Barbara Valentin will be awarding a $25 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
If your book were made into a movie, who would you want to play your main characters?I tend to “cast” my hero and heroine as soon as I start writing so I can better describe their facial nuances, gestures and mannerisms. That being said, I pictured Jake McDorman (American Sniper and the TV show Limitless) as John because, he can pull off young/playful and dashing/charming all at once. For Aubrey, I pictured a young Tea Leoni (Family Man, Ghost Town and TV’s Madame Secretary) because even though her eyes are blue, she always seems to have a dark spark in them that says, “Bring it.”
How do you come up with the titles of your books?
As soon as I have the premise of the plot down, my mind starts cranking through possible titles. For this series (Assignment: Romance), I’ve stuck with two-word titles, so it helps to have that as a parameter. Flight Risk” clicked because it covered both main characters very different dilemmas: John is considered a flight risk by the board of his family’s business and Aubrey got stuck with that label by all major airlines after having a full-blown, in-flight panic attack.
What does your writing space look like?
I love writing at my kitchen table. It’s high enough so I can stand if I get tired of sitting and it’s in the hub of my house. Still, when I’m in “the zone” I’m oblivious to my kids or spouse blowing through looking for food, cooking said food and cleaning up after themselves.
What do you enjoy doing when you’re not writing?
Watching movies (romcoms, of course!) with my husband, running, catching up with friends and crocheting (scarves, mostly, baby blankets and the occasional afghan).
What is your favourite color?
I used to always answer, “Blue!” but that was before I had five boys in rather quick succession. Fuchsia is my new favorite color because it helps differentiate my things (phone, toothbrush, running shoes, etc.) from theirs.
What is your favourite pleasure food?
This is a tough one because I love to eat. For a meal, I’d have to go with deep dish pizza, veggies only. Otherwise, I lunge for anything coated in dark chocolate.
What is your favourite season?
Fall is hands down my favorite time of year. I love the cool, crisp air, leaves turning from green to red, orange and yellow, dressing in layers and downing copious amounts of pumpkin spice coffee! My crockpot gets quite the workout, too, when the days start getting shorter. One of my favorite things to make is cream of chicken soup with wild rice. My boys love it because I don’t serve it with spoons, just hunks of a sourdough baguette so they can sop it up like cavemen.
What is your favourite television show?
I assume you mean beside watching Cubs’ games…?
I loved Limitless and am still mourning its cancellation, but I very much enjoy Madame Secretary. After watching an episode, I feel like I can take on the world. If only I had a Blake (her charming, highly capable assistant who knows what she needs even before she herself does)…
What is your favourite movie?
That’s a tough one. I love snappy romcoms with fun plotlines, well-developed characters and endings that satisfactorily tie it all together. A few that come to mind are The Cutting Edge and Knight and Day. I’m sure I’ll think of a dozen more after you post this!
Who is your favourite actor?
Again, that’s a tough one. I tend to develop book crushes on my hero that last until I start working on my next book. Right now, I’m still crushing over Jake McDorman, but he’s beginning to get elbowed out by Karl Urban who will play the hero in the movie version the next book in my series.
What is your favourite song?
Al Stewart’s “Year of the Cat.” Don’t ask me why. No matter where I am or what I’m doing when I hear it, I just close my eyes and let it sweep me away for six minutes and thirty-three seconds.
What is your favourite comfort clothing attire?
When I don’t have to dress up for my day job or Sunday Mass, I’m basically a slob. In the summer, you can usually find me in denim capris with a yoga top or hoodie; the rest of the time, I live in jeans and comfy sweaters. I try to avoid make-up whenever possible and go with blow-dry only hairstyles.
What books might we find on your bedside table?
Right now, my fave romance authors: Susan Elizabeth Philips, Kristan Higgins and Karen Doornebos, but my former English major self still needs an infusion of literary classics - namely, anything by F.S. and Zelda Fitzgerald and W. Somerset Maughm.
Describe yourself in three words.
Driven, lost, hopeful
******
When Aubrey Thomas, a phobic travel writer, must chose between jumping to what she considerers certain death from a skydiving static line or sinking even deeper into debt in the unemployment line, she scrambles to find someone—anyone!—who can help her overcome her debilitating fear of heights. Enter John Trelawney, a charming window washer who thinks nothing of dangling by a cable fifty stories up and claims he can cure her. Everything about John makes Aubrey nervous... including the way her heart kicks into overdrive whenever he's around. But, at the end of her rope, she takes him up on his offer. Can he really help her get over her fear of heights? Or will Aubrey find herself free falling...possibly even in love with him?
Excerpt
John smirked. "You're not afraid of heights."
Her defenses on high alert, Aubrey shot back, "Oh yes I am," well aware that she sounded like a fifth grader picking a fight on the playground.
With a quick shake of his head and that same teasing smile, he murmured, "You're just afraid of falling."
The thought had never occurred to Aubrey, but it made perfect sense, especially after seeing her first husband fall headfirst to his death.
As if reading her mind, he added, "And I can totally help you get over that."
Ah, here we go.
"Heh. Yeah. I'll be you can." She attempted to stand, but he sprang up first.
"Easy does it." Taking her clammy hand in his, he pulled her to a standing position. "You sure you're OK?"
When she nodded, he reached into his back pocket and produced a pen. Next, he uncurled her hand and started writing something on her open palm.
But the ink wouldn't stick. Her skin was still too damp.
Which might explain what he did next.
Aubrey watched, mesmerized, as he held her open palm to his mouth and blew on it.
While part of her brain knew he was just trying to dry her skin, when he locked his eyes on hers, the rest of her was all in for him doing more of the same on the rest of her clammy self.
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Author of the bestselling Assignment: Romance series, Barbara was named "Indie Star of 2015" by Publishers Weekly. A member of Romance Writers of America, she looks forward to the day when her to-do list includes "Send Oprah a thank you note" and "Accept Godiva's request to be a taste-tester."
Social Media Links:
Website: http://www.barbaravalentin.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Platespinner/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SpinningInBurbs
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Barbara-Valentin/e/B00OPWO5NM/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1469732686&sr=1-2-ent
GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8551312.Barbara_Valentin
Buy Links:
Nook - http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/flight-risk-barbara-valentin/1123970422?ean=2940153089928
Smashwords - https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/645036
Kobo - https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/flight-risk-8
Flight Risk will be $0.99 during the tour.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
