Please help me welcome author Jaycee DeLorenzo to the blog today, everyone.
Spunky Italian coed Ivy Rossini likes to talk and push the boundaries. She gets to do both as she co-hosts Riordan College’s radio program, The Truths about Dating and Mating, alongside her lifelong best friend, Ian Hollister.
Being the only girl who cares to see beyond Ian’s bad boy reputation has its advantages, especially when he’s scaring off the jerks who just want to nail the campus sex-guru. It’s when he’s “protecting” her from the advances she welcomes that she wants to lob him over the head and tell him to butt out. But Ivy’s feels like she’s the one who’s taken a hit when Ian almost kisses her at a party. She knows she should feel relieved when he pulls away, so why is she disappointed instead?
What’s worse, Ivy’s now getting aroused by Ian’s slightest touch and can’t stop entertaining thoughts of a romantic future. But Ian doesn’t do relationships, and she’s not interested in anything casual. In the end, Ivy decides it’s best to keep her growing feelings a secret and hope they’ll pass. However, when Ian begins hinting at wanting to take things to the next level, she’s forced to decide if a chance at something more is worth risking everything they’ve built.
With their friendship and her heart hanging in the balance, can Ivy follow the advice she and Ian give their listeners - to communicate, be honest, and trust in themselves - or will insecurity, stubbornness, and pride ruin any chance of their relationship getting off the ground?
The Truths about Dating and Mating sounds great, doesn't it? Let's see what Jaycee has to say today, and then you can enter the giveaway for your very own copy of the novel! :)
Welcome to the blog, Jaycee! Please tell us about yourself in fifty words or less.
I’m 34 years-old, a wife and a mother to two young children, and it feels like I spend all my time writing, designing covers, and working at the day job. I’ve been writing for fun since I was about eight, but didn’t really get into creating stories until high school.
What can readers expect from The Truths about Dating and Mating?
Lots of humor, lots of drama, a little bit of vulgarity, and a happy ending.
Why did you decide to self publish The Truths about Dating and Mating?
I had other options, including agent and publisher interest, but in the end, I decided I wanted to be in control of what happened to my book. While it’s a lot of work and keeps me on my toes, I really like the freedom that comes with self-publishing, and the fact that it lets me put the story out there that I envision and not have to go through a whole lot of changes to meet market trends and perceived ideas of what sells.
What's been the single most empowering piece of advice you've gotten when it comes to writing?
Write the story you want to tell, and don’t worry about what’s popular or what’s selling.
What's been your most challenging writing moment to date?
A few years back, I had someone look at my WIP, and it came back so marked up with red that I wanted to cry. I almost quit entirely, but my husband kept telling me not to take it so hard and learn from the experience. And I’m hoping I did. I got back on the horse and here I am, having just put out my first (of hopefully many) books.
What's the worst thing you've ever written? The best?
I wrote a really horrible soap-opera style drama in high school that I would read to my classmates on Friday. Many of them enjoyed it, and I still have it in a bound journal on my bookshelf, but I can’t even go back and look at it without my eyes rolling like crazy. As for the best…The Truths about Dating and Mating, I think.
Do you share any traits or characteristics with your protagonist, Ivy?
When I was in college, I was a lot like Ivy. I had a big mouth and said a lot of things to get a rise out of people, but it was a defense-mechanism I used to try not to let people know how insecure I really was.
What made you decide to write New Adult?
Because the story I wanted to tell wouldn’t work in YA, but the voice and maturity levels of the characters I wanted to write wasn’t correct for adult audiences.
What does a perfect day entail for you?
Scuba diving in Mexico with my husband, sister, brother-in-law, and cousins. I love the whole experience of those trips: being under the water, sitting on the beach gabbing with cheap beer and road-side tacos, and just getting away from the real world and letting all of my stress melt away.
In high school you were most likely to ….
Write a best-seller. True story.
You're stuck on an island... what 3 books would you kill to have with you?
The collected works of Shakespeare, The collected works of Jane Austen, and, if it were to ever come out, a humongous edition of the Harry Potter books. Or is that cheating? *g*
What is it about bad boys like Ian that drive women crazy? Can bad boys be reformed, or is that just a pipe-dream?
Eh, Ian’s not really a bad boy, but I think that everyone is attracted to the idea of saving the bad boy and being the one special enough to make him want to reform. As for if it’s possible? Well, fantasy and reality are very different things, and while the idea of a sexy bad boy is exciting in literature, I’ve known quite a few bad boys who were just scary. Some guys are so much trouble that you want to stay far away.
Where else can we find you?
Thanks so much for stopping by to chat today, Jaycee!
If you haven't picked up a copy of The Truths about Dating and Mating yet, you can pick up a copy at: Amazon, B&N, or Smashwords. Jaycee is also giving a copy of the book away. You can enter via the Rafflecopter below.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Fade - The Ragnarok Prophesies: Book One - On Sale at: Amazon US | UK | DE | FR | IT | ES | Barnes and Noble | Kobo
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| The fabulous Jaycee |
Jaycee DeLorenzo hails from Tucson ,
Arizona , on the outskirts of the Saguaro National Park
The Truths about
Dating and Mating is Jaycee's debut novel, and the first in a series
centering around students of the fictitious Riordan College
Spunky Italian coed Ivy Rossini likes to talk and push the boundaries. She gets to do both as she co-hosts Riordan College’s radio program, The Truths about Dating and Mating, alongside her lifelong best friend, Ian Hollister. Being the only girl who cares to see beyond Ian’s bad boy reputation has its advantages, especially when he’s scaring off the jerks who just want to nail the campus sex-guru. It’s when he’s “protecting” her from the advances she welcomes that she wants to lob him over the head and tell him to butt out. But Ivy’s feels like she’s the one who’s taken a hit when Ian almost kisses her at a party. She knows she should feel relieved when he pulls away, so why is she disappointed instead?
