INTERVIEW WITH LORI RYAN AND SUPER GIVEAWAY!

Penalty Clause: Sutton Capital Series, Book Two

by Lori Ryan

Lori will be awarding a Giana Bernini Handbag to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour. (US ONLY)

The giveaway to one lucky commenter during Lori's blog tour

Caroline: Tell us about growing up?

Lori: I grew up in Summit, NJ, two towns over from where my husband grew up. He and I didn’t meet until we were adults living in Texas but our parents and aunts and uncles all grew up within blocks of each other. We now live in Austin, Texas where we have two children, three large dogs and a cat. It’s a bit of a zoo. I was always a bookworm, but was more of a misfit in school. I hung out with popular kids because, for some unknown reason, one of them liked me and asked me to sit with them at lunch one day, but I didn’t really fit with them.

Caroline: Who are your favorite authors and favorite genres?

Lori: I typically only read contemporary romance and romantic suspense. I love Jill Shalvis and Penny Reid when I want funny stuff. Bev Pettersen is my favorite author. I read anything she writes and have a hard time not stalking her demanding that she write faster. I also love erotica, in particular Shayla Black and Jasinda Wilder. I’m also a sucker for small town stories like the Virgin River and Fool’s Gold series.

Caroline: Shayla and Jasinda live in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, as I do. What’s your favorite way to relax and recharge?

Lori: Nap. I love to nap. The only problem with it is I feel like I should be writing not napping so I do try to resist it when I can.

Caroline: Me, too. Do you have a favorite quote that sums up how you feel about life?

Lori: No. Sorry. I’m just not that kind of person. I don’t remember song titles or lyrics or quotes or poems.

Caroline: How long have you been writing?

Lori: Less than a year. I just up and decided to write one day and my husband said, “okay, honey,” so I did.

Caroline: Where do you prefer to write?

Lori: I write on a chromebook or on my desktop. I don’t need quiet – I just need to have my son take a nap. As soon as he’s asleep, I hit the computer.

Caroline: I remember that magic time. Are you a plotter or a panzer?

Lori: Plotter. I outline heavily and then I write each chapter and scene in my head before it hits paper. I make very few changes once I actually write the scenes on the computer. Except for that one time my editor came back to me before even finishing the draft and told me it was crap. Then I trashed it and started over again. But it was just that one time so far.

Caroline: Do you use real events or persons in your stories or as an inspiration for stories?

Lori: Oh, absolutely! Usually not whole people. Just bits of someone’s character or sense of humor. But there are definitely scenes that come from my real life.

Caroline: Do you set daily writing goals?

Lori: I don’t set goals. I just write front to back until a draft is finished and then start at the beginning and fine tune. Then it goes to several readers and then goes to my editor at least three times. I write every day. My son takes two naps a day and I spend those writing. If I’m not too tired in the evening, I write. Honestly, though, most of the time I’m too tired after the kids go to bed to do much.

Caroline: What do you hope your writing brings to readers?

Lori: I want them to fall in love with my characters and feel like they’ve been able to step out of their lives for a bit.

Caroline: What long-term plans do you have for your career?

Lori: Who knows. I’ve been a lawyer. Small business owner and dog trainer. Now I’m writing. My husband says I’ll probably be doing something else in five years. He could be right. He sometimes is.

Caroline: Would you like to tell us what you’re working on now?

Lori: I have a novella coming out next week. It is Book 2.5 of the Sutton Capital Series. Book 3, the story of Chad and Jennie that so many of my fans have asked for, is coming out soon. It’s with some beta readers right now. I can’t wait to get feedback from them. It’s my favorite of the series so far and I can’t wait to get it to my readers.

Caroline: What advice would you give to unpublished authors?

Lori: Use an editor. A content editor who works in your genre and a copy editor. Pay them. A lot.

Caroline: Share a fun fact readers wouldn’t know about you.

Lori: I have four tattoos.

Caroline: Share something about you that would surprise or shock readers.

Lori: I always get this question and I just don’t have a clue. Well, that’s not entirely true. There are a few things I could tell you but they’re all of a, um, personal nature. I won’t kiss and tell.

Caroline: I always ask this, so even though I know the answer I will still ask: Is your book a series?

Lori: Yes! I will be publishing Book 3 soon and there is a novella coming out next week. I have a few other characters in mind for one or two more and then I’ll probably move on to another series. I love the Sutton Capital people, though, so I may keep coming back through the years to add another here and there.

Caroline: Can you share a bit about your book?

PENALTY CLAUSE features Andrew Weston. He is best friends with Jack Sutton in the first book. I always knew I wanted to write about him because he’s such a loyal friend and a laid back funny guy. He’s been hurt pretty badly in the past, though, so he’s gun shy about women and about sharing his feelings.

