Saturday, September 01, 2007

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Judi McCoy has been writing romance for over twelve years. She leads the Romantic Times aspiring authors’ course at their yearly convention, and has mentored new writers both online and in person, in private and in group situations. She’s also given numerous chapter workshops on a variety of writing topics.

Her first book, I Dream of You, won Waldenbook's Best-selling Debut Romance of 2001. Since then, her novels have consistently garnered four stars from Romantic Times Book Club and numerous online review sites. She belongs to RWA, CRW, NTRW, NJRW, RWI of Tulsa, WRW, MRW, and the Greater Dallas Writers Association. Her May 2003 release, Heaven in Your Eyes, won Fallen Angel Review's Best Contemporary.

Along with a writing career, she has twenty-five plus years experience as a women’s gymnastics judge. Judi currently resides on Virginia's peaceful eastern shore with her husband and three small dogs, Rudy, Buckley, and Belle. She keeps busy by tending her garden, raising orchids, and writing her next novel.

Visit Judi's website at www.judimccoy.com
Blog: http://judimccoy.blogspot.com


INTERVIEW:

Why did you become a writer?
I had a job that required a lot of travel, and during that time I read quite a bit. One day it hit me, maybe I could write a book too.

Was it a dream of yours since you were younger or did the desire to write happen later in your life?
The reality that I could do it came later in life, but I’d written in high school and was published in a couple of local magazines, so I knew I had some talent.

What do you love about being an author?
There’s no dress code and you make your own hours.

Is there anything you dislike?
It gets lonely sometime, and that’s hard to deal with if you’re a people person.

How do you balance your personal and writing time?
I write on a strict schedule. I work an 8-6 day and once I quit for dinner, I don’t go back to my computer again until the next morning. My husband works from home too, so we both shut down and devote the evening to ‘us’.

How do you write? Do your characters come to you first or the plot or the world of the story?
Usually, I get an idea, a sort of ‘what if’ moment. If the idea sticks with me, I flesh it out, come up with a heroine first, then a hero that’s perfect for her. After that, I discuss my idea with a few writing friends. After that, it’s easy to write the book.

What genre(s) do you write?
I call what I write ‘whimsy’ and describe it as light-hearted with a fairy tale feel. I write it because it makes me feel good, which is what I hope it does for my readers.

What is the biggest misconception about being an author?
Hah! There are quite a few, but the biggest is that we make a lot of money. That is so untrue, it sometimes makes me laugh and often makes me cry. Next would be the concept that once we’re published, we have it made. So not true. We have to submit proposals and sell to our editors each time we finish a contract.

Do you tend to base your characters on real people or are they totally from your imagination?
My characters are a conglomeration of people I know and love. I try to use their best qualities if the hero and heroine, and their worst if they are the villain.

Out of all the characters that you've written, who is your favorite and why?
My favorite female character is Zara, from Wanted: One Perfect Man. The woman was brave and honorable, yet had a quaint way of looking at earthlings and their world. And she stayed true to her mission, even though it meant giving up the man she loved. Thank heaven Daniel didn’t let her go. My favorite hero? I love them all, but the best is Declan O’Shea from Say You’re Mine. What a guy.

If you were writing a script for the big screen, who would you want to act in your movie?
I love Debra Messing and I could see her playing one of my heroines, though she’d have to put on about 30 pounds. All of my female leads are full-figured and there aren’t many size 14s working in Hollywood at the moment, which is why I write about them. They’re real women, not little girls. As for the men in my books, so many would do a fine job. I like guys with a little mileage on them; men who know the right woman is all they need to make their life complete, and aren’t afraid to admit it.

What would you want readers to take away from your books?
I try to make each book I write better than the last. I want my readers to close the book and sigh, maybe shed a tear, and tell themselves, “Wow, that was a great story.”

Do you have any advice for beginning writers in regards to writing a book?
Never give up. This job is 50% determination, 30% luck, and 20% talent. The only sure way to NEVER get published is to stop writing.

Who are your favorite authors?
Susan Elizabeth Phillips, for sure. Terry Southwick writes wonderful category books. There are lots of others.

What are you reading right now?
Mysteries. I’m writing a mystery series, so I’m trying to get a handle on what I need to do to move ahead of the pack. The story is fun, funny, and very original. Once my agent sells it, it will be huge.



