Debs Blog Tour: Breathing by Cheryl Renee Herbsman

Hey Y'all!  Sorry for posting this a little late - I spent the weekend in the mountains and accidentally left my power cord at home.  Ooops!  So that means I took a bit of a forced vacation (and I read If I Stay and started Suite Scarlett - yay!).  Today I'm excited to bring to y'all another debut novel, Breathing by Cheryl Renee Herbsman.  Since it's set in a coastal Carolina town I'm totally picking it up -- I'm always partial to picking up a locally set book :)  I'm thinking I'll read this one over Memorial Day when I'm at the beach!

About the book:

What if the guy who took your breath away was the only one who could help you breathe?

Savannah would be happy to spend the summer in her coastal Carolina town lying in a hammock reading her beloved romance novels and working at the library. But then she meets Jackson. Once they lock eyes, she’s convinced he’s the one—her true love, her soul mate, a boy different from all the rest. And at first it looks like Savannah is right. Jackson abides by her mama’s strict rules, and stays by her side during a hospitalization for severe asthma, which Savannah becomes convinced is only improving because Jackson is there. But when he’s called away to help his family—and seems uncertain about returning—Savannah has to learn to breathe on her own, both literally and figuratively.

This debut novel has it all—an endearing, funny, hopelessly romantic main character, lots of down-home Southern charm, and a sunny, salty beach setting that will transport you to the Carolina coast. 


About the author:

Cheryl Renée Herbsman lives in Northern California with her husband and two children, but she grew up in North Carolina and often spent summer vacations at the Carolina coast. Like Savannah, she fell in love as a teenager, and like Savannah and Jackson, she and her boyfriend carried on a long-distance relationship. They are now celebrating their twentieth wedding anniversary.


The interview:

What's been one of the most exciting moments in your journey to publication?

I have to say there are many exciting moments. But I think it all really started with the call from my agent saying she wanted to represent me and that still stands out as one of the best.

Is there anything you can't write without?

I can only really write in a private, quiet space. It's hard for me to go deep enough inward to hear the story in public places like coffee shops or parks.

When stuck on a story which do you choose: write make-out scene or explode something?

indulge in me-time, go for a walk, eat chocolate :)

Can you share a favorite line you've written either in this book or a WIP?

This is something Savannah says in Breathing:
"I know it's only dreaming. But I reckon if you go on and act like something is real, sometimes it just believes you."

Finally: pro fast zombie or anti fast zombies?

Hmm, I'm thinking fast zombies sound pretty scary, so I'd have to say anti :)