Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Today's Special - - Terri Osburn


I can't put into words how excited I am to welcome debut author, Terri Osburn to The Romance Dish today.  I met Terri online more than seven years ago and have since had the opportunity to meet her in person at various conferences.  She's a gifted writer and those of us who have watched her travel this journey have known that it was only a matter of time before she published her first book.  I am so happy to say that day is finally here.  Meant to Be is a wonderful story; funny, heartwarming and worthy of your time.  I hope you'll give it a try.  (read my review here)  

Born in the Ohio Valley, Terri relocated below the Mason Dixon line in the early 1990s after experiencing three blizzards in eighteen months. Seeking warmer climes, she landed in Nashville, did a stint in Arkansas, and eventually moved to the East Coast, where she settled near the ocean. Reading has always been a passion in her life, with Romance her chosen genre, but it wasn’t until 2007 she endeavored to write her own. Five years and many pages later, in 2012, she was named a finalist in the Romance Writers of America® Golden Heart® contest. An agent and contract soon followed. Terri resides in Virginia with a teenager, a Yorkipoo, and two fat and happy tabbies. To learn more about this author and her work, visit her website at www.terriosburn.com.


A Tour of Anchor Island

My name is Terri Osburn and I'll be your tour guide for today. Please make sure your seat belt is fastened and keep all hands, toes, and noses in the blog at all time. Today we're taking in the sights of Anchor Island, North Carolina. A remote island at the base of the Outer Banks, Anchor is known for its pirate lore, impressive lighthouse, and diminutive size.



As I mentioned, the island is remote, so we'll take the ferry across, then Highway 12 down to the village. On your left is the ocean, with the sound on your right. This stretch of roadway is more like a landing strip, but it makes for beautiful scenery in every direction. Oh, how could I forget the wild horses? Not as wild as they used to be, penned in for their own safety, but still beautiful beasts.







Now we drift into the village, passing Blackbeard's Museum on your right. The feared pirate spent the last months of his life in this area. Did you know Mr. Teach (Blackbeard's given name) was a pirate for only two years? Fascinating when you think of the legend he created.




And now we're in Anchor Village proper. First up is Dempsey's Bar & Grill.  I know some of you are on this tour thanks to a little book called MEANT TO BE by, well, moi. In that case, you know that by venturing inside you might find a cranky charter boat captain and a spunky lawyer-type sending off sparks in the dining room. Yes, Joe Dempsey and Beth Chandler are quite a pair. And we mustn't forget Joe's dog, Dozer. Such a scene stealer, that one.

But we must keep the blog going, so no stops just yet. As we cruise along Back Road, there's the Hava Java ahead. Lovely little spot to get your caffeine fix. One could say the best espresso in town, but in a village this small, one mile across and two miles long, it's the only espresso in town.





Now we see the quaint little arts and crafts store run by Lola LeBlanc where Beth spends much of her time, and learns to once again enjoy making jewelry. This is the beautiful bracelet she made using blue beads that reminded her of Joe's eyes. Don't worry about the swooners among you. We get that all the time. There's just something about a man with intense blue eyes. Have I mentioned the dimple? Oh, there goes another one. I'd better not mention the abs.





A quick left brings us around the harbor. We can't possibly take the blog out to Joe's boat, but know it's docked right out there on your right. Ah, and now we've reached the pinnacle of the tour. Anchor Lighthouse. Built in the 1820s, it's guided many a sailor through these unpredictable seas. And maybe it helped Beth find her way as well.

There's more to see, of course, but this is the condensed tour today. But to give you an idea of how the sightseeing went when Joe took Beth on a similar tour, here's a little snippet from the book.

As soon as he killed the engine, Beth’s feet were on the ground. At the back of the vehicle she turned to Joe, still sit­ting behind the wheel.

“Are you coming?”

“I’ll stay here with Doze. You go on over.”

“Oh. All right then.”

Joe took a seat on the back gate of the Jeep and barely noticed Dozer panting in his ear. Beth’s white skirt, what there was of it, swung from side to side, then tightened across her ass as she climbed onto the plat­form. So much for thinking distance would put his body back in check.

“She’s hiding something all right. But she’s not hiding it in that skirt.”

