Books-n-Kisses is pleased to Welcome Liz Crowe to the blog today. We will be talking about Liz’s new upcoming book The Tap Room.
The Tap Room by Liz Crowe
Erin Brady’s life has turned inside out.
Her Alpha banker husband, Bradley, has left, claiming she pays more attention to her microbrewery than to him and their two sons.
One business partner, Trent, (The Rookie) is attempting to re-kindle an old flame between them.
Their amazing success has demanded they hire a new brewer, Jeff, (Jockey Box) who takes one look at his new boss and is determined to be something more than an employee.
The daily stresses of running a small business, plus the ongoing turmoil in her personal life are more than she can take. Escaping to Denver for an industry event, she meets Landon, a brewery rock star turned consultant who has been watching her company–and her– for a while.
When family trauma requires an early return to Michigan, Erin is faced with even harder realities plus a thoroughly contrite Bradley, wishing for a reunion. Then, the ultimate sign of success: a buy out offer is tendered from a much larger brewery, just as the owners of Winter Street Brewing are about to be honored by Inc. Magazine as Top Entrepreneurs.
Finally, Erin turns to her other partner, Owen, who has watched the woman he loves suffer long enough and is determined to step in and be the one.
WHO WILL SHE CHOOSE????
Guess what? YOU get to decide…..September 30, 2011 from Breathless Press.
Want to know the exciting part? You the readers will get to choose who Erin ends up with…. Yes you heard me right. You get to pick. What do you say we learn more about Liz and The Tap Room.
Hi Liz, Welcome to Books-n-Kisses. Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to sit down and talk with me.
Liz : Greetings all! Thanks for having me B-n-K. I’m delighted to be here (virtually). It’s a crazy month to be sure, but I’m so excited to have The Tap Room ready for release. It’s been a long time coming.
Q1) Tell us a little about yourself.
Liz: I own a small business by day (and most nights). The Wolverine State Brewing Company is a craft microbrewery, in a state that ranks fifth in the nation (behind California, Oregon, Washington and Colorado) in the number of licensed breweries and brew pubs. I am one of three owners and handle all aspects of sales, marketing, promotions and distributor relations.
My first three published short stories were pulled from this longer book (The Tap Room) and published by Breathless Press. The Rookie was pubbed last fall, XXXMas Ale last December and Jockey Box last spring.
I have 3 teenaged kids, one in college, one who plays Olympic Development level soccer, 2 standard poodles and a spouse who can’t decide if it’s cool to have a brewery owning erotic writer around or just annoying.
I’m a HUGE fan of football, both American and European so needless to say “fall” is my favorite season. From Nashville Tennessee originally I got an English degree at the University of Louisville and love BOTH of those amazing cities. I currently live in Ann Arbor. Go Blue.
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| www.breathlesspress.org/Book/ |
Q2) What would you say is your most interesting writing quirk?
Liz: Once a story is “head written,” usually on a day I’m in the car traipsing around SE Michigan in the name of beer sales, I MUST get in front of a computer and get it out. If it’s a short story, it will take me about 48 hours. A novel, of course takes longer. I don’t set daily word count goals. I can’t write every day unfortunately. But once I’m on a new project, you’re lucky if I realize you are even in my general vicinity. Just ask my family.
Q3) Who are some of your favorite writers? Who do you feel has influenced your writing?
Liz: I think Gone With The Wind, which I read at 13 years old is the seminal romance and I still can “hear” lines from it that stick in my head. I also adore Margaret Atwood, Stephen King and Anne Tyler for their amazing magic with prose. As for romance, I’m a huge huge huge fan of both Shayla Black and Lauren Dane. I’ve also recently come to enjoy Lee Brazil, Anne Mayburn, Desiree Holt, Em Petrova, Katalina Leon and Cindy Spencer Pape.
Q4) The Tap Room is your newest Release. Tell us a little about how you came up with the idea for this book.
Liz: This was literally a serialized project on my blog, brewingpassion.com. I would add to it as the mood struck me and time allowed over the course of about 18 months. As I said, I pulled 3 of what I thought were the hotter, stand alone chapters and submitted them. Breathless Press took a chance on me and then optioned the entire story. I’ve spent many many hours turning it into the “choose your romance” format. It’s been an amazing exercise of the writing and revision and editing muscle I can assure you.
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| www.breathlesspress.org/Book/ |
Q5) How does it work asking the readers choose who she ends up with?
Liz: Readers will follow Erin’s story from one year after she’s split with her husband. She is six years into a successful run as part owner of a microbrewery. One business partner, Trent, and she have a history dating back to high school. They lost touch, then when he asked her to join the company as marketing director, she jumped at it. The other partner, Owen, has developed a very serious crush on her, but doesn’t want to push her. They’ve all experienced the difficult break up of hers (and Trent’s) marriages over the time they put into their brewery.
The story unfolds over the course of the following six months. Readers will be introduced to Owen, Jeff (the hot, young, new brewer they’ve hired who also is smitten with his boss) and Landon (the rock star brewery consultant who has befriended her on line and later on a more, um, direct contact basis).
At a crucial point in the story after all men are introduced, Erin must make a choice. That’s where the reader will choose a path: 1, 2, or 3 and finish the last ¼ of the book to the end with that man. I have made each man pretty distinctive in traits, desires, and personality. It’s a tough choice and NO she can’t have all 3—it’s not that sort of book, sorry! But I believe readers will identify with one or the other man and want to see her with him. There will be an option (I’m told) to go back and read the others of course…
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| www.breathlesspress.org/Book/ |
Q6) Do have a favorite you want Erin to end up with?
