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Thursday, September 20, 2012

Interview with Author Rebecca Rogers Maher and Giveaway

Today I would like to welcome to RFTC author Rebecca Rogers Maher. Rebecca is celebrating the upcoming release of her book Fault Lines which is out September 24th, and has stopped by to answer a few questions. Before I get to the interview, let's get to know a bit about Rebecca.

Rebecca Rogers Maher lives in Brooklyn, New York with her husband and children.

Places to find Rebecca:


First off, can you tell us a bit about you?
Well, to begin, thank you so much for having me here today! It’s a pleasure to talk with you.

I live in Brooklyn, New York with my great husband and our two amazing little boys. I taught public school in New York City for many years before I started writing, which means I’ve got thick skin, a no-BS attitude, and a big heart. I’m the author of the Recovery TrilogyI’ll Become the Sea, Snowbound with a Stranger, and my latest, Fault Lines—all books about regular women with realistic problems who meet really kind men and have lots of hot sex with them.

I like to write about real women – heroines with problems like all of us have, who make mistakes but find a way to work through them. I enjoy stories about Regency debutantes and superheroes as much as the next gal, but I think normal women deserve happy endings too. We work hard, we take care of our families – we deserve great love lives. We’ve earned it! So my books deliver that.

Did you always want to be a writer?
I knew I wanted to write when I was a kid. But then I got older and frankly stopped feeling entitled to it. I think a lot of women can relate to the idea of setting yourself aside and focusing on the needs of others. That’s what I did for many years before I understood that it was okay to do something for myself too. So I guess I’d say I always wanted to be a writer, but I only let myself be a writer very recently.

What kind of writer are you? Panster or Plotter?
A bit of both. I usually start with a problem or conflict, and then I think about what kind of character would have a problem like that, and then I outline the basic plot points. But often I’ll be writing a scene and it will suddenly take an entirely unexpected turn. I love when that happens. It’s usually a lot more interesting than what I originally thought up.

Where do your ideas come from?
I feel really inspired when I see people work through painful obstacles and come out the other side to happiness and a sense of peace. I think about the real-life challenges people face and I wonder what it would take for them to find their way through it, and this is what gives me ideas for books. I ask myself what would it take to overcome a thing like that? And then I start writing.

A la Twitter style, can you describe your book (or series) in 140 characters or less.
The Recovery Trilogy: I’ll Become the Sea, Snowbound w/a Stranger, Fault Lines—Stories of real women who get the happy endings they deserve.

What are some of your favorite kinds of stories to read?
I love juicy stories where characters go through massive upheavals and feel a lot of emotion. I like it when authors are brave enough to go all-out like that. That’s life! Messy and beautiful.

I also like books with really detailed, racy sex scenes. I always feel a little bummed out when I read a book that doesn’t contain one. So I make sure to provide that for my readers. You’re welcome!

Do you have a favorite book and if so what is it?
It’s a tie between Jane Eyre and Cormac McCarthy’s The Road. I’ve read both many, many times.

What are the scenes that are the hardest for you to write?
The hardest scene I’ve written so far is the one where Sarah confronts her mother about her abuse in Fault Lines. I still can't read it without crying. Scenes like that are hard to write, but ultimately they’re very moving too. They contain a lot of strength and hope, and that is uplifting to me.

If you could have dinner with any three authors (alive or dead), who would you choose and why?
Margaret Atwood, Junot Diaz and Lisa Kleypas.

Margaret Atwood has been my favorite author since I was fifteen years old. Junot Diaz is just a genius. And Lisa Kleypas is the person who inspired me to write romance because she’s so damn good at it and explores such interesting themes.

Last question, are you working on anything right now?
I’m writing a contemporary romance about an agoraphobic heroine and the angry carpenter who comes to renovate her house. It’s incredibly fun to write because the two characters are wildly different and can’t stand each other. There’s a lot of thunder and lightening, both literally and figuratively.

Thank you again for inviting me to Ramblings From This Chick. It’s been great talking with you!

Come on by and follow me on Facebook. I’m very chatty there!


Sarah Murphy plans other people’s weddings. She’s gor- geous and successful, but she also carries a dark secret.

At one of her events, she meets Joe Sullivan, a sexy photog- rapher with a difficult past of his own. When he snaps a rare unguarded photograph of her and captures the real person hiding behind the facade, she feels exposed. To restore the upper hand, she tries to do what she always does: use sex to defuse the situation.