ABOUT THE BOOK:

BLURB:

Chloe, the Muse of Happiness, did not pass her hundred–year performance review with flying colors. But she's not worried about Zeus' punishment. Spend a year on earth making mortals happy, then retire to Mount Olympus in luxury? No problem. Isabelle Castleberry's wedding planning business is the perfect spot for Chloe's talents, and the year is certain to fly by. That is, until Miss Belle's nosy grandson comes back to town.

Dr. Matthew Castleberry has spent almost two years at Doctors Without Borders and it's definitely left him with some trust issues. His grandmother's new assistant may be a whiz at planning weddings, and very easy on the eyes, but he's not about to let that fool him. There's something about Chloe that he can't quite put his finger on and Matt's determined to figure it out. Now, if he can just keep the rest of his hands off her in the meantime...


EXCERPT:

Chloe heard a car door slam and peeked out a front parlor window just as Judge Armbruster’s limo pulled away. Then she spotted a hulking shape trudging up the steps of the stately home, unwieldy baggage in tow. Before she could gather her senses, a key turned in the lock, and the door swung open, allowing the freezing Lake Michigan wind to whistle through the foyer.

She stared as the large man dropped his bags. Who the heck was this guy, and how had he gotten a key to the Castleberry mansion?

Tapping a toe, she folded her arms and waited for the intruder to notice her. After glancing to his right, the man turned left, and Chloe inhaled a gasp. With his shaggy hair and beard, camouflage pants, and bulky jacket, the interloper could have been an escapee from a military compound.

He also looked vaguely familiar.

“Who are--?”

“What are you--?”

She blew out a breath. “I’m Chloe Degodessa, and I work here. Who are you?”

The hulk took her in from top to bottom, his whiskey-colored eyes causing her to quiver from the inside out.

“I’m Matthew Castleberry. This is my home.”

Oh, crap. Just what she didn’t need. She’d hoped to finish her mission here without interference. From the way Miss Belle described her grandson, that would now be impossible.

“Do you have identification?” she asked, well aware the house key should have been enough. But how did she know he hadn’t stolen it from the real Matthew Castleberry or had one made? In the back of her mind, she recalled the photo she’d seen on Miss Belle’s nightstand. If she tried hard enough, she could match this hair-covered giant to the picture, but just barely. “A birth certificate or driver’s license?”

Matt inspected the unfamiliar woman’s sinfully long legs, flaring hips, and shapely breasts encased in a form-fitting and expensive-looking sheath studded in sparkling rhinestones. Sweet Jesus and Mother Mary, this distrusting angel had to be the person who had his grandmother in a stranglehold.

At first glance, she reminded him of Marilyn Monroe; then he took better inventory and realized her beauty was one hundred percent natural. Her huge baby blue eyes resembled those of a terrified doe, but her challenging expression was all business. She stood her ground, giving him time to examine her lush lips, delicate nose, and upswept smoky lashes.

“Miss Belle’s grandson is a member of Doctors Without Borders. He’s in Africa and not scheduled to come home for another month.”

“Well, guess again, honey, ‘cause he’s home and he’s dead tired. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to my room. We can sort things out in the morning.”

She stepped in front of him, blocking his way. “Don’t force me to call security.”


REVIEWS:

"The second Goddess romantic fantasy (see ALMOST A GODDESS starring Kyra) combines an overall lighthearted whimsical romance with some powerful insight into western doctors struggling with providing help in third world nations. The story line is fast-paced and very breezy (it is Chicago) yet at times the anguish of Dr. Matt suffering from a form of battle fatigue syndrome brings reality to the mix. Readers will enjoy Chloe's breaking of the first commandment of thou shall not fall in love with a mortal, especially an emotionally troubled mortal."
-- Harriet Klausner

"ONE NIGHT WITH A GODDESS is pure entertainment. The missives from Zeus are cute but it is Chloe's determination to find out Eros' role in things that had me laughing. Judi McCoy proves once again that she knows how to write an amusing romantic tale with just a touch of fantasy."
-- Deborah Wiley, CK2S KWIPS AND KRITIQUES

..."This would be a great summer read while at the beach!
-- Mary (Las Vegas, NV)

"Judi's books are always a pleasure! Chloe is fun and spunky- a goddess with faults we could all relate to. Pick up One Night With a Goddess, and spend a day at the beach or by the pool in pleasure."
-- Aleka Nakis


One Night with a Goddess by Judi Mccoy
ISBN-13: 978-0060774608
Genre: Romantic Fantasy
Release Date: May 2007
Publisher: New York:Avon, 2007
$5.99 from Amazon.com


Purchase One Night with a Goddess by Judi Mccoy HERE!!!