I were to cast him, I would put Ryan Reynolds in the role. He has a charming appeal that makes me think he would be down to earth in person, just like this character.

So in a way, I’ve been researching this book non-stop in my magazine reading and movie and TV watching. I’ve been preparing all of my life. Haha. I did visit Hollywood once about a decade ago, but I can’t say I remember much and I didn’t have any star encounters. I did literally run into Kevin Costner once at the College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska, though. It was an odd experience because he was completely surrounded by people clambering for his attention at all times. And here I was just returning from the bathroom and somehow managed to ram right into him.

Mamarazzi was a result of me asking myself a number of questions like, is the grass really greener on the other side of the fence? What if you get to the other side of the fence on accident? And what if you have huge secrets that could toss you back to the other side? It’s a fun, light-hearted book that I hope puts a smile on reader’s faces.
About the Author



Brooke Williams writes in a sleep-deprived state while her daughters nap. Her romantic comedy is best read in the same state. Brooke has twelve years of radio in her background, both behind the scenes and on the air. She was also a television traffic reporter for a short time despite the fact that she could care less about hair and make-up. Today, Brooke stays at home with her daughters and works as a freelance writer for a variety of companies. When she isn’t working for paying clients, she makes things up, which results in books like “Accept this Dandelion.”  Brooke is also the author of "Accept this Dandelion," “Wrong Place, Right Time,” “Someone Always Loved You,”  “Beyond the Bars.” She looks forward to her first children's book release “Baby Sheep Gets a Haircut” in June 2016. Brooke and her husband Sean have been married since 2002 and have two beautiful daughters, Kaelyn (6) and Sadie (2).

Connect with Brooke:
Facebook
Website
Blog

Note from the Author on the book's inspiration:

I've always been fascinated by the Hollywood life and the idea that "they" are different from "us." The idea for Mamarazzi has been with me for a long time. I'm not even exactly sure when I came up with it, but in college, I had a screenwriting class and I had to write a portion of a screenplay. I wrote "Paparazzi," which was the same general idea only with a male lead character. When I began writing romantic comedy, the idea came back to me and I decided to chance the main character to a female and call it "Mamarazzi." I even had a naming contest so that facebook fans and blog readers could name the characters in the book. Every character in the novel is reader named and approved! Overall, I wanted to examine what happens when you take someone from one side of the fence and plop them on the other side. In the end, famous or not, we're all just people. And in this book, they all have secrets...

And next from Brooke Williams....

"Dandelions on the Road"

releases November 5, 2015...

pre-order today by clicking below

Dandelions on the Road (Dandelion Series Book 2)

New Release and Interview: In Sheep's Clothing by LD Beyer

Today I'm pleased to welcome L.D. Beyer to the blog to talk about his new book IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING!

 A little about the book...

Caught in a game of chess he didn't know he was playing until it was too late, the President makes the only move he can, plunging Washington and the nation into chaos. Stunned and reeling, Vice President David Kendall takes the oath of office and tries to heal a nation in mourning.
But what the new president doesn't realize is that things in the White House aren't always what they appear to be, and sometimes what looks like the best option may turn out to be the worst. When one fatal decision triggers
consequences he never envisioned, President Kendall finds himself caught up in the same game that cost his predecessor his life.

Although there was nothing he could have done, Secret Service Agent Matthew Richter is haunted by the death of the man he had vowed to protect. When his girlfriend leaves him and his boss tells him that his job is on the line, he thinks his life cannot get any worse. He soon realizes how wrong he is when he finds himself fighting to save another president from the deadly forces that he has unwittingly unleashed.

In Sheep's Clothing is a gripping, action-packed political thriller that will leave you on the edge of your seat.

Interview with L.D. Beyer

1.     What inspired you to begin writing?

When I was 12 or 13, I remember seeing an ad that said something like, “Get Paid to Write Children’s Books.”  I was intrigued and actually wrote a few things but I never did submit them.  A few years later, I wrote a short story for a high school English assignment. My story was well received and was published in a school anthology.  In college, I wrote another short story, again for a literature class, and it too was well received and published in a school anthology.

But after graduating, I guess I did the expected thing and followed a more traditional career path.  I met my wife a few years later and we got married.  A few years after that, we started a family.  Frankly, between career and family, I forgot all about writing for a while.  But the desire to do something different—to write—was always there, just below the surface.

It wasn't until several years ago that I finally muscled up enough courage to make a drastic change in my life: to give up my corporate career, to spend more time with my family and to pursue my dream of being a writer. 

There's something cathartic about writing.  Writing allows me to be creative and to express myself in a unique way.  It’s really cool to start with a blank page and watch as the story unfolds, sometimes taking twists and turns I never expected. I know that sounds like I'm not in control when I write but, after giving them a nudge, the characters and the plot tend to evolve on their own and go in directions I never envisioned when I first began typing. 

You know, I wish I could find some of my early writings!  That would be really cool!

2.     Would you classify your writing more as plot driven or character driven?

Although I believe my main character is fairly compelling, I think my writing is more plot driven.

