Everybody has the awesome opportunity to find their own strength and path through life. Some come about their self-discoveries through studying and working hard. Others (Chelsea) spend their time nearly burning down kitchens and driving around the country with a car full of hangers.
Chelsea grew up wanting to be “strong.” She thought arguing her way through childhood and becoming a world-class attorney would get her there. But, through a series of humorous, and only slightly embarrassing events, Chelsea comes to realize that maybe her strength is meant to shine in different ways.
Purchase
The book will be $0.99 during the tour.
Excerpt
“FTL’s biggest client was a fabric design company that made nothing but Hawaiian prints. I’m actually pretty sure they no longer make anything, but rather spend good chunks of their time suing other companies who copy their designs. For me, it meant perusing catalogues and clothing websites in search of items with designs similar to this company’s retired fabrics. How great a job is that, by the way? I was getting paid to look for shirts with palm trees and hibiscus flowers on them. This whole law thing was too good to be true.
My best assignment came when FTL caught wind that a men’s underwear line was infringing on our client’s design name. She came by and dropped a stack of male lingerie catalogues (yes, they exist) on my desk to go through in search of this name. I spent the better part of a week looking at pictures at mostly-naked men with socks stuffed in their skivvies.
Nobody knew what to do with me. On one hand, studying oiled-up men in scandalous poses just had to be against any number of company policies. On the other hand, I was legitimately doing work in an effort to make the law firm money, so they couldn’t discourage it. In the end, they just left me alone. And that’s how I learned that you can buy men’s briefs with pre-padded butt cheeks.”
Interview
What is something you'd like to accomplish in your writing career next year?
I think it would be an absolute riot to be on a team of writers for a sitcom or something like the Ellen Show. Anytime I’m watching one of those, I can’t help but imagine all the writers bouncing ideas off each other across the table and laughing at one another’s jokes. Of course, I’m sure there’s plenty of eye rolling too, but I can keep up with that.
How long did it take you to write this book?
Just over a year. I started jotting down ideas in Winter of 2014, but hemmed and hawed a bit about it. Then my husband really pushed me into it by setting up a meeting with another author. That was it, I was all in. I wrote whenever I could, which is a lot less than one who doesn’t have three small children might think. But, I knew I had to do it and that it had to happen fast. I chose to self-publish in part for the same reason—to get it out there fast. If I didn’t do it quickly, I knew it would never happen. So, here it is, one year later. Whew! Somebody get me a drink.
Who designed the book cover for the book you are touring?
I cannot say enough about my book cover. It’s so exciting to me how perfectly it turned out, I could pee my pants just thinking about it. In thinking about a cover, I looked and looked at all these professional cover designers who manipulate a stock photo to match your title. You know the kind I’m talking about, right? Nothing was resonating with me, or with the feel of the book. So, I reached out to a local artist who I’d been introduced to a couple of years ago. Her name is Kelly Angelovic and I simply adored her artwork. We sat down over coffee and she just got it. A couple of weeks later, the gem that is now my cover was revealed. Again, I couldn’t be more thrilled and will definitely work with her again!
What comes first, the plot or characters?
It’s a chicken and egg situation. I usually start with the plot, but as I develop the characters, the plot changes based on their personalities and their quirks. Then, when I shift the plot, the characters change and grow in different ways than I originally intended for them to. It’s a dance really. A very awkward dance where nobody quite knows who’s leading and who’s following.
What does your main character do that makes him/her special.
Well, my main character is me, so that in and of itself makes her pretty special... What makes the character in my book special is her ability to stumble through life, trying to discover what makes her strong, all the while keeping a light-hearted outlook on everything and not taking herself too seriously. There are so many heavy issues we have to face in our lives, I think it’s a nice reminder to view what we can with humor.
Thanks...
Chelsea was once obsessed with cats, longed to live in a big city, didn't think she would ever have children, and aspired to be an attorney. She now lives in Boulder, Colorado as a stay-at-home mom and comedic writer with her husband and three daughters. She has no current plans to own a cat.
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Giveaway
The author will award a $50 Amazon/BN.com gift card to one randomly chosen winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
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