A Little Bit of Lust by Shirley Goldberg
Happy holidays to all! Give a big welcome to Shirley Goldberg, author of A Little Bit of Lust. Have a seat and grab an insulated mug. I’ve got hot chocolate, hot cider and coffee. Choose your pot, they’re labeled. Pick your choice of a Snicker-doodle, Chocolate Chip or Peanut butter cookie from the plate. Yep, I baked them myself. Lets see what A Little Bit of Lust is all about. Thanks for joining us!
Shirley, tell us about your inspiration for A Little Bit of Lust?
Before covid, I used to go dancing with a few friends on Sunday afternoons at a restaurant on the Connecticut shoreline called Donahue’s. Over the years, I met other dancers and we became rabid regulars. The idea of three friends who hang out, go dancing, and work together grew and became part of the storyline for A Little Bit of Lust. But something was missing.
Not only was I online dating at the time, I devoured books on dating as if I were earning a PhD in the subject. Relationships, courtship, and the stages of dating? I read anything with the word “dating” in it, about sixty books in all. I knew from my reading that most relationships had a beginning and, most likely, an end. Despite being a fan of the happy ever after ending.
I didn’t wish this on my characters. Especially since I was dating a widower, and it wasn’t going well. As in, five months after his wife’s death, it was too soon for him to be dating. Need I say we didn’t work out?
So after deciding on the friendship theme for the book, I threw in the widower as one of the friends. Well, I didn’t exactly throw him in––I chose the opposite of the man I’d been dating. To better understand my character, I researched support groups for the bereaved. In the book, my widower, Deon, hates the idea of moving on and dating.
And so, the Three Musketeers were born. They dance together, happy-hour as a threesome, and support each other no matter what. Lucy and Phoebe even encourage Deon to date, although he ignores them. Until the ice cream social, the eight-minute dating event Phoebe engineers at her family restaurant.
I loved that Deon had enjoyed a loving and happy marriage. He was afraid no one else could measure up to his wife, and that made him unwilling to move on.
Until he did. But that’s another story.
Wow what an inspiration. So tell us about A Little Bit of Lust.
Love-cynical Lucy Bernard delights in her independence. Baking, all things Instagram, the occasional special guy, and most of all hanging out with best friends Deon Goldbloom and Phoebe Karis. But when Deon kisses Lucy at the beach on a chilly afternoon, the two friends jump into a lust-filled romantic weekend. So what’s with slotting her into “ignore” status afterward?
Deon Goldbloom is a widower who can’t move on after his wife’s death. Is he a little crazy spending a sexy few days with Lucy and calling it the best time he’s had in four years? Yeah. Except blue Monday comes calling, and Deon isn’t ready for the guilt.
Lucy wonders how a smoochy weekend turns into a friends-with-benefits disaster. And Deon wonders if he’s made the biggest mistake of his life putting Lucy on “ignore.” Using all his nerdy charms, he launches a campaign to bring Lucy around. Maybe they can chart a course back to one another if Lucy will only forgive him.
Buy Links:
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Now for a peek inside the pages of A Little Bit of Lust.
Lucy, Deon, and Phoebe go to their favorite CT shoreline hangout on a Sunday afternoon
“You know,” said Steve, the interloper. “You and your friends are like The Three Musketeers. Always together.”
Together indeed. Lucy loved their routine. Arrive early while the band set up, grab seats, and make the rounds among their dancing friends. The band quit at eight, and they went home and got up early Monday morning to wrestle middle school kids, metaphorically speaking.
Steve leaned an elbow on the bar. “I’ve been here half a dozen times––”
He jerked back as Lucy’s best friend, Phoebe, trotted up and plonked her bag on the bar, startling them both. “Deon’s late. I don’t see him,” she barked.
Lucy sniffed and cleared her throat in a loud ah hem. “Mrs. Interruptus why don’t you?” she growled. “And hello to you, too. This is Steve.”
“Sorry, darling.” Phoebe bobbed her head in Steve’s direction, said a quick “hi,” and wrapped both arms around Lucy. “By the way, interruptus sounds sexual.”
“I was trying to be snotty.” Lucy turned up her nose.
Steve stood and gave Phoebe his seat. “Thank you, very thoughtful.” She shot Steve a quick smile and reached for her bag. “I’m stealing this dating idea from an ad for eight-minute dating. Some restaurant in Stamford.” She opened her bag and peered into its depths. “Can’t remember where I put that ad.”
“Dibs on Deon for ‘Chattanooga Choo Choo.’” Lucy raised a hand to signal the bartender. “I think Travis is impressed by my vast knowledge of Glenn Miller tunes.”
“I’m certain he is.” Phoebe, riffling through her handbag, gave Lucy a doubtful look. “You’d better alert Deon. He just came in. There’ll be a ton of good dancers here today with this band. Competition.”
Lucy glanced over at the stage where Deon stood talking to Travis, in Buddy Holly glasses and a porkpie hat.
“Got it.” Phoebe brandished her phone and scrolled. “I forgot it was in my photos. Look.” She thrust her phone at Lucy.
