So without further fanfare, please join me in welcoming Codi Gary, author of RETURN OF THE
BAD GIRL, to Unwrapping Romance …
Amy: Welcome Codi, it's
an absolute delight to have you with us today, and I'd like to thank you
for taking time out of your busy day to join us.
Codi: I am so happy to
be here, Amy, and thanks for having me! *gives Amy a big hug*
Amy: *Big Hug Back* It’s a delight to
have you here, Codi. You already know I’m a huge fan of the Rock Canyon Romance, but
perhaps you'd like to tell us a little bit about yourself for those who don't
know you yet.
Codi: Sure. Hello, my
name is Codi Gary and I'm addicted to TV, peanut butter and maple
syrup on my waffles, and getting the mail...I like mail...
No, I'm kidding,
although I do like all those things. I am a Northern California original
who relocated to Southern Idaho, and I adore it here. I always lived in small
towns, so when my husband took a job here three and a half years ago, I didn't
have any trouble adjusting. I am a mother of two adorable human children and
nine fuzzy ones, and I worked as a Veterinary Assistant for six and a half
years in a cat only hospital. Am I rambling yet? :-)
Amy: Not rambling and
the more you want to share, the better. Here at Unwrapping Romance, authors are
rock stars! Which is why I can get kind of nosy. LOL! I'm always interested in
what lures someone to be a writer. What, or who, inspired you and why did you
choose romance?
Codi: As the youngest of
seven kids and with a seven year age gap between my closest sibling and I, I
spent a lot of time playing by myself. I used to spend hours making up tales
about ants that were my pets, and lava filled pits of doom, but when I watched
cartoons or listened to my books on tape, the ones with a touch of romance were
always my favorites. When I was eleven, I told everyone who would listen that I
was going to be an author someday, and when I stole my first romance novel off
my aunt's bookshelf, I knew exactly what I wanted to write. My stories evolved
from R.L. Stine type horror/suspense with a touch of romance, to handsome rakes
and princes kidnapping their brides. I put my dream on hold and got into one
adventure after another, working and falling in love, but I never stopped
reading and loving romance.
Amy: I suspect our love
of romance share similar beginnings and remains a lifelong crush. Imagination
is a good friend and a great gift. Something you have in abundance as is
evident in the fabulous town you’ve conjured in Rock Canyon. You've just
published your fourth installment in the Rock Canyon Romance series, RETURN OF
THE BAD GIRL. Your characters are true to life, their problems and their
emotions touch readers because they're real. What inspired you to create Rock
Canyon, and where do your character inspirations come from?
Codi: Aw, thank you,
Amy! I appreciate that. Like I said before, I've always loved small town life,
and I actually fell in love with the idea of Idaho after reading Rachel
Gibson's THE TROUBLE WITH VALENTINE’S DAY years ago. After that, I devoured
everything else she ever wrote, so when my husband and I were narrowing down
where to move, Montana and Idaho were at the top of our lists. One night we
were driving to Buhl, Idaho to visit some new friends. I remember passing
through Filer, and then while taking the long way through Buhl (which isn't
long at all) I got this idea in my head about what the town looked like, and
when Rock Canyon came to me for the name, I wasn't thinking of a catchy series
title. I just took in the scenery around us, and Googled to make sure there
wasn't a real Rock Canyon. I wish there was a better story behind it.
Amy: Inspiration comes
where it comes. I think that’s a great story. J
Codi: As far as my
characters, all of them have bits and pieces of me in them. I can't help that.
But I didn't want them to be perfect people who make mistakes, because that's
not real life. We all have phobias, personality and physical flaws, and pasts
we're trying to overcome. My characters can and will make major blunders and
bad judgment calls, they will over react and they will make even me crazy, but
don't we all do that? (And for those of you that never do, then that's
awesome.) I have made a lot of mistakes and wanted to kick my own butt too many
times, but I still think I'm a good person. My characters aren't really good or
bad, that's not what the stories are about. It's more about how we let other
people's judgments determine who we are, and it is sometimes worse when you're
surrounded by people who have known you...well...since you were in diapers. But
that we are still deserving of the kind of love that lasts...as rare as it can
sometimes be.
Amy: Wow, that’s exactly
what we get in Rock Canyon and I think that’s why this town seems so real. I’ve
been able to relate to each of your characters on some level and now it makes
sense why. I could be friends with all of your main characters and a few of the
secondary ones too.
Is this the last of the
series or can we expect more from Rock Canyon? Maybe an HEA for Ellie Willis?
Do you see yourself ever writing something other than contemporary romance?
