Hi Beverly, I'm thrilled to have you visiting and sharing. Please tell us a little bit about yourself.
For the last twenty years I’ve been a
Domestic Engineer raising four kids and building custom homes with my husband.
In January 2012 I published my debut novel No
More Wasted Time. I love coffee and I’m addicted to my spin bike!
How did you decide to enter the world
of writing?
I was inspired to write after waking up
from a nightmare that my husband had died and I was on a boat in Bora Bora
scattering his ashes on the lagoon.
After weeks of worrying my husband was going to fall off the roof he’d
been working on, I realized it was simply a horrible nightmare and he wasn’t
going anywhere. However, that
tiny fragment of a dream haunted me, building into a story that wouldn’t rest.
A few weeks later I sat down and started typing. Three
years later, I published No More Wasted
Time.
What does your family think of your
writing?
My family is very supportive of my
writing. My oldest daughter helps me critique, edit, and design mock ups for
the covers of my books. My husband keeps paperbacks in his truck and sells them
to his friends and clients. I admit my youngest daughter was a bit embarrassed
when I sent her to school on Teacher Appreciation Day with a copy of No More Wasted Time in a brown paper
bag, but I knew the teacher would love it!
Where do you get your ideas?
No More Wasted Time
started as a dream, but many of my ideas come from places I want to travel or
have traveled to. I love diving into a travel magazine that whisks me off to an
exotic beach. My husband and I were lucky enough to vacation in Bora Bora a few
years ago. Greece and Italy are on my bucket list, so for now I’m writing them
into my stories.
Can you tell us a little about your book?
No More Wasted
Time is my debut novel and the first book in the
Mathews/Clemmins Family series. It’s been on Amazons Best-seller list in Travel
for 8 months and it’s made the Top 50 list on Facebooks “What to read after
Fifty Shades of Grey” for 19 weeks!
After losing her husband to a sudden heart attack, Tess
Mathews escapes to Bora Bora to lay her husband and sorrow to rest. What she
doesn’t expect is a new beginning.
Tom Clemmins is an A-list actor whose life revolves around work and an onslaught of women. He travels to Bora Bora for a much-needed break. Tom has a few ideas of how he’ll enjoy his vacation, but love isn’t one of them. Until he sees Tess.
Reserving a private shark-feeding excursion to scatter her husband’s ashes into the lagoon, Tess is furious when Mr. Hollywood bribes his way onto the boat, leaving her no other choice but to share the boat ride.
Tess is torn between tremendous guilt and zealous lust when their boat ride turns into a week full of romance and desire neither thought imaginable. Utterly smitten with a woman for the first time in his life, Tom casts his commitment phobia aside and whisks Tess off to Malibu where he introduces her as his “girlfriend” on the red carpet.
As the paparazzi besiege, can Tess survive the media blitz that ensues in order to find her second chance at love?
Tom Clemmins is an A-list actor whose life revolves around work and an onslaught of women. He travels to Bora Bora for a much-needed break. Tom has a few ideas of how he’ll enjoy his vacation, but love isn’t one of them. Until he sees Tess.
Reserving a private shark-feeding excursion to scatter her husband’s ashes into the lagoon, Tess is furious when Mr. Hollywood bribes his way onto the boat, leaving her no other choice but to share the boat ride.
Tess is torn between tremendous guilt and zealous lust when their boat ride turns into a week full of romance and desire neither thought imaginable. Utterly smitten with a woman for the first time in his life, Tom casts his commitment phobia aside and whisks Tess off to Malibu where he introduces her as his “girlfriend” on the red carpet.
As the paparazzi besiege, can Tess survive the media blitz that ensues in order to find her second chance at love?
What is your writing process?
I’m a pantser! I have a general idea of the story, but I
don’t plan or outline. The story comes to life while I’m sitting at my computer,
riding my spin bike or of course at 1:36am. I keep notecards next to my bed, in
the car, in my purse and even next to my bike! I prefer to write in the morning
and try to write daily, but some days are better than others.
What was the hardest part for you when working on your book?
The hardest part was and still is finding balance between
family, writing and now marketing. When I started writing, I was consumed with
this story in my head for eight months straight. I slept 4 or 5 hours a night
and was on my laptop the rest of the day. My poor family didn’t know what to
think! My kids would ask, “Do we have any clean socks?” I would practically
growl in response. My husband cooked a lot of dinners and my kids all learned
how to do laundry.
What influenced or inspired you to write?
I had never written or even dreamed of writing anything until
after my dream. Now, I find inspiration everywhere!
Was there a scene that you didn’t add or you removed in your
finished work?
Yes. I moved a scene and I deleted a few too. But my editor did
make a few suggestions that I refused to change. My story line is a bit
different in the fact that you learn what happens after the happy ending. It
really brings the reader full circle into the lives of the entire family. I’m
very happy with my decision.
Do you have a favorite character (from
you're book)? Why?
This is the most difficult question
I’ve ever had to answer! I love them all!
Do you already know what to write next? Can you tell us?
I’m
currently writing Shayla’s Story, the
second book in the series and it will be out this Spring. Book three is yet untitled,
but it is about Tracy Mathews. The forth book is JC Mathews story titled, The Perfect Someday. It is already
complete and waiting patiently on my desk to be published. All of your favorite
characters weave in and out of the series and readers can expect to travel back
to California, Colorado, Greece, Tuscany and even Bora Bora.
Where can we find more information about you and your books?
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/No-More-Wasted-Time-ebook/dp/B006XB6RRU/ref=zg_bs_159953011_1
Website: http://www.beverlypreston.com/
Twitter @beverlypreston
Do you have any last words?
Thanks so much for having me! My pleasure and please visit when your next book is out. I would love to learn all about it.
Fun Questions
I love weekends because? Weekends start
with a 6am Jacuzzi and coffee with my husband!
I hate? Apparently not much because I
couldn’t think of an answer!
I want to buy? I have a crush on the
2013 Orange Camaro.
My favorite song is? I have too many
favorites. Unwritten by Natasha Bedingfield inspires me and I do love Nickelback,
but that’s an entirely different inspiration!
My favorite precious stone is? Tahitian
Pearl…it’s not a stone, but it is precious.
I want to travel to? Why? A little
island in the South Pacific called Rangaroa to go drift snorkeling. They call
it shooting the pass!
I want to meet? Why? George Clooney! Do I really need to
explain? J
I want to invite ------ to dinner. Why?
I’m sure George would be very entertaining!
My dream is to? Live life to its
fullest and try to enjoy the small things in life.
My favorite book is? Blue-Eyed Devil by Lisa Kleypas 