1–What is the title of your latest release?
2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book?
It was supposed to be the happiest day of Jaslene Simmons’s life, the day she’d say “I do” to Marcus Clark. But when her sister dies in a tragic accident, everything changes-including her once-rosy future with Marcus. Jaslene instead pours all her energy into caring for her now motherless niece and running the wedding planning company she and her sister had built, wanting to honor her sister’s dream even if she must sacrifice her own.
As an archivist at the Lowcountry African American Heritage Museum, Marcus shines a light on the stories of forgotten people. Researching history is better than dealing with his own heartache and the guilt he has over the role he may have inadvertently played in the death of Jaslene’s sister.
Jaslene never thought she’d cross paths with Marcus again, but she ends up planning a wedding at the museum, which is faced with the threat of closure. As they work together to save it, their buried feelings slowly reignite. They soon realize there is still room in their hearts for love…if only they can overcome their past.
3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place?
I always wanted to write a series that was set in Charleston, South Carolina, and so I knew that, after writing A LOWCOUNTRY BRIDE, the next book in the series would be set in the same city.
4–Would you hang out with your heroine in real life?
Yes, I would definitely hang out with Jaslene, my heroine in A Sweet Lowcountry Proposal. She’s experienced a lot of losses in her life, and I think that she simply needs to find her way back to herself again. I would love to be the person to help her do that. (And I was that person – indirectly!)
5–What are three words that describe your hero?
Steady. Generous. Reclusive.
6–What’s something you learned while writing this book?
I learned to trust myself and my instincts. I learned that when I trust myself as a writer, the story becomes something that is much bigger than I had originally imagined. That’s what happened while writing A Sweet Lowcountry Proposal. I originally hadn’t imagined the story to have an inspirational and spiritual element to it, but as I wrote, I felt as if I needed to explore that more. I’m glad that I did.
7–Do you edit as you draft or wait until you are totally done?
I edit as I go! I can’t help myself.
8–What’s your favorite foodie indulgence?
I love Haagen-Daz’s Coffee ice cream. I buy a small carton whenever I go grocery shopping, and I hide it in the back of the refrigerator so that my children won’t see it!
9–Describe your writing space/office!
I have a room in my house that has a lovely desk with lots of nooks for notebooks, pens, and other writerly things. However, I usually end up writing in other locations because they feel more comfortable to me. I’ll write on the couch or on my bed or at the kitchen table. If I need privacy and quiet, then I’ll go to my office.
10–Who is an author you admire?
I admire the late Octavia Butler. She wrote science fiction novels that were ahead of her time.
11–Is there a book that changed your life?
Kindred by Octavia Butler changed my life. The writing was so clear and prescient. As I read the story, I felt like I was in the actual scenes with the characters.
12–Tell us about when you got “the call.” (when you found out your book was going to be published)
When I found out that A Sweet Lowcountry Proposal was going to be published, I was sitting in Panera Bread and waiting for my order to arrive. It was an ordinary day, but when I got that call, I was thrilled! I also knew that I was officially on deadline, and that made me nervous. I had written a few chapters of the book, and I knew where I wanted to go with the story. However, the rest of the story wasn’t written when I received “the call.” A resolve formed within me because I had to get to work!
13–What’s your favorite genre to read?
I enjoy reading contemporary romance and women’s fiction.
14–What’s your favorite movie?
It’s so hard to narrow it down to one movie! My all-time favorite movies are Carmen Jones, City of Angels, You’ve Got Mail, The Joy Luck Club, The Color Purple, and Love Jones.
15–What is your favorite season?
I love spring! The weather becomes warmer, and we’re emerging from the winter season. It’s a time for new beginnings.
16–How do you like to celebrate your birthday?
For my birthday, I’d love to spend a weekend at a bed and breakfast alone. I’m an introvert, and I really crave quiet time. I rarely get quiet time these days, so having the opportunity to go away for a weekend would be a wonderful gift.
17–What’s a recent tv show/movie/book/podcast you highly recommend?
I highly recommend the film Woman King, starring Viola Davis. It’s an amazing movie that’s based on the real-life, all-woman fighting group named the Agojie. They existed in the West African Kingdom of Dahomey during the height of the transatlantic slave trade.
18–What’s your favorite type of cuisine?
I love Thai food and Indian food. If anyone ever wants to take me out to eat, Thai or Indian are my top two choices.
19–What do you do when you have free time?
Free time? What’s that? I’ve been so very busy for the past few months, and so I rarely get free time. Whenever I get a chance to chill, I usually take a nap or journal.
20–What can readers expect from you next?
I am writing another romance that’s set in the Lowcountry. This story is about a photographer who rediscovers her love for taking photos and who finds love along the way!
A SWEET LOWCOUNTRY PROPOSAL by Preslaysa Williams
Preslaysa Williams, author of the “emotionally stirring debut” A Lowcountry Bride (Oprah Daily), returns to the Lowcountry with a heartwarming story about a second chance romance.
It was supposed to be the happiest day of Jaslene Simmons’ life, the day she’d say “I do” to Marcus Clark. But when her sister dies in a tragic accident everything changes—including her once rosy future with Marcus. Jaslene instead pours all of her energy into caring for her now-motherless niece and running the wedding planning company she and her sister had built, wanting to honor her sister’s dream even if she has to sacrifice her own.
As an archivist at Charleston’s Black history museum, Marcus shines a light on the stories of forgotten people. Researching history is better than dealing with his own heartache—and the guilt he has over the role he may have inadvertently played in the death of Jaslene’s sister.
Jaslene never thought she’d cross paths with Marcus again, but her need for an affordable office space brings her to the museum which is faced with the threat of closure. As they work together to save it, their buried feelings slowly reignite. They soon realize there is still room in their hearts for love…if only they can overcome their past.
Romance Comedy [Avon, On Sale: November 8, 2022, Paperback / e-Book, ISBN: 9780063236981 / eISBN: 9780063237032]
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About Preslaysa Williams
Preslaysa Williams is an award-winning author who writes contemporary romance and women’s fiction with an Afro-Filipina twist. Proud of her heritage, she loves sharing her culture with her readers. She has a MFA in Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University and an undergraduate degree from Columbia University.
Preslaysa is also a professional actress, a planner nerd, an avid bookworm, and a homeschool mom who wears mismatched socks.
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