FL Jacob is an author to look out for! Her first novel Have I Told You looks amazing and I can’t wait to read it. I have an interview so you can get to know Fl Jacob better as well as information on her upcoming book and a special teaser just for you!
Interview
Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?:
I am a mommy of two, wife to an amazing man, and full time employee. Life is crazy and busy! Unfortunately, my love for reading had fizzled over the years but thanks to a wonderful group of ladies that I met last year I started reading again. Their love for books turned me on to many great writers who I would have never discovered if I hadn’t started reading again!
I started writing for them. They brought back my passion for writing that I haven’t seen since high school. Starting this process was tedious and nerve-wracking, but my amazing ladies and my fabulous husband have inspired me to take my love for writing to the next step.
List five adjectives to describe yourself.
Sincere, helpful, loving, quiet, and fun.
Name one funny trait you have, that you would like others to know.
For being a dancer, I am extremely clumsy! My husband always teases me when I fall that I am his graceful dancer. This usually gets him an extremely dirty look…
What made you want to become a writer?
I wanted to become a writer because I see the joy books bring to people’s lives. They feel the emotions of the characters, live the story along with the characters, and a piece of the reader is left with the book when the story is over. I hope I can be one of those authors that can bring those feelings out in my readers.
Do you have a day job as well?
I do! I am a full time mom of 2 girls (The toughest job around, but I wouldn’t change it for anything!). I also have a full time, 40 hours a week, job. This makes for a very crazy life.
Name 2 things you consider yourself to be very good at.
Listening when people need to talk.
Eye for design. This comes into play in my current profession.
Name 2 things you consider yourself to be very bad at.
Saying no to people. I’m a sucker.
I tend to be an introvert and I am typically bad at putting myself out there. This has made publishing this book a huge milestone in my life.
When people look at me, they would never guess that I:
Have been dancing since I was 3 years old.
Where do you get your ideas?
Usually I see a picture and something pops into my head. I’ve also had stories come to me while I’m in the shower. This poses a problem because I usually have to rush out and find a pen or my ipad so I can jot down the ideas before they disappear. Caston and Aubrey came from a picture, and another story I have in process started from an old doll I had when I was little. Really, inspiration can come from anything.
Are experiences in the book based on someone you know, or events in your own life?
Nothing is based on my real life, but I will say you can’t help but put a little of yourself in the book somehow.
Is there any particular author or book that influenced you in any way either growing up or as an adult?
Growing up, I loved the series Sweet Valley Twins and The Babysitters Club. I also loved the books by RL Stine. Grapes of Wrath, Of Mice and Men, and To Kill a Mockingbird are a few of my classic reads. Nowadays, you can find me reading Nicole Edwards, Olivia Cunning, Kelly Elliott, Colleen Hoover, Kendall Grey, and many, many more!!
I love Disney movies so If you can be a Disney character, who would you be and why?
I would like to be Giselle from Enchanted. She can sing, she has beautiful hair, and she can make clothes out of any fabric!
Tell us about your book.
To the outside world Caston Black has it all. The owner of the best-selling gentlemen’s magazine, Black Hollywood, has good looks, fame, fortune, and a reputation that proceeds him. He can have any woman he wants, as long as he doesn’t keep them. Caston sets his sights on Aubrey for his next Hollywood Sweetheart. Little does he know he will find the woman to share his life, the one he is meant to keep forever.
Aubrey Bennett has been in a mentally and physically abusive relationship that has destroyed the beautiful, confident dancer who arrived at college three years ago. She thinks the only good thing left in her life is her abusive boyfriend. Keeping her boyfriend happy is her number one priority, no matter how impossible. She’s been broken and molded into a frightened, unsure girl desperate to be worthy of love.
Meeting by chance one evening, sparks fly between Caston and Aubrey. Neither expected the feelings they bring out in each other. Trying to have a normal relationship in their abnormal world, happiness is a new way of life for the lovers. They want to move forward, but the past won’t let go.
Can Caston help Aubrey heal from her past abuse? Can Aubrey show Caston he is as strong as he appears to be? When is the price of love too much? What do you do when the biggest threat to the person you love is you?
Teaser: Unedited subject to change
Never taking my eyes off the stars, I responded, “Surprise me.”
Caston stepped on the gas to go faster and I let off a little shriek along with a laugh. My smile was splitting my face in two. I was so happy and carefree since I told him my secret. It felt as if a ten ton weight was off my chest. What made things even better was when I looked over at Caston his smile was also carefree.
Driving along for about a half an hour, we pulled into a small 24-hour café and I looked at him puzzled.
“Trust me,” he said, “Stay here, I’ll be right back.”
Quickly, Caston returned, putting a few bags in the backseat. He pulled back out onto the road and we drove for a few more minutes. It was quiet, we didn’t speak. It wasn’t an awkward silence though, it was calming.
I was surprised when we finally turned on to a road that was hidden among some trees. The road was unpaved and bumpy. When the road ended, I looked over at him and I raised my eyebrows.
“Come on,” he said, as he got out of the car. He walked to the trunk and grabbed a blanket and then returned to grab the bags from the back seat. Deciding he was serious I got out slowly. He was yards ahead of me already. So, I shut my door and quickened my step to catch up to him.
A few feet into the woods we came upon an opening among the trees. There was no wind and the moon and stars lit up the area in the most romantic lighting.
Even though, it was a balmy night, I got a slight chill. I wrapped my arms around myself as I took in the beautiful surroundings. I removed my flip flops holding them in my hand. I wanted to feel the grass between my toes. The fireflies in the trees made it look like twinkling lights, the crickets were nature’s symphony, and the owl in the distance hooting every so often put me into a trance.
Caston snuck up behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist. “What are you thinking about?”
I snuggle into him. Finally, looking up at him, his eyes melt my insides. I turn around in his arms and slide my arms around his neck still holding onto my flip flops. Leaning up on my toes I kiss his soft lips. “You’re my world. I’m so thankful you came into my life.”
My lips find his again and we’re lost in each other. When we finally separate I notice the candles and the blanket in the middle of the opening. The food is sitting on the blanket with an open bottle of wine. My mouth dropped open in shock. “You got all of this at the little café?”
“What can I say, I can be very persuasive,” he winked and took my hand to walk me over to the blanket.
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