In association with Chick Lit Plus Blog Tours, Jersey Girl Book Reviews is pleased to host the virtual book tour event for
Maybe Tomorrow by author
Erin Cawood!
Author Interview
Welcome to Jersey Girl Book Reviews, Erin!
Before we get to the interview, can you tell our readers a little bit about yourself.
I really am a romantic at heart. I’ve been reading and writing romance since my early teens and the discovery of chick-lit in my early twenties brought its own special twist on my writing style.
I love a strong lead character that you can really get behind and cheer on every step of the way. Thus, I end up sliding around and sometimes into the darker, edgier side of romantic fiction and taking the path less willingly followed.
How long have you been a writer?
I’ve been writing for as long as I can remember. I still have stories I wrote when I was in my first year at school, so maybe 5 or 6 years old. I decided I wanted to be a published author at 13 and began writing novellas. It wasn’t until I was 25 did I begin chasing the dream, and my first published novel Tainted Love was released five years later, although it was the fifth novel I’d written by then.
Do you have a day job, or is being an author your career?
I’m a Digital Project Coordinator for a Global Consultancy and Project Management company by day. My job is very much about all things web based, from web design and development to content creation, promotion and marketing. When I’m not writing or working, I freelance as a digital designer.
What inspired you to become a writer? Describe your journey as a writer.
Reading
The Gift by Danielle Steel. By the time I’d finished I knew I wanted to be an author. I’m still working on the first novel I began back in 2007. I began my publishing journey as a self-published author, publishing 2 novels, I have since signed with Booktrope and now have 3 titles on sale, with a fourth and a short story coming out early this year.
Please give a brief description/storyline about Maybe Tomorrow.
Head of a large trauma centre in London, Dr. Keon McGowan has pictured his ex-wife’s death a thousand times. Without warning, Darcy called time on their marriage to travel the world and hunt for butterflies, leaving him to raise their daughter, Lily. They haven’t seen Darcy since.
But in the middle of a medical crisis, Darcy is rushed into his A&E department and later diagnosed with liver failure. Without having the transplant that she doesn’t want, Darcy has only months to live. Keon makes the decision to include Darcy in his family’s weekend festivities to give Lily memories of her mother before she dies, with the secret intention of convincing Darcy to change her mind about having a liver transplant.
In spending time with Darcy, Keon comes to realize that, despite having remarried (and divorced) he hasn’t fully healed from the broken heart that Darcy caused. In fact, he’s still in love with her. Keon is faced with the difficult decision between fighting for a tomorrow they may not have and supporting Darcy’s wish to die.
The McGowans are a complex close-knit family and just when you think you know what happened, someone reveals another secret that changes everything. But essentially,
Maybe Tomorrow is a story of love caught between Darcy’s fate and Keon’s destiny.
What was the inspiration for this story?
I don’t know where the inspiration came from, I woke up one morning with Keon’s voice inside my head. He was trying to explain to his daughter why he had to go away, and why when he came back he would be a changed man, but he wouldn’t be able to talk about it. He’d realized that he loved Darcy and he intended to follow her. He wanted to be with her when she died but his daughter, Lily, was too young to understand.
How did it feel to have your first book published?
Indescribable! But I find it’s the same for every release. It’s a mixture of elation, apprehension, and exhaustion. You’re thrilled beyond words to be sending another book baby out into the world. But your nervous about whether people will like (or hate) the characters as much as you do and whether they’ll enjoy it their journey. Finally, you’ve worked your butt off in the weeks coming up to the release that pressing publish is like exhausted buzz of five o’clock on Friday.
Do you write books for a specific genre?
Yes… and no.
Maybe Tomorrow is falls into the Women’s Fiction/Medical Romance genre. But my other series,
Behind Closed Doors, has a darker flavour. It’s core theme is domestic abuse, and that it can happen to anyone. It’s romance with a dark psychological twist, still contemporary Women’s Fiction though. I’m also working on a chick lit series and a paranormal romance series.
What genres are your favorite(s)? What are some of your favorite books that you have read and why?
Obviously, Women’s Fiction and Romance are my go to sections in any bookstore. But after discovering some really fantastic books by authors of other genres I tend to read the blurb and if I’m intrigued I’ll buy it.
Family Magic by Patti Larsen. I opened the book on page one and was like… oh no… reading this is going to be torture. But was proven to be wrong because I was up until four in the morning and read it cover to cover in one sitting. I love this series! And
Me Before You by Jojo Moyes. I never cry at books, or movies, but I sobbed my heart out at the end of this one.
