by
Hi Friends,
I am so excited to have with me today the very skilled debut author, Johnee Cherry whose first book, A Home for Wayward Husbands
is now in the market and collecting many rave reviews!
I am so excited to have with me today the very skilled debut author, Johnee Cherry whose first book, A Home for Wayward Husbands
is now in the market and collecting many rave reviews! 
According to Johnee, “I was born in Arkansas, played in Louisiana, and lived in Texas. Mostly in a small border town called Texarkana. It’s just about a mile from here to there. And you still aren’t anywhere. It’s the kind of town in which you can stand on the steps of a Baptist church and lob a rock across State Line Road to hit the front door of the liquor store. No matter how many roads you take to get out of there, it’s the kind of town that just hangs in your soul, coloring everything you do or think or say. Kind of like the small Texas town you’ll read about in A Home for Wayward Husbands
I live with a man, a dog and my imagination. “
Welcome to Njkinny’s World of Books, Johnee!
Let’s grab a cup of tea and start the interview. 🙂
Q1. Tell us something about
yourself.
I’m a Southern gal, but now I live in California with my blond
blue-eyed surfer dude. My heart is still in the south, and when I get really
mad you can pinpoint where I’ve from by what’s coming out of my mouth.
blue-eyed surfer dude. My heart is still in the south, and when I get really
mad you can pinpoint where I’ve from by what’s coming out of my mouth.
consequences that affect the people surrounding the lovers.
Q3. What inspired you to write this book?
I lived in East Texas for a long time,
and loved it. Most people think that small town American life is boring, but
that is far from the truth, everyone is up-in everyone else’s business and
hoping they can run it for them. It’s fun to write about life from that point
of view.
and loved it. Most people think that small town American life is boring, but
that is far from the truth, everyone is up-in everyone else’s business and
hoping they can run it for them. It’s fun to write about life from that point
of view.
Q4. What has been the biggest surprise or
learning experience you’ve seen through the process of seeing your book get
published?
learning experience you’ve seen through the process of seeing your book get
published?
The best surprise of all is
that people are reading and enjoying A Home for Wayward Husbands.
that people are reading and enjoying A Home for Wayward Husbands
.
I think when I put Opal Anne out on that balcony at Ashford Castle in
Ireland was a fun moment. I needed to get her off of that ledge and out of
trouble, but I never planned for her to spend the night.
Ireland was a fun moment. I needed to get her off of that ledge and out of
trouble, but I never planned for her to spend the night.
Q6. What is the one thing that you hope
readers take away after reading your book?
readers take away after reading your book?
Hope. Life is hard, and if you can laugh at what happened to Bitzy and Beau and
appreciate that everyone is dysfunctional on some level, you can laugh at your
own life.
appreciate that everyone is dysfunctional on some level, you can laugh at your
own life.
Q7. If someone were to tell you one thing
before you started writing, what do you wish it had been?
before you started writing, what do you wish it had been?
Keep
your sense of humor.
your sense of humor.
Q8. Are you a morning or night person?
Morning!
Q9. You have multiple personalities, describe some of them.
Of course, my Southern gal is busy have a battle with my girl that
fights being southern. Neither ever win.
fights being southern. Neither ever win.
Q10. What is the best thing you have done in your life?
My best accomplishments are my three
children. I look at them, nod and say, “Yes! I did good!”
children. I look at them, nod and say, “Yes! I did good!”
Q11. What are your favorite hobbies?
Most
undoubtedly writing.
undoubtedly writing.
Q12. Do you believe in love at first
sight? Does Prince Charming exist?
sight? Does Prince Charming exist?
I do
believe in love at first sight. It’s happened to me once, and I still moon over
that guy. Now I believe in a real love
that grows and changes and becomes more important to be with that person than
to be gushing with love.
believe in love at first sight. It’s happened to me once, and I still moon over
that guy. Now I believe in a real love
that grows and changes and becomes more important to be with that person than
to be gushing with love.
Q13.
If you had to describe yourself using three words.
If you had to describe yourself using three words.
it would be… impulsive, daring, and passionate.
Q14. What are your pet peeves or
interesting things about you that you dislike? What are the interesting things
about you that you like?
interesting things about you that you dislike? What are the interesting things
about you that you like?
I dislike
bananas, and my husband eats one for breakfast every morning. That’s the kind
of love I’m talking about — I even sit by him while he eats
it. I draw the line at banana kisses.
bananas, and my husband eats one for breakfast every morning. That’s the kind
of love I’m talking about — I even sit by him while he eats
it. I draw the line at banana kisses.
Q15. What’s the one thing, you can’t live
without?
without?
My children and a good glass of
old vine Zinfandel. Sorry, that’s two things.
old vine Zinfandel. Sorry, that’s two things.
Q16. Tea or Coffee?
Both.
Q17. What is your favorite quote?
“Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a
damn!’
damn!’
Q18. What are you afraid of?
Snakes!
Q19. Where can people find
you on the Internet?
you on the Internet?
Q20. What’s up next for you,
writing-wise?
I have three projects in
the works. Each one is at a different stage, but I plan to have another novel
out by the first of the year.
Q21. Before you go how about a quick introduction to your book, A Home for Wayward Husbands?
Johnee Cherry brings to life the crazy and fabulous characters of a small East Texas town in A Home for Wayward Husbands.
Beau Smith is a tormented bad boy. He’s rich, gorgeous, and full of potential but is hampered by his controlling father, Leon, and demented mother, Suzanna. There’s no hiding for the Smith family, who owns most of the town and lives in the center of the Atlanta, Texas universe putting them in the center of gossip and innuendo.
