No Tears for Darcy: An Interview with Author Vicki Reese

Lisa: We’re so pleased to welcome author Vicki Reese to The Novel Approach today to chat with us about her latest release from Dreamspinner Press, No Tears for Darcy.

Thanks for joining us, Vicki, let’s start by having you tell us something about yourself that most people don’t know.

Vicki: I’m very good at doing things most people find boring – like writing technical manuals, policy and procedures manuals, and continuity spreadsheets. What can I say? It’s a gift. LOL. Honestly, with a master’s degree in Library Science, I like things organized. And I love doing crossword puzzles – in ink. Yep, I’m that weird. Then I turn around and create worlds for my characters – it’s all part of the process.

Lisa: What would you say is your favorite scene in No Tears for Darcy, and what makes it a fave?

Vicki: I love the scene where Cam is in the kitchen with Pete and Pete’s brother and sister and they’re all arguing around Cam, just like brothers and sisters do. And poor Cam, being an only, has no clue. It’s straight from real life.

Lisa: Would you care to share an excerpt from the scene with us?

The Excerpt: “Toni,” Pete warned. “Don’t. First Mama, then Luc. I don’t need that crap from you too.”

The woman glimpsed at Cameron. “Luc said you’d be bringing someone.” She turned a sly grin on Pete. “You’ve been holding out on us. He’s a looker.” She held out her hand to Cameron. “Hi. I’m Antonia, Toni to my friends.”

“It’s nice to meet you,” Cameron said. The woman’s handshake was firm. Cam studied her face. There was something familiar about her, something in the eyes, in her smile.

“So you’re the one my big brother has been looking after,” Toni said.

Brother? This was Pete’s little sister? Cameron let out a breath he didn’t know he’d been holding. “I’m not sure what he’s been telling you.”

“Obviously, not enough.” Toni grinned at Pete. “I think I’m gonna like this.”

Pete shook his head. “I’m in trouble. Cameron, Toni is….”

“Your sister. So, not a priest and, I don’t think, a nun. That leaves cop or cook? Oh. Wait. Pete said the girls couldn’t be cops. Um… wife?”

Toni laughed. “Yeah, well, I kind of broke the mold. I’m a cop. I work with a special unit that investigates ID thefts and computer crime.”

“She’s also a certified genius,” Luc said as he came into the room.

“A certified nutcase, if you ask me,” Pete grumbled.

“So who asked?” Toni said. “Luc, is lunch ready yet? I’m starving.”

“You’re always hungry,” Luc teased. “But, yes, it’s just about ready.”

Cameron followed the trio into the kitchen, bemused by their bantering. He’d never had brothers or sisters and wondered how they kept from physically assaulting each other.

“Oh-oh. I know that look.” Toni dropped back and pulled Cameron farther into the kitchen. “Let me guess. Only child.”

“Well, I was.”

“I don’t know whether to pity you or envy you,” she said as she brandished a loaf of bread. “Try being the youngest of eight.”

“Eight!” Cameron gaped at Pete, who gave him an impish grin.

“Mom and Dad liked big families. And that’s just immediate family. Add in all the cousins and aunts and uncles and friends….”

“How did your mother stand all the chaos?” Cameron asked, aghast at the sheer numbers. He couldn’t even imagine a family that big. His folks had been only children, so there were no aunts or uncles or cousins. He was basically all that was left of both family lines. It was sad when he thought about it. There’d be nobody after him.

“Why do you think we have such big kitchens?” Luc asked. “She kept us in line with cooking. Who can get into trouble when you’re busy stirring a pot of soup?”

“Or rolling noodles,” Toni said.

“Or chopping salad,” they all said together and laughed.

“Toni, be a lady for once,” Pete said. He easily lifted her out of her chair and set it to rights.

“I am. I said ‘butt’ not ass.” She stuck her tongue out at him and then sat primly on the edge of the seat, legs crossed at the ankle, hands folded in her lap. Cam grinned at the act.

