Author Interview & Giveaway ~ Michelle Mankin ~ Outside

Outside, the latest release from Michelle Mankin, released on the 19th. If you missed my review, you can check it out here. Today, I'm sharing my interview with Michelle as well as a couple of teasers from the book. Oh, and I'm also giving away an ebook copy of Outside. ;) Enjoy!

Hey Michelle! Thanks for letting me get inside your head for Outside. :) 

You said these were some of your favorite characters and I could feel your love for them as you told their story. Was there a specific inspiration for Mona and Linc?

As a couple together I love them the most of any I have written so far. My female narrator for my audio books inspired Simone. She sings and she has a beautifully strong steady spirit like Simone.

Can you tell us about your research? 

I watched copious amounts of youtube videos and surf competitions, wrote the rough draft, then flew to Ocean Beach, went up and down the coast to map out the band's footsteps then took a surf lesson. My surf instructor and I really bonded. And yes I have a new passion. Surfing. It is a very spiritual thing.

I adored your surfing lingo and surfing metaphors that were interspersed throughout the story. Did you do research on surfing and then write the story OR did you have the skeleton of the story and then do research to fill it in?

The Outside term I had from the beginning. The word is interspersed throughout the novel. Here let me show you. 

Outside, she drew in a deep breath of air. “I love this time of day. The salt from the ocean smells so good. I don’t know how you stay away.”

But if I was going to venture outside my comfort zone was he the guy I wanted to take a chance on?

Once outside the gate, I hooked a sharp right my feet automatically leading in the direction my heart wanted to go.

 “Come outside and talk to me a minute.” His voice was deep and tempting. “I want to ask you something.” The warmth of his breath tickled against my skin making me shiver.

I took her hand after we stepped outside into the humid air. The steady churn of the ocean was our music now.

“When two girlfriends close ranks that usually puts us guys on the outside.”

I couldn’t protect her when she was in there and I was outside.

Leave the rest of the world and their expectations outside.

All metaphors for their relationship that he summarizes... 

... You were like the perfect wave but instead of turning around and swimming toward you with all I had in me I went the opposite way, the wrong way.”

I really liked the way you presented Mona and Linc's story. Was there a particular reason you chose to use the Present-Past-Present, as well as Dual POV format?

I wanted to have the mystery of what broke these two people up who have such obvious chemistry carry you threw the story... as one reviewer said reading with her hand over her eyes knowing the bad is coming...

Music plays a big role in your creative process and your books. Since Mona and Linc's musical styles differ, I was wondering if there is any specific music that served as inspiration or helped you get into your creative place for writing their story.

My audio team is writing the music right now. Kai Kennicott is bluesy ...Wen Ross is the rocker.

The music I listened to while writing is on spotify.

After combining music and surfing, I'm curious as to whether the ocean now speaks to you in the same way music does.

The ocean has always spoke to me. They say the throne room of God is surrounded by a crystal sea. That's where I will be snorkeling with underwater speakers playing rock music.

Chulo...I would be remiss if I didn't mention him. ;) He has so much personality and he's adorable! What made you decide to include him in this story? And what does his name mean?

I have been waiting for a place to fit him in. He and Simone are a natural fit. Chulo is slang for cute in Spanish.

What's next from this series?

Riptide

Patch and Karen

Present Past Present

Present where Outside left off, Past beginning where Simone left the band

More surf, more Ash, Ramone, more ocean beach. more Chulo!!!

Thanks again for taking time for this!

Happy to. You ask great questions. You just reminded me that I love this story. 

***About the Book***

Outside
Rock Star, Surf, and Second Chances #1
Release Date: July 19, 2015
Genre: Adult, Contemporary Romance
Goodreads ~ Amazon ~ B&N

Synopsis
When handsome California surf god Lincoln Savage suddenly rolls into Ocean Beach like a rogue wave, shy beauty Simone Bianchi's foundation is shaken. No longer under the thumb of her domineering father, she's made a simple quiet life for herself and her fluffy fourteen pound Havanese pup running a surf shop in her hometown of OB. Long ago she gave up her dreams for a future with Linc.

But now the notorious lead singer of the Dirt Dogs has returned, and Simone is reluctant to admit that she's still vulnerable to his killer dimpled smile and easy charm. She finds that although she's stowed away the mementos, it hasn't been as easy to erase the memories of their epic summer love.

It seems he hasn't forgotten, either.

Is the recording contract he's offering merely a pretense?

Or does he have something more in mind?

Does he really believe that they can just pick up where they left off, despite all the bad luck and heartache?

And is she willing to risk everything again for one last chance at love?

***Teaser***

The walls vibrated as soon as the spotlights hit them. Feet stomped. Fans yelled. Some even stood on their chairs. Camera lights clicked on and so did Lincoln. Brightly. He strode to the center of the stage. Confident. Compelling. Controlled. A cosmic force.

He plucked the mic from the stand, glared at the audience daring them to come along with him or get the hell out of the way, before he and the guys launched into a cover of 'Satisfaction' that kicked ass as righteously as the original.

It went uphill from there. Ramon on guitar flashing his flirt. Ash slamming sexy on his drums. Patch firm and steady on bass. And Linc my gorgeous warrior with depths of worth that he still failed to recognize eclipsing them all. The Dirt Dogs might still be a bit rough around the edges but they were undeniably on the ascent. What had started out as something to occupy their time when the surf wasn't up had transformed into a magical melange of Pacific saltwater, California sun and hard rocking in your face attitude.

The best-selling author of the Black Cat Records series of novels.

Romance with subtext.

Reimagining classic stories with sexy rock stars and thought provoking issues.

Love Evolution, Love Revolution, and Love Resolution are a Brutal Strength centered trilogy, combining the plot underpinnings of Shakespeare with the drama, excitement, and indisputable sexiness of the rock 'n roll industry.

Things take a bit of an edgier, once upon a time turn with the Tempest series. These pierced, tatted, and troubled Seattle rockers are young and on the cusp of making it big, but with serious obstacles to overcome that may prevent them from ever getting there.

Rock stars, myths, and legends collide with paranormal romance in a totally mesmerizing way in the Magic series.
Catch the perfect wave with irresistible surfers in the Rock Stars, Surf and Second Chances series.

When Michelle is not prowling the streets of her Texas town listening to her rock music much too loud, she is putting her daydreams down on paper or traveling the world with her family and friends, sometimes for real, and sometimes just for pretend as she takes the children to school and back.

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