Author Q&A: Bella Andre (Plus Book Announcement & Giveaway!) GIVEAWAY CLOSED

Back in January, I was first introduced to Bella Andre when she did a whirlwind tour for the e-book editions of her Sullivan series. I was fortunate to receive e-copies of the first 7 books and of the ones I’ve had time to read (5 so far) I’ve loved them!!! Now, she has joined forces with Harlequin MIRA to provide the Sullivan books in print, with new content added to each of the stories, plus new covers.

About the author: Bella Andre
is a New York Times and USA Today
bestselling author, and has sold more than 1.5 million books.  Her
books have appeared on Top 5 lists at Amazon, Apple, Barnes & Noble
and Kobo. After signing a groundbreaking seven-figure print only deal
with Harlequin MIRA, Bella’s Sullivan series will
be released in paperback in a major global English language launch in
the US, Canada, the UK, and Australia in continuous back-to-back
releases from June 2013 through April 2014.

Known for “sensual, empowered stories enveloped in heady romance”
(Publishers Weekly), her books have been Cosmopolitan Magazine “Red
Hot Reads” twice and have been translated into nine languages, and her
Sullivan books are already Top 20 sellers in Brazil. Winner of the Award
of Excellence,
The Washington Post has called her “One of the top digital writers in America” and she has been featured by NPR,
USA Today, Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, and most recently in TIME Magazine.
She has given keynote speeches at publishing conferences from Copenhagen to Berlin to San Francisco.

If
not behind her computer, you can find her reading her favorite authors,
hiking, swimming or laughing. Married with two children, Bella splits
her time between the Northern California
wine country and a 100-year-old log cabin in the Adirondacks.

My review of The Look of Love, Bella Andre’s first book in her Sullivan series, can be read here, and below you can learn more about this bestselling author…

You
have such a fascinating history – from graduating from Stanford in
economics to marketing to rock star to publishing superstar. How has
your economics degree influenced your
writing?

As
a musician, I was very interested in how the music industry operated
and I ended up writing two non-fiction books for musicians. When I began
to write novels, I immersed myself
in the ins and outs of the publishing industry so that I would
understand how all of the various pieces fit together – authors, agents,
editors, publishers, distributors, retailers, and, of course, readers.
In particular these past few years have seen a great
deal of change and I enjoy keeping up with the new developments every
day. 

 

In
addition to writing romance, I’m also a huge romance reader, devouring
up to a book a day when I can squeeze it into my writing schedule. I’ve
long been a fan of big family series
where you get to spend each book with a new family member, while also
seeing the others as recurring part of the stories. Because I pay close
attention to the romance market as both a reader and writer, I had no
reservations at all about devoting two full
years to developing my Sullivan series. Writing about The Sullivan
family has been the best decision I’ve ever made! Readers have embraced
the series in the most incredible way and I love chatting with them about the eight siblings and their mother every day
over email, facebook and twitter.

 

You
are also a keynote speaker who presents at publishing conferences
across the world. Do you find that current publishing issues are
different in Copenhagen, Berlin, and the
US?

It’s
been so much fun traveling around the world to speak with people who
are excited and enthusiastic about books! While I don’t think current
publishing issues are different in
different countries, it’s certainly true that each country is at a
different stage with regards to the changes that e-books and e-readers
have brought for readers and publishers. The one thing everyone I’ve
spoken with has in common, all over the world, is
that we all absolutely love books. 

Before you began your writing career you were a touring musician. Do you still write songs?

I’ve
toured all over the world with acts such as Santana, Crosby Stills
& Nash, and Jewel and put out four albums of original music. I also
wrote songs with hit songwriters in Los
Angeles and Nashville. But as soon as I started to write my first
romance novel, I was hooked. Within a year, I decided to make the switch
completely from writing and playing music to writing books. Since I
began writing full time I’ve gone from one publishing
contract to the next, so there hasn’t been any time left over for
songwriting. I truly love writing romance – it’s the best job I’ve ever
had.

 

Do you play an instrument?

Yes, I play piano and guitar and I sing.

 

What inspired you to write your first book?

I
had written a couple of non-fiction books on the music industry, when
one day, two fictional characters started to have a conversation in my
head. I was a lifelong romance reader,
but until that day I never thought of writing my own. I wrote down that
conversation between the hero and heroine who had popped into my head
and when their discussion continued the next day, I wrote that down,
too. Before I knew it, I had written an entire
book! I was hooked and have never looked back…

Thank you Bella for putting this little Q&A together and thank you Liz and the Meryl Moss Media Relations/Book Trib group for sending me a print copy of The Look of Love. 

Sometimes on look is all it takes…

Chloe
Peterson vowed never to make the mistake of trusting a man again. Her
reasons were as vivid as a the bruises on her cheek. When her car skids
off a wet country road straight into a ditch, she’s convinced the
gorgeous guy who rescues her must be too good to be true.

As
a successful international photographer, Chase Sullivan has his pick of
beautiful women. He’s satisfied with his life – until he finds Chloe
and her totaled car on the side of the road in Napa Valley.

With
every loving look – and every sinfully sweet caress – the attraction
between them sizzles, and Chloe can’t help but wonder if she’s met the
man who may be the exception to her rule…

GIVEAWAY DETAILS (US only) – CLOSED

Because I have already read this book, I am giving away my print copy (ARC version) of The Look of Love by Bella Andre sent to me by the publisher via Meryl Moss Media Relations.

To enter… 

• For 1 entry leave me a comment entering the giveaway.
• Tweet, share on Facebook, or blog for 2 extra entries.
• Please include email address so I can contact you if you win.

This giveaway is open to US residents only and ends June 18th  Good luck!