Banovic Siblings – Friends & Liars
College boy Kevin Banovic’s casual affair with Savi DaCosta
suited him perfectly. Things change when he finds out that Savi is his mom’s
high school bestie. When Kevin tries to end their affair, Savi blackmails him. After
Kevin rescues Savi’s stepdaughter, L’Wren, from her abusive boyfriend, he can’t
stop thinking about her. He must find a way to handle Savi, protect L’Wren, and
keep his sanity.
suited him perfectly. Things change when he finds out that Savi is his mom’s
high school bestie. When Kevin tries to end their affair, Savi blackmails him. After
Kevin rescues Savi’s stepdaughter, L’Wren, from her abusive boyfriend, he can’t
stop thinking about her. He must find a way to handle Savi, protect L’Wren, and
keep his sanity.
Bad girl Adriana Banovic is pleased with herself for getting
her nemesis expelled from Westwood Academy. As feelings between her and her
latest victim Haze Lyndon escalate, an unexpected rival discovers her secret
and threatens to expose her. With emotions on the line, will her new rival beat
her at her own game or end up another casualty of Adriana’s wrath?
her nemesis expelled from Westwood Academy. As feelings between her and her
latest victim Haze Lyndon escalate, an unexpected rival discovers her secret
and threatens to expose her. With emotions on the line, will her new rival beat
her at her own game or end up another casualty of Adriana’s wrath?
Zax Banovic has
it all. Tall and handsome,
he’s an academic genius, with a killer smile and a heart of gold. When his best
friend gets into trouble, he feels responsible and covers for him. But his best
friend is not as honorable and has other plans for Zax.
it all. Tall and handsome,
he’s an academic genius, with a killer smile and a heart of gold. When his best
friend gets into trouble, he feels responsible and covers for him. But his best
friend is not as honorable and has other plans for Zax.
The Banovic Siblings learn that blackmail is a gift that keeps
on giving. This is the second book in the Family Portrait novel series.
on giving. This is the second book in the Family Portrait novel series.
If you like shows like the original Melrose Place, Beverly Hills
90210 and Nashville, where the
guys and girls are hot and the schemes are hotter, you will like The
Banovic Siblings.
90210 and Nashville, where the
guys and girls are hot and the schemes are hotter, you will like The
Banovic Siblings.
Excerpt 1
L’Wren smiled as she thought about Zax and
Leighann. Those Banovic boys had charm. If Zax was anything like his brother,
Leighann was a lucky girl. Just then she heard footsteps and turned around
quickly.
Leighann. Those Banovic boys had charm. If Zax was anything like his brother,
Leighann was a lucky girl. Just then she heard footsteps and turned around
quickly.
“Jeff! You scared me.” She playfully punched him.
“Hey, baby.” He kissed her. “Here let me.” He took
the keys and opened the door for her.
the keys and opened the door for her.
They began turning on the lights.
“I didn’t realize we were supposed to get together
tonight,” she said, feeling uneasy.
tonight,” she said, feeling uneasy.
“Do I need an appointment to see my girl?”
“No … if I knew you were coming over, I would have
gotten here sooner.” She busied herself in the kitchen.
gotten here sooner.” She busied herself in the kitchen.
“Where were you?”
“Traffic on the 405 was a bitch.”
“Where did you say you were again?”
“Out with a couple of friends. No place special.”
“You could have called me. I would have gone to no
place special with you.”
place special with you.”
“Jeff, we talked about this. You can’t have a cow
every time I go out with my friends.”
every time I go out with my friends.”
“You never invite me anywhere with your friends.
Are you ashamed of me?” Jeff towered over her.
Are you ashamed of me?” Jeff towered over her.
“Don’t be silly. It was just us girls. None of
them had their boyfriends with them.”
them had their boyfriends with them.”
“Did you have a good time?”
“Yes.” She tried to walk away from him, but she
was trapped between the counter and Jeff.
was trapped between the counter and Jeff.
He boxed her in with his arms. “Did guys hit on you?”
“What? No.” She tried to move his arm, but it was
firmly planted against the counter. “Why don’t we go in the living room and
talk,” she suggested, trying to sound calm.
firmly planted against the counter. “Why don’t we go in the living room and
talk,” she suggested, trying to sound calm.
“Why can’t you look me in the eye and tell me that
guys didn’t hit on you?”
guys didn’t hit on you?”
