{Pump Up Your Book} Love Like the Movies by Victoria Van Tiem #bookspotlight #interview

Wouldn't it be fun if our life was like the movies? What movie would your life be? Are you a superhero out to save the world? Or is your life more Breakfast Club? I'm having Victoria over for an interview today and to share her book. 

Hello Victoria and thank you for visiting today.  Tell us a little about yourself. 

Hi, Melissa, thanks for inviting me to stop by. A little about myself, let’s see…  I love losing myself in a feel-good story. When I’m not writing, I’m usually hid away somewhere reading or can be found at the theater watching the latest flick. I’m a complete movie fanatic. Also an artist. All pretty standard stuff, oh, we do have a pot-bellied pig named Pobby. At 200 lbs, he’s definitely not standard. Yeah, the tea-cup piggy sales pitch? It’s a lie. Jus’ sayin’.

A pig? I bet he keeps your house interesting! Thanks for sharing! It sounds like you have an interesting life. Now on to some personal questions.

If you could go back in time to when you were seven years old, what wisdom or advice would you pass on to yourself?

That’s a bit like Disney’s The Kid with Bruce Willis, isn’t it? What we all wouldn’t do for that opportunity. I can think of quite few very real missteps and hurts that could be avoided, but on a light note… Hmm, maybe don’t let Mom cut your long hair into that awful mullet style in elementary school because you will be stuck with two very bad school photos that will haunt your entire adult life.

Those old school photos haunt us all! For what are you grateful?

I’m grateful for so many small things. In 2008 I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. It was life changing, but it was also life awakening. Somehow accepting my diagnosis and fighting the disease allowed me the freedom to finally live, and to live bigger. And for that I’m thoroughly grateful.

That's inspiring! Way to go! If a zombie virus took over the world, how many days do you think you could last before you were infected? And what would you do to postpone the inevitable?

Is this Warm Bodies infected or World War Z? Both were books before movies I should note. Okay, In World War Z, those that were already sick were immune.  So I’m completely safe in a World War Z zombie infested future. Cool.

What’s your favorite thing to do to relax?
Besides movies and reading, and up until the last few years, my oldest son and I competed in Shorei Goju karate. I loved it. Now, I’m trying to find something else, an activity where nothing else exists in that space of doing, a total immersion of motion and thought. Maybe paddle boarding? They have a river club here I’m looking into for the summer. Me balancing on an oversized board on moving water, yup, this should be interesting. lol

Let’s find out a little bit about you as an author.

Did you always want to be an author?
I’ve always been a story teller. As a kid, I created a newspaper featuring the kids on our street. My Dad would photocopy it at work and I would distribute it weekly. I also wrote poetry and short stories. We even went as far to send one in to a publisher. It involved a bank robber and a horse named Max.

 What authors had an impact on you growing up and as an adult?
As a child, it was C.S. Lewis and The Chronicles of Narnia. Magic. Pure magic. Growing up I discovered Frank E. Peretti. This Present Darkness remains one of my favorite stories of all time because it gave a visual to my beliefs, and that was cool. That’s story telling.  I still have my original copy. Now, I enjoy giggling with the greats in my genre, Sophie Kinsella and Helen Fielding.

Do you have any “must haves” with you while you’re writing?
Coffee and Silence. I’m not one of those authors that can write with music playing because the lyrics interrupt the dialogue happening in my head. I can plot to music, say at the gym, but when writing I need it silent to allow the noise in my head a focused audience. Oh, and I like candy.

Yum. Candy! How did you decide to write a Young Adult a story of late-twenty something’s? Do you feel passionate about that age?

I do, I think in our late twenties and early thirties we are becoming who we are. It’s an exciting time between the families we want for ourselves and the one we have out grown. Often the vision we hold of ourselves is very different than the one our family holds of us, and if were not careful, their vision can hold us back, hold us hostage. Love Like The Movies explores this concept through Kensington’s journey.


Tell us about your latest release: (blurb, excerpt, cover)

Here’s LOVE LIKE THE MOVIES cover blurb:
In this irresistible romantic romp, movie fanatic, Kensington Shaw is thrown into love—Hollywood-style–when her gorgeous ex presents a big screen challenge to win back her heart. What girl wouldn’t want to experience the Pretty Woman shopping scene? It’s number two on the list. Or, try the lift from Dirty Dancing? It’s number five. One list, ten romantic movie moments, and a handful of shenanigans later, Kenzi has to wonder…should she marry the man her family loves, or risk everything for a love like the movies?


LOVE LIKE THE MOVIES excerpt: 

When I see Shane round the corner from the kitchen, it confirms it. I’m wearing a flower wreath, “If You Leave” is playing, and although that’s from Pretty In Pink, I don’t care . . . He’s walking in with a birthday cake. My heart floats high in my chest like a balloon.

This is Sixteen Candles.

And it’s surreal.

Shane smiles. “You need to be sitting up there, I believe.” He nods to the wooden table. “Legs crisscrossed.”

