Friday, April 27, 2012

Today's Special - - Roxanne St. Claire





I'm a huge fan of Roxanne St. Claire books.  It doesn't matter if they're edge-of-the-seat romantic suspense,  coming-of-age young adult or sizzling, character-driven contemporary.  If she writes them, I'm going to read them!  Roxanne (a/k/a Rocki) recently answered a few questions for me about Barefoot in the Sand, the first book in her new contemporary Barefoot Bay series.  I can't wait to dive into this new creation! ~PJ


Hi Rocki!  Thanks so much for visiting with us today!  Congratulations on the release of your new book, Barefoot in the Sand.  Will you please tell our readers about it?
  
April 24, 2012
Thank you for inviting me!  I love this blog and am thrilled to be here.  I’ll answer all your questions and if there are any in the comments, I promise to respond.  I’m very excited about Barefoot in the Sand because it marks a huge departure for me after many, many books in the “suspense” genre.  All four books in the “Barefoot Bay” quadrilogy are contemporary romances, with characters and conflicts driving the stories of four women who must let go of the past before they can find love in the future.  Barefoot in the Sand centers on Lacey Armstrong, a single mother who loses everything when a hurricane rips through Barefoot Bay.  In the rubble, she digs for optimism and a second chance by finally following her dream and building the island’s first true resort.  Along comes a hot, sexy, younger architect who can knock down emotional walls with the same skill that he can design physical ones. Their attraction sizzles in the sun and as they overcome multiple obstacles to build something that’s definitely meant to last forever.


Sounds like my kind of story!  How will the Barefoot Bay books differ from your Guardian Angelinos and Bullet Catchers books?

Nobody dies!  No bullets fly, no villains jump out of a dark alley, and not a single heroine is in jeopardy...at least, not physically.  Emotionally, there’s heartache, healing, and hope in every book, and that’s why I’m having so much fun writing these stories.  I love the tension of a romantic suspense, and the natural “fast pace” of lovers on the run from bad guys, but I found it extremely exhilarating to write a different kind of story that is entirely focused on the character’s emotional journey.

October 30, 2012
I can see where that slower pace would be appealing after taking your romantic suspense characters on so many wild rides!  Many of your books have a pivotal scene that I'm still thinking about long after I finish the final page. (Shall I tell you how many times I've re-read the shed scene? ::grin::)  What's the one scene that you would never cut from Barefoot in the Sand?  Why?

Oh, the shed scene! It’ll be my epitaph, I fear:  She wrote the shed scene.  Well, in terms of love scenes, there is a pretty sexy one in the Gulf of Mexico at night.  Gotta have one of those, right?  But my favorite scene that I’d never cut is more heart-wrenching than heat-making.  The scene is in a hospital, when the hero has to face down his estranged father and make a choice to forgive and forget...or let the wounds fester.  That scene gets me every time I read it, even now.  The theme of forgiveness is at the heart of this book, and possibly every book in the series. 

Thanks for the heads-up.  I'll be sure to keep tissues handy!  

We all have favorite books on our keeper shelves.  What are some of the titles gracing your keeper shelf?

Of course the usuals:  GONE WITH THE WIND, JANE EYRE, NOBODY’S BABY BUT MINE.  Oh, you laugh (and you would if you read the book - it’s hysterical and wonderful!) but NOBODY’S BABY was the first romance that moved me to the point of opening up a document and writing “Chapter One.”  I simply wanted to make someone else feel as good as Susan Elizabeth Phillips made me feel when I closed that book.  On my keeper shelf, you’ll also find plenty of Kresley Cole (paranormal), Louisa Edwards (contemporary), Kristen Painter (urban fantasy), Rachel Hauck (inspirational), Leigh Duncan (category romance) and Lara Santiago (erotica).  They are all my friends, yes, but also amazing writers who inspire me.

July 10, 2012
Those of us who are fans of your work thank them for their inspiration!  

What are you working on now?

I just finished Barefoot in the Rain, the second book in the series, and am starting Barefoot in the Sun, which will be book three.  This summer, my first young adult novel, Don’t You Wish, will be released and I’m excited to say I have another YA lined up in the queue as well.  I’m very busy and happy for it!

As are we!





Time for Quick Six:

Early Bird or Night Owl?  Early, early, early.  I wrote my first book before the sun came up - two hours every morning from 5 - 7, and that trained me to be an early riser. 

Chocolate or Vanilla? Ha ha ha.  That’s so funny.  The question should be “milk or dark?”

Mountains or Beach? Well, I live in Florida, so I’m a beach girl all the way, but I find the mountains have their own majestic beauty and I wouldn’t mind owning a little place in the Rockies someday. Can’t I have both?

Sneakers or Stilettos?  Like the book says, BAREFOOT.  But, honestly, I never met a pair of shoes I couldn’t love.  Am partial to anything in pink.

Drive or Fly?  You’ve obviously never flown with me.  I’m the person digging fingernail holes into my seatmate’s palm, whispering the Lord’s Prayer, and crouching for the expected crash landing.  Yeah, let’s drive.

Champagne or Beer?  I’m going to surprise you, I bet. I love beer!  I’m really partial to Blue Moon with an orange slice late at night -- it’s my favorite guilty pleasure.

