q&a with Andi vanzant

This week kicks off #ChickLitLove. Click here to see the many authors participating in this Valentine's week promotion. This week also kicks off the launch of She Has Your Eyes, and I couldn't be more excited. But rather than hear from me, I thought you'd like to hear from Andi herself. Questions were provided by Tracie Banister, author of Blame it on the Fame and In Need of Therapy.


1) What three qualities do you find most attractive in a partner? A good sense of humor, intelligence (namely, someone who reads), and a guy who can rock a pair of blue jeans and a black t-shirt.


2) What’s your idea of romance? I used to go for the traditional stuff—candlelit dinners and red roses and whatnot. Then I met Sam, my late husband. He used to surprise me with carpet picnics on the top floor of the library at Edmund College (where he taught), colorful post-its with nothing but smiley faces on my pillow or hidden in my gradebook, or he’d call and play a song over the phone for me—and it didn’t necessarily have to be a love song. I downright melted when he went with “Once in a Lifetime” by the Talking Heads. There’s so much romance to be found in everyday things. David (the current man in my life) is very much the same way. It’s his little gestures of thoughtfulness that are the most romantic to me.


3) Who's your favorite on-screen couple (Film or TV)? I think every girl from my generation wanted to be Samantha and Jake in that final scene of Sixteen Candles, with the cake and the kiss and the Thompson Twins song. God, I still drool over it. And I got my Jake Ryan. Twice.


4) What's been your most embarrassing moment in regards to the opposite sex? Honey, I could fill a book.


5) What was your first impression of your partner or crush? How accurate was it? When I first met David, he was in another line of work and went by a different name. I thought he was a bit full of himself. Overconfident. A player, even. And in a lot of ways, he was all of those things. He also was—and still is—alluring and charming as hell. But the more I got to know him, the more I saw that everyone who knew him loved him, except the one person from whom he needed it most—his father. He finally received that love, and even his father’s respect, I think. But all those years without it took its toll. Sadly, I can relate.

With Sam, I felt at ease them moment I met him. I think he was like that with everyone. He was also funny, right off the bat. I could probably count on one hand the number of days that went by during our courtship and marriage where I didn’t laugh with him. And he, like David, was rather gorgeous, albeit a much different look, appearance-wise. I still miss his smile, and the warmth in his eyes.


6) How have you coped with break-ups in the past? Well, when my ex-fiancé, Andrew, broke up with me, I picked up and moved…

David and I went through a break-up too. I had been a bit of a mess when we were together, still trying to get over Sam's death. I took a year off and finally got my act together, and realized I very much wanted to be with David. We got back together, and I think that year off did our relationship a lot of good, as painful as it was for us to be apart.


7) Which hot actor would you want to be stranded on a deserted island with and why? Rob Lowe, because Sam looked like him. Or Chris Noth, because David resembles him. Of course, there’s Matt Bomer, who resembles neither Sam nor David (although his character on White Collar, totally has David’s charm and schmooze factor) and is gay, but he is hot…


8) What is the craziest thing you've ever done for love? Well, I took some lessons once, in… from… I’d rather not say.


9) PDA: How much is acceptable? I assume you mean public displays of affection? A kiss. A hug. Holding hands. Even a little making out. You know, the sweet stuff. But when tongues and other body parts make an appearance, it’s time to get a room.


10) What is the best relationship advice you've ever gotten? “Men aren’t mind readers. You have to tell them specifically what you want.” David had told me that a long time ago, back before he went by David.  I think it’s one of the reasons why Sam and I had a great relationship, especially when we were still dating. But I sometimes forget to do that, especially with David, which is kind of ironic. It’s good advice for any relationship, be it platonic or romantic or familial.


Coming up this week:
Tuesday: The official launch of She Has Your Eyes. An excerpt and giveaway
Wednesday: Q&A with David Santino (aka "Dev")
Thursday: Meet Maggie, Andi's best friend
Friday: Ask the author! I'll answer questions about She Has Your Eyes or any of my other books

---