Siena
Ricci is shrewd, seductive, and an expert in the art of deception.
Masking her identity behind the guise of Marie Lacroix, a specialist
in antiques and objets d'art, she swindles her employer's wealthy
clients out of their valuable possessions. She hasn't yet met the man
she can't manipulate, but then the con she's playing on Jonathan
Woodward has only just begun.
Jonathan
proves to be an easy mark, but he's also enticingly irresistible. As
their relationship heats up, her plot to steal his
multi-million-dollar antique trinkets begins to unravel. Noticing a
subtle change in Jonathan's demeanor, Marie questions whether she's
still in control of the con or if she's blindly become the gullible
victim of her own scheme.
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Excerpt #1 - Gullible
Marie stared at Jonathan Woodward’s number on her cell phone, hesitant to make the call. She and Jonathan hadn’t spoken with each other in nearly a year, and she worried their rapport, which she’d worked so hard to nurture, might not have withstood the test of time. She berated herself for not considering this possibility before agreeing to Gus’s Somerset Necklace scheme. Well, there’s only one way to find out if Jonathan is still under my spell. She took a deep breath, touched the screen, and listened as the call rang once…twice…
“Marie! What a welcome surprise!” Jonathan sounded happy to hear from her, an encouraging sign.
“Hello, Jonathan,” she said in her sultry voice, the one that usually hooked her unwitting target within seconds. “Am I catching you at a bad time?”
“No, not at all,” he replied, his tone soft and intimate. She’d successfully set the mood. “We haven’t been in touch for a while. How are you?”
“I’m well, thank you. I wanted to call you before now, but I hated to intrude on your privacy.”
“I appreciate your consideration. My family has had a rough year, but I think we’re finally on the mend.”
Marie understood loss. The sadness in Jonathan’s voice elicited memories and emotions she preferred to keep buried. When she responded, her empathy was sincere. “It takes a while to recover from such a tragedy.”
“Yes, longer than we imagine, unfortunately.” Jonathan sighed heavily. “So, what prompted this call? Is something interesting going on the auction block?”
Marie giggled coyly. “Oh, I’m sure I can always find some little trinket for you to add to your collection. But this isn’t a work-related call. I just made plans to spend this weekend in Boston. You live near there, don’t you?”
“Yes, in Burgess, just west of the city. Why are you traveling up this way?”
To keep things casual, so she didn’t appear to be aggressively pursuing him, Marie fed Jonathan a tall tale about a weekend reunion. “A couple of friends from college invited me to join them for a girls’ getaway. I’ll be in Boston Friday night through Sunday afternoon.”
Dead silence. Then, “That’s nice. It’s always fun to get together with old friends.”
The disappointment in Jonathan’s voice came across loud and clear. He’d probably assumed Marie was traveling to Boston to meet him in person as they’d discussed the last time they spoke, then realized she was instead calling to ask for recommendations on restaurants and sightseeing venues.
“Yes, I’ll be happy to see them. It’s been a long time since we were last together.”
“Well, if you need my input about places to go or things to do, don’t hesitate to call.”
Okay, time to get to the point. “Thank you for the offer. But Jonathan…gosh, I hope I’m not being too forward.” She paused to give the impression she was worried he’d reject her suggestion. “I was hoping we could get together while I’m in town.”
Again, silence. Uh-oh. Had she misread the playful insinuations he’d made during their previous phone conversations? Or perhaps, in the months since they’d last spoken, he’d become involved with someone and was no longer interested in pursuing a relationship with her.
At last, he said, “I’ll need to rearrange my schedule. How’s Saturday, mid-afternoon?”
Relieved, she breathed easily again. “Saturday afternoon works for me, but I don’t want to interfere with your commitments. Perhaps I could make a trip to Boston another time.”
“No, no,” he said hastily. “We’ve waited long enough to meet as it is. Text me the name and address of your hotel. I’ll find a café close by where we can spend the afternoon getting better acquainted.”
