Chatting with Candace Shaw

One of the best things about Romance Slam Jam is meeting authors. You get to put a face with the words of passion and love. And the authors rarely disappoint.

Take Candace Shaw, for instance. She is the picture of grace and style. Meeting her was surely one of the highlights of Romance Slam Jam 2014.

Candace graciously allowed me to interview her for my blog and I am grateful.

1. You've built quite a following with your independently published books, how do you think having your novel published with Kimani will change your career?

Thank you so much for inviting me to your blog, Cheris!

Not sure how much of a following I have. However, I’m hoping with Kimani I’ll be able to reach romance readers who I haven’t met on social media or simply don’t know who I am.  Hopefully they will love my books with Kimani and will read my backlist as well.

2. When did you know you wanted to be a romance writer?

I knew in fourth grade I wanted to be a writer when I read Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. It wasn’t until sixth grade when I read Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell, that I wanted to write romance novels. I began to write short stories in middle and high school, mostly damsel in distress or sweet romances since I was sneaking my mom’s romance novels or checking out a lot of historical regency and Harlequin Romances from the local library. In college, I typed out my first short romance novel on my Brother Word Processor and I’ve been writing romance ever since.

3. Tell the readers about your latest release.

My latest release, Her Perfect Candidate, is my debut novel with Kimani Romance and is the first book in the Chasing Love Series. 

It follows the life of Megan Chase, an interior decorator in Atlanta, Georgia who owns a boutique decorating firm. Megan is very goal-oriented and career-focused at the moment. She’s single but isn’t looking to be in a relationship and is very happy with being by herself. However, her family and friends think she’s lonely considering she had a relationship to end with a cheating boyfriend. Megan has engrossed herself in her work for almost two years but not because of the break-up. However, her loved ones think so and have set her up on numerous, horrible blind dates. She meets Georgia State Senator, Steven Monroe, whose campaign team wants him to settle down with one woman because the media has labeled him a playboy. His father is retiring from his seat as a United States Senator and of course wants his son to proceed him. In order to clean up Steven’s image and for Megan’s family to leave her alone about being in a relationship, the two decide to date in name only.

While Steven is a politician, the book’s focus really isn’t on politics but the progression of their friendship and relationship. I write romance novels that are fun, flirty and sexy, so I tried not to harp on the political world too much except when necessary.

4. Tell the readers what they can expect from you this summer.

This summer I’ll be attending the Romance Writers of America Conference in San Antonio, Texas. I’m participating in the Literacy Autographing event which will take place Wednesday, July 23, 2014, from 5:30–7:30 p.m. at the San Antonio Marriott Rivercenter Hotel in the 3rd floor ballroom. The event is for charity, and I’ll have print copies of Her Perfect Candidate to sell and sign. I’m also working on the second book in the Chasing Love series (Februrary 2015) as well as the last book in the Arrington Family Series, My Kinda Girl which will be released later on this year.

5. What advice would you give a new romance writer? 

Learn everything you need to know about your genre. Join a romance writers group in your city that offers workshops and conferences in order to hone your craft. Also having a circle of author friends who you can depend on to keep you motivated, read your work and listen to you rant is essential as well.

6.How can readers follow you online? 

Readers can contact me on my website at www.CandaceShaw.net, on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/AuthorCandaceShaw or tweet me at https://twitter.com/Candace_Shaw

Who is Candace Shaw?

Born and raised under the sunny skies and on the whitest beaches in northwest Florida, Candace Shaw knew she wanted to become a writer after she read Little Women in fourth grade. After graduating from the University of West Florida with a degree in Elementary Education, Candace began teaching and put her dream of becoming a writer on hold until one summer vacation she started writing again and hasn't stopped.

When Candace is not writing or researching information for a book, she's reading, shopping, learning how to cook a new dish or spending time with her loving husband and their loyal, over-protective weimaraner, Ali. She is currently working on her next fun, flirty, and sexy romance novel.

Blurb for Her Perfect Candidate

Campaign of seduction 

Co-owner of an up-and-coming interior-decorating firm, Megan Chase loves being a single woman on the fast track to success. But everything changes when a flat tire brings Georgia senator Steven Monroe into her life. The sinfully sexy politician needs the right woman to clean up his image. And with Megan's fine eye for detail, she just may be the woman for the job.  

Steven's reputation as a player could cost him his chance at a U.S. senate seat. But when the cameras catch him and Megan in a kiss that's all too real, it's not only his future candidacy in jeopardy. As the lines between politics and desire begin to blur, how much will he risk to transform their passionate pretense into a landslide for love?