Interview with Rhonda Stapleton, Author of Stupid Cupid & Giveaway!

Today I am thrilled to welcome author Rhonda Stapleton, whose debut novel, Stupid Cupid is scheduled for release December 22nd of this month!

Rhonda Stapleton started writing a few years ago to appease the voices in her head. She has a Master's degree in English and a Bachelor's degree in Creative Writing. In the twelve minutes of free time she has each day, Rhonda enjoys reading, photography, writing poetry, singing in the shower (and in the car, at work, or basically anywhere that provides oxygen), drinking chai tea, and playing on the Internet (AKA, connecting to the "mother ship").

Rhonda lives in northeast Ohio with her two kids, her manpanion, and their lazy dog.

Your upcoming novel, Stupid Cupid, is about a teenage girl who gets a job at a matchmaking company only to find out she isn’t just a matchmaker…she’s a real cupid! Do you have a favorite line, scene or passage in Stupid Cupid that you can tantalize us with?

Okay, here's one of my favorite scenes from Stupid Cupid, LOL. It doesn't relate to matchmaking, but it still made me giggle when writing it:

“Pull over!” a loud voice barked over the police car’s megaphone.

With shaky hands, I sucked in shallow breaths and did as instructed, parking on the side of the road. I dug into my purse to find my license, barely able to concentrate. I was in such deep sh—

The megaphone interrupted my thoughts. “Ma’am, we know you’re using the marijuana!”

I clenched my jaw. I’d know that irritating voice from anywhere.

Pissed off, I hopped out of the car, stomped to my brother’s cop car, and stood by his door, hands on hips. I cussed loudly, scaring an old lady crossing the street. She blinked at me and walked faster, trying to get away from me.

“Geez, Rob, you scared the piss out of me!” I yelled.” I thought I was in real trouble. You’re such a jerk.”

Rob and his partner were in the front seat, bent over laughing.

Rob straightened, then said through the megaphone, “Stop cussing at me or I’m going to have to take you in.”

I shot him the most evil glare I could muster. “Stop pulling me over!” I shouted at him through the window. “This is the second time now you’ve done this to me. It’s still not funny.”

He rolled down his window and stuck his head out. “Then, ma’am, stop driving in this city.”

“But I live here!” I turned on my heel and headed back to the car.

“And, ma’am,” Rob hollered to my back, his voice ringing loud and clear throughout all of Cleveland, no doubt, “lay off the spray tan! Your skin’s starting to look orange.”

I whirled back around and stomped toward him, unable to control my rage. “If you pull me over again,” I said, pointing my finger in his face, “I’ll tell Mom about the time I caught you making out with Cindy Masterson in Mom and Dad’s bed when you two were supposed to be studying.”

His jaw dropped. He tried to cover up his fear, but I could see it in his eyes. “You wouldn’t.”

I leaned close to his face, then widened my eyes and blinked rapidly, gasping. “Mom, it was awful! He was touching her under her shirt! I didn’t know
what to do!”

Rob stared at me for a long moment, then tipped his hat. “Have a nice day.” He drove off in a hurry.

How do you think you’d do at matchmaking if you were in Felicity’s shoes? Have you ever tried to set anyone up? If so, how did it turn out?

I totally try NOT to matchmake. I'm really horrible at stuff like that, so I leave it to the experts. LOL

Felicity Walker is the type of girl who believes in true love – what do you think? Is there that one special person destined for everyone in the world?

I absolutely believe in true love. I like to think there's someone special out there for everyone, that we're all part of some greater design. Know what I mean?

On your blog you always ask other writers what their favorite school cafeteria food was – so I just had to ask you- what was yours? (If you brown bagged it, what did you like to take instead?)

HAH I love talking about food. I loved eating pizza, or peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. I'm so lame. :D

If Stupid Cupid were to be made into a movie, who do you imagine playing Felicity – any specific actress in mind or do you think an unknown would be best?

Oooooooh good question! Seriously, I'd be honored if someone wanted to play Felicity! I don't have anyone special in mind, though I think a fun teen actress could really take the role and make it over-the-top. Like maybe Miranda Cosgrove, the chick from iCarly...?

If you had to use just three words to sum up your novel, what would they be?

Romantic, goofy, and exotic. Okay, it's not really exotic. Maybe semi-exotic. haha

What would you say is the best writing advice you’ve been given so far as a new author?

To treat it as a job. I'm getting paid to do this. It's a lot of responsibility, and I need to take it seriously, you know? That means respecting my writing time too, and making sure I do it as much as needed. But also finding balance between writing and life and STEP AWAY from the keyboard every once in a while. That's really important.

You have two more books in the trilogy that are scheduled to be released in 2010- Flirting with Disaster and Pucker Up. Can you tell us more about them ? Any other projects in the works we can look forward to?

Flirting With Disaster is book 2...in this one, Felicity decides she's going to get over her crush Derek once and for all by matching him up with someone. But she accidentally cc's the entire school on the email, so now everyone is in love with him. Fun! Book 3 is Pucker Up...and actually, I don't wanna give anything away yet for it. hehe. I am working on some new projects, but nothing is official yet. You'll definitely know something when I do!!

Thanks so much for interviewing me!! :D

Felicity’s no ordinary matchmaker…she’s a cupid!

Felicity Walker believes in true love. That’s why she applies for a gig at the matchmaking company Cupid’s Hollow. But when Felicity gets the job, she learns that she isn’t just a matchmaker…she’s a cupid! (There’s more than one of them, you know.)

Armed with a hot pink, tricked-out PDA infused with the latest in cupid magic (love arrows shot through email), Felicity works to meet her quota of successful matches. But when she bends the rules of cupidity by matching her best friend Maya with three different boys at once, disaster strikes. Felicity needs to come up with a plan to set it all right, pronto, before she gets fired…and before Maya ends up with her heart split in three.

Stupid Cupid is book one of a trilogy.

You can purchase Stupid Cupid HERE.
Read chapter one of Stupid Cupid HERE!

***CONTEST TIME!**

Rhonda has graciously offered to give away one copy of Stupid Cupid!

TO ENTER:
Leave a comment for her (easy as pie!)

BONUS ENTRIES:
For everyplace you link/post about this contest.

The Stupid Cupid contest is open to all U.S. & Canadian residents and will run through December 28th.

(Note: For those of you outside the U.S. and Canada, don't despair-you can still enter! If your name is selected as the winner, you will win a $10 online bookstore gift card instead (pretty cool, right?) So be sure to enter!