Do you have a special spot/area where you like to do your writing?
I have a writing room. But as long as I plug my earphones in I will write anywhere!
How do you come up with the ideas that become the storyline for your books?
That’s really hard to describe. Inspiration can be triggered by anything and everything. I tend to follow the ‘voices’ of my characters. It’s their story. In that sense I’m a very character driven author but I love lots of drama too! So I tend to be quite evil to my characters. A very wise editor once said, ‘If you can make the characters situation worse, then do so.’
When you write, do you adhere to a strict work schedule, or do you work whenever the inspiration strikes?
I find it difficult to stick to a strict schedule because I write when inspired. But juggling writing, publishing and marketing with a day job, means I have to keep to do lists and write when I’ve ticked off what needs to be done first.
What aspects of storytelling do you like the best, and what aspects do you struggle with the most?
I love to get immersed in a whole new world. I love taking my readers there also. But some of my stories are dark and can be quite mentally and emotionally draining. I have to break them up with lighter stories.
What are your favorite things to do when you are not writing?
Not writing? I’m not sure I understand what you mean. Lol! When I’m not writing, I’m designing book covers, producing web banners, or tweaking with my website. But I love to watch movies, go bowling, or out for a meal. I love spending time with my family. I have a large family with lots of brothers and sisters, who have lots of children also. My family get togethers are crazy… and loud.
What is/was the best piece of writing advice that you have received?
Write for your readers. I totally went from focusing on making that one book perfect for the publishers, to writing several really good novels in a year.
What is the most gratifying thing you feel or get as a writer?
Feedback from readers. Every time someone says ‘I read your book’, I’m on cloud nine. Reviews are amazing because I learn what my readers like and didn’t like about my books. And I absolutely love when readers take the time or to message me, either via email, Facebook or Twitter.
How do you usually communicate with your readers/fans?
Predominantly by email. I encourage people to email me at erin(at)erincawood(dot)com, have conversations with me about my books, or send book recommendations because I’m an avid reader too. I have a newsletter for official announcements, which I send out before I announce them anywhere else. I also communicate with readers on my Facebook page and/or on Twitter.
Facebook.com/authorerincawood
https://twitter.com/ErinCawood
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http://eepurl.com/bMlx7L
Is there anything in your book based on real life experiences or are they purely all from your imagination?
Ah
Maybe Tomorrow is purely fictional, but there are some aspects that people who knew me will recognize, like the scene where the family are playing rounders and Lily and Keon’s nieces and nephews scream ‘all pile on’ and dive top of him. I’ve been squished by my siblings ‘all piling on’ no end of times.
What authors have been your inspiration or influenced you to become a writer?
Danielle Steel, Jojo Moyes, Patti Larsen, Amy Andrews… I’m sure there are more.
What is your definition of success as a writer?
Hearing from readers. It’s not about the money for me. I get an enormous amount of joy from writing, and learning that someone else has experienced that same joy by reading it, there isn’t a feeling like it!
Are you currently writing a new book? If yes, would you care to share a bit of it with us?
Right now, I’m working on
Life’s a Ball. Elle Richards is the ultimate career-girl-come-commitment-phobe, juggling a high powered career with being the single mother of a fifteen year old championship figure skater. And she hates Valentine’s Day. Adam Lacey is a self-confessed playboy with an aversion to children, but deep down he’s a hopeless romantic whose favorite day of the year is Valentine’s Day and he’s just waiting for the girl of his dreams (Elle) to see him the way he sees her.
Thank you Erin for visiting Jersey Girl Book Reviews, and for sharing with us a bit about yourself and your writing career!
About The Author
Erin Cawood is a commercial women's fiction author, with a taste for dramatic storylines and a passion for strong lead characters she really gets behind, cheering on right to the very end of their story. Her focus? Taking romance into the darker, edgier side of contemporary fiction.
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Book Review
Maybe Tomorrow by Erin Cawood
Book 1: Forgive or Forget Series
Publisher: Booktrope Editions
Publication Date: November 16, 2015
Format: Paperback - 162 pages
Kindle - 2561 KB
Nook - 911 KB
ISBN: 978-1513705880
ASIN: B0184RELU0
BNID: 2940150963269
Genre: Women's Fiction / Medical Romance / Family Saga
Buy The Book: **Maybe Tomorrow is only 99 cents while on tour!**
Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author / publisher in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by Chick Lit Plus Blog Tours.
