This week I’m happy to host contemporary romance author Heather Thurmeier, who’s here to talk about how a popular reality TV series sparked an idea for her latest romance trilogy. She’s also giving away a digital copy of her book, Falling for You (see below for details).
Take it away, Heather!
Thank you so much for having me here today, Kat! I’m thrilled to share with you how I came up with the idea for Falling for You.
The inspiration for the book was pretty simple really. I was watching an episode of the Bachelor or Bachelorette (I can’t remember which or what season it was) and I couldn’t help but wonder how the people on the show ended up there. What drove them to attempt to find love in such an unconventional way? Was it the thrill of the spotlight, the chance to date a fabulous person they probably wouldn’t have met in real life, because their love life stunk really bad, or something else?
Once I started asking myself the questions, I just couldn’t stop asking more. But of course, I had no way to answer any of them. It wasn’t like I could call up the producers of the show and just drill them with twenty questions.
How I wish I could! Could you imagine how awesome it would be to get to ask the questions you’ve always wanted to know about your favorite reality TV shows? That would be awesome…
Later on, after I asked myself all these questions with no answers, a story idea hit me. What if a girl went onto a show because she hoped to find love but the bachelor turned out to be her ex-boyfriend?
Uh-oh.
Now there was something I hadn’t seen on TV before. And I liked it. But it wasn’t enough. More questions popped into my head about who this girl was and what she was going to do. And then one stuck—what if her cameraman was a hunk too yummy to resist.
Oh yes! Now that was a book I wanted to read. But more than that, it was a book I wanted to write so I could decide how the story would play out.
Cue evil laugh. Mwahahaha!
Poor Cassidy. She didn’t stand a chance at having a normal run on a reality TV show with me as her ultimate producer.
Happy reading!
Heather Thurmeier
~Heart, humor and a happily ever after.
Falling for You
Newly single Cassidy Quinn is thrilled to be a contestant on the new reality dating show The One. But her excitement turns to horror when the gorgeous bachelor turns out to be her ex-boyfriend. Seeing Brad again makes Cassidy realize she might not be as “over him” as she thought—and then she meets hunky cameraman Evan Burke.
After watching his brother lose his wife in a tragic accident, Evan vows never to fall in love. But following Cassidy around as her personal cameraman makes him question his decision, and resisting her gets harder with every sunbathing, bikini-wearing day.
Cassidy and Evan begin a forbidden affair while her ex-boyfriend tries to win her heart back one groping, awkward moment at a time. If Cassidy can manage to stop falling off horses (literally), stop falling onto her ex-boyfriend, the bachelor (yes, literally), and stop falling in love with backstage playboy Evan, she might still make it through the show without becoming a tabloid sensation.
But soon Cassidy must choose between the ex who broke her heart and the cameraman who might never love her back. For Cassidy, this reality show just got real.
Buy it at:
Amazon | B&N | iTUNES | Crimson Romance
Author bio:
Heather Thurmeier is a lover of strawberry margaritas, a hater of spiders, and a reality TV junkie. She was born and raised in the Canadian prairies, but now lives in upstate New York with her own personal romance Hero (aka her husband) and their two little princesses. When she’s not busy taking care of the kids and an adventurous puppy named Indy, Heather’s hard at work on her next romance novel.
“Heather Thurmeier’s hunky heroes and feisty heroines will have you laughing out loud, falling in love … and coming back for more!” ~ Carly Phillips, NY Times Bestselling Author
“Heather Thurmeier writes sweet, funny romances that capture your heart!” –NYT and USA Today bestselling author Jennifer Probst
Where you can find Heather online:
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads
Giveaway!
Heather’s giving away a digital copy (either for Kindle or Nook) of Falling for You to one person who leaves a comment here. So let us know: What’s your favorite reality TV show? If you could ask the people on the show anything, what would you want to know? Would you ever want to go on a reality TV show? If yes, which one?
