STUMBLING UPON ROMANCE - Sally Jo Pitts - One Free Book

Welcome back, Sally. Why do you write the kind of books you do?  

I love to read good, clean, wholesome books that are faith-based, so that is what I enjoy writing.

 

Besides when you came to know the Lord, what is the happiest day in your life? 

When my husband was elected sheriff after a long, hot summer of campaigning! My heart goes out to anyone running for public office. It is not easy.

 

How has being published changed your life? 

The publishing process has opened up a whole new interesting world to me. I have especially enjoyed meeting other Christian authors and have been astounded at the generosity of seasoned authors who are willing to help newcomers along the way.

 

What are you reading right now? 

Rachel Hauck’s, To Love a Prince

 

What is your current work in progress? 

Spring Betrayal, book #3 in my Seasons of Mystery private investigator series.

 

What would be your dream vacation? 

To go to a secluded mountain retreat, with meals furnished and uninterrupted time to write!

 

How do you choose your settings for each book? 

For me, the setting grows out of the story theme and character goals. In Stumbling Upon Romance, my lead character has come to Hamilton Harbor for a fresh start and opens a dog grooming shop. So, I dreamed up an old building in downtown Hamilton Harbor with an upstairs apartment and a dog grooming shop downstairs for her to renovate.

 

If you could spend an evening with one person who is currently alive, who would it be and why? 

Gene Stallings—football coach and motivational speaker. I’d love to hear firsthand how he managed to inspire his players and to hear about his special needs son with down syndrome who stood proudly on the sidelines with his dad.

 

I love stories like that. We were friends with a family when my husband and I first married, who had a down syndrome son. He was a delight to know. And the football team at the college made a part of the support staff. What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading? 

I enjoy working on creative household projects like painting, sewing, or refinishing furniture. However, with my writing schedule, household projects are all on hold.

 

I so understand that. I'm writing book 2 of 4 that are contracted to the same publishing company. What is your most difficult writing obstacle, and how do you overcome it? 

Effective use of the senses. I keep a list of sight, smell, sound, taste and touch descriptors to draw on and spark ideas of how to describe my character’s perceptions in a scene.

 

A good idea. What advice would you give to a beginning author? 

Don’t give up. The story will emerge in the rewrites.

 

Tell us about the featured book.  

Stumbling Upon Romance, Book #2 in the Hamilton Harbor Legacy Series: here is the back cover blurb.

 

Accident-prone dog groomer, Claudia Stewart, is a newcomer to Hamilton Harbor, Florida. She hopes to shed her black cloud image, fit in the community, and find a guy who will knock her off her feet. 

Instead, Claudia and her canine client knock handyman Pete Cullen off his feet and leave him dangling from an overhead beam.

Pete, rejected by a past love, wants to focus on restoration projects and avoid romance at all costs. But Claudia, even with her bungling ways, threatens to steal his heart.

Was their crash meeting just another one of Claudia’s mishaps? Or did the encounter put them on a collision course that would uncover lessons of unconditional love, long-held secrets, and romance?

 

Please give us the first page of the book.

Would she ever escape misfortune?

Florida’s early morning sun bore down on Claudia Stewart, who was stuck outside her dog grooming shop in downtown Hamilton Harbor.

“Good grief. Now my apron’s caught in the door.” Harvey, her giant schnauzer client, sat down—again—on the sidewalk in front of The Pampered Pooch and cocked his furry head.

“At this rate, we’ll never make it to Elaine’s.”

Shoving Harvey’s leash between her knees, she jiggled the key into the old-fashioned keyhole and opened the door, freeing her grooming apron. The business sign, with clock hands set at 9:00 and 5:00, clunked against the door glass, accenting her pride in being a new business owner.

Claudia closed the door behind her a third time. She’d already returned to retrieve her purse. The sun’s rays foreshadowed another hot, humid summer day in the northwest Florida coastal town, and the warm air intensified the scent of vanilla bean coat conditioner on Harvey and her.

“Harvey,” Claudia sniffed her shirt, “I smell like a well-groomed canine.” The big, black dog, sporting a new haircut and bandana, perked up his ears and waggled his stump of a tail.

She squinted to read the time on her wristwatch. “Seven o’clock. Should be plenty of time to walk you, and …” Claudia snapped her fingers. “Before we set out this time, I’d better make sure I have the horseshoe for Elaine’s grand opening.”

Harvey blinked at her with black, shiny eyes underneath neatly trimmed brow fringe and sat back down. Claudia stepped on his leash, freeing her hands to check her purse.

 

How can readers find you on the Internet? 

www.sallyjopitts.com

Readers, here are links to the book.

https://amzn.to/3m10xQx

https://amzn.to/2T9BDSA

 

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