Author Interview: Cat Lavoie

It's another stop on the CLP Blog Tour for Cat Lavoie's novel Breaking the Rules. Today's post features an interview with the lovely author herself. I hope you all enjoy this as much as I did. I had fun learning that Cat and I have very similar tastes!

First, some fast and furious favourites (hey, that's pretty catchy. And alliterative. I like it!):

Books Etc.: Favourite movie?

Cat Lavoie: Love, Actually.

BE: Favourite author/book? 

CL: It's so hard to choose just one but Pride and Prejudice is definitely at the top of my list of all-time favourite books.

BE: Favourite (or dream) travel destination?

CL: London. I've been there twice already and I can't wait to go back.

BE: I know you currently live in Montreal so I'm curious about what made you decide to set Breaking the Rules in New York City and have one of the characters move to London?

CL: I've always loved New York City and—when I visited the Big Apple in 2003—it was my first time traveling outside Canada. The following year, I took a plane for the first time and went to London. Both cities are very close to my heart so I knew I wanted to include them in my novel.

BE: How much of yourself do you see in Roxy?

CL: We definitely share a passion for food and cooking—but, sadly, she's the only one with talent. I think we are both a bit insecure and—like Roxy—I've definitely had moments where I felt like my dreams were completely out of reach.

BE: How did you come up with the names for your characters?

CL: I have a book of baby names that I flip through for inspiration. Also, I like to scan the credits at the end of TV shows and movies in case an interesting name pops up. I really enjoy the process of finding a name that feels 'just right' for a character.

BE: Are you an outliner or a write by the seat of your pants author?

CL: Definitely an outliner. I like to know where I'm going before I start a chapter or a scene.

BE: Do you have a particular writing routine? A favourite place to write or time of day to get work done?

CL: I usually write in the evenings or during my lunch breaks at the office. I don't have a particular routine but, when I'm writing at home, the TV needs to be tuned to either a cooking show or a home improvement show. Even if it's muted, it needs to be on or—for some reason—I have a hard time focusing.

BE: How did you come up with the idea for Breaking the Rules?

CL: It all started with a conversation I had with a male friend. We were discussing whether men and women can be 'just friends.' I started thinking about what would happen to a lifelong platonic relationship if the fine line between friendship and love was crossed for a brief moment.

BE: What kinds of things do you like to do when you're not writing?

CL: If I'm not reading or writing, I'm usually either trying to cook without setting off the smoke alarm or watching way too much television.

Author Bio:

Cat Lavoie was born in the small town of Jonquière in Québec, Canada. At the age of nineteen, she packed up her things (mostly books) and moved to the big city of Montreal where she currently lives with her tempestuous cat Abbie—who is both adorable and quite possibly evil.
An incurable Anglophile since her university days where she studied English Literature, she can often be found daydreaming about her next trip to London. Since she’s an expert at the art of procrastination, Cat is easily distracted by cooking and home improvement shows—even though she’s not particularly good at either.
Cat grew up watching soap operas and legal dramas and—had she not decided to be a claims analyst by day and write chick lit by night—she would have probably become a designer suit-wearing lawyer. Or a character on All My Children (which is what she really wanted to be when she was twelve). Cat is not sure whether she’s a geek or a nerd—and is afraid she might be both. Breaking the Rules is her first novel.  

Connect with Cat:
Cat blogs about the writing life and posts adorable pictures of Abbie over at the Catenabi Chronicles. Come say hello at: www.CatLavoie.com and follow @Catenabi on Twitter.

Just Finished: Where We Belong

If you asked me who my favourite authors were, Emily Giffin would be one of the first to come to mind. It's no surprise that I have been anxiously awaiting her latest novel, Where We Belong. I couldn't wait to get my hands on it and I devoured it over a weekend. I. Loved. It.

Here's the synopsis:

Marian Caldwell is a thirty-six year old television producer, living her dream in New York City. With a fulfilling career and satisfying relationship, she has convinced everyone, including herself, that her life is just as she wants it to be. But one night, Marian answers a knock on the door . . . only to find Kirby Rose, an eighteen-year-old girl with a key to a past that Marian thought she had sealed off forever. From the moment Kirby appears on her doorstep, Marian’s perfectly constructed world—and her very identity—will be shaken to its core, resurrecting ghosts and memories of a passionate young love affair that threaten everything that has come to define her. 

