Behind The Books – An Interview with Tina Reber

We’ve had quite the “highly anticipated” Love Unrehearsed read-fest, together haven’t we? What a blast this has been. The giveaways, the teasers, and now one more giveaway and a fun conversation I had with the author herself!

She is funny, sweet, down to earth and can write one heck of  a love scene! She has created the ultimate romantic hero, but with just the right amount of realistic “guy stuff” to make him the perfect book hero, for me. A bit alpha, a bit silly, a bit obnoxious, a bit jealous… no matter how famous he is, we get to see his “real side” and I delighted in exploring that part of this love story. That “what if…” dreamy fantasy turned reality, and the realization that there’s a lot more reality than we expected.

But Tina let’s us in, and boy do we get some some fantastic behind the scenes stuff!! *squeeee

Maryse: You have time for an interview? Just fun chatty stuff. We can let loose! 😉

Tina: sure! do I need to be wearing pants for this? Because I am.

Maryse: Haha!!!! nah… I’m in pj’s! So early to be in pj’s but there is nothing better than loose cotton clothes when blogging… reading… sitting…

Tina: ok no shoes then. Well, it IS Sunday – day of rest. I took a nap in my clothing, so I guess they count.

Maryse: It’s a good day today, Tina!! I wanted to congratulate you on your huge success for the Love series. 🙂 Did you envision this amazing response? Getting signed with a huge publisher? How much has your life changed since you first sat down to write their amazing love story?

Tina: Thank you!! No, I am completely and utterly overwhelmed. There is a secret part of me that hoped and prayed for this but never did I imagine it would come true. Going from self-publishing to traditional has been an experience which came fast. In a matter of 4 weeks I went from being indie to having both of my novels published by Atria.

I was not used to having a support team working on things for me. Having an editor and copy editor and publicist and and… it’s a new ballgame.
But I’m still me. I’m still sitting at my dining room table on my laptop, typing away.

Maryse: Yep!! You’ve barely had time to process this latest part considering how fast it all went. But this whole year for you, I can imagine, has been a wonderful whirlwind!

Tina: I’ve been waking up to a lot more FB and Twitter messages!

Maryse: LOL!!!!!! I bet!

Tina: the praise has been overwhelming and I appreciate everyone taking the time to read, support, love, and let me know how my words affected them.

Maryse: Oh wow, I had no clue!! What an inspiration! Had you ever tried your hand at writing previously? What made you decide to sit down and let this story out?

Tina: Well, this was my first attempt at novel writing. I spent a few years making extra money writing term papers for my college friends. I’d always end up editing and rewriting them. I hope they got a better grade. No one ever complained that I screwed them!

Maryse: LOL!!! How long did it take you to write it? Did you have concerns with where the story was going? Any major changes from where you thought it was going to where it went?

Tina: I was sitting at my desk at work and these thoughts just kept bombarding me. I wrote a bit of Twilight naughty fan fic. It took me a year to write Love Unscripted. Once I started I couldn’t stop. My friends at work (KellyAnn and Janelle) were my muses. I’d run ideas past them and then they’d read my chapters. I’d write, edit, rewrite. First draft, Ryan and Taryn “hooked up” at the cabin. That is, until I gave them a reason not to.

Maryse: You tease!!!! You so made us wait. But you know me… I love the anticipation … makes it even more exciting when it finally happens!

Tina: I just thought their relationship went too fast, so I slowed it down. I wanted them to be invested as friends first. Come’ on reallly – in REAL life, how many dates does it take with a guy before he starts making his moves?

Maryse: YES!!! I pined for Ryan like she was… I loved how you could tell they were SO into each other, and still handled each other delicately when it came to “more”.

Tina: I just wanted that to be more than the proverbial “third date”. If Ryan would have gotten “in there” sooner, it would have turned into a “hit and run” and I wanted both of them to make a sound decision, knowing that his life is complicated.

Maryse: Right!! But the flirting, and little touches, and the assumption that even though they weren’t “together” that really everyone know they were and it was just a matter of time. LOVED that. Hooked me big time. Awesome job! Any other changes that surprised you along the way? Anything that made you agonize like we did?

