Blog Tour: No Dress Required by Cari Quinn (International Giveaway!)

This is an Entangled Publishing Tour.

You can find more information by clicking HERE.
You can see my thoughts by clicking HERE.

Entangled Publishing is offering an eBook giveaway (open internationally) - form at end of post.
Welcome to The Wormhole and my day on the tour!

I am pleased to present Cari Quinn and her story

No Dress Required.

Amazon Author Bio:

Multi-published author Cari Quinn wrote her first story--a bible parable--in 2nd grade, much to the delight of the nuns at her Catholic school. Once she saw the warm reception that first tale garnered, she was hooked. She attempted her first romance in junior high, long before she'd ever read one. Writing what she knew always took a backseat to what she wanted to know, and that still holds true today. Cari's genres of choice include contemporary, romantic comedy, romantic suspense, urban fantasy and paranormal. Recently she discovered erotic romance. Oh, how far she's come.

Cari loves to hear from readers! Please contact her through one of the ways below.
Email: cariquinnauthor@gmail.com
Website: www.cariquinn.com

This biography was provided by the author or their representative.

? When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

I’m one of those annoying authors who say they always wanted to be a writer, but it’s only partially true. Until high school, my dream was to be a singer. Once I put that dream aside, I focused on writing wholeheartedly though I didn’t get really serious about it until about five years ago.

? How many jobs did you have before you became a writer?

A few. I still work a day job as a proofreader and graphic designer and I’ve also worked in retail and as a freelance editor. But I’ve been writing for as long as I can remember so it’s definitely been a constant in my life.

? How long does it take you to write a book?

It definitely varies. No Dress Required took about a week and a half. My novel Provoke Me took about nine months, though I worked on other things during that time as well. The length helps influence how long it takes but some characters are just more stubborn than others and require more time to get “right.”

? What would you say is your most interesting writing quirk?

Oooh, fun question. I’d say maybe that I occasionally sit down to write without any clue what will come next. My favorite story about that was when I started writing Virgin Territory, which will release this spring. I reached my heroine’s first scene and had no name for her so I immediately started to search through baby name lists. Her first scene appeared to

? Where do you get your ideas or inspiration for your characters?

All over the place! No Dress Required, my recent release with Entangled Publishing, was partially inspired by my love of holiday shirts, something Noelle, the heroine, and I share. A caller’s story on the Delilah radio show helped inspire part of the backstory for Jake, the hero. And my next book release, Heart Signs, was inspired by a billboard I saw on the highway.

Inspiration’s everywhere. The fun part is molding your ideas like clay and seeing what grows from them.

? How do you decide what you want to write about?

Most of the time my stories seem to choose me. Often I’ll get the spark of an idea and start writing only to have the story change mid-stream into something entirely new. Odd things trigger my imagination and usually I run with whatever story is calling to me the loudest though I also enjoy trying to write stories to spec when my publishers are looking for certain things. No Dress Required, for example, was written in response to Entangled Publishing’s call for winter-themed Flirts and Ever Afters, their new lines of novella-length fun, sexy romances. They’re perfect when you want a satisfying read that doesn’t require a huge time investment.

? What books have most influenced your life?

Probably the one that influenced it the most is Yesterday I Cried by Iyanla Vanzant. I read it when I was going through a difficult time and it really resonated for me. Another book that I think was a big influence was, oddly enough, Gimme A Kiss by Christopher Pike. I sucked down his books as a teenager and his twisty plots really helped inspire me to write.

? What are you reading right now?

I’m about to start North of Need by fellow Entangled Publishing author Laura Kaye. I can’t wait to read it!

? What do you like to do when you are not writing?

Thinking about writing! Actually, what I love to do is to settle in to watch a good action/adventure movie (the Fast and the Furious movies are some of my favorites) or a great basketball game featuring my local men’s college basketball team, the Syracuse Orange. And I love to read. It’s definitely my preferred activity when I get some downtime.

? What is your favorite comfort food?

Macaroni and cheese and coffee. I love mac and cheese especially when it’s overcooked and sticking to the side of the pan in cheesy lumps. And coffee is my day-to-day comfort. It just makes me happy!

? What do you think makes a good story?

For me, unique, unconventional heroes and heroines with intelligence and wit, an engaging plot and a quirky voice. If I enjoy the author’s style of telling a tale, I’ll gobble up everything they write.

? Who would you consider your favorite author and why?

This one’s easy. My favorite author’s been the same since I was 14 (more than twenty years now!) Nora Roberts was the second romance author I ever read and I fell in love with her novel Public Secrets. Actually I blame her for starting my lifelong love of books about rock stars, including my ongoing obsession with writing my own. I’m actually reading my favorite NR book, Angels Fall, for the fifth time. It’s still amazing!

Fun random questions: 

• dogs or cats? I like both but I’m a cat person all the way. Cats are complicated creatures. I like complications.
• Coffee or tea? Again I like both (though only iced tea, not hot) but coffee is my favorite. I’m a complete coffee hound!
• Dark or milk chocolate? Hmm, both again? Sheesh, I’m way too easy to please. I most often reach for milk chocolate though.
• Rocks or flowers?  Flowers, unless I’m having a rough day!
• Night or day?  Night all the way. No question here. I’m a total vampire and wish I could stay up all night and sleep all day.
• Favorite color?  I have two – maroon and steel gray. Why, I have no clue.
• Crayons or markers?  Crayons. I still love the little kid smell of them!
• Pens or pencils? I like pencils. Erasers are my friends.

No Dress Required by Cari Quinn

An Entangled Publishing Flirt, available as an eBook for 99 cents!
http://www.entangledpublishing.com/no-dress-required/
http://cariquinn.com/index.php
Amazon Buy Link is HERE. It's 99 cents here too!

Amazon Product Description:
After years of ho-hum dating, Noelle Gregory is tired of fooling around. There’s only ever been one guy for her—Jake Conroy, her best friend’s older brother. Now that Jake’s back in town, she’s headed to his sister’s New Year’s Eve party to make her move. Purse full of condoms? Check. Sparkly dress guaranteed to show Jake the sexy woman she’s become? Check.

Carjacker that makes off with both two hours before the party? Check.

When Jake finds Noelle stranded on the side of the road—looking sexier than ever in her striped socks and silly holiday shirt, damn it—he’s glad for the snowstorm that cancels his sister’s party. His and Noelle’s friendship has tormented him for years, and now, Jake wonders if he should dare to sample what he’s always wanted…and if he’ll be able to walk away when it’s over.

And now...the giveaway!

Thanks for stopping by The Wormhole!
Happy Reading!