Tuesday, September 16, 2014

Interview and Giveaway: Colors of Us by Sandra Bunino



Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

Absolutely, there are many messages I hope will stay with readers long after reading Colors of Us. First, accept bad things can happen to good people. Don’t waste time on the why or how it happened. It’s draining and unproductive. Also, don’t let the past dictate the future. Everyone has the power to shape their own future. Scars from tragedy and horrifying events should be worn proudly because they signify resilience and healing.  Learn from the past and move on…then keep on movin’ on.

Is the book, characters, or any scenes based on a true life experience, someone you know, or events in your own life?

There are pieces of me in every one of my heroines. It’s what connects me to them. I find if I can’t connect with my characters, they end up reading one-dimensionally. Readers love to fall in love with multilayered characters filled with emotion, flaws, strengths and weaknesses. I layer in emotion based on true life experiences with every editing pass.

What book are you reading now?

I’m reading friend and author Carlene Love Flores’s new release, Wicked Flower. It’s the fifth book of her Sin Pointe Novel series and oh so good! I recommend it.

What books are in your to read pile?

What isn’t in my TBR pile? LOL There are so many to even name here, but here are a few I’d like to read in the next couple of months…

Need You Tonight by Roni Loren
Hard to Hold on To by Laura Kaye
Written in My Own Heart’s Blood by Diana Gabaldon
Rogue with a Brouge by Susanne Enoch
Searching for Someday by Jennifer Probst

What is your current “work in progress” or upcoming projects?

Books 2 & 3 of The McAvery Brothers series, Passion of Us and Rhythm of Us, are in the works. They tell the stories of the other two McAvery brothers, Alex and Liam. Passion of Us is a reunion love story with a love triangle thrown into the mix. Rhythm of Us will tackle addiction and the pressures of being in the public eye. Colbie Caillet’s song, Try, has inspired me to write that story. I also have a yet to be titled fun and sexy novella planned for the series.

Can you share a little of your current work with us?

Sure! Here’s an exclusive excerpt from Colors of Us. In this early scene, Hunter and Michelle share a peanut butter chocolate chip cookie (Michelle’s favorite) at a local coffee shop…

Hunter cocked his head. “Why is it you never answer a question?”

Michelle took another sip of her coffee. A dab of foam sat on her upper lip for a moment before she licked it away. Resting her elbows on the edge of the table, her summer blue eyes iced over. “Let’s just say I don’t do relationships well. Men don’t really understand my crazy artist nuances.”

“Nuances?”

“Yeah, it’s a nice way to say issues. I have a lot of them, and most people run the opposite way from me. Especially guys. But it’s fine. I’m probably better off alone. It helps me be a better artist.”

“I think that’s a cop-out.”
She shrugged. “Maybe, but it’s the same thing you’re doing. It’s easier to get involved with someone like Samantha because you know it’ll remain at a physical level. No chance of getting too close. See? Same thing.”

Hunter tried to swallow the bit of cookie in his mouth, but a lump in his throat replaced every last bit of moisture. He coughed and slurped the hot coffee, burning his tongue as he washed the cookie down.

“Did I hit a nerve?” she asked, stifling a laugh.

Hunter wiped his mouth with a napkin and coughed again. “You seem pretty confident in your analysis. Am I that transparent?”

“To me, yes. But don’t worry. I’m sure you have everyone else fooled.” Michelle tipped back the last of her latte and pointed to the door.

With a quick nod, he pushed the chair from the table before she could continue her analysis. Michelle didn’t just hit a nerve, she split it wide open and left it exposed. She’d figured him out even before he understood his self-destructive actions, and it threw him into a tailspin. His immediate instinct was to put distance between him and the artist who crept into his life and forced him to take a good look at the shell of a man he’d become. However, Michelle gave him
something he’d lost when his world came crashing down that warm October day. Hope. It slowly seeped back into his veins and pumped through his body, healing the broken pieces.

“Hey,” he said in almost a whisper as he followed her to the door.