“That sounds wonderful. I can’t wait to meet you.”
“Same here. I’m afraid I need to go for now, but I’ll call you Saturday morning to finalize the details. Take care, Marie.”
Marie grinned with satisfaction as she strolled over to her closet to select her wardrobe for the upcoming weekend. Her plan was moving along perfectly. As a matter of fact, Jonathan was playing right into her hands.
Excerpt #2 – Gullible
Marie was delighted with Jonathan’s responses to the teasers she’d thrown at him. His facial reaction when she described how she protected her skin while sunbathing was priceless. She could almost visualize the scene he’d created in his mind of her rubbing her nearly naked body with sunscreen lotion. She’d stroked his ego by praising his choice of venue for their leisurely afternoon, his devotion to his family, his attention to her needs. She’d tantalized him with the occasional touch of her bare skin against his, sparking his desire for more please. She’d even gone so far as to intimate he might be the man she’d been searching for all her life. Her confidence in the job grew stronger as Jonathan fell for her charades one after the other.
Most men were tongue-tied by the time she’d finished enticing them. Depending on the circumstances, they’d take the opportunity to grope her on the spot. Jonathan, however, had remained a gentleman and showered her with compliments, which she found both charming and refreshing. Perhaps he’d been a widower for too many years and had grown accustomed to a life of abstinence. If the pleasure of her company was all he craved, that was fine with Marie. She was willing to be whatever Jonathan wanted as long as the ploy granted her access to the Somerset Necklace.
Marie made a modest attempt to work in the subject of jewelry, but Jonathan hadn’t taken the bait. She’d need to find other subtle ways to wedge the topic into their conversation. When he eventually admitted ownership, she’d plead with him to let her see the necklace. A small distraction, spilling a glass of wine for instance, would occupy Jonathan’s attention while Marie deftly switched the necklace for the fake replica Gus had crafted. By the time Jonathan discovered he no longer possessed the original piece of jewelry, Marie Lacroix would be long gone.
She sipped the water and pondered how to use the remainder of the weekend to her best advantage. A plan developed in her mind, one she was certain would work. After rehearsing the lure she would use to reel Jonathan in, Marie next gauged when to make her move. She placed the phone call around the time she estimated he and his friends would be finishing dinner.
“Marie?” While his greeting was subdued, Marie detected the pleasure in his tone.
“Hello, Jonathan.” Marie noticed other men talking in the background which meant Jonathan was still at the restaurant and close to her hotel. Good timing. “Can you talk?”
“Hold on. Let me find a place that’s more private.” Jonathan’s voice was muffled as he excused himself from the table. A few moments later, he resumed their conversation. “Sorry. My frat brothers have a tendency to eavesdrop, and then the teasing begins. Sometimes, I wonder if they’ll ever grow up.”
“I understand,” she told him. “I returned to my room for the same reasons.”
“We’re about to finish dinner. I was going to call when I got to my car and ask if you have anything planned for the rest of the evening. Is everything all right?”
“Oh, yes, everything’s fine,” she assured him, then added a tinge of anguish to her voice. “But ever since we left the café, a comment you made has been haunting me.”
Jonathan sounded concerned when he asked, “Why? What did I say?”
“You questioned when we’d see each other again. I’ve been thinking all evening about how soon I’d be able to make another trip to Boston, or when you’d be free to meet me in the city. Over dinner with my girlfriends, I realized how little I have in common with them these days, and how much I’d rather spend the remainder of this weekend with you.” Shame on me for throwing my imaginary friends under the bus!
Jonathan chuckled. “Funny. I’ve spent my entire evening mulling over that same dilemma.”
Marie made her response sound as though she were swooning. “Oh, Jonathan! I’m so happy to hear you say that. I gave my girlfriends (Sorry again, ladies!) the excuse of needing to cut the weekend short and returned to my room to call you.” She took a breath before continuing. “When you leave the restaurant, would you like to meet me for a nightcap? There’s a lounge in my hotel that’s open late. Or, if you prefer, I can have a bottle delivered to my room.”
