I asked Vassa and Lazarus if they would be willing to interview with me before the release of my debut novel; IT STARTED WITH A LIST.
If you don’t know who these two lovely people are, they are my hero heroine from It Started with a List. With her college graduation looming, Vassa reflects on the past four years. Man, she is mega disappointed. No wacky misadventures, no drunken nights, and no regrettable mistakes you can NEVER tell your parents. Work and class, class and work. That’s it. College is supposed to be the best years of one’s life… Right? It Started with a List is an opposites attract romance set in lovely San Francisco. Can they finish the list before the end of the semester?
***
Tinia: Hello, hello?? Is this thing on? I think it is… Yeah; it is… Okay, I’m good? Gotcha. Hello everyone out there who’s reading this! My name is Tinia Montford and you may already know me as the author of IT STARTED WITH A LIST, and today I have with me some very important people—
Lazarus: VIP! I am important, aren’t I?
*The muffle sound of a chair squeaking and Lazarus groaning. Vassa mutters something urgently to him.*
Tinia: Well…Yes Lazarus, VIP. Readers, I want you all to welcome Lazarus Gilbert and Vassa Blackwell!
Vassa: Thank you. It’s our pleasure.
Lazarus: This is expected because we’re kinda celebrities now? We have fans? Don’t we Vee?
Vassa: *sighs* No, we are not celebrities Lazarus. I can see now you’re going to let fame rot your brain.
Lazarus: Rot my brain? Nooo… I’ll be as humble as The Rock. Just better looking. I’m sure to someone out there wants my autograph—
Vassa: We’re two college students. Well… Ex-college students. Young adults. Working for adults, actually… How can we be celebrities? Or have fans, it isn’t possible.
Lazarus: Anything is possible.
Tinia: Let’s get started, shall we? I have some questions about the book and then for the two of you—
Vassa: I’m sorry, but Lazarus, can you stop stealing my pretzels? Tinia gave them to me.
Lazarus: I didn’t take your pretzels.
Vassa: *narrows eyes* I see the crumbs on your shirt!
Lazarus: You don’t see any crumbs on me. *Wipes away obvious crumbs on his shirt.*
Vassa: You see this, Tinia? Lazarus is like a raccoon, okay? Anywhere time there is food, here he comes trying to get a scrap of it.
Lazarus: *laughs* Are you calling me a food bandit?
Tinia: Let’s stay on track you two… Share the snacks, okay? I went to the expensive grocery store and got the snacks for everyone. What can readers expect from IT STARTED WITH A LIST?
Vassa: Hmm. That’s a good question. On the surface, it probably just looks like Laz and I goofing off, but we go through some deep stuff, don’t we?”
Lazarus: Right.
Vassa: It’s not just about the general angst twenty-something’s have when first entering adulthood or graduating from college. It’s the lessons we don’t get to learn in class. Like, how do you deal with a horrible friendship breakup? Or tell your family you don’t want to follow in their footsteps?
Lazarus: It ends well, so don’t worry. It’s a romance, that’s what you’re buying the book for.
Vassa: Lazarus! Don’t give anything away.
Lazarus: *ruffles her hair* Don’t worry. Tinia told me several times as well as all the other people standing around here recording us. I know if I slip up then it’s—
Tinia: Let’s focus, okay?
Vassa and Lazarus: Alright.
Tinia: The readers want to know if you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your book?
Vassa: I would definitely want to do away with the entire dining and dashing. I hate that my parents and grandma are going to see that.
Lazarus: I wouldn’t change a thing. Lighten up babe. Everyone’s doing something criminal, like in their life. Right Tinia?
Tinia: I’ve done nothing illegal.
Lazarus: Really?
Tinia: Yes.
Lazarus: You haven’t illegally downloaded any movies or music?
Vassa: Oh, that’s a good one.
Tinia: Well… When I was like twelve! On Limewire—
Lazarus: See, babe, everyone’s done something illegal.
Tinia: *pulls at collar* Let’s move on about our illegal activities. Would you want to play you if your book was made into a movie?
Vassa: Ooh, that’s so hard.
Lazarus: I want whoever is People’s Sexiest Man Alive to play me.
Vassa: Really?
Lazarus: Yeah. I’m sexy. The sexiest man alive to should play me.
Vassa: Paul Rudd is the sexiest man alive.
Lazarus: Who is Paul Rudd?
*Tinia and Vassa groan*
Vassa: Michael B. Jordan was the sexiest man before him.
Lazarus: Michael B. Jordan is hot.
Tinia: Ain’t he?
Vassa: I loved him in Creed.
Tinia: Let’s talk about him in Black Panther—
Lazarus: Shouldn’t we stay on track Tinia?
Tinia: *clears throat* Your right. Vassa, we’ll talk later.
Vassa: Absolutely.
Lazarus: Should I feel threatened by this?
Vassa: Aww…. You should.
Tinia: Anything specific you want to tell your readers?
Vassa: Well, I hope they all enjoy our story. Especially Kiki. Next time we do this Tinia, you have to bring in Kiki. She would love it.
Lazarus: Jayden too.
Vassa: Right.
Lazarus: More than anything, I hope people enjoy our story. That it gives them a moment to walk away from whatever is going on in their lives, if only for a moment.
Vassa: Wow, I didn’t know you could be insightful.
Tinia: Me either.
Lazarus: I’m like an onion. I have layers.
Tinia: Thank you both for stopping in to chat with me! To all our readers, you can read Vassa and Lazarus’s story in, IT STARTED WITH A LIST, available at most retailers.
Vassa: Bye everyone!
Lazarus: See ya!
It Started with a List is an opposites-attract romance. Perfect for readers who love drunk karaoke, spring breaks to Las Vegas, and sea lions at Pier 39. This novel contains cursing and sex scenes, and intended for audiences 18 years and older. You can purchase your copy here.