LET’S
WELCOME
NAN REINHARDT
AUTHOR OF:
Rad-Reader: What gave you the idea for this book?
Nan: Sean was one of the
characters in the first book and the series is meant to tell each brother’s
story, but he was the one who started talking to me when I was close to
finishing Conor’s book. The whole friends-to-lovers trope is one I really love,
so I knew one of the brothers would be in that kind of relationship. Sean and
Meg just felt right.
Rad-Reader: What gave you the burning desire to write the
book?
Nan: Sean needed his story told, just like Conor did. These four brothers
have been in my head clamoring for their stories to be out there, so basically,
I’m just obliging the voices in my head.
Rad-Reader: Can you give us the backstory on Megan and Sean
that the blurb doesn’t give us?
Nan: They’ve been friends
forever, but never really let their friendship grow into anything more—not so
much because they were afraid of what might happen, but rather because, they
were comfortable together just being friends. The relationship never really
grew into anything romantic, nor did either of them expect it to go there.
Rad-Reader: Did Megan and Sean ever try to date before?
Nan: See above. ;-) No, they didn’t. He took her to prom when her date bailed
on her and even as adults, they’ve gone to events together, but they’ve never
actually dated.
Rad-Reader: How did they meet? Did they grow up together?
Nan: They met on the bus in fifth grade right after Megan moved to River’s
Edge with Dad, Mac Mackenzie, who had been a chef in Paris. Meg’s mom is in the
fashion industry in Paris and when she and Mac amicably divorced, she was glad
for Meg to go with him to Indiana, rather than be under a nanny’s charge in
Paris since her schedule was so hectic. Meg goes back to Paris regularly to
visit her mom.
Rad-Reader: Has Sean been married before?
Nan: No. His life is his work, pretty much.
Rad-Reader: Has Meg ever been married or in a long-term
relationship before?
Nan: No, she’s dated some, but her life is pretty busy and she’s pretty
content being single, although her biological clock is ticking.
Rad-Reader: Why did Sean decide to practice law so far
from home?
Nan: He interned in the firm in Chicago where he’s now a partner. He liked
big-city lawyering.
Rad-Reader: Sean claims after he comes out of surgery, he
just knows that Megan is there. Why is
that?
Nan: Actually, he sees her
when he opens his eyes and he’s a little surprised to see her there, but she’s
part of, home and so her being there feels right.
Rad-Reader: During his panic attack the only voice he
could hear was Meg’s. What do you think
he chalks that up too?
Nan: I don’t think he chalks it up to anything—he’s too stressed and
panicked. I think it’s the only female voice in the room and besides, it’s his
best friend, so he responds to it.
Rad-Reader: He is not happy to find out Vin is taking her
to breakfast. Why?
Nan: He knows Vin is a player and he doesn’t want Meg to get hurt, but also,
he just wants her there with him—she’s a comfort. She’s home.
Rad-Reader: Sean’s having a panic attack about his job
and going back. He doesn’t see that as a
red flag?
Nan: His panic attack in the hospital was about his client’s safety, not
about his job. And he was worried about getting back to work, who was going to
handle his cases while he was recuperating. That was a natural reaction for a
workaholic like Sean.
Rad-Reader: Meg said Sean and she hugged, at midnight last New
Year’s Eve. Did they go together to the
party or meet there?
Nan: The NYE party at the winery is an annual event and she always attends,
sometimes with a date, sometimes not. Sean was there as one of the hosts.
Rad-Reader: Seemed like Meg had hired the perfect nurse
for Sean when he had gotten home to Char’s.
How did she hear about him?
Nan: She’s the mayor of the
town and has connections all over the area. Someone at the hospital recommended
Ollie. He was a great nurse, wasn’t he?
Rad-Reader: What do Bren and Aiden do? We know Connor runs the winery.
Nan: Bren is a government analyst in Washington, DC. The guys tease him all
the time about being a spy. Aidan is an actor in a hit TV cop show. His story
is next in, Christmas with You, which releases November 21.
Rad-Reader: When Sam describes Gia did neither of them notice
that when she said that is Sean’s ideal type.
It’s his description?
Nan: No, they were just going by the kind of woman he seems to date. He
swears he doesn’t have a type.
Rad-Reader: Now she receives the flower deliveries. Are the pink roses from Sean and not
Vin? Or are they both from Vin?
Nan: They’re all from Vin—he’s wooing her.
Rad-Reader: Knowing what she knows about Vin why is she
still going forward?
Nan: She’s flattered by the attention, from a handsome, smart, sophisticated
man. She wants to be in love. She’s hoping a little that she will be the woman to change his ways.
Rad-Reader: If he has feelings for Meg why is Sean not
trying to ask her out?
Nan: At this point in the story, he hasn’t sorted out his feelings for Meg
yet. They feel wrong to him because they’re new. They’ve always just been
friends.
Rad-Reader: Why does Sean keep making excuses for Vin’s
bad/rude behavior with Gia? Why is he
still friends with a guy like him?
Nan: He’s trying to make Meg see that it’s not her, it’s Vin, so he’s not
really making excuses, he’s simply trying to explain how Vin behaves. Later
though, he punches Vin when he shows up at his house. That’s pretty much the
end of the friendship for Sean.
