It's always fun to do something a little different, and today you're in for a real treat! Monica Scott from
Love's Promises is stopping by! I hope you enjoy this chance to get to know her better. (You can read my review of
Love's Promises here.)
i blog 4 books: Hi Monica! I know you're a busy woman, so thank you for stopping in and visiting with me today! For anyone who hasn't read your story in Love's Promises, please tell us a little about yourself.
Monica Scott: Hi Brooke, thank you for inviting me to visit with you. I’ve lived an interesting life, traveling the world with my famous architect father, Armand Scott. After graduating from university, I was encouraged to work with him on his building projects. The last one we worked on before he passed away was in Malaga, Spain. He built a beautiful condominium complex overlooking the Costa del Sol.
It's been tough since his passing. I’ve been at a loss. But then going through his things, I found the plans for a designer house at Lake Tahoe. I’ve come here to build that house in memory of him and his work.
ib4b: I'm a sucker for a good love story, so give us some dirt! :) What were your first impressions of Greg?
MS: Oh my goodness. Greg took my breath away in spite of the fact I was furious and ready to battle the bureaucracy he works for. He kind of took the wind out of my sails when I saw him.
Then his idealism grated at my resolve to build my father’s house. He is so dedicated it made it difficult to fight him. He truly does believe in his cause and I think his efforts are in fact, protecting the beautiful environment he loves.
Of course when I first met him, that very idealism annoyed me immensely. And it was pretty annoying that his sense of humor tickled me even as he was preventing me from accomplishing my goals.
ib4b: How did you know you were in love with Greg? What made you fall in love with him?
MS: I started to realize I was in love with him when I discovered that he had been trying to help me all along.
I also grew to love him when I met his family in San Francisco. His mom is amazing, and I saw how her love for Greg’s dad thrived. And when I saw the tenderness and respect his dad had for his mom, it helped me to not be so afraid of love for myself.
ib4b: Switching gears a bit ... caring for the environment is one of the main themes of Love's Promises. What are some practical applications that you hope readers will take away after reading about your experiences in Tahoe?
MS: Well, to be honest, I wasn’t thinking much about the environment when I started out on the project to build my father’s house. Although, I should have, since one of the features my father was renowned for was his incorporation of the surrounding landscape in his designs.
It was Greg who pointed out to me that the beauty that attracts the tourists to Lake Tahoe is not to be taken for granted. With the high use of the area, great care needs to be taken to preserve the natural beauty. Careless over-development will damage the lake and surrounding terrain to the point that it will no longer be a wonderful place that people will want to visit. So it is in the best interest of the economy as well as the ecology to be mindful.
ib4b: Of course I loved reading your story, but I thought Sandra did a fabulous job making me fall in love with Lake Tahoe too! If I were to visit Tahoe for a long weekend, what should I make sure to do while I'm visiting?
MS: It would depend upon what time of year you are going to visit. If you visit in the winter, you will want to book your stay in one of the fabulous ski resorts in the area. Even if you don’t ski, it is fun to sit in the lodge and watch the skiers race down those steep trails.
If you book during the summer months, you will want to explore the state beach parks in Nevada and California. There are great beaches to enjoy, boats to rent, historical museums, etc. You might want to plan a hike. The seventy-two mile drive around the lake is always a fun day spent with breathtaking views of the lake and delightful restaurants to enjoy.
I have to say though that my favorite time to be there is in the fall after all the tourists go home. It is like the trees heave a big sigh and there is silence. Here is a good
website to see some of the scenery and activities that are there.
ib4b: Finally, before you have to go, I know you're very well-traveled and have lived all over the world. (I love to travel too, by the way!) What are some of your favorite places that you've ever visited, and what makes them your favorites?
MS: I have to say that Spain has a special place in my heart because it was where I was living for the last time with my father. He passed while we were there, but he had finished several projects and we met some wonderful people. My parents had a villa along the Costa del Sol, so there are many family friends there as well.
Another place I really enjoyed was Costa Rica. My father built some fabulous resorts along the beach. We had a pet sloth that made me laugh.
ib4b: A pet sloth? You'll have to tell me more about that next time. :) Thanks again for taking the time to visit with us today! I can't wait for everyone else to read your story!
MS: Thank you Brooke. It has been fun chatting with you. I hope you enjoy your trip to Lake Tahoe.
About the Author
Sandra Leesmith loves to travel in her RV and explore all of nature’s
beauty, discover America’s history, and fellowship with the wonderful
people she meets while on the road. She enjoys reading, writing, hiking,
swimming, and pickleball.
Giveaway
Sandra is offering one reader a taste of Lake Tahoe with a sweet prize pack: a signed paperback copy of Love's Promises,
a journal, a Lake Tahoe coffee mug, a pound of Millstone Velvet
Chocolate coffee, and a Hulet Glass chocolate drop! This giveaway is
open to U.S. residents only and ends May 1. You can enter to win via the Rafflecopter form below.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
