Then Comes Winter Blog Tour with Suzan Lauder & Billy

As part of the Then Comes Winter Blog Tour, Suzan Lauder, is my guest today. She is the author of the short romance, Delivery Boy! It is a fun story and one I think you will enjoy. Enter the Rafflecopter giveaway below for a chance to win and read your very own copy of Then Comes Winter!

We are really in for a treat too, as Ms. Lauder has managed to snag an interview with Billy, the delivery boy, himself. Enjoy!

~~~~~~~~~~

The following is a fictional interview of the title character from Delivery Boy, a short, modern romance by Suzan Lauder, published in the Meryton Press 2015 holiday romance anthology, Then Comes Winter, edited by Christina Boyd. The narrator is a reporter.

◊◊◊

11pm the Friday before Thanksgiving.

Just our luck—the van fishtailed after a turn, and the back tires wound up in deep snow on a side street. Of course, I’m behind trying to push it out of the ruts while Gordy, the camera operator, is at the wheel. I should never have bragged about working out and my killer biceps. We rock it back and forth, but it’s hopeless. The tires just spin, digging deeper holes in the same spot. No way will we make it to the news story, and Channel 4 is going to scoop us.

A few doors down, a Jeep drives up, and a tall man gets out, retrieves a large pizza from a hot bag in the passenger seat, and delivers it to a large Victorian house. He goes back to the Jeep before heading over to our van. Light snow swirls around him in the wind. He’s bundled head to toe, so I can just see his eyes.

“Deep ruts?” he says.

Gordy’s gotten out by now, and we’re all looking at the ruts in the snow in the minimal light from the streetlights. We make that usual chit-chat about type of tires, no traction, and just polishing the snow in one place, like you always hear in these situations. The tall guy holds out some mats.

“Try these.”

We jam them under the tires, and both guys congratulate each other with macho enthusiasm, confident of success. I stamp my feet. I’m cold!

Gordy notices. “Hey, Victoria, why don’t you get in the van where it’s warm? You can drive us out, and I’ll get it on camera.”

Good idea! So the tall guy pushes, Gordy films, and I drive. The van hesitates before it grinds ahead. With a forward lurch, we’re out of the holes! I ease up on the gas and steer into the ruts of the street—bump, bump. Ahead is a clear spot from a parked car, and I pull over—bump, bump, out of the ruts—to park.

I hop out for the camera and call out to our helper. “Thanks!” He’s picking up his mats. “Hey, would you mind taking an interview? We’re from KJAF.”

His eyes get squinty like he’s suspicious, but he nods. I get my gear, and we set up next to the van.

Gordy asks the delivery guy to pull his scarf off his face a little for better sound. He does so, and exposes unattractive facial hair. I like beards, but this one needs help, or radio. I tell them I like it better with the scarf on—it adds to the atmosphere of the cold, stormy weather. The tall guy shrugs and pulls it back up.

To start, I rattle off a few stats about the blizzard. “...weather that makes a good Samaritan out of pizza delivery drivers. What’s your name, sir?”

“Billy.”

“What’s it like driving in bad weather?”

I put the mike up to his face for a comment. “Challenging.” Hmm. I hope I don’t have to carry this interview. I wait and he adds, “Lots of stalled and stuck vehicles to avoid.” Man of few words.

“Do you get tired of pizza, smelling it all night?”

“It’s my first day on the job.”

“First day and the blizzard of the century? Good thing your restaurant has a Jeep for deliveries!”

He glances back. “That’s my ride.”

Interesting. “What kind of pizza did you just deliver?”

“Double pepperoni, half black olive.”

“Sounds yummy. We should knock on the door and look starving! Do you have any more?”

He shakes his head, and his eyes crinkle at the corners. A smile would be hidden by his scarf. “Last one of the night.”

“Too bad! What restaurant do you deliver for, Billy?”

“Alimento dell’Amore, corner of Meryton and Longbourn.”

“Oh, man, the best pizza in town! Great live music, too.”

“Yup. Oli’s Angels are playing this weekend.”

“Nice! The owner, Elizabeth Bennet, has a great reputation as an up-and-coming local star in the restaurant business. What kind of boss is she—a typical, rude, effing Ramsay celebrity chef?”

His head shook slightly. “Elizabeth’s cool.”

I raise my brows. The tops of his cheekbones above the scarf are a little pink. Is he blushing, or is it the cold? “Tell me, Billy. Was the temptation too much?”

Billy’s eyes are horrified. Score! But I make it fun. “Did you scarf down one of those pizzas and claim no one was home? You can tell me!”

We get a perfect millisecond of dead air before he gets it and lets out a big belly laugh. “I had something to eat before I left the restaurant, so I managed to control myself,” he said.

“Alimento dell’Amore means ‘food of love.’ Do you know the significance?”

He scratches his head. “Italian food is pretty romantic in itself. The restaurant has stunning decor, with a warm and inviting ambiance, and they have private nooks for a special date. Depending on the band, the music can create a mood, too. It’s a pretty romantic restaurant.”

Interesting! “Are you speaking from experience?”

“No, but you gave me a good idea!”

“Ah, romance to warm up a cold winter night! Do you have a special someone?”

His eyes crinkled again. “I’m working on it. I hope so.”

“Good luck!” I faced the camera. “On a cold but potentially romantic night, this is Victoria Grantley for KJAF news.”

◊◊◊

AUTHOR BIO

Prior to a cross-country move, Suzan Lauder used to hang out at a restaurant similar to Alimento dell’Amore to listen to live jazz, blues, and indie music. Her free time is now filled with walks along the ocean, bicycle rides through forests and farms, Regency costume design and construction using upcycling techniques, and writing Austenesque romances while being squished between two kitties. Besides the light, modern romance short Delivery Boy, she has a mature novel published by Meryton Press: Alias Thomas Bennet, a Regency romance with a mystery twist. Lauder’s latest Regency romance novel, Letter from Ramsgate, will be published in 2016. 

Suzan Lauder’s enjoyment of variety is evident in her dynamic career, food interests, hairstyles, and of course, her writing! No one story can predict the style or setting for the next as Lauder continues to experiment with her craft. Mad about historical research and learning new writing techniques, she’s an active member at the Austenesque fan site, A Happy Assembly. Lauder’s fascination with the Regency period inspired her creative blog series, the Thrift Shop Regency Costume Experiment, a project that transforms found, re-used, discount, and vintage items into quality, Regency-era outfits. The amusing and resourceful approach includes original patterns, and it has garnered support from Regency and upcycling bloggers and fussy Regency costumers. 

