Wednesday, April 25, 2012

5 Easy Questions with Talli Roland!


Every Wednesday, I ask a writer the same five easy questions. In an effort to support and promote fellow wordsmiths, I feature authors who write a variety of genres, from sweet inspirational to mainstream thrillers. The writers themselves may be aspiring, published, or best-selling--all have made an impact on my life.

Thank you for joining me in welcoming…Talli Roland!!

I met Talli through blogging. I smile every time I stop by her blog. Talli has a delicious sense of humor, and her warm personality always improves my day. I’m so happy to share Talli’s latest book news—Construct a Couple, the second book in the Serenity Holland series—is coming out next month! Yay!

Let’s get to it!

1. Beverage of choice?

I think anyone who knows me will be able to answer that question in a heartbeat: wine! Any kind! The cheaper the better! If I have the option of choosing, my two favourites are Pinot Grigio and Merlot. I’m also quite partial to a good kir and some bubbly, if it’s available.

2. Any pets?

Sigh. No. I’d love to have a cat, but we live in a central London flat with no outdoor space. Not only that, but our windows don’t have screens (typical in Europe) and they open onto a balcony which runs the length of the old Victorian terrace in which we live. Kitty would be able to scamper up and down the 150-metre terrace, popping in and out of flats at random – great life for a cat until it gets trapped!

3. Dream vacation?

I think I’ve already taken it! For my and Mr TR’s honeymoon, we travelled to a small island off the coast of Croatia. It was absolutely glorious: no cars are allowed; you need to walk over a mountain on a path through pines to get to the beach on the other side; and the water was crystal clear. We stayed in a small inn on the side of the mountain and every morning we’d wake up to a view of the harbour with sailboats drifting in. Bliss.

4. What are you listening to right now?

It’s Sunday morning and I’m filling my ears with Chopin on BBC Radio 3. Weekend mornings are all about classical music for me – there’s something so low-key and relaxing about it.

5. What's for dinner?

Mr TR is away in Japan right now and I honestly can’t be bothered cooking for myself, so tonight it will be mac and cheese. Classy, I know.

***

Talli—you? Wine? I never would have guessed! Ha! I love Pinot Grigio but find Merlot a bit dry. Cabernet Sauvignon is my fave! I agree with you on the kitty issue. What if some old lady in your building decided to close her windows for good? With Kitty inside? We can’t let that happen!

I’m drooling over your dream vacation. And to think you’ve made it happen! Just the thought of a beach, sailboats drifting, and no cars is enough to slow my pulse. Sounds lovely. Your Sunday tradition of classical music is also a fabulous idea. I’ve been loving an old John Coltrane CD all week, and I agree, low-key and relaxing are vital! By the way, Mac and Cheese is always classy. Thanks so much for being my guest today!

***
Construct a Couple

With a great job at a reputable magazine and a man who’s the perfect match, Serenity Holland thinks she’s laid the foundation for an ideal London life. When a routine assignment uncovers a shocking secret threatening her boyfriend’s company, Serenity decides to leave nothing to chance, taking matters into her own hands. Soon, though, she realises keeping secrets isn't as easy as she thought . . . and the consequences are far worse than she ever imagined.
***
Talli Roland writes fun, romantic fiction. Born and raised in Canada, Talli now lives in London, where she savours the great cultural life (coffee and wine). Despite training as a journalist, Talli soon found she preferred making up her own stories—complete with happy endings. Talli’s debut novel The Hating Game was short-listed for Best Romantic Read at the UK’s Festival of Romance, while her second, Watching Willow Watts, was selected as an Amazon Customer Favourite. Her novels have also been chosen as top books of the year by industry review websites and have been bestsellers in Britain and the United States. Build A Man is her latest release. You can learn more about Talli at her website, her blog, by following her on Facebook, and on Twitter. To purchase her books, head to Talli’s Amazon page!

Do you ever listen to classical music? What relaxes you on weekends?

Have an amazing Wednesday!

