THE BILLIONAIRE BACHELOR character interview

THE BILLIONAIRE BACHELOR by Shawna Delacorte—a contemporary romance novel from The Wild Rose Press, scheduled for release on Monday, May 30, 2022.

Welcome to my blog. My guests today are Katherine Fairchild, chairman of the board of a well-respected charity for abused children, and Scott Blake, head of Blake Construction. Katherine and Scott—thank you for taking time from your busy schedules to be with us today.

Katherine:  Thanks, Shawna. It’s nice of you to invite us.

I think this first question is probably an obvious one, although your answer might not be as obvious. You both come from the same monied background—

Scott:  Let me stop you for a moment, Shawna. It’s true that we both come from extensive family wealth, but our backgrounds are quite different. To my mind, that made us very different types of people.

How so?

Scott:  Everyone knows the Fairchild name, their history in San Francisco goes back many generations to the gold rush days. Katherine and I had never met, we functioned in different circles, but I certainly knew who she was. Everyone knows the Fairchild name. As for my family, my father went to work every day and instilled that same work ethic in me. My mother was a school teacher. She certainly didn’t need to work, but she enjoyed teaching and felt she was making a contribution.

Katherine:  (laughs) The first time we met, it only took a minute to discern his opinion of me and my family. He made no effort to hide it. I knew I had my work cut out for me if I was going to convince him to participate in our bachelor auction which is a fund raising event for the charity, (a serious expression crosses her face) a very good and important charity for an extremely worthwhile cause—to help abused children.

Scott:  (reaches over and takes her hand) The very thought of a bachelor auction—standing up on a stage in a tuxedo while the socially elite bid money on me—was a definite turn off. I was more than willing to write a check as a donation. The charity is respected for its good work and is well run, but participating in a bachelor auction…

So, Katherine, how did you get this hold out to change his mind?

Katherine:  I talked him into following me to Oakland without telling him where we were going or why. My intention was to give him a tour of our Oakland center where abused children the court has remanded to our care would be safe and cared for until we could find them a good forever home.

Scott:  I was not even remotely prepared for what I discovered that day. It was quite an eye opener. By the end of the day, all my preconceived notions about who Katherine was had been banished. I saw the work she did and her unwavering dedication to the cause. I met Billy, a seventeen-year-old homeless boy, very loyal to Katherine, who had appointed himself the protector of the center. And Jenny, the center’s newest occupant—a three-year-old little girl who had become very attached to Katherine in a very short time. It was obvious that a couple of hours of discomfort for me at the auction was a small price to pay for the good it would produce.

Katherine:  Things seemed to progress naturally from there and all was fine but not without a few bumps in the road.

What kind of bumps?

Scott:  You’ll have to read the book to find out.

Katherine:  Well…I can give you a little hint—Scott’s mother, Lynn, came out of retirement to work at the Oakland Center and became involved with Billy in some sort of secret project. Jenny’s life was in danger. Billy got into trouble and the court said he had to either go back to school or get a job. He didn’t like either choice. And just when I thought everything was perfect, Scott came across something that nearly put an end to what I had thought was a relationship that would last a lifetime. I can only say that it was connected to my background and childhood, information I thought had been long ago buried.

(Scott squeezed her hand in emotional support and she gave him a quick but loving glance).

Katherine:  Well, as Scott said, you’ll have to read the book to find out what happened.

You’re leaving it at that? Everything was fine except for all these things that weren’t fine?

Scott:  (laughs) Not the way I would have phrased it, but that covers it.

Well, it seems that I’m not going to get any more information out of either of you. So…thank you Katherine and Scott for visiting my blog. I appreciate it.

BLURB:  

When billionaire construction mogul Scott Blake is asked to participate in a charity bachelor auction, he wants no part in the games of the idle rich or social-climbing gold diggers that come with them. He’s traveled that road before. However, the beautiful socialite seeking his help won’t take no for an answer. Showing up at his office with a fiery determination and a heartfelt plea, she convinces him it's his duty to help with the plight of abused children, and he just might have her all wrong.

Due to dark secrets from her childhood, Katherine Fairchild is dedicated to the charity she founded to help abused children. As she introduces Scott to her world, he meets a homeless teenage boy who is fiercely loyal to Katherine and a darling little three-year-old girl, the most recent child in need of her help. He seems to fit right in, but can she trust him with her past…or with her heart?

