Character Interview: Tizzy McCalister, Donovan, Cooper (Laid Out and Candle Lit by Ann Everett)

CHARACTER INTERVIEW WITH MARJORIE LOUISE “TIZZY” MCALISTER, DONOVAN, COOPER

FROM THE BOOKS

LAID OUT AND CANDLE LIT & YOU’RE BUSTING MY NUPTIALS

BY: ANN EVERETT

Can you tell my readers who you are? Do you have a nick name you’d prefer I call you?

My birth name is Marjorie Louise but everyone calls me Tizzy. My daddy gave me the name because he claims I could throw a pretty good “tizzy” from the day I was born.

Can you tell us a little about your family?

My mom, Pattiecake, along with my Aunt Sugarpie, co-own Sweet Thangs Bakery. Until recently, my daddy, Saint McAlister, owned the local bar. I have an older brother, Dan, who happens to be the county sheriff. Dan and I don’t always get a long, but lately, things have been going fairly well between us. My Nana McAlister is my only living grandparent. A few months ago, when Nana returned from a vacation in Hawaii, she brought Om, an old hippie with her. He grows “herbs” and she runs Peaceful Pooch, a pet grooming business.

I’m married to Ridge Cooper, a Texas Ranger and my second husband. Boone Donovan was my first, but he up and joined the service, then got killed. The best thing to come from that short marriage was Grace Ann, “Gracie”, my four-year-old daughter.

Where do you call home, and has that always been the same place?

Except for the time in spent in college, at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas, I’ve always lived in Brownsboro, Texas. It’s just a spot in the road with one red light and one caution light. “Browntown”, as we like to call it, barely has a thousand people. Everybody knows everybody…and their business.

What is one strong memory that has stuck with you from childhood? Why is it so powerful and lasting?

When I was about seven, I discovered I could communicate with dead people. The reason it was so powerful and lasting is….I can communicate with dead people!

Tell us about your favorite scene in the book.

So far, there are two books about me and my gang. In the first one, LAID OUT AND CANDLE LIT, the cat fight is my favorite. An old classmate returns home for a visit and confronts me in my dad’s bar, and takes pleasure in telling me she slept with my first husband, Boone…before I did. Now, that’s just not right. What would you have done? Yeah. Exactly.

In the second book, YOU’RE BUSTING MY NUPTIALS, it’s the sex scene I have with Ridge during a stake-out.

 

What’s the worst thing that’s happened in your life? What did you learn from it?

Having a baby without the benefit of a father. I only found out I was pregnant after Boone died, so losing him, then going through the pregnancy was the most difficult time in my life. It taught me a lot of things…life is fleeting…family is the most important thing…real friends show up when you need them, and I’m stronger than I thought I could be.

What are you most afraid of?

Since I’m a mother, most of my fears concern my child. Keeping her safe and happy is my number one priority. That…and the fear of missing a shoe sale at Neiman’s!

What aspect of your author’s writing style do you like best?

The humor. She even writes funny sex scenes and I love that.

If your story were a movie, who would play you?

Since I’m a dark eyed, dark haired Texan, Nina Dobrev, would play me. Of course, she’d have to learn to speak Texas Twang!!

Describe an average day in your life.

I generally have some cuddle time with Ridge, then I get Gracie up. We have breakfast, then he’s off to catch bad guys and I’m off to work at my mother’s bakery…but not until Annie Mae, (Gracie’s babysitter) arrives. I really shouldn’t call Annie Mae a babysitter because she’s so much more. She kept me when I was a child. She’s like a member of our family and I love her dearly.

Once we’re done for the day, we generally just spend quiet time at home. Occasionally, we go out with friends or have them over. Sometimes we skinny dip in my parent’s pool…well, just Ridge and I…after Mom, Dad, and Gracie have gone to bed!!

Tell me about your best friend.

My very best friend in the whole world is Rayann Tatum, with Synola Harper coming in a close second. Rayann and I have known each other our entire lives. We went all through school together. We went to college together. We work together. Rayann’s married to a local policeman and also former classmate. She’s afraid of everything from flying to clowns. Dealing with her fears can sometimes be a challenge.

Synola and I have also known each other forever, but after high school, she moved away. Just recently, she returned to Brownsboro and now works part-time with Rayann and me. Totally opposite from Rayann, Synola isn’t afraid of anything. She’s not married, but has a love/hate relationship with my first cousin, Jinx Monroe.

What are you most ashamed of in your life?

Because my first husband Boone chose to join the service without much discussion with me, I’d already started to fall out of love with him by the time he left. For a long time, I had a lot of shame over that. It’s not that I didn’t want him to serve his country. I just wanted him to want to be with me more. I’m ashamed for being so selfish.

What’s the most important thing in your life? What do you value most?

My family and friends.  ‘Nuf said.

What’s the best trait your author has given you? What’s the worst?

Best and worst concerns my husbands. I love that she made me sassy when it comes to Ridge. Although we’re married, she lets me flirt with him. I love that part…and so does he!! What I don’t like, is having to deal with my dead husband. Lately, he’s not only been talking to Gracie, he’s appeared to her. I hate the mixed emotions my author gives me concerning that…or Boone in general.

What do you like best about Ridge? Least?

I love the way he sweet talks me…oh, and the way he kisses. The man has a dynamite kiss. It spins my brain around, sets it on fire, and sends all that heat straight to lady town!! Oh, I should probably mention how I love the way he is with Gracie. He loves her as if she belongs to him. The big tough Texas Ranger lets her polish his toenails…now, that’s a real man.

What I don’t like is him not wanting me to help with his cases when I have some really good ideas! He can be a stubborn man.

Will you encourage your author to write a sequel?

She already has, with a third book in the works. She swears it will be her last about me, but I’m trying to convince her to keep going! I have got her to consider writing a book where Synola and Jinx take center stage. I’ll keep at it and maybe get my way!

 LAID OUT AND CANDLE LIT        http://amzn.to/RnxiDS  

 YOU’RE BUSTING MY NUPTIALS   http://amzn.to/V4RNdP  

Ann Everett page on Amazon   http://amzn.to/11D7bQ7 

 My Website           http://www.anneverett.com/

 Smashwords         http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/83142

 Book trailer     http://youtu.be/fn71sk5nDKQ

Facebook           http://on.fb.me/H0jCvv