You know how much I love sport romances, so I am very happy to introduce you to newcomer romance author Tracy March, whose debut novel The Practice Proposal, a contemporary romance novel featuring a sexy baseball player just got released by Entangled Publishing. Take a seat and get to know Tracy and learn more about her Suddenly Smitten series, and she also has some very sweet treats for you at the end, so don’T forget to enter the giveaways! 😉 

Stella: Hi Tracy, welcome to Book Lovers Inc! Can you please tell us a bit about yourself?

Tracy: I like to write, whether it’s romantic thrillers influenced by my career in the pharmaceutical field, and my interest in science and politics, or lighthearted romances inspired by my real-life happily ever after. (Lucky me!)

Always up for travel and adventure, I’ve flown in a stunt plane, snowmobiled on the Continental Divide, ziplined in the Swiss Alps, and been chased by a bull in the mountains of St. Lucia. I love Nationals baseball, Saturday date nights, and Dairy Queen Blizzards—and I rarely go a day without Diet Coke and Cheez-Its. (I have a thing for sesame sticks and dry roasted edamame, too!)

I live in Yorktown, Virginia, with my superhero husband who works for NASA. We recently spent two years living in Washington D.C., and enjoy visiting often—especially when the Nats are in town. Go Nats!

Stella: Are you a planner or pantser? Can you tell us a bit about your writing process? How do your novels come to life?

Tracy: It’s been a bit of a mix. My debut romantic thriller, Girl Three, that comes out on April 30th was plotted down to every detail, while The Practice Proposal came more organically based on a synopsis. I couldn’t go totally pantser, because that would be too freakin’ outside my comfort zone, but I did enjoy the freedom of not having everything planned out. I just need to make sure that I’m not off on a tangent that will never lead to any sort of satisfying ending for the story.

Usually my novels come to life through an idea associated with something I love (like baseball or science). Some burning question will occur to me about a character facing a certain situation and that “what if” gets the wheels turning and comes out in a story.

Stella: What do you think is the difference between a reader and a real Book Lover?

Tracy: I’d say a reader is someone who enjoys books, who might read a few pages before going to bed at night, or on plane, or on the beach during vacation. A book lover is someone who has to have a book to read, who chooses books as one of their main forms of entertainment, and who looks forward to their next read. They have favorite stories that they talk about and recommend, and favorite authors they love. They’re a part of a culture of book lovers, and they’re thrilled when they find one another!

Stella: Your latest novel, The Practice Proposal, the first book in the Suddenly Smitten series was published in Entangled’s Bliss line, congratulations! Can you tell our readers what they can expect of the series and especially The Practice Proposal? 

Tracy: There will be three books in the Suddenly Smitten series, each set partly in the small town of Maple Creek, Maryland, that was introduced in The Practice Proposal. The second book is due out this fall and features Liza’s best friend, bakery owner Paige, from The Practice Proposal. The third book, due out early in 2014, is super-secret right now, so that makes things kind of fun!

Here’s what readers can look forward to in The Practice Proposal:

Liza Sutherland isn’t looking for love. Not from a charity-auction date she didn’t even bid on and especially not with Nationals first baseman Cole Collins, the guy she obsessed over as an awkward teenager. She won’t get involved with a notorious player, no matter how attractive Cole is.

Cole Collins is up for contract renegotiation, but after too many late-night parties, he’ll need some positive publicity before he can make the roster. His agent, Frank, pitches Liza as the perfect prop…only Cole didn’t account for Liza no longer being just a teenager with a crush. She’s gorgeous and smart and he’s instantly hooked.

When Frank makes Liza a deal she can’t refuse—a bet she will fall in love with Cole or a cool half mil goes to charity—the game is on. But neither bet on the real feelings that surface. Could a fake fling turn into an official forever?

In all of the Suddenly Smitten novels, readers can expect laughter, tears and memorable happily-ever-afters!

Stella: Could you introduce the hero and heroine of The Practice Proposal to us?

