Author
Tori Madison
Getting
to know Tori
Happily married and the mother of two, Tori Madison is active in the
world of philanthropy and finds joy in making a difference in lives of others.
She is an avid reader, lover of life and a breast cancer survivor. Currently
residing with her family in Minnesota, she can often be found at Caribou Coffee
or at the dance studio with her kids. With a well-known weakness for dark
chocolate with sea salt and cheesecake, she also has a fondness for chips and
fresh salsa.
Writing a book was never on her radar. After a challenge from a friend
to write 1,500 words the story came to life and a new opportunity to make a
difference was born.
Her debut novel, Beneath It All, released on September 24, 2014.
Beneath, You're Beautiful is her second novel and the sequel to Beneath It All.
It is a two book series. In celebration
of the one-year anniversary of the release of Beneath it All, Tori Madison is
offering a Duet Boxed Set of Beneath it All and Beneath, You're Beautiful for a
LIMITED TIME!
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Social
Links
Twitter: @AuthorToriMadis
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Author
Interview
1. Most often in this genre, the reader
will identify with the Heroine. Many women associate part of their sexuality
with their breasts. They can’t imagine being without them.
Victoria’s story could have still unfolded but had a secondary character have
breast cancer. Maybe a parent, sister or friend. Why was it important
to have Victoria be the one with the diagnosis? What considerations did
you take when crafting the intimate scenes?
When
I was considering writing a book, I felt it was important to tell the story of
a woman with breast cancer directly and for me writing in the first person was
the easiest. Ten years ago I was diagnosed with breast cancer, but it still
feels like yesterday. It was necessary to write Victoria while going through it
because I wanted to give people the emotions of being in her shoes. I applaud
authors who write a character with breast cancer, but most of the time it is a
secondary character or a family member of that secondary person. It was time
for the woman battling breast cancer to tell her story.
The
intimate scenes were a challenge for me. I needed to make their physical
relationship hot at the beginning to allow the reader to see and feel the
changes that occurred throughout the process of losing her breasts. When a
woman loses her breasts it affects her physically, but often the mental aspect
isn’t seen by those around her. It was important to share those moments of
doubt when she was naked and vulnerable.
2. Secondary characters always bring a
catalyst for the main characters to react. Maybe a push in the right way,
a ‘stern’ conversation, needed interference, etc. Although Jillian
has a small part, her character has a lingering value in the storyline. Jillian
is definitely gives Victoria a push in the right direction. This could
have been Bobbie Jo, Jen or Dana that did the ‘push’. Why Jillian? What is her
importance to you in telling Victoria’s story?
Jillian
wasn’t on my radar when I finished Beneath it All. I was about 25,000 words
into Beneath, You’re Beautiful when she made an appearance and wanted to share her
story, within the story. In hindsight, Jillian gave me another platform to tell
the story as a person supporting someone diagnosed with breast cancer. It
allowed me to build a really strong character whose presence spoke volumes in a
small amount of time. I had a Jillian in my life and I feel like she was
speaking to me to tell this part. I couldn’t have Bobbie Jo, Jen or Dana do it,
it needed to be her.
3. Has your family read the series? If
yes, which ones and did they learn anything maybe they didn’t know before? Do
you hope someday your daughters will read the series?
Yes.
My mother-in-law actually did some proofreading for me. She was a language arts
teacher in Minneapolis for years, and I knew she would do a good job. I made it
clear that it was fictional and that I wouldn’t discuss the intimate scenes
with her. She actually told me she loved the books and was proud of me.
My
husband read Beneath it All while we were on spring break.
“Hello?”
he fumed when I walked back to our beach chairs with our daughters.
“Huh?”
I asked unsure what he was talking about.
“You
ended it with Hello. Who does that?”
I
began laughing, it was his first fictional romance novel and he wasn’t used to
cliffhangers.
I
told them they can read it when they are 18, I’ve got four years. They were
four when I was diagnosed so they don’t remember much, other than eating
chocolate cake in my bed and coloring on my bald head.
4. You’ve given the reader two stories:
#one- Romantic HEA and #two- Solid Friendships. Are there any plans
to give any HEA’s to Bobbie Jo, Jen or Dana?
Yes.
