Hello, Dear Dishers and thank you to PJ for letting me hang
with y’all today.
For those who don’t know me, I’m Terri Osburn and I write
contemporary romances with heart, hope, and lots of humor. I’m best known for
my Anchor Island series, set on a tiny island in the Outer Banks of North
Carolina, but I also have the Ardent Springs series set in small town
Tennessee.
With all that said, you might think it odd that I set my new
Shooting Stars series in the city of Nashville, but that isn’t really odd at
all. You see, if you’ve ever visited, you know that Nashville is the city that
feels like a small town. (Ignoring the traffic issues, of course.) Downtown is
honkytonks and high-rises, but drive fifteen minutes in any direction and
you’re back in the country.
And then there’s the fact that the books are set in the
country music scene, which is a tiny world all its own. In the first book,
RISING STAR (released Sept 2017) we met aspiring singer Dylan Monroe and
Nashville’s newest radio personality Charley Layton. Their story is about young
people chasing their dreams, and learning how to mesh love and ambition.
FALLING STAR (released March 2018) goes to the other end of
the spectrum. Chance Colburn has been on top for more than five years. He’s ruled
the charts, played to sold-out crowds, and won awards. Naomi Mallard is an
established publicist running the PR department of Shooting Stars Records.
She’s helped successfully launch Dylan Monroe’s career and now it’s time to
tackle the task of redeeming a man who once broke her heart.
I’ve made a habit, consciously at times, of writing second
chance stories, but this one goes a step farther, venturing into redemption and
forgiveness. We often see celebrities make headlines for going off the rails or
stumbling into trouble, and the world-at-large passes judgment. But the truth
is, we don’t know these people. We have no idea what has made them who they
are, or know the battles they’re fighting in their own minds.
There is rarely justice in the court of public opinion, and
FALLING STAR explores what it might be like to be the individual on trial.
Chance owns up to his sins and failings with no illusions about being forgiven.
In the end, he’s a man trying to do better. To learn how to make music without
the help of Jack Daniels, and win back the love of the only woman who ever
really saw any good in him. If he can do that, he might even learn to forgive
himself, which is all that really matters.
Here’s an excerpt that shows where Naomi and Chance are at
the start of the story.
“Answer your damn phones!” she yelled at the useless piece of
metal in her hand.
“Unless that’s connected to a string and a can on the other end, I
don’t think it works that way.”
Annoyed by the sarcasm, Naomi replied, “Screw you,” and immediately
regretted saying something so horrible to a stranger. But when she looked up to
apologize, the person she found was no stranger.
Chance Colburn flashed his trademark bad-boy grin, and Naomi’s
body tightened in response. Memories, both good and bad, filled her mind, and
she was torn between physical longing and the intense need to punch something.
“Hello, Nay,” he purred, transporting her back seven years to when
she had lived to hear that nickname on his lips. Back when she’d been ready to
give up everything to make a life with him. Too bad he hadn’t been willing to
do the same.
“Chance,” Naomi replied, her voice barely a whisper as her heart
pounded in her ears. “I . . . I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.”
Broad shoulders shrugged beneath a worn Johnny Cash T-shirt. “I
was getting tired of all the happy birthdays. ‘Screw you’ is a sentiment I’m
more comfortable with.”
“I, um . . .” Naomi tucked a dark lock behind her ear as she
cleared her throat. “I planned to come find you.”
Brown eyes held her hazel gaze. “No, you didn’t.”
Calling her bluff shouldn’t have been sexy, but her body begged to
differ. “Shouldn’t you be inside?”
“You’ve been avoiding me,” Chance accused, ignoring her question.
“I told you. I intended to find you.”
He shook his head, sending a strand of jet-black hair trailing
over his left eye. “I don’t mean tonight,” he said in his deep Texas drawl.
“You make it tough for a man to apologize.”
If Chance was trying to throw her off-balance, he was doing a
spectacular job of it.
“Apologize?”
Squaring his stance, he slipped strong hands into the front pockets
of his black jeans. Regardless of the venue, Chance maintained his casual
style. Ruggedly handsome and screaming virile male—from the thick black
hair dancing along the edge of his collar to the snakeskin boots on his feet.
And the parts in between could bring a woman to her knees, as Naomi knew all
too well.
“That’s part of the recovery process,” he explained, eyes cutting
off to the distance. “Making amends for all the damage I did along the way.”
“You don’t owe me anything,” Naomi replied, words clipped. She
needed this to be over.
“Your forgiveness isn’t required,” he continued. “Or expected.”
Silence reigned. Hell no, she didn’t forgive him. But she saw no
point in bringing any of this up at all. Not after seven years of nothing.
That’s when she’d needed the apology. Back when he’d slept with her boss.
“What do you want me to say?”
“Well,” he offered, “we’ve gotten the ‘screw you’ out of the way,
so maybe a ‘go to hell’?”
Naomi couldn’t help herself. The bastard always could make her
laugh. Almost as much as he’d made her cry.
If he could be man enough to offer an apology, she could be woman
enough to accept one. “I don’t want you to go to hell, Chance. My job of
redeeming you in the public eye is already going to be difficult enough.