Tina: I write on a timeline. I write “today, this happened and then tomorrow I have to deal with the repercussions of my decisions today” and so a lot surprised me. Let me think…

Maryse: So they literally “lived” day to day like we do… and their story bloomed as each day passed, in your head? Surprises along the way keep the story interesting and dynamic, and I have found lends itself to a more “real feel”.

Tina: Yes. That’s how I naturally write. I try to also visualize it all like a movie in my head. I also tried to write as if I was writing from Ryan’s POV as well, but you just don’t hear his voice.

Maryse: Did you know there would be a second part to their story from the start? Pre-fame for Taryn… and then full blown in his fame-world. It was fun to explore.

Tina: No. I had no concepts of the storyline when I started, as far as planning the entire thing. Chapter by chapter, I went deeper and deeper. Again, Twilight affected so many writers. Seeing their story (E&B) enfold over 4 thick books made me wonder what I could do. The Epilogue in Love Unrehearsed was the original ending to Love Unscripted. I wrote for fun. I wrote as a hobby; for that mental release. But as I wrote chapter by chapter, I went deep and deeper.

Maryse: Okay, so let’s talk about Mike, the 2nd heartthrob in the story. He had so many of us swooning like mad. I heard you might possibly write his and Marie’s story. I’d love to see that unfold, because I almost feel like we missed something big as they fell in love in the sidelines… and he is SOOOOOO my type of alpha-male hero.

Tina: So you swooned over Mike?

Maryse: YES. BIG TIME. He was a bit of a “one-word gruff answers” kind of guy, but he made me grin. Bossy thing! But that was his job after all. *heart*

Tina: There are several things happening in LU2. I did NOT want to tear Ryan and Taryn apart or have them question BEING together. I wanted them to STAY together and deal with the crap that we all go through when you stop being on your best behavior and start to show your true colors. Several things happening in LU2 while Ryan and Taryn are building their relationship. Keeping them intact, we have new marriage, divorce, and new love all in the same book unfolding around the main characters.

So Mike… I don’t want to aire anyone’s dirty laundry, but “Marie” and “Gary” are real people. “Marie” is my best bud and has been for the last 20 some years. Last year, “Gary” got a bit buttheaded and hurt my girl. Of course, I wanted to KILL HIM. Like literally KILL HIM, so I did – in the book. The real “Gary” made me chicken and killer ribs a few weeks ago, so all is good but at the time, I wanted to string him up.

Maryse: haha!! That saying that “you better not be mean or you’ll end up in my book” holds true, huh?

Tina: hell yeah.

Maryse: LOL! Does he know he played a major butt-head role in your book? What does he think of that? How about “Marie”? You certainly treated her wonderfully and gave her Mr. Perfect!!! *sigh*

Tina: “Marie” knows. And they both know that this is FICTION. The things that happened in LU2 DID NOT happen to them in real life. I want to make that clear. And he doesn’t read romance so we’re good there.

Maryse: Yep, considering the awesome food he made you… I came to that conclusion. It’s all good “real-Gary”!

Tina: The joke that “Marie” can make soup out of a rock and celery is real. I say that to her all the time. She’s an excellent cook.

Maryse: I loved that part!! Ok so… let’s talk about Thomas. I mean… you had two “sort of” villains, but not quite,  in the story. Guys that almost seem to be redeemable and have their own sad story to tell. Will you tell it, and how?

Tina: For Taryn to “move forward” she had to resolve her past. I think most women have a similar story to tell – that ONE that got away, broke your heart, made you feel like you were less than perfect…. For Taryn, Thomas was the Mr. Big. He was the crush, the unobtainable guy she craved for so long and then when she finally got him, she endured the crap. For her to move forward into a marriage with Ryan, she needed to close the book on Thomas once and for all.

Maryse: Face him and know there was nothing there. And I love that she found out what “really” happened that day. While it was obvious, it wasn’t what she made it to be in her head. But… I felt sad for him. I mean, I hated the pain he caused her… but. I’m so curious about him.

