How Andee Reilly "rolls"....plus a book giveaway

I'm no stranger to being obsessed with a band. Like most other girls my age, when I was a teenager I was HUGE New Kids on the Block fan. Unlike today's featured author, even though I still listen to their music every once and awhile, my obsession with NKOTB has faded over time.

Andee Riley, on the other hand, is so obsessed with the Rolling Stones that she used them as her inspiration for her debut novel, Satisfaction. Andee was born and raised in Los Angeles. She attended the University of California where she earned a Masters of Fine Arts in Creative Writing and teaches literature at California State University, Channel Islands. Surfing is among the activities she enjoys to do on her spare time. Visit Andee at her website, Facebook, and Twitter.

Without further ado, let's give Andee a warm and sunny Chick Lit Central welcome!

Thanks to BookSparks, we have one copy of Satisfaction for a lucky US reader.  It is part of their 2015 Summer Reading Challenge.

Synopsis:
When 22-year-old Ginny Martin discovers her husband has been cheating on her, she strikes back with the couple’s credit card. Purchasing tickets to every concert on the Rolling Stones North American tour, this devastated suburban housewife packs up the car and takes to the road. Following the Rolling Stones from Los Angeles to Oklahoma City, Ginny experiences freedom for the first time, while coping with the insecurities and limiting beliefs that had kept this small town girl’s life far too small. (Courtesy of BookSparks.)


As a first time published author, what lessons did you learn while writing your manuscript?
I learned not to expect my work-in-progress to be perfect right away and not to be afraid of revision. When I read early drafts of my novel, it looks completely different than the finished product. At one point, I removed an entire subplot, deleting at least 50-75 pages. I was terrified at first, but the change allowed me room to delve deeper into my main characters and their stories. I also became more comfortable with my writing style. I like to outline, but I need to remain flexible enough so that I can be spontaneous and let the story grow naturally.

What item must you have with you when you are writing?
First of all, I need music. I decide what type my characters listen to and create a playlist. I also like to have my character’s favorite scent in the room. I'm in love with Lush Massage Bars. They smell delicious and make my skin soft at the same time! If I have these things, I can get into the character right away, and hopefully, the words start to flow.

What is the best tip you could give someone aspiring to write a novel?
Be patient. I was told that publishing is an incredibly slow business, but I didn’t know how much patience I really needed until I was actively engaged in writing, revising, finding an agent, and finally landing a publisher. But if you do it right, it's so worth the wait.

You make no secret that you’re a huge Rolling Stones fan. Who is your favorite member of the group?
I could go on and on about why each member of the band is so important:
Keith Richards is one of the best guitar players of all time.
Charlie Watts is an accomplished jazz musician.
In addition to being one of rock’s greatest guitarists, Ronnie Wood is a successful painter.
But in the end, I’m a Mick Jagger girl through and through. He’s a great front man and still sexy!

My favorite summer activity is: surfing. I'm interpreting the question loosely because I live on Maui, home of the endless summer where I surf all of the time!

My greatest guilty pleasure is: Red Vines Licorice.

Thanks to Andee for chatting with us and BookSparks for sharing Satisfaction with our readers.

~Introduction and interview by Tracey Meyers


How to win: Use Rafflecopter to enter the giveaway. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us. If you have trouble using Rafflecopter on our blog, enter the giveaway here. 

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US only. Giveaway ends August 18th at midnight EST.