For the precocious and determined Kirby, the encounter will spur a process of discovery that ushers her across the threshold of adulthood, forcing her to re-evaluate her family and future in a wise and bittersweet light. As the two women embark on a journey to find the one thing missing in their lives, each will come to recognize that where we belong is often where we least expect to find ourselves—a place that we may have willed ourselves to forget, but that the heart remembers forever.

Have you ever had really high expectations for something and then it just totally lets you down? I was terrified that that was going to happen to me when it came to this novel. That wasn't the case, thank goodness, as I couldn't put this one down. I think I liked that it was a little different than some of Giffin's other works. There wasn't an overt/obvious infidelity storyline that's so prevalent in her other books which was a nice change of pace. Those plots can sometimes be really hard to read (Heart of the Matter anyone? Hoo boy, that was tough).

It was also interesting to read one of her books from the point of view of a teenager. Kirby was the kind of teen that I like reading about because she's smart and mature, even if her parents don't realize it. She's not obsessed with boys and make-up (or sparkling vampires) but she's still a girl and I loved reading her romantic storyline. So sweet! It was really great to see her come into her own and, well, figure out where she belonged.

I was surprised at all the lies that Marian had told throughout her life. I think she was completely justified in the reactions from some people when they found out about Kirby (no - I'm not going to give any of that away!) Also, it almost seemed like she was pretending to be someone else at points. Like she wasn't being true to herself, you know? I don't think she's as cold as you might think and I wonder if her boyfriend had anything to do with the way she was acting or if that's really the way she is. Writing this review I've realized that I couldn't really get a good read on Marian and that could be why Kirby stands out as my favourite character in this book. Hm. Interesting.

I'm desperate for a sequel and I know I'm not alone in that thought. I believe I even read something from Giffin herself saying that she was toying with the idea. Fingers crossed that she lets us know what happens next with Marian and Kirby because the book ends on a bit of a cliffhanger! Even though we are left wondering exactly what's going to happen with all of the characters, I'm happy with how the book ended. I also think I'd like Marian more in the sequel!

Fans of Emily Giffin's other novels will love Where We Belong. I know I'm already waiting for what she comes out with next. And getting super excited to see her on Thursday! That's right - Emily Giffin is coming to Canada (Toronto, to be more specific)! Since I'm not too far from the city, I'm making the trek to see her at Indigo and I am SO EXCITED! I'll share pictures with you all soon :)

Happy reading :)

Thanks to St. Martin's Press for the copy to review!

Guest Post: Cat Lavoie

On Saturday I shared my review of Breaking the Rules by Cat Lavoie. I'll give you a quick recap in case you missed it: I freaking loved it. LOVED it. Today, Cat was kind enough to write a guest post for Books Etc. Because I knew that Cat had published her novel with Marching Ink, which is run by the fabulous author Samantha March, I was curious to see what her writing journey was like. Read on to find out how it went for her!

My Journey to Publication

When I stop and really think about it, my journey to publication began with a single blog post. I was in the throes of major writer's block at the end of November 2009 and I felt as though I couldn't write another word of Breaking the Rules. That's when I decided to start a blog—Catenabi Chronicles. I knew that I had to keep writing in order to get out of my funk. My other 'trick' to beat writer's block—stepping away from the computer and taking a break—had backfired because I stepped away for far too long and found it more enjoyable than sitting in front of my computer. So if I couldn't write my novel, I had to write something. So I used my new blog to post pictures of my cat Abbie and chronicle my attempts to finish the first draft of Breaking the Rules by midnight on December 31, 2009. Blogging actually helped me beat the block and I made my deadline with only ten minutes to spare.  

