Toot's Book Reviews: Dangled Carat by Hilary Grossman : Spotlight, Excerpt, Teasers, Author Interview & Giveaway

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Book Blurb & Info

For every girl who wondered if she should love him or dump him.....

For every girl who listened to her heart instead of her friends advice....

For every girl who l wondered if she was wasting her time dating that guy....

meet Hilary....

She had gotten used to dating the commitment-phobic Marc, thirteen years her senior. They had a great relationship--why rush into things? She saw no need to pressure him for marriage, believing that when the time was right, he would propose. But after they had been together for four years, their friends decided to take matters into their own hands, pushing Marc to propose and making Hilary realize how much she really did want to marry the man that she loved. Unfortunately, Marc still wasn't ready--and their friends' meddling in the form of a faux engagement party led to a disastrous New Year's Eve that brought their relationship to an inevitable turning point.

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Book Excerpt

For whatever reason, this restaurant attracted an elderly crowd. Our two tables were pretty much the only ones in the entire place that weren’t occupied by people north of their seventy-fifth birthdays. As soon as the waiter cleared off our dinner plates, my mom headed to the bathroom and Marc sat down in her seat. “I just want to see what it feels like to sit next to you,” he said as he smiled at me.

As I arched my eyebrows at him, I asked, “Well, how does it feel?” He pondered for a second, and I noticed the table of two elderly couples sitting to the other side of us. They were watching Marc and me interact as if they were watching a movie. We were clearly their entertainment for the evening.

“I think I can get used to it,” Marc replied solemnly.

All too quickly, my mom returned from the bathroom and Marc had to go back to his seat. We continued to chat for a little while as Marc’s brother squared away their bill, and the waiter brought over coffee and cappuccino for my mom and me.

As Marc and his family got up to leave, he said, “This was fun. Can we do it again?”

“Sure,” I said. “Call me.”

“Are you going to give me your number?”

“My number?” I asked, playing coy. “Oh, you want my number, do you?”

“Well, it usually does help,” he retorted, “if I am to call you.”

“Okay.” I rattled off, “766-722” with a twinkle in my eye.

Marc wrote down the digits and stared at the paper. A confused look appeared on his face. “Huh? You only gave me six numbers.”

Flippantly, as if I didn’t care whether he called — though I desperately wanted him to—I answered, “I know… you need to guess the missing number.”

Why I did this, I don’t know. It wasn’t a plan. It wasn’t my signature move (not that I actually had a signature move, mind you)— it just happened.

Teasers

Interview

Hi Hilary,

Thank you so much for sitting down with Toot's for an interview. If you don't mind, I have some questions for you about your new book, Dangled Carat and your process for our budding authors as well as fans.

Hi Toot! Thank you so much for having me!!!! I am thrilled to hang out and chat!

So first off, Dangled Carat Questions.......

In your own words, what is Dangled Carat about?

Dangled Carat is my real life story about my relatable, humorous, and emotionally draining relationship with a commitment phobic man and my attempt to convert him into a husband with help from his family and friends. But it is also a coming of age story.

How did you come up with the title of the book and can you tell us its significance?

It is going to sound corny, so I am going to apologize in advance. I do my best thinking when my mind is on something else. I was driving home from work, and was stuck in a major traffic jam. To make matters worse, I was already running late for dinner plans. I was busy trying to think of a different way home and the name Dangled Carat came to me.

I immediately stopped worrying about traffic as a huge smile spread across my face. I knew I came up with the perfect title. After all no one else had as many faux engagements as me.... that carat kept being dangled....

Is Dangled Carat a standalone book or will it be part of a series?

Dangled Carat is a standalone book. However, I do think Hilary and Marc will appear in another book one of these days :)

What genre would you say Dangled Carat is and what sets your book apart for fans of the genre?

Dangled Carat is a memoir that reads like chick lit, and that is what I think sets it apart from other books. Since this is a true story, I feel like it is more relatable to a reader, especially a reader who is going through the same situation.

If you had to pick one thing, what is your favorite thing about the book?

When I first decided to share my story, I did so in the hopes that I could possibly help someone who was going through the same experience. It is a very difficult position to be in - dating a commitment-phobic person. Everyone in your life offers advice. You are constantly second guessing yourself and your relationship...

My desire to help has been accomplished! I recently received an email from a self described commitment-phobic male reader who shared that after reading the book he realized some of the ways that he has sabotaged his relationships in the past. He completely related to Marc. He also told me how he learned that he has to go at his own pace regardless of what the other person seems to want - it will either work or not. He also learned that he has to communicate his feelings and just relax - enjoy the moment and let nature take it’s course - rather than worry about what tomorrow will bring. This new attitude has kept him in a relationship that he would have already ended in the past!

