Imperfect Women is excited to interview award winning author Tracy March. Her newest novel, Tempted in the Tropics, releases on September 9th!
IW: Hi Tracy! Thanks for stopping by Imperfect Women!
TM: Thanks so much for the invitation. I’m totally imperfect, so I should fit right in!
IW: When I’m reading or writing book reviews, I need complete silence and a diet coke to function. Tell us about your must haves for the perfect writing set up.
TM: I think you’re channeling me! I definitely need complete silence and Diet Coke. And some kind of view–whether it’s out of my home office window looking at the trees and the glimmering river beyond, or out of a hotel room window looking at Nationals Park in Washington, DC. I need to have something to stare at while my imagination runs free! When my husband travels to DC for his job, I usually go, too, since I can take my work with me. Sometimes we’ll score room with incredible views of the amazing skyline. But if the view doesn’t inspire me, I’ll grab my Diet Coke and go out and find one that does!
IW: Your bio says you work in the pharmaceutical field. What made you decide to pursue writing?
TM: I used to work in the pharmaceutical field where I faced a great deal of pressure to meet super-sized sales goals. I turned to writing fiction to alleviate some of my real-world stress, with the hope of someday becoming a full-time author and ditching the pharma job. I’m happy to say that my wish has come true!
IW: At what point did you start to see your writing career take off?
TM: I’d been working toward publication for about eight years when The Practice Proposal released last March. It was the first novel in my Suddenly Smitten sweet-and-sassy romance series, and I’m thrilled by the positive response I’ve received from readers. When RT Book Reviews selected it as a Top Pick! in July, I got the feeling that maybe my career was taking off! Another big step was when my romantic thriller, Girl Three, was published in April, and I got to see it on the shelf in Barnes & Noble—a dream come true, for sure. I actually stood there and cried! Of course my husband snapped a picture. Not the most flattering shot, but he still has it as the wallpaper on his iPhone! Isn’t he precious? 😉
IW: Is there anyone from your real life that has become a character in one of your books?
TM: For sure! The sexy pro baseball player in The Practice Proposal was inspired by my real-life favorite MLB player. Does that count? (Please say yes!) During most Washington Nationals games, this inferno-hot player appeared on my TV or on the field (when I was lucky enough to be in the stands), just begging to jump into a romance novel. So I put him in one!
Only I didn’t have a contract for The Practice Proposal at the time. So I made him the star of a romantic thriller. He wouldn’t play baseball—he’d be a senate staffer who rode a BMW motorcycle to work—but he’d still be buff at 6’ 5” and 245. He’d still have that swagger, the longish dark hair, the sultry brown eyes, and the sexist mouth EVER.
So I’m off and writing him into my thriller, when I get a contract for The Practice Proposal. *woot* But wait! Super-sexy baseball guy was now in a thriller and busy working on Capitol Hill! *bites nails* How could I write a baseball hero who wasn’t him? Him who I have pictures of on my bulletin board? Him whose nickname and number are on my favorite Nats-red hoodie? Him who makes a blissfully happy married woman really love baseball?
I considered totally changing the thriller hero, and giving the baseball hero his true physical characteristics. But then I realized, it was his heart I needed to bring to the character—his sportsmanship, his team spirit, his love of the fans, and his quirky sense of humor. So I made up an entirely new version of him and called him Cole Collins. He’s got the longish hair, but it’s blonde, and his eyes are sparkly-blue. He’s tall and broad and muscular, and gracefully agile, too. Oops…backup a second. Maybe I wasn’t totally truthful. Cole’s not entirely new. I gave him that melt-your-insides mouth. I figured, why shouldn’t two men have lips like that?
If you’re wondering who the mystery MLB player is, it’s Michael Morse, who now plays for the Baltimore Orioles. I dedicated The Practice Proposal to him and nearly hyperventilated when he tweeted me about it—twice!
IW: Tell us about your inspiration for “Tempted in the Tropics”.
TM: I’m a total sucker for fairy-tale romances, especially since they start out a little rocky. Tempted in the Tropics is an enemies-to-lovers story that takes a feuding sassy bakery owner and an uptight doctor, puts them in paradise, and dares them not to fall for one another.
Before I worked in the pharma industry, I worked for Sandals and Beaches Resorts, and I traveled throughout the Caribbean. My favorite island was lush St. Lucia with its mountains, rainforests, and exotic black-sand beaches. What better place to see if the steamy heat between two opposites could fizzle an ongoing feud?