“We could do that,” Jonathan replied, “but I had something else in mind.” He paused, as if waiting for her reaction.
“What is it?”
“Why don’t you check out of the hotel? I’ll pick you up, and we can spend the night at my home instead.”
Marie congratulated herself on a job well done. Placing herself inside Jonathan’s home
had been her goal all along. “How soon can you be here?”
She caught the smile in his voice when he said, “I’ll meet you in your hotel lobby in forty-five minutes.”
“My suitcase and I will be waiting for you.”
Grinning, Marie disconnected the call and sat back in the chair. Mission accomplished.
Excerpt #3
“Breakfast was delicious, Jonathan. Thank you.”
“I’m glad you liked it.” He dropped another pod into the coffee maker and brewed a fresh cup. “A lot of people skip breakfast, but I can’t face the day without it.”
Marie had assumed a man of Jonathan’s stature would have a chef on his payroll, just as he had told her of his gardener, housekeeper, and personal assistant. She liked the normalcy of him puttering around in the kitchen. “Is cooking another one of your hobbies?”
Jonathan returned to his seat at the kitchen island and placed the mug of coffee by her plate. He sat sideways, facing Marie as he spoke. “You might say so. I eat lunch most days at my club, have a dinner date once or twice a week with my daughter, Veronica, at her husband’s local restaurant, and schedule an occasional dinner party with friends. Otherwise, I’m right here making home-cooked meals for myself.” He smiled lovingly at Marie. “We partner up pretty well in the kitchen. I could easily get used to this.” Marie welcomed Jonathan’s affection as he leaned over and kissed her, but she refrained from encouraging his notion of them becoming a normal couple. “Speaking of food reminds me, I wanted to ask what type of cuisine you prefer.”
“I’m not picky, although I tend to eat a lot of seafood.” She lifted the mug and blew on
the coffee before taking a test sip.
“Then you’ll love Arianna’s. That’s Brian’s, my son-in-law’s, steak and seafood restaurant, although the menu is varied. When my son and I go there, Patrick always orders a pasta dish.” Jonathan chuckled. “I’ve never known anyone who likes Italian food more than Patrick. Anyway, Arianna’s has a quiet atmosphere with live piano music in the evening. The next time you venture up this way, I’ll take you there for a romantic, candlelit dinner.”
“I’d love that!” Marie said with delight even though she didn’t intend to be around long enough for the dinner date to ever take place. The turn in conversation, however, did provide her with a lead-in to the Somerset Necklace. “I’m already thinking about what I’ll wear.” While sipping her coffee again, she squinted her eyes, giving the impression she was visualizing her wardrobe. “Oh, my grandmother’s necklace! Such an elegant restaurant would give me an excuse to wear it. But, Jonathan, I want to make sure I wear things that please you. Do you like vintage jewelry?”
Jonathan frowned and glanced at her curiously as he gathered their dishes together. “Don’t worry about me. Wear whatever you think is appropriate.” He took the plates to the sink and rinsed them.
Well, that didn’t play out as I’d hoped it would. Fortunately, she had more than one trick up her sleeve. “Speaking of jewelry, I wanted to mention that many of my clients have asked me to notify them when fine or rare pieces become available. Can I provide the same service to you? Do you own any antique jewelry?”
Jonathan appeared pensive while he loaded the dirty plates and utensils into the dishwasher. After a few moments, he replied. “I would have to say that jewelry does not hold an
interest for me. I wear only a wristwatch, and I can assure you my daughter and her girls would
not wear anything that was previously owned.”
Marie put every ounce of willpower she had into controlling her inherent Italian temper. Why couldn’t she get Jonathan to engage in a conversation about the Somerset Necklace? Frustrated and out of ideas, she gulped her coffee, counted to four, and mulled over what to say next.
Jonathan closed the dishwasher and dried his hands with a towel. “Now that I think about it, I have always wanted a pocket watch. My grandfather used to wear one, and I remember, as a boy, being intrigued by it. I’d appreciate your help in finding one I could add to my collection.”