Jessie Pavelka as Cole Collins

Cole Collins: Super-sexy First Baseman for the Washington Nationals

Signature Quote: “I’ll have the Walk of Shame burrito.”

He knows he deserves the trouble he’s in, but can a fake romance get him out of it?

Liza Sutherland: Smart Heroine who Runs Charity Baseball Camps for Underprivileged Boys

Signature Quote: “You’d be wise not to judge me based on one flaming wiener.”

She calls her own plays, and romance isn’t part of her plan.

Stella: If The Practice Proposal were to be made into a movie, who would be your perfect cast?

Tracy: I would cast Jessie Pavelka as Cole Collins, and Minka Kelly as Liza Sutherland. While I didn’t imagine anyone specific when I was writing the story, I stumbled upon photos of the two of them after the fact and thought they’d make a perfect pair.

Stella: Can you share with us a behind the scenes secrets about The Practice Proposal?

Michael Morse

Tracy: This is no secret to people who know me well, and it’s been revealed already, but there’s this certain baseball player that makes me swoon—Michael Morse, formerly a Washington National and now a Seattle Mariner. Not only is he super-hot, he’s also incredibly humble, sportsmanlike, and he has a quirky sense of humor. Michael doesn’t look like Cole, and his life and career stories are not the same, but his personality and heart inspired Cole’s character. When Michael learned that I had dedicated the novel to him, he was so gracious about it. He sent me a couple of tweets that said, “@Tracy_March thank you so much! It is truly an honor. Wow #thankful” and “@Tracy_March can’t wait to read!” My stomach still flutters every time I read those tweets!

Stella: Aw, that is incredibly sweet! 😀 Now can you tell us 3 reasons why people should read The Practice Proposal?

Tracy: It’s a delightful way to get into the baseball spirit, with a little love, a little humor and a lot of fun. Oops, that was four! 😉

Stella: Could you please summarize The Practice Proposal for us Twitter-style (in 140 characters or less)?

Minka Kelly as Liza Sutherland

Tracy: When a charity auction date with a sexy pro baseball player ends in a fake proposal, what could possibly go wrong? Game on!

Stella: You have already mentioned that there will be three books in the Suddenly Smitten series, can you tell us a bit more about them: who will be their heroes/heroines? Anyone we got to meet in The Practice Proposal? And when will we be able to read them?

Tracy: Yes, there will be three books in the Suddenly Smitten series. The second one is scheduled for release this fall and will feature Paige Ellerbee, Liza’s best friend from The Practice Proposal. Readers have really fallen for Paige, and rooted for her to get her own story. I hope they will love it! We’re not yet ready to reveal the characters in the third book, so stay tuned!

Stella: What is your favourite part of a romance novel to read or write? The beginning, the first meeting, first kiss, getting to know each other, first love scene, big fight, HEA, or something else?

Tracy: As a reader, I enjoy almost all of those elements of the story (except the big fight, even though it’s necessary), so it’s difficult to choose. As a writer, I like the beginning, where the couple is just becoming aware of how they feel about one another, noticing and appreciating every little thing. Their feelings are so intense and fresh, and the anticipation of what’s to come is really exhilarating.

Stella: You also wrote Girl Three, a suspenseful thriller, how is it different writing a contemporary romance than a romantic suspense?

Tracy: When I write my romantic thrillers, I try to tell a compelling story as well as present a puzzle for the reader to solve. I include elements of medical science and sometimes politics. Even though I was formerly in the pharmaceutical field, the plots require quite a bit of research to make the story fact-based (even though it’s fiction!) and to make the mystery work. There seem to be more elements to juggle when I write romantic thrillers.

My romances require plotting, and maybe a little research, but the stories are light-hearted and humorous (so far), and more relaxing to write.

Stella: What is next on your schedule? Any future plans you’d like to share with us?

