Today, I'm featuring TL Reeve, author of The Professor & Adeline.
What is your favourite genre to read?
My favorite genre, is everything, but I have found myself liking M/M more than anything lately or m/m/f and RH (Reverse Harem) One girl multiple men.
Everyone has a guilty pleasure, what's yours?
Books. Tons and tons of books. I love reading when I'm not writing. Thank goodness for my kindle. I don't think I have anymore room for paperbacks or hard backs. lol
What do you think makes a good story?
I think overall a good story needs a fluid story line, great characters and a little suspense. I think too much anxiousness or back and forth will he/won't or they kills a story. I get aggravated at the book and put it down. I'm not saying it has to be insta-love, but if you're going to have sex with the heroine early on in the book then you have some intentions toward her, so treating her crappy, just doesn't work for me.
New York Times Bestseller Alistair Kline, is in America for a twelve month tour to promote his new book and to get to know his fans. Every six weeks he changes locations, and this time he ends up in a quiet, little Midwestern town, teaching at a community college.
The man could read a phone book and Adelaide would sit and listen to him.
Unfortunately, the class isn’t about listening, it’s about participating and writing a story. She’d love to write a romance, however her source material, is lacking. What starts out as harmless flirting when he offers to help, escalates, and the line between professor and student blurs.
Excerpt:
“If you thought you would only learn about American Literature, you are sadly mistaken.” He held up the book. “Regency romance. Jane Austen, Charlotte Bronte, Emily Bronte. These ladies wrote superb novels, filled with romance, angst, and such dynamic verve. You want to hate the hero, but love him at the same time. You curse the heroine’s naivety, or her stubborn bullish ways. Her stiff upper lip.”
Adelaide hung on every word he spoke as he stood in front of them, leaning against the counter with his long, muscular legs crossed at the ankle. He could read the phone book, and she’d hang onto ever word he said—as would the whole female population in the room.
“Who has read Pride and Prejudice?” His gaze rose to stare at the class, giving his brow a quirk.
Adelaide raised her hand, surprising herself with the speed.
“You are?”
She opened her mouth, and a squeak came out. Clearing her throat, she tried again. “Adelaide Miller.”
“All right, Ms. Miller.” He gave her a cheeky grin, the gleam of something more in his dark brown eyes had her heart skipping a beat. “What is your favorite part of the book?”
She licked her bottom lip as several pairs of eyes gazed upon her, waiting for her answer. What was her favorite part? The whole thing! But, what stuck out for her the most was both Mr. Darcy’s and Elizabeth’s fierce protective streaks for their family and their friends. “I guess … well, everything.” A few snickers from her classmates sent a bolt of anxiety through her.
“Care to elaborate.”
She nodded. “There are several themes in Pride and Prejudice. It’s not just a love story. It’s a tale of greed and good intentions gone awry. It’s a story of family and protecting your loved ones at all cost. It’s also about making assumptions about people you don’t know. I found Elizabeth to be a cynical girl who viewed everything with a bent, while Mr. Darcy saw everyone as a threat to him or his family. Moreover, the thought of expressing his love for Elizabeth, in his eyes, could be a fate worse than death.”
“No way, it’s about the zombie apocalypse,” a guy from the back shouted. “I should know. I watched it last night. Those chicks were so hot.”
What? There were no zombies in Pride and Prejudice.
“You are?” Alistair grabbed the list off the table behind him.
“Casey,” the boy replied.
“Ah. Well, Casey, we’re not talking about the modern version of the story. We’re talking about the original, in its original context.” The censure in his voice surprised Adelaide. “We all know zombies don’t belong in the text. It’s a fad, and if the movie was any indication, a bad attempt at one. Moving on.”
Alistair stepped over to the white board and began writing on it. “The book is about two houses. The Bennetts who were middle class socialites and the Darcys who were upper class, bordering on aristocrats.”
For the next hour, he spoke about the interwoven stories within Austen’s novel. Adelaide didn’t much pay attention. She found herself paying more attention to the faces he made. The way his eyes brightened when he spoke about his favorite parts. The closer they got to the climatic parts, the more animated he became. The passionate way he engaged those who sat nearest him … she grew more excited by the second.
A wistful sigh passed her lips. She’d never experienced anything of the sort before. Sure, she got this way with books, but seeing another person do the same surprised and invigorated her. Ignited the embers of her lackluster desires, causing them to slowly warm her. She was inspired. If one lecture could do this to her, what would six weeks do?
“So, you have your assignment. Write your story. Bring it to life. Give it plenty of twists and turns and love, and misfortune. Make your characters work for every ounce of what they do and what they receive. It can be any genre. Set anywhere, just make me believe.” He placed the marker on the ledge, and turned to the class. “I will see you Wednesday. I would like a blurb and a brief background on your characters.” His gaze locked with hers, or at least she thought so. “Make me believe. Make me fall in love with reading all over again.”
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