Susan Mallery
Q&A on SUMMER DAYS (Fool’s Gold Book 7)
New
York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery has entertained millions of readers
with her witty and emotional stories about women and the relationships that
move them. Publisher’s Weekly calls Susan’s prose “luscious and provocative,”
and Booklist says, “Novels don’t get much better than Mallery’s expert blend of
emotional nuance, humor and superb storytelling.” Visit Susan online at www.susanmallery.com.
Tell us about SUMMER DAYS.
SUMMER DAYS is the perfect beach read. It’s funny,
romantic, sexy, and it’s light both in tone and in actual weight – you can toss
the paperback into your beach bag and go. (It’s also available wherever ebooks
are sold.)
Heidi Simpson had a vagabond childhood with her
grandfather. The one thing she wanted most in the world was a home of her own.
Now, in her late 20s, she finally has one, but her ranch is put on the line by
a scam her grandfather pulled in order to pay for a friend’s surgery. Rafe
Stryker is the son of the woman whose money was stolen, and the first of the
Stryker brothers to move to Fool’s Gold. He’s on a tear when he arrives,
determined to protect his mother’s interests at all costs.
Since possession is nine-tenths of the law,
neither is willing to leave the ranch until a judge can decide the matter.
Sparks fly right from page one between Heidi and Rafe! The people of Fool’s
Gold take sides in a pretty hysterical way.
You can find SUMMER DAYS wherever books are sold –
bookstores, online, even the grocery store check-out line. You can read a free
excerpt on my website, www.susanmallery.com
or in the free app for iPhone and Android (www.mobileroadie.com/apps/susanmallery).
Who are these Fool’s Gold cheerleaders I keep hearing about?
Oh, the cheerleaders are beyond fabulous! This
year’s squad is made up of 60 Fool’s Gold super fans who are earning prizes all
summer for telling other readers about Fool’s Gold. They’re driving around with
Fool’s Gold car magnets, wearing Fool’s Gold T-shirts, handing out bookmarks
like candy to everyone they meet.
Fool's Gold Bracelet created by one of the Fool's Gold Cheerleaders |
For those of my followers who have never read a Fool’s Gold book,
tell us about the small town known as the Land of Happy Endings.
SUMMER DAYS is the seventh book in my series set
in fictional Fool’s Gold, California. Fool’s Gold is a small town in the
foothills of the Sierra Nevada. It’s a quaint place where people truly support
each other – mostly with casseroles. And margaritas. Women rule in Fool’s Gold.
For many years, there was a man shortage, which is just now beginning to level
out, thanks to the town’s efforts to bring in some pretty spectacular men.
Fool’s Gold is the most popular series I’ve ever
written. In fact, last year, one of the Fool’s Gold books hit #3 on the New
York Times and #8 on the USA Today bestsellers lists. Those were personal bests
for me and very thrilling.
Each book is written as a standalone, which means
that you can jump in and start with SUMMER DAYS, and you won’t feel lost or
confused. While previous characters make an appearance, you don’t need to know
their stories to understand this one.
Why did you decide to write about three cowboy brothers?
With each year’s Fool’s Gold books, I try to create
heroes who represent iconic male archetypes. The men of Fool’s Gold have been
athletes, businessmen, pilots, surgeons. Each is a leader, powerful in his own
way. His strength goes deeper than the physical. He does what’s right even when
it’s not easy. When he falls, he falls hard… and he loves forever.
This summer, three cowboy brothers will ride into
Fool’s Gold on horseback in SUMMER DAYS, SUMMER NIGHTS, and ALL SUMMER LONG.
The Stryker men represent everything I love about a cowboy hero. They are protective,
honest, tall and strong. And wow, do they do nice things to a pair of blue
jeans!
Since this is Fool’s Gold, these cowboys come with
a special twist – humor. Rafe is undone by Heidi the Goat Girl. Shane has to
teach the local librarian how to do the ancient Dance of the Happy Virgin –
while riding a horse. And Clay, the youngest, made his fortune as a Hollywood
butt double.
What’s next for Fool’s Gold?
In SUMMER NIGHTS (July), Shane Stryker will meet
Annabelle who, oh my WORD, do I love! Annabelle is my gift to all the
librarians who have supported me so wonderfully over the years, putting my
books into readers’ hands with a fervent, “You’re going to love this!”
Annabelle is a librarian who defies the stereotypes – she’s fashionable,
modern… a dangerous, pint-sized sexpot, as far as Shane is concerned. He’s
completely undone by her the first time they meet, so much so that he can’t
even remember his own name.