What was your favorite scene to write in Dangled Carat?

My favorite scene to write was towards the end of the book... Marc and I went to dinner at my mother’s house. She was quite angry at me at the time and kept delivering these snarky one liners with double meanings. I was able to read her loud and clear. Marc on the other hand was clueless and took everything she said at face value.

What was the hardest scene to write?

The s-e-x scene was almost impossible for me to write. In my first draft I didn’t mention sex at all. My editor told me I couldn’t write such a personal dating / relationship book without it. In my head I knew she was right. However I just couldn’t bring myself to do it. I must have stared at that blank screen for hours until I worked up the nerve to start typing. I still get embarrassed when anyone mentions that part...

What's your favorite line or quote from Dangled Carat?

“Sometimes a girl needs to be told what a guy feels, rather than trying to decipher the signs.”

Writing.......

Do you recall how your interest in writing originated and what made you decide to pursue it as a career?

I have always been a huge reader. As a result, I always dreamt of writing a book one day. When I was about twenty I started writing a novel (a mafia story). I wrote about 80 pages and lost interest. I still thought of writing, but not really seriously.

Then about four years ago I read Bitter is the New Black by Jen Lancaster. Until reading that book I didn’t know what a blog or a memoir was. Her book completely motivated me to stop dreaming and start writing. I started my blog, Feeling Beachie, to practice writing about a week after finishing the book.

What inspires you to put the pen to paper or fingers to the keyboard?

Life... Whatever I am experiencing, be it funny or sad, I like to share it via writing. Personally it calms me down, getting my feelings out on paper. But more than that, I love to entertain others. And I always feel like I have a story to tell. I like to joke that I like to find the absurdity in life or maybe the absurdity just finds me...

What are some of the elements in/of your writing process?

I am a seasonal writer for the most part. I do most of my writing during the winter months, on the weekends. I have a very high stress, long hour day job, so weekday writing is basically impossible for me. And if it is warm and sunny out I can’t bare to be inside typing. But when I start writing, I can’t stop.

Are you a Plotter or a Panster?

While I know what I want to accomplish, I am a total pantser! I hate plotting or planning. I stink at using calendars too :)

Have you released anything under a different pen name, and if so, is there any difference between them?

No...

What's next for you?

I am trying my hand at fiction next! Book #2 has been started, but has been put on the back burner while I have been at the beach :) This book is about a mother and daughter relationship with a twist.

Is there anything you’d like to add or say to your fans?

THANK YOU for reading!!!! THANK YOU for reviewing!!! and I LOVE YOU!!!

Personal questions......

Now I know this is like asking you to choose between your own children, but out of all your amazing characters, who is your favorite and why?

Yeah, this is a hard one all right since all my “characters” are real! I had the most fun writing my mom’s character, showing her personality. I always joke that she has always been a character and now it is official!

Are there any of your stories or characters that hold a special place in your heart?

The small barrier island where I live was slammed by Hurricane Sandy almost two years ago. My world was turned upside down. Parts of my house were destroyed, the community where I live was unrecognizable, and daily life was beyond difficult. Once power was restored I started blogging about the storm. These posts are the most dear to me.

If the book had to have a theme song, what would it be?

Since I actually quoted this song in the book, I will go with You will be mine by taking my time led zeppelin

Lastly, What 5 things do fans not know about you and 5 they don't know about the book?

Me - geez this is hard since my life is an open book - HA!

1. I have a very difficult time saying no - especially if it involves doing something. I always want to do everything, NOW!

2. I can french braid my hair but can’t french braid anyone else's

3. I have a pair of jeans that are as old as me

4. I don’t think there is any food I won’t eat

5. I had a word added to the urban dictionary

As for the book...

1. I still can’t believe that I actually wrote it

2. As I was living this story I kept thinking that it would make a great book

3. I learned a lot about myself as I wrote it. It was like all the pieces of my life were put together in those pages.

4. I am so thankful that I was stuck in traffic the day the title came to me because the previous ideas were really bad (no I am not sharing!)

5. All of my characters have been so supportive, and have gotten such a kick out of it!

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU for taking time to answer some questions. Congratulations on the new book and I can't wait for everyone to read it! – Toot’s

THANK YOU!!!! Thank you for having me! It was so much fun chatting with you!

XOXO,

Hilary

Author Info