With the first draft done, I thought that the hard part was over. All I needed to do was whip that draft into shape. The rest had to be easy, right? Wrong. What followed were several months of querying agents and editors and those months quickly turned into two years of relentless rejections. Some rejections were quick and surprisingly painless. Others were long and drawn-out in a series of emails and—even though there was a bit of interest—every time I thought my foot was in the door, it eventually led to disappointment. At one point, I thought Breaking the Rules was destined to line the bottom of a drawer. I started working on a second novel and—even though I liked where it was headed—I couldn't get Breaking the Rules out of my head. I decided to self-publish it. During that process, I met fellow author Samantha March who told me about the publishing company she'd started, Marching Ink. I was really overwhelmed by her reaction to Breaking the Rules and her subsequent offer to publish it through her indie press. I was so happy to connect with someone who loved this story as much as I did and who wanted to work with me and send this novel out into the world. Signing with Marching Ink felt right; I knew Breaking the Rules had finally found its happy home.

A few months ago, I got to announce the news I'd been waiting so long to post on the Catenabi Chronicles. My novel had a publication date and cover art and it would be a real book instead of a pile of marked-up pages on my desk. That post was the exact opposite of the very first post I'd written a few years back. Instead of a rant on writer's block and tons of self-doubt, I was able to celebrate some of the best news I've ever had to share. And even though the journey was bumpy at times, I was able to look back and be thankful for the rollercoaster ride that brought me to that moment.

The fact that I can now hold a physical copy of Breaking the Rules in my hand feels extremely surreal. And I'm happy that—after more than two years of posting adorable pictures of Abbie on the Catenabi Chronicles—I was finally able to post a picture of her being adorable… next to a pile of my novels.

Isn't she sweet? I love this picture. Thanks for sharing it - and this post - Cat! Stay tuned for an interview with Cat coming up on Books Etc. on Wednesday!

Happy reading :)

CLP Blog Tour: Breaking the Rules

Prepare yourselves. I am about to make a bold statement. Breaking the Rules by Cat Lavoie might be one of the best books I've read this year. I'm so happy I decided to take part in this CLP Blog Tour!

Here's the synopsis for this fabulous novel:

When twenty-seven year old Roxy Rule’s best friend and roommate accepts a glamorous new job overseas, she expects their relationship to continue as it’s always been—carefree and easy—until they share a heart-stopping kiss moments before his departure. Overcome with mixed emotions, she fights the urge to over analyze the situation and resumes back to her normal life in New York City, working for an intolerable boss at a dead end job, creeping further and further away from her own dreams of becoming a professional chef. 

While things become more complicated between her and Ollie, Roxy is sure that nothing can come between two lifelong best friends—not even mild jealousy over a thriving career or a silly little kiss that meant nothing. In fact, it was such a meaningless and forgettable kiss that she convinces herself that it’s not even worth mentioning to her fiancé, although it is all she can think about. 

Roxy’s already topsy-turvy life only gets more complicated when her sisters Steffi and Izzie suddenly become her roommates. Steffi is six months into a pregnancy she refuses to discuss and Izzie is in the throes of a premature midlife crisis. Roxy tries to take control of her career, her love life and her sisters – but can she really handle it all? And can the Rule family keep it together – or break under the pressure?

I did not want to put this novel down. I was sucked into Roxy's world and I loved reading about her life. Her life had hit an interesting rough patch and it was a lot of fun to read about what was happening and trying to figure out how she was going to handle everything.

I'm also a bit of a sucker for the "girl and boy are friends and suddenly one realizes they have feelings for the other" stories - as long as they're original in some way or another. Or at least fun and well written. I felt like this novel had both. There was also a crazy twist at the end that I was not at all expecting. Though I'm not entirely sure how I feel about that. It's borderline too strange to wrap my head around but I realize that it's sort of a reflection on families these days and it's really not a deal breaker for me in any way. Yes. That is all very vague. Read the book and you'll understand :)

I loved all the characters that showed up in this book. Except maybe Roxy's boss. Oh, and Ollie's girlfriend. They're both kind of crazy but that just added to the fun! :) Steffy and Izzie, Roxy's sisters, were great and really helped Roxy through everything, just as she was helping them through their issues. She has some awesome friends and, I admit, I may have a little bit of a crush on Ollie!

I don't know if I can really put my finger on what I loved so much about this book. The writing was good, the story was great, the characters were fun. I guess the main thing is that everything worked well together. Sometimes I pay too much attention to the way things are worded, the writing style of the author, and so on. Usually I know a book is great when I don't necessarily pay attention to those things. It means I've gotten sucked into the story and that's what I love about reading. I want to be 100% involved in the story and the character's life. If I feel too disconnected or if I'm thinking too much about how I'd edit or change the book then I'm not loving it. I didn't find myself critiquing anything with this novel. I was able to become completely immersed in Roxy's life without worrying about anything else.

