Blog Tour Giveaway + Review of Unexpecting + Interview with Lori Verni-Fogarsi!

I’m excited to introduce a hot new release by Lori Verni-Fogarsi! The novel, “Unexpecting,” is about a couple of almost-empty-nesters who, preparing to embark on their new, quieter lifestyle, receive the shock of their lives when a pregnant teenaged girl shows up on their doorstep and announces that she’s the daughter they never knew they had! Professionally edited and published by Brickstone Publishing, the book is available in paperback or Kindle. The author, Lori Verni-Fogarsi, is a two-time award winning novelist for “Momnesia” and the author of “Everything You Need to Know About House Training Puppies and Adult Dogs,” one of the most highly acclaimed books in its genre since 2005!

There is a huge online celebration, including a blog tour, book giveaways, and the chance to win a $100 Amazon Gift Card. Go HERE!

MY REVIEW

Shelley and David are on the verge of having an empty house.  With kids currently in college and in high school preparing for college the following year, the couple has plans to enjoy life together and mostly childfree.  With their dream vacation in the works, everything is going as planned. Well, until Alexandra shows up at their door. She is seventeen-years-old, very pregnant, and David’s daughter. A daughter that he was completely unaware existed. Alexandra and her baby will forever change their comfortable and routine life.

Alexandra’s mom passed away, and she has no other family to turn to except David. A man she only found out about after her mother’s death. Shelley and David handle this situation with tact and grace. They take in the pregnant teen and attempt to make her as comfortable as possible. Soon, baby Patrick arrives and everyone experiences an upheaval.

Lori Verni-Fogarsi  has written a captivating story about family. I appreciate how complex these characters are and how deep she went with the plot. Unexpecting dives into a world of substance abuse, rehabilitation, and unconditional love. I appreciate Lori’s portrayal of a family who has been thrown a curve ball. I enjoyed the realistic behaviors from all the family members. It was wonderful to see Shelley and David evolve, especially after multiple rough patches they had to endure. This is family drama. Unexpecting made my laugh, cringe, and pulled at my heartstrings.

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INTERVIEW WITH THE AUTHOR

Can you tell us about your upcoming release, Unexpecting?

I’m excited about it because it’s a true “family story.” There are funny parts and heart-wrenching parts, but overall, it’s the story of a dynamic family navigating through both common and unusual circumstances!

Warning: A little bit of a spoiler!... Readers have probably already seen the book description, about Shelley and David being a couple who receive the shock of their lives when Alexandra, a pregnant teen shows up and announces that she’s the daughter they never knew that had!

As the story progresses, the couple face tough decisions that they never expected to come along: Are they willing to raise this baby themselves forever? What if Alexandra turns out to be a full-fledged drug addict and never gets her act together? And in the meanwhile, how can they be there for their other kids who still have all the normal circumstances that come up in life, while also trying to save their strained marriage from the stress of all these dilemmas?

When you are working on a large writing project, what does a typical workday look like for you?

Put on your seatbelt, things get a little crazy around here! My day begins at 5:50am, upon which I see to it that all three kids are off to school at their respective times. By 7:25, I’m in front of the computer working on my manuscript, e-mails, social media, and projects for clients. Most days, I stay there until around 3:00pm, at which point (I hate to admit) I first get my makeup on and ready to leave the house!

My evenings normally consist of running back and forth between dancing school, dancing school, dancing school, and more dancing school. And gymnastics. In between, I prepare dinner, and sometimes when I have a really long wait---um, at the… you guessed it, dancing school---I take my laptop and work at the library for a few more hours while I’m waiting.

What is your ideal writing environment?

In my “perfect world,” I would be able to do all of my writing at our second home on Lake Gaston. It’s so quiet and serene, it really tickles my writing muse!

What advice would you give a writer considering the self-publishing route?

Two things. First, just go ahead and write your book. Don’t worry about what you’re doing to do with it later. After all, if you haven’t written it, you don’t need to worry about publishing it!

Secondly, invest in a professional editor. Unless your goal is that only your mother and sister are going to read and love your books, it’s very important to make sure that your self-published book is just as cleanly edited and proofread as any other professional book a reader would pick up. Otherwise, you may sell one book to that person, but they surely are not going to recommend it to others or look for your future work!

You are an author, professional public speaker, and small business consultant. How in the world do you manage to accomplish everything that you do?

I work on whatever is feeling right at the time. At any given time, I might be writing my own manuscript, building two websites for clients, helping another few clients with social media, etc. Instead of pressuring myself, I try to just go ahead and work on what tickles my fancy at the time (keeping deadlines in mind too of course). Believe it or not, this actually helps me get more done, and in a quality way, than if I were to try and “force myself” to work on particular things at particular times.

Thank you so much for having me for this interview and participating in my blog tour! I look forward to getting to know your readers more, too!

AUTHOR BIO: Lori Verni-Fogarsi is the author of the hot new release, “Unexpecting,” as well as the award-winning novel “Momnesia” and the nonfiction, “Everything You Need to Know About House Training Puppies & Adult Dogs.” She enjoys interacting with her readers and invites you to connect or learn more at www.LoriTheAuthor.com.

LORI’S SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:

• Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/LoriTheAuthor
• Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/LoriTheAuthor
• Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/LoriTheAuthor
• Lori’s Website: http://www.LoriTheAuthor.com