Curling Up With A Good Book: HarperCollins Blog Tour, Interview, & Giveaway: Once and For All (Cheryl Etchison)

Thursday, May 26, 2016

HarperCollins Blog Tour, Interview, & Giveaway: Once and For All (Cheryl Etchison)

Hardback, 384 pages
Expected Publication: May 24th 2016

Publisher: Avon Impulse

From debut author Cheryl Etchison comes the first in a military romance series about the men of the 75th Ranger Regiment’s 1st Battalion.
Rule #1: Military and matrimony don't mix
But if there's one person Staff Sergeant Danny MacGregor would break all his rules for, it's Bree-his first friend, first love, first everything. Maybe he likes playing the hero. Maybe he's trying to ease ten years of guilt. Either way, he'll do whatever he can to help her.
Wish #1: A little bit of normal
Bree Dunbar has battled cancer, twice. What she wants most is a fresh start in a new place where people aren't constantly treating her like she's sick.
By some miracle her wish is granted, but it comes with one major string attached- the man who broke her heart ten years before.
The rules for this marriage of convenience are simple: when she's ready to stand on her own two feet, she'll walk away and he'll let her go. But if there's one thing the military has taught Danny, it's that things don't always go according to plan…

Where to buy ONCE AND FOR ALL

Avon * Amazon * Barnes and Noble * iTunes * Google Play

Cheryl Etchison graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a degree in journalism and news communications and has worked as a newspaper reporter, marketing coordinator and in public relations for a MLB and NHL team. Currently, she lives in Austin, Texas and is a stay at home mom to three girls. ONCE AND FOR ALL is her first novel.

http://www.cheryletchison.com/

What gave you the inspiration to write this book?

I’m a huge sports fan so I remember how Pat Tillman turned down a NFL contract to join the US Army after 9/11. More specifically, I remember that he along with his brother joined the Rangers. I knew of SEALs and Special Forces, but not much more than that so I started digging. The more I researched the 75th Ranger Regiment, the more interested I became.

Who is your favorite character in the book?

That’s like asking me to pick a favorite child! It can’t be done. Well, that’s not completely true. I should say it depends on the day. I absolutely adore Danny and Bree’s fathers, Mac and Pete, because they remind me of my father and his friends. But in this book, Marie was definitely the most fun to write.

Which came first, the title or the novel?

Definitely the novel. How I feel about titles is the same way I feel about headlines from my news reporting days. I’d just turn a story in with “insert title here” at the top. But after my friend assured me I wouldn’t be able to get an agent or sell a book with “Insert Title Here”, I sat down and brainstormed my little heart out. Okay, I scrolled through Foo Fighters lyrics, but it worked.

What scene in the book are you most proud of, and why?

I’d have to say the wig scene because I think it really shows the deep connection between Danny and Bree despite spending ten years apart.

Thinking way back to the beginning, what’s the most important thing you've learned as a writer from then to now?

I’ve learned to ignore what I consider to be arbitrary rules about writing. “You must write every day.” Nope. “You must always show and never tell.” Nope. “The scene should be written from the point of view of the character that has the most to lose.” Honestly, I don’t even know what that means. I lie. I do know what it means, but I think it’s a terrible generalization because every character, every scene is different and what works best for one book might not work so well for yours.

What do you like most about the cover of the book?

Everything! Amanda Bergeron at Avon suggested the American Valor series have covers with a movie poster feel to them and the art department knocked it out of the park.

What new release book are you looking most forward to in 2016?

Rachel Gibson’s “Just Kiss Me” which releases on my birthday. It’s been two years since her last full length novel and I cannot wait.

What was your favorite book in 2015?

“When a Scot Ties the Knot” by Tessa Dare.

What’s up next for you?

Book two of the American Valor series, “Here and Now” releases July 26th, with book three following early 2017 so I’ll be busy with the men of the 75th for the foreseeable future.