Where are you from
and what do you do when you’re not writing?
I live
in a suburb south of the Twin Cities in Minnesota. If I’m not writing, you
could find me on the sidelines of my son’s soccer game snapping photos of him
playing. I like to scrapbook when time allows, which isn’t often, as I am
behind on my scrapbook pages. During the summer months I help an older friend
with her gardening. The gardening allows me some personal time to relax.
Otherwise, as the COO of the household, I’m busy with the duties one must face
owning a home.
How did you come up
with the idea for this book/series?
I’d love
to talk about my upcoming release late this fall, Texas Two Step. It’s a follow up with the secondary characters from
my debut release, Florida Heat. The
story mainly takes place in Dallas, TX with a few scenes taking place in
Florida. The story came about when readers asked me, “What happened to Chloe
and Chad?” So, the readers are getting their wish answered. The title might lend
you to think there’s some dancing in the book, but it has nothing to do with
the Texas Two-Step.
Tell us about the
writing process—what were your favorite and least favorite moments?
Interesting
question. My favorite part was brainstorming the story with fellow writers on a
retreat. My least favorite moment was when my characters decided to stop
talking to me and I couldn’t write. I guess you could say I suffered from a
minor case of writer’s block. A fellow writer went through the same thing with
me and we joked that our characters were hanging out at the bar together while
laughing at us. I’m glad to say, all characters return to their respective
stories.
What’s your favorite
cure for writer’s block?
I step
away from the story and use my creativity another way by scrapbooking. Yard
work can help too. The story is never far from my thoughts. I must admit
though, writer’s block doesn’t scare me, it’s the “doubter” within telling me I
don’t know what I’m doing and to quit writing. The “doubter” is pure evil.
Can you please share
an excerpt?
I would
love to share an excerpt of my current release, Rescue Me. This story takes place on a farm in Minnesota.
Can Catherine accept the
consequences of a great-aunt's dying wish without losing her heart or
independence?
Taking
in stray, injured or needy animals, veterinarian doctor Catherine Mornelli
opens the Four Hooves and Paws Rescue program. But the land where the animals
are kept is being sold. She approaches her Great-Aunt Elaine about possibly
using her barn. However, visiting her aunt and checking out the barn also means
seeing her ex-boyfriend.
Josef
Garrison farms land that once belonged to his family for generations but went
to his neighbor Elaine after his great-grandfather lost it in a poker game to Catherine’s great-grandfather. When
Catherine returns, he sees a way to win back her heart and the land at the same
time.
Excerpt:
Josef followed and set his plate on the counter behind her. His other arm came around to her other side. Trapped against the counter, she turned to face him.
“What are you doing?” she asked briskly as her face grew warm.
“I thought maybe we could pick up where we left off earlier in the bedroom. I felt the spark.” He leaned in and warm lips met hers.
She pulled back. “We have more to talk about.”
“Let’s talk later. After …” he kissed her lips, “we …” nibbled her ear, “reignite …”
lingered over a kiss on her neck, “our relationship,” then returned to kiss her mouth as she melted into a puddle.
Her heart raced rapidly. Her stomach quivered. Her legs turned to jelly in the most delicious way.
As Josef pulled away, her eyes opened. He lifted her in his arms and exited the kitchen, passed the stairs and entered the master suite. He bent, laying her on the bed. His bed. He loomed over her with his hands at her sides. Nerves heightened and prickled like when your foot is asleep and you’re trying to wake it up. Not knowing whether this was the thing to be doing or not, her body knew what it wanted. Its name was Josef.
The tee shirt clinging to his torso needed to come off. She grabbed the hem and pulled the shirt over his head. Oh … my … God! She tossed the shirt to the floor. Her hands wandered over his hairy chest.
What’s your
next/current writing project?
Well
since I already shared my current work/upcoming release, I haven’t started
another project. Not saying that it hasn’t been on my mind. I did leave a
possibility with two characters in Texas
Two Step to have their own story, but at this time I’m not sure I want to
write it. I have an idea based on a picture that I’m thinking about. I’ll be
going away on my annual retreat this fall and will brainstorm the next book.
Here’s a totally random question for you:
Come up with your own silly haiku, but you
must include the word “clown”.
Warm
summer breezes
Bikes
zoom up and down the street
Bike
horn honks—clown!
Thanks so much for stopping by!
Thank
you for inviting and having me here today.
****
Born and raised in Minnesota, Jody has remained close to
home living with her husband of twenty plus years, three children and a cat
named Holly. Growing up, she enjoyed reading V.C. Andrews' the Dollanganger series,
starting with Flowers in the Attic, S.E. Hinton, and Stephen King to
name a few. Today her tastes run across the board in fiction and non-fiction,
in all genres.
She has traveled throughout
the United States, to the Bahamas and Cancun, Mexico. Between watching her
son’s soccer games, maintaining one of the many scrapbook albums, gardening and
being the COO of the Vitek household, she writes contemporary romances.
Contacts
and Links
Website: www.jodyvitek.com
Email: info@jodyvitek.com
Twitter: @JodyVitek
All of
my books are available through Melange Books, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and
other on-line retailers.
Thank you for having me here, Mysti! I wish I had cover art to share for the upcoming release, but unfortunately there are other authors ahead of me waiting to see their cover.
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