“You see what I have to put up with?” Pete said and glanced at the ceiling, as if looking for divine intervention.

Cameron laughed. “Now I know why you like the peace and quiet of my place so much.”

Toni pulled out a chair and sat on it backward. “Our place was noisy, but nobody ever got into trouble. We all knew that if we did, we’d have to answer to Mama or Papa, plus we’d have had half the police department on our butts.”

“Toni, be a lady for once,” Pete said. He easily lifted her out of her chair and set it to rights.

“I am. I said ‘butt’ not ass.” She stuck her tongue out at him and then sat primly on the edge of the seat, legs crossed at the ankle, hands folded in her lap. Cam grinned at the act.

“You see what I have to put up with?” Pete said and glanced at the ceiling, as if looking for divine intervention.

Cameron laughed. “Now I know why you like the peace and quiet of my place so much.”

Lisa: If you could spend some real-life time with one of the characters in the book, who would you choose and why?

Vicki: Hmm…. I like them all, but maybe Cam. He could give me style tips. Or Pete and his brother Luc – just because of the kitchen and the delicious food they prepare. Or… yeah, I kind of like them all. Well, except for the baddie. I’d skip that one for sure!

Lisa: On the flipside, which character would you probably least get along with? Why?

Vicki: Darcy, definitely. She’s very self-centered and sexual. She cares about Cameron, but only as long as it doesn’t interfere with what she wants.

Lisa: Have you ever created a character so evil/awful that even you hated them and can’t believe you made them up? If so, who was it and what made them so awful?

Vicki: Not yet, but I’ve come close. Most of my evil characters have reasons for what they do – warped reasons, but reasons. They aren’t evil just for the sake of being evil. It might be something in their past or something that happened to them that they believe needs to be corrected – even if that correction leads to something worse.

Lisa: Let’s take off your author cap and put on your reader cap for a moment: what do you look for in a book, what sort of protagonists do you love, and do you have a favorite genre/sub-genre?

Vicki: I look for a book that gives me a HEA (happily ever after) first and foremost. It has to leave me with a sense of hope for the couple and feeling good. The protagonist has to be believable as a person, with strengths and flaws that I could find in a real person. Even if it’s a paranormal, there still has to be something that makes me believe in that character as a real person. Tall, dark, and handsome? Yep. But if you look at The Lord of the Rings, Samwise wasn’t “tall, dark, handsome”, but he was an amazing character. As for favorite sub-genre, that’s like asking which of my children is my favorite. I read romantic suspense, cozy mysteries, fantasy, science fiction… And love it all. One genre I will *not* read is horror. There’s too much of that in the real world. I want my books to help me escape – so a great ending is paramount.

Lisa: What are your least and most favorite things about being an author?

Vicki: Let’s start with the easiest: my favorite part of being an author is creating my worlds and characters. Telling stories I want to read. I love building worlds, then populating them with characters. Least favorite? All the promo that you have to do to get your name out there. I’d rather sit back and tell my stories. But it is all part of the process.

Lisa: Have you ever written a line, paragraph, or passage, and thought, “Darn, that’s pretty amazing, even if I do say so myself”? What was it?

Vicki: LOL. I don’t know, but I’m sure I have. Actually, I’m always amazed at everything I write – mostly because publishers and people buy it. I wrote something that someone else liked – and that means everything to me.

Lisa: What’s the one genre/sub-genre you haven’t written yet, but would love to? What’s kept you from it so far?

Vicki: A witty, fun cozy mystery. I’d love to write one, and have tried, but it fell flat. I just end up either giving away too many clues or not enough and I’m not funny enough. I love fun books like that – ones that make you chuckle, but humor is extremely hard to do right.

Lisa: What’s your favorite part about writing a story that either alters our contemporary world or creates a world entirely from scratch?

