It’s the weekend!
And today is Day 6, which means it’s time for you to meet Mia Devine, the main character in Frenched, and Lucas Fournier, the love interest. Sigh…
Here’s a description of Frenched on Goodreads. It will release in just three days–Tuesday, March 18th!
INTERVIEW WITH MIA DEVINE
Mia, we know you’re an event planner with Devine Events. What made you choose this line of work? What other jobs have you held?
M: I’ve always been a planner and an organizer—it just comes naturally to me—and I wanted to be a small business owner. I love taking someone’s vision, or even my own, about what an event should look like and feel like and then pulling together all the details to make it happen. In high school, I worked at a clothing store and learned that even though I love clothes, retail would not be for me! During college I worked at a country club assisting the manager with coordinating events, and then after college I worked for another event planner before opening my own business with one of my two best friends.
What initially attracted you to ex-fiance Tucker Branch? Where did you meet?
M: His looks. Not gonna lie. Tucker has the kind of face you see in ads for pricey cologne, and he wears the hell out of a custom suit. We met at a fundraiser for a charity organization his mother runs; the event planner she’d originally hired had dropped the ball, and she came to Devine Events pretty last-minute. She said I impressed her and introduced me to Tucker at the event. He was handsome and charming and obviously successful, and we hit it off right away. People warned me that he was a playboy, but he was always a gentleman with me.
Inquiring minds want to know… what were the “approved positions”?
M: Hahahahaha. This is confidential, right? Wow, this is embarrassing. Well, missionary, of course. And then sometimes he liked me to flip over. Occasionally he let me be on top, but he preferred to be in control. A bed was a must. Oh, and he wasn’t a morning or afternoon sex person, either. Strictly after sundown.
Do you believe in love at first sight? Have you ever experienced that?
M: Hmmm. I don’t know if I believe in it. I’ve never experienced it, certainly. I think you can have a strong attraction right from the start, but love… I think that takes getting to know someone.
Let’s talk about Lucas. What was your initial impression of Lucas?
M: Ha. I thought he was kind of cute until he opened his big mouth and starting telling me how I felt and what I should do. God, he was such a pompous know-it-all! If he hadn’t poured me such great wine, I’d have walked out like three different times! But eventually he apologized and said some nice things. And I might have been a little drunk, but his offer to show me around Paris was too appealing to turn down. Plus he had a nice ass…
When Lucas mentioned some of his more… unique bedroom “appetites”… you said you weren’t scared. Is that the absolute truth? Were you at all apprehensive?
M: Honestly, I felt safe with Lucas right from the start, and I knew he’d never rush me or hurt me or pressure me to do something I didn’t want to do. And the sex had been so incredible with him, I figured if he liked it, I’d like it. You know, maybe I was a bit apprehensive…I had zero experience with any of that kind of thing. But it made my heart pound in all the right ways. I’ve learned to appreciate the pleasure of a little pain, and that sometimes it’s fun to be a bad girl…I better stop there!
Love in Paris is one thing, and a long-distance relationship is quite another. How do you envision things working out for you and Lucas when you’re both back in the states?
M: That’s a good question. I honestly don’t know. I mean, I know that we love each other, and I know that we’ll work hard to see each other as often as we can, but I’m trying to stay focused on the present and not worry too much about the long term. It’s hard for me, I’ll admit.
You’re a planner, a list-maker, a practical person – and we see you daydreaming about a family in Frenched. Do you think Lucas wants to settle down like that? Do you hope?
M: That’s true, I am…and it’s not easy for a girl like me who wants everything planned out in detail, who thought she knew exactly how she wanted her life to go, to trust in fate and just live day to day. But you know what? I’m enjoying it, the unpredictability of life and love. It’s something new for me. As for Lucas, we haven’t really talked about it. I suppose I’d be lying if I said I don’t have a bit of hope in me that maybe he’ll change his mind about marriage and family. It is still something I want in the future—and I do love him. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see!
INTERVIEW WITH LUCAS FOURNIER
Love at first sight. Can it happen? Do you think it happened with Mia?
