MONDAY'S HERO -- Grant from The NovelTea Series

Current read: Fantasy Lover by Sherrilyn Kenyon

I'm back from my local chapter conference with fresh motivation! Pitches went well, booksigning went well (whew for Renee and me!) and the workshops were engaging and refreshing. I'll blog the details on Friday. For today, I'm thrilled to welcome multi-published author Cindy Green, yet another Mama Writer. Cindy will be talking about her NovelTea series from The Wild Rose Press. The books in this series all feature the same hero, which is something different. I'm anxious to find out more about that!

Here's a brief bio for Cindy:

Cindy was born in California but now resides in North Carolina with her husband and two young sons. Growing up, she loved reading and writing, but her heart always lay in teaching. After graduating from college with a degree in history, Cindy taught Jr. High for four years in just about every subject. After the birth of her second child, she was able to stay home and focus on her writing as well as homeschool her children. In her spare time, she loves reading, photography, scrapbooking, Period Dramas, and spending time with family.

Welcome Cindy! Tell us about the NovelTea series.

The original NovelTea story, A Night of NovelTea, evolved out of the need to write something—anything—while editing a full length book. I just started writing and that first story was the result. Writing this story was definitely a jaunt. I was just going along for the ride, writing by the seat of my pants. With the sequel, on the other hand, I had to sit down and do a lot of research on the secret services here in the States in order to create my own agency. I had to know the terminology they use and get into the head of one of these courageous heroes. And just so you know, the title ‘NovelTea’ is a play on the word ‘novelty’ because my heroine is looking for more excitement in her life. It is also the name the bookstore/tea shop that the heroine owns.

Blurbs:
A Night of NovelTea:
Juliet Truesdale believes life is passing her by as she runs her parents bookstore/tea shop until the day a handsome, mysterious stranger enters the shop, steals her heart and turns her life upside down, throwing her into a mix of dangerous yet comical situations she never could have contemplated.

NovelTea Next Door:
Government agent Grant Gerard knows he’s cocky. It’s the reason he can do this job day after day. He’s always kept his life simple and uncomplicated…until destiny took a turn when he met bookstore/tea shop owner Juliet Truesdale.

Armed with a new lead pertaining to known criminal spook, Alexis Guthrie, Grant enlists Juliet to aid the investigation which ends up at the door of her neighbor, Adam Trudeau. This investment banker neighbor of hers seems harmless enough despite his annoying interest in Juliet. Will this turn of events only usher in more dangerous or even deadly situations for the duo? Can Grant allow Juliet into his heart and keep her safe from the danger looming in the distance?

Great blurbs! Let's learn a little more about your hero, Grant.

Grant Gerard is a spy. He’s six foot three with very dark hair and icy blue eyes. He has a snappy personality full of sarcasm which he uses to hide his true feelings. He’s capable and competent in a dangerous situation and finds a way to make you laugh when you want to cry. Oh, and suave and charming. Let’s not forget that.

Grant’s life has revolved around his job in the secret service for a long time. He eats, drinks and breathes ‘the job.’ He serves his country and puts his life on the line because—it has to be done and why not him. Everything changes when he meets Juliet. He begins to question his whole world view—his goals even. He's courageous, cocky, and charming

Suave and charming -- I love it! And I can't resist a hero who's just a little cocky sometimes ;). Let's talk about the chemistry between Grant and his heroine, Juliet. How are they drawn together?

Grant is drawn to Juliet because of her honesty. She isn’t trying to pull something on him like the lowlifes he works with on one side of an operation or another. Juliet is 100% sincere. He’s physically attracted to her, of course, but it’s more than that. Juliet gets him to open up in a way no one ever has. He sees her as something his life has been lacking. Normalcy. He’s also very protective of her and yet not an overbearing Alpha. She doesn’t swoon at his feet and fall for all his charms. She keeps him guessing.

Juliet is attracted to Grant right off the bat because…well, he is a spy and there is a bit of danger about him. She’s bored of her mundane existence and wishing for some excitement in her life. Boy does she get it—and in spades. Grant is cocky and cocky usually turns her off but she realizes that this is just his way—it’s a part of his job as much as the 9mm he carries under his suit coat. Below the veneer she perceives a person she can visualize spending her life with…perhaps. There are so many questions about him and she never knows what he’s going to do next.

I love hearing how authors are inspired to create their heroes. What was your inspiration for Grant?

When I first created Grant, I think I just put together an amalgam from my imagination of a cool spy-like hero. But as I have had the chance to develop him in the subsequent sequels, he has become more of a real person to me. I analyzed what a man who spends his life in a risky occupation would be like. What his fears, joys and disappointments are. It has been quite a trip, and I am looking forward to writing book #4 which will be from his perspective and will reveal a whole lot more about his past and what he decides is most important to him.