Tracy: Girl Three, the romantic thriller you mentioned, releases on April 30th, so that’s exciting for me. I’m finishing up the next of the three books in the Suddenly Smitten series that began with The Practice Proposal. After that, I’ll get back to work on another romantic thriller, A Shot of Red, that’s due out next spring, then on to the last book in the Suddenly Smitten series. Needless to say, I’ve got plenty to keep me busy!

Stella: And we wouldn’t have it any other way! 😉 Could you share with us something, a trivia that not many people know about you?

Tracy: I was hospitalized when I was five, and had my tonsils removed. A friend gave me a sock doll that looks like the Pillsbury dough boy to keep me company while I was there, and I started sleeping with it clutched next to me every night. I still have that sock doll (cleverly named Mr. Softy!), he’s been repaired and re-socked over the years, and I still sleep with him!

Thank you for hosting me here at Book Lovers Inc. I’ve enjoyed hanging out with you!

The Practice Proposal by Tracy March

Book #1 in the Suddenly Smitten series

Liza Sutherland isn’t looking for love. Not from a charity-auction date she didn’t even bid on and especially not with Nationals first baseman Cole Collins, the guy she obsessed over as an awkward teenager. She won’t get involved with a notorious player, no matter how attractive Cole is.

Cole Collins is up for contract renegotiation, but after too many late-night parties, he’ll need some positive publicity before he can make the roster. His agent, Frank, pitches Liza as the perfect prop…only Cole didn’t account for Liza no longer being just a teenager with a crush. She’s gorgeous and smart and he’s instantly hooked.

When Frank makes Liza a deal she can’t refuse—a bet she will fall in love with Cole or a cool half mil goes to charity—the game is on. But neither bet on the real feelings that surface. Could a fake fling turn into an official forever?

Read an excerpt

Buy at Amazon – B&N – Goodareads

Award-winning author Tracy March writes romantic thrillers influenced by her career in the pharmaceutical field, and her interest in science and politics. She also writes lighthearted romances inspired by her real-life happily ever after.

Look for Tracy’s contemporary romance debut, THE PRACTICE PROPOSAL, in March 2013, and her romantic thrillers, GIRL THREE, in April 2013, and A SHOT OF RED in spring 2014, all from Entangled Publishing.

Always up for travel and adventure, Tracy has flown in a stunt plane, snowmobiled on the Continental Divide, ziplined in the Swiss Alps, and been chased by a bull in the mountains of St. Lucia. She loves Nationals baseball, Saturday date nights, and Dairy Queen Blizzards—and rarely goes a day without Diet Coke and Cheez-Its.

Tracy lives in Yorktown, Virginia, with her superhero husband who works for NASA. They recently spent two years living in Washington D.C., and enjoy visiting often—especially when the Nats are in town.

Find out more or connect with Tracy at her website / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads

There are TWO giveaways:

Blog Giveaway:

One US/CAN commenter will win this lovely charm bracelet,

while an INTERNATIONAL commenter will win an ebook copy of The Practice Proposal! 

All you have to do is leave a comment and tell us:

 What is your favourite sport to watch and do you have a favourite athlete?

ALSO please state in your comment WHETHER you are US or INT!

(You can read our full giveaway policy here)

Please be sure to include a valid email address in the comment form (need not be in the actual body of the comment).

Giveaway ends on 27 April 2013 and we will announce the winner on Sunday.

Good Luck!

Tour-wide Grand Prize Giveaway:

There is a tour-wide giveaway for a Kindle Paperwhite (US/Canada Only).

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About Stella

Stella is a proud bookaholic and a self-taught multilinguist in training. Besides reading, her other great passions are travelling and baking. When she is not globetrotting she lives in sunny Budapest, where she loves to spend her free time preparing (and feasting on) delicious cookies or devouring equally yummy books. Her favourite genres are urban fantasy and romance and she couldn't live without her daily dose of sunshine. Besides being the Latin Lover on BLI Stella also blogs about books and a bookish life on Ex Libris.

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