Kim Rossi

SLEEPING WITH WARD CLEAVER DEBUT AND CONTEST! Leave a comment to enter. Check back Friday to see if you've won.

Join me in welcoming debut author Jenny Gardiner whose fabulous read, "Sleeping with Ward Cleaver" is ready to ship! I've read SWWC and let me tell you, this is NOT your's mother's romance novel! It's fast paced, has a real edge to it (which is what appeals to me) and is written in Jenny's very funny style/voice. It's about a marriage with ups and downs and all arounds. Read the first page HERE!

Jenny won the prestigious American Title contest held by Romantic Times magazine. You can buy a copy right away HERE.

Hi, Jenny. Thanks for coming in to chat with my blog buddies.


Hi Kim! Thank YOU for having me! I love having a reason to appear on your awesome blog!


First off, who decided that the husband character is like Ward Cleaver – you, the author, or Claire the wife in the book?


That's a good question. At first I suppose I did, because I came up with the title before I had a story. So I had to create a Ward Cleaver-esque husband. It wasn't a huge stretch, as really he became a composite of so many "dud" husbands I've known/seen over the years (you know, the stories you hear over drinks with your girlfriends, etc.)


Often characters “tell” writers what do to. Which was it for you?


Once I started to develop the characters more, I think Claire drove the story. She was the one who kept coming up with things that had happened, she was the one who did occasionally put herself into a situation that only happened because she was letting her imagination get the better of her. I wanted her to be flawed but real and also sort of more flawed because she was stressed out with the way her life had unfolded. Not that her life was at all bad, but it just wasn't working right, too much energy was being wasted on her fighting the "system" as it was.


What’s it like writing the sexy scenes?


Oh, god. I am so not adept at that yet. Well, I tried to avoid overt scenes while working the emotion into it. I think this is a skill that comes with time and I am definitely still working on it. I have observed though that many of the "sexiest" books I've read aren't necessarily sexy because of what ultimately happens but because of the build-up to that. Now this story wasn't exactly that sort of story. In this case I was trying to help my protagonist find it again, so that was interesting. Hence why she had to start having really awful sex, the kind of sex you just don't want to think about. Like castor oil sex LOL.


Do you think of your first grade teacher reading your book?


No, more like my kids, my parents, my neighbors. I am a total weenie in that way--like I need to grow up and get over that fear! With my next book I've done it in a more comfortable way and actually gotten bolder, so I guess I am "maturing" with my sex scenes...


Your cover art is to die for – did you have any input? I’ve heard authors often have no say in cover art.


I didn't have any say in my cover but fortunately for me, Dorchester is known for having fun covers. It wasn't at all what I had envisioned for the cover but I love it--it's very fun, very campy, and every time I look at it I hear the theme song for I Dream of Jeannie...


What has your time on The Debutante Ball meant to you?


Wow, it's been such a fantastic thing for me. Kristy Kiernan brainstormed this great blog for a group of debut authors last year, and this year turned it over to a new group. I was so darned lucky to have been chosen as one of the authors. Not only did she pick an awesome group of authors, but we had this great ready-made blog with an established readership and wonderful reputation. We've been able to build on its success, and have been able to bring in some wonderful authors as guests, and are also opening it up for other debut authors as well. It really exemplifies the whole concept of paying it forward, something I so very much believe in. It's been a real added bonus that all of us "Debs" have gotten to be genuine friends, and have been there to help one another out with so many of the details of that year leading up to publication. I feel very very lucky, for all of this, really. I could not have imagined any of this even a year ago.


Thanks, Jenny! And, one more! Will there be a Sleeping with Mike Brady or Dr. Huxtable anytime soon?


Ha! Well, you may know, Kim, that I was weaned on TV of the 60's and 70's and I'm sorely tempted to do so...Never say never, that's for sure. Sleeping with Jed Clampett, maybe?! He he. Thanks again, Kim for having me on your blog! I really appreciate it!