Thank you for joining us on the Virtual Book Tour for Chance for Rain, a Chick Lit Romance by Tricia Downing (27 July 2018, Front Street Press, 299 pages). 
Don't miss our interview with author Tricia Downing.PREVIEW: Check out the book's synopsis, the Kindle Cloud Reader Preview, and our Exclusive Excerpt below.
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Author Tricia Downing will be awarding a $50 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner via Rafflecopter during the tour. Please do take part: comment on our post and follow the tour where you will be able to read other excerpts (☀), interviews (ℚ), reviews (✍) and guest blog posts (✉).
|| Synopsis || Teaser: KCR Preview || Teaser: Exclusive Excerpt || Author Q&A || About the Author || Giveaway & Tour Stops ||
Synopsis
Elite athlete Rainey Abbott is an intense competitor on the outside, but inside, she feels a daunting apprehension about her chances of finding true love. Her life as a downhill skier and race car driver keeps her on the edge, but her love life is stuck in neutral. A tragedy from her past has left her feeling insecure and unlovable.Now that she's in her thirties, Rainey's best friend Natalie insists she take a leap and try online dating. Rainey connects with brian85 and becomes cautiously hopeful as a natural attraction grows between them. Fearful a face to face meeting could ruin the magic, Rainey enlists Natalie to scheme up an encounter between the two where Brian is unaware he is meeting his online mystery woman. Rainey is left feeling both guilty about the deception and disappointed by something Brian says.
When they finally meet in earnest, Rainey's insecurities threaten to derail the blossoming romance. As she struggles with self-acceptance, she reveals the risks we all must take to have a chance for love.
Teaser: KCR Preview
Teaser: Exclusive Excerpt
"I’d like to share this excerpt of Rainey and Brian creating the playlist of their relationship" ~ Tricia Downing
When I get home, I give myself a long look in the mirror. Even after five hours of being out, I still look pretty good. I wish Brian could see me in this dress. I know in this modern age, I could easily take a picture and send it to him tonight or we could even Skype, but then I remember last week’s trip to the hair salon where I began the journey back to my normal hair color. It’s not quite back to the blonde it was before, but it’s definitely not the chocolate brown by which he’s come to know me.
I slip out of my dress and put on an XL t-shirt. I hate to disappoint him, but I don’t sleep in sexy lingerie. I mean, does any woman do that when a man is not on the other side of the bed? It simply isn’t comfortable. Or practical. It’s either a tee or nothing. Come to think of it, most men would probably prefer nothing anyway.
I’m nervous. I don’t know why. It’s not like we’re meeting in person, but I feel like he’s going to ask questions I won’t want to answer, and it seems harder to avoid answering when he’s there in real time waiting for a reply.
I log onto MFEO and check to see if he’s online. He answers immediately.
Are you home now?
Yeah, I just walked in the door.
I have often been called out on the fact that I still use the words walked and walking—like we walked here, or I just walked in the door, but it’s habit. And besides, one can get the point. In a wheelchair, the more accurate comparison to walking is pushing, as in I just pushed a mile to the store, but it’s just as easy to say walk. Misleading, maybe. But, it’s not an unusual statement.
How was the night out?
My night out was fun. Had some sushi, talked to some folks.
Meet any cute guys?
No. By default, I did get stuck talking to a guy, but I definitely wasn’t into him. By the time you’re our age, you can size people up pretty quickly. And he wasn’t the one.
Well, that’s good to hear. I guess that means I have made the cut?
So far. But don’t mess up.
I’m trying to be on my best behavior, but sometimes it’s hard only being able to sit back and wonder what you are thinking when you read my messages. How do I know you’re not making gagging noises as you read through what I’ve written?
You know this because I write you back!
Okay, good point.
What did you do tonight?
I decided to pick up my nephew and take him to the movies. Casey’s at that awkward age, about to get his license, but not quite there, so a night out consists of asking his dad to drive him and his buddies somewhere. It makes him crazy to have to do that, and I think being his uncle instead of his dad, he feels more like he can relax and have a guys’ night out without his dad overseeing the whole thing. Plus, he’s good at opening up to me and talking about what’s on his mind. The funny thing is he wanted to talk about girls and dating. I hardly feel like an expert on the subject, so I don’t know what light I could shed on his crush on some girl named Rachel.
Well, despite the fact that you are not currently hitched, I’d like to believe you still have more experience than a soon-to-be sixteen-year-old.
Good point. I gave him the best advice I could.
I smile at Brian’s honesty.
