Excerpt and author interview: ‘Eleven Weeks’ by Lauren K. McKellar

Eleven Weeks, book two in the Crazy In Love series
Lauren K. McKellar

Genre: Contemporary Romance (New Adult)

Cover Design: KILA Designs

Seven shots
Five siblings
Two boys
One heartbeat …

Stacey is good at pretending.

She pretends that the boy she’s in love with doesn’t exist.

She pretends that she’s happy to live and die in this small town.

She pretends that her life is carefree while her best friend’s world crumbles before her very eyes.

But Stacey’s got a secret …

And it’s going to ruin everything.

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Read my review of Eleven Weeks here. (Hint: I LOVED IT!)

Interview with Lauren

Where did you come up with the inspiration for Eleven Weeks?

The idea for Eleven Weeks was sort of twofold, I guess. First, I’d decided I wanted to do a novella to make the Crazy in Love series a three-book experience. My good friend and writerly co-conspirator Stacey Nash (also an author, of a whole heap of talent) suggested I write about Stacey and Michael.

At first, I was hesitant. A few people had noted that they found the character of Stacey (the best friend of my protagonist, Kate, in The Problem With Crazy) to be a little unlikeable, but then it gave me the best plan ever. I could use this to show why at times she was a little distant or hostile. This could be Stacey’s redemption!

I believe a lot of things happen to make us the way we are, and hopefully this gives people some insight as to why Stacey wasn’t always there for Kate in book one of the series.

Who is your writing hero?

If I could be any author, it would be hands down Colleen Hoover. I adore her work, and I love her style – for me, writing is all about producing books that make people feel, and that’s what her titles always do to me, by the bucket-load! I don’t want to be the next Proust or Malouf – I just want to offer people escapism and connect with them emotionally. If I can come even halfway close to that, I’ll be stoked.

What’s next for the Crazy in Love series?

Well, book three, The Problem With Heartache, is out on 26 February, and will see Kate do a little bit of a road trip as she travels to America with a massive rock ‘n’ roll band. It’s a dual POV book, which was a really fun challenge for me, as I’ve never written from a masculine perspective before. It was super fun.

Fast five:

Beer or wine: Wine.

MC or paranormal: Oh, tough one! Most likely MC, but I do love me some good paranormal reads!

Indie or traditional: I’m hybrid published, so I’d say both!

Chocolate or candy: Chocolate … but right now I’m on a health kick, so please don’t tempt me!

Rock or pop: Bit of both please. There’s no reason I can’t have a side of Taylor Swift with my alternate music!

Excerpt

The warm sun beats down on my face. I open my eyes, fighting the stickiness that falling asleep while wearing mascara brings. I run my tongue along my teeth, the gross feeling of furry and—

Oh God.

Last night.

Michael.

I inch my leg behind me, hoping to feel his warmth. Maybe we can make this work, somehow. Michael seems to think we can.

One inch: warm bed sheets.

Two inches: the bed cools.

Three inches: nothing.

I flip over. His side of the bed is empty, the quilt pulled up, and the sheets tucked in, as if he had never even been there in the first place.

On his pillow lies a note, man-scrawl scratched across its surface in blue hotel-room pen.

I’ll keep your secrets.
I just won’t be one.

Ouch.

Buy Links

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About the Crazy in Love series

The Crazy in Love series consists of three titles: The Problem With Crazy, Eleven Weeks and The Problem With Heartache.

Links to Book One: The Problem With Crazy

Goodreads│Amazon│Barnes & Noble│Kobo Books

About Lauren

Lauren K. McKellar is an author and editor. Her debut novel, Finding Home, was released through Escape Publishing on October 1, 2013, and her second release, NA Contemporary Romance The Problem With Crazy, is self-published, and is available now. She loves books that evoke emotion, and hope hers make you feel.

Lauren lives by the beach in Australia with her husband and their two dogs. Most of the time, all three of them are well behaved.

Author Links

Website│Goodreads│Twitter│Facebook