Q&A with SUSAN MALLERY
New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author of
UNTIL WE TOUCH
1. In what ways do
you think every woman can relate to Larissa Owens?
Larissa is a sweetie. She’s not rich; she’s
working as a personal assistant and personal masseuse for Jack. She gets to go
to work in yoga pants and touch sexy guys all over. (Dream job!) UNTIL WE TOUCH
is my nod to the boss/secretary story, one of my favorite kinds of romance.
Larissa has a pure heart, and when she sees
someone hurting, she doesn’t just think about helping. She does help, with whatever resources are available to her.
Fortunately for her, since she’s been working for Jack, he has allowed her to
use his wealth and connections in service to her causes. In fact, he likes it.
With Larissa using his money to try to save the world, he can feel like a part
of something without actually putting himself out there. It’s a very
comfortable arrangement for them both… until Larissa’s mom tells Jack that
Larissa is in love with him, and everything changes.
2.
What about Jack McGarry makes
him like no leading man we’ve ever seen before in Fool’s Gold?
I think what makes people relatable—both in
fiction and in life—are our imperfections and our vulnerabilities. From the
outside, Jack’s life appears perfect. He’s rich, handsome, famous. He was a pro
quarterback who retired on top and is now experiencing the same phenomenal
success in the private sector with Score, the PR firm he co-owns.
But Jack has a secret pain that makes him
protect himself from feeling too deeply, from caring too much. He lost someone
dear to him when he was young, and he felt responsible. The lesson he took from
that loss was that it’s safer on the surface.
Larissa works for him, so she knows he’s not
a good bet when it comes to relationships. She has watched a string of
temporary girlfriends come and go. She even bought the parting gifts. Despite
that, despite her better judgment, she likes
the man. He’s a good guy, a great friend, and he’s the sexiest man she’s ever
met.
3.
If UNTIL WE TOUCH were made into a movie, who would you envision
playing Jack and Larissa?
I’m going to go with Chris Pine with black
hair and Amy Adams as a blonde. (We must keep the Hollywood hairstylists
employed!) Both could handle the funny scenes and the moments of honest
emotion.
Of course, one of the funniest scenes in the
book would probably have to be cut in order to keep the R rating. No spoilers,
but I will say that Larissa is a massage therapist, and as their feelings for
each other change, new situations—ahem—arise.
4.
Larissa keeps her romantic attraction to Jack a secret at first,
before her mother spills the beans. Do you think you should ever keep that
secret from a friend you’re falling for, or is it better to confess your love?
In the case of Larissa, she didn’t realize
she was keeping a secret… she kept
her feelings a secret even from herself. Until her mother’s assertion, Larissa
didn’t think she was in love with Jack. Just by saying those words, Larissa’s
mom changed everything. These two friends and colleagues are suddenly thinking
of each other in a whole new way. Which is inconvenient, to say the least.
As for whether someone in real life should
keep her feelings for a friend secret or confess all, I’d have to say it really
depends on the situation. Friendship is the best foundation for lifelong love,
but not all friends-to-lovers stories end happily. I think you’d need to
examine your heart and ask yourself, honestly, what is the best action for you
to take.
5.
You have written well over 100 books. How do you keep developing
such unique storylines and characters that keep your fans coming back for more?
It’s a challenge! The truth is, every love
story is unique. We all know dozens of couples who met, fell in love, and
married. The framework may be similar—first glance, first kiss, deepening
feelings, declaration of love—but the nuances are different. Which means that
as a writer, I need to start with the nuances and build from there. What makes
these two individuals unique and uniquely suited for each other? What events in
their past color their actions and emotions today? As I develop their
characters, I look for aspects that put them in conflict with each other, but also
for aspects that will make them a couple you can believe will make it for the
long haul. The conflict has to last nearly the length of the book, but the
things they have in common have to take them through the rest of their lives.
6.
What do you think is the
recipe for a perfect romance novel?
A perfect romance should carry you away from
your everyday world and fill you with emotions as you read. When you put down
the book before you’re finished, it should call to you. Chores can wait, dinner
can wait. It should be a challenge for you to turn off the light to go to
sleep, even when it’s way past your bedtime. You should want to read just one
more chapter, and then just one more after that, and then just one more until
you’re done because you can’t bear to put it down until you know the characters
are happy and in love. And when you do finish this perfect romance, you should feel happy, with a renewed
feeling of faith in the power of love to overcome all obstacles.
7.
What’s next for Fool’s
Gold?
Next up, Kenny and Bailey will fall in love
in YOURS FOR CHRISTMAS. Readers are in love with Kenny already, started asking
for his story right away. He was introduced in WHEN WE MET, and readers could
immediately sense that there are hidden depths beneath his happy-go-lucky
façade. Kenny is one of Jack’s partners at Score PR. What he wants more than
anything is a family, but he was burned badly by an ex. The one thing he won’t
do, no matter what, is fall in love with a single mom. And then he meets
Bailey…
YOURS FOR CHRISTMAS was originally slated to
be an ebook exclusive novella. However, Harlequin has decided to release it
simultaneously in print on October 28. It will be printed at the back of the
mass market paperback reissue of CHRISTMAS ON 4TH STREET. Both YOURS
FOR CHRISTMAS (ebook) and CHRISTMAS ON 4TH STREET combined with
YOURS FOR CHRISTMAS (print and ebook) are available for pre-order now.
8.
Any fun summer plans?
I’m going to soak in as much of this rare and
precious Seattle sunshine as I can before the rainclouds descend again! Seattle
in the summertime has to be one of the most beautiful places on the planet. I
swear, there are a million shades of green, and every single one of them is on
display as we walk the dog around the city.
After a family tragedy, former football hero Jack McGarry keeps the world at arm's length—a challenge now that his PR firm has moved to neighborly Fool's Gold, California.
Larissa Owens knows where she stands—Jack sees her as just another one of the guys. No matter what her heart wishes, Jack's her boss, not her boyfriend. But then Larissa's big secret is revealed…by her mother!
When Jack discovers the truth about Larissa's feelings, her touch suddenly becomes tantalizing, and he's not sure he wants to resist. But if he gives in to desire, heartache is sure to follow. Friendship or true love—will Jack go for the ultimate play?
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