Book Description:
Welcome to the
Forgive Or Forget series, a compelling contemporary women's fiction love story and family saga series. Cawood's love inspired medical romance series follows the close-knit McGowan siblings; Keon, Kiera, Cormack, and Cara, as they face the difficult choice between forgiving or forgetting true love after a broken heart.
Does a heart ever really heal from its first break?
On an unseasonably hot night in late September, Dr. Keon McGowan is called away from a family gathering to a hospital emergency. Amongst his patients that night is a blast from his past he'd rather forget. He'll certainly never forgive butterfly hunter Darcia Davenport for leaving him alone as a single dad while she chased butterflies through the Amazon rainforest.
Coming face to face with the woman who broke his heart after all this time, Keon realizes that he has never fully healed from it. But any chance of finding closure is ripped away when Darcy chooses to end treatment and live her final weeks without regret. Can Keon let her go? Or will he fight for the tomorrow they might never have?
Maybe Tomorrow is an emotional journey of love caught between fate and destiny, and Keon is forced to choose between his head and his heart, his wants and his responsibilities, forgiving Darcy or forgetting all about her, and between a second chance family or an ill-fated heartbreak romance.
Book Excerpt:
Wednesday, 25th September 2014, 11:45 PM
VIBRATIONS SHOT ACROSS Dr. Keon McGowan’s hip as he placed a sterile gauze pad against the head of the frightened teenager sitting in cubicle nine. “I think there’s more blood than damage,” he reassured the youngster with a warm smile. Although the fifteen-year-old would need stitches, he’d been lucky on all accounts. Keon looked up at the boy’s parents and continued. “I’d still like a couple of scans. It's routine with head injuries, and it's likely the on-call neurologist will want to keep him overnight for observation just to be on the safe side.”
Keon gave them a nod as he removed his latex gloves, tossed them in the medical waste bin, and washed his hands. He didn’t want to cut their time short, but as the head of London’s largest trauma centre, Keon was acutely aware there were too many patients still awaiting first assessments, and there wasn’t a single cubicle free in the accident and emergency treatment area. He fielded calls between treating patients, unable to move more than ten feet without someone calling his name. It was all in a day’s work, except today, things were more hectic than usual, due to a massive traffic accident involving almost 200 people less than three hours ago.
“I’ll arrange for a porter to come as soon as possible,” Keon promised the parents of the fifteen-year-old at the end of the consultation. “But I’m sure you can appreciate they’re stacked out at the moment, as is the imaging department. I’m sorry it’s going to be a bit of a wait.”
They nodded, and Keon swiftly left the cubicle as his mobile vibrated against his hip again. Quickly, he glanced at the name on the screen. He wouldn’t normally take a personal call in the middle of a crisis like this, but this caller resided on the other side of the world. “I’m sorry, Sarah, but I can’t talk now.”
“Oh, hello, Sarah. How are you? I’m fine, Keon, thank you for asking.” Her sarcasm was not missed, but he was just too busy to acknowledge it. “But I thought I’d make this really important phone call to remind you the doctors at Mount Cook are still waiting for your call.”
“I’m sorry, but I’ve got seventy-three people who were in an RTA three hours ago. I can’t talk about this now.” He didn’t mean to be short, but the board had too many patients for his liking, and his staff grew weary. He didn’t need Sarah on his back right now. He returned to the nurses’ station. “Heather? Can you arrange for the patient in cubicle nine to have a CT scan and page neurology, please?”
He handed the patient file to the junior doctor as Sarah snapped, “Why haven't you confirmed your meeting yet? You’re still coming on Tuesday, aren’t you? Both of you? It’s just, I know what you’re like, Keon, and I can’t wait to see Lily. She’s getting so big.”
“Yes, we’re still coming on Tuesday,” he promised. The whole reason for the trip to New Zealand when the school year had only just started was because he and Lily were looking to move out there come the New Year. “I’m sorry, but it’s beyond frantic in here!” He shouldn’t have answered the call, but the time difference and his long, hectic shifts made catching Sarah just about impossible. “I’ll call you tomorrow, Sarah,” he reassured her.
“You said that yesterday,” she reminded him. “You know,” she began, and he braced for whatever lecture his ex-wife was about to give. “Sometimes, you have to put the rest of the world on hold for a little while, and do what’s right for you and Lily. There are thousands of doctors capable of setting up a minor injuries clinic here in New Zealand, but they're waiting for you. Do you want this opportunity or not?”
