Thursday, November 10, 2016

Name 3 things with Laura Chapman

Please welcome Laura Chapman, author of Three & Out, as she lets us into her life with our Name 3 Things interview!






About Laura:

Laura Chapman is the author of Going for Two, First & Goal, The Marrying Type, Hard Hats and Doormats and the Autumn and Tuck series, which appear in All I Want for Christmas, Merry & Bright and A Kind of Mad Courage. A native Nebraskan, she loves football, Netflix marathons, and her cats, Jane and Bingley. 



Connect with Laura:
 Website      Facebook     Twitter    Goodreads

Laura Chapman on Name 3 things:


Name three things one wouldn’t normally expect to find…

 In your fridge

Bottle of aloe - I’m a delicate flower (at least when it comes to my pale skin) so I keep chilled handy on the rare instances I get a sunburn or the more frequent cooking related burns. Aloe is soothing in general, but the cold gel gives more instant relief.
Bowl of ketchup packets - I don’t often have need for ketchup and I’m too cheap to buy condiments I don’t use regularly. Instead, I horde the extra packets I get when I order takeout. 
Beer mug - I technically keep this in my freezer, but I have it there for when my dad visits so he’ll have chilled mug for his beer.
  
In your purse

Notebook - I never know when inspiration will strike, so I keep writing utensils handy. I come up with a lot of my dialogue and inner monologue when I’m out and about.
Bottle opener - I received a free bottle opener keychain a few years ago and it has proven to be a pretty useful thing to have. It’s come in handy at more than a few parties and picnics.
Name badges - I have one that grants me access to my day job at a museum (and free movies on Thursday nights) and one that I use for identification when I mentor a middle school student once a week. I stash them in my purse so I always know where to find them.


In/On your bedside table

Humidifier - In addition to being delicate, I apparently also have the immune system of a toddler in daycare. I typically have a semi-constant series of colds from October to March that evolve into allergies during spring. The humidifier helps me breathe while I sleep.
Library books - I know every bookworm has books on their nightstand, but I store mine there so I won’t lose them before they’re due.
My journal - I don’t write in it faithfully, but I keep it by my bedside so I can use it to log my thoughts at the beginning or ending of the day. 


In your car

Packing tape - I struggle enough with getting to the post office as it is, so I keep packing tape there to have one less obstacle when I finally get my act together.
Folding beach chair - I have one in my trunk in case I ever make an impromptu stop at a park so I have somewhere to sit. I use it every week in the summer when I go to my dad’s band concerts in the park.
T-shirt quilt - I (poorly) made this out of the shifts I received from my high school activities. I now keep it in my car because it’s too ugly for my house. But it’s perfect for picnics or in case (God forbid) I was ever caught in inclement weather. I used to write safety publications so I like to be prepared for things like that.

  
On your desk/writing spot

Tiara and captain hat - I have these on the shelf next to my desk, because I am a nerd and sometimes I like to be a princess or a captain while I write. 
Porcelain pig note holder - I bought this from Magnolia (the stores Chip and Joanna from Fixer Upper own) as a reward for finishing the first draft of my next novel. It doesn’t hold notes well, but it’s cute.
Framed photo of Brad Richards - Okay kind of a long story, so settle in, but a few years ago, during a day of football watching, my brother asked what kind of professional athlete I’d marry if I could have my pick. After much deliberation, I decided on hockey. (My reasoning was that I’m not a devoted fan of any team so I wouldn’t have to worry about my personal allegiances and I kind of have a thing for Canadians. Plus those shoulders…) Later that day, while my brother flipped through his ESPN magazine, he said, “Hey, I think I found someone for you.” It was a profile for Brad Richards, who was then with the New York Rangers. It detailed his leadership, community service, wine fridge, and childhood on Prince Edward Island. I was sold. (I’ve been semi-obsessed with PEI since reading the “Anne of Green Gables” books.) I had found the future Mr. Laura Chapman. This became a running joke for us, which unfortunately one time involved him sending a Tweet of my computer background (which happened to be of Brad’s spread in ESPN’s body issue) to the man himself. A couple of years later, he gave me a beautiful picture frame for my birthday. Rather than leave he generic photo in it, he substituted one of Brad. I found this hilarious, so I left it. Hey, it’s nice eye candy while I write, and it still makes me laugh. I’ve found levity is an excellent resource when writing.


(And with that, let’s see if I can make up some time with quick answers for the next few after sharing that novel-length answer.)
  
In the "junk drawer"

Apple pie-scented air freshner plug-ins - They’re my favorite.
Call of Duty disk the previous tenant left behind - Just in case he realizes it’s missing and asks for it.
Mini football cupcake toppers - These are helpful when you write football-oriented love stories and like baking to celebrate. 


In your closet/garage/storage room

Blank canvases - In case I ever decide to become an artist.
Stuffed animals - I took “The Velveteen Rabbit” to heart and even though I’m 30, I can’t part with my childhood favorite.
Christmas sweaters - Ugly sweater parties have been a big part of my holiday social calendar the past decade.

In your music or movie collection

“Monster Squad” - One of the dumbest movies I grew up watching, I still love to see it every October.
Several Robin Hood adaptations - I’ve been a sucker for this story ever since I saw the Disney cartoon and Kevin Costner versions when I was little (RIP Alan Rickman).
“Highlander” - An ex-boyfriend left this at my place years ago and I feel bad tossing out someone else’s property. But I’m also probably never going to see him again. It’s a vicious little circle. 


On your bookshelf

Bunches of mysteries - I grew up reading Agatha Christie and Carolyn Hart with my mom, and I’m still a fan of a good whodunit. 
“Catcher in the Rye” - I’ve never read it, and I really don’t plan to any time in the future, but it ended up on my shelf somehow. 
Random resource books on everything from dream analysis to elections - You never know what you’ll need to know more about when you’re writing your next book.



Three & Out

After rushing to the altar and moving across the country, Harper Duquaine (or is it MacLaughlin, now?) is in uncharted territory. What once seemed like a promising opportunity to advance her husband’s career while giving her some much needed independence and adventure has proven to be a bust. By the time fall rolls around again, she’s back in a boring job by day and overstocking her inventory of crocheted scarves by night. Not even the prospect of a new football season holds much excitement.

At least that’s what she thought. Harper suddenly finds herself the manager of not one but two fantasy football teams—each with its own set of drama. Between the added pressure of her new marriage, an unexpected career prospect, and the hiccups created by people from her past and present worlds, Harper quickly finds herself going from bored to overwhelmed.

Can she hold up under the pressure, or will Harper learn the hard way that the turf isn’t always greener on the other field? 



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