Rad-Reader: Was she feeling humiliated by Sean’s kisses
because of Vin and then talking about all her bad dates of late?
Nan: She was humiliated because this was her friend, not someone she makes
out with—that’s not their relationship at the moment and she’s terrified of
destroying the friendship. Plus, she’s a little worried the kiss came from
pity. That, Sean, was feeling sorry for her.
Rad-Reader: Why does he wait so long to talk to Meg when he
knows about herself esteem issues and the whole Vin situation alone?
Nan: He’s not sure what to do about her. He’s confused and falling in love
and not sure where they’re going to end up or what she’s feeling. Their
friendship has taken a new and scary turn. Plus, the rest of his life is rather
in flux.
Rad-Reader: Why does Aiden seem so unsettled at the
wedding?
Nan: Hmmm...that’s a good question. Book 3 is Aidan’s story and we’ll figure
that out. ;-)
Rad-Reader: If your book was made into a movie who would
you want to play…
Megan: Katya Zhakova
Sean: Wes Brown
Connor: Ryan Paevey
Sam: Lana Del Rey
Nan:
Sean: Michael Fassbender
Connor: Karl Wente (CA winemaker)
Sam: Isla Fischer
Rad-Reader: What song or songs best describes your
characters or your book best?
“Lonely
If You Are – Chase Rice”
After Sean was shot, he came home to his hometown and Megan was
right there every step of the way. Each
day he was seeing Meg had always been his one.
It had become most clear when he woke at the hospital. Now he needs to convince her she’s not just
his safety net.
“To
the Man Who Let Her Go – Tyler Shaw”
Sean was so happy that Vin was exactly his same self that all the
brothers had warned Meg about. Meaning
that her date with Vin and his blind date didn’t work out. Leaving an opening for him.
“Start
of Something Good – Daughtry”
Sean always knew his Meg was skittish when it came to new ideas and
this idea was so left field that she would be shocked. That first kiss though set the mark above the
hope line. It was his Meg giving her heart,
but she was being fearful of having it broken even by Sean. Because what if he just wanted the girl that
made him feel safe. After such a great
trauma like being shot. He knew he had
to win her over.
Nan: "The Search Is Over - Survivor"
Rad-Reader: What do your friends and family think about
your writing career?
Nan: They get a kick out it, I think. They’re all very supportive and excited
when my new books come out.
Rad-Reader: Is this your full-time career?
Nan: My day job is being a freelance copy editor for several large fiction
publishers, but writing is my dream career. One day, I’ll be a big enough
seller, I can depend on it as my sole source of income. In the meantime, I gotta
pay the rent.
Rad-Reader: Where do you do most of your writing? What time of day do you do your best writing?
Nan: I mostly write wherever I am. I’m pretty adaptable, although I love
having my own space to do that. Right now, I don’t because we’re in the process
of moving, but soon… I do my best writing early in the morning before my house
wakes up. And when I’m on a writing retreat with my writing bestie, Liz
Flaherty.
Rad-Reader: Now do you write in other genres besides
romance? If so, what?
Nan: Right now, I’m strictly a romance writer, but one of my earlier books (The
Summer of Second Chances, book 3 in the Women of Willow Bay series) has a
little mystery in it and I really loved plotting that, so I may venture into
mystery after the Four Irish Brothers Winery series is complete.
Rad-Reader: Do you have a writers group that you write
with to bounce things off of in your town or online?
Nan: I belong to the Indiana
chapter of Romance Writers of America—they’re a great group of colleagues. I
also have my critique partners and beta readers for feedback. Mostly though, I
write with my writing BFF, Liz Flaherty. We are very compatible as writers and
traveling companions and especially as friends.
Rad-Reader: Did you publish with a publishing house or
self-publish?
Nan: My first book, Rule Number One, was with a publishing house, then I
indie published my Women of Willow Bay books because I couldn’t get anyone to
get past my characters being older than forty. The Four Irish Brothers Winery
series that I’m working on right now is with Tule Publishing, so I’ve gone back
to traditional publishing.
Rad-Reader: What three things can’t you leave home without?
Nan: My phone, a notebook and pen, and my Kindle Paperwhite. Read, write,
talk. ;-)
Rad-Reader: What is your next project and when is it
coming out?
Nan: Next is book 4 in the Four Irish Brothers Winery series—Brendan’s story,
which is brewing now. I think it’ll be out in the spring of 2020.
Rad-Reader: Where can our readers buy your books? Links
Nan: The Four Irish Brothers
Winery series buy links are here:
The Women of Willow Bay
series buy links are here:
Rad-Reader: Where can our readers find you on the Web? Links
Nan,
Thanks so much for being with us. You will be our last author for a while. I am taking some time off. Being in the hospital has taken a lot out of me, what a roller coaster ride. You and our last two authors have been so kind and understanding putting up with my crazy emails during the pain and not getting it straight. Your book was a pleasure to read and I hope we did it justice with the promos and interview. Think of us again in the future with new books coming out.
Thanks again,
Char
Thanks for having me as a guest, Char. I hope you feel better soon!
ReplyDeleteGreat interview!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Liz!
DeleteNice interview. I enjoyed this one. The story was good and the characters were appealing.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Mary! So glad you stopped by!
ReplyDelete