*Author Interview* He Belongs To Me by Theresa Rizzo

Paperback $14.95 
ISBN: 978-0-9890450-1-8 
eBook $3.99 
ISBN: 978-0-9890450-0-1 
Release Date: June 15, 2013

Catherine Boyd will do anything to regain custody of her young son . . . Even reconcile with the husband accused of killing their son’s twin.

Catherine graduates from college, eager to start a new life with her six-year-old son, Drew. But when she tries to bring him home, her parents refuse to relinquish control of the grandson they’d raised.

Wrongly accused of a horrible crime, Thomas Boyd has buried himself in his career, determined to forget his painful past and the family he lost. But now, five years later, Catherine is back, requesting his help to regain custody of their son — custody he thought she had.

Though older and wiser, when courtroom battles reveal lies and secrets and generations of pain, will Thomas and Catherine find more tragedy and loss, or will old wounds finally heal?

Ladies and gents of the Lair, I would like for you to put a warm welcome to wonderfully new author to me! Let's welcome Ms. Rizzio! 

Thanks for having me on your blog today Cecile.

You are quite welcome Ms. Rizzo! :) I enjoy having over new to me authors and spotlighting their stories!

Why don't you tell us a little about yourself.... Something that we cannot Google about you, lol! 

Something you can’t google?  I’m pretty much an open book. Let’s see . . . I can’t spell.  Seriously, I’m so bad I can’t even get it close enough for spell-checker to help sometimes.

Tell us a little about your book.

He Belongs to Me is a love story that weaves in elements of betrayal and courtroom legalities. Catherine graduates from college, eager to start a new life with her six-year-old son, Drew. But when she tries to bring him home, her parents refuse to relinquish control of the grandson they’d raised.

Wrongly accused of a horrible crime, Thomas Boyd has buried himself in his career, determined to forget his painful past and the family he lost. But now, five years later, Catherine is back, requesting his help to regain custody of their son — custody he thought she had.

Though older and wiser, when courtroom battles reveal lies and secrets and generations of pain, will Thomas and Catherine find more tragedy and loss, or will old wounds finally heal?

How much emotion does it take from you to write?

Interesting question. You know, usually writing doesn’t really take emotion from me, per say, but energizes me. There are those times when I am writing something sad or emotional and I actually cry when or chuckle out loud when writing a scene. But most times, it’s fun. I usually only write about two to three hours at a time, and then get up and do something else to recharge my batteries.

What is your favorite part of the book?

I have several favorite parts, most of them are critical emotional moments I can’t talk about without spoiling the story for those who haven’t yet read it.  But one of my favorite parts is an unexpectedly humorous scene where Catherine is trying to make friends with Thomas.  They have this pretend reconciliation, but they’ve been apart for many years and Catherine wants them to put aside the old baggage and be friends again—but she doesn’t come out and tell Thomas this, she just tries to be nice to him and make him like her. She read in a magazine that guys love foot massages so she decides to try it . . . while he’s trying to watch a football game. Yeah . . . it’s kind of funny. 

You can only pick 3 words for your main characters..what would they be? *to describe your main characters*

Catherine is . . . genuine, determined, loving. 

Thomas is . . . loyal, caring, protective

Which was the easiest character to write and the hardest ~ and why??

The easiest characters to write was Drew because he’s a secondary character who is a kid. Kids see the world pretty simply—it’s adults who complicate things.

How many books are you shooting for in this series??

One. This is a stand-alone book.

What are you currently working on? Do you have anything due to release soon?

I’m revising and polishing my next book, Just Destiny, coming out in the Fall.

Jenny is a beautiful young woman whose seemingly perfect marriage to Gabe is shattered by a tragic accident that leaves her husband brain dead. Devastated at the sudden loss, she decides to preserve the best of their love by harvesting Gabe’s sperm for later insemination.

But her husband’s powerful, grieving uncle, the man who raised him, thinks of Jenny as a gold digger and is willing to risk exposing long-held family secrets in court to stop her.

The prospect of a grueling trial tests Jenny’s resolve, until an unexpected ally comes to her aid giving her the opportunity to win and the possibility of a second chance at happiness. 

What's one thing that you enjoy about writing?

I love that I can create characters that each have a piece of me in them. I can express the meanness and cattiness in me through some characters like Shelly and the grandparents, and then I can be sweet and loving and smart and witty through my hero and heroine.  I can kill people without going to jail (in other books) and I can have hot passionate sex with a young thing without being labeled a cougar or without being unfaithful to my husband. 

That’s pretty sweet if you ask me.

Since we're cover hussies....what was your first impression of your cover?

Honestly? My first thought was, “that’s not what Thomas and Catherine look like!” But I loved the feeling of tenderness the pose evoked and loved the colors and fonts used.

What do you prefer ebooks or paperbacks?

I’m torn. I prefer the paperback, however the practical side loves ebooks—especially when traveling or reading in bed.  For travel and reading in bed, there’s no comparison.

Is there a genre you would like to write but are a little apprehensive to try?