I guess you could say I had anti-inspiration for the swoony Dr. Lane Anderson who’s the hero of the story. I met so many doctors when I worked in pharma, yet none were as hot as Lane with his buff body, dark hair, green eyes, and twin dimples. (Sorry, docs!) But I did use some of the doctors’ personality traits to bring Lane to life. (Hint: They could be a little uptight!) If anyone knows where I can find a doctor like Lane, please leave a comment so I can make an appointment! 😉
IW: Let’s pretend for a moment… You have the chance to plan 24 hours of your time to do whatever you want. What would you be doing and who would you take?
TM: I’d be with my husband in the Colorado Rockies, picnicking by a shimmering lake, hiking trails bordered by fields of wildflowers, relaxing and laughing, and enjoying amazing views. We’d have dinner beneath the stars, and sleep in the cool mountain air. That’s my version of a fairy tale!
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Tempted in the Tropics releases on September 9th. Check back for our review and a delicious giveaway, coming soon!
In the meantime, you can stay up-to-date with Tracy on her social media:
Twitter
Goodreads
Website
Facebook
About the Author:
Jen loves to read. She can’t stop herself. It’s become an obsession. She is in love with her husband, kids, iced coffee and books. Jen lives in beautiful Colorado but is originally from the West Coast.
Thanks for sharing the baseball player’s name. I couldn’t wait to see what his mouth looked like. 😉
I have no doctor recommendations for you. Sorry. 🙁
I have Googled Michael Morse. HOLY COW he’s a cutie!! He’s got some sexy eyes!!
The title Tempted In The Tropics sounds very sexy. I love learning about the authors and what a great interview.
Great interview! I love hearing how authors get their inspiration!
Love love love the MLB player inspiration and that he tweeted you twice about it! Gotta love twitter!
I’m with Terry, I like hearing about the authors, how they got started, what motivates them. Great interview.
I enjoy learning how authors get their inspiration too. And I totally need some diet mountain dew and silence to do my posts too!Pam
I love your last answer
” I’d be with my husband in the Colorado Rockies, picnicking by a shimmering lake, hiking trails bordered by fields of wildflowers, relaxing and laughing, and enjoying amazing views. We’d have dinner beneath the stars, and sleep in the cool mountain air. That’s my version of a fairy tale!”
Great interview and this is an author to keep an eye on.
What a great opportunity to interview an author! Well done, and thank you
Pure escapism!
WOAH it sounds like a crispy book.
How fun to do an interview with her. Makes me think I need to go catch a baseball game
I am always fascinated by interviews with writers because somewhere in a deep secret place in my heart, I would love to be a writer! The book sounds like a great read as well!
Thats awesome that you got to interview the author!
I’ve never heard of this author before and I’m a romance novel junkie. Thanks for introducing her. Will have to give her books a look over on Amazon. I’m always looking for new books for my Kindle.
What a neat interview – I have to admit I haven’t heard of the author before but I shall sure be looking into her more now 🙂 x
That is so cool that you got to interview the author! I’ve never heard of her, but glad I learned about her from your post!
Thanks so much for hosting me here today at Imperfect Women! I’m having lots of fun reading the comments. It’s awesome to meet new friends! 🙂
What a great interview! I enjoyed reading all about the author and I am tempted to read her book. Thanks for sharing a little about you here.
Great! I love the part when her hubby took a picture of her when she was over whelmed with cheer! Go girl! It’s always fun to read about authors, my favourite peeps in the whole world 😉
I like the story, especially the part of 2 people trying not to admit they like each other. Good interview as well.
As a fellow author, it’s always exciting to hear about new authors. I love to get to know them as a person as well!
After reading Jen’s comment I also had to google. haha, thanks for this post, I always enjoy reading your interviews.
Get ready for a great giveaway (hint hint cupcakes are involved!!) starting tomorrow!
What a great interview! Great job, very well written too. Sounds like a good read as well, it’ll go on my book watch
I live in Colorado. Where exactly would you like to go? I am always looking for different places to visit and the place you mentioned sounds like I would love it. I live in town so I am assuming it is far away from me. Great interview!
This sounds like a great book to curl up with on the beach while on vacation. It seems that is exactly the effect that the author intended.
This is a really cool interview! I definitey love reading interviews like this and getting inside a writer’s mind!
I wanted to compliment both Jen and Tracy on a great, enlightening interview! Now what is this about cupcakes? Clearly, I have another post to read! 🙂
Congratulations on being able to wave goodbye to the field of pharmaceuticals!
I really enjoyed hearing about your writing setup. I always find it interesting how authors work at their craft. Also, like your pick of how you would chose to spend 24 hours however you wish.
Great interview!
This is a great interview. People have so many misconceptions about what people have to do to be successful!
Great interview! It’s fun to see where authors get their inspiration