Cheryl Renee Herbsman is here!

Happy Monday! Today I’m thrilled to have Cheryl Renee Herbsman on the blog! Cheryl is celebrating the release of her novel: Breathing.

First the preliminaries:

About Breathing

What if the guy who took your breath away was the only one who could help you breathe?

Savannah would be happy to spend the summer in her coastal Carolina town lying in a hammock reading her beloved romance novels and working at the library. But then she meets Jackson. Once they lock eyes, she’s convinced he’s the one—her true love, her soul mate, a boy different from all the rest. And at first it looks like Savannah is right. Jackson abides by her mama’s strict rules, and stays by her side during a hospitalization for severe asthma, which Savannah becomes convinced is only improving because Jackson is there. But when he’s called away to help his family—and seems uncertain about returning—Savannah has to learn to breathe on her own, both literally and figuratively.

This debut novel has it all—an endearing, funny, hopelessly romantic main character, lots of down-home Southern charm, and a sunny, salty beach setting that will transport you to the Carolina coast.

(Doesn’t this sound awesome? The moment I read the summary I knew it was a must-read. Plus . . . hello? NC resident here, and I *heart* the Carolina coast!)

About Cheryl Renee Herbsman

Cheryl Renée Herbsman lives in Northern California with her husband and two children, but she grew up in North Carolina and often spent summer vacations at the Carolina coast. Like Savannah, she fell in love as a teenager, and like Savannah and Jackson, she and her boyfriend carried on a long-distance relationship. They are now celebrating their twentieth wedding anniversary.

(Aww! It’s okay, Cheryl, I forgive you for abandoning us for the west coast.)

Seriously now: on to the Interview!

Me: Without giving away too many spoilers, what is your favorite part of the novel/what was the part you had the most fun writing?

Cheryl: The romance

Me: Always the best part! What kind of writing projects are you currently working on? Or, if you aren't working on anything new, is there a different demographic/genre you wouldn't mind tackling in the future?

Cheryl: I’m working on a new YA novel about four friends and their summer romances.

Me: Who is your writing hero and why?

Cheryl: I couldn’t possibly choose just one. I admire Laurie Halse Anderson for the way she deals with big issues, Sarah Dessen for the way she develops characters, J.K. Rowling for her incredible imagination, John Green for his smart edge, and many others, including the amazing Debs who seem so incredibly productive and supportive.

Me: Awesome! I love many of these writers for the exact same reasons!

Readers . . . You can visit Cheryl at her home on the web: http://www.cherylreneeherbsman.com

Also, I’m not the only one who is excited about BREATHING:

Booklist called it: "Authentic, lyrical, and consistent. Readers will look forward to more from this talented new author.”

And even Kirkus had love to give. Kirkus! I mean, come on!

“The struggle to sustain an intense romance while holding tight to one’s dreams drives this story, which is strengthened by a strong sense of place and a compelling narrative voice.” – Kirkus Reviews

Kirkus. That is all.

BREATHING is officially on sale. You can buy it here: http://www.amazon.com/Breathing-Cheryl-Ren%C3%A9e-Herbsman/dp/0670011231/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1230061804&sr=8-1

And . . . Cheryl will be chatting with Sydney Salter tomorrow at: http://www.mybignose.blogspot.com

Thank you so much for stopping by, Cheryl!

Keep reading below for blog tour updates!