Interview & $25 Amazon Gift Card Giveaway: “One Last Class” and “Twyla’s Last Trip”

ONE LAST CLASS

Original Title: One Last Class
Author: Karen Mueller Bryson
Publisher: Short on Time Books
Publishing Date: February 17th 2012
Genre: Romantic Comedy

BOOK DESCRIPTION

In the romantic comedy, One Last Class, thirty-two year old, Zak Spencer, is a washed-up teen idol, who decides to rebuild his life by returning to college in Arizona. Trouble ensues when Zak falls in love with the young professor, Amy Campbell, who teaches the one class he needs to complete his degree.

EXCERPT

Lucinda peered intently into her microscope until Bunny's voice blared from the intercom—again. “I'm sorry to bother you, Lucinda, but Mr. Yates is on the phone. He says he won't hang up until he speaks with you personally.”

Lucinda took a deep breath, stood and exited the lab. She marched over to the reception desk and ripped the phone from Bunny's grasp.

“Lucinda Starr,” she growled into the phone. “How may I help you?”

Thirty-year old T.J. Yates, the epitome of all things country, spoke to Lucinda from his cell phone. “Miss Starr,” he said. “I know we've never met but I've been your mom's attorney now for nearly a decade.”

“Will you please get to the point?” Lucinda interrupted. “I'm in the middle of an extremely important experiment.”

“I hate to be the bearer of bad news but your mom has passed away.”

Lucinda flinched slightly but then it was back to business. “And what does this have to do with me?” she asked.

“Well, Miss Starr, you are the sole beneficiary of your mom's estate.”

“Estate?” Lucinda snorted. “My mother was a cat lady, who lived in a trailer.”

“Miss Starr,” T.J. continued. “I don't think you understand.”

Before T.J. could finish, Lucinda slammed the phone into the receiver and hurried away.

T.J. looked at his cell phone dumbfounded. People never hung up on him, especially women.

Dakota, his two-year old bloodhound, glanced up from her doggie pillow and gave her head a tilt.

“I think this requires a little trip up to Chicago,” T.J. said.

Dakota just yawned and plopped her head back down on her bed.

READ REVIEW HERE

TWYLA'S LAST TRIP

Original Title: Twyla's Last Trip
Author: Karen Mueller Bryson
Publisher: Short on Time Books
Publishing Date: March 17th 2012
Genre: Romantic Comedy

BOOK DESCRIPTION

In the romantic comedy, Twyla’s Last Trip, twenty eight-year old, Lucinda Starr is an uptight research psychologist, whose deadline to complete her doctoral dissertation is completely derailed by her estranged mother, Twyla Starr's sudden death. Lucinda must take her mother's ashes on a road trip on Route 66, in order to fulfill the requirements of her will and inherit her fortune. To make matters worse, Lucinda finds herself forced to travel across the country with her mother's easygoing country lawyer, T.J. Yates, who drives her crazy, and his drooling bloodhound, Dakota, who Lucinda finds revolting.

EXCERPT

Thirty-two year old, Zak Spencer was sound asleep in his tousled bed, naked, except for the thin white sheet that covered the lower half of his body. Zak had been aged by recent disappointments but remnants of his boyish good looks were still visible. Elvis, Zak’s two-year old basset hound, snored on the floor next him.

Mindy, a 40-something cougar, slowly rose from the bed trying not to wake Zak. She carefully removed her clothes from the floor then snuck over to a corner chair and grabbed her purse for a quick escape.

But when Mindy tripped over Elvis and he let out a yelp, she crashed to the floor.

Zak awakened and noticed Mindy was no longer next to him. He scanned the room but didn’t see her anywhere. “Mindy?” he called.

“I'm down here.”

Zak peeked over the end of the bed and saw Mindy on the floor clutching her clothes and purse.

“What are you doing down there?” he asked.

“I tripped over your dog.”

Elvis wagged his tail.

As Zak rubbed the sleep from his eyes, he said, “You're leaving already?”

Mindy pushed herself up from the ground and tried to cover her nearly naked body.

“But it’s so early,” Zak continued.

“I've got a lot to do today,” Mindy lied. “I'll call you. I promise,” she blurted as she hurried out of the bedroom.

