An Interview with Tracy March

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.

jen@imperfectwomen.com