Then comes Charlie, to be paired with Clay in ALL
SUMMER LONG (August). Oh, Charlie. She’s so tough and oh, so wounded. She’s got
that hard-as-nails firefighter exterior, but when it comes to matters of the
heart, she is as vulnerable as they come. Something happened in Charlie’s past
that has made her afraid of intimacy with a man. She’s the kind of person who
tackles her problems head-on, much to Clay Stryker’s delight. She’s determined
to learn how to be with a man, and she’s decided to ask Clay to teach her.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
About Susan
New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery has entertained millions of readers with her witty and emotional stories about women and the relationships that move them.Publisher’s Weekly calls Susan’s prose “luscious and provocative,” and Booklist says, “Novels don’t get much better than Mallery’s expert blend of emotional nuance, humor and superb storytelling.” While Susan appreciates the critical praise, she is most honored by the enthusiastic readers who write to tell her that her books made them laugh, made them cry, and made the world a happier place to live. Susan lives in Seattle with her husband and her tiny but intrepid toy poodle. She’s there for the coffee, not the weather.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I really need to start reading this series. Great interview ladies.
ReplyDeleteMarika
maw1725@gmail.com
I haven't started reading this series yet, so I'd say I want to read all three! But going on cover appeal, I'd say Summer Days.
ReplyDeleteGreat interview.
Francesca
I will put this series in my summer bag to take with me on vacation. Loved the cover! So sweet.
ReplyDeleteLove Susan's books! I am a bit behind in the series, but will be starting back up with Summer Days =)
ReplyDeleteI really want to read all three books. I can't pick one. You know that's not fair making us choose.
ReplyDeleteFor anyone who hasn't started this series yet....what are you waiting for? Fool's Gold is a place that welcomes you and makes you wish it was real. Another great story by Susan Mallery and I for one can't wait for Summer Nights and All Summer Long.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great interview! I LOVE the Fool's Gold series!! I can't wait for the other two in the series to come out this summer. What's not to love about cowboys? GREAT series!!
ReplyDeleteSusan Mallery delivers again in the next Fool's Gold Series! Summer Days is a great summer read and should be on your must read list for the summer. Susan writes wonderful books, but the Fool's Gold series has you always looking forward to the next book. I enjoyed Rafe, his family and can't wait to meet his siblings in the books to come. Come on, who doesn't love hot cowboys!!! If you're looking for a series or even a fun summer read than Fool's Gold is for you! Happy Reading!
ReplyDeleteI've read a few of the Fools Gold books and have really enjoyed them. They're light, entertaining and a joy to read.
ReplyDeleteThat Fools Gold Bracelet is so damn cool! Thanks for the interview. It was cool to learn about where she got her ideas from. :)
I want to visit Fool's Gold or a town just like it! All Summer Long really appeals to me. Charlie sounds lie a heroine I'll be rooting on from the start.
ReplyDeleteThat's my bracelet! :D Susan’s Fool’s Gold series is my absolute favorite. Not only do you wish the town and characters were real, you feel like it all is. Susan goes above and beyond other authors by giving us updates between the stories and after the HEA through her website http://foolsgoldca.susanmallery.com/ I really enjoyed Rafe and Heidi’s story. Their love bloomed gradually and they were both really real characters. I look forward to reading more about our favorite fictional town this summer :D
ReplyDeleteShe is one of my favorite authors and I love how she makes the characters come to life. We are lucky she is so proficient! I'm super excited for the next book this Summer!
ReplyDeleteSUMMER DAYS is the perfect beach read. It’s funny, romantic, sexy, and it’s light both in tone and in actual weight – you can toss the paperback into your beach bag and go. It should be on everyone's must read list!
ReplyDeleteGreat post! Summer Days & Summer Nights were such great stories. I loved reading them!
ReplyDeleteI love Susan Mallery & Fool's Gold!! Rafe & Heidi has a great chemistry together even though they are both stubborn. I feel so bad for Heidi, who finally has a home of her own. Rafe swore he would never go back to Fool's Gold, but he did it for his mother. I love May. She was something else! If you are looking for a good romance book, then this is it! You won't be disappointed!
ReplyDeleteSummer Nights is a great summer read. Annabelle is caring, a great friend, & so sweet! I love that Annabelle wanted to learn how to ride a horse for her fundraiser for her bookmobile. I don't want to give away anything. I love that there is so many surprises! There is 1 thing that I absolutely love a lot & it has to do with Shane, but I am not going to give it away. Summer Nights is my favorite book in the entire Fool's Gold series! I give 5 stars!