Explaining how you dethroned the devil in his own house might be more than even
I can handle.”
His rich chuckle filled the stately hall. “Fair enough.” After a
less awkward pause, he asked, “How’ve you been? Other than becoming a PR
powerhouse. I always knew you’d rule the world someday.”
“You give me more credit than I deserve.” Naomi could barely run
her own life, let alone the world. “But I’m good. I’d ask you the same
question, but that seems unnecessary given the press coverage.”
“Don’t believe everything you read.” Chance leaned in as if they
were suddenly old pals. “Nothing is ever as simple as it seems, right?”
Despite the tentative truce, one apology didn’t erase the past.
“Chance, as a member of the Shooting Stars staff, I will do all I
can to promote you and your forthcoming album, but I’m not interested in being
your friend.”
With a silent nod, he stepped back. “Right. There’s the ‘go to
hell.’”
He was not going to make her out to be the jerk here.
“You can’t really expect anything more than that. Not after what
you did to me.”
Holding her gaze, Chance said, “I’d say it’s what I did for you.”
“What the hell does that mean?”
“You got out before I could really screw up your life. Be
grateful, Nay. Some people weren’t that lucky.”
Before she could reply, Chance strolled back into the small ballroom,
and it was all she could do not to scream at his back. He’d slept with her boss
as a favor? Really?
Going to rehab may have gotten
Chance Colburn off the bottle— for now—but it sure as hell hadn’t cured him of
being an asshole.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As you can see, they have some work to do. 😊 So how do you feel about celebrities? People like us or attention-seekers who should be held to some higher standard? Let me
know here and I’ll have PJ pick one person to win a digital copy of FALLING
STAR. (Also, this site often refuses to let me comment but I’ll do my best to
figure it out and try to answer when I can.)
I can be both fascinated and appalled by celebrity behavior. I think many celebrities are just like us and try to lead normal lives, but then there are those who daily seek attention (example- the Kardashians).
ReplyDeleteI have been looking forward to reading Falling Star. I have read every book you have published thus far.
I agree with Cheryl. I'm fascinated by some and appalled by others. I don't pay as much attention to them as I used to. Unless it's Hugh Jackman. I always pay attention to Hugh. ;-)
ReplyDeleteI don't think they should be held to a higher standard but don't whine about unwanted attention when you chose to pursue a profession that's all about gaining attention. That bit does tend to send me over the edge. I do, however, exempt the children of stars from that attention bit (I think they should be allowed their anonymity) unless, of course, you shove them into the spotlight yourself.
I think there is a difference in the public interest that has long been a side effect of fame and the obsession with celebrities and the hounding of them that is prevalent today. Like PJ, I have little sympathy for the star who accepts his/her privileges, including exorbitant salaries, but complains about loss of privacy. On the other hand, I am sickened by the strength of the public's buzzard instinct when a celebrity has to deal with death, divorce, or some other devastation.
ReplyDeleteI'm loving the Nashville series, Terri. I'm already looking forward to the next one. I'm especially eager to see how you make someone guilty of that level of betrayal into a hero.
I think the public buzzard instinct is out of control and not only as it pertains to celebrities. Too many people seem to delight in seeing others brought low.
DeleteLet's see if a change of browser will make this work. Testing??
ReplyDeleteHuzzah! Edge for the win. It still won't let me reply to individual comments but I'm happy to show up at all. lol
ReplyDeleteCheryl, thank you for reading my books! I hope you enjoy Falling Star, too. And the Kardashians are definitely not like the rest of us. lol
PJ, thank you so much for letting me hang here today. And working so hard to help me being able to comment. I'm with you on Hugh and the kids issue. But simply taking your kids to school in the morning is not the same as "putting them out there" and I dislike that some paparazzi argue that it is. Leave them alone!
Janga, I'm eager to see how I pulled that off as well. lol Though I can say that his book is still a couple away so maybe I'll figure it out by then. Celebrities really are publicly dissected and so little of what gets reported is even close to the truth. I'm not sure deciding to be, say, an actor is the same as deciding you want to be famous. It's a job like any other, and there's no way to know when you're deciding on your life path if you'll someday be a Meryl or Leo.
Hi Terri! *waving*
DeleteI totally agree with you on the kids. They should be able to lead normal lives without the fear of being stalked by paparazzi. Being famous is not a choice they made.
Terri, have you decided how many books will be in the Shooting Stars series?
ReplyDeleteI currently have ideas for at least 3 more so it would be another series of 5. But we'll see if anyone else walks onto the page and demands their own story. :)
ReplyDeleteHey Terri! How are you?! Lots of changes for you since the last time we caught up - super success with your writing (loved Anchor Island and Ardent Springs) and a big move back to TN!
ReplyDeleteSo excited about this new series. I really like stories about celebrities/rock stars. I think I'm with the popular opinion here - don't like the whiners, but when all is said and done they are all still human beings trying to live their lives just like the rest of us. And to tell the truth I think it's harder for them to find true, lasting love cause the circle of people they can trust gets smaller and smaller the more famous they get. And it's also easier for their lives to spin out of control if they have other issues that they are dealing with - which is what I'm assuming this story is about.