She swung her head to the side, the ends of her dark hair skimming her shoulders. “Yeah?”

“I like your nuances.”

Blue eyes flashed and crinkled at the corners as a small grin played on her lips. “I kinda like yours too.”

Do you have to travel much to do research for your books?

It’s important to know about the location of your story. How best to know it than to live it? Most of my books are based in New York City where I spend much of my free time. I’ve also traveled around the country to places like Las Vegas, South Beach, LA, New Orleans and even Paris and London which all provided inspiration for story ideas.

Who designed the cover of your latest book?

Sour Cherry Designs did an outstanding job on my cover. I love their work! This cover is special to me because I’ve had the opportunity to meet both the photographer, Taria Reed, and the female model on the cover, Angelina Cavanaugh. Also, I shot the photo used in the background on location in the SoHo section of New York City.

Do you have any advice for other writers?

As simple as it sounds my advice is: Finish your book! I receive notes all the time from aspiring authors wanting to know how to get a book published, yet most of the time manuscripts are far from done. My advice is always: finish it, even if you don’t think it’s good. It’s easy to start a book. The hard part is taking it to completion.

Do you have a song or playlist (book soundtrack) that you think represents this book?

Oh, yes! Music played an important part of the creation of the McAvery Brothers series, especially Colors of Us. Here’s my playlist:
“Colours” Margo Rey / “Headphones” Matt Nathanson, LoLo / “Peace” O.A.R. / “I Lived” OneRepublic / “Make You Feel My Love” Adele / “Odds Are” Barenaked Ladies / “Rebel Beat” The Goo Goo Dolls

Click here to listen to the playlist free on Spotify:

Thank you for having me over for a visit to share Colors of Us with your readers, Roxanne! It’s been an extreme pleasure.  xoxo

Colors of Us
McAvery Brothers
Book One
Sandra Bunino

Genre: Contemporary Romance/New Adult

Publisher: Evernight Publishing

Number of pages: 240
Word Count: 62,000

ISBN: 9781771309783


ASIN: B00MwFP98E

Cover Artist: Sour Cherry Designs

Book Description:

Everything she knew to be true fell apart. Then fell apart again…

Michelle Willis is running from her past. What better place to hide than in the anonymity of New York City. Finding refuge in a tiny SoHo art gallery, she rebuilds her life one painting at a time.

A wrong turn sends Hunter McAvery on a crash course with disaster. He fights his own demons by following his big brother’s lead - drinking and bed-hopping his way through Manhattan.

A glance at Michelle’s self-portrait triggers emotions Hunter can’t tamp down. Driven to meet the artist, he discovers a fiery chemistry as their lives collide. But when their past threatens to tear them apart, can their love survive?

About the Author:

Sandra Bunino is a romance author of several novellas including The Satin Rose Experience series. Her first full-length novel, Colors of Us from the McAvery Brothers series, released in August. She makes her parents proud by putting her MBA degree to good use dreaming up heroes who resemble David Gandy whenever possible. When not staying up past her bedtime torturing her oh-so-sexy heroes, she can be found shopping for shoes or saving turtles.

As a social media junkie in need of a ten-step program, you can also follow her on Facebook, Twitter, and her new addiction, Pinterest. Sandra loves to read and chat with other readers, so she formed the Bunino’s Bookalicious Babes group on Facebook where they currently share their love of Jamie Fraser from Outlanders…and David Gandy, of course.







Bookalicious Babes Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/597429020306289/


Bookalicious Babes mailing list: http://eepurl.com/LuwPL

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4 comments:

Sandra Renee Pesso said...

Thanks for having me on Roxanne's Realm today!

Lila Shaw said...

Just started Colors of Us and am so very impressed so far. Can't wait to get deeper into it. :)

Kyrulz said...

I love this book....it is sooooo good.

Sandra Renee Pesso said...

Thanks for stopping by to spread Colors of Us love, Lila and Kyrulz!