Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for Crazy for You by Michelle Sass Aleckson presented by Susan May Warren, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!
Title: Crazy for You
Series: Deep Haven Collection #3
Author: Michelle Sass Aleckson presented by Susan May Warren
Publisher: Sunrise Publishing
Release Date: May 25, 2021
Genre: Christian Contemporary Romance
The problem with being related to everyone in town is that there is no one left to date…until now…but will this outsider survive his family?
Former soldier Veronica “Ronnie” Morales isn’t going to let her kid brother, Tiago, get pulled into the gangs of Minneapolis, so, seeking safety and a fresh start, she heads to sleepy Deep Haven on the north shore of Minnesota. She’s hoping to put down roots as the paramedic for the new Crisis Response Team, but it’s not easy to be the town outsider.Fire Chief Peter Dahlquist is a peacemaker—he has to be. After he’s related to both of the Deep Haven dynasties – the Zimmermans and the Dahlquists, Deep Haven’s version of the Hatfields and the McCoys. Worse, Peter is the holdout vote for a landmark project, which also makes him the loneliest guy in town when both sides demand that he pick sides. The only one who seems to understand his plight is the newcomer in town…his pretty, street-tough paramedic.
When Tiago finds himself caught up in small town shenanigans and the town blames Ronnie for tragedy, Peter is forced to pick sides. But will his choice cost him the home—and the woman—he loves?
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Crazy For You is your first published novel. Congratulations! Can you share what it was like seeing your words in print for the first time?
Find a writing community and never stop learning. Connections with other writers has been key to my career, as well as a willingness to learn. Publishing is a very difficult field to break into so you will need a good dose of perseverance, an open mind to take criticism, and the more support you have on the journey they more likely you are to succeed. The great thing is there’s so many resources out there!
What is the most challenging part of creating a story in this town/series that is already so known and loved by fans?
The hard part was keeping everything straight! There’s a lot of Deep Haven books already. And Deep Haven fans know this series inside and out. Keeping existing characters consistent and making sure these new stories had the authentic Deep Haven feel was important. Also anything I write affects the other Deep Haven stories and vice versa, so there were things that needed a lot of coordination with the other authors and Susie to stay true to the DH storyworld.
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Welcome Michelle! Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions and allow my readers a chance to get to know you and your newest book Crazy For You.
I always like to start these interviews the same way with something fun to break the ice: can you share 5 random facts about yourself that we will NOT find in your bio?
-I used to live in Uruguay.
-I have a slight addiction to Reese’s FastBreak candy bars.
-(Not counting babysitting) my first job was working as a library assistant. I’m all about the books! 😉
-I’m an oldest child.
-I can’t read music or play an instrument but I can sing some mean car karaoke—when I’m by myself.
When did you first discover that you had a passion and talent for writing?
While I was working as a server! Funny, I know. I’ve always been a huge reader, but I never really thought about writing myself. My biggest dream was having a family and that came true. Then, as our little family was growing we needed some extra income, so I picked up a job working nights and weekends as a server. At one point we had to fill out an employee survey which asked about dreams and goals and for the first time I thought about what I would do as my children grew up and left the nest. I decided it would be cool to write and publish books. Originally I thought I would write children’s books because I made up stories for our kids and novels seemed really intimidating. But after taking writing courses and learning how to write novels here I am. I’m doing what I’m meant to be doing: two dreams coming true!
What drew you to writing romance?
I’ve always been a romantic at heart. I read mostly romance: contemporary, historical, and romantic suspense. I love seeing how people come together despite the circumstances and odds stacked against them. And I love how romance mirrors the greatest love story of all as Christ pursues us and claims us as His own. So, it was kind of a no-brainer as to what I wanted to write.
Crazy For You is your first published novel. Congratulations! Can you share what it was like seeing your words in print for the first time?
At this time, I still haven’t seen a print copy of Crazy For You. But I will say seeing a picture of my cover for the first time, seeing my name on that cover, brought on ALL the feels: giddy excitement, tears of joy, wonder, trepidation, and most of all an overwhelming gratefulness for this opportunity. Sometimes it doesn’t even seem real.