98 comments:

  1. Yay! Thank you so much for hosting me on your blog, Jill! :)

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    1. Double yay for agreeing to be my guest, Talli! And I'm SO glad my blog is posting at the right time again. :)

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    2. Were you having trouble getting your blog to post too, Jill? My scheduler hasn't been working...how did you fix it?

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  2. That vacation sounds amazing! What a special way to spend your honeymoon. Maybe I can talk Carl into something like that for our ten-year anniversary ... or maybe the twentieth ;-)

    Typical American question here - don't you have horrific problems with bugs without window screens? Our house would be filled with flies and bees (and mosquitos at the right time of year) in seconds if we tried opening our windows without screens.

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    1. Louise, it was amazing!

      Funnily enough, we only have issues with black flies - and even then, it's nothing like back in Canada (where I grew up). There are very few mosquitoes or anything else around!

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  3. Yay for Talli and her mac and cheese!! Huge congrats with Construct a Couple!! Take care
    x

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  4. I'm not much of a classical music buff. I prefer silence, which is difficult to find when you have a three-year-old :)

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  5. I love the sound of your dream vacation Talli. I can't wait until your new novel comes out to read it, I loved the first one!

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  6. Your vacation sounded amazing. I've only been to mainland Croatia but that was pretty special in itself. And Squizz reckons you should get yourself a squirrel - they're much better company than Kitty cats and can pick locks! Good luck with Construct a Couple when it comes out next month! x

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    1. Kath, did you get to Dubrovnik? It's a beautiful city!

      And I reckon Squizz would never get trapped in the first place. :)

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    2. This is true - it's hard to pin down a squirrel with his quick reflexes. Speed cameras have tried and failed.

      And yes, I did get to Dubrovnik - amazingly beautiful city. I loved it!

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  7. Cracking up about "the cheaper the better" comment. I have a sweet tooth. Riesling for me. Fun interview!
    ~ Wendy

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    1. Wendy, I'm not fussy! I do like Riesling, too.

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  8. I love classical music. The soundtrack to the newest Pride & Prejudice movie is to die for. And what? The weekends are for relaxing? Who'da thunk it? :) Just kidding. I like to read and watch movies.

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    1. Lindsay, I've never listened to the soundtrack of Pride and Prejudice! I must give it a try.

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  9. Croatia sounds like Heaven. I used to indulge in Gurwertztriminer (or however you spell it). I like sweet wine. Can't wait to read Construct a Couple. Serenity is so much fun.

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    1. Thank you, Anne! Serenity definitely gets herself into some more scrapes... but for much better reasons this time!

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  10. Wow, what a vacation! I think I would love to visit some day.

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  11. Oh, your dream vacation must have been perfection! I'll toast you with my next glass of wine. Congrats on your success.

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  12. Hi, Talli & Jill,
    The thought of being somewhere where no motor vehicles are allowed sounds like heaven. I'll look out for Construct a Couple, which reminds me of something I still haven't done. :(

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    1. Thank you! :) And the no motor vehicles was AMAZING.

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  13. Fun interview Jill and Talli.

    Wow, your #3 sounds fantastic. I never would have thought islands near Croatia for a dream vacation.

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  14. Lovely blog,Jill - and Talli is a lovely guest, as always. What a lovely holiday retreat, Talli! I love classical music too (Baroque period), and my Saturday croissant.

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    1. Thank you, Rosemary. And aren't Saturday mornings the best?

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  15. Construct a Couple is a great follow up title to Build A Man! Yum, wine and mac and cheese!

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    1. I love wine and mac and cheese! Thanks for dropping by, Margo.

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  16. Hi Talli!! I recognized that blonde hair in my dashboard. :-) I didn't even know there were islands near Croatia. lol And what's Kir? Never heard of it. But wine...yes, I do love me some white wine.
    Lovely interview, ladies. Congrats on your book coming out!

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    1. Hi Jessica! Kir is a delicious mixture of cassis liqueur and white wine. Yum yum yum.

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  17. Hello Jill! I just found you over at Talli's place and this is such a great idea with the questions. Love getting to know my fave's better. :-)

    Talli, that honeymoon sounds so dreamy! Oh and yes...mac and cheese is always classy. Add a glass of Merlot and voila!

