Today’s special guest is Aurora Russell. She’s chatting with me about her new contemporary romance, Semper Fitz, Book 1 in the Minne-sorta Falling in Love Series.
During her virtual book tour, Aurora will be awarding a $25 Amazon or Barnes and Noble (winner’s choice) gift card to a lucky randomly drawn winner. To be entered for a chance to win, use the form below. To increase your chances of winning, feel free to visit her other tour stops and enter there, too.
Bio:
Aurora is originally from the frozen tundra of the upper-Midwest (ok, not frozen all the time!) but now loves living in New England with her real-life hero/husband, two wonderfully silly sons, and one of the most extraordinary cats she has ever had the pleasure to meet. But she still goes back to the Midwest to visit, just never in January. She doesn’t remember a time that she didn’t love to read, and has been writing stories since she learned how to hold a pencil. She has always liked the romantic scenes best in every book, story, and movie, so one day she decided to try her hand at writing her own romantic fiction, which changed her life in all the best ways. Find out more about Aurora, upcoming releases, and news on my website.
Welcome, Aurora. Please tell us about your current release.
In Semper Fitz, a heavily-pregnant Clara is out for her morning walk in the woods near her family’s cabin when she comes across an unconscious, wounded former Marine. Colin ‘Fitz’ Fitzhugh has come seeking peace, but instead he finds a sweet, feisty savior. Thinking he is helping her, he stays at the cabin, but the pair end up helping each other, especially when Clara has a medical emergency, forcing Fitz to call upon the vast resources of his wealthy and powerful family. It’s a story both of rustic charm and opulent glamour, but Fitz proves that he is always faithful, and would like to be always Clara’s.
What inspired you to write this book?
I actually had the title in mind before anything else, and an image of a former Marine named Fitz, but as I started to write, both Fitz and Clara began to just leap off the page. I love all of their teasing dialogue, and how they both overcome some very dark things in their pasts to try to find peace together. I enjoyed these characters so much that the idea turned into a new series!
Excerpt from Semper Fitz:
“Even though the sandwich must still be practically molten, and she could hear how crisply burned it was from the sound of his chewing, he choked down one large piece with every sign of enjoyment. A few crumbs formed a black, dusty mustache on his upper lip.
“Delicious,” he pronounced, and put the remainder of the half he’d managed to pry off the pan into his mouth. Something thawed then melted in the region of her heart when he swallowed that, too, and reached for the rest. It stuck there stubbornly, glued to the pan, in spite of Fitz’s valiant efforts.
Their eyes met, and his were determined and kind as he tried to work the piece free to no avail.
“I, ah, think I need a spatula,” he finally admitted.
Like a wave rising up and breaking on the shore, amusement filled her from her toes to her chest, finally spilling out as a peal of laughter, continuing into a wheezing laugh. Fitz laughed as well, the sound rusty as though he were out of practice.
“They’re horrible,” she gasped between laughs. “Admit it. They’re like charcoal.”
“I will never say that,” he answered diplomatically, setting her laughter off harder.
“Okay, you don’t have to say it,” she panted out. “But that doesn’t mean it isn’t true. Now, I’m going to put the remains of these truly sad sandwiches out of their misery and set this pan to soak. We’ll eat something else.”
When she went to scrape the charred remains off the pan into the trash can, the hard, callused surface of Fitz’s hand over hers stopped her.”
What exciting story are you working on next?
My next release will be Book 3 in my Anywhere and Always series, Guarded by a Hero, tentatively scheduled to release in August, but don’t worry! I am already working intently on Book 2 in the Minne-sorta Falling in Love series, Mac of All Trades, which tells the story of Fitz’s sister, Lana, and his best friend, Mac.
When did you first consider yourself a writer?
Well, I really considered myself a writer from a young age, but it took longer for me to feel like a professional writer. When I finished my first novella and signed my first contract with a publisher, and then an editor reached out to me with actual comments and changes, all of it suddenly felt real. I can’t even tell you how exciting it was on my first release day, and it never gets old!
Do you write full-time? If so, what’s your work day like? If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find time to write?
Oh boy, I wish I could write full-time! Unfortunately, I have an extremely busy day job in the financial field, and then I work nights and weekends as the mom of two young children, so finding time to write is a balancing act of late nights, early mornings, and occasional weekends with help from my fantastic husband. I’m so truly grateful for all that I have, though!
What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
Well, besides loving to drink tea (pots and pots of it!) while writing, I also tend to just think about the main characters frequently, and what they would do in given situations, to get a feel for them. This is especially true in the early stages of writing. So, before I fall asleep at night…I’m imagining what they would do in the next scene. When I’m in the shower, driving to and from work, making copies, etc., I can’t help but think of my main characters as if they were real people. I have to be careful or I will just say potential dialogue out loud sometimes. I actually have to turn off the radio in order to hear my own thoughts!
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
So many things! I think that probably helps my writing, that I had so many interests, and dragged my family to countless art museums, history museums, concerts, shows…and I guess I still do! I loved the idea of being a doctor, veterinarian, English professor, tour guide, marine biologist… My 8-year-old asked me last year what I wanted to be when I grow up, and when I told him I was already grown up, he told me that it’s never too late, so I think I want to be a writer…LOL!
Anything additional you want to share with the readers?
THANK YOU so much to everyone who has ever bought, read, and/or reviewed one of my stories. It means the world to an author to know that people have read and enjoyed their work. I so appreciate each and every one of you!
A huge thank you to Lisa Haselton for having me, also!
Links:
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Kobo | First for Romance
Thanks again for having me!
Thanks for hosting!
Oh. This sounds like a really good book!