Today, please welcome my friend and ex-Avon Fanlit cohort, Alice Audrey, whose first book, MOVING IN was just released. Alice generously agreed to a virtual sit down with me here on the Blog.

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Question
Tell us about Moving In. What was your inspiration for this book?

Answer
It started with Suzie’s House – a bit of serial fiction I post on my blog every Friday.  The book had to tie in with it and use some of the same characters, at least peripherally, but be able to stand on it’s own.  When I hit on the idea of neighbors and friends, the character Diane was born.

Diane and Suzie make good foils for one another.  Both of them are the Susie Homemaker type.  They enjoy cooking and crafts, and remodeling.  But Suzie is quite comfortable with her roll of boarding house owner while Diane struggles against the idea of becoming a housewife.

From there I found Trigvey, the man who would seem to be Diane’s perfect match.  As a doctor with no outstanding loans, he can easily afford to let her stay home, and needs the kind of attention he can’t get any other way.  They enjoy one another’s company and value one another, but when push comes to shove, both are afraid to take on the roles a marriage would require of them.

Question
How long have you been writing?

Answer
I’m almost afraid to answer that.  34 years.  Yes, I’ve very stubborn, and started young.

Question
I love call stories. Can you tell us yours?

Answer
Moving In was suggested by my editor.  You know how you tell editors and agents about your web presence while at conventions?  Well, they really do check them out.  Vicky Reed didn’t just read my blog, she got hooked on Suzie’s House.  She asked if I had anything that tied in with the series.  I didn’t, but it was easy for me to come up with something.

~~~

Moving In
Author: Alice Audrey
Publisher: Wild Rose Press
Pub. Date: February 2010
Novella

When Diane and Trigvey move into the same building on the same day, more than their suitcases get tangled up.

Trigvey never once doubted his calling to be a doctor, but an accident in the ER has him doubting himself. Diane’s willingness to listen helps him get his head on straight. If only he felt worthy of a woman like her.

Diane is the kind of woman who would love to be someone’s wife. Not a trophy wife, or simply married, but the kind of wife whose job is to stay home and take care of the family, even if the family is only a husband. She feeds Trigvey and consoles him, and doesn’t even know she has him wrapped around her finger. Jilted for a career-woman and raised by a bitter divorcée, Diane no longer believes in that dream. It’s up to Trigvey to convince her it could still be real, if she chooses him.

~~~

Question
I know you’ve written single titles in the past. What’s the biggest difference between that and writing this novella?

Answer
Actually, I’ve written short stories, novellas, category romance, single titles and epics.  I’ve written science fiction, romantic suspense, historical romance, and romantic comedies.  This was the first “sweet” book I’d ever written, and the first time I worked closely with an editor.  I found both somewhat challenging, but the differences in the process were no greater than the differences between any of my other books.

Question
Can you share an excerpt of Moving In you haven’t posted anywhere else before.

Answer
Trigvey stared at the ceiling. He needed things. A lot of things. He’d lost control of himself and scared Diane off, which made him feel useless.

His thoughts circled endlessly as day faded into twilight. When someone knocked on his door, he knew who it was, but couldn’t imagine why she’d come back.

He didn’t mean to bound to his feet, and certainly had no intention of rushing to the door, but arrived short of breath and threw the door open.

Diane didn’t meet his eyes. “I… um… Would you like something to eat?”

Did she feel sorry for him? Not that it made much difference. He’d eat anything to be with her.

“Yeah. I’d like that a lot. You didn’t cook for me, did you?”

“I was going to cook for myself anyway,” she said.

She led the way down the stairs.

“You really are going to have to let me take you out sometime,” he said quietly.

She didn’t respond and he wondered if she’d heard over the quiet clattering of their footsteps on the steps. “Some place nice,” he continued.

Still, she didn’t say anything, but when she opened the door to her apartment, a rolling wave of hearth and home poured out.

He glanced at the sofa. She’d added a throw pillow done in some kind of silky fabric with an Oriental design to match the rug. A bookcase stood where his belongings had been.

She hadn’t wasted time erasing every trace of his presence.

Question
I’m the type of reader who has to be taken with the hero. Why will readers love your hero?

Answer
Trigvey is quite the mix.  When we first meet him, he looks like a total bad boy; sunglasses, ripped jeans, three days growth of beard.  He’s arrogant and irritated.  Diane thinks he might be a bum.  The next time we see him he’s wearing surgical scrubs and is wrung out body and soul.

He’s an ER doctor under particularly high pressure due to mismanagement at the hospital.  When a simple mistake has disastrous results, he questions the foundations of his life.  He really tortures himself over it.

Diane’s love redeems him.  She helps him forgive himself and get his priorities clear.  He’s smart enough to know what she does for him, but baffled about how to return the favor when she seems so well put together.  That won’t keep him from trying.

Question
What’s coming up next for you?