L: Well, something happened at first sight with Mia, that’s for sure. But I don’t think it was love. More like lust, honestly. She’s gorgeous, and the way she rushed into the bar, alone, looking like she knew exactly what she wanted—it did something to me.
What was your first thought (or series of thoughts) when you saw Mia in the bar?
L: I’m embarrassed to say they were pretty simple.
- Holy fuck, that girl’s hot.
- Shit, she’s looking for someone. Probably a guy.
- Now she’s looking at me. Say something. But not about her ass.
That’s about it.
You and Mia have a true whirlwind romance in Frenched. Have you taken other women to bed that quickly? Are one night stands typical for you, or rare?
L: Well, I won’t say it hasn’t happened before, but it was fairly rare. And with Mia, it was so different right from the start. It wasn’t like we met drunk at a bar and went back to my place for a random hook-up. We’d spent the whole day together, and the more I got to know her, the more attracted to her I was—not just to her looks but her. And then the way it just kept going…after that first day and night together, I really never wanted to be apart from her. I loved the way I felt when I was with her.
What’s your favorite thing about a woman?
L: I love a pretty face as much as anybody, and Mia certainly has that—also, I love her long curly hair, I want to touch it all the time—but I really like her sense of humor and her ability to laugh at herself. I love the way she gets excited about things like art and music and food and wine and stories. And I fucking adore her dirty mind. What a delightful surprise that was.
Would you describe yourself as a confrontational person? How would you describe yourself? And how would you describe Mia?
L: Hm. I don’t think I’m confrontational exactly, but I have been known to get into arguments with people since I sometimes say things without thinking them through. I’d describe myself as pretty easygoing, I guess. Flexible. A live and let live kind of person. I believe in taking each day as it comes.
I’d describe Mia as…passionate. Focused. Dedicated. Adorable. I don’t think it’s in her nature to be confrontational, but I do think she feels things very deeply, and once she gets an idea in her head, she struggles with letting it evolve or change.
Did you have any reservations about Mia meeting your family? Have you considered starting a family of your own in the future?
L: No reservations at all about bringing Mia to meet my family. She’s lovely and charming and I knew she’d fit in perfectly. I also knew my family would treat her kindly. I’d only brought one other girl around my French family, so I knew that they’d recognize I thought Mia was special.
My own family? Not really. I’ve got a lot of things I want to accomplish in life and it would take me away from a family a lot. Plus I’ve never really seen a marriage that makes me want to be in one. But who knows? Never say never.
Your “appetites.” The question of the hour. How long have you had those particular preferences? Have you explored them with other lovers? And—if you intend to explore them more with Mia—are you worried about her reaction?
L: Right, the appetites. How long have I had them? I’ve always enjoyed the darker, more intense nature of sexuality—the carnality of it, the desire to control something that seems so untamable, the thrill of having a willing partner at your whim, the mutable line between pleasure and pain. There’s a lot behind those appetites. But I didn’t get confident enough to explore them until I was a little older, and I had a couple lovers who were willing to go there with me. But my girlfriend before Mia wasn’t really into it, she felt more threatened than desired, so for a long time I tried to sublimate those urges. Sure, I was worried about Mia’s reaction, but she seemed willing to play along, and as it turns out, she enjoys those appetites—what she’s seen of them so far. That night at the villa…God. I can’t even think about it without physically reacting. She was incredible.
And yes, I do intend to explore them more with her. Hell yes.
If you had to say – how do you envision your future with Mia?
L: You know, I’m not one to look too far ahead, and now that you’ve distracted me with thoughts about Mia and my appetites, I can’t even think beyond the next time I’ll be with her like that. Which I hope will be sooner rather than later.
I don’t know what happens in the future, but I know that I love her, and I’ll do whatever I can to see her often and show her how much I love her during the time we have. And I have faith in us. We’re good at making every day count.
Loved these interviews! I really hope we get more of Mia and Lucas after Frenched.
Thanks, Angie! You will. <3