“Jeff, I think you should leave.”
“Is he coming over? Is that why you want me to
leave?” Jeff raised his voice.
leave?” Jeff raised his voice.
L’Wren knew what was coming next. She braced
herself for him to either punch her in the gut or pull her hair. He wouldn’t
slap her face; he didn’t like to leave visual bruises. He couldn’t have his
friends know that he beat up on his girlfriend. He was quarterback of the
football team and had a reputation to uphold. She gripped the counter as he
yanked on her hair, tugging her head back, causing her to bump her head on the
overhead cupboard.
herself for him to either punch her in the gut or pull her hair. He wouldn’t
slap her face; he didn’t like to leave visual bruises. He couldn’t have his
friends know that he beat up on his girlfriend. He was quarterback of the
football team and had a reputation to uphold. She gripped the counter as he
yanked on her hair, tugging her head back, causing her to bump her head on the
overhead cupboard.
“I have absolutely no qualms about putting a
bullet through your brain right now,” Savi said calmly.
bullet through your brain right now,” Savi said calmly.
Jeff turned around to face the business end of
Savi’s shiny silver revolver. L’Wren gasped. Something in her eyes told him
that she meant it.
Savi’s shiny silver revolver. L’Wren gasped. Something in her eyes told him
that she meant it.
Excerpt 2
L’Wren entered Bacchanal Jake’s with two of her
girlfriends. While their intention was to have fun and enjoy the attention of
guys, her mission was to see Kevin Banovic again. She knew he worked there and,
without alerting her friends to her plan, casually chose Jake’s as the hangout
spot for the evening.
girlfriends. While their intention was to have fun and enjoy the attention of
guys, her mission was to see Kevin Banovic again. She knew he worked there and,
without alerting her friends to her plan, casually chose Jake’s as the hangout
spot for the evening.
She hated the way they’d left things. Why did she
care what he thought of her? He was just some guy—some guy who cared enough to
stand up for her and got hurt in the process. She carried around immense guilt,
and he’d made her feel worst when she tried to apologize. She had no idea what
she was going to say to him. She just knew that she had to see him again.
care what he thought of her? He was just some guy—some guy who cared enough to
stand up for her and got hurt in the process. She carried around immense guilt,
and he’d made her feel worst when she tried to apologize. She had no idea what
she was going to say to him. She just knew that she had to see him again.
They ordered drinks and found a booth. L’Wren’s
eyes combed the room, her breath unsteady, her palms sweaty and her stomach in
knots. Maybe he had the night off.
eyes combed the room, her breath unsteady, her palms sweaty and her stomach in
knots. Maybe he had the night off.
L’Wren’s friends noticed her distraction.
“Hey, what’s going on with you?” one friend asked.
“Nothing.” She smiled nervously.
A couple of guys came over with drinks for the
girls. They began chatting them up. L’Wren was not interested. She just smiled
and nodded and kept an eye out for Kevin.
girls. They began chatting them up. L’Wren was not interested. She just smiled
and nodded and kept an eye out for Kevin.
Her hopes began to fade after an hour. L’Wren was
about ready to leave when she spotted Kevin. She took a deep breath. The air in
the room was getting tight again. She watched as he flirted with a woman at the
bar. The scene reminded her of Tom Cruise in the movie Cocktail, minus the bar theatrics.
about ready to leave when she spotted Kevin. She took a deep breath. The air in
the room was getting tight again. She watched as he flirted with a woman at the
bar. The scene reminded her of Tom Cruise in the movie Cocktail, minus the bar theatrics.
Location, location, location!
The locations used in my
novels are a huge part of the story and I consider them non human characters.
The major locations I used all have a special meaning to me.
novels are a huge part of the story and I consider them non human characters.
The major locations I used all have a special meaning to me.
Since moving to the United
States in 1998, I lived in New York, Los Angeles and now Albuquerque. I have
been blessed to have lived in 3 completely different cities with such rich
tapestry of cultures.
States in 1998, I lived in New York, Los Angeles and now Albuquerque. I have
been blessed to have lived in 3 completely different cities with such rich
tapestry of cultures.
Los Angeles.
