Marcie Shumway: Exclusive Interview & Excerpt
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Being part of the second season of the 425 Madison Series has been an amazing experience! It is the first time I’ve ever done a project like this and I was honored they included me. In ‘His Last Ride’ we follow Cody and Payton as they reconnect the friendship from their childhood and chase something so much deeper. I’m so excited to be here with HEA Novel Thoughts for this interview.
HEA Novel Thoughts: Are any characters based off you, friends, family, or anybody in your life?
Marcie Shumway: I think every character I write has a piece of me or someone I know in them. There is no direct connect though to anyone in particular, this time anyway. Unless you count the fact that my husband’s nickname is Cowboy.
HEA: Is there a certain place where you get more inspired to write than others?
Marcie: My office! We had to renovate my office after a tree fell on our house in the spring, a blessing in disguise really. I have found that now it brings out my creativity more. Once I pop in my ear buds, I’m lost to the rest of the world and the words will just flow. It is brighter and decorated the way I want, not just how the room was set up. If that makes any sense.
HEA: What made you start writing?
Marcie: Growing up I was an avid reader. When I was in elementary and middle schools, I was reading romance novels of all sorts, probably some I shouldn’t have been. It made me want to create my own stories to share with other people. Teachers and fellow students were always more than happy to read them and give feedback, which just fueled the desire and the dream.
HEA: Have you ever cried while writing?
Marcie: I can honestly say I have never cried while writing. However, I have triggered myself into a couple of minor panic attacks. My first series dug into some of my own person issues and some of the scenes I was so engrossed in that my heart rate would jump. I’d catch myself part way through them having to reach out to friends to help me.
HEA: How do you balance writing with real life?
Marcie: Balance? There is such a thing *laughs*. When I figure it out, I will let you know! I work a full-time job, have a husband and 5 furbabies, along with my writing. I’m very lucky that my husband continues to push me towards my dream of writing full time. I am also blessed to have a day job that is supportive. During our off-season they allow me to have one day off a week to write and focus on my books.
HEA: Are your book settings based on a real-life place? Your favorite place?
Marcie: Yes, most of my books, outside of ‘His Last Ride’, are set in small towns in Maine. That’s where I grew up and where I still live. Write what you know and love, right?
HEA: What makes a great romance novel?
Marcie: I think it depends on the reader. For me, it has to have a storyline that catches my attention, a relationship that is believable, and a HEA. I married my high school sweetheart and I’m a romantic at heart, so it has to have happy ending.
HEA: If a reader discovers your books today, where would you recommend they start reading?
Marcie: This has to be the easiest question for me at this point in my career, Living the Dream. Knox Pride is my favorite male character (ssshhh, don’t tell the others!). He’s handsome, loving, and charismatic. He draws a reader in, including myself, with the way he treats Mackenzie Shaw. The instant attraction to her when he meets her is the stuff dreams are made of.
Book Info
From small towns to the big city, Payton and Cody are not the same people they once were. They will need to decide if what is between them is worth fighting for. Can a childhood friendship become so much more? Readers will want to saddle-up with this childhood friends romance from Marcie Shumway. The 425 Madison series is back with season two and HIS LAST RIDE is now live!
About the 425 Madison Series
Welcome to 425 Madison Ave the perfect place to fall in love. Nine delicious romances set in fast-paced & sexy NYC just waiting for you to read.
This season will feature some new authors as well as some of season one’s favs. Back for season two is Allie York, Leigh Lennon, MK Moore, Aubree Valentine, Lauren Helms, and Katy Ames. Plus a warm welcome to KC Enders, and Marcie Shumway! Not only do we have a sexy mix of new and returning authors, prepare for pages packed with new romances, characters, and tropes all from the same well-loved high-rise apartment building in NYC.
Not only do we have a sexy mix of new and returning authors, prepare for pages packed with new romances, characters, and tropes all from the same well-loved high-rise apartment building in NYC.
Make sure to follow the 425 Madison Avenue Facebook page for more on release dates, cover reveals and author spotlights. For exclusive excerpts, giveaways, and news subscribe to our 425 Madison newsletter!
Copyright @ 2020 Marcie Shumway
When the doors opened, I stepped out, and my stomach flipped. It did almost every time I came up here to see him. The anticipation of what was to come had my body humming and a smile coming to my lips. This man just did it for me on all levels.
Letting myself into his apartment, I went right to the kitchen. Never looking up while I put the bags down near the refrigerator. Something on the counter caught my attention, an open bottle of champagne and an empty glass sitting next to it. I was taken aback. A noise behind me had me turning and I froze when I saw who sat on the couch.
“Oh! You brought us dinner, how cute!” she gushed, not moving from where she sat with her feet tucked under her.
“Huh?”
I couldn’t get any other words out. The light from the ceiling fan caught the ring she wore on her left hand, which also held what I assumed was a glass of champagne. My stomach now dropped and suddenly I felt nauseous. The room threatened to spin, so I braced a hand on the counter.
“The paps must have seen me come in and ordered us takeout, that’s so sweet,” she assumed. “To congratulate us.”
What the hell? What was she talking about? That ring wasn’t the one Cody had given her, was it? Wait, he’d told me to meet him. Was that text supposed to go to Trinity and not me? Was he playing the two of us?
‘His Last Ride’ by Marcie Shumway
The thoughts and questions flew through my head so fast that I couldn’t make sense of them or control them. Suddenly movement in the hallway had me turning and my heart pounded in my chest. Cody made his way toward us in a towel, a smile on his face as he saw me. I took a step back, and his face fell when he saw the look on mine.
“Pay…” he trailed off when he spotted Trinity.
“Baby!” she exclaimed, jumping up and running to him.
I turned before I could see the embrace. I just needed to get to the door. My eyes were filling with tears, and my vision blurred the closer I got to it.
“Fuck! Payton, this is not what it looks like,” he cursed behind me.
“Cody, baby, what are you talking about?” Trinity’s voice responded to his comment.
I made it out of the apartment, unable to hear clearly what he said back to her. A sob started to rock my chest, but I held it back as I blindly poked at the down button for the elevator. I willed it to come faster in case he came after me. I couldn’t deal with that right now.