Can the socialite win over the jaded billionaire?

THE BILLIONAIRE BACHELOR by Shawna Delacorte, contemporary romance novel from The Wild Rose Press   www.thewildrosepress.com 

Available at:

https://www.amazon.com/Billionaire-Bachelor-Shawna-Delacorte-ebook/dp/B09THTD6DG

and other online vendors

More excerpts and other information available on my website:  www.shawnadelacorte.com 

THE BILLIONAIRE BACHELOR Release date May 30, 2022

A beautiful socialite…a jaded bachelor… Can Katherine make Scott see beyond the newspaper headlines to the woman she really is?

My latest novel, a contemporary romance titled THE BILLIONAIRE BACHELOR, is scheduled for release on Monday, May 30, 2022, from The Wild Rose Press in both ebook and print. www.thewildrosepress.com

 BLURB:  

When billionaire construction mogul Scott Blake is asked to participate in a charity bachelor auction, he wants no part in the games of the idle rich or social-climbing gold diggers that come with them. He’s traveled that road before. However, the beautiful socialite seeking his help won’t take no for an answer. Showing up at his office with a fiery determination and a heartfelt plea, she convinces him it's his duty to help with the plight of abused children, and he just might have her all wrong.

 Due to dark secrets from her childhood, Katherine Fairchild is dedicated to the charity she founded to help abused children. As she introduces Scott to her world, he meets a homeless teenage boy who is fiercely loyal to Katherine and a darling little three-year-old girl, the most recent child in need of her help. He seems to fit right in, but can she trust him with her past…or with her heart?

Can the socialite win over the jaded billionaire?

 G-Excerpt #1:  (opening)

“Mr. Blake, that Miss Fairchild is in the outer office. She’s phoned three times this morning, and now she’s here in person. I told her you couldn’t see her without an appointment, but she said she’d wait—no matter how long it took.”

 Scott Blake reluctantly tore his gaze away from the panoramic view of San Francisco Bay out his office window. He swiveled around in his leather chair until he faced his secretary, Amelia Lambert. The expression on the prim, older woman’s face showed her unhappiness with him…again.

 “She’s a very persistent woman, Mr. Blake. I truly believe she means to remain seated there until you’ve spoken with her. She has one of those electronic devices and seems to be reading a book. She’s obviously prepared to spend the day, if necessary.”

 A withering sigh of resignation escaped his lips as he picked up a letter from the corner of his desk. The letterhead belonged to the Coalition for the Prevention of Child Abuse, a worthwhile charity well respected for its efficient operation and good work. The letter was signed by Katherine Fairchild, the director of the fund-raising committee as well as chairman of the board.

 “Very well, Amelia.” He loosened his tie, then his nimble fingers unfastened the top button of his shirt. He had never been able to get comfortable with the restrictive dress code of the boardroom and that morning had been the annual Blake Construction board of director’s meeting. It had been five years since his father’s untimely death from a massive coronary with the reins of the company passing to him. And, at the age of thirty-four, Scott still disliked suits and ties.

He had worked summers on his father’s construction crews while attending the University of California at Berkeley where he graduated with a degree in environmental sciences and had planned a career in that field. As a child, he had wanted to be a forest ranger. Upon graduation, his father had talked him into remaining in the family business, allowing him to ramrod crews working outdoors in the fresh air rather than being confined to an office even though he carried the title of vice president.

“Why couldn’t she just ask for a donation?” He had followed his father’s long tradition of supporting various charitable organizations. “I’d be happy to write her a check. But this...” He waved the letter in the air, then swiveled his chair around until the breathtaking view of San Francisco Bay capped by the hills of Marin County once again came across his line of sight. “Let’s get it over with. Send the officious Miss Fairchild in, but if she’s still here after ten minutes, buzz me. And Amelia—” He turned his head toward her, flashed a mischievous grin, and winked. “Let her cool her heels out there for another fifteen minutes before you send her in.”