Dozer barked.

“Right. Eyes off the skirt. Got it.”

As I said, that Dozer is a total scene stealer. Now it's your turn to wander around on your own. Feel free to ask questions if you like, or just make small talk, as one lucky commenter will win a copy of MEANT TO BE (digital or print, winner's choice, US and Canada only.)

PS: If you're interested in visiting the real thing, Anchor Island is inspired by (read: copied directly from) Ocracoke Island, North Carolina. Looking to get away from the world this summer? I highly recommend checking it out.






Sometimes the next best thing is what you’ve been looking for all along…

Beth Chandler has spent her whole life pleasing others. She went to law school to make her grandparents happy. She agreed to marry her workaholic boyfriend, Lucas, to make him happy. And, despite her fear of boats, she took a ferry to see Lucas’s parents just to make them happy.

While suffering through a panic attack on the ferry, Beth meets a tall, sexy stranger who talks her down from her fear—and makes her heart flutter in the process. Soon, she has a new reason to panic: her gorgeous, blue-eyed rescuer is Lucas’s brother, Joe.

But could she ever leave her fiancé for his own brother…even if Lucas is more focused on making partner than on making their relationship work…and even if Joe turns out to be everything she never knew she wanted?

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72 comments:

  1. Terri, this book looks fantastic. I received the Kindle version today and peeked - while I was supposed to be editing. What a fabulous voice you have! I can't wait to curl up and read the entire thing. Thanks for this very cool tour of Anchor Island. I will refer back to this blog while reading. Congratulations on your book launch!

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    1. I can't wait to curl up and read the entire thing.

      An activity I highly recommend, Heather! And you're right. Terri does have a fabulous voice!

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    2. Thank you, Heather. You've been so supportive. Love my Firebird sisters. (Y'all, Heather's debut contemporary comes out this summer too. Keep an eye out for her name!)

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  2. Hi Terri
    I am a book lover and honestly, contemporary books were not yet on my TBR list. Giveaway like this one gives me the opportunity to discover new-to-me authors and their books. I would love to get the opportunity read and review MEANT TO BE as a hardcopy. Your story seems ideal for a summer read. nlaverdure88@videotron.ca

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    1. Nicole, I hope you'll give MEANT TO BE a try. It's funny, heartwarming and the perfect summer read!

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    2. Thank you, Nicole! If you're on NetGalley, I think it's still available, but that might be digital only. If that won't work, then I hope you win today! And thanks for finding me over on Goodreads already. :) I'd be honored if I could turn you onto Contemporary Romance. Lots of great books in this genre right now.

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  3. Thank you for the lovely tour and congratulations on your debut novel!

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    1. Glad you enjoyed Terri's tour, Maureen. Thanks for stopping by!

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    2. Thanks! Glad you enjoyed the tour. There's free popcorn on the way out.

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  4. Ooooh... pretty picture! :) Looks perfect! Love to read it!

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    1. Thanks for being willing to try a new author. The response so far has been very positive, so I hope you like it.

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  5. Hi, Terri! Thanks for telling us about Anchor Island. As I had a home in the Outer Banks of NC for a number of years, I have been lucky enough to visit Ocracoke Island several times but have never made it to Anchor. Ocracoke is a great place just filled with lots of history. I hope everyone gets a chance to visit it someday. Your novel, “Meant to Be” sounds delightful and I’m looking forward to reading it. Congratulations on your successes and all the best.

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    1. Thank you, Connie! I love the Outer Banks. Going down next month for a weekend writing retreat. Anchor is my loose interpretation of Ocracoke, but I kept many details the same, down to the names of the streets and the description of the lighthouse. Can't wait to get back down there again. Hope you enjoy the book!

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    2. Connie, I think you'll really like MEANT TO BE. Be prepared to fall in love, both with Joe and Anchor Island!

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  6. so excited for you Terri! Congratulations!!! The book sounds fab :)

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    1. Thanks, Kellie. Means a lot coming from a vet like you. (Notice I left out the word "seasoned". *g*)

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    2. Hi Kellie! Thanks for dropping by!

