Character Interview: Sally from Planting the Seeds of Love
Hi there, my name is Sally Rayton and the storyteller, N. N. Light, thought it would be a good idea for me to introduce myself. Personally, I hate talking about myself. I’m more of an action gal. *laughs softly* Anyway, let’s see… I just celebrated my twenty-third birthday and I live out in the country on the family farm. Used to be a farm, my grandfather’s, to be accurate but now it’s a brewery. But I don’t want to give away too much.
- N. Light walks in and sits down.
Ah good, let’s get this over with… err… get started, I mean.
- N. Light: Good plan, Sally. Now don’t be nervous, it’s just you, me and those readers listening.
Sally pales.
- N. Light: What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Hmmm, I think it’s sitting on the porch watching the sunset. There’s something serene about watching the sun set through the trees.
- N. Light: What is your greatest fear?
Being judged by what my sister did. You see, she ran away from home when she was fifteen. She ran off with some guy and was pregnant. The whole town freaked out and it killed my mama. Seriously, the next week she had a heart attack.
- N. Light: Oh dear, I’m sorry for your loss.
Thanks, but the worst part was that the townspeople started rumors about the family. Grandpa told me to ignore the jabs but I couldn’t ditch the bullies. The whispers were the worst part, especially when they called the Raytons “a bunch of crazies”.
In the end, the only way I could escape the bullying was to leave town.
- N. Light: What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
This is kind of embarrassing but when I’m stressed or dealing with a lot of stuff, I… umm… dry-heave.
- N. Light: You mean you get sick?
Yeah, I don’t know when it started but it’s something I do, no matter who’s around. When Jack and I were finding a brewmaster to help us run our brewery, I dry-heaved a couple of times. The funny thing is that Marcus (he’s the brewmaster) thought I was going through morning sickness. He thought I was pregnant. Can you believe that? Me pregnant? *shakes head*
- N. Light: So you don’t like that about yourself?
No! In fact, I was hoping to get rid of it when I moved to the city. But it’s still with me.
- N. Light: What is the quality you most like in a man?
You mean besides come-hither eyes, drop-dead gorgeous body and a deep voice that’s smooth as molasses?
- N. Light: *chuckles* Yes, besides that.
Oh. Well, I guess the number one thing I look for in a man is his heart. What he loves and cares about tells me more about his character than anything else. I hope that we care about the same things and he cares for me most of all.
- N. Light: What is your most treasured possession?
My books. I have a collection of first-edition hardcovers and I love reading them. They feel like home and I feel lost without them. Some of them include a first edition Alice in Wonderland and a leather-bound copy of Romeo and Juliet.
- N. Light: What is your motto?
Follow your heart and it will lead you home.
- N. Light: Thank you so much, Sally, for sharing a part of your story with us.
You’re welcome. I had fun.
- N. Light: To read more about Sally and the two men who claimed her heart…
Title: Planting the Seeds of Love: A Novella
Author: N. N. Light
Genre: Contemporary Romance, New Adult, New Adult Romance
Release Date: September 15, 2015
Tagline: Torn between two men, Sally must follow her heart and decide if love will lead her to the city or the countryside.
Blurb:
Torn between two men, Sally must follow her heart and decide if love will lead her to the city or the countryside.
Twenty-Two year old Sally Rayton returns to the family farm she deserted four years ago to bury her grandfather. Her plan: to settle her grandfather’s estate and return to her life in the city with her boyfriend, Trevor Mattson.
Her childhood friend, Jack Smith, has other ideas.
Jack convinces Sally to transform the farm into a brewery and fulfill her grandfather’s dream while keeping the Rayton Farm in the family. Sally works side-by-side with Jack while Trevor is hundreds of miles away in the city. The more time she spends with Jack, the stronger her feelings are for him.
When Trevor shows up to propose to Sally right before Christmas and finds her in Jack’s embrace, she must make the biggest choice of her life: true love.
Excerpt:
“Jack, thank you so much for the lift into town,” a woman replied behind Sally. “Let’s grab some lunch before we shop.”
Sally froze. She stared at Linda who shook her head. What was Jack doing with a woman in town?
“Here, let me take your coat, Emma,” Jack said.
Emma? mouthed Sally to Linda.
“She’s the daughter of Lonnie and Mary Beth.” Linda gave Emma the look-over and scoffed, “She can’t be a day over sixteen.”
