Thursday 7 June 2012

It is my GREAT honor today to be the first to host Alyse Carlson (aka Hart Johnson) on her first blog tour!!!

Facing the Flaws

Jessica has the dubious honor of being my first. That is to say she's my first host for my book blog tour and the first victim of an experiment of mine. (we'll see if it lasts)

The experiment currently has an N of 1 (a statement proving to all of you I'm a geek). But my GOAL is to find the common ground... something about the writing or blog content of the blog owner and apply THAT to the book I'm trying to promote.

Now I'm positive if Jessica and I met in person, we would have a TON of common ground. We seem to see life (and in particular, relationships) in similar ways. But because of divergent skills, she's gone CLASSY with that base and I've gone a little SILLY (or if serious, then YOUNG). She writes literary fiction and poetry. I write cozy mystery and YA (or conspiracy stuff).

But I think our common ground is in characterization. I've read String Bridge, with its wonderful, flawed but very real heroine, and it got me thinking... my main character is flawed and likeable anyway, too. So that is what I'm going with.


Cam Harris is a thirty-something public relations professional whose job is to share her two favorite things with the world: gardening and Roanoke, Virginia. As a PR pro, there is a single almighty priority. Damage control. That is behind her primary flaws.

See, Cam is a spin doctor of sorts and this has given her a fast and loose relationship with the truth. It's not that she out and out lies. She just tells everything in the prettiest way possible. And this leaks into her personal life, as well as her professional. Most of what she says has been filtered through a rose-colored lens.

Cam might also be a bit of a control freak. Because something tightly controlled doesn't spin off in an unexpected direction. And worst of all, Cam is a lightweight, and so chooses really tasteless light beer.

But her flaws are balanced with loyalty, compassion, friendship, and a good sense of fun, so I still think she is a winner as an MC.


The Azalea Assault

Cam Harris loves her job as public relations manager for the Roanoke Garden Society. It allows her to combine her three loves, spinning the press, showing off her favorite town, and promoting her favorite activity. She's just achieved a huge coup by enlisting Garden Delights, the country's premiere gardening magazine, to feature the exquisite garden of RGS founder, Neil Patrick. She's even managed to enlist world-famous photographer Jean-Jacques Georges. Unfortunately, Jean-Jacques is a first-rate cad—insulting the RGS members and gardening, goosing every woman in the room, and drinking like a lush. It is hardly a surprise when he turns up dead. But when Cam's brother-in-law is accused and her sister begs her to solve the crime, that is when things really get prickly.


Alyse Carlson is the pen name for the author some of you may know as Hart Johnson. She writes books from her bathtub and when she isn't writing, does research for a large, midwest University or leads the Naked World Domination Movement (your choice).


Links
Barnes & Noble Paperback or Nook
Amazon Paperback or Kindle

Confessions of a Watery Tart

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PS: Thank you so much to Amie McCracken and Rebecca Emin for helping me promote my latest poetry collection, Fabric, today!

15 comments:

  1. Hi Jessica! thanks for hosting the most Nakedest of all Naked Tarts!! Isn't she just amazing?? Lovely to meet Cam too - although she loses points for liking light beer! LOL! Take care
    x

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  2. Hey, Y'all,
    That looks like a mighty int'restin' story 'n character. I'll be lookin' for it. Best regards to you. Ruby

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  3. Sounds like so much fun. I love the cover, and I love the sound of the character (even if I can't stand tasteless light beer myself)!

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  4. This sounds like a great book and can't wait to read it.

    Hart um Alyse will be at my place tomorrow!! Yay!

    Teresa

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  5. Congrats on your book release!! I got my copy. Now I just need the time to read it...and I'm making my mom read it too since she loves cozy mysteries. :)

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  6. That is a beautiful book cover. Thank you also for the mention, Jessica, it is a pleasure to host you today.

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  7. Thank you so much for hosting me, Jessica!!!

    Alex-I hope you enjoy it!

    Kitty-You are such an amazing support! Stay naked, my friend!

    Ruby-I hope you find it!

    Matt-She gets plenty of ribbing for it, so that makes up for it, I think!

    Teresa-Absolutely! Your place tomorrow!

    Cherie-thank you! I hear you on trouble finding time to read!

    Rebecca-I love the cover, too--I was thrilled with what the art people came up with!

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  8. LOL! This is SO hilarious. Jessica went "classy" while you went "silly." :D Hmm... I didn't think Cam so flawed, but I didn't think Melody was so flawed either. They're just dealing with stuff. Different stuff, but stuff all the same. ;p

    Regardless, she's fer sure likeable--just like both of you! Hooray for great writer friends! :o) <3

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  9. Congrats on the release. It sounds like a great summer read!

    Jessica: String Bridge is on my blog today.

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  10. Leigh-you're just generous that way! But yeah... always stuff... lots of family stuff...

    Susan, thank you!

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  11. She sounds like a very realistic character.

    Congratulations on your release!

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  12. YAYAYAY for Hart! I'm so excited to read this (it will be my first cozy ever!!)

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  13. Jessica, what an honor! Hart...I mean Alyse...flawed characters are my favorite. Kudos on your book tour.
    - Maurice Mitchell
    The Geek Twins | Film Sketchr
    @thegeektwins | @mauricem1972

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  14. I love the "cad"'s name, Jean-Jacques Georges. hahaha. Classic. This will be a fun read :)

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“I'm using my art to comment on what I see. You don't have to agree with it.” ~John Mellencamp

“Allowing an unimportant mistake to pass without comment is a wonderful social grace” ~Judith S. Marin

“I don't ever try to make a serious social comment.” ~Paul McCartney

“I'd make a comment at a meeting and nobody would even acknowledge me. Then some man would say the same thing and they'd all nod.” ~Charlotte Bunch

“Probably what my comment meant was that I don't care about the circumstances if I can tell the truth.” ~Sally Kirkland

“We're not going to pay attention to the silliness and the petty comments. And quite frankly, women have joined me in this effort, and so it's not about appearances. It's about effectiveness.” ~Katherine Harris