Bestselling Author Bernadette Marie is known for building families readers want to be part of. Her series The Keller Family has graced bestseller charts since its release in 2011. Since then she has authored and published over thirty-five books. The married mother of five sons promises romances with a Happily Ever After always…and says she can write it because she lives it.
When not immersed in the writing/publishing world, Bernadette Marie and her husband are shuffling their five hockey playing boys around town to practices and games as well as running their family business. She is a lover of a good stout craft beer and might be slightly addicted to chocolate.
When not immersed in the writing/publishing world, Bernadette Marie and her husband are shuffling their five hockey playing boys around town to practices and games as well as running their family business. She is a lover of a good stout craft beer and might be slightly addicted to chocolate.
As far back as Grace Carter could remember, she'd been able to communicate with the deceased. Of course, working in her family's mortuary put her in constant contact with those who had crossed over, if she didn't take steps to block them out, which she preferred to do. However, some spirits are stronger than others…
Nora Campbell had nearly been ready to die, but she still had some unfinished business. From the other side, she found the woman she wanted her grandson to fall in love with, and she put her matchmaking plan in motion. Nora was insistent that Grace get a message to her grandson, TV reporter Matthew Campbell, and together they could pass on the last goodbyes of those who had passed.
Only now Grace must convince Matthew she is in touch with his grandmother and not some crazy woman who spends all her time with the deceased.
Q&A With the Author:
1.Why do you choose to write romance? Do you write any other genres? I love the possibilities of happily ever after. Everyone has a story, and what’s better than the story of two people meeting and falling in love? I also write paranormal and suspense (but with a lot of Romantic elements.)
2.How long does it take you to write a book, typically? I usually write a book every two months.
3.Since a lot of romance books show both male and female perspectives, share with us the most difficult thing about writing the perspective of the opposite gender? I tend to write men to be more sensitive, and I think that displays my emotions more than a man’s. Though I do live with 6 men, and they are more on the sweet side, probably because I chose one and raised 5 of them, so it was something I probably added to their upbringing.
4.What would you say is your interesting writing quirk? I am often asked how I raised 5 kids and ran multiple businesses while writing 40 books, I suppose my quirk is that I can tune out ANYTHING and write. So there are not many times I can’t write, or any places that hinder me. (I also make a lot of faces, but I think all authors do that when they write.)
5.Tell us a bit about a future project you are working on? Do you have any little sneak peeks you can share? I will publish my 40th book in February, and the last book of my Walker Family Series will come out in the spring with the yet to be titled story of Lydia and Phillip. For those familiar with them, here’s a little peek. (Below question 6)
6.What is the most romantic date you have ever been on? Or, what is your idea of the perfect Valentine Date? One snowy night in college, I chose not to go home where I was supposed to meet up with my ex-boyfriend from high school. Instead, I opted to stay at school and spend time with a new friend I had made. We collectively pooled our money, which was none, and bought a hamburger at the local Carl’s Jr. near the school. It was snowing, and we sat and watched it snow as we sat next to each other in the booth sharing that burger. I know now that my decision not to go home that weekend was fate, because that was the night I fell in love with my husband and we’ve been sharing hamburgers and watching snow fall now for thirty years.
Lydia and Phillip: Walker Family Series Sneak Peek
The therapy she’d gone through had taught her how to approach their past, and to accept that he was a daily part of her life.
She supposed if she wanted to spend time with him, and truly see if her therapy had worked, she would need to lead the conversation.
Opening her car door, Lydia stepped out and stood in front of her car. “Hey, Smythe,” she yelled to be heard over the construction noise.
He turned to look at her, and then walked toward her.
“You’re not on duty, huh?”
Phillip shook his head. “No. I took a few personal days. I have something going on this evening.”
“Well then you have some time.”
“Time for what?”
“Why don’t you have lunch with me? I’d love some company, and I want to try that new Greek place on the edge of town.”
Phillip thoughtfully bit down on his lip. “I could go for that. I can just meet you over there.”