What is the best writing advice that you have been given, or that you would give to aspiring writers?
Find a writing community and never stop learning. Connections with other writers has been key to my career, as well as a willingness to learn. Publishing is a very difficult field to break into so you will need a good dose of perseverance, an open mind to take criticism, and the more support you have on the journey they more likely you are to succeed. The great thing is there’s so many resources out there!
Susan May Warren is a favorite author for so many (myself included). Can you share what it has been like working with her and creating a Deep Haven story?
Oh gosh, you just gave me permission to go full-blown fan girl! How much space do I have? LOL! Working with Susie is a dream come true. I’ve been a fan of her books from the beginning. And when I wanted to learn how to write, I wanted to learn from Susan May Warren. She has a heart for teaching and she’s got a knack for breaking down story elements and making them very practical and easy to learn. But working with her closely over the past year has been phenomenal. She’s opened up her world of Deep Haven and shown us (Rachel and Andrea, the other DH authors) how to craft beautiful stories step by step. Susie is super supportive of our ideas and yet she can point out ways to bring them to the next level. She’s a mentor, but also your biggest fan. She truly wants to see other writers succeed.
What is the most challenging part of creating a story in this town/series that is already so known and loved by fans?
The hard part was keeping everything straight! There’s a lot of Deep Haven books already. And Deep Haven fans know this series inside and out. Keeping existing characters consistent and making sure these new stories had the authentic Deep Haven feel was important. Also anything I write affects the other Deep Haven stories and vice versa, so there were things that needed a lot of coordination with the other authors and Susie to stay true to the DH storyworld.
Can you tell us a little bit more about Crazy For You?
My original spark for this story was a reverse Beauty and the Beast. My beast-inspired heroine, paramedic Ronnie Morales, is fiercely loyal to her little brother, Tiago, and looking for a place to keep him out of trouble. She wants to give him a home he deserves, the kind of home she had before her father died. She’s rough around the edges, blunt, and not the easiest to get along with, but she deeply cares about her patients. She’s hoping Deep Haven will be a place they can start over.
Meanwhile, fire chief Peter Dahlquist is a Deep Haven native and everyone’s best friend. He’s related to both of the big dynasties in town: the Zimmermans and the Dahlquists. The Zimmermans want a prime lakefront property for their next hotel but the Dahlquists have plans to rebuild Pierre’s Pizza there. Peter is the deciding vote on the city council. And if that wasn’t enough to stress out an easy-going guy, now he’s got to help his new rough and tough partner Ronnie find away to fit into Deep Haven and she’s not exactly “Minnesota-nice.”
What do you hope readers will take away from the book?
Sometimes the prickliest people are the ones with the deepest wounds and need love the most. Also, if anyone like me avoids conflict at all costs, it’s important to learn that some things are worth fighting for.
Thank you again for taking the time to answer these questions. Before you go, are there any other projects you are currently working on that you can share?
I just turned in edits for Right Here Waiting which will release November 9, 2021. In this story you meet Peter’s cousin Nick Dahlquist, the dog sledder, and a helicopter pilot Jae Lynn Washington. There are puppies and secrets and blizzards and a whole lot more! I hope readers will enjoy it.
And, I will be writing a THIRD Deep Haven Book with Sunrise Publishing! Woot woot! We’ll be introducing a new family and it’s just in the beginning stages so I can’t give much away. That book will come out in 2023.
I’m also working on a spinoff book in between projects—a Dahlquist leaves Deep Haven and will find some new adventures out west.
(1) winner will receive a $15 Amazon gift card + 3 Crazy for You ebooks (one ebook for the winner and two to give to friends)!
Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight May 25, 2021 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on June 1, 2021. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.
Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.
Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!
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Sounds like a great read.
ReplyDeleteThe new book by Michele Aleckson and Susan May Warren sounds great. I’ve loved all the Deep Haven books that I’ve had a chance to read.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThis book sounds good to me!
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like an amazing book.
ReplyDeleteShe writes fun books. Thanks for the review and giveaway.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the previous book! Can't wait to read this one too!
ReplyDeleteRandi, thank you so much for the fun interview and spreading the word about Crazy For You! You've got a great blog! :)
ReplyDelete