I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the PLAYING HARD by Beth
Pellino-Dudzic Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!
About The Book:
Author: Beth
Pellino-Dudzic
Pub. Date: April 2, 2024
Publisher: My 3 Girls
Publishing LLC
Formats: Paperback, eBook
Pages: 331
Find it: Goodreads, https://books2read.com/PLAYING-HARD
THE FATHERS HAVE DECIDED
Rio and Gina Ricci will have legitimate careers—unlike the rest of the family.
Sex, drugs, and rock and roll were not part of the plan, but definitely part of
their destiny. After all, it’s the 70s. With the help of her cousin Rio, Gina
secretly pursues her dream to be a singer—against her parents’ wishes.
Enter Trevor McNaughton, a beautiful, troubled musician. Gina brings Trevor
back to her family’s gated estate, where her father tracks every move using
security cameras placed throughout the grounds. Before their steamy night is
over, cold, career driven Gina is in love … and insanely jealous.
Trevor falls under Gina’s spell and the couple brace themselves for the
challenges of life and love on the road. But Trevor ignores Gina’s intuition
about the risks to their blissful union and the success they are building
together. Gina’s not sure she wants to know exactly how the family plans to
help the couple and eliminate threats.
Interview:
For the readers: can you
tell us a little bit about your book and the characters?
My book is about actually
two bands playing in the New York Club scene of the 70’s. Many bands felt that
it was a way to make it in the music industry. Two of the three main characters
are cousins who come from an extremely wealthy Italian family, very well
connected. They go against their parents’ wishes and create a band. One night
the lead female character goes to a club to see her friends and see’s a lead
singer, lead guitarist in another band from Canada. They fall instantly in
love. The book is their love story. Playing filthy clubs and living the club
grind. Also, she needs to introduce her love to her “very” Italian family how
would he be received. Her cousin is totally invested in the music of the now
one power band they create. The story takes them to deal which means a move.
Gina Ricci and her cousin Rio Ricci are the leaders of their band, they create
a stage name Poole, not to be associated by their families. Trevor McNaughton
is the sexy Canadian singer that Gina falls madly in love with. The Ricci
family plays an important part of the story, Mario, Franny, Uncle Tony and Aunt
Deidre. Then the other band members, Jeff Wainwright, Ian White, Skip Glazer,
Manager and Tommy Whelan their Producer. As the book progresses more characters
are introduced. Twists and turns are predictable as love stories aren’t always
perfect.
What are you working on now?
Book Five of the Perfection
Saga. Plus I write lyrics for songs I created in each of the five books.
Were any of the characters
in the book inspired by people from your real life?
Yes, two of my friends from
back in my “band days” said I could use their real names. Other characters were
loosely based on people I knew, but not directly. The lead female character
Gina Ricci is most definitely an alter ego of myself. Freely admit that.
Who was your favorite
character to write? What about your least favorite?
Gina was my most favorite
since she is an alter ego of myself. I heard myself saying those lines. I
actually vocalized her lines to add realism to how she talked and the words she
was using. The least but was fun to write an antagonist was the character of
Brian Mayfield. He is disruptive in the lives of Trevor and Gina. He also
brings heavy drug use and womanizing into the bands inner workings.
What is your favorite
passage/scene in your book?
When Gina meets Trevor at
Glen Island Casino. I’ll give a bit from the book.
“The singer had wavy,
dirty-blond hair to his shoulders and facial hair like he hadn’t shaved. He was
tall with long arms and legs, but not skinny, with the softest, bluest eyes,
not the cool steel-blue eyes of her father. He was wearing a shirt from some
bar in Canada, sneakers, and impossibly tight jeans. She was mesmerized by him;
he was a perfect specimen of a man. She couldn’t take her eyes off this man.
She stared, feeling something, she never had before. She was sexually
stimulated by watching him. Like a vibrator made her feel, but more intense.
They played three songs and, afterward, introduced themselves individually. His
voice was soft but had that hard rock edge. His name was Trevor McNaughton.”