Tina: I’m 99.99% positive that ALL women have that one guy who dumped you and to this day you’d like to know EXACTLY why it happened. For most of us, it’s one of those things we’ll never know. I know some didn’t like him, but I think his story might be a good one to pursue one day.

Maryse: Yep… in our love stories, those bad-boys find that one woman… you know? Maybe Taryn wasn’t his…. even though he did love her, you can tell that. Some of those stories make the best angsty ones, into eventual BIG love. I’d certainly read his!

Tina: I think he made a stupid mistake out of anger.

Maryse: Right. Not really forgivable in a past relationship, I suppose, but doesn’t mean he can’t do better with a future one. Can you tell I’m trying to get you to write it? LOL!!!

Tina: After Adam… Adam is up on deck next. But Thomas may get his redemption book.

Maryse: YES!!!!  am So in for that!

Tina: I hope my readers noticed those motherly words of wisdom I layered in LU2. One of the things I wrote was: “Make sure the man loves you more than you love the man.” Thomas didn’t love her more than she loved him.

Maryse: I remember that one. But I want to think both Ryan and Taryn love each other the same. But I do get what you’re saying when it comes to Thomas. Or “…point yourself in the right direction”. OH YES!!!! I LOVED that!!

Tina: And “you can find trash on any street corner”. Mom was full of wisdom. She said that about the guy I was with before I met my husband. My mom passed in 2001 – Sept 3 – right before the twin towers.

Maryse: Her wisdom carries on and she lives in your writing. I love that you gave us her wisdom, too. You shared her with us. *hug*

So let’s talk dream-cast of characters. Do you have a fairly good idea that you’d like to share with us? If you could have any model or actor play your characters, who would they be?

Tina: Dream cast? Dream cast… hmmmm I hate to even start naming names as I don’t have any one particular actor/actress in mind. I tend to find hot male models who fit the bill. I have to think about that one these characters exist in my head they don’t have equals that I can just point a finger at. *note: See Pinterest* I just posted “Marie”. I’d love to see who my readers pick.

Maryse: hehe, I know!! I see them in your awesome Pinterest! What are you working on, or thinking of working on next?

Tina: Well, I’ve got 5 books started.. I’ve created a 3 book spinoff from the “Kyle Trent” character, giving him 3 other brothers: Adam, Jason, and Michael. They will be the Trent Brothers series. Adam’s book is written in dual first person past tense, switching from Adam to Erin Novak every other chapter. Adam’s book with the working title “Jacked” will be the next novel I publish. I am also working on a sci-fi romance series and book 1 is halfway done. The storyline for the movie “Slipknot” was the first book I started writing, which is another work in progress that I hope to finish one day.

Maryse: Great! I can’t wait to read them and I can’t wait to see where it all goes from here! I’m thrilled to have read your books, fallen in love with your hero, and met a wonderful and witty author in the process. Thank you so much, Tina, and I hope we can do this again soon!! *hug* You rock!!! LOVE to you!!!

Tina: Thanks Maryse! Hugs right back atcha! LOVE to you too! Thanks for all of your support!

Want to know more about Tina Reber? Find her here:

• Tina’s Pinterest
• Tina’s Twitter
• Tina’s Facebook Page
• Tina Reber’s Web Page

Okay so now it’s time for that e-book giveaway.  Tina is giving away one set of her ebooks (Love Unscripted & Love Unreheasrsed) in either Nook Or Kindle format.

How to enter for a chance to win it? Just leave a comment below, I will end the “contest” at 10pm EST tomorrow night (Tuesday September 18th 2012). I will randomly select one winner and I will contact the winner by email to confirm if you want the Nook or Kindle version. The winner will be contacted and the books will be sent to the appropriate Amazon or Nook account. NOTE: The “winner” will have 48 hours to respond to the winning email notification. If no response is received, I will randomly select another winner. Make sure to check your email, so you do not loose your chance. This is open to anyone that can receive these specific ebooks from either of these two companies. (for example, I’ve heard that book #2 is not yet available in the UK).