Takeover Tuesday with Donna Schlachter

Happy Tuesday!

Today we have a guest poster! Donna Schlachter will be talking about. So grab a cup of tea (or coffee) and chat with her!

Story Behind the Story

How far would you go if you thought you were losing the love of your life?

That’s the question I came up with that started this story. I was invited to join an anthology, and I went over the themes and plots of several other stories, all of which were really good. The idea was to release a book for Mother’s Day that would resonate with moms, grandmothers, and women in general. I’d never actually written women’s fiction before, but I knew how I would answer this question for myself: as far as it took to save my marriage.

Then I had to come up with ideas that would drive wedges between a husband and a wife. Secrets. Misunderstandings. Overwork. Health concerns.

And thus was born Zero Guilt Calories.

Along the way, I needed a recipe with zero—or close to—calories, and no sugar, because my main character developed an aversion to sugar. Most inconvenient for her, as she owns a bakery. So I found a recipe and swapped out calories and ingredients. Took me three tries before I came up with the one I include in the book.

Here’s a little about the story:

Christina MacAulay enjoys baking up special treats for her customers at Sweet Tooth Cupcakes. But when her husband stays out late several times a week and won’t explain what’s going on, she becomes suspicious he might have a floozy on the side. Well, she’ll fix him—she’ll have her own affair.

But first, to lose that extra ten baby pounds from when her now twenty-three-year-old son was born.

As a baker and businesswoman, she spends far too much time at her bakery, taste-testing new creations to make certain they are fit to eat. If she could come up with a new recipe with minimal—or even zero calories—she’d not only slim down, she’d also have something nobody else has.

James MacAulay is happily married and has been for almost thirty-five years. And he wants to celebrate that milestone with his wife Christina. He sets out to plan a special anniversary surprise for her, but first, he needs to get more active. A career in banking didn’t exactly retain his previously youthful physique.

But when Christina becomes distant, cold, and acts suspicious, hovering when he answers his cell, peeking into his messages, hacking into his email, and spending hours with the chemist who lives two doors down, he wonders what’s gotten into her.

Maybe he should rethink his plan.

Perhaps she’s not as happily married as he thinks.

Or maybe she’s doing something she shouldn’t.

Can Christina get to the bottom of her husband’s change of behavior? Does she really want to?

And can James figure out what’s going on with Christina? If he does, will that really make things better?

About the Author

A hybrid author, Donna writes squeaky clean historical and contemporary suspense. She has been published more than 50 times in books; is a member of several writers groups; facilitates a critique group; teaches writing classes; ghostwrites; edits; and judges in writing contests. She loves history and research, traveling extensively for both.

www.DonnaSchlachter.com Stay connected so you learn about new releases, preorders, and presales, as well as check out featured authors, book reviews, and a little corner of peace. Plus: Receive a free ebook simply for signing up for our free newsletter!

Check out previous blog posts at www.HiStoryThruTheAges.wordpress.com and www.AllBettsAreOff.wordpress.com

About the Book

Laughter filled memories
Love, sweet, love

This limited edition collection is the literary treat you’ve been craving.

Full of hallmark feels and confectionery soup for the soul, each story sprinkles a little sugar into a world that needs more joy.

Sisters and friends, mothers and daughters, two hearts bound by love— Sweet Sprinkles features an array of relationships built to withstand life’s bitter catastrophes.

Satisfy your figurative sweet tooth.

Amazon