BooksChatter: ℚ Tapped: Brewing Passion [1]

Today we have the pleasure of meeting up with author Liz Crowe to talk about Tapped (14 February 2017, Totally Bound Publishing, 280 pages), a Contemporary Erotic Romance, book one of the Brewing Passion series.

"Liz Crowe writes intense true-to-life stories that make you feel. Whether it's anxiety, love, fear, hate, bliss, or loss woven into her plot lines, you will feel it deep down to your very soul." ~ Audrey Carlan, #1 New York Times Bestselling Author

"Liz Crowe is one of those rare authors who knows how to take the emotions of her characters and make them real for her readers, binding you to the story.” ~ International Best Selling Author Desiree Holt

|| Synopsis || Teaser: KCR Preview || Author Q&A || About the Author || Giveaway & Tour Stops ||

A very warm welcome to Liz Crowe; thank you for joining us on BooksChatter!

What was the inspiration for Tapped?

"I helped found and market a craft brewery here in Ann Arbor, Michigan. I found the world of breweries—something that was 100% new to me at the time—to be utterly fascinating and novel-worthy. So…I have written a bunch of novels set in it!

TAPPED is an enemies-to-lovers-Plus-One romance that pits a successful brewery owner against a sassy, confident beer sales woman. The “Plus One” is a cocky, somewhat prima donna brewer who knows the brewery owner from their time at the Munich Brewing Institute."

How much of yourself is reflected in this book, and how?

"Everything I learned by way of my personal journey to understand everything about the world of brewing is included here. Personally, I handled marketing and sales for our brews, which has its own complex set of rules, jargon and personalities. The brewers themselves are a whole different set of folks. I dove in headfirst, learning how to brew, how to set up a million-dollar plus business in a down economy, and how to bootstrap marketing, sales and promotion.

My first-hand experiences are reflected in the world-building in this novel but don’t worry! I had a great editor who helped me keep “the business” of the beer world as the (unique) background to the romance. "

The first thing that draws me to a book is its cover. Can you tell us about your cover for Tapped - why you chose that concept and who the artist is.

"Emmy Ellis with Totally Bound Publishing did a great job taking my “Please no man nipple/no headless bodies in a 3-way hug/ no side boob” guidance and created something I find wonderfully evocative and compelling. I am a big fan of covers that don’t give anything away but make you go…hmmmm….interesting…if the interior is as cool as the exterior, I want to read this!"

Why should we read Tapped and what sets it apart from the rest? What makes your book unique?

"Well, beer! I mean, you do not have to know a darn thing about beer or even like it (I don’t know anything about the worlds a lot of the books I enjoy are set in) to find this setting to be unique and interesting. I know that one of the things that appealed to the publisher who optioned it as a series starter was the way I made the world come alive as a backdrop for this romance.

Also, it’s smoking hot. I mean, “keep ice water nearby when you read it” hot. And while there surely are plenty of those books out there, I worked very hard with professional editors to make this book sexy in a way that isn’t the same old-same old, purple-prose, skip-it-read-it-a-million-times.

I tend to keep a healthy dose of reality in all of my books, even ones as inherently fantasy-driven as a “menage romance.” I think that readers will really find the strong men and their friendship that is both complemented and compromised by their mutual desire and eventually love for the same woman, a fresh take on the usual."

Can you tell us something quirky about Tapped, its story and characters?

"I think for most readers, diving into the “world” I have created—that of craft breweries, beer distributors, and small business ownership generally will be the quirkiest thing. But as I said before, I don’t overwhelm with unnecessary detail—I merely let the setting speak for itself in a way that will be a cool, new reading experience for many."

Who would you recommend Tapped to and what should readers be aware of (any warnings or disclaimers)?

"It’s without a doubt an adults-only book. The only warning would be to have something or someone nearby to help you take off the edge after you read some of my sexy scenes."

If you could / wished to turn Tapped and the Brewing Passion series into a movie, who would be your dream team?

"The cast would be:

Aaron Taylor-Johnson as Austin Fitzgerald.

Chris Hemsworth as Ross Hoffman.

Blake Lively as Evelyn Benedict.

And I’d keep Grand Rapids, Michigan and Denver, Colorado as the settings since both cities are steeped in breweries and beer history.

As for a director… Maybe Kenneth Longergan?"

What has been your greatest challenge as a writer?

"Staying motivated in the face of massive odds that feel stacked against my success. I’m a professional marketing person and have been for over 25 years. But this business really seems to defy any logical planning or predictions which is the most frustrating thing if you’re trying to plot a logical course of hard work that will lead to ultimate success. But I keep at it!"

What has been the toughest criticism given to you as an author? What has been the best compliment?

"The best compliment is one I get from readers and editors alike—that my books read like screenplays—they’re fast moving with realistic dialogue and many times contains completely unexpected twists of plot.

As for criticism…well, I have been told I’m “too realistic” sometimes…."

What is your writing process?

"I concoct the basics in my head for days, then open a blank document and start. Once I start, I rarely stop, which is not a method I necessarily recommend for your health and the welfare of the people around you. But it’s how I do it!"

What is in store next?

"This book is the first of a proposed series. Book 2 is now with the publisher.

LightStruck is a continuation of TAPPED (there is no cliffhanger, never fear) and is the full story of the “Plus One” guy, Ross Hoffman. Without giving anything away, suffice it to say that by the time you get to the end of TAPPED, you will really want all of these people to find happiness, including Ross! So I wrote him his own novel, which picks up pretty much a few weeks after TAPPED ends."

And as a final quirky thing, to get to know you a little bit better... do you have a pet or something that is special to you that you could share with us?