Marji Laine – Character Interview – Part 1 of 1

Contemporary romance author, Marji Laine shares her character interview from her short story, Life is Sweet–included in the contemporary romance short story collection, Heart Bouquets. Over the next few weeks, I’ll host each author from the collection. Comment on this post to get your name in the drawing for four e-books–that’s right–four: including Heart Bouquets, A Familiar Shore, Cracks in the Ice, and Destiny Defied. Deadline: June 15th, 11:59 pm central time. Here’s Marji:

My character is Miss Swanson. Her first name is never mentioned in the story, though I dub her Jeannie. 

• Are you open to your own romance?

I’m open. Doesn’t seem that the Lord is leading that way, but I’m ready whenever He is. I keep telling Him that. 

• Where is the best place you can think of to find a mate?

I think at church, though it seems highly unlikely at my little fellowship. It’s a start up satellite campus from the main church downtown. Mostly families there, and they have taken me under their wings. In fact, the only bachelor in the group is about the age of my grandfather.

• Where is the worst place you can think of to find a mate?

I would think the school where I work would be the worst place to find a guy. There are only 4 guys there. One is the principal, but then he’s hardly ever there anyway, married, and old enough to be my father. Another is assistant principal – considered a monster by most of the kids, I haven’t even laid eyes on him. Then we have a science teacher, also married and rather ancient though likeable. Finally there’s a custodian. Sweetest older gentleman. Always has a smile on his face, speaks fluent Spanish, and married to one of the kitchen workers. So it’s not my best option. 

• What type of character traits are you attracted to?

I’m a sucker for a guy that really likes children. That’s not necessarily a teacher, though, because I’ve met several teachers that really don’t like kids, they just like to explain things. I also go for humor. Not that a guy has to be a comedian, but that he has to be able to laugh at himself.

• What type of features are you attracted to?

Good looks are a definite plus. I like muscular arms and I prefer tall to short. Love blue eyes and dark hair. I can’t help it. Makes me swoon. I swear I don’t know why I’m talking about this, though. To put it bluntly, I have no prospects. This is like a wish-list that I’d send out to Santa on Christmas Eve. 

• Where do you dream of getting married?

Oh I want the traditional. Not the big magical wedding, though. My church has become such a family to me. Though it’s really small, I’d want to share this day there. 

• If you could order a carbon copy of an actor or actress with the perfect character traits and beliefs for your mate, who would it be?

Chris Pine, the Captain Kirk of the new Star Trek series has the look I like. I don’t know the real hearts of many actors. I could do their characters though. Maybe someone along the lines of Mr. Darcy from Pride and Prejudice, with a little bit of Matthew McConaughey’s character from “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days.” Not sure how the controlled Mr. Darcy would mix with the easy-going Ben Barry, but elements of both would be fun. And my guy would have to love the Lord more than he loves me.
About Marji: Marji Laine is a home-schooling mom of four with the oldest a graduate of UT Dallas. When she can’t indulge in her passion for story-telling, she’s transporting teenage volleyball players, teaching writing classes at a local co-op, and directing the children’s music program at her church. She loves acting in musical comedy, has directed many stage productions, leads a worship team, sings in her church choir, coordinates high school classes for a large home-school group, scrapbooks, and is the historian for the Dallas/Ft. Worth chapter of the American Christian Fiction Writers. Her faith in Christ is central to her writing and her life. Connect with Marji Laine: MarjiLaine.com, Facebook.com/MarjiLaine, Twitter.com/MarjiLaine, Pinterest.com/MarjiLaine
About the short story – Life is Sweet: When her senior luncheon turns into a free-for-all, a young school teacher gets officially reprimanded by the assistant principal and learns more about the fabled monster than she expected.
About the collection – Heart Bouquets: What do stories about a high school principal with a mean reputation, a doctor searching for his dream car, an ad executive still in love with his ex-wife, a clueless husband, a graduating grad student trying to buy a cup of coffee for his ladylove, and a missionary on furlough have in common? Romance. 
Links to other 3 giveaway books:
A Familiar Shore
Cracks in the Ice
Destiny Defied
Purchase link for Heart Bouquets: http://www.amazon.com/Heart-Bouquets-ebook/dp/B00BE5Q5B8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1369499087&sr=8-1&keywords=heart+bouquets
Come back June 5th for Jennifer Fromke!