My throat tightens, and I already have tears as I climb up. Folding my legs, I adjust my skirt over them. In the movie, Samantha’s birthday is eclipsed by her sister’s wedding. I feel like my wedding was overshadowed by Ren’s announcement. I’minvisible. No one cares, and my big moments don’t matter. And here’s Shane, just like the handsome Jake Ryan, doing all of this for me.

Just for me.

Placing the cake in front of me, he steps up on the booth then slowly lowers his weight onto the table. “Okay. Good. Wasn’t sure it would actually hold me.”

I laugh through my tears and gaze at him across from me.

Shane smiles crooked. “Thanks for coming over.”

“Thanks for . . . coming to get me.” The movie lines are swallowed by my breath. I give a closed-mouth smile, choked by emotion.

Wiping under my eyes, I clear my throat and watch Shane light

the candles. There’s . . . two, four, six . . . “Seven? You have only seven candles.”

Honey-gold eyes flick to mine. He leans in close and says softly,

“I only missed seven birthdays.”

My stomach flutters. I was twenty-three when he left. Seven years ago. Seven birthdays. A lifetime between then and now. But like the song says, it’s like time has stood still.

“Happy birthday, Kensington. Make a wish.”

My gaze drops from his to the cake because I remember the line. 
The scene.

The kiss.

I’m glowing from within. Little nervous butterflies are attracted to the inner light. They may be too close. They could get singed. Gazing up through my lashes, I bite my lip and debate if I should say the line, knowing what follows. Knowing I’m not quite ready. Not knowing what he expects.

But he doesn’t give me the chance.

Placing a hand in front of him for support, he leans over and delivers it. “Mine already came true.” It comes out low, in a breath, his lips a whisper away.

After a beat, he places a slow, lingering kiss on my cheek that causes a frenzy of flutters. Anything more would have been too much. Anything less wouldn’t have completed the scene. There are no more lines.

The credits simply roll over the still frame of Samantha and Jake, frozen in a kiss. The song’s hypnotic melody drones on in the movie, just as it is now. The viewer knows everything will be all right. That Samantha is fine. Someone finally sees her.

Sees me.

Shane always has.



Oh... so exciting. How did you decide on your story plot?
My love of romantic comedies and romantic movies made this story the natural choice, but my diagnosis fueled its production. Our lives should be like the movies. We should live big and without regret of trying, because we are not guaranteed a tomorrow, are we? We don’t always get a take 2 and 3 or 4, so make it count, make it fun. 

Do you have a favorite scene? Why?
I love the movie reenactments of course, but also the Failure to Launch inspired paintball scene mixed with My Best Friend’s Wedding escape. Its quick paced and runs a bit rampant, but it was such a release for the character and so much fun to write. Oh, and the stalking and end in friend scene with Tonya. I do enjoy the physical part of comedy.

Do you have a character that you identify with? Who and why?
Kenzi for sure. There is a very real part of me ingrained in this character. But really, Kensington is the reader.  She’s you. You’re living the story through her intimate thoughts and experiencing it through her actions.

Let our readers know how they can get a hold of you…

On twitter: https://twitter.com/vtiem
Blog: http://vvantiem.wordpress.com/
Facebook Author page: https://www.facebook.com/v.vtiem


Is there anything else that you want to share… feel free!!

As Kensington says… “It’s the magic of boy meets girl, the angst of catch and release, the serendipity of meant-to-be. It doesn't matter if a romantic comedy follows a predictable course, we respond because it's rooted in truth. In magic."

I wish for everyone a bit of magic and hope you enjoy LOVE LIKE THE MOVIES. Thanks for having me over to chat!
xo Victoria

Thank you again for stopping by!

About the Book

A contemporary romantic comedy from Simon & Schuster’s Pocket Star by Victoria Van Tiem.

In this irresistible romantic romp, movie fanatic, Kensington Shaw is thrown into love—Hollywood-style–when her gorgeous ex presents a big screen challenge to win back her heart. What girl wouldn’t want to experience the Pretty Woman shopping scene? It’s number two on the list. Or, try the lift from Dirty Dancing? It’s number five. One list, ten romantic movie moments, and a handful of shenanigans later, Kenzi has to wonder…should she marry the man her family loves, or risk everything for a love like the movies?

Purchase your copy: Amazon 
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Discuss this book in our PUYB Virtual Book Club at Goodreads by clicking HERE

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About the Author

 

Author repped by Jenny Bent of The Bent Agency.  An artist, black belt, mom of two, wife of one, and resident caretaker of the family zoo—including her beloved, pot-bellied pig, Pobby. When she's not writing, she indulges in her two favorite pastimes: a good book and a romantic movie.

Her latest book is the contemporary romance/chick lit, Love Like the Movies.

Connect & Socialize!

BLOG: http://vvantiem.wordpress.com/
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/v.vtiem
Rafflecopter–Facebook contest: http://tinyurl.com/mcfqcqr
Twitter:https://twitter.com/vtiem

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