And can I just say how much I love the cover? So cute and fun and bright and wonderful! :)

Like I said earlier in this post, I'm so glad that I was able to take part in the blog tour for Cat Lavoie's debut novel Breaking the Rules. I think that any chick lit lover would love it just as much as I did and I can't recommend it enough. I can't wait to see what Cat comes out with next!

Stay tuned for a guest post and interview from Cat next week!

Guest Post: Anne Kemp

Welcome to another stop on the Rum Punch Regrets tour hosted by CLP Blog Tours! Today author Anne Kemp was kind enough to stop by Books Etc. with a guest post. Anne writes a blog and a column along with fiction so I was curious to see what she thought about each type of writing. I hope you all enjoy this post as much as I did!

When I focused on writing again, after a many-year hiatus, I never thought I would end up wearing so many different hats. Some days it’s a precarious balancing act, but it’s worth it. With social media and the internet having created a society where we need to know now and get our information justhisfast, writers in 2012 have more on their plates these days than just penning a book.

Me? I write the Abby George Series, I have my column, Anne In Progress, and run a blog…well, I actually run three, but who’s counting? Each format offers something different not only for me but for readers as well.   

They offer options. 

I think that’s why I like switching up and wearing so many other hats. How can anyone like “just one?” In my life, it’s all about options. I guess it’s something I want other people to revel in as well. I can commit to writing a full-length novel because I know I have a story that just has to get out of my system, or I can sit down and crank out (that’s a technical term, by the way) a column for my readers. If I have small bits of information I want to get across or share, I can create a blog post around a topic and use that platform for spreading the word.

Is it frustrating? Sometimes, yes. There are days I’d rather just work on my book, and honestly if I could just dream up blog post ideas all day and not always write them, that’d be swell, too. However, in the end? I love writing. It’s mine and everyday I wake up and I have the option to write whatever I want. At any given moment, all day long. Even to-do lists.

I also love social media because (again) we’re faced with options. Options for marketing ourselves to an audience much bigger than we ever imagined, options for different outlets and platforms of social media and outreach. For instance, I really love Twitter, crafting a tweet and getting it out there. Sometimes when I go to post on Facebook, I get stumped.  In steps Twitter! Or maybe I have a photo that works well with my mood, but I don’t want to make a big deal out of it. I’ll use Instagram. Don’t even get me started on that rabbit hole they call Pinterest – love it! 

See? Options.  

That’s all a girl truly needs. I love the days when I feel like I’m juggling precious china plates; prepping a blog, organizing my tweets to go out, answering folks on Facebook and outlining my next book. Multi-tasking in the midst of something you truly love, in the midst of balancing your passion, is the most priceless experience ever. And I’d take that option over never being able to write again or having to pick just one.

Cause I like having the option.


And in case you missed it - my review can be found here!

Top Ten Tuesday: Favourite Books I've Read Since November 2010

Top Ten Tuesday is weekly meme created by the lovely folks at The Broke and the Bookish. They created it because they're "particularly fond of lists" and since I also enjoy lists, I've decided to participate in this fun feature. 

That's a pretty specific title up there, isn't it? That's because this week's list is "Top Ten Favourite Books You've Read During the Lifespan of Your Blog" and November 2010 is when I started Books Etc. It's crazy to think that I'm coming up on my two year blogoversary! I've read A LOT of books since I started this blog - way more than I ever thought possible - so it was difficult to pick just ten of my favourites. I gave it my best shot and have compiled a list of faves for you all. I've listed them from oldest read to newest and all links (where available) are to my reviews.

Don't forget to check out their blog for a full list of everyone participating.

1. A Discovery of Witches - Deborah Harkness

Witches, magic, history, libraries. All sorts of good stuff was in the first book of the All Souls Trilogy. The second, Shadow of Night, was just as good!

2. The Help - Kathryn Stockett

I was hesitant about this one since it took place in a time that I didn't have much interest in but I absolutely loved this novel.

