Showcase: Family Pieces by Misa Rush

What do you do when your once charmed life falls to pieces? 

Karsen Woods' life seems charmed from her hunkalicious boyfriend to her picture-perfect midwestern roots. Away at college, even the necklace she wears serves as a constant connection home - a family tradition created when her grandfather handmade each immediate relative an interlinking charm. Each piece crafted in the shape of a puzzle piece, each one interlinking perfectly together. But when the unexpected death of her mother turns her world upside down, she discovers there is a missing piece of her treasured family tradition and her life as she once knew it may never be the same.

Addison Reynolds resides in her posh Manhattan condominium and wraps her personal identity around running Urbane, the magazine empire built by her father. In a moment of haste, Addison divulges her deepest secret to her closest friend Emily - a secret she never intended to disclose. 

Could one choice, one secret, bond two unlikely women forever?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: When the inspiration first struck to begin writing a novel, Misa Rush had no idea where she’d find the time. Most of FAMILY PIECES was written between 1:00-2:00 A.M. Add two pregnancies, a three-year-old, a husband, a household, then throw in an economic downturn for her insurance agency just to complicate the task a wee bit more…and it’s sheer determination that completed the task.

Determination has never been lacking in her persona. Growing up, she competed in gymnastics for 18 years including four on a full-ride scholarship to Eastern Michigan University. She’s also ran two and a half marathons, the half of which holds a story all its own.

Misa Rush graduated from Arizona State University with a Masters of Business Administration. She currently resides in Gilbert, Arizona with her husband and two children.

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Q.  What inspires your writing?

A.  There are numerous things that inspire my writing, most of which are from everyday life. The novel, Family Pieces, itself was inspired by a person I met that handmade puzzle piece charms. I found it interesting that they really did fit together. Adelaide's character was inspired by my daughter and the mannerisms she'd do or the phrases she'd say at the time. Ideas are everywhere, it just depends on what you enjoy. I prefer contemporary women's issues, so you'll probably never find me writing science fiction.

Q.  What is your favorite thing about being an author?

A. My favorite thing about being an author is when a reader connects with what I wrote. Adoption is a theme in my novel, yet I have no direct experience with it. When a reviewer said she connected with the story because she was adopted and she could relate to it, it meant a lot. 

I also find writing fun and a great way to escape reality. I love writing a scene and realizing a huge smile is brimming across my face.

Q.  What is the toughest part of being an author?

A. Hhmmmm...criticism, harsh reviews, and marketing. Whomever thought writing over 80,000 words was the hard part was wrong. Many authors today are self published, and that means they are responsible for all of the work including marketing, marketing, marketing, marketing and more marketing...did I say marketing?

Q.  If you could not be author, what would you do/be?

A. Well, I'm also an insurance agent (which I don't recommend for anyone remotely creative). I'll go with full time mom. 

Q.  What would the story of your life be entitled?

A.  Eat, Pray, Love.

Q.  What is your favorite book of all time?

A.  The Giving Tree.

Q.  Which character from ANY book are you most like?

A.  Kate in I Don't Know How She Does It 

Q.  What character from all of your book are you most like?

A. I'm part Karsen and part Addison.

Q.  What is your favorite season?

A. Spring.  Used to be Summer, but in Arizona summer is like living in an oven.

Q.  What inspired your book cover(s)?  Or what is your favorite book cover and why?

A. My favorite color is green. Could you tell?

Q.  Tell me something funny that happened while on a book tour or while promoting your book.

A. I had my book club read my first draft anonymously.  When it launched, I gave them all copies and some of the ladies had fits that they might have said something negative. It was funny, but it was the only way to get honest feedback. 

Q.  Are you working on something new?

A. Yes, albeit slowly, I'm working on the sequel to Family Pieces. If the stars align, I hope to finish it by the end of the year. 

Q.  Anything you want to say to followers of this blog or those that are just stopping by?

A. Please keep in touch. www.misarush.com or www.facebook.com/familypieces or @MisaRush on Twitter. And until March 18, 2013, I'm giving away a Kindle Fire - info on my website.