Lauren Clark "Dancing Naked In Dixie"

The Book Plot: 

Travel writer Julia Sullivan lives life in fast-forward. She jet sets to Europe and the Caribbean with barely a moment to blink or sleep. But too many mishaps and missed deadlines have Julia on the verge of being fired.

With a stern warning, and unemployment looming, she's offered one last chance to rescue her career. Julia embarks on an unlikely journey to the ‘Heart of Dixie’—Eufaula, Alabama—home to magnificent mansions, sweet tea, and the annual Pilgrimage.

Julia arrives, soon charmed by the lovely city and her handsome host, but her stay is marred by a shocking discovery. Can Julia's story save her career, Eufaula, and the annual Pilgrimage? 

A few questions for our author:

What made you write "Dancing Naked in Dixie"?

Two reasons - (1) Like Julia, I'm a Northern girl who moved to the Deep South. I took many of my experiences, embellished, and included them in Julia's journey. Like Julia, it didn't take long for me to love my new 'home.'  (2) There are many novels about a character excited about moving to a big city or traveling to Paris or London, but Dixie follows a big city girl who visits a very small town. At the outset, she doesn’t want to go—in fact, she throws a hissy fit about it! She’s really a fish out of water—the accents, the food, the mannerisms are all foreign to her.

I think we’ve all harbored preconceived notions or ideas about people and places we haven’t visited. The fun of this storyline involves Julia discovering how wrong she was about the Deep South. It’s a life-changing experience for her. It’s my hope that readers feel that Dixie honors and celebrates cultural differences.

Share some writing tips with us!

(1) Outline enough so that you know the beginning, middle, and end of your story. Print it out and place it where you can see it every day. If you are so inclined, go further with your plotting, write down at least one sentence for each chapter.

(2) Set a writing goal for yourself (example: Monday - Friday, 1000 words a day). Stick to it. On that schedule, you can get a first draft done in four months. Not bad!!

(3) While working on your first draft, do not stop and get caught in the revision cycle, because you'll never get the next 1000 words done.

(4) When the first draft is done, celebrate!  Let it rest and let someone who you respect (besides your mom, sister, or favorite aunt) read it. Listen to his or her critique. Revise.


And what is something no one knows about you?

I used to play field hockey and soccer in high school! I also love NHL Hockey (Buffalo Sabres) ... a sport which NO ONE in the South follows!

Want to buy the book or know more about the author. Check out the links below!

Lauren Clark's author page on Amazon and buy the book on Amazon. Visit the author's website and Facebook page. See what Lauren has to say on Goodreads and Twitter.