Spending the day with Sarahlyn Bruck...plus a book giveaway

Today we're pleased to welcome back Sarahlyn Bruck to celebrate the publication of her sophomore novel, Daytime Drama. It sounds like a great story and we're excited for you to learn more about it, as well as about what makes this author tick. Sarahlyn has one signed paperback, along with some swag, to give away!

Sarahlyn Bruck is also the author of Designer You (2018), which won the Indie Star Book Award for 2019 and was included on the 2018 “35 Over 35” list. When she’s not writing novels, Sarahlyn moonlights as a full-time writing and literature professor at a local community college. A California native, she now lives in Philadelphia with her husband, daughter, and cockapoo.

Visit Sarahlyn online:

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram

Synopsis:
Soap opera star by day, harried, single mom by night, Calliope Hart’s life is a delicate balancing act. When the network cancels her show, Callie’s world crumbles and she must decide whether it’s more important to fight to save the show or take a risk and start over from scratch.

By day, for 25 years, soap opera fans have known actress Calliope Hart as Napa Valley’s resident diva, Jessica Sinclair. By night, Callie is a flustered breadwinner, scrambling to provide for her 12-year-old son and her mother. So when the network announces that her show will be canceled, Callie is beyond shocked—she doesn’t know who she is anymore.

At first, driven by financial concerns for her family that include blackmail payments to her son’s biological father, she rallies fans to save the show. But is that what she really wants? When she learns that her mother has been driving her son to auditions she’s strictly forbidden—and worse, that he’s been offered opportunities—Callie sees her own child’s youth and drive in competition with her age and experience. Set in modern-day Hollywood, Daytime Drama is a story about having the guts to reach for the sky. Callie must decide whether to play it safe or summon the courage her son displays to risk her lucky meal ticket and reinvent her career—and, for the first time, test her mettle as an actress and a mom. (Courtesy of Sarahlyn's website.)

What is a favorite compliment you have received on your writing?
When readers tell me that they relate to the characters is such a thrill. Those connections are why I write and why I read.

How is Callie similar to or different from you?
Callie is mostly different from me. She’s far more charming than me and is comfortable being the center of attention. But she can also be very stubborn, which unfortunately, is totally me.

If Daytime Drama were made into a TV series, who would you cast in the leading roles?
Hmmm…maybe Katie Holmes as Callie—she can glam it up and play it down. Joseph Gordon-Levitt would make a great Paul, Callie’s boyfriend. I can see Jamie Lee Curtis as Karen, Callie’s mom. And Jonah? Hmmm…I am not up to date on 12-year-old actors. I’m taking suggestions!

What is the last movie you saw that you would recommend?
We just saw Nomadland last weekend. It was awesome and beautiful and heartbreaking. Frances McDormand was amazing in it. I loved it. Wish I could have seen it in a movie theater.

What is something you learned about yourself during the pandemic?
When I think about my family during this pandemic, I think we’re all more resilient that we thought we were. We are definitely lucky—both my husband and I can work from home. And our daughter is taking online school in stride and performing really well. But you know, we’re stuck in a house all day together. Sure, we get annoyed with each other sometimes. But at the same time, I’m learning to cherish these extended moments of togetherness because we probably won’t have them again anytime soon. My daughter will leave for college in a couple of years, and our lives will change drastically once again. So, I’m just going to try to enjoy all this together time while I’ve got it.

What is your go-to breakfast item?
Coffee. That’s breakfast, right? But if we’re talking food, it’s eggs for me. I like a little protein along with the caffeine to kickstart my brain in the morning.

Thanks to Sarahlyn for visiting with us and for sharing her book with our readers.

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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Giveaway ends March 7th at midnight EST.