In spite of his own wealthy status, he had never thought of himself—of his family—as part of that socially elite group. Women like Katherine Fairchild irritated him. He had personal experience with them—pampered, phony, shallow, self-centered, and vain. And now this. He stared at the letter referring to a bachelor auction to raise money for the charity. She actually wanted him to stand up on stage wearing a tuxedo and posing in front of an audience and the media. Then the members of the pampered rich bid money to buy an evening with him as if bidding on confiscated items at a police auction or making a purchase at an estate sale. It seemed more akin to a cruel game played by the frivolous socially elite than a legitimate charity fund-raiser. He did not like it, not one bit.

THE BILLIONAIRE BACHELOR by Shawna Delacorte, contemporary romance novel from The Wild Rose Press   www.thewildrosepress.com 

Currently available for pre-order at:

https://www.amazon.com/Billionaire-Bachelor-Shawna-Delacorte-ebook/dp/B09THTD6DG

and other online vendors

More excerpts and other information available on my website:  www.shawnadelacorte.com

 

Where Did Those Expressions Come From (part 3 of 3)

Here is the final installment of my 3 part series on historical trivia—Where Did Those Expressions Come From.  These are listed in alphabetical order N through Z.

Nick Of Time:  How did we get the expression 'in the nick of time'?

Back in the days of medieval times, a tally was used to register attendance at colleges and churches. The tally was a wooden stick and attendance was indicated by a nick or notch in it. The person who arrived on time had his attendance 'nicked', therefore arriving 'in the nick of time.'

On The Carpet:  How did being called 'on the carpet' come to mean a reprimand?

Originally, only the boss's office had a carpet, the other offices didn't. So, to be called 'on the carpet' meant to be called to the boss's office and this usually meant a reprimand.

Pup Tent:  How did the 'pup tent' get that name?

These smaller than normal tents were named by the Union soldiers in the Civil War. When they were given to the soldiers, they looked so much like dog kennels that one of the men stuck his head out and began to bark. The idea caught on and soon the whole camp was barking. The tents were called dog tents with that name soon morphing into 'pup tent'.

Quarter (no quarter):  Why do we say we give 'no quarter' when we mean to show no mercy?

Originally, to give quarter meant to send conquered enemy soldiers to a special section or quarter where they remained until their fate was determined. They could be set free, ransomed, or enslaved. If they were killed instead, they were given 'no quarter'.

Red Tape:  Where did governmental delay get the name 'red tape'?

The expression came from England. For centuries, the British government followed the custom of tying up official papers with red tape. The wasted time spent in tying and untying the red tape used to bind the dispatches and document cases led men to pick it as the symbol of useless delay.

Slush Fund:  How did a 'slush fund' get that name?

Aboard a sailing ship, slush was the waste fat from the galley and was used to grease the masts. All extra slush used to be the property of the cook and he didn't have to account for the money he made from selling it. Likewise, a 'slush fund' is money that doesn't need to be accounted for—and often was best not be.

Taxi:  What is the reason a 'taxi' is called that?

The world originally referred to the meter carried by the cab. It was called a taximeter because it measured the fare or tax and cabs equipped with the meters painted taximeter on their doors. This was soon shortened to 'taxi' and in time all cabs were called by that name.

Upper Crust:  Why do we call high society the 'upper crust'?

The crust was long considered the best part of the bread and the upper or top crust was the best part of all. If high society is the best of all, then it's the 'upper crust'.

Volume:  Why is a book called a 'volume'?

Ancient books were written on sheets of paper which were fastened together lengthwise and rolled up like a window shade. 'Volume' is from the Latin volvere meaning to roll up.

Wild Goose Chase:  How did a 'wild goose chase' get that name?

A wild goose chase was once a sort of game, a horse race in which the second and each succeeding horse had to follow the leader accurately and at a definite interval. Since the horses had to keep their positions like geese in flight, the chase was called a 'wild goose chase'. Since this was not a race in which anyone could win, the phrase was adopted to describe a person following a course that led to no goal.

X-Ray:  How did the 'X-ray' get that name?

The ray was first called the Roentgen ray in honor of the scientist who discovered it. But he preferred to call it 'X-ray' because X is the algebraic symbol for the unknown and at that time he did not understand the nature of this ray.

Yankee:  What is the origin of the term 'Yankee'?

The word comes from a nickname for the Dutch—Jan Kaas meaning John Cheese. In pirate days, English sailors adopted the term as a derisive name for the Dutch freebooters. The Dutch settlers in New York (originally New Amsterdam) began to apply it to the English settlers in Connecticut because they believed the Connecticut English to be far more enterprising than ethical. The term spread to the other colonies, though at first it was almost always used to refer with dislike to the citizens of a colony farther north.

