Wednesday, June 3, 2015

The Convenient Wedding

Today's special guest is Susie Warren. Susie writes contemporary romance. Besides being an avid reader, she spends much of her free time crafting intense and complex stories about falling in love. When she is not writing, Susie works as an administrator in a small, independent school while caring for three teenagers and keeping tabs on her inventor husband. With the launching of her first book, The Forgotten Heiress, she has slowly begun to navigate the social media realm.


AN INTERVIEW WITH THE AUTHOR

I asked Susie who she would want to play the lead roles if her book was made into a movie. Here is her reply:



If The Convenient Wedding was made until a movie, I would cast Scarlett Johansson, an A-list Hollywood actress, and Robert Pattinson, who rose to fame when he landed a leading role as Edward Cullen in film adaptations of the famous Twilight novels.

The movie version wouldn’t be a typical romantic comedy. The plot is complex and the actors would need to be deeply introspective and expose their own vulnerabilities while dealing with the media.  Part of the challenges that the actors would face is how to portray on screen the internal pressure of choosing to do what is expected of you versus what you may want out of life.

The basic premise of The Convenient Wedding is a reluctant socialite, Lucia Montgomery, is pulled into a scandal and must choose between her families’ reputation and her future happiness. She is from an old and powerful political family in Connecticut and desperately wants to shed her reputation as an impulsive and emotional young woman. 

Lucia, played by Scarlett, has to contend with the spotlight while distancing herself from stories about being previously rejected at the altar.  She is trying to establish herself as a public relations powerhouse but has to fight against her family wanting her to stay in a neatly defined role.

Scarlett Johansson is not typically cast in purely romantic roles but she has the ability to portray a complex character and the skill to act out the emotional scenes. She also has the ability to go from a ‘girl next door’ look to an ‘ultra-glamorous’ appearance.

Robert Pattison has the right look for a young architect turned politician and also has the ability to portray complex emotions on screen. His character, Anderson Adams, is a candidate in a contested congressional race, who meets Lucia at a fundraising event and the two enjoy a spontaneous evening out. He is charismatic and down to earth at the same time.

Lucia causes a media frenzy when she is tricked into going to Anderson’s hotel room the next morning and photographs of them are taken. Anderson persuades her to play along with a pretend engagement then an actual wedding to save her reputation and his campaign. Both characters are strong-willed and dynamic with an underlying conviction to do the right thing. 

The media falls in love with the charismatic couple and they must figure out how to reconcile their public image with their private life. Will they decide to put their happiness above the expectations placed on them?




ABOUT THE BOOK



A reluctant socialite is pulled into a scandal and must choose between her families’ reputation and her future happiness.

Lucia Montgomery is from an old and powerful political family in Connecticut and desperately wants to shed her reputation as a superficial socialite. Against her family’s wishes, she seeks a position working for a fiercely contested political campaign and the dark horse in the race, Anderson Adams. She is thrown into the middle of a scandal of her own making when she is tricked into going to his hotel room. Anderson persuades her to play along with a pretend engagement then an actual wedding to save her reputation and his campaign. The media falls in love with the charismatic couple and they must figure out how to reconcile their public image with their private life.



AN EXCERPT



Anderson Adams watched the graceful, blond girl across the room spin seductively in an effort to show off her gown. She was strikingly beautiful and seemed to spread cheer to those gathered around her. He decided in that moment that he needed a break from the endless political chatter surrounding him.

He politely excused himself from the discussion and asked his campaign manager, Brian Gallagher, “Who is the beauty across the room?”

Brian followed his gaze and said, “Ah, Bella Montgomery. William Montgomery’s granddaughter. I’ve heard that she has relocated to Connecticut and is interested in launching a PR firm. I think she goes by Lucia Montgomery now.”

“Have you spoken with her this evening?” Anderson kept his voice disinterested. He needed a diversion for the evening but had to be careful of his reputation. It wouldn’t help his cause to irritate the former governor. While this campaign may not end in success, he had other political aspirations for the future.

“Not yet. But her grandfather asked that I interview her for a position in the campaign. Apparently, he would like to see her heading up the PR elements. The campaign needs experience and talent not a bored socialite but having a connection to the former governor wouldn’t hurt us.”

Anderson avoided making eye contact with anyone, taking a moment to contemplate his approach. “Connections are important. William Montgomery has the influence and positive record to energize older voters. An association with Ms. Montgomery could prove to be helpful.”

His campaign manager put a hand on his shoulder and guided his view away from Lucia Montgomery. “I wouldn’t seek her out. She is exactly what you don’t need. Young, blond and receptive. You need to be seen having a mature relationship, not chasing a young socialite who may end up having a position in the campaign.”

There was no way he would allow his campaign manager to dictate his choice of companion. Cultivating a veneer of respectability was necessary, but he wouldn’t allow it to command how he lived his life.

Taking a large swallow of whiskey, he handed the empty glass to Brian. “I’ll see what she has to offer the campaign.”

Making his way across the room, he noted her companion abandoned her when she saw him coming towards them.

He stopped within a few feet of her and was captivated by her intense and open stare. He had the sense that she had been waiting for him. The crossover V-neckline in front and back exposed sun-kissed, flawless skin. He had to push away thoughts of her undressing for him. How could she tempt him so easily? He had given up on women in the last few months, instead deciding to slide into a forced celibacy after his last nightmare of a relationship had ended with bitter regrets.

He said, “I don’t think we have met. I’m Anderson Adams.”


SPECIAL LINKS



Susie loves to hear from readers and responds to each email and Facebook post. Please reach out to her via Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Susie-Warren/647556668647832 or Twitter @susiecwarren

For more information on her upcoming releases, new excerpts and other related postings, or to sign up for free promotions, please visit www.susiewarren.com






Susie will be awarding $50 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

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