LET'S WELCOME MARCI BOUDREAUX AUTHOR OF: THIS OLD CAFE

LET’S WELCOME MARCI BOUDREAUX

AUTHOR OF:

Rad-Reader:  The character Jenna Reid was she based on someone you know or just a someone you come up with?

Marci:  I think all my female leads have a little bit of me in them, but overall, no, Jenna was not specifically based on anyone.

Rad-Reader:  Daniel’s character had many different levels or traits was that planned or came as you were writing?

Marci:  I’m a pantster, so nothing about the book, except certain high points are known when I start. I usually know the beginning and some events throughout, but the story just evolves as I write. I gave up writing outlines a long time ago because I never stick to them anyway.

Rad-Reader:  Did you always plan to use a café in the story or did it from your original idea?

Marci:  The first novel I ever wrote was called This Old Café many years ago. I won third place in the Texas Writers’ League Manuscript Contest. So when Jenna started appearing in the Stonehill Series (http://marciboudreaux.com/books/stonehill-romance), I realized I could use that old manuscript. But when I opened it and read it, it was terrible! I used the title because I loved it, but none of the old manuscript remained.

Rad-Reader:  Was Daniel’s uncle character always part of your story or was he, someone, you added as you were writing?

Marci:  Charlie popped in unexpectedly. It was a challenge to make Daniel homeless and have anger issues but still be a ‘hero’ for my heroine. He had to have depth and be someone the reader could empathize with. Having Charlie there to discuss his past opened the door to giving Daniel a stronger history and the reader better understanding of his situation.

Rad-Reader:  When you came up with a character like Jenna, how do you make her look strong with all that she has gone through?

Marci:  We’ve all been through things, some things are just worse than others. Hopefully, we’ve grown and gotten stronger. I tried to show that in Jenna. Even though she had bad days, she did her best to get through and not give up.

Rad-Reader:  Did you write this story by using an outline or did you come up with a rough draft and just start writing?

Marci:  I’m a complete pantster. I can’t use and outline. I never stick to it anyway! I have an idea in my head and it evolves as I write. Sometimes that means major rewrites when brilliance strikes later in the story, but usually I write straight through.

Rad-Reader:  Was Janna’s brother always the antagonist in your story or did you think of using a different character?

Marci:  Marcus has always been a bit stubborn, which is how he had the patience to win Annie over in The Forgotten Path. But he’s also incredibly protective of his little sister for reasons that, again, manifested in his story—The Forgotten Path. He’s not trying to be a jerk to Daniel, he really is just trying to keep Jenna from getting hurt.

Rad-Reader:  I know that there is a lot of homeless veterans.  Was that one issue that you wanted to address?

Marci:  Veteran homelessness is definitely an issue in this country that needs to be addressed and highlighted. I brought a little light to it here, but his living situation wasn’t the main focus of the book, so I don’t feel I fully addressed that problem here, as much as acknowledged that there are good men and women on the streets that shouldn’t be so easily discarded.

Rad-Reader:  Did you research or talk with someone with PTSD?

Marci:  I always do research for my books to bring authenticity. The extent of research depends on the amount of emphasis on the subject. For PTSD, I knew quite a bit about it just from watching documentaries and reading news features, but I did research a bit more to make sure my information was accurate.

Rad-Reader:  Was Daniel’s uncle character someone that grew into a bigger role, or was it always the same?

Marci:  Charlie was never intended to have a large role in the book. I try to keep my supporting cast in the background where they belong, but Charlie was needed to give Jenna and the reader a better understanding of Daniel’s childhood.

Rad-Reader:  When you are writing a story when do you decide to bring the two main character’s together from being friends to being lovers?

Marci:  It varies with each story. For instance, in The Road Leads Back, Kara and Harry come together rather quickly because they had a history. Kara is naturally spontaneous and tends to leap before looking, which is a huge part of her personality, so it was only natural for her and Harry to jump into relationship territory more quickly than the others.

Rad-Reader:  Did you have to make very many changes from when you finished to publication?

Marci:  I self-published this series, so I had a bit more say in the final product. The editor I work with, Jeanne De Vita, has been my editor for about five years so we know each other fairly well. I bounce a lot of ideas off her and we hash things out quite a bit before I get too far into a scene. She always has great feedback, so after our first pass, I make some content changes, but for the most part, the book is very similar in production to the original storyline.

Rad-Reader:  What were your thoughts in having Daniel leaving without talking to Jenna or sending her a letter?

Marci:  Daniel needed to get his head together in order to be the man he wanted to be. Some things had transpired throughout the story that had caused him to worry that he could turn into his father. In order to prevent that, he needed to be on his own to pull himself together. I think that was an honorable thing to do—to an extent. She certainly had reason to be angry with him.

