Welcome back, Trish!
Thanks for having me back, Cindy. Always fun to hang out with you.
Please tell us a bit about Living in Color. Was there something in particular that inspired you to write this story?
Here’s the blurb for the book:
After the death of her father, Sabrina Bishop offers to take her mother on a road trip to expose her to a world she’s never seen in her sheltered, abuse-filled life. The trip becomes a journey of unexpected healing and self-discovery not only for her mother, but for Sabrina as well.
I really like road trips, long stretches of road where you can see all kinds of things that you can’t when you fly over them. I also thought about all those hours in a car is a good time to have lengthy conversations, so the idea for a story about a mother and daughter with a strained relationship popped into my head. During their travels, they find out things about each other and themselves that they never expected.
This book is a bit of a departure from your previously published books. Do you have more women’s fiction in mind for your readers?
I’ve written one other women’s fiction book that I need to go back over again. It’s been a while since I’ve looked at it, but it’s a story I really like too, one of those coming-back-home-from-the-place-you-fled stories. And now that I’ve dipped my toe into the women’s fiction waters, I’m sure my brain will be looking for new ideas for stories.
What’s next up for you in terms of books?
Right now, I’m in the midst of revising the first book in a new trilogy coming from Harlequin American, probably in 2012. Then it’s quickly on to revising the second book and finishing writing the third. I’ll also be working on some young adult projects too. So, busy, busy, busy.
I know you love visiting National Parks. Did any of your real life experiences make their way into this story?
Two of the places Sabrina and Ruby visit in Living in Color are Mt. Rushmore National Memorial in South Dakota and Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming, Montana and Idaho. So I was able to use descriptions of those places from my personal memorial, particularly Yellowstone, which is one of my absolute favorite places. Though it’s not a National Park, they also end up visiting the Gulf Coast of Florida, another of my favorite places. It’s so much easier to write about places you’ve been.
Which National Park that you haven’t yet visited is at the top of your ‘bucket list?’
Oh, so many of them. I’d say the top two are the Grand Canyon and Yosemite in the continental U.S., and all of those gorgeous, enormous parks in Alaska.
Having been to both the Grand Canyon and Yosemite, Aunty can vouch that they are indeed FABULOUS and actually live up to all their hype! I've only been on the coast of Alaska (yes, on a cruise) and it was breath-taking, so I'm sure the interior will be equally stunning.
What about the rest of you? Have any road trips planned for the near future? What about those on the top of your 'Bucket List?' Please share with us!
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16 comments:
Thanks for hosting me, Cindy.
I'm thrilled you could join me, Trish! I'm anxious to read Living in Color and hope it sells TONS of copies!
I loved visiting Florida a couple of months ago and would love take a road trip and see more of the gorgeous big trees with the lacy moss hanging off their unique limbs. Of course, Carla rolled her eyes and her son said it was nothing but fungus (or whatever it is) but I love them. I would love to continue the trip into the antibellum area and see the old houses and plantations.
I know you live in Tennessee and I fell in love with the state, especially Nashville. My ancestors came from the area and maybe some of my genes recognized the beauty of the scenery and the people.
Your story sounds absolutely wonderful, Trish.
Waving Auntie Cindy! :)
Hey Paisley!
Thanx so much for dropping by! The antebellum homes along the Gulf (between New Orleans and Pensacola) were FABULOUS. Unfortunately, I think Hurricane Katrina wiped out most of them. :-(
And I agree with you about genetic memory. I definitely felt something deep in my bones the first time I set foot in Ireland.
AC
Hi, Trish and Cindy! When I heard Trish was visiting today, I had to pop over.
I just started reading LIVING IN COLOR last night and I have to comment on it. I'm not far along, but I'm amazed at the strong writing voice you show in this book, Trish. And the universal themes of loss and perception, struggles and triumps.
Even though I haven't finished it, I can tell it's one of your best works.
Whooops, forgot the question. Okay I do NOT like road trips. I like to see beautiful sites and visit historical places, but I think God made airplanes so I don't have to drive LOL.
Oh, and yes, I do know how to spell "triumph," but clearly I don't type well :-D.
Hey, Trish and Cindy, it's a Bandita convention here!
Trish, congratulations on the release of Living in Color. By the way, that's a gorgeous cover!!!! The story sounds wonderful. And I love the idea of using the road trip as the basis for a journey of reconciliation.
I'm actually hosting some English friends at the moment and because they've hired a car (I don't drive), we've done a lot of touring around the area where I live. Gorgeous national parks here - lots of remnant rainforest with all the wonderful creatures there. It's fun to play tourist for a while - what surprises me is how tired I am after a day in the car! You'd think you'd be all rested and ready to party but I get home ready to collapse into bed!
Ooh, Trish, so good to see you here! I know both you and AC are gadabouts, so I cannot compete on places visited. However, I have a bucket list a mile long! I, too, want to see the Grand Canyon (from the ground rather than the air) and Yosemite and Yellowstone. The top of the list right now is Glacier National Park. I'm seriously afraid there will be no more glaciers by the time I get to visit, since they're disappearing so rapidly.
My favorite places visited to date are: the Gulf Coast (esp. around Destin/Panama City); Switzerland (way the heck out in the Alps in the middle of nowhere!); and, Nova Scotia (Cape Breton Island is magnificent!). Man, I'm getting itchy feet just thinking about it!
Thanks, Cindy. I like how you think about selling tons of copies. :)
Hi, Paisley. I like the Spanish moss too. There is a little park in Florala, Alabama, on the state line with Florida where hubby and I stop to stretch our legs every time we go to the beach. There's all this Spanish moss and hubby always poses with it in some funny way (on his head, "growing out of his ears", as a beard) for a photo. He's a hoot.
You know, I think there is something to this genetic memory stuff. I've never been to Ireland and Scotland, but I'm so attracted to them and Celtic music. I love going to Highland games. I need to put one of those on my schedule for this year.
Jo, thank you so much for the compliment about the book. It means a lot to me.
LOL on the airplanes. See, I think God made roads so we could see all the other stuff he made. :)
Anna, I bet your area is gorgeous, near the ocean and rainforests.
It is amazing how tiring being in a car for a long time can be. I think it's because you're just achy from sitting and not moving around much. That's why I stop every 1 1/2 to 2 hours and walk for a bit, get the blood flowing.
Caren, oh I really want to visit Nova Scotia. In fact, I'd love to drive all the way across Canada.
Trish, I think it's because you're so mentally active too, trying to take everything in.
Trish
I have this book on my e reader and am really looking forward to reading it whoo hoo.
AS for road trips I love them and would love to go on one very soon there are so many places here in Australia to visit it will be a hard choce to decide where to go when i can get holidays from work again
Have Fun
Helen
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