Thanks so much for answering my questions, Rocki!  Do you have a question for our readers?

Yes - it’s summer and time to take a great book to the beach.  If you could go to any beach in the world, where would it be?  

Find Roxanne online:



Buy Barefoot in the Sand at:





23 comments:

  1. Well Done, PJ! Thank you for letting us have an insight into your life and writing Roxanne. I can't wait to read that terrific "Shed Scene!" Now to answer your question. If have to say it is the same answer I give TRD when they post their Coming Attrections, New Releases, and Stock Up Saturday Blogs: So many books, so little time! Just substitute Beaches for Books!

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    1. Flora, that shed scene does tend to linger in the mind. ;-) By the way, the book it appears in is HUNT HER DOWN, 7th in Roxanne's Bullet Catchers series.

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  2. i love go to hawai beach and bali (one beach in my country - indonesia). this both is a beach of God :)

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    1. Eli, visiting Bali is on my bucket list. Don't know if I'll ever make it there but it sure looks like a slice of paradise to me! :)

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  3. St Maarten in the Carribean!!

    Best wishes for continued success with your writing!

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    1. Photos of St. Maarten look gorgeous! Have you been there, Laurie?

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  4. Terrific interview, PJ and Rocki!

    I've read Barefoot in the Sand and am eager to return to Barefoot Bay for Jocelyn's, Zoe's, and Tessa's stories. I love a good romance, but I love a good girlfriends book almost as much. And the Barefoot Bay series combines the two. How can it miss? And since reunion stories are my favorites, I'm especially looking forward to Barefoot in the Rain.

    I have to ask if we'll ever have any more Guardian Angelinos books?

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    1. Janga, I'm with you on the girlfriends angle. Love a good girlfriends series!

      Ditto on the Guardian Angelinos question too. Keeping my fingers crossed!

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  5. Hey guys! So great to be here today! Thanks for the love and warm welcome. As far as the Guardian Angelino books, I want to write Gabe's book so much it hurts. He haunts me! For the rest of this year, I'm hard at work finishing the four books in the Barefoot Bay Series (2 done, 2 to go) and writing another YA that will come out in 2013. After that, I give you my word I'm trying to figure out what to do with Gabe. (Well, you know...what *else* to do with Gabe.) I would also like to breathe life into the Bullet Catchers and I'm wondering if there's a way to combine the two. Please stay tuned! xo

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    1. Don't worry, Rocki, it only takes reading one of your books to stay tuned to what's coming next. I'm looking forward to the Barefoot Bay books and hoping that Gabe will get his day. The possibility of tying his book to the Bullet Catchers only makes the anticipation that much greater! :)

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  6. The Barefoot series sound wonderful! I'll have to add them to my TBR pile. All the best with them :)

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  7. I think the prettiest beach is just "around the corner" from me which is Sanibel Island. Lovely and the best "shelling" ever. I do believe I need to pick-up a Roxanne St. Claire book and head on over to Sanibel for a good beach read. Congratulations on all of your successes and all the best.

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  8. Love ALL your books plan to get the new one soon...Are you planning on doing any of the other series soon?


    Donna

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  9. I am a barefoot girl too. At home, I never wear slippers. Well, I like flat shoes than high heels because I can move faster without being tripped.
    Since my zodiac is cancer I can't refuse not to go to beach. In my country we have several beautiful beaches, especially in Lombok.I feel like home everytime I hear the sound of wave, sun and birds. I feel relax.

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  10. Hi, Rocki! Congrats on the start of your new series! I love straight contemporaries and this series sounds like one I'd love. :)

    I used to live in Tampa for many years and loved Clearwater Beach and Bradenton Beach. One day I'd love to go to Bermuda because my grandmother used to tell me how beautiful it is there. :)

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  11. If I could go to any beach in the world, I'd probably choose the French Riviera. It sounds lovely and it's close to lots of cool places to visit while I'm there. :D

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  12. Hi ladies!
    Dark or milk, she asked? I vote for dark! Dark choc is the best!!

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  13. I would really love to read this book. I love milk chocolate the best!!!

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  14. Congratulations on the release of BAREFOOT IN THE SAND. I hope it and the rest of the series does well. We as readers don't usually think about it, but it must be nice to switch sub-genre for a change of pace. Each takes a different focus and energy. I am sure our romantic suspense readers will enjoy your change of pace.

    As for your question, I am not really a beach person. I am a mountain person. the beach I like is on a small mountain lake or pond we have just hiked up to. A great place to soak your feet (or tired body for the more adventurous) and watch the wildlife.

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  15. I can't go past the beaches on The Sunshine Coast QLD, AUSTRALIA.

    I LOVE THE BEACH!!!

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  16. Thanks for a fun interview and giveaway! Your book sounds awesome and it's at the top of my wishlist!

    I'd love to take your book w/ me to a nice tropical beach. Any tropical beach :) I live literally, in the middle of the US, so no beaches here or nearby!

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  17. Very nice interview. The book sounds good.

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  18. cute covers...I always judge the books by its cover....hahahha...but, the covers really never once disappointed me..wana buy..thanks

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