Ann Christopher serves up another tasty and tantalizing Warner man in her latest novel, Road to Seduction. I didn’t think I would ever meet an Ann Christopher hero that could rival Andrew Warner for my heart. But darn if Eric Warner hasn’t done just that! And his love Isabella, I have to say I liked her a lot. She’s a sweetie and I can’t for the life of me figure out how Eric managed to only be friends with this terrific sista for all those years! Anyway, I can go on and on… However, we have Ann and Eric and Isabella hanging out with us today on Gwyneth’s Blog. So, I figure I can ask them all the questions I want.
My first question is for the talented Ann Christopher whose first Warner novel Tender Secrets is up for the prestigious Romantic Times Award for best Kimani Romance. Congratulations on the nomination!
AC: Thanks Gwen! And thanks for having us!
GB: So, Ann–
AC: (Whispering to Gwen) Sorry about the dog.
Isabella’s Yorkshire terrier, Zeus, who is today wearing a Pittsburgh Steelers yellow and black jersey, snuffles around the living room, looking hopeful.
GB: (Rolls her eyes and gives the dog a glance from the side of her eye. She thinks, ‘you just can’t invite some people over…’ but paints on a smile and continues even though she could really do without the dog…) So… Ann… Is there anything special you think readers should know about these two and their journey to love?
AC: Oh, you know how I like to write them, Gwen—smooth sailing all the way!
GB: Next, I think I’ll start with Eric Warner. Eric, Eric, Eric… 17-years? How did you manage to be best friends with the love of your life for 17 years and not realize she was the love of your life? I mean look at her. She’s amazing! What took you so long?
Eric: (Twisting in his seat to follow Zeus’s progress around the room, then speaking to Isabella in a low murmur) Do you think we should pick him up, or…?
Isabella: (Looking slightly baffled) No. He’s not bothering anything.
Eric: (Turning to Gwen and smiling apologetically) Sorry. Not everyone likes dogs, and they can shed and all, so…
GB: (Smiles, nods and thinks ‘you got that right, buddy!’)
Isabella: That dog is not shedding or bothering anyone–
GB: (Gives Isabella the side eye)
Eric: (Rolling eyes)
Isabella: And please do NOT roll your eyes at me. You’re just upset because I put on his Steelers–
Eric: (Now looking surly) Kindly do not mention that team to me.
Isabella: (Leaning in to whisper at Gwen) He’s just upset that the Cards didn’t win. Hasn’t come to terms with it yet and–
AC: (Speaking over Isabella and shooting Gwen a what-can-you-do? look) Gwen was asking Eric about falling in love with you, Izzy.
Izzy: Yeah. Took him way too long.
Eric: Can I speak for myself here?
Gwen and Ann: Feel free.
Eric: (Trying to repress a grin) It took me way too long.
Zeus comes over and snuffles at Eric’s expensive loafers. Eric frowns at the dog. Zeus sits back on his haunches and flashes his adorable doggy smile. Eric scowls. Zeus jumps on Eric lap and settles in. Eric sighs and makes room.
GB: (Happy that the dog is safely on Eric’s lap and not roaming around freely for the moment… She smiles at Isabella even though Izzy is responsible for bringing a dog into her space…) Because I’m fair, I’ll have to ask Isabella about this. You had feelings for Eric all those years, from the first moment, and rather than make him see you as a woman he should pay attention to beyond friendship, you took the friendship route. And you want us to believe you were really content to just be friends with him for the rest of your lives and that’s it. Come on… I know that circumstances later caused you to believe that you couldn’t have it any other way. But what about the first month? The first year? You can’t expect me to believe you never thought about whipping out the sex appeal and making him take notice. I mean really, look at him. He’s HOT!
Isabella: (Leaning closer to Eric and flashing a sweet smile that doesn’t quite match the hard glint of possessiveness in her eyes) Okay, Gwen. You’re going to need to back off a little.
