The winner, as selected by random.org, is…

#25 Alexis M.

Winner has been notified via email. You have 72 hours to reply to our email and claim your prize!

Didn’t win? You can still enjoy Miz McLaughlin’s novel—Forever My Girl!

Today we are excited to have Heidi McLaughlin with us, author of her debut book, Forever My Girl. A book about a second chance at love starring a very sexy, tattooed rock star who rides a Ducati! Need I say more?

And Miz McLaughlin is giving away one ebook copy of Forever My Girl to one random commenter!

Let’s chat!

Paula: Hi Heidi, glad to have you with us at Romantic Book Affairs. Please tell us a little bit about yourself. Are you a full time writer? Hobbies? Family?

Heidi: Hi Paula, thanks for having me. No, I’m not a full-time writer, although I’d welcome that opportunity any day. During the day I work for a municipality in land use and while it sounds like a boring job, it’s a lot of learning and interpreting laws. My hobbies would be writing and reading mostly however, I spend a lot of time watching my daughters play basketball or at other high school sporting events.

Paula: Tell us a little bit about Forever My Girl.

Heidi: Forever My Girl started when my friend posted a picture of a drummer on Facebook. The story line was instant. I saw a guy who was looking to redeem himself, one that had lost the most important person in his life due to his actions. It took all of 90-minutes for the story line to be mapped out.

Paula: Why did you decide to write this book?

Heidi: Forever My Girl is actually my 2nd (and half book). I was in the middle of a YA contemp story when the story line for FMG happened. I shelved the YA story and went ahead with FMG. The why – it’s something I’ve always wanted to do, but didn’t think I had it in me. I challenged myself.

Paula: I fell hard for the sexy, tattooed rock star! Why do you believe readers would enjoy a romantic book affair with Liam?

Heidi: Why not? Haha. Liam is different. While he may be cocky in some parts of the story, he doesn’t have to act like that with Josie. He needed her to accept him as the tattooed rocker and not the straight-laced football player she fell in love with. As a reader, you can’t help but fall for him. He doesn’t treat her poorly, accepts his responsibilities and is trying to make amends for his actions all while trying to prove himself to the one girl he left behind whether he wins her or not.

Paula: While writing Forever My Girl, what music did you listen to? Does Liam's band resemble a favorite band of yours?

Heidi: Believe it or not, I had to listen to a lot of songs about lost love, or broken hearts. OneRepublic, Howie Day, Adele – these artists write angst like crazy. A lot of 80’s songs too. I didn’t pick a time period for FMG because I didn’t want that era’s music associated with the story, but music was a big influence. As for Liam’s band – OneRepublic, Daughtry – any of the bands that can rock it out at any moment, or slow it down to make those ladies in the front row fall to their knees.

Ironically, my friend sent me a song after she read the first few chapters and that song became the song Liam sings. What’s nice about this is the artist, Eric Heatherly, is giving a free download of Painkillers to the first 200 purchases when their receipt is emailed the thebeaumontseries@gmail.com.

Eric has been a huge supporter of FMG from the beginning and we are looking forward to having a long lasting working relationship.

Paula: I love casting my heroes and heroines. If Forever My Girl were to be cast into a movie, who would you cast as Liam and Josie?

Heidi: Liam would be someone like Stephen Amell and Josie would be Miranda Kerr.

Paula: When you go to the bookstore, what section to you go to first? What is your favorite book or series?

Heidi: Lately – adult contemp or new adult. I like the risk that authors are willing to take. I want the love, the romance and the under the sheets – as long as it’s not over done. There has to be an air of mystery and imagination when reading a love scene. If you can’t picture it, or feel it, you shouldn’t be reading it. I don’t need details.

Paula: I had the privilege and honor to read Forever My Girl early. I absolutely loved it. You've created a wonderful cast of characters and now I'm dying for the next book. How many books do you have planned for the The Beaumont Series?

Heidi: I have 8 total mapped out. One will be a novella for Liam and Josie, so you haven’t seen the last of them as the main characters. And before panic ensues, they aren’t going away, they are always around. The first chapter of the next Beaumont Series will be in the paperback and e-book.

Thank you so much for joining us today, Heidi! It’s wonderful to know there are several books in the works for this series. I’m super excited. Forever My Girl will be released December 27, 2012 – click here to read my review!

Giveaway!

Who else is excited to have a romantic book affair with Liam? We would love to know what you’re thinking! All comments from now till December 21st will be entered into the giveaway for a digital copy of Forever My Girl upon release, December 27th.

Please leave your broken-up email address in your comment in order to be entered into the drawing (ie. nickname AT gmail DOT com, etc).

KINDLE

Forever My Girl (The Beaumont #1) by Heidi McLaughlin
Contemporary
Bandit Publishing Company (December 27th 2012)

Rating: A-
Heat: Warm

Heroine: Josie Preston – Florist, Cheerleader 
Hero: Liam Page – Rock Star, Football Player 
Setting: Texas, USA