Nana Prah's Blog: The Hourglass

Today I have the pleasure of hosting fabulous author Sharon Struth as she interviews a character from her novel The Hourglass. Remember to leave a comment to enter to win one of two $25 Amazon gift cards which she will give away at the end of her tour, which is today.

Hello Nana. Thanks for hosting me on your blog. Today I’m going to interview Brenda. This way your readers can learn a little bit more about what makes the heroine of my book tick.

Meet character Brenda McAllister.

Relationship Psychologist. Bestselling Self-Help Author. Our Heroine in The Hourglass

Sharon: Thank you for joining me today, Brenda. How’d you end up in The Hourglass?

Brenda: It all started when my best friend and agent, Reggie, insisted I attend a writer’s conference. My second self-help book, Sex in the Middle Ages, had just released. I wasn’t much in the mood to go out in public. A year earlier, I lost my husband to suicide. Besides feeling like a failure because I hadn’t helped him, I sure didn’t feel like an expert on middle-aged folks and their sex lives either. Anyway, on the first day of the conference, I rolled out of bed and decided to get myself a nice latte to help me wake up. I’ll admit I was tired and looked like hell, but then I ran into someone in the lobby and spilled his coffee all over him. *Shakes her head* Just my luck…it’s this big-time author with a major ego and attitude problem. CJ Morrison. His books have been made into movies. Anyway, I learned he has a few anger issues and doesn’t accept apologies too well.

Sharon: At least you wouldn’t have to see the author again.

Brenda: *Rolls her eyes* Are you kidding? Have you heard of Murphy’s Law? Later in the day I was at a table to sign my books and CJ saunters by with—get this—a sexy super-model at least twenty years younger than him hanging off his arm. Ugh, I hate when older men date out of their age bracket. I will admit though, at a second look without spilled coffee, he is pretty hot. Then, when he spotted me, he had the nerve to make a snotty remark about what happened with the coffee. *Brenda snickers* I got the last laugh, though. My dig about his younger girlfriend won’t be forgotten.

Sharon: At least you’ll never have to see him.

Brenda: I’d never get to lucky. Turns out my agent invited him to join us at the conference dinner. She had spoken to his agent about an arrangement to have me help with a character profile in his book. Dinner was awkward, at best, but the worse part was he ignored me while he charmed every other lady who came to our table. I ran into him later at the bar and made a dig that he could be nicer. It went over like a lead weight. *Brenda pauses* Here’s what’s strange, though. The next morning, when I watched his keynote address, my opinion of him changed.

Sharon: Why?

Brenda: His address focused on a climb he took up Mt. Everest. One line stopped me. He said it showed him ways he could deal more with his personal struggles. And that’s when I saw it.

Sharon: Saw what?

Brenda: Sadness. He’s stuck in a place of deep sadness. Something tells me he wants to make himself better but can’t. I could almost relate to him, after what I’ve been through with losing my husband. The psychologist in me needed to know what made CJ tick otherwise I’m not sure I would have kept our work arrangement.

Sharon: Did you find out why he seemed sad? Does it explain his bad behavior the first time you two met?

Brenda: *Cocks her head and grins* Well, I guess you’ll just have to read more to find out.

BLURB:

Can forgiveness survive lies and unspoken truths?

Until Brenda McAllister’s husband committed suicide, she appeared to have the ideal life: a thriving psychology practice, success as a self-help author, and a model family. But her guilt over her affair with Jack’s best friend prevents her from moving on. Did Jack learn of her infidelity? Was she the cause of his death?

The release of Brenda’s second book forces her into an unexpected assignment with arrogant celebrity author CJ Morrison, whose irritating and edgy exterior hides the torment of his own mistakes. But as she grows closer to CJ, Brenda learns she wasn’t the only one with secrets—Jack had secrets of his own, unsavory ones that may have led to his death. While CJ helps Brenda uncover the truth about her husband, she finds the path to forgiveness isn’t always on the map.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Excerpt:

An unexpected gravitational pull swelled Brenda’s anger. Her cute quip ran into hiding. She no longer cared about winning this man’s favor. His rudeness left her feeling as if she’d been doused with hot coffee this time. Brenda clenched her fists. A year of internal browbeating over Jack’s suicide had left her easily irritated.

Brenda gripped the frail edges of her self-control. “I once again offer my apologies for the accident, by definition an unplanned event with lack of intent.” He looked down his sturdy, Grecian nose at her, so she stood and put her hands on her hips. “Shouldn’t you, as a writer, know that?”

Every line on his face tensed. “I could do without your sarcasm.” He leaned closer. “Thanks to you, I missed my meeting. Maybe tomorrow morning you could get room service.”

The brunette unleashed a tight smirk. CJ motioned for them to move on.

Brenda fumbled for a good retort. As he stepped away, the last word went with him. The same way Jack had the last word in their life together. A silent explosion went off inside Brenda’s head and propelled her anger forward.

“Mr. Morrison?” She raised her voice to be heard above the crowd.

He looked over his shoulder and arched a questioning eyebrow.

Brenda crossed her arms and fixed a phony smile as she nodded toward his companion. “It’s so nice of you to bring your daughter to the conference.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Novelist Sharon Struth believes you’re never too old to pursue a dream. The Hourglass, her debut novel, received first place in the Dixie Cane Memorial Contest and second place in the Golden Heart. She writes from the friendliest place she’s ever lived, Bethel, Connecticut, along with her husband, two daughters and canine companions. For more information, including where to find her published essays, please visit http://www.sharonstruth.com.

Discover more about Sharon Struth here:

Blogs at "Life in the Middle Ages” http://www.sharonstruth.wordpress.com

Website: www.sharonstruth.com

Facebook Author Page http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sharon-Struth-Author-Page/139641182749036?ref=

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Monday, 19 August 2013

The Hourglass by Sharon Struth: Character #Interview and #Giveaway