Fern Ronay is a morning person...plus a book giveaway

We're pleased to feature Fern Ronay and her debut novel, Better in the Morning, which published earlier this spring. She has TWO copies to share with some lucky readers anywhere in the world!

Fern has studied law and accounting, and has had careers in both fields. However, her true passion is people and their stories, which led her to write her first novel. Fern is short for her maiden name, Fernicola. She lists the Jersey Shore amongst Turkey and Greece as her favorite places to visit and is looking forward to her next trip home to New Jersey. She and Melissa A have something in common related to their first dates with their husbands. Visit Fern at her website, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Synopsis:
Veronica Buccino has a plan: marry John DelMonico and quit her soul-sucking job as a lawyer. And when he tells her he has big news, she's certain he'll pop the question. But instead of proposing, John informs her that he's moving to London. Heartbroken, Veronica feels lost. Salvatore and Antoinette, her dead grandparents, begin to visit her dreams in an attempt to steer her in the right direction. At their suggestion, Veronica takes a news reporting class, which leads to a challenging freelance assignment covering a conspiracy trial. She also begins dating an unlikely suitor: creative Syd Blackman. Just when her love life and career are looking up, Veronica is tossed back to square one by an event that makes her question all her new choices. (Courtesy of Amazon.)

In one sentence, what was your road to publishing like?
It was curvy with many starts and stops but, like any good journey, I learned really important lessons.

Which authors have inspired you?
Emily Giffin, Jennifer Weiner, Adriana Trigiani, Jen Lancaster, Mitch Albom, Liz Gilbert

Describe your writing in three words.
Funny, heartfelt, existential (I call it existential chick lit!)

If Better in the Morning were made into a movie, who would you cast in the lead roles?
I see Paul Sorvino as Grandpa Sal and Olympia Dukakis as Grandma Ant but, as for the protagonist Veronica, I don't know! May I use this opportunity on CLC as a casting call to any and all Italian American actresses out there in their late twenties/early thirties with a New Jersey twang? Call me!

What is one item you can't live without?
My phone. I recently had it stolen and, when I realized what had happened, I became instantly frantic, resisting the urge to scream like Meryl Streep, "A dingo took my baby!"

What is the strangest or craziest date you have ever been on?
My first date with my husband. He suggested bowling and I said yes, obviously, but I kept thinking "Bowling? You don't want to just meet for a drink and decide after an hour whether or not we like each other? You know, like typical dysfunctional Manhattanites?" But, it was a great date and inspired a scene in Better in the Morning. Most scenes in the book are from my overactive imagination but that one was definitely directly inspired. Ripped from real life!

Thanks to Fern for visiting with us and sharing her book with our readers. Thanks also to Sage's Blog Tours for including us on Fern's schedule. See all the other tour stops.


How to win: Use Rafflecopter to enter the giveaway. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us. If you have trouble using Rafflecopter on our blog, enter the giveaway here. 

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Worldwide. Ends June 15th at midnight EST.