USA Today bestselling rom-com author Tawna Fenske invites you to laugh at her

A few years ago, I toured a fancy hotel with colleagues from my day job in tourism marketing. Maybe 30 of us filed into a luxury suite, eager to hear about the high-end linens and room service offerings.

I made a beeline for the bed, gripped the edge of the headboard, and gave it a discreet shake.

I thought it was discreet.

At the rhythmic “thud thud thud,” all eyes swiveled to me.

“Uh, isn’t that the first thing you do when you check into a hotel room?” I asked feebly. “Make sure the headboard doesn’t bang the wall?”

Apparently not.

My colleagues love reminding me of this incident, as well as the time I attended a formal luncheon where I spit gristle into my napkin, accidentally dropped it into the purse of the woman seated beside me, and got busted trying to retrieve it.

Or the time I arrived at a black-tie charity event and jokingly asked to be seated on a famous actor’s lap—only to learn I was talking to his niece.

You get the idea.

I’m not sure if I’m a magnet for absurdity, or if I bring it on myself. Probably the latter, but let’s not judge.

The end result is that when readers ask me, “Why do you write romantic comedy?” I can point to these examples and say, “Have you seen my life?”

In other words—quite literally—I live to amuse you.

Er, you’re welcome?

***

Tawna Fenske is a RITA Award finalist, USA Today bestselling author of sexy romantic comedies. Her new release, Snowbound Squeeze, is a standalone novella that’s part of her popular Ponderosa Resort series. Tawna lives in Bend, Oregon with her husband, step-kids, and a menagerie of ill-behaved pets.

Learn more about Tawna  http://www.tawnafenske.com 

Guest Romantic Comedy Author Tawna Fenske: Believe It or Not

TAWNA FENSKE & BINDI

TAWNA'S GIVEAWAY: 1 copy of Believe It or Not, US & Canada only. Please leave your Email Address in a Comment to be eligible.

I love celebrations of all kinds!

This is where you politely ignore the fact that I’ve fallen asleep by 10 p.m. nearly every New Year’s Eve for the last decade, and instead give me credit for celebratory feats like spanking three different brides to Justin Timberlake’s “Sexy Back” on wedding reception dance floors.

In my college years, friends dubbed me “the girl who sleeps around at parties.” Sadly, the title isn’t as exciting as it sounds, as I was merely known for my complete inability to stay out late. Pals once had to rouse me from a deep slumber after I curled up in a ball and dozed off in front of a speaker blasting salsa music.

I drew upon my own celebratory social awkwardness when writing scenes for Violet, the heroine of my new romantic comedy, Believe it or Not. Violet is a straight-laced accountant determined to live a “normal” life apart from her kooky new-age mother. When mom has an accident, Violet reluctantly agrees to fill in at the psychic studio where she tangles with Drew, the super-hot owner of the bar next door – a bar that features male strippers several nights a week.

In one of the book’s earliest scenes, Drew invites Violet to see a performance at the bar. Violet resists at first – she’s not that kind of girl – but she decides on a whim to stop by. After a few too many drinks, Violet ends up dancing on a table, forcing Drew to grope her, and confessing everything from a disbelief in psychics to whether or not she’s had a boob job.

Buy: Believe It or Not

Quite a night.

The fun part of writing that scene was taking a character so far outside her comfort zone. Violet is a number-crunching accountant with a nerdy knack for trivia. She’s not the celebratory sort, and flinging her bra across a crowded bar isn’t something she does…well, ever.

But while it would be easy to blame alcohol for Violet’s wild escapade, she can’t deny there’s something about Drew that brings out her wanton side. It’s something they both get to explore as the book unfolds.

I won’t give away any plot twists, but let’s just say Violet eventually finds a creative way to celebrate her affection for Drew in a scene that may or may not involve Violet braining herself on a stripper pole.

Are you a big fan of celebrations? What’s your most memorable or embarrassing moment of revelry? Please share!

And if you see me sleeping at a party, try not to wake me. Just toss me a tissue to mop up the drool, and politely keep moving. Thank you!

 BELIEVE IT OR NOT BY TAWNA FENSKE – IN STORES MARCH 2012

Do you believe in...accounting?
Numbers never lie, so Violet McGinn found safe haven in the most boring profession she could find. Until her renowned psychic mother lands in the hospital and Violet has to run her business. Now you can have your taxes filed and your aura read, in one convenient location.

Do you believe in...music?
Drew Watson is the jaded owner of the local hot spot next door, and doesn't need a single thing except a good crowd to dance to what he's spinning on Saturday night.

Do you believe in...love?
The only thing Violet and Drew seem to have in common is that neither believes in that psychic hoo—hah. Except Drew seems to play exactly the right song at exactly the right time. And truth be told, it makes Violet's heart dance just a little ...

Praise for Believe it or Not:

“Fenske hits all the right humor notes without teetering into the pit of slapstick in her lighthearted book of strippers, psychics, free spirits and an accountant.” —RT Book Reviews

"Snappy, endearing dialogue and often hilarious situations unite the couple, and Fenske proves to be a romance author worthy of a loyal following." —Booklist starred review

“Fenske’s sophomore effort (after Making Waves) is another riotous trip down funny bone lane, with a detour to slightly askew goings on and a quick u-ey to out-of-this-world romance. Readers will be enchanted by this bewitching fable from a wickedly wise author.” —Library Journal

"Sexually charged dialogue and steamy make-out scenes will keep readers turning the pages.” —Publishers Weekly

Buy: Believe It or Not

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Tawna Fenske traveled a career path that took her from newspaper reporter to English teacher in Venezuela to marketing geek. Named a Writer’s Digest 2011 Notable debut, Tawna blogs at “Don’t Pet Me, I’m Writing,” and lives in Central Oregon where she is working on her next romantic comedy. For more information, please visit www.tawnafenske.com or follow her on Twitter, @TawnaFenske.