“Can’t read it; the print’s too tiny.” Lucy flung her arm in the air and waved in Deon’s direction, eventually catching his eye. He wandered over wearing his customary smirk, and Lucy handed him Phoebe’s phone. “Read this, would you?”
Deon cleared his throat and launched into his favorite accent. Elvis. “Welcome, ladies and gentlemen––”
“Hah, it doesn’t say that,” Phoebe protested.
“Meet your dream gal or guy. Only eight minutes to your SoulMate IRL! Here’s your chance. Ages forty to sixty-five. Follow the link for more information.’”
“That sounds like torture,” Deon said, dropping the Elvis. “IRL? What’s IRL?” He cocked his head. “Code for I’m really likable?”
About the Author
Shirley Goldberg is a writer, novelist, and former ESL and French teacher who’s lived in Paris, Crete, and Casablanca. She writes about men and women of a certain age starting over. Her website http://midagedating.com offers a humorous look at dating in mid-life, and her friends like to guess which stories are true. A Little Bit of Lust is her third book in the series Starting Over, although all her books are standalone. Shirley’s characters all believe you should never leave home without your sense of humor and she agrees.
Social Media Links for Shirley
https://www.facebook.com/midagedating
https://twitter.com/mylifeasadate
https://www.instagram.com/shirleygoldbergauthor/
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3916624.Shirley_Goldberg
https://www.bookbub.com/profile/shirley-goldberg
Shirley’s books on sale for .99!
Middle Ageish
https://books2read.com/u/mY7jvV
Eat Your Heart Out
https://books2read.com/u/m2dDEj
It’s been great having you with us today. Good luck with A Little Bit of Lust!
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Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged A Little But of Lust, Contemporary Romance, Shirley Goldberg by Tena Stetler with 12 comments.
Eat Your Heart Out by Shirley Goldberg – Cover Reveal
I’ve a treat for you today, Shirley Goldberg has a new release coming out! Wow! She has graciously shared the cover for her new book Eat Your Heart Out with me. So without further ado, the cover! Don’t you love it? It’s makes me hungry! Speaking of eating, grab a peanut butter cookie or chocolate chip from the plate and a mug of hot chocolate or cider and feast your eyes on the lovely cover.
Yup, it’s a Cover Reveal!
I’m so thrilled to show off my new cover for Eat Your Heart Out, the second book in the series Starting Over.
Two foodies, Dana and Alex, banter, sauté and tiptoe around each other. Except for the occasional smooch. What’s with that?
I’m sharing more of Eat Your Heart Out’s details on my blog. Read the blurb and click this link https://midagedating.com/ to read an excerpt. Too soon for links, but I’m looking for ARC readers, so please keep in touch. Publication date coming soon!
Thanks to Debbie Taylor for her cover and the team at The Wild Rose Press for all their hard work!
A teaser for Eat Your Heart Out
When a tyrant in stilettos replaces her beloved boss, and her ex snags her coveted job, teacher Dana Narvana discovers there are worse things than getting dumped on Facebook. Time for the BFF advice squad, starting with Dana’s staunchest ally, Alex—hunky colleague, quipster, and cooking pal extraordinaire. But when the after-hours smooching goes nowhere, she wonders why this grown man won’t make up his mind.
Alex Bethany’s new lifestyle gives him the confidence to try online dating. What he craves is a family of his own until a life-altering surprise rocks his world. He knows he’s sending Dana mixed messages. Alex panics when he thinks he’s blown his chance with his special person. From appetizers to the main course will these two cooking buddies make it to dessert?
Funny and bittersweet, Dana and Alex’s story will have you rooting for them.
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Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged Contemporary Romance, Eat Your Heart Out, Shirley Goldberg by Tena Stetler with comments disabled.
Middle Ageish by Shirley Goldberg
Give a warm welcome to Shirley Goldberg, author of Middle Ageish! Pull up a chair, grab a drink of your choice from the cooler, a Chocolate Chip or Peanut Butter cookie from the plate, and let’s find out a little about Shirley and her Middle Ageish.
Tell us about yourself.
When I was in my teens all I wanted to do was travel. At nineteen, my best friend and I quit university and went to Ireland. We hitchhiked all around the country, me with a suitcase as big as a sheep. (I ended up sending most of the clothes I’d brought back home.) A sweet couple put us up in their barn for the night and served us a four-course breakfast in the morning. They would have given us a room, but my friend, Elise, wanted to sleep in a real barn. We hitchhiked all around Europe and ended up meeting a group of travelers at the Youth Hostel in Rome, continued on to Greece with them. We’re still in touch to this day.
Funny that I ended up marrying a Greek physics professor and living in Crete for eleven years.
Why did you choose the cover concept you did for Middle Ageish?
My novel is romantic women’s fiction. Since the title of the book, Middle Ageish, immediately tells the reader the characters are older, I wanted a cover that conveyed the idea of a rom com for the over-45 reader. A fun, beachy read, but with the real life problems that come with life experience.
Who would you recommend this book to and what should readers be aware of before reading it?
Here’s what a reader said about my book in an ARC review:
“In the beginning I thought, ‘I’m not sure this book is for me. I’ve been married for 50 years.’ I quickly changed my mind. I loved the book.”