Can I ask you something?
Sure. Shoot.
Do you sing in the shower?
Huh, I think to myself? I’m braced for some deep, probing question and he asks about singing in the shower. Where did that come from?
Just wondering. Are you going to answer the question?
Doesn’t everyone sing in the shower?
Why is it that when you don’t want to answer a question, you always reply with another question?
Busted. He’s picked up on my tactics. Yes, I sing in the shower. But that’s because I live alone and I can. I always turn my music on in the morning when I’m getting ready for work.
What’s your favorite shower song?
Hmmm … that’s a tough question. What do you sing in the shower?
Well, I think I’d have to list one of my all-time favorites as AC/DC, Back in Black. Now stop answering questions with more questions. What’s your favorite?
Reading that, I can’t believe that we’re both AC/DC-in-the-shower-listeners. What are the odds?
Okay … it depends on my mood, but, not to be a copycat, just the other morning I started my day off with AC/DC too, Shook Me All Night Long. That’s a good scream in the shower kind of song. Happy now?
I am, actually. And happy to know we have something in common. I suppose that means we could get along in the shower, if nothing else.
Works for me, I won’t argue with that.
I think about us taking a shower together. In his mind, I know he’s imagining a tall, thin, naked woman, plastered against the length of his body, and again I feel as if I’d be a disappointment to him. This conversation is getting a lot less fun. But he’s none the wiser, so he keeps at it.
OK, what’s your favorite song to listen to when you work out?
That’s easy. I’m a Rocky fan. Eye of the Tiger. You?
Lose Yourself—Eminem.
OK, my turn. Best car tune?
Bugs Bunny.
Remember how you said you didn’t like how you couldn’t tell if I was making gagging noises? Let me end the suspense. I’m making them now.
OK, best car tune … I Love Rock n Roll—Joan Jett.
Not bad, I’ll go with that. 500 Miles—The Pretenders.
What about best song to play at work?
I’m pretty much stuck with “the wheels on the bus go ‘round and ‘round …” First graders, you know?
Right. I like to listen to a little jazz or something without words when I work, so I don’t find myself singing along instead of putting words to paper.
I pause a second too long as I wait for another question to come to mind, which doesn’t happen. Instead, he says,
Maybe we could make a whole playlist of our favorite songs. Our soundtrack. Then we will have something to think of each other until you’re ready to meet.
I like that idea. It’s sort of romantic, for a guy and all. OK, what is the one song that reminds you of high school?
Sweet Child of Mine—Guns N’ Roses. You?
Oops! … I did it Again – Britney Spears. Best happy song?
Well, Happy. Duh! Pharrell Williams.
I Gotta Feeling—Black Eyed Peas. What about the best breakup song?
We haven’t even met yet, and you’re already talking about breaking up?
A girl can’t be too prepared, I type. Then I sit back and think about it. Brian probably thinks I’m being funny. How can he know that’s what I think about most? What happens if we meet and things don’t go well? As hard as I try to push the thought to the back of my mind, it continually resurfaces.
If you insist, but I prefer to think we’re going to hit it off. How about Here Without You—3 Doors Down?
I’m thinking a woman’s version of angry. You Outta Know—Alanis Morissette.
Yes, that is angry, isn’t it? OK … our theme song?
Oh boy. What do I answer to this one?
Thinking of songs on the spur of the moment is hard. You’ve got me backed into a corner, so I am going to default to a song from a movie my mom used to call her guilty pleasure. One of the top pop culture love songs of her twenties—The Time of My Life, from Dirty Dancing.
Cheesy, but I like it. I like that you like it … for us.
All I can do is smile. I have no idea what to say in return, so I stumble and think for a second. And before I can type anything else:
May?
Yeah?
He suddenly changes direction on me. How many other guys are you currently corresponding with?
Funny thing is, yours was the first and only profile I responded to. I’ve gotten a few other messages from people who have responded to my profile, but all of those messages have ended up in the trash. I hate to be cliché, but you had me at hello. I liked what you wrote in your profile. It made an impression on me. How about you?
I’ve been online for the past few months. Talked to a few women. Had a couple of dates. But I like you. At least the part of you you’ve let me get to know. I hope we can meet soon. I know you didn’t want to jump into anything but think about it. I don’t want to rush you, but at the same time, my curiosity is getting the better of me.
You know what curiosity did to the cat don’t you?
I do. And I’m willing to risk it.