Nope.  I’ve written a couple of romantic suspenses I will publish next year after my women’s fiction works. If I’m passionate about the story and it happens to be in a different genre I’m familiar with, then it just means I’ve got more work to do to learn the genre expectations and research.  But I’m pretty content writing within women’s fiction, romance and romantic suspense.  I’ll read those other genres.

Okay.... personal time!!!! Oh yeah, I go there... Hahah...

If you thought you were safe... Nah... Forgot it... Not a chance! We will start off slow and easy, I promise!

What is on your night stand/dresser?

My chapstick, kindle, TV controls and reading glasses, lamp, notepad and pen, and coaster.

What is your favorite season? Holiday?

Favorite season hands down is Fall—the colors and smells are a feast for the sense. Holiday? Well, who doesn’t love Christmas?  (besides the person who had a traumatic event happen at Christmas or the kid who grew up poor and felt left out and forgotten, but I’m thinking of most folks)

And what has been your best b-day present ever??

Gosh, way to put me on the spot . . . I have four kids, you know-- who stalk me on the internet—and are very competitive!  They get that from their father, btw.  Best present? AH HA!  For my fiftieth birthday, my kids made me this ‘Fifty things I appreciate about Mom’ thing and sent me to the spa for a massage.

Hard and Quick Time! Don't think... Just answer! Okay, before we go this route, I will get us a refill on our drinks... I will be right back...

You know you do... Quickie time... Think fast....

Are you a quickie kind girl?

Absolutely!

Dark or Milk Chocolate?

Both

Whipped or Melted?

Whipped

Straight up or with a twist?

Neither

What's ur fave drink?

Coke Zero

Junk or Health Food?

French fries and bacon—Is that healthy or Junk food?

Vampire or Werewolf?

Don’t gasp or crucify me—neither

Twitter and/or Facebook?

Facebook

Pinterest or not?

I can’t—I just can’t. Don’t have the time and suspect I’d love it

Short Bio-Theresa Rizzo is an award-winning author who writes emotional stories that explore the complexity of relationships and families through real-life trials. 

Born and raised in Grosse Pointe, Michigan, she currently lives outside of Boulder, Colorado with her husband of thirty years. She’s raised four wonderful children who are now scattered across the country.

Biography of Author Theresa Rizzo

Born into an Irish-Italian family, there was never a dull moment in Theresa Rizzo’s home growing up in Grosse Point, Mich.

And despite her struggle as a child with mild dyslexia, Rizzo loved books and became a voracious reader. Still, growing up the daughter of a nurse and a general surgeon, Rizzo hadn’t considered a career in writing. She studied to be a registered nurse in college in Riverdale, New York, when she also married her high school sweetheart and moved to Long Island.

They later relocated to the suburbs of Chicago, then headed to the west coast for five years in sunny San Diego, Calif. before settling down near Boulder, Colo.

Writing became Rizzo’s creative outlet, and almost a type of therapy for her while dealing with the every day stresses as a mom of four.

Creating manuscripts for over 16 years, Rizzo is now an award-winning writer who pens emotional stories that explore the complexity of relationships and families through real-life trials. She is a member of the Romance Writers of America and the Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers, and serves as the co-coordinator of the annual Crested Butte Writers Conference where she debuts her first novel “He Belongs to Me” in June.

Find Theresa On the Web:

v Website

v  Facebook

v  Twitter

v Goodreads

Book Buy Links:

v Amazon 

v Amazon Ca

v Kindle

v Barnes & Noble

v iBookstore  

EMOTIONAL COURTROOM DRAMA, LOVE STORY CAPTURES FAMILY CONFLICTS

Debut novel coming this summer from award-winning writer Theresa Rizzo

BOULDER, Colorado – April 15, 2013 – Author Theresa Rizzo does not believe that love can conquer all, but without it, there’s no chance. Rizzo’s debut novel, “He Belongs to Me” (June 2013), is a love story that weaves in elements of betrayal, courtroom legalities, and a young mother’s determination to recover what is rightfully hers.

Forced to leave her baby and tricked into relinquishing her parental rights, Catherine Boyd is back four years later, ready to do whatever it takes to reclaim custody of her son, even if it means reconciling with the husband who was falsely accused of killing their son’s twin.

“The 20s are tough years, and young adults naturally make mistakes, but some mistakes have such crazy consequences that affect you for the rest of your life,” Rizzo explains. “Some mistakes are so hard to recover from, but redemption is a theme I enjoy writing about. Must be the optimist in me.”
Young lovers, experienced parents and courtroom fanatics will all find something for their reading taste within the pages of “He Belongs to Me.”

New York Times bestselling author Susan Wiggs said Rizzo’s “perfect blend of suspense and romance” is “for readers who can’t resist a page-turner.”

And Rizzo “knows how to speak to the heart,” says New York Times bestselling author William Bernhardt.

Rizzo is a national award-winning author and one of the driving forces behind the annual Crested Butte Writers Conference. She lives outside Boulder, Colorado with her husband of 30 years. Raising four children with her high school sweetheart has taught her a thing or two about relationships and parenting.

To read an excerpt of this wonderful book, please go - here!
To learn more about Theresa Rizzo, please visit her website - here!

And remember... Always keep it Dirty, Smutty & Hussy!