Blog Tour Author Interview with Giveaway: Hesi-Dating by Zoe Forward

Item: Hesi-Dating
Author: Lisa Mandina

Posted January 17, 2024 by Lisa Mandina in author interview, Blog Tour, giveaway / 8 Comments

Hesi-Dating by Zoe Forward
on January 15, 2024
Genres: Adult Contemporary Romance
Pages: 306
Goodreads

Blurb:

I warn all my dates: Don’t fall for me.
I’m good for a date or two of no-strings fun, but then I’m a ghost.

Until the sheriff. He saves me from a jerky ex-date. Now I owe him a favor. Almost a decade older than me, funny, and insanely attractive, my chemistry with Seth is off the charts. His post-divorce hurt makes me want to heal his wounded soul. For the first time in ever, I say no. He doesn’t deserve my heartbreaking ways. I tell myself I must walk away since me dating law enforcement is a no-can-do. I’m not a felon, but I do have connections from my past that make it dangerous. If I’m truthful, it’s self-preservation. Seth threatens to awaken the desiccated organ inside my chest.

Then he needs a favor.
Calling in favors becomes our not-dating game.

I should have stopped helping him. I should have left well enough alone. But I just couldn’t resist. I have a connection to this guy. One that has me acting irrationally. One that snags the attention of the gang leader I wished would leave me alone.
I want to nurture our burgeoning spark, but I must protect us from the deadly dangers of my past.

Hesi-dating features a hesitant sheriff, a player girl hiding a big heart and dangerous past, a lame horse, and the world’s worst home security dog. It stands alone and comes complete with sibling meddling, an awkward naked handcuffs scene, and a sweetly satisfying happily ever after.

Goodreads / Amazon

Author Interview

1. What does your writing process look like? Do you know the whole story when you start? Or do you just start writing and go with it (seat of the pants writing)? If you plan it out, how do you do that? Outline, notecards, post-it-notes, etc.?

I’m a hot mess. Every single time I’ve I attempt to outline the whole story it derails by chapter two. My characters like to stick out their tongues, waggle their butts, and run away from my well laid plans. I start with a general concept and spend the first few chapters of writing discovering my characters and building their backgrounds (a lot of that is off page). Usually, I must wait for sections of the book to come to me over time even if I have an idea of the story’s direction. Sometimes everything comes together in the middle and I have to go back to the first chapter.

2. Do you edit as you go, or wait till you’re finished before you edit? How many times would you say you go over it yourself before having another set of eyes look it over?

Both. I wish to get it written perfect the first time because, gah, it’s sooo much work! The first, second, and fifth drafts suck. I edit as I go. I go back over it many times. I edit while waiting to pick up kids or on my lunch break from work. Then I send it to my first editor, and she tears it to shreds. Then we start the process all over again.

3. Where is your ideal place to write? Do you have an office, or do you like to go sit in a coffee shop/library, etc.?

Umm…anywhere that’s quiet if my computer’s charged and no one needs me to do something. I work a zillion hours a week as a veterinarian, I have kids who need my time when I get home, and then we’re running on days off to get all those outside-school things done, sometimes those in-school events done. Most of my writing happens after 10 p.m. or very early in the morning.

4. How do you come up with your ideas for your stories?

My head. Doesn’t everyone have stories and characters just prancing around up there all the time driving them nuts? Perhaps, I’ll read something online or an article that triggers an idea.

5. What are your favorite:

Books/authors/genres: Contemporary romance and nonfiction historical novels

Movies/TV Shows: RomComs, SciFi/Fantasy, Adventure/Action

Music: Anything except jazz

Food/Writing snack: Coffee, chai, and gum

About the Author

USA Today bestselling author, parent, wife, veterinarian, chocolate lover. Author of spicy paranormal and contemporary romances. Zoe Forward brings readers the perfect combination of action adventure, romance, humor and a bit of magic.

Her novels have won numerous awards including the Prism, Readers’ Choice Heart of Excellence, Golden Quill, Carolyn Readers Choice Award, and the Booksellers’ Best Award.

You can find her residing in the South with a menagerie of four-legged beasts and two wild kids.