As for visual inspiration, I didn’t really have a celebrity in mind when I first wrote Grant. However, I do believe I was very much inspired by some of the characters in the BBC TV show Spooks. For example: Matthew Macfadyen and Rupert Penry-Jones. In fact, when I read the first story to myself I can hear Rupert’s voice in my head. I’ve included a photo of Rupert here—just imagine him with dark hair. He also played Captain Wentworth in the latest adaptation of Jane Austen’s Persuasion and the book Persuasion is mentioned a couple times in A Night of NovelTea. I’ve had readers say that this series is a meeting of Jane Austen and the TV show ’24.’ And a reviewer said NovelTea Next Door has a great ‘gum shoe’ atmosphere without rendering the story dated, creating a modern hero with a twist.

What's next for Cindy Green?

I have three upcoming releases: Book #3 NovelTea Takes a Holiday is coming soon, my first high fantasy romance the Princess and the Rogue will release sometime this year, and a short Inspirational story Snow Kissed will release in November. Currently I am working on a YA romance titled Homecoming Madness, also a historical novel Temptation of the Heart and the sequel to my fantasy, The Prince and the Sorceress.

Visit my website to see what other titles I have available because there are several. I write Inspirational, Contemporary, Suspense, Historical, and Fantasy. I have a newsletter you can subscribe to as well. With it, I also send out my free serial read, ‘Valentine’s Challenge’. Stop by my blog because I try to update it several times a week. http://cindykgreen.blogspot.com/

What a prolific writer you are! Now we'll go off topic -- tell us something surprising about yourself.

I am a total Superman fanatic. It is a little known fact, but completely true. I have the books, comics and DVDs to prove it. Shh! This is a secret between you and me.

LOL -- just between you and me and my blog readers ;). I bet there are some more Superman fans out there. Thanks so much for being here today, Cindy! Readers, here's an excerpt from NovelTea Next Door:

After covertly glancing around the store, I slipped into the back room as I heard the heels of Juliet’s pumps click across the cement floor. She stopped in front of a shelf filled with large encyclopedia sized books, her attention down on her clipboard. I watched her for a moment as she checked inventory until I heard a key in the door behind me. I really couldn’t be seen in here. Thinking quickly, I ran up to Juliet, grabbed her from behind, wrapping my arm around her shoulders before drawing her around the corner and behind another shelf of books.

We were squished together, her back pressed against the wall and mine up against the shelving unit. I had placed my hand over her mouth so she wouldn’t let out a scream or more likely a yell. As she faced me, obvious fear reflected in her eyes which was soon replaced with relief when she recognized me. I held a finger in front of my lips to signal she should be quiet before removing my hand.

Now her forehead furrowed up with annoyance. She shifted her shoulders up and mouthed the word “What?” Again, I signaled for her to be quiet as footsteps neared our position.

“Juliet?” a voice asked. I could see feet encased in a pair of navy-blue tennis shoes. It was most likely one of the NovelTea employees seeking out the manager.

We both remained silent in our hidden location. I could tell Juliet was unsure why we were concealing ourselves from one of her workers. It’s not like we were in any real danger, but it was good training for Juliet. I looked into her face, as her nose—with the light distribution of freckles—was only a few inches from mine, and smiled at her. I’m sure it came across cocky but I was just glad to see her.

The female who had come looking for Juliet turned and exited the stock room. When I heard the door snap shut, Juliet sent me a scathing glare and removed herself from our hideaway. As I made my way out, I noticed she wasn’t waiting for me but was instead moving toward the door. I raced up to her and took a hold of her upper arm until she faced me.

“What are you going to do to me now, Mr. Gerard?” She had that glare thing down good.
I smiled my best smile, hoping to thaw her mood into something closer to good humor. “You mean you don’t like hiding with me in the dark.” I still held her hand and for some reason she didn’t pull away.

The corner of her mouth twitched as though she might smile but she didn’t. “If memory serves me correctly, the last time I had to hide out with you, it left me with an indelible recollection I wish I could forget. The sight of a dumpster still makes my skin crawl.” The smile she had been repressing came pouring to the surface this time. She knew it too. No doubt hoping to avoid detection, she slipped her hand away and turned from me.

I stepped close to her from the back and leaned my head near her ear. “Juliet,” I whispered. I watched as she shivered.

“Yes,” she replied. The edge was gone as her voice softened.

“I only came by to make sure you were okay.”

She twisted around in a graceful pirouette-like motion with a scowl marring her beautiful face. “Grant, don’t stand there spouting lame excuses about your behavior. I just knew something like this was going to happen.” She looked upward as if whoever she was talking to was on the ceiling and then began to circle around me, her anger beginning to simmer. She didn’t say anything but it wouldn’t be long before she boiled over.

“Juliet, I really did come to see you.”

“Yes, I’m sure you did.” She continued to pace around me like a carnivore about to devour a meal.

“I just didn’t want to be seen by anyone. Remember, I’m supposed to be incognito.”

“So, why…” She paused, her attention averted by the sound near the door.

She looked back to me and placed her palm on my chest, pushing me around the corner. If this was the way she wanted to punish me, I wouldn’t stand in her way. I worked hard not to smile at her. She was so serious, and the way she twisted her face up when she was angry was just too tempting. I had to smile.