Vicki: I absolutely love creating new worlds, creatures, societies from scratch – so much so, that I actually wrote a non-fiction book on creating worlds. Years ago, while on vacation with my family, my kids and I sat in the sand at the beach and created an entire world that I used in a later book (took pictures of our world so I wouldn’t forget). I’ll sit with a table-size piece of paper and draw worlds. I’ll fill up spreadsheets and pages with characters, beings, talismans, and more. It’s the best part of being an author.

Lisa: Let’s talk tropes: do you have a few favorites that you enjoy both writing and reading? If so, what are they and what makes them your faves?

Vicki: My favorites include the Protector (law enforcement, body guard, etc.), Reunion (going back to your hometown and finding the one you left behind), and opposites attract (rich/poor, nerd/socialite, etc.). I think these are my favorites because they happened to people I know. They are possible and do happen, which adds to the story for me.

Lisa: If you could choose one of your books to be adapted for the silver screen, which would you choose? Why do you think it would translate well to film?

Vicki: Actually, I’ve been told that the first book I ever wrote (under a different name) would do well as a movie. It’s a high fantasy and has all the tropes that a fantasy does – magic, evil wizard, good vs. evil and good wins (barely). I also think No Tears for Darcy would do well. It’s got murder, romance, and a HEA ending that satisfies (so I’ve been told). 😊

Lisa: What’s the one book you’ve read in your lifetime that you wish you’d written? Why did this particular book leave such a lasting impact on you?

Vicki: Wow, you don’t ask the easy ones, do you? I’ve read so many… but I’d probably have to say the Harry Potter series. Yes, a YA. Mostly because she made it so real. So believable. And although there were a lot of bad things that happened, it ended on a positive note that made you happy. But that’s just one series. I sit here in my office looking at shelves full of books that have all touched me in one way or another. From Isaac Asimov to Nora Roberts – they all pull at my soul.

Lisa: If I were to interview Cameron or Pete, what would they say about you?

Vicki: Hmm… that I’m reliable. If you need something done, something researched, I’m your girl. I can be depended on to get the job done. Just don’t ask me to do something physical! LOL. I’m a background person.

Lisa: If you won the lottery, what’s the first completely self-indulgent thing you’d do?

Vicki: Grab my husband and fly to Hawaii! I’d love to take a nice long vacation to somewhere tropical and exotic.

Lisa: Let’s pretend you’re taking a road trip, and you can choose any three of your characters to go with you. First, who would you want on the ride-along, and why them?

Vicki: I’d take Pete, Cam, and Toni. Pete and Toni because they can handle any situation – and cook! Cam because he’s probably the most like me and the most likely to keep Pete and Toni in line. LOL

Second, who would be most likely to:

*Have to hit every rest stop bathroom – um, that would be me. LOL.

*Whine about how long it’s taking to get where you’re going – Toni. And maybe Pete.

*Break wind with the windows rolled up – Toni – she’s just that kind of gal.

*Flip incessantly through songs on their music app – Toni.

Toni is the most impatient, Pete second, Cam the calmest.

Lisa: If you could sit down to dinner with any author, past or present, who would you choose, and why? What are some things you’d want to chat about?

Vicki: I’ve done this at various conferences. Met some amazing authors – and they’re just regular people. Yes, we talk about writing, but mostly we talk about everyday things – gardens, family, everything in our lives.

Lisa: What book that you’ve read and loved would you most like to be a character in? Who would you be, and why?

Vicki: I’d love to be Tante Lulu in Sandra Hill’s “Jinx” stories – she’s full of wit, grit, and spit and I absolutely adore her! She can get away with anything and everyone loves her for it.

Lisa: If you were stranded on a desert island, what are three things you’d absolutely have to have?

Vicki: A Boy Scout handbook (LOL), lots of sunscreen (I’m solar sensitive), a phone with a full battery that I can call out to someone on.

Lisa: If you had to choose between becoming a superhero or supervillain, which would you choose and why?

Vicki: Hero, of course. It’s just who I am. My father, who I adored, was a cop and I have a lot of friends who are in law enforcement in one way or another – so it goes with who I know and love.