Irish! I've missed you. I keep thinking I need a trip to Chicago and then I think I could maybe see you if I go. Yes, lots of big changes. I'll slow down eventually, but who knows when? :)
DeleteThat is exactly what this book is about. Chance looks like a guy who has it all who can't keep his head out of the bottle, but there's so much more going way back to his early childhood. Let's say he hides the scars well, but they drive him toward trouble at the same time.
Definitely let me know if you are heading up this way! It would be great to meet up. I'm sad we never did make it out to Williamsburg while you were in the vicinity! Hubby is talking retirement, though, and getting out of the cold! My sister has been trying forever to get us to consider Tennessee!
DeleteOh, do consider it! There are lots of lovely small towns around Nashville. :)
DeleteI have met some some celebrities who are nice, and I've been treated rudely by others. Was it a bad day or just the personality? Who knows? Some feel entitled, some have been hounded, some are jerks, and some are nice but have learned to keep people at an arm's length. It's too easy to judge in a fleeting moment.
ReplyDeletedenise
But we do so love to judge. I'm more annoyed by the people who go on these crazy reality shows looking for fame, and then get famous for being mean or bossy or giving a ring to a virtual stranger. Seriously. WHY would anyone do that?
DeleteCan't wait to read these, Terri! They sound fabulous ~ Janie
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteI think judging - whether celebrities or just plain folk - has become a sport for many people. I also think that as it has been said before, if you are gonna take the huge bucks for being a celebrity, don't be surprised if you lose privacy. And if you are gonna tell everyone every thing about yourself, don't be surprised if the public does not turn away when you want them to turn away.
ReplyDeleteAt the same time, for heaven's sake, we need to get our own lives and quit prying into someone else's life because they have good hair and an agent that got them a break. If there were not people who want to know way too much about others, there would be no paparazzi, no People magazine and no way too many tv shows which pry into private lives.
I am stepping off my teeny tiny soap box now.
That's exactly what I keep saying. If no one was buying those trashy magazines at the grocery counter, they couldn't pay top dollar for paparazzi pictures and wouldn't be in business. I wish they'd replace those mags with something society could really use.
DeleteI already have the book, so don't enter me. I feel sorry for most of the celebrities, especially if a marriage breaks up and it's all over the magazines & internet. It is still sad and heartbreaking and no one's business but their own. However, I do think that being in the public eye, and sometimes being a role model, should motivate them not to be mean or act like a jerk.
ReplyDeleteMakes me happy to be a nobody. ;-)
DeleteI especially feel bad for kids growing up in the business. My high school and college years were about dating, experimenting, making mistakes, and finding myself and my direction in life. I cannot imagine how difficult that would have been under the spotlight of the paparazzi and everybody's "need to know." It's no wonder so many of them end up screwed up.
You and me both, PJ! I always say I wouldn't mind being rich but you can keep the famous! If I wasn't screwed up at the outset I would be after every stupid decision I made in my life was broadcast to the whole world!
DeleteGoing through divorce is bad enough. Going through it with the whole world speculating and passing judgment must be unbearable.
DeleteWhen I worked in radio in a small town I experienced a tiny inkling of fame. That was more than enough to know I never want to be truly famous.
.I cannot I being a celebrity at all. I would hate being followed around all the time and having people follow you everywhere and not having privacy. I hate the shows feel like they have to keep repeating their problems day after day after day. Isn't there anything else to report? Some of them love the attention so much that I think they don't know what reality is (the K family) to spend thousands on a childs purse is so wasteful IMO. These children will never know reality and what things cost or what an average person makes. Others try their best to raise their kids to be normal.
ReplyDeleteNo sense of reality is a big problem. We all want more for our children than we had, but as you point out, many of these celebrities (I use the term loosely in the K family case) are setting these poor kids up for trouble if the illusion ever ends.
ReplyDeleteI believe some people looking for fame, don't understand the price you have to pay. They just see it as a way out. Ultimately fame makes for constant recognition. It does not allow to you to be just a normal person.
ReplyDeleteHonestly, I think it depends on the celebrity. There are plenty of 'regular' people mixed in with the attention seekers.
ReplyDeleteLogically, I know they are people like us but there are some who are just a tad interesting. Of course there are also those who are attention whores, doing what they can to make sure people notice them. I really dislike the way the paparazzi stalk and go after celebreties - even distort the truth about them. I do believe that many are decent individuals like you and me.
ReplyDeleteTerri, thanks so much for visiting with us today and instigating such an interesting discussion.
ReplyDeleteHollywood has become too political. I watch a movie to be entertained. I don't want to know what the actor's view is on gun control, abortion, immigration, etc. It seems like that's all you get any more is some celebrity using their status to bend our thinking to theirs. If that's what they want to do then run for office. Otherwise, keep a sock on it. I've been watching old movies lately which are far better than the trash they are putting out today.
ReplyDelete