We are near the end of our Romancing September Across the World Tour. Today we meet author Cassandra Giovanni and Stephanie will be discussing romance writing in today’s society with Cassandra over in Georgia in a few hours.
Let’s find out more about Cassandra;
1) Where is your home town?
Holliston, MA
2) You’ve been writing since the age of 7, can you tell us some of the pieces you have written.
The first thing I had published was a chapter for a Josephina novel for American Girl, from there I won contests with poetry, and essays. I wrote my first novels at around 14-15, which all had to do with girls, falling in love and horses. There was one about motor cross thrown in there too. I have three published full length novels now, all varying genres, and I have at least 8 others half-written or in the works. Most of the novels are NA.
3) Is this your first adult romance?
Yes, this is my first New Adult romance.
4) I believe you designed the book cover yourself, is that correct? Tell us bout it.
I’m a professional photographer, so I really couldn’t see using stock photography for my cover. I asked my husband for help, and he obliged (grumbling the whole time by the way). We played around with a lot of ideas, many of which there was no person on the cover–coffee, and beans, and a guitar…lots of different things. I really wanted a person on the cover, so after about 3 hours of photographs my husband broke down and let me use him as the model. I fell in love with the set of pictures as soon as I took it, and then all I had to do was Photoshop some tattoos on to him. Some of the tattoos on the cover are real, while others aren’t.
5) Moving on to “Love Exactly” can you tell us where and when Emma and Evan meet?
They meet in a gas station where Emma is getting a cheap cup of coffee and Evan is hunting down Pizza Combos. She rams into him and spills her coffee everywhere–he offers to replace it with a “real” cup of coffee at the Starbucks across the street!
6) Are they attracted to each other from the start?
Yes, but it isn’t insta-love in any way. They slowly get to know each other through dates and phone calls.
7) “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but your words…they’ll destroy my soul” Powerful words! Can you hint at some of the issues Emma needs to deal with?
Emma was in an abusive relationship as a teenager and is still dealing from the scars created both physically and verbally.
8) Does Evan have his own problems to deal with too?
Evan has to deal with fame, and people who want him to be the “bad boy” that they idolize him to be, but he’s not.
9) Do the pair have any intimate love scenes?
There are love scenes, but I refer to them as “clean steam”…they’re hot in all the right places, but not enough to make those people that aren’t a fan of graphic sex gag.
10) How do they both help each other? Does the process evolve throughout the story?
The process does evolve throughout the story–they both help each other be stronger, but they never force anything on one another. As Evan says “I’m not trying to fix you. I don’t think you’re broken. That’s all on you. I’m just trying to show you the only one standing in your way is you.”
11) Can you tell fans about any plans you have for your next book?
The next book in the series will release sometime after Summer 2014. Currently, I’m working on a series that is to be published early 2014 called Beautifully Broken–it’s a two novel series. Book one is Flawed Perfection, and Book Two is Broken Perfection. Here is the unofficial blurb for Flawed Perfection: Bobby Beckerson was the American All-Star hockey player–he was the spitting image of perfection to his family. Goofy, sweet and undeniably gorgeous, he had everything but the one girl he wanted: River Ahlers. River Ahlers is successful in everything but love. She’s been in love with Adam Beckerson since they were kids. Worst of all she’s stuck right in the middle of the brother’s dueling over everything and anything, and she doesn’t even know she’s the ultimate prize. Adam Beckerson was a boy with a guitar, a smile that sunk girl’s hearts and a stone wall around his own. He was anything but perfect, and no matter how hard he tried he was nothing compared to Bobby. Sweet, damaged, with boyish good-looks, no body thought Adam loved anyone but himself. Bobby loved River, River loved Adam and Adam only loved himself–or so everyone thought. Then one night everything changes, and as it threatens to destroy everyone involved a tragedy strikes that will break them all…
Thank you Cassandra and I think some of the ladies will appreciate the photo your husband posed for! Don’t forget Stephanie’s half of Romancing September http://stephanie-hurt.com
Rosie Amber 
Wonderfull written ladies. Definitely be adding Cassandra’s books to my list. I look forward to your new series coming in early 2014.
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