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Author Gail Pallotta grew up at the foothills of the North Carolina Mountains.
Gail will give away a Kindle copy of "Barely Above Water", and "Hair Calamities and Hot Cash" is on pre-order for .99 cents (the link is below).
Welcome to my blog, Gail. What is your newest book about?
A New York stockbroker, Philip, crashes his rental car into Eve Castleberry’s beauty shop in a mountain town in North Carolina. On the same day the young widow’s defective hair products cause wild hairdos. Philip’s attracted to the distraught top-notch hairstylist and asks her out.
She starts dating him, but stops because she falls too hard for a wayfarer who’ll leave and break her heart. When there’s another catastrophe in the shop, Philip comes to Eve’s rescue and convinces her to go out as friends. Later he solicits her help to find the thieves who stole his client’s cash.
Then they trail two of the FBI’s most-wanted criminals. Romance blossoms amid danger, suspense and Eve’s hair-brained plan to get back the money.
Where did you get your inspiration for this novel?
My mother’s beauty shop in a small town at the foothills of the North Carolina Mountains inspired it. Her shop echoed the warm, friendly atmosphere of the community. Clients discussed what to do about world affairs and everything in between, including family relations, births, deaths and weddings. They planned showers, graduation parties and get-togethers for new neighbors while my mother shampooed and rolled hair. They had close friends, acquaintances, people they tolerated and those they kept at a distance. As in most areas where everyone knows everyone else, they gossiped and could be nosey.
However, when someone grieved for a loved one, suffered from an illness or any other crisis, prayers went up and casseroles went out no matter whether the person was a best friend or someone held at a distance. They all were God’s children.
What kind of research did you do for this book?
Techniques and supplies for beauty shops have changed over the years, so that required research. However, the ambiance of a beauty shop remains pretty much the same. As far as the setting, I borrowed from the atmosphere of the town where I grew up, but set the book at a higher elevation to allow for breathtaking views.
What intrigues you most about writing these stories?
Many things about writing interests me. However, if I’m selecting one, I’ll say the characters. It’s fun to see how they change from the beginning of the story to the end and to find out what predicaments they’ll get themselves into.
Tell us a bit about your other books.
I wrote "Barely Above Water" to give people a better understanding of Chronic Lyme Disease. At the same time, I wanted the book to be upbeat, so I added a romance and a fun, kids’ swim team. It is a Reader’s Favorite 2017 Book Award winner. In the book an illness comes out of nowhere and strikes Suzie Morris. Her boyfriend dumps her. She has no living family, and her physician can’t diagnose the malady. Suzie relies on her Christian faith as she faces the uncertainty of the disease, and turns to a renowned alternative doctor in Destin, Florida. She takes a job coaching a county-sponsored summer swim team. She’s determined to turn the fun, sometimes comical, rag-tag bunch into winners. Her handsome boss renews her belief in love, but learns of her mysterious affliction and abruptly cuts romantic ties. Later he has regrets, but can he overcome
his fear of losing a loved one and regain Suzie’s trust?
I have two novellas that are part of a series.
"Mountain of Love and Danger" is book five in the Fairwilde Fairy Tale series. It’s a retelling of Jack and the Beanstalk. Jack’s girlfriend has been kidnapped and taken to a mountain accessible only by helicopter. He must figure out how to scale the dangerous cliff, pry her from the giant- sized man holding her captive and bring her back to safety.
The other novella is "Breaking Barriers", book number eight in Prism Book Group’s "Love Is..."series. In this romantic suspense, the church is under attack. Ann Jones forms True Light Guardians to keep it safe from terrorists. She’s attacked, but rescued by James Crawford. The love inside him seeps into her heart, cold from her father’s abuse. However, she narrowly escapes more attempts on her life, and James can’t cope with losing her. He breaks up with her. Then an unlikely ally brings them together, but he puts all three of them in danger.
I also have a book of poems and short stories, "Messages: Poems and Short Stories to Live By". A nice gift book, it offers inspiration for our hectic times in straight-forward poems for happy and sad days. It features three stories. Getting the Goat peeks into the early 1900s when mountain
life was tough. In Stitches in Love Rose's deep love for her grandmother motivates others to share their gifts. Robert Horner is tempted in The Stranger, but does he succumb to the lure?
When you have time to read, who are some of your favorite authors?
That’s a difficult question because I love to read. I’m not a genre person. Even though I lean toward mystery and suspense, I find pleasure in any good story. I’ve read and enjoyed books by many authors. Some Christian fiction bestsellers I read include James Scott Bell, Nancy Mehl and Loree Lough.
Let’s get personal for a moment:
What is your favorite meal? Fresh fish, especially grouper, red snapper, halibut or cod.
What city would you love to visit and why? Honolulu, Hawaii. I love the sea and tropical places.
To learn more about Gail, visit her website at gailpallotta.com. You’ll find all her books and buy links at this site.
Readers, "Hair Calamities and Hot Cash" is on pre-order on Amazon for only .99 cents for a limited time.
Thank you for visiting, Gail. Best wishes on your new book and in your writing career. Please come back again soon and visit "the World", it is always a joy to chat with you!
