Good Morning Everyone,
Today’s spotlight is on author Denise Swanson! She is best known for her Scumble River and Devereaux’s Dime Store mystery series. Today, she is here to talk about her latest book, a romantic story called Good Girl Overboard. I hope you like the interview and my review. Make sure to leave a comment for your chance to win a Signed Paperback Copy of Good Girl Overboard. Details are listed after the review.
Have a marvelous Monday!
Enjoy!
~Ariesgrl
Denise Swanson Interview
Hi Denise! Thank you so much for stopping by the website today. Can you please tell everyone a little bit about yourself and your latest book?
Thank you for inviting me! Although I wrote my first book in Kindergarten, I spent twenty-two years as a school psychologist before quitting to write fulltime. It took me five years to write my first book, Murder of a Small-Town Honey, and two hundred and seventy rejections before I found an agent and a publisher. I wrote seven books while still working as a school psychologist, but finally was able to devote all my time to writing.
I live in rural Illinois with my husband who is a classical music composer and a spoiled black cat named Boomerang (he was a stray that kept coming back to my front door).
You normally write cozy mysteries, what made you decide to switch to the world of romance?
My first love was romance. As it happens my mystery series took off and I had to put my romance writing aspirations on the back burner for a while, but I firmly believe that all good books have a little romance in them. A few reviewers have called my mysteries “romances with a dead body.”
When did you know you wanted to become a writer?
I started reading at three and making up my own stories by the time that I was five, so I can’t really remember a time that I didn’t want to write. I finally realized that I needed to sit my butt down and produce some pages when I saw forty approaching in the rearview mirror. Especially since we all know that objects in the mirror are closer than they appear.
Who are some authors that you have loved or who have inspired you?
As a child, I loved Louisa May Alcott, as a teen it was Jane Austen, and in college I read Kathleen Woodiwiss. Now I’m inspired by Bella Andre, Jill Shalvis, Susan Mallery, and too many others to name.
If you could ask readers one thing, what would it be?
Actually, I have a frequently have a Question of the Day on my Facebook page so I ask my readers questions all the time. I guess the biggest mystery to me is what makes you decide to give one book a try and pass on another that’s very similar?
Do you have any future books coming out soon?
My next mystery is Murder of an Open Book which debuts in September. And my next romance, book two in the Change of Heart series, is Lucky Girl Cashes In, which I hope to have available in June or July.
Where can readers find you?
www.facebook.com/#!/DeniseSwansonAuthor
@DeniseSwansonAu on twitter
Thank you again Denise, for participating in this interview!
Review of Good Girl Overboard:
Good Girl Overboard
By: Denise Swanson
Darcy Simons was left devastated by her fiancé’s affair and was forced to handle all of the wedding expenses. Desperate, she takes one last job from her old boss, before she finishes writing her debut novel. As her friends have pointed out, a week-long luxury cruise is the ideal setting for a steamy fling. But when she literally runs into Mitch James, the Captain of this mighty ship, she will have to break a few of his rules to follow through with her plan.
Good Girl Overboard is a fast and steamy read that readers won’t be able to put down. The story is told mostly through narrative which allows for an insider’s view of the characters’ inner thoughts. The ending is a bit rushed, but readers will be hoping to catch more glimpses of this duo in the next book in the series. The characters and setting feel so real that readers will feel as though they are a passenger on this ship’s maiden voyage. Overall, this is a sweet, uplifting love story.
Note:
I was provided an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Giveaway Time!!!
For a chance to win a Signed Paperback Copy of Good Girl Overboard by Denise Swanson, leave a comment below telling us if you have ever been on a cruise before. Leave your comment between now and noon Friday, March 20th, in order to be entered in the drawing. Using Random.org, I will select and announce the winner Friday evening. Thanks again to Denise Swanson for hanging out at the blog today and offering this exciting giveaway.
Good luck everyone!
Hi, I love Denise’s books and no I have never been on a cruise but would like to someday. It does sound very romantic.
Hi Nancy. Thanks for commenting. You are entry #1 in the drawing. Good luck!
It took me 30 years to get my husband to go on a vacation that didn’t include a farm visit. The includes not having a honeymoon. For our 30th anniversary, we took a cruise. We’ve been hooked ever since. We just took cruise number 6. The best part for us – turning off the cell phone and computer.
Hi Margo. Thanks for commenting and Happy belated Anniversary. You are entry #2 in the drawing! Good luck!
Denise Swanson is a great author. I haven’t been on a cruise yet but I’m hoping maybe someday my husband and I will take one.
Hi Deborah! Thanks for commenting. I am glad you enjoy Denise’s writing. You are entry #3 in the drawing. Good luck!
I have never been on a cruise, but we are planning to take our kids on the Disney cruise when the little one is old enough to remember it. I also LOVED reading about the murder on the honeymoon cruise ship. It was so cool how her mom and best friend just happened to be on the cruise. As for me- no cruise yet but some day! 🙂
Hi Jillian. Thanks for commenting. Have fun on the Disney cruise. You are entry #4 in the drawing. Good luck!
Thank you. Either way I can’t wait to read this book 🙂
Hi Jillian. Thanks for commenting. You are entry #11 in the drawing. Good luck!
I love Denise’s books – looking forward to the read. So far have not taken a cruise…hopefully one day!
Hi Adrienne. Thanks for commenting. You are entry #5 in the drawing. Good luck!
I have never been on a cruise, although it’s on my travel wish list. I do love Denise Swanson and have read all of her scumble River and Devereaux’s Dime Store books to date. I’d love to grab a copy of this and read it.
Hi Rebecca. Thanks for commenting. You are entry #6 in the drawing. Good luck!
I love Denise’s Dime Store Mysteries and would like to try this as well. I always wanted to take one of the Delta Queen riverboat cruises but so far haven’t made it. Sun and sand don’t appeal to me as much as all that history. Thanks for the giveaway.
Hi Sally. Thanks for commenting. I hope you are able to take the riverboat tour soon. You are entry #7 in the drawing. Good luck.
Yes, I’ve been on one cruise. Unfortunately, we had a hurricane to deal with. But, even with the very rough water, dishes sliding off the tables, and no one able to walk a straight line, I had a great time and am looking forward to my next one.
Hi Judy. Thanks for commenting. Hope your next cruise is smooth sailing. You are entry #8 in the drawing. Good luck.
I love Denise’s books & can’t wait to read this one! We’ve never been on a cruise but I hope to go someday. Sitting on a deck chair with a good beck sounds like heaven!
Hi Kathy. Thanks for commenting. I hope you get to experience your dream soon. You are entry #9 in the drawing. Good luck!
I’ve only been on one Disney cruise and it was with my family so it wasn’t that relaxing but still fun 🙂
Hi Amy. Thanks for commenting. Glad you had fun on the cruise. You are entry #10 in the drawing. Good luck!
Yes! I went on my first cruise a few years ago and loved it. I would love to win a copy of your book Denise!
Hi Teresa. Thanks for commenting. You are entry #12 in the drawing. Good luck!
Congrats!!! You are the lucky winner!!!!
Thanks so much for the giveaway! I love Ms. Swanson’s books; I’m actually reading Nickeled-and-Dimed to Death right now. I went on a cruise out of Puerto Rico once and packed an entire suitcase of books! It was heaven sitting on a lounge chair and reading a great story. I’m looking forward to going on another sometime in the future. Thanks again!
Hi Shannon. Thanks for commenting. Your vacation sounds ideal! You are entry #13 in the drawing. Good luck!