While Joe is eager to deepen his relationship with Sarah, he’s aware of her emotional shield and the way she discon- nects from her body. Seeing her at her most vulnerable doesn’t scare him off, but he needs to know what she’s hid- ing.

Sarah has a tough decision to make. Does she want to go on living a lonely, emotionally frozen life? Or can she finally risk revealing the truth and move forward with Joe?

Purchase: | Amazon | Barnes & Noble |

Check out the other books in The Recovery Trilogy:
Click on cover for more info. 

Want to win some goodies from Rebecca? Check out what's up for grabs.

Up for grabs:
  • 1 lucky commenter will win a eBook copy of Fault Lines.

To Enter:
  • Please leave a meaningful comment/question for Rebecca. 
  • Please fill out the Rafflecopter form below. 

Good Luck =)
a Rafflecopter giveaway

26 comments :

  1. Thanks for hosting Rebecca today! :)

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  2. I hadn't heard of your books, but I'm always on the lookout for angsty romances and it sounds like that's what you write, so I will definitely check them out.

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    1. Cool, Jen! I love angsty romances too. Have you read Grace Burrowes's The Heir? That's a great one. So glad you stopped by today!

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  3. Congrats on the new release. This book, this series, sounds fantastic. Can't wait to read it. I like that you write about "real" women, and not "Stepford wives".

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    1. Thank you so much, Joanne! You know, I saw Stepford Wives when I was a kid and it totally freaked me out! Real women are much more fun to be around. Thanks a lot for coming by to say hello!

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  4. I like the fact that you write about real women. As much as I love romance novels, a lot of times the heroines are so far fetched that I can't relate to them. I'll be adding your books to my TBR list!

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    1. Thanks, Patricia! I feel the same way. I want to completely invest in the heroine. If she acts like a blow-up doll I'm like, shoot! I was really trying to like you! Personally, I'd rather the heroine act like a jerk realistically than act like something I can't recognize from real life. Thank you for stopping by today!

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    2. I look forward to reading your work. It will be a nice change of pace to read about real people. Thank you!

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    3. Thank you, Phoenix! I hope so. Living in New York City, I see a lot of real people, and I never get tired of eavesdropping on their conversations! :) It's so interesting trying to figure out what makes them tick.

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  5. Nice interview. That's be a nice dinner party.

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    1. Thank you! Imagining those three authors chatting it up is very funny to me! Don't know why, but I picture them eating chili. :) Thanks for saying hello!

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  6. Great interview! Sounds like a really good read!! Thanks for the chance to win!

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  7. Ooooh man there's nothing hotter than an angry carpenter!!!

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    1. Right??! It's giving me heart palpitations to write this guy. Hubba hubba.

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  8. I just love reading books like these! Sometimes I wish they would just be honest with each other and fall in love sooner, but if that happens, you don't have much of a book right! Going on my NTR (NEED TO READ) list!

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    1. Thank you, Steph! One reason I write short books is that I want to avoid those moments when you're like, DUDE -- when are these knuckleheads going to admit it already?? I like the term NTR, by the way. Thanks for putting my books on that list. It's an honor!

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  9. I like the cover of this book. Really looks inviting.Thanks you for contest/giveaway.

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    1. Thank you! I have to credit the hugely talented Carina Press art department for that. Their covers are beautiful, and this one is no exception. I love the hero's eyes! Glad you stopped by today!

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  10. I hve not read any of your work before, but I certainly will! I am ususalyy more of a PNR or historical romance reader, I do enjoy contempory romance once in a while, and your sound good. Thank you for the opportunity.

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    1. Thank you, Karen! I'm a big reader of historicals too, but I'm too much of a research wimp to write one! So glad you stopped by today!

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  11. I like the cover of this book. looks really interesting. will have to get it when i have some money

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    1. Thank you, Laurie! Again, I have to thank the Carina Press art department for this gorgeous cover. They are so good! Thanks for coming by! All the stops on my blog tour have a giveaway of Fault Lines to one random commenter, so stop by. There are lots more to come this week! http://bit.ly/Pc5ReU

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  12. I like stories about women who have made their share of mistakes and learned from them.

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    1. They're inspiring, right? I think it's important to show that women don't have to be perfect in order to be loved and worthy of love. We can be a little messy. Men sure are! :) Thanks for coming by today!

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