Eric: (Now scratching Zeus behind the ears) I love it when she gets jealous.
Isabella: I am not JEALOUS. I am simply establishing a few firm ground rules that Gwen needs to understand. Okay, Gwen? Anyway, I might have had a few, uh, feelings for Eric, but neither of us was really ready. Now we are.
GB: (Laughs to herself and thinks, ‘Izzy doesn’t know me very well does she? Izzy is lucky she’s a heroine I like… at least before she brought the dog… Or, to quote Salt-N-Pepa I’ll take your man.’ Gwen chuckles softly before continuing…) So, when the two of you finally realized that you were meant to be… well when Eric finally realized that the two of you were meant to be together, it took you a little longer to get with the program didn’t it Izzy?
Eric: (Snorting) She tried to tell me we’d have a short-term–
Isabella: (Clapping her hand over his mouth) We don’t need to get into every intimate detail, do we?
Eric: (Gives her a tiny wink and Isabella flushes the color of a sunburned lobster)
GB: Anyway, once you realized it, all should have been right with the world. But I guess anything worth having takes a little struggle, some pain and lots of hard work. You two had to go through an emotional roller coaster to find your happiness. What can you tell us about the relationship you ended up with? And is it worth everything you went through to get there?
Isabella slides her hand into Eric’s and the two exchange a look that says it all better than a JumboTron ever could. Eric kisses the back of her hand.
Eric: It’s worth it.
GB: You both come from such different backgrounds and very different families!
Isabella: Amen, Lord.
Eric: If we’re going to talk about my family, I’m going to need a drink.
GB: Can you talk about your families a little and how growing up in the families you did shape the way you think about love? How will your upbringings influence your relationship? Also, what do you think about each other’s families? I mean, no disrespect, but Eric you are bringing Izzy into quite an er… interesting family… to say the least. Do you think she’ll be able to hang?
Eric: Izzy’s family is great.
Isabella: They’re a little eccentric. Eric’s family is, ah… how would you describe them? What’s the word I’m…
Eric: Dysfunctional?
Isabella: Ah…
Eric: Overbearing? Snobbish? Insufferable? Nightmarish?
Isabella: Eric’s family is a work in progress. Let’s put it like that.
Eric: Can we move on to a new topic, please?
GB: What would each of you say was the most important lesson you learned about love after it was all said and done?
Eric: It’s not the family you come from that matters…
Isabella: It’s the family you make.
GB: My last questions are for Ann. What made you write such a poignant and heart-wrenching love story?
AC: Gwen, you should know by now I don’t know where any of these ideas come from! I guess I just thought it would be fun to knock Eric on his butt. Was that wrong?
GB: My goodness girl, you had me in tears!
AC: Yay!
GB: And you know I’m a tough Jersey girl and I can’t be crying over characters in a book. I have a reputation to uphold!
AC: I’m not buying that tough Jersey girl stuff! You’re a sweetie–we all know it.
GB: What do you have in store for us next? Can we get a sneak peak of your next release and a warning about whether we will need box of Kleenex handy?
AC: I don’t *think* you’ll need a Kleenex on this one. My next Kimani Romance, Campaign for Seduction, is the story of Warner cousin Senator Jonathan Warner, who’s running for president and about to fall in love with the wrong woman.
GB: I can’t wait to read it, soror! Thanks for stopping by and bringing Eric and Izzy with you. It was great catching up with them again!
AC: Thanks for having us!
GB: (Waves and sighs, glad they came for a visit but even happier that they are taking the little dog away with them…) Bye-bye, everyone!
Readers can visit Ann Christopher on her wonderful new website:
http://www.annchristopher.com/
And I’ll be picking one lucky winner to win a really cool Ann Christopher tote bag and an autographed copy of Road to Seduction. I’m placing the names of the people who comment here on Gwyneth’s Blog and my MySpace Blog in a bag and picking a winner on Thursday. So be in it to win it!
