Special Guest Author & Giveaway: Shaken by Dee Tenorio

Today, I have the lovely Dee Tenorio stopping by!
I remember reading Dee's first novel with Samhain Publishing, Betting Hearts, and have been in love with her writing since.
Dee Tenorio has a new release coming up, Shaken, on the 19th from Samhain Publishing. *bg*
Ms. Tenorio has taken some time out to stop by my blog today and talk about her book...


Bio:
002, otherwise known as Secret Agent Mom, Dee Tenorio lives a double life.

By day, she's a mild-mannered stay at home mom, somewhat lovingly rearing her eleven-year-old son—that fiendish destroyer of all things that can break, climber of all that has handles and eater only of things his mother has to buy at the drive-thru—The Moo as well as his twin sisters, The Moo-ettes. Together, they challenge her by systematically destroying her dream couch, hiding carpet stains under toys and loosening her brain stem with the ever repetitive viewings of Spongebob Squarepants.

By night, however, 002 is a wild adventurer! She fights valiantly for truth, justice, and the right to look at half-naked men on romance novel covers without prejudice by puttering away desperately on her computer, quietly writing romance novels ranging from comedy to erotica to adventurous drama. She currently publishes with Samhain Publishing—but one never quite knows where she’ll turn up!— secure only in the knowledge that her secret life is safe from public knowledge...

Dangit!

(Dee smacks her forehead) I wasn't supposed to tell, was I?

Shoot, no wonder 007 gets all the good cases....

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Ali: Tell me about the book... how did you come up with this story?

Dee Tenorio: Well, not to be maudlin, it's because I was in much the same place as the main characters of "Shaken", Julia and Grant Sullivan. In my case, I lost my sister back in 2009 and without reservation, I admit that the loss of her had left me in a place where I was drowning in the pain. I needed to cope with it and I thought if I could write it out, I could maybe start to heal. I wanted it to be an honest, adult approach to grief...plus, lol, my sister just loved a good naughty tale. It seemed a fitting homage.

Ali: What inspired you to write "Shaken"?

Dee: Believe it or not, driving with my husband. There's an old highway in Southern California called the Ortega (or Hwy 74) and we travel it frequently to visit family. If you've ever heard of it, you've probably heard that it's a hairpin-turn riddled mountainy nightmare that makes any driver soil themselves at the thought of having an accident on. We're talking 200 foot drops down rocky, tree cluttered ravines. Surviving a crash there on anything but the least hillsides is pretty unlikely and unfortunately, a lot of people die there.

Ali: Which character in "Shaken" did you have more fun writing about? Which is your fave?

Dee: LOL, not sure if "fun" is really the word, but Grant completely got under my skin. He had so many jagged edges and he'd lost his compass. He both broke my heart and made me want to find him some peace. Getting him to a happy ending made me feel like I had done something important, maybe for him and myself, if that makes sense. :)

Ali: Is there a message in your story that you would like the reader to grasp?

Dee: If there's any message to be had, it's to not try to keep your grief inside. If you have someone in your life, someone who loves you—be it friend or mate or family—allow them to help, even in the small things. There's nothing wrong with grieving, even though it hurts. And I can tell you truthfully that when the grief passes, the memories are still there to hold onto. I guess that's what people mean when they say love lasts forever.

Ali: If you were writing a story based on your life, what would be the title?

Dee: LOL, hmmm, probably "Jenga!", because Lord knows it's a balancing act!

Ali: and finally, one of my favorite questions... What's your favorite dessert/sweet treat, Dee?

Dee: Oh, coconut cream pie, absolutely. I've never passed one up and I prolly never will. :)

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BLURB:

Thirteen stories up. Two broken hearts. One last chance...


Surgeon Grant Sullivan's once-perfect life lies in ruins. His daughter is gone—lost in a tragic accident he dare not allow himself to remember—and his beautiful wife now stares at him from across a legal table, insisting she wants nothing from him.

Julia Sullivan lost everything, especially her illusions about her marriage, after the accident. Her grief only seemed to drive Grant farther into his emotional shell—except for the nights he turned to her in silent, furious passion. Unable to live like a ghost in her old life, she's packed up what's left of her broken heart and is ready to move on. Alone.

Determined to break their stalemate, Grant follows Julia onto the elevator just in time for an earthquake. Trapped for hours in a building pressure cooker of unspoken pain, he'll do anything to remind her what she's leaving behind, as deliciously as he can. But giving her what she needs to save their marriage is the one thing that could destroy his soul.

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Excerpt: here
 

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View The Trailer: http://www.deetenorio.com/Strailer_excerpt.php
Dee's Social Network Links:
 

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Giveaway: Leave a comment on both this post and the previous post for Dee Tenorio, for a chance to win a $10 gift certificate to Samhain Publishing's online store My Book Store and More. Winner will be chosen and e-mailed Friday. Remember, you MUST comment on both posts to be entered for my giveaway. Dee has a giveaway on the previous post, too :)