Monday, March 18, 2013

**Book Blitz & Giveaway ~ Picture Perfect ~ Camille Dixon**



I'm very pleased to be participating in the book blitz for Camille Dixon's debut novel, Picture Perfect. In this post, I have an excerpt from the book, as well as an interview with Camille! 

This book sounds fantastic and I am looking forward to getting my hands on it! :) One of you, my fellow bookworms, will get your hands on a digital copy of Picture Perfect. Just leave a comment telling me your favorite part of the excerpt or interview. Now, here's the lowdown on Picture Perfect



Picture Perfect by Camille Dixon
Publication date: March 26th, 2013
Genre: New Adult Contemporary Romance

Synopsis:
On the outside, Devin Thompson looks like he has it all - charm, good looks, and a scholarship every art major at Sanhope would kill for. But on the inside, he’s dying. His family is falling apart, his grades are dropping, and his girlfriend just dumped him for his hockey team rival, who also happens to be his younger brother. Not to mention he hasn’t been able to snap a decent picture for his senior portfolio in weeks. But when a sultry redhead with fire burning in her eyes struts across his path, he thinks he may have finally found his muse…

Angela “Angel” Davis learned early on that life never offers any hand-outs. And she’s getting burned out. Between juggling her nights as an exotic dancer at a men’s private club and struggling to keep up with her elementary education courses during the day, she barely has time to think of the future. Not that she wants to. The future implies planning, and Angel is no stranger to broken dreams. Then she meets Devin, a man who’s so wrong for her, yet she can’t seem to stay away from.

When Devin offers to take her on as his private model, Angel finds the cash hard to refuse. Each has something the other desperately needs, and neither one is willing to walk away. As their professional relationship spirals out of control into something more, they learn sometimes the wrong person can be the only right person, and that life - and people - are rarely picture perfect.


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EXCERPT
I looked back at Erik, who seemed totally clueless. Glancing at my watch for the umpteenth time, I polished off my Jack-and-Coke, nearly gagging at the watered-down coke, and started to
get up. “I’m going to find a restroom.”
“Wait!” Erik frantically motioned for me to sit. “You haven’t seen the best part.”
“Oh, I think I have,” I grumbled, pushing up out of my seat anyway when the music abruptly died and the lights dimmed to barely nothing. Cursing, I hesitated, unable to see much until my eyes adjusted to the sudden darkness. A smoky blue light was growing beneath the curtain, at the center of the stage, illuminating the silhouette of yet another girl. Tired of the same old shit, I was about to turn my back in search of a bathroom when the first strands of a classic jazz tune came through the speakers, a welcome contrast to the mindless drone of the past half hour that left my ears ringing. 
As the vocals began, the light intensified, revealing a woman with naturally colored skin and long curling hair that looked like fire. The dark auburn hue was brought out by the complimentary green of the stage lights - probably on purpose, I noted to my inner artist’s satisfaction - and when the girl turned to look at the audience, I froze where I was, halfway risen from my seat.
Where was all the overdone makeup? She had cosmetics on, but it was natural-looking, enhancing her features and her fiery beauty rather than detracting from it. She was elegant and beautiful, in an old Hollywood pinup girl kind of way, just like Marilyn Monroe. I couldn’t take my eyes off her. I didn’t want to.
Erik grinned as I plopped back down in my seat, a little stunned. “Worth the wait, huh?” Erik yelled.
“Who is she?”
“They always save her for last. She’s a house favorite. Her stage name is Angel."
Angel. It sounded too sweet for the sultry goddess lighting up the whole stage - hell, the whole room - with her sensual moves that while conservative, seemed twice as erotic as what the girls who had come before her had done. They were smoother, like what you’d see when watching a trained dancer, like a ballerina or a ballroom dancer. I’d expected a name like Venus or Hera or something worthy of this goddess’s undeniable power over men.

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INTERVIEW WITH CAMILLE DIXON
1. How long have you been writing? 

I've been writing my whole life, but I've been actively writing for the past three years. (Yes, I had my fair share of fan fiction days when I was in grade school.)

2. Have you always wanted to be a writer? 

I’ve always loved to write, but for some reason I never considered writing as a profession until later in my life. I think it comes to you when you’re ready for it.

3. Tell us about your book. 

Picture Perfect is a sweet and spicy new adult romance about these people with damaged pasts – and hearts – who find redemption through their love.