What kind of research did
you have to do for the story?
Since it was a period piece, I had to research hotels, restaurants and concert venues that were in existence in the 70’s and 80’s. Which sounds easy until you realize some aren’t in existence yet. You need to research places that existed in the 70’s. Even types of food that didn’t exist, cell phones didn’t exist. Had to remember all those nuisances. A lot of research in music what year the songs come out, plus the month that it came out. Clothing styles also came into play.
Lightning Round Questions
What are you reading right
now? Or what do you have on your TBR that you’re dying to read?
I am actually reading
nothing. I feel reading something as I am writing would interfere with my
writing process. Do not want to put a plot line in that isn’t mine by mistake.
Since Perfection Saga is five books, I have one more to write. Then I start on
my next series. Also, in my head forever. I am not interested in reading
anything until I get about 10 books out in the public.
Favorite social media site?
I would say Facebook since
it reconnected me with some friends from my past. Easy to keep in touch see
photos of children, special events, etc. I do admit that TikTok is interesting
to see the creativity of people, some are funny, some are artsy. I like them
both.
Favorite Superhero or
Villain?
Deadpool, I love the
characters interplay with the audience. Also, very snarky.
Favorite TV show?
Absolutely Fabulous and
Schitt’s Creek can’t chose.
Sweet or Salty?
I have been on the Keto Diet
for 3 years. I don’t eat white sugar nor do I eat chips and such. However, I
have good substitutes, so sweet or salty, what mood am I in. That’s the best I
can give you.
Any Phobias?
Yes, I do not like driving
on Interstate Highways or driving over bridges. I can be a passenger but not
the driver. I sometimes get claustrophobic in car washes. I am also a clean
freak, clean my house every day and I exercise 90 minutes every day, a bit
excessive. I am super strict on my Keto Diet, afraid of gaining weight, a total
phobia.
Song you can’t get enough of
right now?
Holding onto Heaven,
Nickelback
2024 Movie you’re most
looking forward to?
Bob Marley, One Love
Do you play video games? If
so, what are some of your favorites?
Have never played video
games, even though my daughters were engrossed by Sims, and Halo. Don’t get it.
About Beth Pellino-Dudzic:
Beth
Pellino-Dudzic was born in the Bronx, NYC. She spent most of her life in
Westchester County. She received a BA in Business Administration and then moved
to Honolulu, Hawaii, where her three daughters were born. She came back to
Westchester to raise her girls and worked at IBM upon her return.
Although the
story is fictional, it is a tribute to the author’s fond memories of her time
in the 1970’s-80’s band scene. The story developed over decades in her head. It
was waiting to be written.
She now
lives in Pike Road, Alabama, with her husband and their miniature dachshund,
Truffle. Beth’s favorite pastimes are cooking, baking, and everything football.
Website | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | YouTube | Goodreads | Amazon
Giveaway Details:
5 winners
will receive a finished copy of PLAYING HARD, US Only.
Ends August 27th, midnight EST.
a Rafflecopter giveawayTour Schedule:
Week One:
8/12/2024 | Guest Post | |
8/12/2024 | Interview/IG Post | |
8/13/2024 | Guest Post | |
8/13/2024 | Guest Post | |
8/14/2024 | Guest Post/IG Post | |
8/14/2024 | Guest Post/IG Post | |
8/15/2024 | IG Post/TikTok Post | |
8/15/2024 | IG Post | |
8/16/2024 | IG Review | |
8/16/2024 | IG Review |
Week Two:
8/19/2024 | IG Review/TikTok Post | |
8/19/2024 | IG Review | |
8/20/2024 | IG Review/TikTok Post | |
8/20/2024 | Review/IG Post | |
8/21/2024 | Review/IG Post | |
8/21/2024 | Review/IG Post | |
8/22/2024 | IG Review/LFL Drop Pic/TikTok Post | |
8/22/2024 | IG Review | |
8/23/2024 | IG Review | |
8/23/2024 | Review/IG Post |
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