The Grove
The Grove is located at the
corner of Fairfax and 3rd Avenue. Back in the day before The Grove
was cool (before Access Hollywood and
Modern Family started filming there)
I used to spend all my time there. I didn’t have a car or job and I lived a
block away, The Grove was my hang-out spot for entertainment and keeping my
anxiety in tact. I spent many hours people watching, browsing the shops or at
Barnes and Noble. I remember spending Christmas-eve admiring the decorations, and
watching the water from the fountain dance to Christmas carols. The Grove made
being broke in LA suck less, and will always have a very special place in my
heart.
corner of Fairfax and 3rd Avenue. Back in the day before The Grove
was cool (before Access Hollywood and
Modern Family started filming there)
I used to spend all my time there. I didn’t have a car or job and I lived a
block away, The Grove was my hang-out spot for entertainment and keeping my
anxiety in tact. I spent many hours people watching, browsing the shops or at
Barnes and Noble. I remember spending Christmas-eve admiring the decorations, and
watching the water from the fountain dance to Christmas carols. The Grove made
being broke in LA suck less, and will always have a very special place in my
heart.
http://www.thegrovela.com. Photos
courtesy The Grove LA.
courtesy The Grove LA.
Westwood Village
The village of Westwood is
located between Beverly Hills and Santa Monica. It is a college town and the
home of UCLA. Don’t go looking for Westwood Academy in Westwood village
California because there is none. The Westwood Academy mentioned in the books
is actually located in Albuquerque (kinda), more on that later.
located between Beverly Hills and Santa Monica. It is a college town and the
home of UCLA. Don’t go looking for Westwood Academy in Westwood village
California because there is none. The Westwood Academy mentioned in the books
is actually located in Albuquerque (kinda), more on that later.
I fell in love with Westwood
Village because of its quaint shops, cafés, and rich architecture. I used to go
there to movie screenings and to browse around. By then I had a job but still
no car. I use to ride the bus on Wilshire Blvd from West Hollywood to Westwood
Village to Santa Monica on my way to and from work. I used to spend 2 hours in
traffic in Westwood Village alone!
Village because of its quaint shops, cafés, and rich architecture. I used to go
there to movie screenings and to browse around. By then I had a job but still
no car. I use to ride the bus on Wilshire Blvd from West Hollywood to Westwood
Village to Santa Monica on my way to and from work. I used to spend 2 hours in
traffic in Westwood Village alone!
http://www.westwoodblvd.com/. Photos
courtesy SeeingStars.com, Wikimedia
courtesy SeeingStars.com, Wikimedia
Holmby Hills
Holmby Hills is a neighborhood
in the district of Westwood in western Los Angeles. It is bordered by the city
of Beverly Hills on the east, Wilshire Boulevard on the south, Westwood on the
west, and Bel Air on the north. (Wiki)
in the district of Westwood in western Los Angeles. It is bordered by the city
of Beverly Hills on the east, Wilshire Boulevard on the south, Westwood on the
west, and Bel Air on the north. (Wiki)
My fascination with Holmby
Hills started because my idol, the late, great Aaron Spelling lived there. I
drove through Holmby Hills (with friends, I still didn’t have a car) a few
times on our way to the coast. I remember seeing these amazing mansions and
long driveways lined with huge palm trees. One of the reasons I used Holmby
Hills in the series is because it is not as known as Beverly Hills, Hollywood
or Malibu, yet it packs a mean punch by way of decadence. Photos courtesy:
BusinessInsider.com, Wikipedia
Hills started because my idol, the late, great Aaron Spelling lived there. I
drove through Holmby Hills (with friends, I still didn’t have a car) a few
times on our way to the coast. I remember seeing these amazing mansions and
long driveways lined with huge palm trees. One of the reasons I used Holmby
Hills in the series is because it is not as known as Beverly Hills, Hollywood
or Malibu, yet it packs a mean punch by way of decadence. Photos courtesy:
BusinessInsider.com, Wikipedia
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Albuquerque Academy aka Westwood Academy
Albuquerque Academy is
located at 6400 Wyoming Blvd NE. Less than a mile from my home. I fell in love
with Albuquerque Academy while scouting for locations to add to my media
package (when the book was actually a television series), and was blown away by
the grounds and the academic opportunities at the school. The grounds are open
to the public outside of school hours and I frequently go there to hike or
run/walk their trails. Yep they have a few hiking trails located on the
premises. I usually do the 3 mile trail, which is a mixture of hills and rough
terrain. I can’t begin to tell you how beautiful the campus grounds are. There
are sculptures around the campus, Mediterranean architecture, beautiful arches
and tree line walkways connect the buildings. The school houses students from
grades 6 – 12. I don’t know if they have marble floors, state-of-the-art
facilities and gourmet lunches as mentioned in my books, that was my
imagination running rampant, but wouldn't to be cool if it was really like
that? Photos courtesy http://www.nmlocations.com/
located at 6400 Wyoming Blvd NE. Less than a mile from my home. I fell in love
with Albuquerque Academy while scouting for locations to add to my media
package (when the book was actually a television series), and was blown away by
the grounds and the academic opportunities at the school. The grounds are open
to the public outside of school hours and I frequently go there to hike or
run/walk their trails. Yep they have a few hiking trails located on the
premises. I usually do the 3 mile trail, which is a mixture of hills and rough
terrain. I can’t begin to tell you how beautiful the campus grounds are. There
are sculptures around the campus, Mediterranean architecture, beautiful arches
and tree line walkways connect the buildings. The school houses students from
grades 6 – 12. I don’t know if they have marble floors, state-of-the-art
facilities and gourmet lunches as mentioned in my books, that was my
imagination running rampant, but wouldn't to be cool if it was really like
that? Photos courtesy http://www.nmlocations.com/
General interview questions
How did you come up
with the idea for The Banovic Siblings?
