♥ Forever Book Lover ♥ : Interview, Review and Giveaway~ Doing it over by Catherine Bybee

Doing It Over

Voted Most Likely to Succeed, Melanie Bartlett ended up anything but. The down-on-her-luck single mom wants a complete do-over—is that too much to ask? With her family long gone from River Bend, strong, independent Mel is as surprised as anyone to end up in the quaint small town she once called home. But with her friends, Jo and Zoe, by her side, and a comfortable room at Miss Gina’s quirky bed-and-breakfast, she just might have turned the corner on a new life.
Wyatt Gibson never liked the big city. River Bend suits the ruggedly handsome builder just fine. Wyatt knows he’s home, even if that means being charmed by the appearance of Melanie and her spunky, adorable daughter. Is Wyatt’s calm devotion—even amid a coming storm—enough to convince Mel she may have found a home to call her own, a family that never leaves, and a true love to last a lifetime?

I am excited to be able to chat with Catherine Bybee and ask her to answer some questions. Thanks again Catherine!

FBL ♥: Do you write detailed character profiles before writing, or do you find the characters come to life as you write?

CB: I do not write detailed character profiles. I will start with a few basic ideas of where my characters come from, who their parents were/are. Who their past loves were...and how they affected them and their romantic decisions. Habits and traits are things that come to life as I'm writing.

FBL ♥: What do you like better: when you’ve just started writing a book or when you’ve just finished one, and why?

CB: Depends on the book. If it's a second or third book in a series and I know the characters really well then I love the beginning of their story. Probably because I've been thinking about their story for over a year before I get the opportunity to write it. If it's a first book in a series than I like the words, The End! Same rules apply... I have to invent a whole new world and all they players in it so that takes time and hard work. Sometimes those stories flow from page one, but not all.

FBL ♥ : Is anything in your book based on real life experiences or purely all imagination?

CB: There is always a little bit of truth in the pages. But as the disclaimers go... everything is a work of fiction.

FBL ♥: What was the hardest thing to cut from your manuscript?

CB: I don't know if I can answer this. I haven't had to cut big sweeping chunks of my manuscripts for several years. And all the cuts I make at this point aren't hard simply because they don't need to be there in the first place or they wouldn't need to be cut.

FBL ♥: If Doing it Over had a theme song, what would it be?

CB: Bruises by Train

FBL ♥: What books are on your nightstand, waiting to be read?

CB: None...that's because I don't tease myself if I don't have time to read. But soon the RITA books will arrive and I will have to read a stack.

I love being part of this tour. This is a new series for Catherine Bybee and she doesn't let her fans down. Melanie, Zoe and Jo were best friends in high school and they vowed to come back for their ten year reunion no matter where their lives took them. Catherine immediately captures your attention as she brings to life the main three female characters. Melanie- voted most likely to succeed, is a single mom who's life didn't turn out the way most that it would, then there's Jo- she was the one everyone thought would leave once she graduated, but she end up following in her dad's footsteps as the towns Sheriff. And, finally Zoe- well known chef who has a past history that is itching to be told. The first book is Melanie's story. She is trying to find where she fits. She goes home for her 10th HS reunion and is hit with all the reasons why River Bend was "home". She is a single mom trying to make the best choices for her daughter, that's why she packs everything up and head "home". Catherine always has a "bad boy" in her books, and she held nothing back when she dreamed up Wyatt. In his suave and kickback attitude, he weakens Mel's knees. But can Wyatt be the anchor that keeps Mel from leaving? Read the book to find out. There are several twist and turns in the romance book. Great start to an awesome new series, looking forward to the next in the series.

Catherine Bybee is a New York Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, and #1 Amazon bestselling author of romance novels. She writes in the romance subgenres of contemporary, historical, paranormal, and at one time erotica.