Rad-Reader:  Was it always your idea to have Daniel leave and come back?

Marci:  No, that came about as I was reaching the climax of the story. Obviously, with his PTSD, his emotions had to come to a head at some point. The things that pushed him to the edge were, as always, him trying to protect someone. But this time, he didn’t want to lose that person, so he recognized he had to take steps to prevent that. He did what he felt was the best for both of them.

Rad-Reader:  Was there anything special you did with the first check you got for writing?

Marci:  My first royalty check was for just over $93. It wasn’t much, but I was thrilled with it and treated myself to dinner…which was all I could justify out of that meager check!

Rad-Reader:  Do you come up with your own stories or does your publisher have any input?

Marci:  Other than a publisher asking me to take part in a specific series, they’ve never told me what to write. I spent the last two years writing and self-publishing my Stonehill Romance series, so I’m just now getting back into the publisher/agent game. I needed a break from that for a while. Sometimes the constant rejection (which is a given for this industry) can become daunting. I loved this series and I didn’t want a publisher telling me it wasn’t quite right, so I put it out on my own. And I LOVE every single book in this series.

Rad-Reader:  If your book was made into a movie who would you have play…

Jenna:  Lacy Chabert

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/543668986246134839/

Daniel:  Jensen Ackles

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/188377196893660467/

Daniel’s Uncle:  Louis Lombardi

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/403353710353525810/

Marci:  I’m not the greatest at this game, but I think Carly Pope would be adorable as:

 Jenna:

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005318/mediaviewer/rm75203840

Daniel:  Sullivan Stapleton
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0822982/mediaviewer/rm1995912704

Daniel's Uncle:   Brendan Gleeson

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0322407/mediaviewer/rm4088726784

Rad-Reader:  What song best describes your couple or your book as a whole?

“Somebody – Reba”

“Five Finger Death Punch – Wrong Side of Heaven”

Describes Book Overall

  

Marci:  Since Jenna is all about classic rock, I’d probably pick that genre.

 “Your Song” - Elton John

The Song For Overall:

  “I Want to Know What Love Is” - Foreigner

Rad-Reader:  If you could have been anything growing up what would that have been?

Marci:  I knew I wanted to write or work in broadcasting, but I didn’t start perusing it until I was in my 30s.

Rad-Reader:  Where do you like to go for a getaway?

Marci:  I love traveling. My husband and I have spent some time recently traveling to the Ozarks and that part of the country is so beautiful. We are considering retiring there.

Rad-Reader:  Does your family like that you’re a writer and does it flow with their life?

Marci:  I have two very active teenagers and a teenage foreign exchange student. I am constantly on the go—volleyball games, swim meets, theatre, band, choir…they do it all! I am the family chauffeur, cook, errand girl, etc. as well as a freelance editor (www.nerdykatbooks.com) so being able to work and write in my own time and around everyone else’s schedules works perfectly for our family.

Rad-Reader:  What time of day is your favorite time to write?

Marci:  My most creative time is midafternoon through the evening…unfortunately, that’s also my most busy time with the kids. I spend my mornings getting caught up on editing and other work, then squeeze in writing when I can in the afternoons and evenings. While I’m always picking up and dropping of kids, that does mean I have extra time in between to get some work done.

Rad-Reader:  What is your next project and when is it due out?

Marci:  I’m kind of all over the map right now. I have a new romantic suspense series that I have submitted with a publisher and am waiting to hear back. I am not doing simultaneous submission with this one right now because I want to write at least one more book before I start hitting hard, but my editor found a submissions call that she felt was a good fit, so I subbed the series with only the first book done.

I also have an erotic romance trilogy that I have with an agent right now. I’m hoping she’ll like it and want to represent it to some larger publishers.

And I’m writing a women’s fic that is so depressing I can’t open it without sobbing!

So, a little of everything right now. I do always come back to romance, but I’m trying some new things this year.

Rad-Reader:  Where can our readers buy your books?

Marci:  My website has all my books listed as well as where to buy them: http://marciboudreaux.com/books

Rad-Reader:  Where can our readers find you on the Web, Links?

   

Marci:  Website: http://marciboudreaux.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorMarciBoudreaux/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MarciBoudreaux

Thank you for your time and for a wonderful book I really enjoy reading it.

Pat

Marci,

I have to say you were the first author that I have sent an invite to an interview and you sent all items asked for the next day before you even said yes or new what dates were still open.  I was so flustered I miss read your letter before my morning meds kicked in or having my second cup of coffee. LOL!  So, thanks for making my life beyond easy with this one.  Come back and use our Shout Out: An Author's Place to showcase a new book coming out anytime.  You are now a 1 Rad-Reader Misfit.  

Thanks again,

Char