My mother in law reads my blog ... and she commented that all roads lead to Hawaii. Well, hold on to your grass skirts because we are heading to Hawaii, in part, with Courtney Cole for her blog tour!
Kim: Oh, Courtney, we are going to have fun with your Random Facts (link)
1. I collect dashboard hula-girls.
2. I like to have my car stereo volume set at an even number.
3. I can barely remember my natural hair color.
4. I am terrified of buoys and birds.
5. I love cemetery angels. Is that weird?
2. I like to have my car stereo volume set at an even number.
3. I can barely remember my natural hair color.
4. I am terrified of buoys and birds.
5. I love cemetery angels. Is that weird?
What inspired you to collect dashboard hula girls? Where do you find them to add to your collection? There is quite an assortment at the Aloha Stadium Swap Meet near Pearl Harbor.
Courtney: Haha, well obviously I’m going to need to come to Hawaii to find authentic hula girls. It’s as good a reason as any! Lol.
A long time ago, I came across the cutest hula girl and I bought her to put on my dash. My husband was mortified, because he thought it was the tackiest thing ever, but I did it anyway. And you know what? Every day that I drove to work, that little hula girl made me happy. She reminded me of warm places and vacation.
So after that, I started buying them whenever I went on vacation. I keep them on a shelf in my office now, and I’m always on the lookout for new ones.
Courtney: Haha, well obviously I’m going to need to come to Hawaii to find authentic hula girls. It’s as good a reason as any! Lol.
A long time ago, I came across the cutest hula girl and I bought her to put on my dash. My husband was mortified, because he thought it was the tackiest thing ever, but I did it anyway. And you know what? Every day that I drove to work, that little hula girl made me happy. She reminded me of warm places and vacation.
So after that, I started buying them whenever I went on vacation. I keep them on a shelf in my office now, and I’m always on the lookout for new ones.
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| Kama'aina (local) offers hula girls at Aloha Stadium. |
Kim: Reference your car stereo volume, you remind me of the TV show, Monk. Did you watch the show?
Courtney: Oh my gosh. I had totally forgotten about that show. I did used to watch it—I was so disappointed when it went off the air.
Kim: Reference cemetery angels, it is not weird! What draws you to them? Do you have a favorite one ... or one that is unusual?
Courtney: It’s not weird?? That’s good!
I’m not sure what draws me to them. There’s just something so haunting and beautiful about them. Maybe it’s because I grew up as a preacher’s kid under the belief that we all have guardian angels. Maybe it’s the idea that even after we die, they stand watch over us… I’m not sure.
My favorite is in the Staglieno Cemetery in Genova, Italy. It’s titled Love Will Tear Us Apart. There’s something so sad and haunting and beautiful about it, that it’s just remained my favorite over the years.
I’m not sure what draws me to them. There’s just something so haunting and beautiful about them. Maybe it’s because I grew up as a preacher’s kid under the belief that we all have guardian angels. Maybe it’s the idea that even after we die, they stand watch over us… I’m not sure.
My favorite is in the Staglieno Cemetery in Genova, Italy. It’s titled Love Will Tear Us Apart. There’s something so sad and haunting and beautiful about it, that it’s just remained my favorite over the years.
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| Courtney sent me a picture of the cemetery statue, but I can't download it. So let's go back to Aloha Stadium - how about hula pigs? |
Kim: Tell us about Indiana - what is your favorite sight, sound, and smell?
Courtney: Hmmm. Well, I live in a great location—I live in a tri-state area very close to the edges of Indiana, Michigan and Illinois. While my address is in Indiana, I can literally drive a few minutes and reach either Michigan or Illinois. I’m very close to Chicago, but I can drive a couple of hours and reach Indianapolis in one direction or Toledo, Cincinnati or Kalamazoo in other directions. It’s really cool because we’re never lacking for something to do. The summers are mild, although the winters are harsh. We live close enough to Lake Michigan that we get tons of lake effect snow.
Incidentally, Lake Michigan is my favorite part of living here. It’s vast and beautiful, and has all the benefits of an ocean, without the fear of sharks. Haha. There’s nothing better than standing with my toes in the edge of the icy water and having the summer breeze lift the hair off my face. Perfection!
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| Shark mural near Shark's Cove on the North Shore |
Kim: Who or what prompted you to jump into publishing, especially New Adult?