When Beau falls head-over-heals in love with the strawberry blond-bomb, Bitzy Jeter, the daughter of a low-life chicken farmer, Louie Jeter, his troubles keep mounting. Bitzy is a sweet gullible girl without a bad bone in her body, who couldn’t care less about the attitudes of prominent citizens. Bitzy loves everyone and is willing to forgive and love again, but she learns that some people are not worth forgiving.
Beau makes one final heart-wrenching mistake, and in the delirious aftermath of the accident he abandons his family when they need him the most.
Beau’s unexpected return sets into motion long buried emotions and memories and the family must deal with feelings they hoped to forget. Faced with the challenge of having Beau back, Bitzy and Stormie, their only daughter, must deal with him on a different level. Bitzy ends up with a house-full of other women’s husbands who she wants to continue to love, but she’s going to have to make some hard choices.
Add Dot to the scene, Bitzy’s sister, who is smack in the middle of all of Atlanta’s gossipy circles and who loves the intrigue of having Beau show up out of the blue. Dot knows her sister well and offers jaded advice on how to deal with the hapless men taking up space in her home and heart.
And of course, there’s Wesley, Bitzy’s best-guy friend, and Opal Anne, one of her few friends from high school, dragging their problems through Bitzy’s teapot like used up tea leaves. Wes comes face-to-face with Beau Smith, the one person he hoped he would never see again, and he makes a move that changes everyone’s idea of who Wes is.
Can Bitzy revive the most talked about and hottest romance in Atlanta’s small-town history? Does she want to?
If you’re in the mood for a fresh, funny tale about small town romance, buried secrets and unforgettable characters thenA Home for Wayward Husbandsis sure to satisfy!
Thanks for taking out time from your busy schedule for this interview, Johnee!
All the best and Njkinny’s World of Books hopes that you have many successes in the future. We look forward to reading from you. 🙂
Checkout my review of A Home for Wayward Husbands:
http://njkinny.blogspot.in/2013/11/bookreview-home-for-wayward-husbands-by.html
the works. Each one is at a different stage, but I plan to have another novel
out by the first of the year.
Q21. Before you go how about a quick introduction to your book, A Home for Wayward Husbands
?Johnee Cherry brings to life the crazy and fabulous characters of a small East Texas town in A Home for Wayward Husbands
.Beau Smith is a tormented bad boy. He’s rich, gorgeous, and full of potential but is hampered by his controlling father, Leon, and demented mother, Suzanna. There’s no hiding for the Smith family, who owns most of the town and lives in the center of the Atlanta, Texas universe putting them in the center of gossip and innuendo.
When Beau falls head-over-heals in love with the strawberry blond-bomb, Bitzy Jeter, the daughter of a low-life chicken farmer, Louie Jeter, his troubles keep mounting. Bitzy is a sweet gullible girl without a bad bone in her body, who couldn’t care less about the attitudes of prominent citizens. Bitzy loves everyone and is willing to forgive and love again, but she learns that some people are not worth forgiving.
Beau makes one final heart-wrenching mistake, and in the delirious aftermath of the accident he abandons his family when they need him the most.
Beau’s unexpected return sets into motion long buried emotions and memories and the family must deal with feelings they hoped to forget. Faced with the challenge of having Beau back, Bitzy and Stormie, their only daughter, must deal with him on a different level. Bitzy ends up with a house-full of other women’s husbands who she wants to continue to love, but she’s going to have to make some hard choices.
Add Dot to the scene, Bitzy’s sister, who is smack in the middle of all of Atlanta’s gossipy circles and who loves the intrigue of having Beau show up out of the blue. Dot knows her sister well and offers jaded advice on how to deal with the hapless men taking up space in her home and heart.
And of course, there’s Wesley, Bitzy’s best-guy friend, and Opal Anne, one of her few friends from high school, dragging their problems through Bitzy’s teapot like used up tea leaves. Wes comes face-to-face with Beau Smith, the one person he hoped he would never see again, and he makes a move that changes everyone’s idea of who Wes is.
Can Bitzy revive the most talked about and hottest romance in Atlanta’s small-town history? Does she want to?
If you’re in the mood for a fresh, funny tale about small town romance, buried secrets and unforgettable characters thenA Home for Wayward Husbands
is sure to satisfy!Thanks for taking out time from your busy schedule for this interview, Johnee!
All the best and Njkinny’s World of Books hopes that you have many successes in the future. We look forward to reading from you. 🙂
Checkout my review of A Home for Wayward Husbands
:http://njkinny.blogspot.in/2013/11/bookreview-home-for-wayward-husbands-by.html
Buy A Home for Wayward Husbands
Good morning Nikita.
Thanks for having me on NjKinny's World of Books. It's nice to be in the international world! I read your nice review and welcome you to the southern way of life in America, it's a different world! Maybe some day you can come visit and see the way Bitzy Smith lives.
Regards
Johnee
A superb interview, Niki.
Congratulations to Johnee on a great debut novel. I actually LOVE the voice. The book is on offer free on the Kindle today and I have downloaded if from the UK web site.
Nikita! You have just interviewed the author of one of my favorite books! My word. I wanted to crawl into A Home for Wayward Husbands and live there. That Bitzy is a hoot! I know women like her!
Thanks Johnee.. Amen to that.. 🙂
Thanks Jac.. Do read the book.. 🙂
I am glad that you have met women like Bitzy, Jackie. For me Bitzy was the first..:)