Codi: Oh, no, Amy! :-)
I've still got more RC in me...it all depends on if the readers want more. I
have a happily ever after for Ellie, AND Miss Know It All *grins*. I would love
to try my hand at historical, NA, YA, and erotic romance but for
right now, I've got two other contemporary series bouncing around in my brain
that demand attention before I branch out.
Amy: Fabulous and I know I still want more Rock Canyon Romance. So glad we
will learn who Miss Know It All is eventually. Cool!
By the way, my darling readers, the next book in the series is Callie and Everett’s and you get a teaser for it at the end of RETURN OF THE BAD GIRL.
By the way, my darling readers, the next book in the series is Callie and Everett’s and you get a teaser for it at the end of RETURN OF THE BAD GIRL.
Codi, if you're like
every other writer, you're also a prolific reader. Who are your favorite
authors and have any inspired your writing?
Codi: Well, I already
said RG, but I'm a HUGE fan of JQ, Eloisa James, Caroline Brown, Johanna
Lindsey, Lynn Kurland, LKH, Bertrice Small, Nora Hess, Elizabeth Lowell, Linda
Howard, Lorraine Heath, Julie Garwood, Christina Dodd, and Catherine Coulter
(in no particular order). Over the last year or so, I've been on a serious NA
and Erotic kick, and love getting recommendations from readers too. :-)
Amy: Great list of
favorite authors. Many are on my list as well and I think they’re all
inspiring.
My last question for you
is also my personal favorite. If you could be ANY character in ANY book, not
necessarily your own - who would it be and why?
Codi: Wow, that
is...wait, no, I already know. Penelope Featherton from ROMANCING MR.
BRIDGERTON by Julia Quinn. Colin will forever be my ultimate book boyfriend.
Amy: True love, indeed,
and book boyfriends are always faithful. LOL!
Codi, thank you so very much for joining us today, and for sharing RETURN OF THE BAD GIRL with us. Congratulations on this amazing series, and I'm sure my readers are as excited as I am to read more from Rock Canyon.
Codi, thank you so very much for joining us today, and for sharing RETURN OF THE BAD GIRL with us. Congratulations on this amazing series, and I'm sure my readers are as excited as I am to read more from Rock Canyon.
Codi: Amy, thanks again
and thanks everyone, for stopping by to say hi!
Oh, and on top of RETURN
OF THE BAD GIRL releasing in print, February is also my Bookiversary, and we
are celebrating the re-release of the novella that started it all, THE TROUBLE
WITH SEXY on February 10th. Follow me on Facebook, Twitter, and be sure to sign
up for my newsletter on my website because we're having 30 days of giveaways going
on now!
Thank you so much, and I
am so honored that you like my books. I appreciate all the love and want to
crush you in a serious bear hug when I see you!
Amy: Absolutely, Codi,
and I LOVE your books. Congratulations on your Bookiversary and the re-release of THE TROUBLE WITH SEXY. One of these days, I’m going to be in the same room with
all of my darling authors and it will be a major hug fest, I'm sure. xox
If you’d like to learn
more about Codi and her amazing books, feel free to visit her website, sign up for her newsletter,
and follow her on Facebook,
Twitter, Pinterest, tsu, Tumblr, Instagram, and Goodreads.
She’d love it!
Happy Reading Everyone!
Be sure to come back for
THE TROUBLE WITH SEXY by Codi Gary Tasty Virtual Book Tour, February 9th
through February 27th – my stop is on February 18th, and
I’ll have a promo & excerpt for you.
Buy Links for RETURN OF
THE BAD GIRL by Codi Gary:
Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Google
Play / Kobo
/ AllRomance
/ iTunes
/ Avon
TOURWIDE GIVEAWAY
Bad girls don't forgive.
Bad girls don't forget.
Bad girls don't fall in love.
Caroline Willis may be known for causing trouble, but she is NOT about to
become homeless. So when she learns that her perfect apartment has been
double-booked—to a dangerously hot bad boy—Caroline's bad-girl reputation comes
out in full force. He may be sexy as sin, but she's not afraid of him … or his
panty-melting smile.
Rock Canyon's got room for only one bad attitude—and Gabe Moriarty was here
first. Still, starting over means playing it smart, so while sharing his new
apartment is less than ideal, it's worth getting his dream business off the
ground. Not to mention that it means shacking up with a sexy wild child.
Caroline may be giving him the cold shoulder, but Gabe always was good at
starting fires …
Caroline vows to keep things professional with Gabe, but as close quarters
begin to ignite the sizzling chemistry between them, she's left wondering: Bad
boy plus bad girl equals nothing but trouble … right?
3 comments:
Great interview, Amy!
Thanks Crystal! Codi is a fabulous guest. xox
Hi Amy and Codi,
This was a wonderful interview. It's amazing how inspiration for our books and titles can come when we least expect it. Thank you.
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