Liz: yes. Ask me after it’s released and I’ll tell you who.
Q7) What is up next for you?
Q7) What is up next for you?
Liz: In addition to this novel, I have another novel coming out from Rebel Ink Press, Vegas Miracle—a really romantic m/f/m (Oct. 17) plus a short cougar story in their Claw Marks Anthology on Oct. 1. There will also be 4 novellas with Decadent Publishing, three of them as a trilogy as part of their 1NightStand series. Those will all release in Nov/Dec.
Q8) Is there anything else you would like to add?
Drink craft beer. Anything else and the terrorists win. Seriously, if you are a fan of craft beer I also blog at www.a2beerwench.com which has gotten me national notice. My website is www.lizcrowe.com. And I’m on the Breathless Blog every Friday usually using the Eff word a lot about various topics in writing and life. www.breathlessblog.com.
And while this is not an entirely autobiographical story, it does pull from many personal and unique experiences I have had working in the man’s world of beer.
Books-n-Kisses: Liz, Thank you so very much for stopping by and talking with us. I enjoyed learning more about you and your books. I look forward to reading The Tap Room and finding out who Erin will end up with.
Liz: Don’t forget—you get to choose her man. I’m sure your choice will be a good one!
I’m happy to be here. The short stories already published with Breathless are all available on their site www.breathlesspress.org, on Good reads, Amazon and ARe. Just search by name: Liz Crowe.
Get a head start on The Tap Room Brewing Passion Series with The Rookie, Jockey Box, XXXMas Ale
Get a head start on The Tap Room Brewing Passion Series with The Rookie, Jockey Box, XXXMas Ale
Liz’s buy links for:
The Rookie: www.breathlesspress.org/Book/
Jockey Box: www.breathlesspress.org/Book/
XXXMas Ale: www.breathlesspress.org/Book/
Pre-Order The Tap Room: http://www.allromanceebooks.
Pre-Order The Tap Room: http://www.allromanceebooks.
GIVEAWAY TIME
Breathless Press is offering an e-copy of The Rookie book on in the Brewing Passion Series
If you would like a chance to win
Please leave a comment/question for Liz
Please leave your EMAIL (NO EMAIL, NO ENTRY)
Be a follower of my blog is good too
Extra Points for
+1 sharing this post on Facebook, Twitter or your blog
+1 Friend Liz on Facebook
+1 Like Books-n-Kisses Facebook page
Extra Points for
+1 sharing this post on Facebook, Twitter or your blog
+1 Friend Liz on Facebook
+1 Like Books-n-Kisses Facebook page
Giveaway ends Sept 24th.
Winner announced Sept 26th
Hi Liz,
Great interview! I can't wait to read The Tap Room! I've never read a create your own ending book. It's a fantastic idea!
I do a "head writng" thing, too. It's the only way for me.
Congrats!
Kathleen.gallagher90@yahoo.com
Very good interview!! I love the whole "choose" concept. There have been books that I've read and wondered "WTF? How did she pick HIM???" I'm excited to read it 🙂
Kim
kimcas731@yahoo.com
Thank you for hosting Liz today. This choose your own romance is something that is close to our hearts at Breathless Press and we hope everyone enjoys it.
Marissa
Marketing Director at Breathless Press
hey kids thanks for the comments so far!
I've been assisting my brewer all morning on our Fall pumpkin lager (mmmm….) and he just let me take a social networking break, bless him!
cheers
Liz
What an interesting idea! I think it is great since there are many books where I think the heroine chose the wrong man!!
Thanks for the great interview.
Linda
linmeza@hotmail.com
HI LInda and Kim–yeah, I know right? here is the thing:
I thought I knew who HE was…then I started writing out the possibilities for the OTHER 'he's" and frankly, none of them are perfect (I write reality based romance or at least try to) but ONE of them is the best fit…but you get to pick which one…
it was fun! I hope you all enjoy the book
pre ordering is available at ARe.
Liz
That is such an interesting idea! I love it!! Great interview!
natashahouse13ATyahooDOTcom
Thanks Kathleen and Natasha! I had fun writing it…and have endeavored not to kill myself while editing it 😉
This book sounds great. I've never read a book where you could choose your ending – wonderful idea. And, I love how you have pulled from life to write it 🙂
Kiki
howell.kiki(at)gmail.com
Thanks Kiki! something a little different–both format and setting!
Yum fall pumpkin lager… Dear god I wish you were within driving distance of me!
Thank you for the shout out! I'm a fan of Liz Crowe. Keep an eye on her she has some steamy stuff brewing romance reader will love.
XXOO Kat
OK.Let's see:
+2 GFC follower as MJB (also email follower)
+1 sent FB friend request to you
+1 liked Books N Kisses
That's 4 points!
I'd really love to win The Rookie!
Thanks for the chance,
MJB
msmjb65 AT gmal DOT com
Ok I shared this on facebook and commented ………. thanks for the opportunity of experiencing blog tours
What a great concept, Love this idea,I sometimes do believe the heroine got the wrong man, Can't wait to read these to see who she ends up with, Thank-you for the great give-away x x
julienewberry(at)btinternet(dot)com