Thursday, March 4, 2010

Get to know the girls...

...the girls in our stories, that is! For the last few weeks, we've interviewed our heroes, but this week we're talking to the girls. First up:

Docia Kent Toleffson, Venus In Blue Jeans, by Meg Benjamin.




My DH, Cal, had his chance a couple of weeks ago, so now I get to give you my version. Revenge is sweet, Calthorpe!

1. Favorite way to escape after a hard day at work?


(Laughs) Go drinking with my husband! Seriously, we met at this really dumpy bar in downtown Konigsburg, Texas—the Dew Drop Inn. It’s so dumpy only locals go there, but you get to see your friends and, in my case, your lover. After a crappy day in the book trade, I love to grab a big table at the Dew Drop with Cal beside me and see who shows up. Most of my brothers-in-law drop by, usually with their wives who are also my friends. My friend Allie shows up with her fiancĂ© Wonder Dentist. And my friend Morgan, who has the hots for my brother-in-law Erik. Believe me, Erik really needs somebody in his life. And after we have a few beers or glasses of wine, we can wander down the street to the best restaurant in town, Brenner’s, run by my friends Lee Contreras and Ken Crowder. Konigsburg, gotta love it!

2. What do you do for a living and how did you get into that?


I own Kent’s Hill Country Books in downtown Konigsburg and I run it with my friend (and sister-in-law) Janie Dupree Toleffson. How did I get into it? Well, I had this (ahem) bad experience with a jerky guy in Dallas, so I decided to get away from everything and move to the Texas Hill Country. I’ve always loved Konigsburg, and it was far enough away from my parents (in Dallas and San Antonio) that I figured they wouldn’t be intruding in my life. That hasn’t been entirely true, but they’ve stayed out of my business more than they used to. Of course, I had a few problems when a rare book dealer decided to hide some of his merchandise in my store without telling me, but thanks to Cal everything worked out okay.

3. What’s the first thing you noticed about Cal Toleffson?

Oh my, my, my—you mean besides the fact that he’s drop-dead gorgeous? Okay, his height. All the Toleffson brothers are over six feet. I’m six feet exactly and I’ve spent my life looked down at the top of guys’ heads when we danced. With Cal, even if I strap on three-inch heels, I can still look up to him, although four-inchers bring us closer to eye-to-eye. And, of course, the rest of him is in proportion. Oh my god, I can’t believe I said that!


Keara Callaghan from Irish Sex Fairy, by Kelly Jamieson:



1. Favorite way to escape after a hard day at work?

Now I'm managing the Kilkenny branch of Palladium Bank, I work a lot less hours than I did when I lived in Los Angeles. I love going home to Shane after work and cooking dinner with him and then doing things around the house – Shane apparently inherited a love of gardening from his dad and is obsessed with planting all kinds of things in our back yard, but I enjoy working out there too. Shane also seems to have inherited his parents’ love of parties and we often end up with a houseful of people. And sometimes I go visit my Aunt Maeve or help her out in her store (and come home with some new toys!)

2. What do you do for a living and how did you get into that?

As I said, I’m the new manager of Palladium Bank in Kilkenny. It’s a very small branch compared to the one I managed in Los Angeles, and I’m not on the fast track to an executive position any more, but that’s okay. My dad was CEO of Palladium years ago. My mom was a vice president at Ezron Savings and Loan. They both wanted me to follow in their footsteps. They helped me take the best courses in college and encouraged me. I was just starting my career at the bank when they were both killed in a car accident. After that I wanted to do my best to make them proud, but I probably worked too hard. Okay, Shane says not “probably”, I definitely worked too hard!

3. First thing you noticed about Shane Dunstan?

I met Shane when I was 17 and spending summer vacation with Aunt Maeve. I don’t even remember for sure what I first noticed about him, but I do remember how he made me feel – all warm and fluttery inside. It was the whole package of him – tall, dark and handsome. Actually, it might have been his eyes – he has the most gorgeous blue eyes with long dark eyelashes and when he looked at me, my heart started pounding and my hands stared shaking. (Sigh of pleasure).


Lucy Greco Cavanaugh from A Taste of Honey by PG Forte:

 

1. Favorite way to escape after a hard day at work?

Cooking dinner for my family. What? You think that’s work? Don’t be silly. Cooking is one of life’s essential pleasures. It’s nurturing. Plus I’m good at it. Well, I am. Ask anyone. But, you know, a hot bath, a good book and a pint of lavender ice cream—that isn’t a bad way to go either.

2. What do you do for a living and how did you get into that?

I help my husband run one of the family’s nurseries. I went to work at Cavanaugh’s right out of high school. I liked it there—they always let me do things my own way, if you know what I mean—so I stayed on. Then I met my husband, Dan Cavanaugh, and the rest is history.

Lately I’ve been branching out a bit. I now produce my own line of herb-infused soaps and massage oils, as well as organic honey, beeswax candles…well, you get the idea. Dan hates the bees, but he sure does love the honey.

3. First thing you noticed about Dan?

First thing I noticed? Wow—that’s tough. I mean, what’s not to notice? My husband is a very noticeable man. You can ask anyone about that, too.

I guess the very first thing I noticed was his size—and don’t go taking that the wrong way, all right? All I mean is he’s a big guy and when we met…well, I’d never tell him this, but the truth is he scared the crap out of me. See, I didn’t know who he was or what he was doing hanging around in one of the greenhouses after everyone else had gone home for the night.

I thought maybe he’d broken in and was there to rob the place. So, yeah, the fact that he’s tall, broad and brutally hot—that was definitely the first thing I noticed.

Oh, and, by the way, if you’re interested in reading Dan’s version of how we met, you can find that HERE.

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