Tuesday, July 2, 2013

Author Spotlight: Toni Lynn Cloutier


Toni, please tell us about yourself and your writing.

My husband and I have been together since 1990. We have a 15-year-old son and a house cat we adopted from the shelter in 2006. As a stay at home mother, I began writing romance novels after my first word search puzzle book was published in 2001.

What inspired your current book?

My current WIP is book two of The Patriot Girl. So I guess my secondary character from TPG has been my inspiration.

How do you come up with your book titles?

During the writing process if something a character says grabs me then I’ll run with it. The Patriot Girl had five different titles before this one stuck.

Name one person, living or dead, you'd most like to meet.

Country singer Kenny Rogers. I’d like to ask him what the heck he was thinking when he decided to get plastic surgery!!
 
What does your writing space look like? 

We remodeled my upstairs and I now have a wonderful work room. The walls are tan with a hardwood floor. I have a rollaway bed that sports chocolate satin sheets and a blue and white lighthouse throw. A small lighthouse-shaped table and matching chair resides for sitting (not a set, it just happened to match perfectly). My desk is small with three drawers down the side and one in front. I have a window overlooking my street with a large maple tree from my neighbors yard. My cat sits with me for hours watching the squirrels, birds, and cats. Not to mention, she loves to lay in the morning sunbeam for her daily dose of vitamin D. Since she has been with me during my writing of Count Down To Love (book 2) I had to add a cat in the story.


Do you write with music going in the background?

No, because I tend to sing and forget all about what I’m writing. Then it gets me in a cleaning mood.

What are some of your favorite types/bands?

I’ve always enjoyed country and western music. However, the latest bands are more country/rock. There are a few new artists I really enjoy, like Carrie Underwood, Zack Brown Band, and Brad Paisley. I miss the steel guitar in country music.

Tell us something strange or interesting about yourself. 

Oh so many, which one do I tell?? How about two? First, I am so uncomfortable doing these types of interviews because one strange thing about me is I find it boring to talk about myself. Second, I always make three air-crosses with my finger while gripping my steering wheel before driving. I began doing this in my early twenties after I’d had a car accident. Happy to report, I’ve never had an accident since…thank the Lord!

Is there anything else you'd really like our readers to know?  
I have two educational word search puzzle books published.  The titles are Word Search USA and World Word Search. I also write short erotic stories under a pseudonym. 

Blurb:

MaKayla Adams has always been curious about the wild side of life. Making love with her late husband wasn’t exciting, and she never could understand the big deal…until hunky nightclub owner Dustin James hires her as a public relations consultant. His touch arouses feelings she’s never known, and his kiss tempts her to cross the line between business and pleasure.

Dustin doesn’t remember the car accident that put him in a coma three years ago, but since his recovery, he’s pushed his own needs aside to be a single father to his young daughter. When MaKayla offers to help publicize his country nightclub, however, she ignites deeper feelings he can’t ignore.

But there is more than mutual attraction between MaKayla and Dustin—there is a shared past connected to her husband’s death. Will the truth bring them together or tear them apart?

Excerpt:

She tilted her head toward his touch. “We do have an unusual chemistry, but anything more between us would complicate things.”
“In what ways?”
“Alex wouldn’t understand. Not to mention Paul’s parents.”
“What about what MaKayla wants?”
A loaded question she didn’t know how to answer. She wanted what she couldn’t have—not to be alone, the noises in her backyard to go away, a husband to spoil, and another child to mother.
“It doesn’t matter what I want. What matters is doing the right thing.”
“For who?”
“For everyone.”
“Even if it means being unhappy? When was the last time you did something for MaKayla without worrying about consequences?” He rolled his tongue and smiled.
“There was liquor involved. Otherwise, I never would have growled at you.”
“Why not?”
She shrugged. “Because it’s inappropriate.”
“A tease?”
“Yes.”
He cupped her cheeks between his palms. “I find you sexy as hell and I’m going to kiss you. The time to stop me would be right now.”

Purchase The Patriot Girl:

Quick quiz:
Favorite food? Italian
Favorite color? Brown
Favorite animal? Dogs
Biggest pet peeve? Two things I hate most: A liar and a sneak.
Dream car? LOL..I couldn’t even give you a make or model. As long as it gets me from point A to point B, I’m good!


Anything works, you say?

Author Bio:

The youngest of five children, I was born and raised in Rhode Island. After graduating East Providence High School as a member of the Rhode Island Honor Society, I held several jobs from accounts receivable to medical billing before attending Rhode Island Associates of Realtors.

I have a wonderful husband and I’m a a stay-at-home mom to our teenage son.  My week is filled with writing romance novels and listening to country music while cleaning house, rearranging furniture, and playing with the cat we adopted from the shelter.

To learn more about Toni Lynn Cloutier:
Twitter: @ToniLCloutier

Be sure to check back on Thursday for Mrs. Snark's review of The Patriot Girl.

3 comments:

  1. Thanks so much for having me this week, Mrs. Snark. LOL..the scooter would work for me just fine but it wouldn't hold my son's 3 guitars, amp, or him! :)

    Hmm..having a hard time posting. So I am posting as anonymous!!

    Toni Lynn Cloutier

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Toni,
      Can't you get a little wagon for towing guitars in back? ;-)

      I really enjoyed reading The Patriot Girl. Tell us more about the sequel you're working on. :)

      Delete
  2. LOL..my days of little wagons are gone. As for book 2, the working title is Count Down To Love. Jesse meets up with his first love and learns he has a daughter who'd been given up for adoption 19 years ago.

    ReplyDelete