I slip out of my dress and put on an XL t-shirt. I hate to disappoint him, but I don’t sleep in sexy lingerie. I mean, does any woman do that when a man is not on the other side of the bed? It simply isn’t comfortable. Or practical. It’s either a tee or nothing. Come to think of it, most men would probably prefer nothing anyway.
I’m nervous. I don’t know why. It’s not like we’re meeting in person, but I feel like he’s going to ask questions I won’t want to answer, and it seems harder to avoid answering when he’s there in real time waiting for a reply.
I log onto MFEO and check to see if he’s online. He answers immediately.
Are you home now?
Yeah, I just walked in the door.
I have often been called out on the fact that I still use the words walked and walking—like we walked here, or I just walked in the door, but it’s habit. And besides, one can get the point. In a wheelchair, the more accurate comparison to walking is pushing, as in I just pushed a mile to the store, but it’s just as easy to say walk. Misleading, maybe. But, it’s not an unusual statement.
How was the night out?
My night out was fun. Had some sushi, talked to some folks.
Meet any cute guys?
No. By default, I did get stuck talking to a guy, but I definitely wasn’t into him. By the time you’re our age, you can size people up pretty quickly. And he wasn’t the one.
Well, that’s good to hear. I guess that means I have made the cut?
So far. But don’t mess up.
I’m trying to be on my best behavior, but sometimes it’s hard only being able to sit back and wonder what you are thinking when you read my messages. How do I know you’re not making gagging noises as you read through what I’ve written?
You know this because I write you back!
Okay, good point.
What did you do tonight?
I decided to pick up my nephew and take him to the movies. Casey’s at that awkward age, about to get his license, but not quite there, so a night out consists of asking his dad to drive him and his buddies somewhere. It makes him crazy to have to do that, and I think being his uncle instead of his dad, he feels more like he can relax and have a guys’ night out without his dad overseeing the whole thing. Plus, he’s good at opening up to me and talking about what’s on his mind. The funny thing is he wanted to talk about girls and dating. I hardly feel like an expert on the subject, so I don’t know what light I could shed on his crush on some girl named Rachel.
Well, despite the fact that you are not currently hitched, I’d like to believe you still have more experience than a soon-to-be sixteen-year-old.
Good point. I gave him the best advice I could.
I smile at Brian’s honesty.
Can I ask you something?
Sure. Shoot.
Do you sing in the shower?
Huh, I think to myself? I’m braced for some deep, probing question and he asks about singing in the shower. Where did that come from?
Just wondering. Are you going to answer the question?
Doesn’t everyone sing in the shower?
Why is it that when you don’t want to answer a question, you always reply with another question?
Busted. He’s picked up on my tactics. Yes, I sing in the shower. But that’s because I live alone and I can. I always turn my music on in the morning when I’m getting ready for work.
What’s your favorite shower song?
Hmmm … that’s a tough question. What do you sing in the shower?
Well, I think I’d have to list one of my all-time favorites as AC/DC, Back in Black. Now stop answering questions with more questions. What’s your favorite?
Reading that, I can’t believe that we’re both AC/DC-in-the-shower-listeners. What are the odds?
Okay … it depends on my mood, but, not to be a copycat, just the other morning I started my day off with AC/DC too, Shook Me All Night Long. That’s a good scream in the shower kind of song. Happy now?
I am, actually. And happy to know we have something in common. I suppose that means we could get along in the shower, if nothing else.
Works for me, I won’t argue with that.
I think about us taking a shower together. In his mind, I know he’s imagining a tall, thin, naked woman, plastered against the length of his body, and again I feel as if I’d be a disappointment to him. This conversation is getting a lot less fun. But he’s none the wiser, so he keeps at it.
OK, what’s your favorite song to listen to when you work out?
That’s easy. I’m a Rocky fan. Eye of the Tiger. You?
Lose Yourself—Eminem.
OK, my turn. Best car tune?
Bugs Bunny.
Remember how you said you didn’t like how you couldn’t tell if I was making gagging noises? Let me end the suspense. I’m making them now.
OK, best car tune … I Love Rock n Roll—Joan Jett.
Not bad, I’ll go with that. 500 Miles—The Pretenders.
What about best song to play at work?
I’m pretty much stuck with “the wheels on the bus go ‘round and ‘round …” First graders, you know?
Right. I like to listen to a little jazz or something without words when I work, so I don’t find myself singing along instead of putting words to paper.
I pause a second too long as I wait for another question to come to mind, which doesn’t happen. Instead, he says,
Maybe we could make a whole playlist of our favorite songs. Our soundtrack. Then we will have something to think of each other until you’re ready to meet.
