Blog Tour: Totally Devoted

Totally Devoted

by E.M. Bannock

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GENRE:   Modern Adult Romance w/Erotic elements

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BLURB:

Marie Trousdale, a modern urban California professional, is ready for a change when she realizes that she has been mourning her late husband and son for the past 10 years and her life has become stagnant. She hires Will Townsend, a rural Oregon contractor, to build a house for her on inherited property. The two mix like oil and water but the romance spark gets ignited. But will lifestyles, and values become an obstacle that cannot be overcome? Will misunderstandings and danger put out the flame of love or feed it? This steamy romance is a story of love, life, values, and family with a western flavor.

Totally Devoted is the first novel by author E.M. Bannock and was a 2019 National Excellence in Romance Fiction Award Finalist in both the Contemporary Romance 56K Words and up category and Best First Book. Audio Book is now available.

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Excerpt One:

From the description she was given by the hotel desk clerk, she figured she wouldn’t have much trouble finding the guy—grungy black cowboy hat, well-worn cowboy boots, scruffy beard, jean jacket, and Levi’s, sitting at the corner table. She was right. He wasn’t hard to spot. It was Monday night, and there were only a handful of people in the place. There he was, sitting at his regular corner table, with his back to the wall, his chair up on two legs, and his feet propped up and crossed on the chair next to him. There was a glass of beer and a half-empty pitcher in front of him. She wondered how many pitchers he had drained before this one. The desk clerk said he had a lot of funny habits. The clerk said the guy always sat with his back to the wall, so no one could get the jump on him. He probably watched too many John Wayne movies.

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Interview:

Where are you from? Tell us a little about yourself.

I am a product of the middle class suburbs of Detroit. There were seven kids in our family. I was number two and oldest daughter. I had a lot of responsibility with my younger siblings. Growing up wasn’t easy, it never is. But I had it better than some. My father told us stories on Saturday mornings that kept us all enthralled. I believe I inherited his vivid imagination. I left home at 18 to explore the country and find myself. Besides Michigan, I’ve lived in California, Florida, Oregon, Alaska, and Wyoming.

Tell us about your book? How did it get started?
The story for the book came in flash several years ago. The opening scene is the main character descending into Detroit Metro Airport. Marie Trousdale is a traveling project manager, stopping in Michigan to spend the weekend at her sister’s house. That’s what I was and that’s what I was doing when the entire plot of the book came into my head.

I self-published Totally Devoted in 2013. Then the book was picked up by 5 Prince Publishing, added to, parts were rewritten, and it was re-edited and given a new cover. Because I love audio books, the plan was always to produce the audio version as well. This happened this year am I’m excited to tell everyone about it.

How do you create your characters?
Most of the characters in Totally Devoted are based on real people. Most are family and close friends. And, yes, Marie and I share some qualities. Wil and my husband do as well. My sister, Annette, her husband, Jon and their son, Max, are basically Marie’s sister’s family; Maddie, Jake, and Justin.

The side story character, which is the story of the brother-in-law, is based on fact and real characters as well.

What inspires and what got you started in writing?
My father gave me his ability to spin a yarn and writing just came naturally. I remember writing stories in grade school. That’s also about the time I discovered books. I’m inspired by life, nature, and people. It’s all around.

Where do you write? Is there something you need in order to write (music, drinks?)

I need peace and quiet when I write. I write when no one is home or late at night after everyone has gone to bed. My writing is usually marathon in nature and I get grouchy when disturbed.

How do you get your ideas for writing?
I get my ideas from any number of things. The inspiration for my second book came from a writing challenge a Zumba workout song I did with my Zumba gal pals. I can create a drama from a phrase, a picture, a look. When you are the writer, you are in control. Anything can happen. You make the calls.

What do you like to read?

Adult romance is my favorite type of book to read. I prefer realistic or historical fiction. I’ve been known to stray from that and read a sci-fi book on occasion. I do like the books to have an interesting plot as well as a lot of sexy action. I’ve tried to round out my literary knowledge with a few classics.

What would your advice to be for authors or aspiring in regards to writing?
Chances are, you’re going to have to market yourself. Take a Marketing class at the local college. Writing the book is the fun and easy part compared to marketing. I’m horrible at it. But I’ll never stop writing. So, aspiring authors, above all write and keep on writing. It’s a costly, tough business to break into. But the writing community is full of helpful supportive people both on the reading end and the author end. Feel good about yourself and your work. Do it because you love it.

Anything else you’d like to share?

I’d like to close by thanking everyone for making this stop on my Totally Devoted Audio Virtual Tour and thanks to The Pen and Muse Book Reviews for hosting this stop.

I’d also like to ask readers to write reviews for the books they read. Besides helping our books getter better positioning from Amazon and other online retailers, it is the highest form of praise you can give an author. It takes time and dedication to write a book. Most writers never recover the cost of book production. A review is a small way to tell the author that it was all worth it.

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

E.M. Bannock grew up in the Detroit suburbs in the 50’s and 60’s. Her father was a great story teller and E.M. says she inherited his imagination.

After graduation, E.M. moved to Los Angeles, California where she met her husband. They have lived in California, Oregon, Alaska, Florida, and Wyoming, where she now lives with her small family which includes a spoiled dog and cat, two horses, also spoiled, and a brood of chickens that live like queens in the chicken-coupe-de-ville.

She has made her living as an office manager, computer programmer/analysts, project manager, clothing store clerk, substitute teacher, and buffalo meat packer. Throughout it all, she never lost her love for writing.

A small inheritance from her father gave her the funds needed to begin her career as a published author. She has published two books. Her first book, Totally Devoted, which is now available in audio, was a 2019 National Excellence in Romance Fiction finalist in two categories; Contemporary Romance 65K Words and Up, and Best First Book. Her second book Zoey’s Place was published in 2019.

E.M. Bannock is a Goodreads Author, a BookHub Author, a member of the Romance Writers of America, and a Rocky Mountain Fiction Writer.

Web site: www.embannock.com

Facebook: E.M. Bannock – Author

Twitter: @EMBannock

Instagram: e_m_bannock

Amazon buy link:

https://www.amazon.com/Totally-Devoted-M-Bannock-ebook/dp/B079MCNS7L/

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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE:

E.M. Bannock will be awarding a $15 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway