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.
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:
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