Although the conversation had not steered in the direction she’d intended, Marie didn’t mind doing Jonathan a favor. His fond memory of his grandfather was reminiscent of her affection for her Grandmother Ricci. “I’d be happy to scout out a pocket watch for you,” she told him while, at the same time, wishing he’d stop being so damned likeable.
Excerpt #4
As Marie slithered into her evening gown, she worried she’d lost control of her con. Throughout the afternoon, her subtle efforts to get her hands on the Woodward heirloom necklace had been unsuccessful. She pictured Gus pacing the floor of his workshop while he anxiously awaited Roberto’s arrival with the goods in hand, unaware that Marie was not yet one hundred percent certain the jewelry Jonathan promised to lend her for the evening was indeed the Somerset Necklace.
Jonathan rapped on the bedroom door. “Marie, are you ready to leave?”
“Almost,” she called from the dressing room.
Marie stepped into the bedroom sheathed in a form-fitting sapphire blue evening gown. Thin shoulder straps led to a sweetheart neckline cut low enough to be revealing but not indecent. The back was scooped to her waist and the straight skirt was slit off-center to mid-thigh. The gown’s wow factor was its brilliant color and its glittery, flowing material. Not to mention, the fabric clung to Marie’s body like a second skin.
Standing before the cheval mirror, Marie leaned close to the glass as she fastened her sapphire and diamond earrings. “Can you help with the zipper?”
Dressed in his black tuxedo, Jonathan stood behind Marie and accommodated her request. “There, all zipped up.” Placing his hands on her shoulders, he eyed her silhouette in the mirror.
“Thank you, mon cher.” Marie wriggled and ran her hand over the fabric to smooth out the creases. At last satisfied with her appearance, she glanced at Jonathan’s reflection. No man had ever gazed at her with such enchanted desire in his eyes.
“You’re absolutely stunning,” Jonathan remarked with a tenderness that melted Marie’s heart. She took a deep breath and reminded herself she could not allow her affection for Jonathan to interfere with the job.
“Do you really think so?” As if she doubted her appearance! “I was so focused on finding a gown in the right color to match my jewelry, I didn’t consider what the other women would be wearing. Is this dress too risqué?”
“The gown is perfect on you, and I’m certain everyone at the club will have the same opinion. Now, about the necklace you wanted to borrow.” He stepped around to face Marie and
removed a long, flat jewelry box from his jacket pocket. “I hope you like this.”
Marie glanced down, nervous with anticipation. Jonathan opened the lid and revealed an exquisite necklace designed with a double row of sapphires flanking a single row of diamonds that peaked downward in the center in imitation of the neckline on her gown. The necklace was a gorgeous and, Marie assumed, pricey piece of jewelry. However, to her great chagrin, what Jonathan held in his hands was not the Somerset Necklace.
“Like it?” she asked, hoping her mounting anxiety wasn’t too obvious. “Why wouldn’t I?”
Jonathan removed the necklace and tossed the empty case onto the upholstered chair next to the mirror. “Well, for starters, I can tell you’re disappointed it’s not the necklace you were expecting, but when I told Veronica of my intentions, she pitched a fit. I couldn’t take the chance she’d create a scene at the gala tonight if I defied her and allowed you to wear a family heirloom.” Standing behind Marie, he placed the necklace on her and fastened the clasp. “I’ll come clean and admit I was treading in unfamiliar waters when I entered the jewelry store. I relied heavily on the saleswoman’s assistance before making this purchase.”
The jewels glistened against Marie’s skin and were a striking complement to her gown. However, rather than delighting in her appearance, she could only envision Gus’s intimidating client and imagine the danger she’d gotten them into because of the now strong possibility she would not deliver the Somerset Necklace as promised. Then, as her eyes wandered from the sparkling jewels to Jonathan’s adoring reflection in the mirror, her brain processed what he’d said.
“You bought this necklace for me?”