What kind of question was that? Of course he wanted it. When he had quit his family’s practice twelve years ago, Keon had never dreamed he would one day want to go back to being a general practitioner. But the challenge of setting up a new clinic, combined with the idea of working regular hours every day and being home in time to eat dinner with Lily every night, now called to him more than he’d ever thought possible.
His ex-wife couldn’t have said it better if she’d lectured him about putting his job before Lily. The all-too-familiar blackness of guilt swamped Keon’s stomach. It was so hard to manage a career as a single parent; there were days when he went without seeing Lily at all. New Zealand was the answer. He was sure of it. He could have the challenging career he craved, and be with Lily like a normal parent. And the fact that Sarah was there would be a bonus. Although she wasn’t Lily’s biological mother, she was the only mother Lily had ever known, and her new family had embraced Lily like a sibling.
“You know I do, Sarah.” He sighed.
“Then you need to . . .” she started, but her words were drowned out by a voice calling his name from across the Accident & Emergency department. Keon spun around. Men in familiar green-and-yellow uniforms were wheeling a gurney through the doors, towards the resuscitation bay.
The driver of the car? She was alive? Impossible. It had been trapped beneath a toppled, double-decker bus for hours. His feet began to move. “Sarah, I have to go.” Picking up his pace, he headed through doors at the opposite end of the waiting room.
“You have to ring and confirm the meeting before Friday,” she reminded him.
His attention was no longer on Sarah but with the familiar, dark hair and pale skin that had haunted his dreams for years.
“Unidentified female driver,” one of the paramedics began. “Approximate age: mid- to late-thirties. Lacerations to the head, neck, and shoulder. Swelling in the abdominal region. Neurologically responsive but unconscious since emergency teams arrived on scene.”
Keon whispered a name he prayed he'd never say again. He noticed a sickly yellow hue had overwhelmed her otherwise ivory skin. He doubted anyone else would notice it at first glance. Or a second. But Keon saw it. He saw it, because he'd spent ten years looking at the same pale complexion in the daughter she’d walked away from.
“Darcy?” The phone slipped from his fingers, clattering against the floor, but he didn’t care. Darcy? It's not possible.
My Book Review:
Every once in awhile I come across a women's fiction story that simply takes my breath away, and right now that book is
Maybe Tomorrow by author Erin Cawood.
Maybe Tomorrow is the first book in the
Forgive Or Forget Series, a medical romance and family saga series
that follows the the close-knit McGowan siblings; Keon, Kiera, Cormack, and Cara, as they face the difficult choice between forgiving or forgetting true love after a broken heart.
Set in London,
Maybe Tomorrow is a complex, and multi-layered story about the unexpected reunion of Dr. Keon McGowan and his butterfly hunter ex-wife, Darcia Davenport. Author Erin Cawood weaves an emotionally charged and raw story about a couple's marriage that went awry because of choices and decisions that ultimately had traumatic consequences. Keon and Darcia once had a loving marriage until a painful decision was made that tore them apart. Ten years later, the past resurfaces when Keon and Darcia are unexpectedly reunited, causing them to embark on an emotional journey that will reopen the scars of love and heartbreak, and questioning whether there can be forgiveness and the forgetting of past mistakes, and a possible second chance at true love.
Oh my goodness! What can I say about
Maybe Tomorrow that would do it justice? I was easily drawn into Keon and Darcia's emotional story, it was a poignantly raw and emotional story that simply took me on a roller coaster ride where I experienced the full gamut of emotions. It is a complex and realistic relationship story that pulls on the heartstrings and stirs the soul, while making the reader ponder what they would do if they ever found themselves in Keon and Darcia's shoes. The author does a wonderful job of providing the reader with a backstory into Keon and Darcia's relationship, and intertwines it with the resurfacing of their past coupled with the traumatic and heart wrenching medical circumstance that ultimately brought about their unexpected reunion. Keon and Darcia's emotional journey is one that will resonate with the reader for a long time!
RATING: 5 STARS
Contest Giveaway
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Virtual Book Tour Event
Tour Schedule:
January 25 – Jersey Girl Book Reviews – Review. Q&A & Excerpt
January 25 – Wendi Nunnery – Review
January 26 – Change the Word – Q&A
January 27 – Chick Lit Plus – Excerpt
January 28 – Queen of All She Reads – Review & Excerpt
January 29 – Authors and Readers Book Corner – Excerpt
February 1 – BR Maycock’s Book Blog – Review & Q&A
February 1 – Bookabie - Review, Q&A & Excerpt