~~~~~~~~~~

Then Comes Winter holiday anthology blog tour        

Edited by Christina Boyd

Authors Beau North & Brooke West, Melanie Stanford, Natalie Richards, Erin Lopez, Sophia Rose, Anngela Schroeder, Suzan Lauder, Maureen Lenker, Denise Stout, Linda Gonschior, and Lory Lilian

  

Book Blurb:

“Then comes Winter with bluster and snow,

that brings to our cheeks the ruddy glow…” Gertrude Tooley Buckingham

If you long for a toasty snuggle on a cold winter’s night, this compilation of original short stories inspired by the magic of the holiday season—and more than a nod to Jane Austen—is fancied as a sublime wintertime treat. On the heels of the summer anthology, Sun-kissed: Effusions of Summer, and in concert with some of Meryton Press’s most popular authors, this romantic anthology introduces more promising writers. With a robust mix of contemporary and Regency musings, Then Comes Winter rekindles passionate fires with equal wonder, wit, and romance. 

Buy Link:

Kindle 

Then Comes Winter blog tour schedule

11/30: Guest Post & Giveaway at FLY HIGH
12/1: Excerpt & Giveaway at So Little Time…
12/2: Character Interview & Giveaway at More Agreeably Engaged
12/3: Excerpt & Giveaway at Jennifer Vido
12/4: Guest Post & Giveaway at Liz’s Reading Life
12/5: Excerpt & Giveaway at Best Sellers and Best Stellars
12/6: Guest Post & Giveaway at Delighted Reader
12/7: Review at Just Jane 1813
12/8: Review at Babblings of a Bookworm
12/9: Review at My Kids Led Me Back to Pride and Prejudice
12/10: Review at From Pemberley to Milton
12/11: Review at Diary of an Eccentric
12/12: Excerpt & Giveaway at The Calico Critic
12/13: Review at Margie’s Must Reads
12/14: Author/Character Interview & Giveaway at Austenesque Reviews
12/15: Author Feature at Songs and Stories
12/16: Author Feature & Giveaway at Tome Tender
12/16: Excerpt & Giveaway at Chick Lit Plus
12/17: Author Feature & Giveaway at Skipping Midnight

~~~~~~~~~~

Meryton Press is having an international giveaway and it is powered by the Rafflecopter Platform this time. The giveaway is for 4 paperbacks and 4 eBooks of Then Comes Winter. You must fill out the Rafflecopter to be entered plus leave a comment below or on any participating blog. You will be asked the name of the blog when you fill out the Rafflecopter form. The little arrows located in the middle of the form will take you to the eBooks or the paperbacks. I'm sure many of you are familiar with this since they are used on many of the blogs. If you have any questions, send me a message using my contact form on the right. Be sure to visit all blogs to increase your chances of winning. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

A special thanks to Suzan Lauder and the reporter for this fun interview of Billy, to Christina Boyd, the editor of Then Comes Winter, to all the authors whose stories are in the book, to Jakki Leatherberry for setting up the blog tour and to Meryton Press and Michele Reed for the giveaway. This looks like the perfect book to read during the holidays. Grab a cup of coffee, hot tea or hot chocolate, curl up with a blanket and read, read, read! Now that sounds like a nice relaxing way to end a bustling day of shopping or decorating for Christmas! Good luck to all and thanks for stopping by! Happy Holidays!