Zest:  Why does 'zest' mean enthusiasm?

In its Greek form, zest meant a piece of orange or lemon peel. The addition of a slice of orange or lemon peel adds 'zest' to a drink or dish and makes us more enthusiastic about it.

And there you have it…a three-part small selection of every day expressions and their origins.

Where Did Those Expressions Come From (part 2 of 3)

Last week I gave you a list of 10 bits of historical trivia dealing with those expressions everyone uses, but whose origins have been obscured by time.  This week in part 2 of 3, I'm presenting a list of an additional 13 such expressions, alphabetically A through M.

Annie Oakley: Why do we call a free pass to an event an 'Annie Oakley'?

Free passes were once punched full of holes. Annie Oakley was a famous rifle shot who, as part of her act, would shoot holes in a playing card held by an assistant.

Blurb: What is the origin of the word 'blurb'?

When Gellette Burgess' book, Are You A Bromide, was published, he devised a special dust jacket for 500 presentation copies to be given away at a booksellers' banquet. It was the custom at that time to have the picture of some woman on the jacket of every novel. He featured a sickly-sweet portrait of a young woman and in the accompanying text described her as a Miss Belinda Blurb. From this the usual dust cover jacket 'blow up' of an author and his book came to be called a blurb.

Clerk: How did an office assistant get the name 'clerk'?

At one time only the clergy could read or write so any person with this ability was assumed to be a cleric. From this, the words clerical and cleric were soon shortened to clerk and came to mean written work or one who performed such work.

Dirt Cheap: Why do we say something inexpensive is 'dirt cheap'?

Nothing is of less value. If you gather a big pile of dirt you would not increase your wealth. In fact, you would most likely have to pay someone to haul it away.

Exception Proves The Rule: What is the origin of the expression 'the exception proves the rule'?

Originally the word 'prove' meant 'test.' The phrase merely means that the exception tests the rule, which makes sense and is logical.

Fall Guy: Why do we call a dupe a 'fall guy'?

The word fall not only means to stumble but also to be lured or entrapped. We call a person a fall guy who is entrapped and left to suffer the punishment while the one who did the actual misdeed escapes.

Geronimo: Why do American paratroopers shout 'Geronimo' as they jump?

Several members of the first unit of parachute troops formed at Fort Benning, Georgia, went to see the movie Geronimo. Afterwards, in reference to the mock heroics of their practice jumps, they started calling each other by this name. From this came the paratroopers practice of shouting 'Geronimo' as he leaps from the plane.

Hair Of The Dog: Why is taking a morning-after drink as a hangover cure called taking a 'hair of the dog that bit you'?

The ancients believed one of the best cures for hydrophobia (rabies), or any other disease you might get from a dog bite, consisted of taking a hair of the dog that bit you and putting it in the wound.

Inside Track: Where did we get the expression 'he's got the inside track'?

It came from horse racing. The best position for a horse, the shortest distance around the race track to the finish line, is the one nearest the rail—the inside track.

Jog The Memory: What is the reason we say we 'jog the memory'?

Jog really means shake and when we jog a person's memory, we shake it up.

Killed With Kindness: Where did we get the expression killed with kindness?

This came from the story of Draco, the Athenian legislator, who died because of his popularity. The Greeks used to wave their caps and coats as a sign of approval and when they were extremely enthusiastic they tossed their hats and coats at the object of their enthusiasm. In the 6th century B.C., Draco aroused the enthusiasm of the audience in the theatre of Aegina to such an extent that the entire gathering showered him with caps and coats—and smothered him to death.

Lock, Stock, And Barrel: How did lock, stock and barrel come to mean all or everything?

There are 3 parts to a gun—the barrel, the stock, and the firing mechanism called the lock. By listing all 3, the totality of the rifle is reaffirmed—all of it.

Make The Bed: Why do we say we make the bed when we spread the sheets and blankets?

We speak of making the bed rather than fixing it or doing it because beds were once created anew each night from straw thrown on the floor.

Next week I'll share part 3 of 3 for this blog series, another 13 historical trivia phrases about everyday expressions (alphabetically N through Z).