What’s worse, Ivy’s now getting aroused by Ian’s slightest touch and can’t stop entertaining thoughts of a romantic future. But Ian doesn’t do relationships, and she’s not interested in anything casual. In the end, Ivy decides it’s best to keep her growing feelings a secret and hope they’ll pass. However, when Ian begins hinting at wanting to take things to the next level, she’s forced to decide if a chance at something more is worth risking everything they’ve built.
With their friendship and her heart hanging in the balance, can Ivy follow the advice she and Ian give their listeners - to communicate, be honest, and trust in themselves - or will insecurity, stubbornness, and pride ruin any chance of their relationship getting off the ground?
The Truths about Dating and Mating sounds great, doesn't it? Let's see what Jaycee has to say today, and then you can enter the giveaway for your very own copy of the novel! :)
Welcome to the blog, Jaycee! Please tell us about yourself in fifty words or less.
I’m 34 years-old, a wife and a mother to two young children, and it feels like I spend all my time writing, designing covers, and working at the day job. I’ve been writing for fun since I was about eight, but didn’t really get into creating stories until high school.
What can readers expect from The Truths about Dating and Mating?
Lots of humor, lots of drama, a little bit of vulgarity, and a happy ending.
Why did you decide to self publish The Truths about Dating and Mating?
I had other options, including agent and publisher interest, but in the end, I decided I wanted to be in control of what happened to my book. While it’s a lot of work and keeps me on my toes, I really like the freedom that comes with self-publishing, and the fact that it lets me put the story out there that I envision and not have to go through a whole lot of changes to meet market trends and perceived ideas of what sells.
What's been the single most empowering piece of advice you've gotten when it comes to writing?
Write the story you want to tell, and don’t worry about what’s popular or what’s selling.
What's been your most challenging writing moment to date?
A few years back, I had someone look at my WIP, and it came back so marked up with red that I wanted to cry. I almost quit entirely, but my husband kept telling me not to take it so hard and learn from the experience. And I’m hoping I did. I got back on the horse and here I am, having just put out my first (of hopefully many) books.
What's the worst thing you've ever written? The best?
I wrote a really horrible soap-opera style drama in high school that I would read to my classmates on Friday. Many of them enjoyed it, and I still have it in a bound journal on my bookshelf, but I can’t even go back and look at it without my eyes rolling like crazy. As for the best…The Truths about Dating and Mating, I think.
Do you share any traits or characteristics with your protagonist, Ivy?
When I was in college, I was a lot like Ivy. I had a big mouth and said a lot of things to get a rise out of people, but it was a defense-mechanism I used to try not to let people know how insecure I really was.
What made you decide to write New Adult?
Because the story I wanted to tell wouldn’t work in YA, but the voice and maturity levels of the characters I wanted to write wasn’t correct for adult audiences.
What does a perfect day entail for you?
Scuba diving in Mexico with my husband, sister, brother-in-law, and cousins. I love the whole experience of those trips: being under the water, sitting on the beach gabbing with cheap beer and road-side tacos, and just getting away from the real world and letting all of my stress melt away.
In high school you were most likely to ….
Write a best-seller. True story.
You're stuck on an island... what 3 books would you kill to have with you?
The collected works of Shakespeare, The collected works of Jane Austen, and, if it were to ever come out, a humongous edition of the Harry Potter books. Or is that cheating? *g*
What is it about bad boys like Ian that drive women crazy? Can bad boys be reformed, or is that just a pipe-dream?
Eh, Ian’s not really a bad boy, but I think that everyone is attracted to the idea of saving the bad boy and being the one special enough to make him want to reform. As for if it’s possible? Well, fantasy and reality are very different things, and while the idea of a sexy bad boy is exciting in literature, I’ve known quite a few bad boys who were just scary. Some guys are so much trouble that you want to stay far away.
Where else can we find you?
Thanks so much for stopping by to chat today, Jaycee!
If you haven't picked up a copy of The Truths about Dating and Mating yet, you can pick up a copy at: Amazon, B&N, or Smashwords. Jaycee is also giving a copy of the book away. You can enter via the Rafflecopter below.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
xoxo,
Ayden
Fade - The Ragnarok Prophesies: Book One - On Sale at: Amazon US | UK | DE | FR | IT | ES | Barnes and Noble | Kobo
Sounds like an interesting book. I'll definitely put it on my 'to read' list :)
ReplyDeleteThanks! Hope you enjoy it!
Delete"Lots of humor, lots of drama, a little bit of vulgarity, and a happy ending." That pretty well sums up my life! Love it. :)
ReplyDeleteLOL, mine too. :D
DeleteAll of these prizes sound great- so does the book, I love college romances!
ReplyDeleteThanks! I enjoy them quite a bit myself.
DeleteThanks for hosting me today, A.K. Morgen! I really appreciate it!
ReplyDeleteI loved this interview. I am definitely adding this book to my TBR list. It sounds great. Nice cover, too!
ReplyDeleteGreat interview! I love getting to know fellow bloggers better!
ReplyDelete