Bidding on the Bouquet Character Interview

 

 

Catherine: Today I have a character interview with the heroine, Marietta Wilson, from my newest inspirational romance Bidding on the Bouquet. Marietta, I’m guessing from the book title that the story has something to do with a wedding, or at least a wedding bouquet.

Marietta: It does, and it’s quite a different sort of wedding, especially from the wedding party’s point of view.

Catherine: The wedding party?

Marietta: Yes, you see the bride is selling off her bridesmaid spots to the highest bidders.

Catherine: What? I’ve never heard of such a thing. Is it some sort of new fad?

Marietta: I’m not sure, but I do know the notion sparked quite a few stories. The editor of Forget Me Not Romances is doing a whole collection, called Auditioning for Love, based on the idea.

Catherine: So, tell me how you got invited to bid.

Marietta: I received an invitation to bid on a bridesmaid spot from Chrissy Vandermere. I don’t know her very well. We were only in a study group together. Since she sent me an invitation to bid, apparently, she remembered me.

Catherine: Do you know why she’s making girls bid to be in her wedding? Is she hard up for money?

Marietta: Hardly. Chrissy’s family has money. Lots of money. The invitation didn’t say why she was having an auction. From the little I know about Chrissy, I supposed it was a bridezilla thing for her. She was a bit of a diva in the study group.

Catherine: So if you’re bidding on a bridesmaid spot, where does the bouquet come in?

Marietta: That’s the other twist. The bride will be throwing her wedding bouquet, the one she carries down the aisle, only to the six bridesmaids who win the auction bids.

Catherine: Why?

Marietta: Because that bouquet contains a 14 karat solid gold rose in it. I suppose it’s some sort of incentive to make us want to bid.

Catherine: And did it make you want to bid?

Marietta: Not at first, but now I’m hocking everything of value I own to try and win a spot in Chrissy’s wedding party. And from what I’ve heard, the competition will be very stiff.

Catherine: Well, I wish you luck, Marietta.

Marietta: Thanks. I’ll need it.

 

And here’s a sneak peek from

 

Bidding on the Bouquet

By Catherine Castle

 

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

You are invited to participate in the season’s most prestigious event.

Date: June 17

Time: 1:00 p.m.

Place: The Vandermere Estate

Event: The auction of bridesmaids’ positions for Chrissy Vandermere’s wedding

Light refreshments will be served

℘

Chrissy is auctioning off a chance to be an attendant in her wedding.

Winners will be escorted down the aisle by New York’s finest bachelors,

and they will procure a bridesmaid-only spot at the tossing of the bride’s bouquet event.

Chrissy guarantees one of the bridesmaids will catch the bouquet,

containing a solid 14-carat rose-gold flower.

℘

Opening bids begin at $100 and are non-refundable. Cash only.

You may make an opening bid higher than $100 if you choose.

Please RSVP by April 30

 

Marietta dug into the envelope again and retrieved a smaller card and matching envelope.

 

I, ________________________, will be pleased to attend the auction.

My opening bid is $_______

Should I win a spot, I will be available on August 9

to be part of the wedding party

for Chrissy Vandermere

and

Jock Sterlingson

 

Stunned, Marietta reread the invitation. Chrissy Vandermere? The only Vandermere she knew was her wealthy classmate Chip Vandermere, and they weren’t on real talking terms. Nor did they run in the same circles. They only had a few of the same classes and a couple of case studies together in which he had commandeered the group. The guy thought himself a born, or rather a privileged, leader. His attitude had driven her nuts, and, although he was one hot guy who knew he had undeniable sex appeal, she’d stayed away from him as much as she could. She was at the MBA program to learn and conquer, not be someone’s conquest.

Is he related to this Chrissy?

If so, the whole auction idea was totally insane. Chip Vandermere had so much money he could afford to pay bridesmaids to be in a wedding. No need to auction off the spots. Besides, why should anyone spend money to be in her wedding—or any wedding for that matter? And why had the bride invited her to participate? Even though she’d spent the last six years at an elite private college, she didn’t hang around with the sort of people who had money to throw away on frivolous things such as bridesmaid auctions. She’d spent her undergrad and postgrad years nose-to-the-grindstone, studying and pinching her pennies.

Then she remembered. As a college senior, she had contact with a Chrissy, a rich, air-headed girl, who talked of nothing but herself. She’d never mentioned having siblings. The beautiful, but not-very-bright, student, had asked Marietta to help her pass an exam—and not in the study-hard-so-you-can-pass way. She’d refused, convincing Chrissy to join the study group instead. Chrissy got a D plus, but she’d at least done it honestly. Marietta wasn’t certain the rich debutante had appreciated being spared the indignity of cheating. But if the Chrissy she knew was this Chrissy Vandermere, and if she remembered who she was after two years and invited her to bid on her bouquet, maybe she’d learned a lesson.

Then again, maybe not. Maybe taunting her with the idea she might win something of great value—a 14-carat rose-gold flower—was some sort of joke.

 

Don't forget to comment to be entered in this Week's Giveaway:

Handmade Dish Clothes by Gail Kittleson!

This week we have a special treat! Author Gail Kittleson is giving away a pair of dish clothes handmade with love by the author. Thank you so much for such a special gift, Gail!

About the Author:

Catherine Castle is the author of the multi-award-winning inspirational suspense romance, The Nun and the Narc, and the sweet romantic comedy, A Groom for Mama. Catherine loves writing, reading, traveling, singing, watching movies, and the theatre. In the winter she quilts and has a lot of UFOs (unfinished objects) in her sewing case. In the summer her favorite place is in her garden. She’s a passionate gardener who won a “Best Hillside Garden” award from the local gardening club. 

 

Her debut inspiration romantic suspense, The Nun and the Narc, from Soul Mate Publishing was an ACFW Genesis Finalist, a 2014 EPIC finalist, and the winner of the 2014 Beverly Hills Book Award and the 2014 RONE Award. Her most recent release, A Groom for Mama, is a sweet romantic comedy from Soul Mate Publishing.  Her newest release is an inspirational contemporary romance, Bidding on the Bouquet, All three books are available on Amazon.