Aloha to Monica Epstein and WHERE THERE IS WILL

Yesterday, my friend's husband came home from Afghanistan.  Safe and sound.  And his name is Will.   In effect, he can now provide emotional comfort after a long deployment.  

Monica Epstein is my guest today to promote WHERE THERE IS WILL.  In her book, Will, provides emotional comfort to heroine, Michelle, in London.  Please join me in welcoming Monica!

Monica Epstein writes about topics that appeal to women like herself—over 40 and nowhere near ready to throw in the towel and call it a life. Her first novel, Where There Is Will, is published by The Wild Rose Press.

Monica lives in a suburb of Washington, D.C. with her husband, their teenage daughter, and a small collection of hats and fascinators. She dreams of being the Queen of England in her next life.

Learn more about Monica at the following: 

Website: monicaepstein.com
Facebook: facebook.com/monicaepsteinauthor
Google+: plus.google.com/+MonicaEpstein

WHERE THERE IS WILL is available at this link.

Kim:  What is your favorite sight, sound, and smell of the DC area?

Monica:  What a great question! Thanks for making me think about DC’s sounds and smells. They’re not something I pay much attention to.

Sight is easy. I love looking at all the Washington monuments, but nothing beats the sight of cherry blossoms in full bloom around the tidal basin with the Jefferson Memorial in the background.

As for smell, Washington D.C. is filled with a variety of ethnic restaurants, each with an aroma of its own. My favorite cuisine by far is Indian. The smell of its spices is heavenly. (And it tastes great, too.)

This might seem strange but my favorite sound is the voices of a full house! My two grown children don’t live at home anymore so the one or two times a year everyone is home together is wonderful. Even if they are not talking to me, the sound of their voices is a reminder of my greatest accomplishments.

Kim:  Let's chat about your small collection of hats and fascinators.   What prompted you to collect them?

Monica:  It didn’t really start out as a collection. I’ve always loved hats and I look good in them; my parents even said that when I was a child. I grew up in a synagogue where it was customary for married women to cover their heads. I would joke that I couldn’t wait to get married so I could wear a hat. At the end of our honeymoon, my husband and I went to an apartment store so I could buy my first hat. It’s a gray fedora.

Kim:  Where do you procure them?

Monica:  I’ve gotten them in different places: department stores, hat shops, craft fairs, even a flea market, where I got a vintage hat. The fascinators I own are from U.K. and Ireland. I purchased two and my husband brought back two as gifts when he traveled to the U.K.

Kim:  What is your most unusual? 

Monica:  I have a large red fascinator that I love, but I’ve never had the courage to wear it! Besides making me stand out, it seems to either clash with my outfit or it is not appropriate for the occasion. But I’ve promised myself I’ll find a place to wear it one day.

Kim:  Do you wear them? 

Monica:  Yes! (Except for the one I mentioned above.) I wear the hats primarily to synagogue even though I’m a member of a congregation where it’s optional for married women to cover their heads. I have worn the fascinators to weddings or other festivities or when I feel like adding a little “fun” to my outfit.

Kim:  And what are your thoughts on the fascinators worn by Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice at Kate's wedding? 

Monica:  I shouldn’t be disrespectful, but some of the hats and fascinators worn to William and Kate’s wedding were bizarre. I like my accessories to compliment my wardrobe not overpower it. Of course, someone might call my red fascinator ugly. To each his or her own!

Kim:  We digressed from writing ... who or what helped you along the path to publishing?

Monica:  Quite a lot of people helped me. First, the online friends I made who inspired me to try my hand at fiction after a forty year hiatus. Next, the first friend who read the entire manuscript and thought it was worthy of publishing. Third, the published author my friends introduced me to who took me to my first meeting of our local Romance Writers of America chapter. Last, all the workshop and class presenters who taught me about the craft of writing and all of the readers who contributed comments and provided suggestions along the way. I was happy my publisher didn’t include acknowledgments. I never would have been able to name everyone.

Kim:  Tell us about WHERE THERE IS WILL - what inspired it? 

Monica:  It was inspired by my midlife crisis! When I learned that my son liked some of the same kinds of music I like, it was a boost to my old ego. Then while listening to music, I got the idea to write a short story about a middle-aged woman who tries to impress a young man with her taste in music. But the end of the story didn’t seem like the end. The characters had more they wanted me to share with readers. Before I knew it, I was writing a full-length novel. After I let a friend read it and she said it was good, I began investigating publication. That’s when I realized I had a lot of rewriting to do, but I was motivated enough to spend the next three years whipping it into shape.

Kim:  What’s next for Monica Epstein?

Monica:  A paranormal idea has practically written itself inside my head, but I’ve hesitated writing it because it’s nothing like the brand I’ve been trying to create for myself. WHERE THERE IS WILL and my blog are aimed at women in midlife. This paranormal story requires younger characters. I’m still struggling with either going against my “brand”, which I haven’t necessarily established, or with modifying the idea enough to make it fit my “brand.”

Readers, writing books and selling books are two different beasts.

Mahalo, Monica, for sharing with us!  I am looking forward to reading WHERE THERE IS WILL:

When she moves to London following her divorce, Michelle Loeser has no interest in looking for love. She needs to focus on surviving without her ex's six-figure income, coping with a severe fear of heights, and rebuilding her confidence. And if she keeps her promise to her best friend, she'll pursue her passion for writing too.

Will Sheridan found his passion early in life. At age eleven, he was cast in the starring role in a film series. Now, at the age of 25, he's a celebrity at a crossroads in his career. He has no time for women who don't understand his priorities.

When Will offers to help Michelle acclimate to the unfamiliar city in exchange for cooking lessons, she figures what's the harm? But jealous fans and coworkers, eager paparazzi, and a distrustful mother see it differently.

Canaletto's Westminster Abbey (1749)
Public Domain (link)

I am a giving away a "London" gift pack to one randomly selected commenter.  To enter the giveaway,

1.  If you could escape for a week to any city, where would it be?

2.  This giveaway is open to all readers.

3.  Comments are open through Saturday, January 25, 10 pm in Baltimore.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, January 26. 

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore

Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Monica offers an excerpt from WHERE THERE IS WILL:

While he [Will] stirred the noodles, I leaned over his shoulder to watch. I lingered there so I could take in a few more whiffs of him. When he turned to look at me, I backed away.

“Did you sniff me?”

“No.”

“You did. I saw you.”

“I was watching you stir the noodles.”

“Liar. I heard you too. You owe me a sniff.”

I screwed up my face.

Beckoning me with his index finger, he said, “Come here. It’s my turn to sniff you.”

I stayed put, so he stepped forward, put his hand on the back of my neck, and drew my head close to his face. He leaned in, and, with his nose in my hair, inhaled deeply. He took a handful of my curls, brought them to his nose and sniffed again, and then a third time.

I swayed as goose bumps formed on the nape of my neck under his hand. They traveled down my arms, my spine, even my legs. I closed my eyes and concentrated on the pleasure he was bringing me.

“Lemon?”

I forced my eyes open. “What?”

“Does your shampoo have lemon in it?”

“No.”

“Maybe orange, or some other citrus?”

I managed to return to my senses, although my cheeks were warm. “Mango.”

“It smells good.”

He turned his focus back to the pot of macaroni. “Lunch will be ready soon. Could you get me the strainer from that cupboard?”

I wobbled to the cupboard on legs weak from Will’s touch. I returned with the strainer and handed it to him. While he finished preparing lunch, I busied myself with my back to him, afraid he’d spot my flushed face.

After lunch, Will went off to set the table while I washed dishes and thought about the fact that he and I had definitely been flirting.