Libby Floyd has been a national on-air television personality for over 15 years with appearances on ShopNBC, Shop-At-Home and The Food Network. She was the youngest ever nominee for the prestigious position of Poet Laureate of South Carolina following the release of her poetry book A Winning Heart. Libby is a graduate of the University of South Carolina and was a contestant in the Miss America and Miss USA programs.
Her latest book is the contemporary romance, Sparkelicious.
Visit Libby on the web at www.LibbyFloyd.com.
Connect with her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/libbyfloyd.
Friend her on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/libby.floyd.31.
Pick up your copy of the deliciously wicked Sparkelicious at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Sparkelicious-Libby-Floyd/dp/0985847638/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1345126752&sr=1-2.
Purchase your copy of Sparkelicious at Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/sparkelicious?keyword=sparkelicious&store=ebook.
Welcome to Between the Covers, Libby. Why was writing Sparkelicious so important to you?
Sparkelicious was inspired by one of my trip’s back home to South Carolina. After moving away to New York and then L.A. after college graduation, I returned after several years to discover the sleepy little Southern town of Greenville was now vibrant and alive. I also found that I’d missed so many family events and still hadn’t come to term with my father’s death. He died in 2000 from cancer and this particular trip home was closure for me. I had also missed the Southern charm and humor of the South more than I realized. When I returned back home to Minnesota, and sat down at my laptop, the story just began to unfold right before my very eyes. I think writing the book was cathartic for me in many ways, even though it’s fiction; it’s based on a few life experiences.
Can you tell us a little bit about what it’s about?
Sure, Sparkelicious is set in my charming hometown of Greenville, S.C. and my spiritual home of Los Angeles — fashion designer Laney Montgomery is at a crossroads in her life and on the heels of turning 40. On a much-needed vacation back home to South Carolina to visit her mom and two sisters, Laney realizes that her family is in disarray but while trying to fix them, Laney learns that her own marriage is in serious trouble back in California and her fashion business is on the verge of collapse. The affections of a handsome younger man don’t help matters either as Laney must fix everyone else before she can find true happiness for herself.
How did you come up with the title?
Sparkelicious was my ‘libbyism’ on television when I was a shopping channel host and selling diamonds, gemstones and gold. I thought it would be the perfect name for Laney’s clothing line in the book and also a catchy title!
Why is your book summarized as a modern day Sex in the City meets a contemporary Steel Magnolias?
Sex and the City because it’s about four women who are on a mission to find love and passion in their lives, yet they are faced with obstacles that they have to try to overcome. Steel Magnolias because of the colorful Southern characters, the humor, the family drama, crisis, betrayal and love that the family has for one another even though they have their differences.
You’re actually a singer as well! Can you tell us a little about that? Sure. I started singing with my sisters at the age of five in talent competitions, and then I sang in pageants during the talent portion of the competition. After college graduation, I moved to L.A. and started writing country/pop songs and had my own band and played in clubs around L.A. I also did a small singing tour of Japan and played in clubs in Tokyo and Osaka. After my time in L.A., I got even more serious about music and moved to Nashville, the country music capital of the world, where I performed with the best players in the business, doing showcases for record companies, hoping to land a record deal. In 1999, I released my debut album on Empire Records, which is still available around the world today.
You were also a contestant in the Miss America and Miss USA pageants. How did you get started doing that?
I was a very outgoing child and I loved an audience but there was really no other performing outlet in the small town of Greenwood, S.C. but pageants so I did my first pageant when I was five and placed in the top five in The Little Miss Greenwood Pageant. I did a few more pageants as a teenager and then went on to win the title of Miss South Carolina Teen All-American. From there, I competed in The Miss South Carolina Pageant as Miss Greenville, which is part of The Miss America program, where I won the swimsuit competition. I also competed in Miss South Carolina USA pageant, which is part of the Miss USA program and placed in the top ten. In college, while at The University of South Carolina, I was named Miss Greek and was also first runner-up in The Miss South Carolina/Hawaiian Tropic contest. Now, I wouldn’t be caught dead in a swimsuit! I did have a lot of nerve back then!!!
Now that Sparkelicious has been published, do you have another book in the wings?
I’m working on several novels at the moment. One is called Prime Time Divas about the home shopping network industry and another is called Lake Hollywood, which I actually started about ten years ago, so I’m polishing that baby up as I type! And, there are a couple more that I’ve started as well so I’ve got a lot of work ahead of me!
Would you like to tell our readers anything else about you, your goals or upcoming appearances?
One of my goals is to option the film rights to Sparkelicious. I think it would be a great romantic comedy or dramedy, as they say! My goals are to finish and publish my other books and to have a long and successful writing career. I also plan to do some author luncheons and book signings.