Zak jumped out of bed and pulled the sheet as a covering as he tried to catch Mindy. But she was quick. She had already made her way through the apartment and grabbed a jacket from a hanger next to the door before Zak caught up to her.  Zak was now tangled in the sheet as he tripped up to Mindy and said, “You don't have my number.”

As Zak scrambled for something to write with, Mindy admitted, “I'm not really going to call you.”

Zak was genuinely hurt. “Why?” he managed to get out.

“This was fun and everything but I really don't want to date a former Malibu Boy.  It's so last decade.”

“But…” Zak searched for something more to say.

“I've got to go,” Mindy shouted as she bolted out the door.

READ REVIEW HERE

INTERVIEW WITH KAREN MUELLER BRYSON

Karen Mueller Bryson is an award-winning screenwriter, produced playwright and published novelist. She has been writing since she learned to read and fell in love with books! Karen is the creator of Short on Time Books, a series of fast-paced and fun novels for readers on the go. When she’s not at her computer creating new stories, Karen enjoys spending time with her husband and their bloodhounds.

Author Online: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Blog

Is there an inspiration behind why you chose writing?
I’ve always loved books and it seemed only natural to want to write them.

When you were little, what did you want to be when you "grew up"?
A writer, of course!

Finish the sentence- one book I wish I had written is....
I wish I would have (could have!) written Stieg Larsson’s Millennium series. Lisbeth Salander, the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, is an absolutely captivating character.

What are your current literary works?  Any sneak peaks? 
My next book to be released is a Short on Time Books for Teens called Retro Geeks. It is about two 80s obsessed teens, who want finally prove to their classmates that they are not complete losers by getting super-hot dates for senior prom.

If you could travel in a Time Machine would you go back to the past or into the future?
My tween time-travel novel, The Incredibly Awesome Adventures of Puggie Liddell, is about siblings, who travel back in time. I wrote it because I would love to do it!

If you could be one of the Greek Gods, which would it be and why?
Maybe Athena because she is the goddess of wisdom.

Please tell us in one sentence only, why we should read your book.
My Short on Time Books are fast-paced and fun reads that can be completed in one sitting.

Tell us your most rewarding experience since being published.
I love getting emails from people, who enjoy my work. It is such an honor to have someone take the time to provide me with praise for my work.

What's one piece of advice you would give aspiring authors?
Read as much and as often as you can!

If you could jump in to a book, and live in that world, which would it be?
I would love to jump into my book, The Incredibly Awesome Adventures of Puggie Liddell, when the kids go back in time and visit the 1893 Chicago’s World Fair.

If someone wrote a book about your life, what would the title be?
What a Long Strange Trip It’s Been

What is your favorite scene in the book and why do you love it?
My favorite scene in One Last Class is when former teen idol, Zak Spencer, finally learns to play the guitar. He was part of a “fake” boy band that catapulted him to stardom but he could never actually sing or play a musical instrument.

What TV show/movie/book do you watch/read that you'd be embarrassed to admit?
I have a subscription to People magazine and read it every week!

What is one book everyone should read?
Besides my books??? Just kidding! I cannot think of any one book that would appeal to every person on earth.

One food you would never eat?
I’m a vegetarian. I would not eat anything with eyes.

QUICK ANSWERS

Favorite place?
My home.

Best Christmas present?
This year, my husband and I got a bloodhound puppy for Christmas.

Favorite book?
My all-time favorite book is The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.

Favorite author?
L. Frank Baum

Favorite smell?
Puppy

Favorite series?
My favorite book series is the Janet Evanovich Stephanie Plum series.

Nickname?
My husband calls me Sweetie.

Favorite writing spot?
My library.

Favorite movie?
The Wizard of Oz.

Favorite dish?
Stir fry

Favorite color?
Purple

Favorite quote?
"We all die. The goal isn't to live forever, the goal is to create something that will." Chuck Palahniuk

Favorite flavor of ice cream?
None.

Your best trait?
Tenacity.

Your worst trait?
Tenacity.

GIVEAWAY

Karen will be giving away a $25 Amazon GC to one randomly drawn commenter during the tour and to the host whose post has the most comments.

Giveaway open INTERNATIONALLY!  Ends April 27th.

So, all you have to do is comment!

Thanks a lot for stopping by and commenting!

This post is a part of the blog tour for Goddess Fish Promotions.