I like that idea. It’s sort of romantic, for a guy and all. OK, what is the one song that reminds you of high school?
Sweet Child of Mine—Guns N’ Roses. You?
Oops! … I did it Again – Britney Spears. Best happy song?
Well, Happy. Duh! Pharrell Williams.
I Gotta Feeling—Black Eyed Peas. What about the best breakup song?
We haven’t even met yet, and you’re already talking about breaking up?
A girl can’t be too prepared, I type. Then I sit back and think about it. Brian probably thinks I’m being funny. How can he know that’s what I think about most? What happens if we meet and things don’t go well? As hard as I try to push the thought to the back of my mind, it continually resurfaces.
If you insist, but I prefer to think we’re going to hit it off. How about Here Without You—3 Doors Down?
I’m thinking a woman’s version of angry. You Outta Know—Alanis Morissette.
Yes, that is angry, isn’t it? OK … our theme song?
Oh boy. What do I answer to this one?
Thinking of songs on the spur of the moment is hard. You’ve got me backed into a corner, so I am going to default to a song from a movie my mom used to call her guilty pleasure. One of the top pop culture love songs of her twenties—The Time of My Life, from Dirty Dancing.
Cheesy, but I like it. I like that you like it … for us.
All I can do is smile. I have no idea what to say in return, so I stumble and think for a second. And before I can type anything else:
May?
Yeah?
He suddenly changes direction on me. How many other guys are you currently corresponding with?
Funny thing is, yours was the first and only profile I responded to. I’ve gotten a few other messages from people who have responded to my profile, but all of those messages have ended up in the trash. I hate to be cliché, but you had me at hello. I liked what you wrote in your profile. It made an impression on me. How about you?
I’ve been online for the past few months. Talked to a few women. Had a couple of dates. But I like you. At least the part of you you’ve let me get to know. I hope we can meet soon. I know you didn’t want to jump into anything but think about it. I don’t want to rush you, but at the same time, my curiosity is getting the better of me.
You know what curiosity did to the cat don’t you?
I do. And I’m willing to risk it.
Chance for Rain
Available NOW!
About the Author
Paralympian, Speaker, Author, Disability Advocate
On September 17, 2000, Tricia Downing went from being a competitive cyclist to a paraplegic requiring a wheelchair for mobility. Her life was changed forever, but Tricia’s competitive spirit and zest for life continued on. Making the transition from able-bodied cyclist to an athlete with a disability, Tricia has completed over 100 races, including marathons and triathlons, since her accident. She was the first female paraplegic to complete an Ironman triathlon and qualified for the Hawaii Ironman World Championship twice. Additionally, she was a member of Team USA at the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Tricia’s professional life has been immersed in sports as she earned a master’s degree in Sport Management in 1995 and worked at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. She was the press officer for the USA Table Tennis team at the 1996 Olympic Games.
She has received many sports accolades, including the USA Triathlon Physically Challenged Athlete of the Year (2003), Sportswomen of Colorado—Inspiration (’03), Triathlon (’05), Hall of Fame (’12) Awards, the 2006 Most Inspirational Athlete from the Challenged Athletes Foundation and the 2008 Courage Award from the Tempe Sports Authority.
As a community leader and disability advocate, she was a member of the 2013 class of the Girl Scouts Women of Distinction. She also received the 2019 Inspiration Award from Craig Hospital for outstanding community contribution from a Craig Hospital “graduate.” (Craig is a world-renowned spinal cord and brain injury rehabilitation hospital) Tricia has truly excelled despite her life-altering injury.
In addition to her sports pursuits, Tricia has taken an active leadership role in her community as a peer mentor to others experiencing spinal cord injuries, she founded Camp Discovery (and subsequently The Cycle of Hope non-profit) dedicating 10 years to helping female wheelchair users gain confidence and self-esteem through a yearly sports and fitness retreat. Additionally, she serves on the board of USA Shooting, which is the National Governing Body for the Olympic sport of shooting.
Tricia published her memoir: Cycle of Hope—A Journey from Paralysis to Possibility in June 2010, with the second edition released in January 2017. In August of 2018, she published her first fiction novel Chance for Rain.
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6 comments:
Thank you for hosting
My family loves reading so hearing about another great book I appreciate. Thanks for sharing and also for the giveaway.
Sounds like a good read.
What has the writing experience been like for you?
Great post, thanks for sharing!
That is a fun title, and it makes me want to get into this book and read it!
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