with the idea for The Banovic Siblings?
The Banovic Siblings is the second novel in the Family Portrait series which was originally written as a television
series, I have 24 episodes written and parts of episodes 2, 3 and 4 make up The Banovic Siblings.
series, I have 24 episodes written and parts of episodes 2, 3 and 4 make up The Banovic Siblings.
What is your next
project?
project?
I am working on the 3rd novel in
the Family Portrait novel series, I may call it Bastard’s Brew. What do you
think? By now people have gotten to know the characters and fans are starting
to choose their favorite characters. Book 3 will feature more about the
mysterious bad boy Kevin Banovic. It is scheduled to be released in March/April
2014.
the Family Portrait novel series, I may call it Bastard’s Brew. What do you
think? By now people have gotten to know the characters and fans are starting
to choose their favorite characters. Book 3 will feature more about the
mysterious bad boy Kevin Banovic. It is scheduled to be released in March/April
2014.
The best thing about
writing this book?
The friendship I've developed with
the characters, sounds weird but I love them, they've made me laugh, cry and
get angry.
writing this book?
The friendship I've developed with
the characters, sounds weird but I love them, they've made me laugh, cry and
get angry.
What made you become
an author? Have you always wanted to write?
an author? Have you always wanted to write?
I have always written.
As a kid creative writing was one of my favorite subjects. I got my highest
marks in that subject. Growing up I was told you have to "get a real
job". I've had 'real' jobs and it always brought me back to writing. I
worked at a television studio writing Prime time news, it was fun at first but
then it got depressing. I tried to put a positive spin on the stories but
that's not what 'news' is about.
As a kid creative writing was one of my favorite subjects. I got my highest
marks in that subject. Growing up I was told you have to "get a real
job". I've had 'real' jobs and it always brought me back to writing. I
worked at a television studio writing Prime time news, it was fun at first but
then it got depressing. I tried to put a positive spin on the stories but
that's not what 'news' is about.
What do you prefer?
Ebook, Hardcover or a paperback?
Ebook, Hardcover or a paperback?
Ebook only cuz I can
have as many as I want and not have to worry about physical space. Plus if I
hate it I can always delete it and forget about it. I love the look and feel of
paperback or hard cover, if I really love a book I will get it.
have as many as I want and not have to worry about physical space. Plus if I
hate it I can always delete it and forget about it. I love the look and feel of
paperback or hard cover, if I really love a book I will get it.
What is the best
thing about being independently published?
thing about being independently published?
I love the flexibility
of being able to tell the story how I want to tell it. It’s a lot more work but
you have more control. How successful you are depends on the amount of work you
put in. A traditional publisher is great
but I see now a lot of big name authors are going indie. They get to keep more
of the profits, and have more creative control. I’m also an entrepreneur so I
enjoy the business part of it and forming connections with bloggers like you.
of being able to tell the story how I want to tell it. It’s a lot more work but
you have more control. How successful you are depends on the amount of work you
put in. A traditional publisher is great
but I see now a lot of big name authors are going indie. They get to keep more
of the profits, and have more creative control. I’m also an entrepreneur so I
enjoy the business part of it and forming connections with bloggers like you.
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