Tell us a bit about you and your background.
Hi, Linda, and thanks for having me on your blog today! While my working background is in advertising and journalism, I became a stay-at-home mom when my first child was born. I covered events and wrote a column for the local paper for a while, but soon got swept up in a cloud of PTA volunteering, and Cub Scouts and Girl Scouts… you name it, I signed up for it. When my youngest went off to full-day kindergarten, I took a class called “Finish Your Novel.” I did just that, and have been writing ever since, with 5 published novels under my belt so far. I’ve also worked as the editor for an online magazine and as a freelance editor and copyeditor.
What’s the logline that describes your writing?
Since I write both romance and YA, my tagline-of-the-moment is: “Romance and adventure for Young Adults and the young at heart.”
What are your hobbies away from the computer?
We have two big dogs (one’s a Saint Bernard) who like to walk on the beach every day. I love to read, and I like to bake with my kids. And despite eight years as a Girl Scout leader, I still like to “get crafty” with my daughter.
Do you start a new story with the plot or characters first?
Characters come to me first, and the barest outline of their “situation,” but I find the plot twists and turns as I write – I’m definitely what you would call a “pantser” when it comes to writing! But for me, a story is about the characters. I have to care about a character to want to read – or write – about them!
Is your writing style planned or freestyle?
I guess it qualifies as freestyle, as I don’t work from an outline or character sheets. One of these days I keep promising myself I’ll do those first as they probably make keeping track of characters much easier.
What is the starting point for research—story concept or when you get stuck while writing?
I use the internet extensively to research story concepts and plot points, and can get sucked down that rabbit hole for hours. When I get stuck, it’s usually because something I’ve written doesn’t ring true. That’s when I’ll grab the leashes and take the dogs for an extra walk while I work out what’s bugging me. (They love it when I hit a block like that!)
Have you traveled to any locations that appear in your books?
I actually live year round on Cape Cod, which is the setting for the last several books I’ve written. I love the Cape and think it makes a great story location – there are so many different aspects, all nestled on such a small spit of land. But in terms of exotic locales… hmmm… In my second young adult book, the characters fly to the Greek islands, which I visited during college. I spent a semester in London and we took a trip to Greece during fall break – what a great experience!
Thanks again for having me here today!
BLURB for My Kind Of Crazy
Kendall Roarke is betting everything on making her Harwichport Bed & Breakfast into the premier wedding destination on Cape Cod, despite her recent messy divorce.
Jonathan Reynolds moved back to the Cape to take over his uncle’s business and start fresh after his own marriage ended. He’s not looking for anything complicated – until he meets Kendall, with her big plans and wild mop of curls.
Throw an unruly foster puppy and an uptight new neighbor into the mix and things get a little crazy. Now Kendall has to decide if it’s the kind of crazy that she can live with… for the rest of her life.
BUY LINKS
EXCERPT
He reached out and gently wrapped his fingers around her arm, not letting her leave the front hall. “Kendall?”
Again with the major electrical sparks zinging through her! She was afraid to look him in the eye, afraid he’d be able to see it in her face, the devastating effect he had on her. They stood so close she felt the heat from his body radiating, warming the small space between them. His touch was fire on her bare skin. She finally raised her gaze to meet his eyes, luminous and deep. She felt like she might fall into those green pools and drown.
Breathe in, breathe out. She searched for words to answer the unasked questions in his eyes but none came to her.
“Kendall.” He whispered her name again as if it were the answer to some puzzle he was trying to solve.
Thoughts whirled through her head at lightning speed. Nothing about this made any kind of sense— especially not her attraction to a complete stranger. But there was no denying the electricity that ran through her body from his simplest touch.
“I’m not looking for a relationship right now.” Her low whisper matched his.
“What are you looking for?” He moved closer, his lips brushing her mouth, tasting of beer and salted peanuts. His warmth pulsed through her in shock waves, her traitorous body responding all too eagerly. He tasted so good, the salt sizzling on her tongue. The kiss shifted from soft and gentle to solid and deep. Arms slid around her, pulling her close, but she was too wrapped up in the kiss to protest. Why complain? He felt so good, the hard muscles of his arms and planed chest underneath that thin dress shirt, and another hardness evident, despite his proper dress pants.
Suddenly Kendall remembered that this was the same man who was fooling around with the married cougar of a librarian. She wanted to be outraged for the unwitting spouse, but all she could think was, Lucky librarian.
She wrapped her arms around his neck and shoulders. Vaguely she registered the wall behind her, pressing hard against her back. His clever tongue tangled with her own, sending fresh waves of desire rippling through her.
Even as her body screamed Yes! she slid her hand between them, firmly pushing him backward and breaking the connection. “I can’t do this. I don’t want to get hurt again.” Her eyes searched his before she turned her head to look away. If she looked into those eyes for one more second she would forget all about saying no and let her body do whatever it wanted.
BIO
Katie O’Sullivan lives with her family and big dogs next to the ocean on Cape Cod, drinking way too much coffee and inventing new excuses not to dust. A recovering English major, she earned her degree at Colgate University and writes romance and adventure for young adults and the young at heart.
Living next to the Atlantic influences everything she writes. Her YA mermaid series begins in Nantucket Sound with SON OF A MERMAID, and continues the undersea adventures with BLOOD OF A MERMAID, both from Crescent Moon Press and on sale for the month of December for 99 cents! Her latest contemporary romance from The Wild Rose Press is MY KIND OF CRAZY, a Cape Cod story of second chances and starting over.
Website: www.katie-osullivan.com
Blog: http://katieosullivan.blogspot.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorKatieOSullivan
Twitter: https://twitter.com/OkatieO
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3326303.Katie_O_Sullivan
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/author/katieosullivan