3.     Can you tell us a little about your main character?

Matthew Richter is 30 years old and single.  He is a competent and dedicated Secret Service Agent.  He is the classic Type A personality: driven, always in control.  But when the President suddenly dies on his watch, Richter’s world is turned upside down.  Although there was nothing he could have done, he is haunted by the death of the man he had vowed to protect.  The burden of failure weighs heavily on him and he wrestles with resigning from the only job he ever wanted. 

4.     Without giving away too much, tell us a little about the main conflict in this book.

In Sheep’s Clothing is the story of three men.  One man holds the reins of power.  One man vows to protect him.  One man vows to destroy him.

Caught in a game of chess he didn’t know he was playing until it was too late, the President makes the only move he can, plunging Washington and the nation into chaos. Stunned and reeling, Vice President David Kendall takes the oath of office and tries to heal a nation in mourning. But what the new president doesn’t realize is that things in the White House aren’t always what they appear to be, and sometimes what looks like the best option may turn out to be the worst. When one fatal decision triggers consequences he never envisioned, President Kendall finds himself caught up in the same game that cost his predecessor his life.

Although there was nothing he could have done, Secret Service Agent Matthew Richter is haunted by the death of the man he had vowed to protect. When his girlfriend leaves him and his boss tells him that his job is on the line, he thinks his life cannot get any worse. He soon realizes how wrong he is when he finds himself fighting to save another president from the deadly forces that he has unwittingly unleashed.

5.     What do you hope readers take away from your book?

My books are pure escapism.  If I’ve done my job right, you will escape, for a short while anyway, into the lives of my characters, vicariously sharing their thoughts, their challenges, their struggles, their dark moments, as well as their triumphs. Hopefully you’ll root for the good guys and loathe the bad guys. Ideally, I’ll keep you up well past bed time because you want to find out what happens next!  At the end, I want you to close the book with a satisfied smile.

6.     Now for a few fun questions! What song best describes your writing style?

Boy!  That’s a tough one!  Can I plead the 5^th? 

If I have to answer, I guess it would have to be a song that describes a journey.  But I’m not sure I can think of the one that fits perfectly.  How about Sheryl Crow’s Every day is a winding road.

7.     Night Owl or Early Bird?

 I’m definitely an early bird.  My kid’s laugh at me because I often go to bed before 10. 

8.     Skittle or M&Ms?

M&M’s, of course!  Preferably Peanut M&Ms!

9.     Who are your favorite authors?

I tend to cycle through authors and my favorite is usually the one I’m reading at the moment.  I’ll get hooked on a particular author and I’ll spend several months or more reading every book they’ve written.  David Baldacci, Steve Berry, Michael Connolly, Mike Lawson, Vince Flynn, Brad Meltzer, Brad Thor—they’ve each been my favorite at one point in time.  Patricia Cornwell is another great writer; I really like her Kay Scarpetta character. 

Although I usually read thrillers, every now and then, I’ll pick up something different for a change of pace.  JK Rowling’s Harry Potter series was fun.  So was The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins.  Right now, I’m in the middle of George R.R. Martin’s Game of Throne series.  Ask me tomorrow and I’ll probably give you a different answer!

10.  Can you tell us about your future projects?

Sure.  My next book is An Eye for An Eye.  This is the sequel to In Sheep’s Clothing and is set to release later this year or early next year.  A powerful drug lord threatens to bring America to its knees.  Only one man can stop him.  This is the second book in my Matthew Richter Thriller series. 

I also have a historical thriller titled The Devil’s Due, which is based loosely on my grandfather.  He served in the IRA at the time Ireland was fighting for independence from Britain, in 1919-1921.  I spent some time in Dublin and Limerick researching military archives and the War for Independence, meeting with historians, tracing my roots, and, of course, enjoying a pint or two because, after all, I was in Ireland!  The cool thing is that the Irish Army was able to locate my grandfather’s military records and I was able to confirm that he did indeed serve in the IRA during the war.  It’s there that the history gets a little murky.  He does appear to have left Ireland in a hurry, but as to why, I can only speculate.  Still my research paints a picture of a very tenuous time where the temporary alliance cobbled together to defeat the British crumbled easily under the weight of ancient divisions; where suspicion of disloyalty often resulted in death; and where past sins were rarely forgiven.  It’s in this context that the story of my protagonist, Frank Kelleher, comes to life…and almost to his death! 

Meet the Author

I spent over twenty-five years in the corporate world, climbing the proverbial corporate ladder, so to speak. This meant a lot of time away from my family, extensive travel, a half-dozen relocations, and the opportunity to live and work in Mexico for several years. I’ve had the desire to write for a long time but my job left little room for much else.  In 2011, I decided it was time for a change—I was tired of moving every few years, I wanted to spend more time with my family and I wanted to chase my dream of being a writer.  

I am an avid reader and although I primarily read Thrillers, my reading list is somewhat eclectic.  For me, I would much rather spend a few hours with a good book than a few hours in front of the TV.

I live in Michigan with my wife, three children and a dog named Tope (pronounced Toe-Pay), which we adopted in Mexico. I enjoy cooking, hiking, biking, working out and fixing just about anything that breaks in the house.  With 3 kids and a dog, a lot of things seem to break!

 Author Links:

http://ldbeyer.com/

 Book Links:

http://www.amazon.com/Sheeps-Clothing-Action-Packed-Political-Thriller-ebook/dp/B012U9608E/