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  7. Love this blog. Hilarious! And love Joe. :)

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    1. And love Joe

      Me too. Want one of my own! :)

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    2. I commented on this earlier but I don't know where it went. Huh. Thanks, Hellie! For the support and the kick in the butt and the frequent "calm the hell downs". LOL! And I'm pretty fond of Joe too.

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  8. Whee! Terri Osburn is now officially a Published Author!

    Anchor Island has become one of my favorite fictional places. I look forward to returning in January. :)

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    1. Thanks so much, Janga. Your support (and advice!) has been priceless.

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  9. As soon as I read PJ's review, I put this book on my TBR list. It sounds wonderful!

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    1. Thank you, Cheryl! I hope you enjoy it. Makes me nervous but excited every time I see a comment like this. :)

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  10. Terri,congrats on the book!! I cannot wait to read it! We are going to be in the car for hours this weekend so I am going to let Mikal do the driving while I do the reading. That sounds fair, right? :)

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    1. Sounds fair to me. LOL! Enjoy the read and have a safe trip.

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  11. Real Life got in the way yesterday and I only made it half way through MTB! I'm loving it, though. I'm a sucker for community and lots of peripheral relationships. Tom, Patty, Lola, Randy are great, and Sid's a hoot. I also love Dozer. I'm a huge dog lover and it's such fun when an author gets a dog's personality down.

    Great job, Ter! You are on your way, girl. Enjoy the ride.

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    1. Thank you, Irish. Those names are like family to me at this point. And Dozer was easy since he was pulled right from my real life. Man, I miss that lug.

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  12. Congratulations on this lovely book. I love the title which is very meaningful and special for me. We say Mean to Be, which is beshert and we always use that term in our family and have for generations.

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    1. Thank you, petite. Love that name. I'm glad the title means something to you. I always figured if I sold, the editor would change it, but they ending up keeping it, which was very cool.

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  13. Thank you for this great feature and the tour. I enjoyed learning about this book which is captivating. Best wishes.

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    1. Thank you, traveler. Sounds like you're the perfect reader for this adventure. :)

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  14. I just cannot wait to read this book.. I love the tour of the Island. Good luck with your book..

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    1. Thank you, Kathleen. I hope you enjoy it. Love the idea of having so many visitors to Anchor.

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  15. I have started reading and Joe is just kicking himself for offering to take Beth on that tour. I love it so far! I'm dying to know how it all sorts itself out... OK, I am neither US or Canada, but I just wanted to say "hi" and say that I am enjoying the book!

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    1. Thank you! Joe kicks himself a lot, but he gets a nice pay off in the end. :)

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    2. Oh, and by the way, it was me :D

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  16. I hope to arrive at your front door one day and insist we take the tour of the inspiration for the book... So happy for you!

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  17. I am so excited to read this book. I just feel it is going to be one I love for a very long time. I want it so badly it was very tempting to download it to my Kindle, but I want the real thing. I want to hold it, smell it,admire the beautiful cover and escape to the beach through the wonderful descriptive phrases.
    I will so glad when it arrives.

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    1. I want to hold it, smell it,admire the beautiful cover and escape to the beach through the wonderful descriptive phrases.

      I have no doubt that you will, Sharlene! Terri has a wonderful gift that brings the reader right into the story. I swear I could smell the ocean breezes and feel the sand between my feet!

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    2. Sharlene, I'll now be consulting with you on writing description in future books. That's a lovely image. LOL! I hope you enjoy and thanks for everything!

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  18. (Another Sharlene!)Love the cover & the description! I am looking forward to reading this! Congratulations & good luck!

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    1. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did, Sharlene. Thanks for stopping by!

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    2. Thank you, other Sharlene. (What were the odds?) I hope you enjoy it.

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    3. Heehee! I won! Yay! Thank you! Really, what are the odds? I do not know one other Sharlene!

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  19. Terri!!! Sorry I'm late for the tour. This is the last week of school for my kids and it's been CRAZY! *g* I am so happy for you and your debut!! HUGE congrats! I am looking forward to sitting poolside and enjoying Joe and Beth's journey to their HEA...