“Yes, my love,” he said, kissing her cheek. “Happy first month anniversary.”
Gus’s warning to not become personally involved with her target was screaming inside
Marie’s head. Normally, she paid heed to her mentor’s advice, but tonight she chose to turn a deaf ear. Despite her best efforts to remain indifferent to Jonathan’s repeated displays of affection, she could no longer deny herself the pleasure of losing her heart to the only man she was certain she would ever truly love.
Excerpt #5
When Marie was certain Jonathan had fallen asleep, she disentangled her body from his and inched away, making sure the Somerset Necklace she was still wearing didn’t catch on the bedding. As Jonathan mumbled something unintelligible and rolled onto his side, she slipped out from under the covers and slinked across the bedroom. She opened the dressing room door just wide enough to squeeze through the opening. Her movement activated the overhead lights.
Lifting the lid of her suitcase, she opened the same concealed compartment where she’d hidden the Bird Pistol yesterday afternoon. Removing a soft cloth bag, she unfastened the drawstring, held the bag up by its bottom end, and shook out the fake necklace Gus had so expertly crafted. Setting those items on top of the dresser, she attempted to blindly unhook the Somerset Necklace.
The clasp proved to be more difficult to negotiate than she’d anticipated. Its old-fashioned design was tricky and one she wasn’t accustomed to handling. She hurried to the full-length mirror affixed to the wall and twisted the necklace around so she could determine how the mechanism worked. After a few failed attempts, the clasp at last released. Tiptoeing back to her suitcase, Marie was unexpectedly consumed with guilt. She’d fretted for weeks over not being able to obtain the necklace. Now that it was in her hands, she questioned whether she could go through with the job.
A month ago, when she and Gus concocted their scheme, she hadn’t anticipated falling in love with her target. Since meeting Jonathan, she’d shed the hard-hearted, deceitful persona she hid behind in order to perform the deeds required of an expert con artist. Jonathan had awakened her conscience and made her realize it was time to right her wrongs.
So, what are you going to do? Follow your heart and sacrifice the job in deference to the man you love, or stick with the plan out of loyalty to Gus?
Marie had lingered in the dressing room long enough for her absence to be noticed. “Marie? Are you all right?” Jonathan’s groggy voice called out.
“Yes, I’m fine,” she replied. Time had run out and she had to make a choice.
What inspired you to write this book?
Plots involving deception and people using aliases have
always intrigued me, so I wanted to try my hand at writing that type of story.
But to be honest, when I started Gullible, I had a completely different plot in
mind. Gullible wasn’t even the original title! I just knew that I wanted the
main character to be a con artist who used her position as an expert in
antiques and objets d’art at a high-end auction house as her cover. As I was researching
rare antiques and the prices they’d sold for at auction, other ideas kept
popping into my head. I deleted and rewrote sometimes entire chapters until I
was finally satisfied with the characters and the story I’d created.
What can we expect from you in the future?
At the end of Gullible, I knew these characters had more
story in them. So, I am currently writing a sequel and working out the plot for
a third book. After the trilogy is complete, I may return to some other works
that I started but never got around to completing.
Do you have any “side stories” about the characters?
I’ll share two stories that are alluded to
in the novel regarding the main characters but exist only in my imagination:
When Jonathan and Siena meet in person for
the first time, he tells her he can’t believe she doesn’t have a dozen men
beating down her door. She tells him she was serious with someone once, but it
didn’t work out. What’s not disclosed in the book is that, while she was in
college and for a time after graduating, Siena was in a relationship with
someone, but he was offered a job in another country and she wasn’t willing to
leave her family and give up her own career to go with him, so she ended their
relationship.
Jonathan was genuinely in love with his
late wife but, when they met, he was still enjoying his youth (it’s noted in
the book that he’d had a reputation as a playboy), and he wasn’t yet ready to
settle down. What’s not disclosed in the book is that, shortly after they started
dating, Patricia became pregnant with their daughter, Veronica, so Jonathan did
the honorable thing and married her.