Courtney: I started out writing New Adult, which was fun. And I still might revisit a couple of story ideas in the future. I didn’t set out to change over to New Adult… but the story idea for IF YOU STAY came to me and wouldn’t leave me alone. Pax insisted that his voice was heard, so I wrote his story. And in order to do his story justice, I couldn’t water it down. It had to be gritty and real and raw. Therefore, there was no way it could be YA. So I jumped into New Adult and haven’t looked back. I love it because I can write about the issues that 20-somethings have, and I don’t have to toe that YA line of propriety.
Kim: Tell us about the Beautifully Broken Series and your new release, BEFORE WE FALL?
Courtney: The idea behind the Beautifully Broken series is a simple one…I believe that each and every one of us is broken in some way. We’ve all been hurt, we’ve all experienced loss of some sort. That affects us each in different ways, some of us more than others. My characters all have amplified issues, for the sake of entertainment, but the idea is still the same. Each book features a new set of main characters, pulled from the book before it.
BEFORE WE FALL is book three in the series and it features Dominic Kinkaide, a troubled 24-year old actor. On the outside, it would look like he has the world on a string. He’s famous, sexy and rich. But he’s carrying something inside of him that has been eating away at him for six years. Dominic is my baddest bad boy yet. BEFORE WE FALL is the story of his redemption….and salvation.
Kim: What's next for Courtney Cole?
Courtney: I keep saying that I’m going to take some time off, take a breather. But I know that won’t happen. I’m already plotting out a new book in the series, as well as a spin-off series… a series featuring Sin Kinkaide, Dominic’s older brother.
Thank you so much for having me on your blog today. It’s been a pleasure!
Sometimes, one dark moment is all it takes to turn your world black...
For 24-year old Dominic Kinkaide, that moment took place on the night of his high school graduation. One dark incident changed him forever. He's a hardened actor now, famous in the eyes of the world, but tortured in his own. He doesn't care about much of anything, except for losing himself in the roles that he plays.
23-year old Jacey Vincent doesn't realize how much her father's indifference has affected her. She is proof that sometimes it isn't one specific moment that wrecks a person, but rather it's an absence of moments. She's like a bird with a broken wing-strong yet fragile, as she tries to float through life, finding acceptance in the arms of random guys, one after the other... to fill the void that her father left in her.
Until she meets Dominic.
After jaded Dominic and strong-willed Jacey are thrown together, his secret and her issues create a dark and damaged energy that will soon turn their attraction to each other into an explosive storm.
Even though when the clouds have cleared and the dust has settled, both of them are almost obliterated... they've learned a priceless lesson.
Sometimes, before we fall... we fly.
Buy Links:
Amazon
Barnes and Noble
Book Trailer 1 link
Book Trailer 2 link
Mahalo, Courtney, for being my guest! Courtney is hosting a special giveaway at this link. Meanwhile, in honor of Courtney's love of hula girls, I am giving away Hawaiian souvenirs from Aloha Stadium. To enter the giveaway,
1. Leave a comment about a fun fact about you.
I can pick up things with my toes!
2. This giveaway is open to all readers.
3. Comments are open through Saturday, December 7, 10 pm in Baltimore. I'll post the winner on Sunday, December 8.
Mahalo,
Kim in Baltimore
Aloha Spirit in Charm City
To learn more about Courtney and her books, check out her website at courtneycolewrites.com.
Fun fact about me? Well, I know where Courtney lives! LOL Not exactly, but I used to live less than 5 miles into Michigan from the IN border, so I know her area. Now I'm between Kalamazoo and Benton Harbor, but still close enough to get way too much lake effect snow. ;)
ReplyDeleteOkay, a real fun fact? I met my hubby on a locked Psych unit. *gg* No, he wasn't a patient. We both worked there.
Marcy Shuler
bmndshuler(at)hotmail(dot)com
Fun fact: I take my dog out on photo shoots all over San Diego County. :) Kim, I can pick up things with my toes too. Yay!
ReplyDeleteA fun fact about me would be that I collect Nutcrackers. Little ones and big ones - I have one 30" tall. I also have one dressed in camo. This year my daughter gave me a nutcracker 'advent calendar' - very cool.
ReplyDeleteI am proficient in sign language.
ReplyDeleteI'm double jointed in my fingers!
ReplyDeleteI have the biggest feet of all the females in my family at size 10.
ReplyDeleteMy new favorite word is indeed.
ReplyDeleteI like even numbers as well.
ReplyDeleteI like everything to be in it's proper place.
ReplyDeleteMardi Gras is my favorite holiday. When I hear police sirens, my first thought is always, "Parade!" because the police cars lead the way for my hometown MG parades!
ReplyDeleteI always put on my left sock first.
ReplyDeleteMy thumbs are double jointed lol.
ReplyDeletelike chocolate
ReplyDelete