My readers are probably in their forties and older, married or divorced and looking for a light read––although there’s some heartbreak and angst in the novel. The heat level is low and the door closes when it ratchets up.
Also, since the book centers around online dating it will appeal to anyone who’s dated online, or is curious about it. If you’d like to read more how-tos about dating, check out my website link below.
And, if you think Sunny’s dating escapades are exaggerated, ask your friends who’ve dated. They’ll give you the real scoop––just as it plays out in the story.
Relationships are what our books are all about, all different kinds of relationships. What interests you about how people find one another?
Everything about relationships fascinates me, from the meeting and greeting aspect to the reasons couples break up. The book grew out of my own dating experiences, but I needed time and perspective before I began writing. I worked my way gradually from taking notes after dates to transferring the notes to the computer in story form.
And I compared my experiences with friends, usually over a glass of wine. Our personal stories had so many similarities, I began to see a pattern. Everyone wants a special someone. No matter what we say to the contrary, the craving for the one person who understands you is universally important to almost everyone on the planet.
What defines you as an author?
I want to make my reader laugh. I want her to recognize a little bit of herself in my characters.
Tell us a little more about Middle Ageish:
Sunny Chanel’s marriage is circling the drain when her husband marks his colonoscopy on the calendar and ignores their anniversary. With divorce papers instead of roses on the horizon, she says “au revoir” Paris and croissants, and “hello” cheap New Haven apartment and ramen noodles.
Encouraged by her friends, Sunny jumps into online dating, twenty-three years and twenty pounds after her last date. To her surprise she discovers dating might require a helmet, and occasionally armor to protect her heart, but after years of being ignored, her adventurous side craves fun and conversation. She’s middle-aged not dead. Then suddenly, on the way to reinventing herself, life takes a left turn when the one man she can’t forget calls with an unexpected request.
Excerpt from Middle Ageish
Of course, my goodbye Paris party was at Chez Lulu in the Latin Quarter, Paris’ most Bohemian arrondissment. Lulu’s has that Fifties diner look—clean, spare and edgy like an Edward Hopper painting minus the feeling of isolation. It’s always packed, and the music is Buddy Holly, early Elvis, Patsy Cline, the Everly Brothers—a mix of rock and roll and country.
“Dinner’s here,” announced Dulcie, waving her beer glass before taking a long pull. “Everyone let them through!”
“Hey, ain’t this a swell party?” said Bertrand, arriving at our noisy table with an armload of gourmet burgers. “Who’s got the Marilyn Monroe with Mickey Mantles?”
Have I mentioned all the waiters are imitation James Deans, white T-shirts and jeans with rolled cuffs? Bertrand and Albert—they both speak perfect, slangy English—are our favorites. Bertrand is flirty in a sweet way and working his way through the Institute d’Etudes Politiques de Paris.
“And the Robert Mitchum with Buddy Holly fries?” Lulu’s boasts seven varieties of American fries, named for baseball players, or French and American pop stars.
“Two Jane Russells with Joe DiMaggio fries?” Albert, at Lulu’s between acting jobs, shouted, and everyone quieted for a moment, shuffling plates and passing them across the table. Movie star burgers with caramelized onions on miniature baguette buns. My mouth was so ready.
My going-away party…and I am not going to cry. Moving to New Haven and…I’m not not not crying.
Next to me, Natalie held out The Middle-Aged Idiot’s Guide to Online Dating. “For when you start dating,” she yelled over the roar that is Lulu’s. “This book really helped––”
“Dating? Seriously?” I grabbed two curly fries, the Joe DiMaggios, and popped them into my mouth. Picked up the burger, took a bite. Camembert oozed around the edges. Orgasmic. “Like dating is on my list of things to do?” I said around the burger. “Right below sticking a rusty fork in my eye?”
Right there, with my mouth around my favorite burger in the world, I lost my appetite.
BUY MIDDLE AGEISH AT YOUR FAVORITE BOOKSTORE:
Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/yxcqystg Middle Ageish
APPLE https://tinyurl.com/y37cbc5u
Nook/Barnes and Noble: https://tinyurl.com/yyuwpq6o
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54758920-middle-ageish
https://www.bookbub.com/profile/3531427862?list=following
About the Author
Shirley Goldberg is a writer, novelist, and former ESL and French teacher who’s lived in Paris, Crete, and Casablanca. She writes about men and women of a certain age starting over. Her website http://midagedating.com offers a humorous look into dating in mid life, and her friends like to guess which stories are true. Middle Ageish is her first book in the series Starting Over. Her character believes you should never leave home without your sense of humor and Shirley agrees.
Visit my website for another excerpt from the book. Sign up and grab a copy of Happy Hour, a short story about an online meet and a tiny misunderstanding.
Find Shirley on Social Media:
https://www.facebook.com/midagedating
https://twitter.com/mylifeasadate
https://www.instagram.com/shirleygoldbergauthor/
It’s been great having you with us today. Good luck with Middle Ageish!
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Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged Middle Ageish, Shirley Goldberg, Women's Divorce Fiction, Women's Fiction, Women's Romantic Fiction by Tena Stetler with 4 comments.