    Anchor Island (aka Ocracoke Island) sounds like a beautiful place and one that my family and I need to visit. :)

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    1. Andrea, you definitely should go. There are many fabulous places and beautiful beaches on the Outer Banks. At Kill Devil Hills, you can see the Wright Brothers National Historic Site (and feel why the wind was so great for glider lift), and in Manteo, you can see the Lost Colony, the nation's longest-running outdoor drama, as well as Fort Raleigh and the NC Aquarium (and no, I don't work for the Dept. of Travel and Tourism *g*).

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    2. (and no, I don't work for the Dept. of Travel and Tourism *g*).

      Maybe you should, Nancy. You make me want to drop everything and go this weekend! :)

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    3. What Nancy said! I love visiting the Wright Brothers Memorial, the Lost Colony is so cool. We made friends with one of the reenacters and then met up with him in a bar later that night just to hang out. I'll actually be down in the Outer Banks next month for a writing retreat weekend. I can't wait!

      Hope you enjoy the book and do let me know if you put Ocracoke on your vacation list.

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  20. This sounds like a great story and Dozer is adorable. :)

    Marcy Shuler
    bmndshuler(at)hotmail(dot)com

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    1. Dozer is adorable.

      Isn't he a cutie? I fell in love with him in the book before I saw his photo and found out he had been a real part of Terri's life.

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    2. Thank you, Marcy. Dozer was the true love of my life. I still miss him, but now he can live forever on Anchor.

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  21. Terri, woo-hoo! Congratulations. I wish you all the best.

    Anchor Island sounds fabulous. I love the Outer Banks though we seldom get to go. It's a great place to set a series.

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    1. Darn it! Wrote a witty reply and my computer ate it! Anyway, loved the book and every little critter in it! Thanks for the tour. Gotta get myself (and maybe the fam) to that end of the world!

      Love ya, Terr! Soooo very happy for ya!

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    2. Nancy, this is the perfect summer book. Makes you want to head for the Outer Banks as soon as you finish it. ;-)

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    3. Santa's in the house! Sorry about your response getting eaten.

      Yes, you definitely need to bring the family south for a visit. After you see Terri, you can come on down to North Carolina. We'll give you a Santa-worthy southern welcome!

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    4. Thanks, Nancy. You sold it well further up. (And I got a lovely email today about your next release. Cannot wait to dig in!)

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    5. Santa! Love you too, darling. Come see me any time. Maybe we should all have a meet up next summer down in the Outer Banks. We could rent a big house and do it up right.

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  22. This book sounds so good I plan to download it soon..
    Good luck with your new book..


    Donna

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  23. Sorry, I'm late for the party. Congratulations Terri on your very first book n debut! There is s'thing about a seaside-small town/island novel that is always charming. I've come to love contemporary romance novels just as much as historical romance ones, now that I've heard how wonderful your book is, I can't wait to get my hands on it (yes, that 'very soft cover' book, you told us about). Thank you for the tour, I should get out to such a place more, but I'll settle for such a trip as I read your book. ;)

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    1. Thanks! The cover really is soft. I don't know what they did, but it doesn't feel like other books. In fact, I was in a wholesale store the other day rubbing all the covers on the table to see if any felt like mine. And then I realized what it must have looked like and moved along. LOL!

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  24. Congrats on the new novel Terri! I know you must be so excited. Your new book sounds great and I can't wait to read and review it. Blessings in your career. Thank you for the giveaway too!

    Wanda Barefoot
    flghtlss1(at)yahoo(dot)com

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    1. Thank YOU, Wanda. I appreciate anyone who is willing to give a newbie a try. And good luck in the giveaway.

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  25. Terri, thanks so much for visiting with us today. We wish you all the best with MEANT TO BE. I'm already counting down the months until you take us back to Anchor Island!

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  26. Congrats to Terri on the new release! Sounds like a lot of fun :) What was the most fun thing you did to "research" your books?

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    1. Erin, the majority of my research happens online, but lucky for me, I live right by the ocean, so when I needed a reminder of what the salt air smells like, or the sand in my toes, I just head on down to the oceanfront.

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  27. Late to the party! Can't wait to read Meant to Be, sounds like a book right up my alley

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    1. Thanks, Dianna. I hope you enjoy it. The response has been wonderful so far.

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