“What do I do?” Sally panicked. Normally she didn’t care what Jack did or who he went off with. Curiosity got the better of her and she turned around.
Emma stood five foot three with curly blonde hair and innocent green eyes. Her figure was slim with curves in all the right places. Sally narrowed her eyes as Emma stood on tiptoe to kiss Jack on the cheek.
Fuming, Sally turned around. Linda chuckled.
“What?”
“You better tone down your jealousy, darlin’. You’re shooting darts everywhere.”
Sally gritted her teeth.
“I’m not jealous. If Jack wants school girls kissing him, what do I care?” She took a deep drink of her coffee, draining the cup. She slammed it down.
“Simmer down, here they come,” whispered Linda. She waved to Jack while Sally swore under her breath.
“Well, fancy meeting you two here,” Jack drawled.
Without looking up Sally retorted, “I told you I was coming into town today.”
Linda kicked Sally’s leg under the table. Sally plastered a smile across her face, greeting Jack and Emma.
“Yes, what a coincidence.” Sally noticed Emma looping her arm in Jack’s and snuggling closer.
“I was on my way into town to pick up those parts we ordered for the tractor when I ran into Emma walking by herself in the snow.” Jack smiled. Emma squeezed his arm.
“He pulled over and offered me a lift into town. Isn’t he a gentleman?” cooed Emma. Jack patted her hand.
Sally’s chest constricted at the sight of the two of them acting all couple-y. She stared into his twinkling eyes. Oh God, is he laughing at me? Emma can’t have him. He’s mine. Wait what?
“So,” Linda broke the strained silence. “I have to go powder my nose. Emma, would you care to join me?”
“What’s that?” Emma looked confused.
Linda laughed. “It’s the bathroom, dear sweet child.” She stood up, untangled Emma from Jack and guided Emma away from the table.
Jack sat down.
“What’s with you today?” he asked.
“Nothing.” Sally cleared her throat.
He raised an eyebrow.
“Really!” A few diners turned to stare. Sally flushed with embarrassment. She didn’t mean to talk so loud. She looked everywhere except in Jack’s direction.
Jack observed Sally as she fidgeted, first with her coffee cup then with the silverware. His gaze unnerved her and she practically jumped out of her chair when he placed a hand over hers. Electricity flew up her arm while warmth filled her core. Butterflies raced around her stomach, only she didn’t feel sick; she pulsed with life, like never before.
“Sally…look at me.”
Sally shook her head.
“You’ll only laugh at me.”
Jack’s thumb caressed her hand gently, causing her breath to hitch.
“You know I’d never laugh at you. Laugh with you, definitely, but never at you.”
Sally lifted her gaze to meet Jack’s loving eyes. He slid his fingers between hers, never breaking eye contact. Sparks flew between them. He moistened his lips with a flick of his tongue. Her gaze dropped to his lips.
“Please tell me. I’m begging you,” he whispered.
Unable to think clearly through the fog of desire, Sally tilted her head to one side. Her skin vibrated with heat while her nerve-endings jumped at the slightest caress.
“Tell you what?” she whispered. Her throat dry, her breathing shallow, she wet her lips with her tongue. She was under a spell and everything fell away except for Jack’s passionate eyes.
“Tell me what my wasted heart needs to hear.” His eyes flashed. “Tell me Emma made you jealous.”
Sally started to nod but Emma interrupted.
“What are you guys talking about in hushed tones? Crops and stuff?”
Jack groaned. He dropped Sally’s hand as if it burned him, causing the water glasses to jostle.
Buy Links:
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Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26134330-planting-the-seeds-of-love
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Author Bio: N. N. Light has been creating stories ever since she was little. Her grandfather remembers when she was two years old, she would stand at the top of the stairs and tell him a story filled with emotion (and in a language foreign to him) with her hands on her hips. Let’s just say she was a born storyteller.
She was born in Minnesota, lived in Southern California only to move to chilly Ontario, Canada to marry her beloved husband MR N. She is blissfully happy and loves all things chocolate, books, music, movies, art, sports and baking. Her mantra is to spread the Light.
Most of the time you can find her on Twitter or getting new ideas on how to spread the Light on Pinterest. She is a proud member of ASMSG, Independent Author Network and Marketing for Romance Writers.
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Thank you so much, Kate! I had a great time introducing the world to Sally. 🙂