I’ll randomly select a winner on Tuesday October 23rd. Good luck!
My favorite reality tv show is Dancing With the Stars and I would ask the participants if the show is as much fun and hard work as it looks.
Hi Maureen! That show would be such a great workout!! Can you imagine all those hours they spend in the studio dancing. Crazy!!
My favorite reality TV show is The Amazing Race because I love seeing all the different countries they visit. I think I would like to be a contestant on that show to test my strength of mind and body and character. One question I would ask the contestants is, “Do you ever get a good night’s sleep while playing this game?!?”
The Amazing Race is one of my favorites too! And actually the sequel to this book is called Stuck on You and it was inspired by The Amazing Race! It’s the only reality TV show I would actually want to do. I love all the different places they travel and the cultures they experience. I’m so happy there’s a new season on right now! I bet they sleep so hard while on the race since while they’re doing each leg they’re constantly running, competing, and full of stress.
Thank you so much for having me today, Kat! I’ll be checking in through the day or so to read comments so feel free to chat with me! I love chatting reality tv!!
LOVE the premise of your book! My secret (ok, now it’s NOT) vice is reality TV. I love Survivor, the Real Housewives and Love in the Wild. Those are my faves. The one show I would like to go on, but it’s not on anymore, is The Mole. If I could ask a question it would be of the Real Housewives, about how they integrate filming into their daily lives. I want to know what happens behind the scenes.
Hi Cara! I knew I wasn’t the only one with this guilty pleasure! I like Love in the Wild too! And Housewives, although I can only tolerate the NYC seasons. It seems to me like they set-up a lot of stuff to happen in their daily lives that normally wouldn’t otherwise.
Unfortuantely, I love most of them. Bachelor/Bachelorette, Survivor, Amazing Race, Idol, SYTYCD, The Voice and some of the cable one, too. Bachelor/Bachelorette get a little snarky for me sometimes, though. And they rarely pick the ‘right’ one. I’d want to know – WHAT DON’T WE SEE. I’d go on Amazing Race, ’cause then I could bring hubby along. The book sounds like fun. Can’t wait! Cheers.
I’ve always wondered about what we don’t see on those shows. I think that’s a big part of why I felt the pull to write this story and the rest of the trilogy. This way I get to make up what I ‘think’ happens behind the scenes! Who knows if I’m right or wrong, but it is sure fun to write about. Hopefully it’s fun to read about too!
Hi Kat and Heather! Heather, my favorite drink is also strawberry margaritas. I love the premise of your books being from a reality TV show. I have often wondered the same questions you mentioned.
I’m not really into reality TV shows all that much. If I was to pick a show, it would be the Bachelor. I am probably the only person on this planet that hasn’t watched Survivor, The Amazing Race, and Big Brothers (?).
You are a new author for me, and I will have to read your books. They sound like a lot of fun.
Yay for strawberry margaritas!! If you can, try mixing one with a little lime. So good! I know there is only so much TV time in a day, but you should totally check out The Amazing Race. It’s by far the most interesting of the shows because they are always somewhere different.
I am not big on reality tv, I do watch American Idol and that is about it.
I used to watch American Idol, but I can’t really stand it anymore. It’s too many hours of TV per week for just one show, so I’ve dropped it from my list of must watch shows.
I like the Amazing Race. I’d like to go on it.
Me too! I’d love to try all the different things they do on that show! Well, except for eating weird things. And there have been a few places that are not on my list of places to see. But on the whole, that show is awesome!
Love the storyline!
My favorite reality TV show is this Korean show called “we got married.” Famous Korean celebrities are matched up as husband and wife for the entire length of the series and it get so cute and funny that I always laugh when I watch it. I’ll probably ask them if it ever gets real, although I doubt it.
LOL. I’d probably go an a show (Th Voice ) if I knew how to sing. Then I’ll ask Adam Levine for a kiss if I didn’t get in. haha….