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    1. Thanks, Tracy! :)

      And yes, it was the perfect honeymoon. Dreamy is the right word for it!

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  18. Oooh! You live in London? I studied there and have returned quite a few times. Ohhh, my heart is swooning right now...nostalgia.

    Okay, that's out of the way.

    What relaxes me on weekends are good movies, good friends and quality time with my pillow. :)

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    1. Hi Melissa! Yup, I've been here for eight years now... I'm a Canadian transplant. I love living here, and I'm now a British citizen, too!

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  19. What a lovely and fresh place to visit, Jill. :-) I enjoyed perusing some of your archives too.

    Talli, since you're a Connoisseur of cupcakes, is there a special wine that goes with cupcakes? I like wine now and then, coffee is my drink of choice, followed by iced tea. If I'm in the mood for alcohol, it's generally sipping a good scotch whiskey.

    My husband's family would listen to easy crooners (Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, etc. I love instrumental music--Classical Spanish guitar, and music by David Lanz or Arkenstone. I'm mood driven so you never know what I'll be listening to.

    Congratulations on the new book!

    Sia McKye OVER COFFEE

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    1. Hi Sia! Thanks for coming over!

      Hm... a special wine with cupcakes? Can I say a velvety red... like Red Velvet... maybe a Cabernet Sauvignon? :)

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  20. Just wanted to pop in and welcome all of the new faces! Thank you SO much for coming to my blog!

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  21. Great to meet you, Talli! Fun interview, Jill!

    Hey, mac and cheese can be a feast!
    Love your dream vacation, Talli.

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    1. Mac and cheese and wine sound good to me!

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    2. Hi Loree! Mac and cheese is always so satisfying!

      Elizabeth, it's always good.

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  22. Oh, that honeymoon trip sounds wonderful!

    What? Mr. TR didn't take you with him? I'd love to go back to Japan.

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    1. Donna, it was a work trip... sigh. Maybe one day! He was gone for a quick four days (and two days flying). Ugh!

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  23. Thanks for introducing us to Talli, Jill. I'm another fan of classical music and listen to it when I write. It transports me into my story world, taking me back in time and inspiring me at the same time.

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    1. There is something so absorbing about classical music, isn't there? It really draws you in and calms the mind. Thanks for dropping by, Keli!

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  24. Talli is one of my absolute favorite people on the blogosophere - definitely someone to kick back with and drink a glass (or multiple glasses) or wine! And mac and cheese can be super classy if you make it with truffle oil and breadcrumbs :)

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    1. Aw, thanks so much, Julie! One day you'll need to come to London and we can have wine. :)

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    2. I like the way you think, Julie! And I agree--Talli is a gem. :)

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  25. Here's to some super sales on your book, Talli. And here's to some extra-special wine to celebrate.

    Loved the 5 Easy Questions and the answers to them.

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    1. Thank you! I'm always up for extra-special wine! :)

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  26. Love Talli! Merlot and mac, rock on!

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    1. Thank you, Amy! Merlot and mac is a fab combo.

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  27. I'm looking forward to reading Serenity's next adventure!

    Your dream vacation/honeymoon sounds totally awesome :)

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    1. I agree, Carol--on both counts! It's a dreary day here, and that Croatia keeps sounding better and better...

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    2. Thank you, Carol! It was fantastic!

      (Jill, sorry I'm just popping by now!) :)

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    3. Oops, sorry, that was the other me!

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  28. Jill, Thanks for the fun interview with Talli! Your honeymoon sounds like a perfect setting for one of you novels! I love macaroni and cheese, and still consider it cooking! I'm so excited for Construct A Couple! It's amazing how you can write your books faster than I can read them! Julie

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    1. Ooo, good idea, setting a novel there! Nice!

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    2. Julie, every time I think about how perfect it was, I enter a trance state. It makes writing very hard!

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  29. You don't have a screen? What about bugs??? I'd be eaten alive! There's goes my plan to write in Paris...