I’m slowly working on The Martini Series. The girls will each get a book of
their own, with Victoria sprinkled in there. Bobbie Jo is first and I’m about
12,000 words into her story. My goal is to have it finished in early 2016.
5. You’re a daughter, mom, wife, work-life
refrigerator monitor, and author. How do you balance it all? Twin teenage
daughters would run me ragged. When do you find time to write?
Between
working full time, raising teenage girls and helping care for my mom who has
terminal cancer, my writing time has been limited lately. I hope to hit it hard
soon. Writing, like reading, is a nice escape from real life and I enjoy
disappearing into another world for a few hours.
6. Favorite beach you want to have the Cabana
Boys service you is? Tell us if you’ve been there or would like to
someday.
Seven
Mile Beach in Grand Cayman. It is my home away from home as I’ve been traveling
there since the early 90’s and we have many friends there. We haven’t
been for a few years, but hope to go back for our 20th
anniversary next year…if I can sell a few more books! ;)
7. How many cups of coffee before we can
coherently have a conversation in the morning?
I
need at least one 16 oz. cup of French vanilla coffee with sugar-free Italian
Cream or Peppermint Mocha creamer.
8. You compose an email campaign to right a
wrong. The CEO of Cheesecake Factory has discontinued the following
cheesecake. Which cheesecake is it?
Godiva
Chocolate Cheesecake. It would be a travesty! I eat half of it right away and
save the other half to eat in the morning with my coffee. However… I did try
the new Salted Caramel Cheesecake on Saturday night and it was
Ahhhhhhhhhmazing.
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Books by
Tori Madison
Add to Goodreads: https://goo.gl/hyeJKv
Buy Links
You can buy Tori's Duet Books by clicking on this link to Amazon
Amazon: http://goo.gl/ZYqOfC
From September 24, 2015 thru October 31, 2015 you can purchase The
Beneath Series Boxed Set on Amazon. For every boxed set that is sold, Tori will
donate $1 to a local breast cancer charity, Hope Chest for Breast Cancer. Their
mission is to provide the quickest access to help for the most urgent emergency
needs of local financially challenged breast cancer patients. Programs include
providing emergency funds, such as rent, utilities, transportation, and deliver
nutritious meals for individuals during their breast cancer experience.
Beneath It All . . .
You. Have. Breast. Cancer.
I wasn’t prepared to hear those words. Neither was my loving husband,
family or friends. And none of us were prepared for what life had in store
after they were spoken.
I should have seen the signs all around me. I should have paid attention
to the people who supposedly loved me, the people who I'd always trusted. But I
was blind to what was going on. The effects on my flourishing career,
passionate marriage and carefree lifestyle would be insurmountable.
It was time to take control of my life and the overwhelming chaos. Time
to make the choices that were right for me. Right for my future. The future I
hadn’t planned on.
My life didn’t stop when I heard those four little words…it was only
just beginning.
Beneath, You’re Beautiful . . .
Four words continue to haunt me . . .
You. Have. Breast. Cancer.
I associate them with the upheaval of my life to this point. The last
few months have been a test of my strength . . . mentally, emotionally, and
physically. Cancer is a monster. It preys on your mind and it consumes you,
consistently reminding you of how your life used to be. Life before cancer. I
was a successful business woman, running my own design firm, and was happily
married to my college sweetheart. My life seemed perfect. Until it suddenly came
crashing down all around me.
So, here I am, in the midst of treatment, incinerating the remnants of
my shattered marriage and attempting to piece the rest of my life back
together. With three amazing friends pushing me forward, the ‘post-chemo’
finish line is coming into view.
And then . . . there’s him. The man I never anticipated. The one who
breathes hope and meaning back into my life. A man who kisses my scars and
shows me that I’m beautiful. I never expected him. Hell, I never expected
cancer. I’m finally ready to write my future, a future I never planned on, but
one that is better than I could’ve ever imagined.
Victoria's journey is complete in this boxed set!
Tori’s books are offered individually on Barnes & Noble and iTunes
(not available as the Duet Box Limited Edition)
B&N: http://goo.gl/C0CC8o
iTunes: https://goo.gl/ztpLkW
Thank you so much to Karen Hulseman, Darlene Avery and Tori for all your help with this spotlight <3
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