4. How did you come up with the idea for Picture Perfect

Like most of my ideas, it just kind of hit me one day. I knew I wanted a story about a dancer and a photographer, and I knew what Angel would look like. Then it was just a matter of figuring out the rest and letting it come to me. 

5. Will Picture Perfect have a sequel, or will other characters get a book? 

No, it’s a stand alone story. There isn’t enough conflict in the background characters’ lives to drive future stories, and I have other books I want to focus on.

6. What’s your favorite love story? 

Hard to say! I’m a big fan of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility. I also love the film Ever After with Drew Barrymore.

7. Do you think you’ll ever pursue traditional publishing? 

Yes! I want to be a hybrid author, and I make no secret of it. While I like having total creative control, it can also be draining. I wouldn’t mind if someone else did some of the work.

7. Are you writing any other books at the moment? 

I’m outlining a new adult series called New Haven Hope that I hope to start releasing by the end of the year. It’ll have a similar vibe to Picture Perfect.

8. What other genres do you write? 

Currently, I write high fantasy, urban fantasy, and paranormal romance under other pen names. I’m also interested in horror, erotica, and sci-fi. I’d like to eventually try them all, just to see what I can learn from them.

9. What do you like to do for fun? 

Aside from reading, I like to play around in Photoshop and draw. I also enjoy watching movies and hanging out with my husband.

10. Do you have any advice for aspiring writers? 

Read a lot and write a lot. Read outside of your genre and read as many books inside your genre as you can. Look at the New York
Times and USA Today Bestsellers Lists. Those books got on there for a reason. Read as many creditable "how-to" books as you can, critique others' works, and have your own critiqued. Don't half-ass it. Put everything you have into it.

Thank you for having me!


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AUTHOR BIO
I'm a Southern girl who's spent the last few years freezing my toosh off up north. Except for the snow, things are pretty good. I love sunshine, sweet tea, and romances that touch my heart. A lifelong romantic, I found my own prince charming at an online dating site. Six months later, he asked me to marry him. Picture Perfect is my debut novel.

Author Links:
Camille's Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter




10 comments:

  1. Awesome! I've seen this one. I love the interview :D Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, and Ever After are some of my favorite movies. Love that she write so many different types as well. Great post, Brandee! Jaclyn @ JC's Book Haven

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    1. Thanks, Jaclyn! And those are some of my favorite movies (and books) as well! :)

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  2. Thank you for the excerpt and interview. I will add it to my TBR list :D

    The best part of the interview was question #5

    Will Picture Perfect have a sequel, or will other characters get a book? No, it’s a stand alone story.

    Yayyyyyyy!!! Finally a book I can read without pulling my hair out until the next one comes out .. LOL!!! It's nice once in a while to find a stand alone story :)

    I will keep looking for updates on your new series New Haven Hope.

    mikki_dicampo(at)hotmail(dot)com

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    1. Thanks, Mikki! I'm kinda glad it's a standalone as well...not too many of those nowadays! :)

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  3. I stopped reading these books because it was ruining my expectations of men! they totally make me look for something that is NOT going to be there :-)

    Brandee, read something normal, please?

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    1. Hey! I can see your point here - but I've been married for 18 years so don't judge when I want to live in fantasy land sometimes! LOL!!

      Check out my reviews of I Am Just Junco series!!!!! YOU MUST READ THEM!! :)

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    2. I like that it gives me a higher expectation in guys. Plus I'm with Brandee, it's nice to live in fantasy land sometimes. ;)

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  4. What a small world, another author with my last name. I'm also a southern girl, who will soon be freezing her toosh off in the North.

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  5. Hi, Brandee! Thank you for having me! And congrats! Eighteen years is awesome.

    Mikki: Thanks! Hopefully I'll have a cover and a synopsis up soon. Still hammering some things out.

    That Girl Reads: What a small world indeed. =) Learning to shovel the driveaway after a blizzard was probably the hardest part. (And scraping an inch of ice off the windshielf and having your scraper break. Sad times. =( ) Good luck!

    And I think that's why I read romance. Nothing wrong with fantasizing. ;)

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    1. My pleasure, Camille! I'm very much looking forward to reading Picture Perfect! :)

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Now you know what I think...what are your thoughts??