My favorite Robert De Niro Quote

This is a guest post by Hilary Grossman.

When you think of a women’s fiction / romantic comedy author you’d expect their favorite movies to be in the same genre. But I have always been a bit of a contradiction. And that is why, hands down, my favorite movies all have some sort of tie-in to organized crime. I love me a good mafia story!

Robert De Niro, by far, is my favorite actor. I actually had the pleasure of meeting him a few years back and shaking his hand – it was an unbelievable moment. I think of all the movies I have seen him in, the scene that resonates with me the most is one from The Untouchables.

De Niro portrays Al Capone and says, “A man becomes preeminent, he's expected to have enthusiasms. Enthusiasms... Enthusiasms... What are mine? What draws my admiration? What is that which gives me joy? Baseball! A man stands alone at the plate. This is the time for what? For individual achievement. There he stands alone. But in the field, what? Part of a team. Teamwork.... Looks, throws, catches, hustles - part of one big team.”

Every time I watch this scene I can’t help but think about writing. As an author, when you sit alone on your couch glued to your laptop, typing away feverously as your characters take over, it is an individual achievement. But once the book is finished, when other authors and bloggers read it and share it, you become part of a team. And the team is big! Much bigger than I ever expected! I’m always blown away by how generous and supportive other authors and bloggers are with their time, knowledge and insights.

Writing and publishing a new book is exciting and scary at the same time. It is like sending your kids off to school on the first day. You hope people like them and are kind. But you also have to prepare for the fact that someone may tease them or hurt their feelings. But by being part of the bigger team, the fears decrease. Regardless of what happens, your team will be by your side.

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Hilary Grossman's new novel, Plan Cee, is now available for purchase.

Would you abandon your present for a second chance at your past?

Cecelia Reynolds has spent most of her life trying to forget the commitment-phobic man who broke her heart. It wasn’t easy, but eventually, she did it, or so she thought…

As Cecelia and her husband gather for a friend’s wedding, her perfect world is thrown into complete turmoil. Even though it’s been twenty years since she last laid eyes on Keith Emerson, all it takes is one glance for her to feel emotions she thought were long gone. When Keith ends up officiating the ceremony, she quickly realizes his message of love is directed at her, not the happy couple. But can she believe him?

We live our entire lives thinking we know ourselves. But do we ever really?

As secrets and lies cause Cecelia’s world to spin completely out of control, she is forced to seek advice from the most unlikely ally. In the process, she must confront the demons of her past and the events that shaped her into the woman she is now. Will she finally learn the real meaning of love, friendship, and family?

While this book is a sequel to Plan Bea, it also reads as a standalone.

By the way, Plan Bea is free on Kindle between March 8th and March 12th, so get your copy now before it's too late. It's an adorable book with an ending you won't see coming.

Hilary is giving away a $25 Starbucks Gift Card to one lucky reader. You can enter by filling in the Rafflecopter below.

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