When the object of Andrew’s teenage crush moves in next door to him, he’s crushed to see her reeling from a nasty divorce and an obnoxious callous husband. He sets out to heal Jill but he ends up healing himself and falling for her. The only problem is, she doesn’t trust love. He has to find a way to keep them together.

Oh, yeah. There’s also a stalker intent on taking out Jill. That gets a little messy.

Excerpt from PENALTY CLAUSE:

Andrew peeked in the kitchen window but didn’t see Jill anywhere. There was a pan on the stove with eggs in it, though, and from the looks of it, they were well on their way to becoming burnt eggs. Andrew poked his head in the backdoor.

“Jill?” he called out. No answer.

He stepped into the kitchen and took the pan off the stove. Even Rev didn’t make an appearance. Andrew stuck the pan on one of the cool burners and walked toward the front of the house. He stopped mid stride in the hallway when he heard voices from the front entry. Jill and someone else.

“Jake, I asked you for a clean break. I thought if I came to New Haven, you’d get the point. I don’t want to see you. I don’t want you checking up on me. Or dropping by to visit,” Jill said.

Ex-husband, Jake? What the fuck is he doing here? Andrew felt his body tense as he listened to the conversation. It wasn’t any of his business. He should walk away, but the frustration in Jill’s voice was evident. Frustration and something else. Pain?

Ah, shit.

“Jill, don’t be ridiculous. You just moved, you’re starting over in a new city. You need me. There’s no reason for you to be like this. We can be friends, Jill,” a man’s voice said.

“No. We really can’t. That ship sailed when you slept with another woman. When you ended our marriage. When you moved in with her. There’s not going to be any friendship, Jake.” Jill sounded firm.

Good. She was firm. The guy will get it and go away.

“You’re being unreasonable, Jill,” said the male voice.

Or not. Time’s up, asshole.

Andrew stepped out into the entry.

“Hi, sweetheart,” Andrew said as he stepped up and put an arm around Jill. He felt her jump in surprise. “Who’s this?”

The asshole at the door looked every bit as surprised as Jill to see Andrew in the house.

“Um, uh,” stammered Jill.

Andrew smiled at her, amused by the stunned look on her face. He stuck out his hand to the ex standing on the doorstep. “Hi. I’m Andrew. You must be Jason. Wait, that’s not right, John? Jarrod? What’s his name, honey?” Andrew asked, turning back to look at Jill, who now appeared to understand his game plan.

“Jake. I’m her husband,” Jake said.

Jill gasped audibly at the description and Andrew’s amusement went out the window. “I think you mean ex-husband. And I think Jill asked you to leave.”

Caroline: Great excerpt. Where can readers find your books?  

http://www.amazon.com/Lori-Ryan/e/B00CFUKD1E

***First Place Winner Romance Category, Lucky Cinda Publishing's Annual Global Writer's Contest, 2013***

To keep her, he'll have to gamble it all!

Andrew Weston and Jill Walsh had to be the two most unlikely people to fall in love. When Jill's first husband's love for her simply fizzled and died, Jill knew she'd never trust that love could last again. After Andrew's first love betrayed him in the most brutal way possible, he knew he might fall in love again someday, but there was no way he'd ever make himself vulnerable again by confessing those feelings if he did.

Fate had a different ending in mind for these two, though, and when Andrew discovers his love for Jill, he knows the only way to get her to stay with him forever is to offer her an iron clad penalty clause in a prenuptial agreement. He stays with her forever or he loses everything he owns. The millions he's worked for, his property, his cars, everything. Now he just needs to hope that's enough to hold onto Jill forever.

Five out of Five Stars "Lori Ryan has done it again...I am just drawn in. On the hook. I want to know what is going to happen next. There were times when I really was physically holding my breath!"

Five out of Five Stars "I've been waiting for this book and wasn't disappointed. Great story and great characters. Andrew is sexy and steamy and hot!"

Author Lori Ryan and friends

Lori is an award winning author and stay-at-home mom. Her second book, PENALTY CLAUSE, won first place in the romance category in Lucky Cinda Publishing’s Annual Global Writer’s Contest in 2013.

Lori has had a number of careers before embarking on her newest adventure of writing novels. After graduating from the University of Connecticut School of Law, she practiced law for three years, working primarily in the areas of utilities law and intellectual property litigation.

More recently, Lori owned and operated a dog training business in Austin, Texas, where she specialized in aggression and became an expert in the field of dog bite analysis. Lori sold her dog training business in 2013 and is now a full time writer and mother of two. 

Lori still lives in Austin with her husband -- who is endlessly supportive of her changing career paths -- and her two children, one cat, and three dogs. 

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