Lisa: What would your superpower be?

Vicki: Hmm… invisibility. Or telekinesis. It would sure help in moving heavy things!

Lisa: If James Corden invited you to Carpool Karaoke, what song(s) would you sing with him?

Vicki: Okay, had to look this up (we don’t have cable)… it would be an oldie (and by that, I mean really really old 1950s to 1980) or something Christmas related. Folk music would work too.

Lisa: If you could be any animal in the world, what would you choose? Why?

Vicki: A tiger. Sleek, powerful, graceful… and beautiful.

Lisa: If you could travel back in time, with all your years of experience and wisdom intact, what advice would you give to your teenage self?

Vicki: Do *not* go out with (not naming names!) during your freshman year in college. He’s a cad. And that first boss you’re going to work for? Slap his face then turn around and walk out. It’s not worth it. There’s a lot more I’d say, but those two would be right up there.

Lisa: If you were to sit down and write your autobiography today, what would the title be?

Vicki: A Life Well Lived

Lisa: Star Trek, Star Wars, both or neither? Explain.

Vicki: Both. Definitely. I started with Star Trek when it was original – even got to meet Leonard Nimoy once. They brought to television what nobody else did at the time – women in strong roles (for that time), diversity, and interesting characters. Star Wars because it was amazing. The characters, the stories… just so much going on. I’d love for Spock to meet Obi Wan or Yoda and listen to *that* conversation!

Lisa: If you could be any fictional character in the history of literature, who would you like to be and why?

Vicki: Wow. That’s a really tough one because there are so many. But if I had to choose – I’d be Hermione Granger from Harry Potter because she had some amazing powers, was smart, strong, and independent.

Lisa: It’s the zombie apocalypse. It’s up to you and five other uninfected humans to save what’s left of humanity. Which fictional characters would you want on your team, and why?

Vicki: Hermione (see above), Yoda (again, powers), John McClane (from the Diehard movies because… he knows how to get things done), James Bond (like McClane, he gets things done, but with style), Lara Croft (same thing).

Lisa: Thanks again for stopping by, Vicki, it’s been a pleasure!

About the Book

Letting love pass them by would be a crime.

Former forensic accountant Cameron’s lost nearly everyone he’s ever loved, and now his vintage clothing shop has been broken into and trashed. When town police chief Will Carson asks an out-of-town cop friend of his for help, Cam takes one look at the dark-haired, blue-eyed detective and knows he’s in real trouble—and it has nothing to do with vandalism or murder.

Pete Minchelli is on leave from his job in Philadelphia due to a gunshot wound, but he figures he can help an academy buddy with some light police work. Plus, he’ll have a chance to experience small-town life. He’s tired of the big city and all its corruption. But he quickly discovers that not all the bad stuff happens in cities. What he doesn’t expect to find is death, treachery—or love.

[zilla_button url=”https://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/books/no-tears-for-darcy-by-vicki-reese-9489-b” style=”blue” size=”large” type=”round” target=”_blank”] Available Now From Dreamspinner Press [/zilla_button]

About the Author

Vicki Reese has been married forever to the one person who accepts that she lives in a fantasy world most of the time. She’s even been seen at the beach building worlds for her stories. In addition to creating suspenseful situations or fantasy worlds, she is very good at boring things like writing procedures manuals and continuity spreadsheets, both of which she actually earned money doing. With a master’s in library science, she likes things organized. Okay, so her family thinks having the spice rack alphabetized is a bit much, but she has no problem finding what she needs when she needs it. And just because her extensive library is catalogued and organized by the Dewey Decimal system doesn’t mean she’s obsessive. Honest!

When not writing, Vicki can be found in the kitchen cooking up gluten free/lactose free/allergy free goodies for her family, or just watching the world go by from her front porch swing.

Find Vicki Online: Website || Facebook || Twitter: @AuthorVictoria