Can you tell us a little bit about the characters in
Gullible?
The main character, Siena Ricci, was raised in a world of
con men and forgery artists. In her early 30s, Siena is highly intelligent,
ambitious, and a risk taker. She’s not happy unless she’s the best at every
endeavor she undertakes, so it’s no surprise that she has a perfect track
record as a con artist. She never intended to become a seasoned criminal but,
when life throws you a curve ball, you deal with it the best way you know how.
Although she has a good reason for doing what she does, she laments the life
she could have had if only she’d chosen to follow a different path.
Jonathan Woodward, a widower in his early
60s, is a handsome and charming retired college professor, and a member of one
of Boston’s oldest and wealthiest families. His penchant for collecting rare
artifacts is what brought him to Siena’s attention, and what prompted her to
select him as the target of her latest scam. Outwardly, Jonathan appears to be
a pushover, but underneath his ingenuous exterior lies a savvy man who was
schooled at an early age to protect himself against people (like Siena) whose
sole intent is to take advantage of his family’s fortune.
How did you come up with the concept and characters for the
book?
Where did you come up with the names in the story?
Good question! For the main character,
Siena Ricci, I wanted a name that tied into her Italian heritage. So, I pulled
up the map of Italy, found the city of Siena, and looked no further. I next
Googled common surnames in the Tuscany region and considered probably a dozen
before deciding on Ricci. Next, I needed to choose a name for Siena’s alias, a
woman who leads others to believe she was born and raised in France. Don’t ask
me why, but Marie Lacroix immediately popped into my head and the name stuck.
For the male lead, I wanted something
classy. Woodward struck me as being a suitable name for a prominent New England
family with ties to the early colonists. As I was tossing around first names,
my husband suggested Jonathan and I was immediately sold.
What did you enjoy most about writing this book?
Developing the relationship between Siena
Ricci aka Marie Lacroix and Jonathan Woodward. During their frequent
professional-turned-personal phone calls, Jonathan becomes enthralled with
Marie Lacroix, unaware that her coy inuendoes are merely part of the game she’s
playing to lure him into her spiderweb (although she does admit they have
chemistry despite the 30-year difference in their ages). When they finally meet
in person, the sparks fly. But while Jonathan’s desire for Marie is genuine,
Marie finds herself walking a tightrope. Her cardinal rule is to never let her
emotions interfere with business, but her attraction to Jonathan is too strong
to ignore. And that’s as much as I can say without giving too much away.
Tell us about your main characters- what makes them tick?
Siena
Ricci is motivated, for very personal reasons, by money. Plus, she’s a risk
taker who will do just about anything to ensure the success of her schemes.
Jonathan Woodward is a man of wealth and prominence who is used to getting what
he wants – and what he wants is Siena Ricci! But Jonathan isn’t a fool. He
realizes there are people intent on taking advantage of him, and he’ll do just
about anything to protect his family and his fortune.
How did you come up with the title of the book?
What does every con artist need to be successful? A
gullible victim, and Siena Ricci believes there is an endless supply of
gullible men in a city the size of Manhattan. However, as she’s carrying out
the most elaborate scheme of her illicit career, she picks up on some subtle
hints that make her question whether she’s still in control of the con or if
she’s become the gullible victim of her own scheme.
Who designed your book covers?
The amazing cover for Gullible was designed by Jennifer
Greeff! Isn’t it wonderful?
If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything
in your latest book?
I once asked my younger son, who is an
artist, why he doesn’t have any of his own artwork adorning his walls. His
response was that he would constantly look at his paintings and think about
what he should have done differently. So, in answer to your question – Yes!
Although I wouldn’t change the plot, the characters, or any of the scenes,
there are pieces of dialogue and narrative that I'd love to be able to tweak.
Did you learn anything during the writing of your recent
book?
Absolutely! During my research, I learned
a ton about antique trinkets, artwork, and jewelry. I’d love to attend a live
auction at Christie’s or Sotheby’s one day.