3. Second Time Around - Beth Kendrick

This story grabbed me and I loved reading about the friends as they all went through challenging times in their lives.

4. Sisterhood Everlasting - Ann Brashares

It was bittersweet to read the final book in the Traveling Pants series. I'll miss those girls but this was an almost perfect ending.

5. Rock Star's Girl - J.F. Kristin

Great story, awesome character. What more could you want?

6. Arranged - Catherine McKenzie

Loved loved loved this one. Fantastic story.

7. Blank Slate Kate - Heather Wardell

What would you do if you woke up and couldn't remember the last decade or so? That's what happened to "Kate" and Wardell delivered another amazing novel.

8. How to Eat a Cupcake - Meg Donohue

The title is sweeter than this story about two estranged friends who are thrown together again in the most unlikely of circumstances. A really good read.

9. The Hunger Games Trilogy - Suzanne Collins

I was obsessed with this series, to put it mildly. I didn't want to put the books down.

10. Breaking the Rules - Cat Lavoie

A fabulous debut novel (that I will be reviewing on Saturday) that every chick lit lover should pick up.

What are some of your favourite books?

CLP Blog Tour: Rum Punch Regrets

How much fun is this cover? As much fun as the story inside it, let me tell you! The brightly coloured cover wasn't what convinced me to sign up for this CLP Blog Tour but it certainly didn't hurt :) Rum Punch Regrets by Anne Kemp was entertaining and sweet, and I really liked reading it.

Here's the synopsis:

In just a few short weeks, thirty something Abby George has endured the death of her mother, was dumped by her fiancé, and got laid off from her job. 

Stunned and seeking a shoulder to cry on, she turns to her perfect older sister, Leigh. But instead of comfort, Abby receives a surprise: Leigh needs her in the Caribbean to help with some mysterious personal business. 

While assisting in the sale and repair of a bed-and-breakfast, Abby uncovers a few huge family secrets as she juggles an unexpected roommate, quirky locals, and nasty centipedes. 

Abby's world is further complicated when two potential suitors enter her life. Can Abby get beyond her own pyscho drama long enough to open her heart to someone new? Or will she neurotically make her romantic life worse? 

Packing nothing but her suitcases and a sense of humor, Abby George travels down an unfamiliar road, but it's all she can do to hang on for the ride... 

Or will she wake up with "Rum Punch Regrets?"

Rum Punch Regrets is actually the second book in the Abby George series. The first, All Fruits Ripe, is a novella and, as far as I can tell, explains a bit further how Abby gets herself in this crazy situation. While it wasn't exactly necessary for me to read the novella first, I sort of wish I had. Not because I felt like there was much missing but because I don't want to go back to the beginning of Abby's story now, I want to keep going with it. Does that make sense? I am looking forward to the next Abby book that Anne told me (via Twitter) is due out in September!

This doesn't have much bearing on what I thought of the book overall, but I could not see why Abby was so quick to help out Leigh. She does not treat her well at all. Leigh still sees Abby as the little, irresponsible, and immature sister, even though I couldn't find any evidence to support the fact that Abby's never done what she said she's going to get done. I also think it was kind of harsh for Leigh's husband to be so upset about what she kept from everyone. If anyone wanted to kick Leigh out of the house, I'd think it would be Abby. And the other person involved in the mystery (didn't think you'd get it out of me, did you? Silly.) Anyway, all this didn't really change my opinion of the book overall but I just needed to talk about it!

There were a couple of big twists in this book and I loved how Kemp kept me guessing. She dropped a few hints and I was almost able to figure out the one out but I didn't realize the depth of the secret. The other one I did figure out pretty early on - but that was ok by me. I just had to keep waiting for the other shoe to drop and for Abby to clue in as well!

I'm really looking forward to the sequel because I'm so curious to find out what happens next in Abby's life. I need to know what she learns from a character that I can't tell you about because that would ruin one of the surprises in the book. As well as what happens with the two men in her life!

Rum Punch Regrets is a great, quick, fun read and I definitely suggest Anne Kemp's novel to others. It's got a good mix of humour, romance, and family drama - all set on a gorgeous Caribbean island! What's not to love?

Happy reading :)