Answer
I’m working on a follow up book using more characters from Suzie’s House.  This time the mother of a boy who was abandoned to an abusive father turns out the be the heroine.  Yeah, I like challenges.

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Alice will be with us today to take your questions and comments, and she’ll be giving away an electronic copy of MOVING IN to one lucky commenter.

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By Authors, Giveaways, Interviews32 Comments on Alice Audrey is Moving In

32 Replies to “Alice Audrey is Moving In”

  1. Your book sounds wonderful. I like the idea of saving the doctor. I can’t wait to read it.

  2. Congratulations on the release of “Moving In.” It sounds lovely. I’ve discovered so many wonderful authors and stories through Wild Rose Press.

  8. Hi Alice,

    This sounds like a fun read! I look forward to checking out your blog and Suzie’s House. Great excerpt!

    Jessica C

  9. Hi, Alice! Did you ever think this would happen when you started Suzie? From what I’ve heard about the next book, it’s going to be a real challenge, but I know you are up to it!!

    Super duper congrats again!!!!

    Btw, don’t include me in the contest, I’ve bought my very own copy. 🙂

  12. Great interview, ladies! Congrats on your many firsts, Alice! Love the call story – it’s a writer’s dream! Congrats on the release of Moving In.

  13. Hi Alice,
    Sounds like a wonderful story. Nice for a change to read about a heroine who wants to be a stay at home wife and mother. Best of luck with it.
    Regards
    Margaret

  14. Jessica, leave a comment on my blog, and I’ll give you a second chance in the drawing for Moving In.

    Anastasia, my intention with Suzie’s House was to give people a chance to get comfortable with the way I write. That an editor would be interested? Pipe dream.

    Melissa, I picked an ER doctor because I wanted a hero who was truly heroic, one who would need Diane on many levels. I wanted to show that for some people, the kind of pampering that is intrinsic in a housewife is a necessity.

    Thanks, Cate!

  15. Congrats on your new release! It sounds wonderfully sweet! I love the idea of love being the answer to saving someone. And to have a woman proud of wanting to be a stay-at-home wife/mother and finding that an important career is heartwarming to see in these cutthroat times.

  16. Hi, Alice! (((((((WAVES))))))))))

    I have a copy of Moving In just waiting for me on my desktop! Now that I’ve finally caught up with my day job reading, I’ll finally get to enjoy! I know I’m going to love it because I already love SUZIE!

    Super congrats again! 🙂

  17. Joder, it’s exactly the nature of these cut throat times that has Diane running scared. She’s simply not able to handle love as a side issue in her life. She has the same kind of relationship to being a housewife as what kept me writing all these years.

    Thanks Brynna! Enjoy!

  18. That second chance isn’t just for Jessica. Anyone who comments both here and on my blog will get their name in twice. Except those of you who have already bought it. 😉

  19. Ah, I do so love those tortured heroes. They get to me everytime.

    And what an unusual name. Where did you come up with Trigvey?

    And I have to agree…the garden at Wild Rose is a wonderful place to bloom!

    Congrats on your release!

  21. The boarding house, both modern and historic, is the perfect venue for these type of stories. It is more personal than an apartment building. It sounds like you do like giving your characters more baggage than anyone should have to carry. Makes for good stories.

  22. Hmm, my original response was a raising of feminism and tension with the heroine’s choice, but then when you think about it, that is what feminism was fighting for – a choice – not a requirement to work outside the house as well as inside, to take care of oneself and not necessarily everyone else but oneself. So, I’m intrigued with the story, now.

  23. librarypat, the baggage in this book is actually quite entertaining. Personally, I’m not real big on angst. Some of my readers are, though, and I like to give them a little something amid the chuckles.

    Kelly, exactly. That is exactly my point. There’s a reason my blog is named “Alice’s Restaurant.”

  24. I’m eager to see what you do with Gene’s mother’s story as I’m awfully fond of him. I do have my own copy of Moving In, but due to a number of circumstances (including getting snowed in at my dd’s place for four days), I haven’t been able to read it yet. It’s waiting for me as a special treat! I really need a handheld reader – I have such a tough time reading a book off my computer.

    For anyone who hasn’t yet read Suzie’s House, do yourself a favor and get over to Alice’s blog. She posts SH every Friday and it’s well worth the visit.

    Great interview, Bev and Alice!

  25. Thanks Laurie. I know what you mean about having trouble reading entire books off the computer. It’s so hard to lug them into the bathroom with you, and when I do, Mr. Al laughs entirely too much.

  26. Hi, Alice.

    I enjoyed the interview and congrats on your release. I look forward in reading Moving In and your future works.

  27. Oooo-weee! A Wild Rose Press author. (waving madly) I love TWRP, especially their covers. Your story sounds very interesting, and I loved the little interview. Nice to meet you!

    ~Phyllis / another WRP author~

  31. Yay Alice!!!!! I’m glad someone finally got your work out there for the general public to enjoy as much as we all have. Congrats!!

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