She’d have offered to drive, but maybe meeting him would be best. What if she found being in his presence for more than a few minutes at a time made her hate him again. What if seeing her broken had pushed him away for good?
“I’ll meet you there,” she agreed and watched as he walked to his truck.
She knew he’d never drive away until she had, so she pulled out of the parking lot and started driving toward the restaurant. Phillip followed her in his truck, and when she’d look back in her mirror her stomach tightened.
It had been a long year of healing. She couldn’t go back on her fifteen years of anger and just expect that he’d accept she wanted to be friends. There were also secrets she still kept and things would certainly change between them if he found out about them.
Lydia gripped her steering wheel tighter. This was lunch. Lunch with a man she’d pushed away for years. She had learned she had to take things one moment at a time. This was just one moment in the rest of her life.
Lunch.
She could handle lunch.
2.How long does it take you to write a book, typically? I usually write a book every two months.
3.Since a lot of romance books show both male and female perspectives, share with us the most difficult thing about writing the perspective of the opposite gender? I tend to write men to be more sensitive, and I think that displays my emotions more than a man’s. Though I do live with 6 men, and they are more on the sweet side, probably because I chose one and raised 5 of them, so it was something I probably added to their upbringing.
4.What would you say is your interesting writing quirk? I am often asked how I raised 5 kids and ran multiple businesses while writing 40 books, I suppose my quirk is that I can tune out ANYTHING and write. So there are not many times I can’t write, or any places that hinder me. (I also make a lot of faces, but I think all authors do that when they write.)
5.Tell us a bit about a future project you are working on? Do you have any little sneak peeks you can share? I will publish my 40th book in February, and the last book of my Walker Family Series will come out in the spring with the yet to be titled story of Lydia and Phillip. For those familiar with them, here’s a little peek. (Below question 6)
6.What is the most romantic date you have ever been on? Or, what is your idea of the perfect Valentine Date? One snowy night in college, I chose not to go home where I was supposed to meet up with my ex-boyfriend from high school. Instead, I opted to stay at school and spend time with a new friend I had made. We collectively pooled our money, which was none, and bought a hamburger at the local Carl’s Jr. near the school. It was snowing, and we sat and watched it snow as we sat next to each other in the booth sharing that burger. I know now that my decision not to go home that weekend was fate, because that was the night I fell in love with my husband and we’ve been sharing hamburgers and watching snow fall now for thirty years.
Lydia and Phillip: Walker Family Series Sneak Peek
The therapy she’d gone through had taught her how to approach their past, and to accept that he was a daily part of her life.
She supposed if she wanted to spend time with him, and truly see if her therapy had worked, she would need to lead the conversation.
Opening her car door, Lydia stepped out and stood in front of her car. “Hey, Smythe,” she yelled to be heard over the construction noise.
He turned to look at her, and then walked toward her.
“You’re not on duty, huh?”
Phillip shook his head. “No. I took a few personal days. I have something going on this evening.”
“Well then you have some time.”
“Time for what?”
“Why don’t you have lunch with me? I’d love some company, and I want to try that new Greek place on the edge of town.”
Phillip thoughtfully bit down on his lip. “I could go for that. I can just meet you over there.”
She’d have offered to drive, but maybe meeting him would be best. What if she found being in his presence for more than a few minutes at a time made her hate him again. What if seeing her broken had pushed him away for good?
“I’ll meet you there,” she agreed and watched as he walked to his truck.
She knew he’d never drive away until she had, so she pulled out of the parking lot and started driving toward the restaurant. Phillip followed her in his truck, and when she’d look back in her mirror her stomach tightened.
It had been a long year of healing. She couldn’t go back on her fifteen years of anger and just expect that he’d accept she wanted to be friends. There were also secrets she still kept and things would certainly change between them if he found out about them.
Lydia gripped her steering wheel tighter. This was lunch. Lunch with a man she’d pushed away for years. She had learned she had to take things one moment at a time. This was just one moment in the rest of her life.
Lunch.
She could handle lunch.