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    1. I live in Michigan, Theresa, and I'm pretty sure the mosquito should be our state bird rather than the robin. :(

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    2. Hardly any bugs in the European cities, so you'd be safe in Paris. And now that I think about it, none of my flats in Poland had screens either and there weren't any bugs!

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  30. Oh, I could so go for some Merlot and a little low-key music right now. :) Great interview!

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    1. It's only 10:30 am, and yet, I could go for both right now too. :)

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    2. Merlot and music is always a good mix, Carrie!

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  31. I think you have had the perfect vacation! That's a great honeymoon! And I'm shocked wine was your favourite drink - shocked! :P

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    1. I thought it sounded like the perfect vacay too!

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    2. I know, Jemi, I'm sure I shocked a lot of people with thagt response, hehe!

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  32. Like the sound of your honeymoon Talli, what a glorious time that would have been. Hope you revisit soon! That was so surprising - wine? My fave's champers any time. Don't go for reds, though my husband loves them, Merlot, Cab Sav - erk!

    Great Five Questions.

    Denise

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    1. No reds? I like a nice, crisp white. :) Thanks!

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    2. Hi Denise! I don't mind reds, but in the summer when it's warm, I love a nice cold white. Yum.

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  33. What a wonderful honeymoon! Sounds like a beautiful getaway. The Q & A was fun.

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  34. This is fabulous. I hope you get a cat one day Talli, and I'm so jealous about your honeymoon location, I think I'm physically green with envy! I've never been big on wine, but I love me a strawberry margarita!

    Wonderful interview Jill! So good to find your blog! You sound wonderful!

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    1. Strawberry margarita? Are you trying to make me drool? Ha! Too bad my body rejects Tequila. I do like a nice dacquiri, though!

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    2. I love tequila in all its many forms! :) And I hope I get a cat one day, too!

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  35. That's pretty cool to have already taken your dream vacation! Not many people can say that. I have Build-a-Man on my Kindle and can't wait to read it!

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    1. I know, right? I have several dream vacations to take still...

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    2. It really was an amazing vacation! And I'm so pleased to hear you have Build A Man on your Kindle, yay! I hope you enjoy it!

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  36. My Dad goes to Croatia every year. The way you make it sound, I can see why he goes there!

    I use to play Chopin when I was a writer living in my solitary cacoon in London. I miss that period when I polished my desk space each morning before typing, and opened my mail with a real fancy letter-opener. I don't seem to do that any more here in the states. Hmm. It's all these rockstars hanging around me these days!

    Good luck with your latest novel!

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    1. Chopin? I'm guessing you play piano? Sounds lovely! And what rock stars are we talking about, Jacqueline? Enquiring minds want to know! Ha!

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    2. Yes, do tell, Jacqueline! :)

      I love Chopin - there's something so calming about it!

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  37. Thanks for the fantastic interview! Your honeymoon sounds AMAZING!! Wow!

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  38. Jill, a massive thanks again for hosting me, and to everyone who's commented here! What a great blog to visit. :)

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    1. Talli, you have some fabulous friends--I'm thrilled to meet them here! And I'm glad some of my friends could join the party to meet you. ;)

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  39. Wow! I'm a little late to the party, but I'll take some of that Pinot Grigio. I want to go on your dream vacation that sounds amazing!

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  40. Your honeymoon sounds fantastic. Wine? You like wine? ROFL. Talli, it's wine o'clock here, as I type. Cheers! I have a glass of village red, brewed by my friend's grandfather. Yum and free!

    Shame about the cat situation. We have one, and she thinks she is dog number five in our house.

    Jill, thanks for the interview. Talli is a special person in my life, she helped me achieve my debut novel goal. A super friend.

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    1. Aw, Glynis, it does not surprise me to hear Talli helped you reach your goal. That's awesome!! Congrats!!

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  41. Thanks, Ladies! it's nice to get to know Talli a bit better. Mac and cheese - well, why not? Love it!

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  42. What a great place for a honeymoon! Hope the mac/cheese was great. LOL

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  43. Great Q&A!

    Croatia's definitely got some beautiful places to see. I'd love to go there myself sometime down the line.

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