If your book was made into a film, who would you like to play
the lead?
LOL –
I’ve had some interesting debates with the ladies in my book club on this
topic, and I think we’ve finally come to an agreement. Blake Lively was a
strong contender for the role of Siena Ricci but, in the end, we decided on
Margot Robbie. For Jonathan Woodward, we chose Hugh Jackman. Now, I know Hugh
is in his 50s and Jonathan’s character is early 60s, but Jonathan is described
as appearing much younger than is true age. Plus, Hugh is physically a good
match to Jonathan.
Margot and Hugh, I hope your schedules are
open!
Anything specific you want to tell your readers?
An important detail that will enhance the story is that
the Singing Bird Pistols – which Jonathan purchases at auction in Chapter 2 and
which in later chapters become essential to the plot – are based on real
pieces. These amazing trinkets were all the rage in the early 1800s. If you
have a moment, go to YouTube, search “Singing Bird Pistols”, and watch the
5-minute video about them. It’s fascinating!
How did you come up with name of this book?
What is your favorite part of this book and why?
I love the chapters that reveal the
backstory of how the teenaged Dominic Ricci, Siena’s father, and Gus Ferguson,
her godfather and partner in crime, were recruited into the underbelly world of
black-market crime. These chapters give us a real sense of the environment
Siena grew up in and what motivated her to become a con artist when she needed
the extra income.
If you could spend time with a character from your book whom
would it be? And what would you do during that day?
I’d love to spend a day in the kitchen
with Carmella Ricci, Siena’s grandmother. I’d learn how to cook her special
Italian dishes and pastries and listen to stories of her childhood in Tuscany.
Are your characters based off real people or did they all
come entirely from your imagination?
All the characters came from my
imagination, but I’ll admit that I borrowed the personality traits of a few
friends and family members. Exactly who and which traits I used will remain my
secret!
Do your characters seem to hijack the story or do you feel
like you have the reigns of the story?
I was definitely in control at all times.
One of my favorite parts to crafting the plot is molding the characters to fit
the story lines. How old should they be? What quirky traits would make them
more interesting? Do I need them to be warm and friendly, or sinister and backstabbing?
These are some of the most fun parts of writing, in my opinion.
Convince us why you feel your book is a must read.
If you’re a reader who enjoys a story that
blends danger and romance with intrigue and suspense, then Gullible is your
next must read. You’ll be enthralled by the cunning mind of a good girl gone
bad as you root for her to make amends with her past. You’ll empathize with the
widowed college professor as he falls in love with the right woman at the wrong
time. The plot will twist and turn, and make you promise yourself that you’ll
turn out the light as soon as you finish reading just one more chapter!
Have you written any other books that are not published?
Gullible is my debut novel, but I’m working on a sequel and
tossing around ideas for a third book in the series, Follow me on social media
or visit my website – www.rosemarykubli.com – for updates.
If your book had a candle, what scent would it be?
Mocha! My main character, Siena Ricci, is a coffee
addict, so definitely a mocha-scented candle.
What did you edit out of this book?
A ton of stuff – about 30,000 words to
give you an idea. I find it’s easier to just write and get the story told, then
go back and edit out all the info the reader doesn’t need to know.
Rosemary
Kubli writes the type of books she loves to read - intrigue and
suspense mixed with a pinch of romance and a clever plot twist or
two. Her professional experiences run the gamut from Human Resources
and training to accounting and banking, with publishing being her
most recent endeavor. Aside from the seven years she lived in
southern California, she has always called the northeast corner of
Ohio her home. Rosemary and her husband of 45 years enjoy traveling -
on land to visit family and friends and on sea to any destination a
cruise ship will take them. When not working on her next novel, she
can be found discussing the latest in literary fare with her book
club, playing a rousing game of Bunco with some of her oldest and
dearest friends, researching her ancestry, volunteering in her
community, burying her nose in a book, or obsessing over the latest
binge-worthy TV series.
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