Cheryl was originally scheduled to be here last Monday, but my unexpected hospital stay put a damper on that. I couldn't let Cheryl escape totally unscathed so I'm posting her tour stop today instead so you can all get a glimpse of the latest installment in her Nashville Nights series, Ruthless. So let's get started with a character interview with sexy, but relationship-phobic Luc Spencer..........
Q: How did you get started as a manager in the country music business?
A: I was a talentless hack, but I loved country music. Growing up in Nashville, it was in my blood. Since I knew I was never going to be a musician, I got a business degree, learned everything I could about music and decided to pave my own way.
Q: As a music mogul in the highly competitive Nashville country music market, many have called you both a dream maker and heartbreaker. Would you agree with that assessment?
A: I guess it depends on who you talk to. You have to be ruthless in this business, and sometimes, that means telling people they haven’t got what it takes to succeed. It’s not a part of the business I enjoy, but you have to develop a thick skin if you want to make it. Every successful artist has been rejected dozens of times before they finally find that person who’s willing to help put them on the map.
Q: You certainly help put Trey Turner on the map. Can you tell us a bit about that?
A: Trey would have made it in this business with or without me; he was born to do this. I’m just glad I got to go along for the ride.
Q: Trey credits you with ‘discovering’ him. Is that true?
A: Trey was playing the bars and honky-tonks, like most new artists do. He was just trying to develop a fan base and stir up some interest in his music. I walked into Jimmy’s bar at the right time, and the rest as they say is history.
Q: Have you two been best friends ever since?
A: Yeah, I think we became fast friends. We connected because of our love of music. I was just starting out as a manager in this business back then, and I wanted him to succeed as much, if not more than he wanted it at the time. We were both just trying to make a name for ourselves. Fortunately, we were able to help each other out with that, and we developed a solid friendship along the way.
Q: You’ve recently started your own record label. Can you tell us what prompted that decision?
A: There are so many talented artists out there who never get a chance with the big labels because they don’t fit inside the box. My label is all about finding those artists. I guess I’m looking to buck tradition, if you will.
Q: Do you have your eye on any new artists that you can tell us about?
A: Yeah, I’m looking at this guy Ty McCall, right now. If I were a betting man, I’d say he’s gonna be huge one day. Nothing is set in stone yet, but I’ve definitely got my eye on him.
Q: You had a pretty public relationship with Trey’s younger sister and stylist, Marisa Turner, for a while. Rumor has it, you two broke up and you’re back on the market. Is that true?
A: I’m a very private person. I don’t like to talk about my personal life, but let’s just say, Marisa will always be important to me. I wish her nothing but the best.
Q: Do you think there’s a chance you two will ever reconcile?
A: It takes two people to make a relationship work. Unfortunately, I can’t speak for her. I don’t know where her head’s at right now.
Q: Does that mean you’re still hoping to reconcile with her?
A: If she wanted another chance to try and make it work, would I be willing to do whatever it took to make that happen? I sure as hell would.
Q: If you could give one piece of advice to a new artist starting out in this business, what would it be?
A: Don’t! (Laughs) Seriously, I’d tell them they need to be a true artist, not just a good singer. I’m looking for singer-songwriters who play instruments, and read and write music. But that’s still not enough. They also need to have a unique sound and style. They have to learn about branding and marketing and understand the importance of being vulnerable and connecting with an audience. There are so many pieces to the puzzle, and if one is missing, it just doesn’t work.
Q: So, what lies ahead for Luc Spencer?
A: I was a talentless hack, but I loved country music. Growing up in Nashville, it was in my blood. Since I knew I was never going to be a musician, I got a business degree, learned everything I could about music and decided to pave my own way.
Q: As a music mogul in the highly competitive Nashville country music market, many have called you both a dream maker and heartbreaker. Would you agree with that assessment?
A: I guess it depends on who you talk to. You have to be ruthless in this business, and sometimes, that means telling people they haven’t got what it takes to succeed. It’s not a part of the business I enjoy, but you have to develop a thick skin if you want to make it. Every successful artist has been rejected dozens of times before they finally find that person who’s willing to help put them on the map.
Q: You certainly help put Trey Turner on the map. Can you tell us a bit about that?
A: Trey would have made it in this business with or without me; he was born to do this. I’m just glad I got to go along for the ride.
Q: Trey credits you with ‘discovering’ him. Is that true?
A: Trey was playing the bars and honky-tonks, like most new artists do. He was just trying to develop a fan base and stir up some interest in his music. I walked into Jimmy’s bar at the right time, and the rest as they say is history.
Q: Have you two been best friends ever since?
A: Yeah, I think we became fast friends. We connected because of our love of music. I was just starting out as a manager in this business back then, and I wanted him to succeed as much, if not more than he wanted it at the time. We were both just trying to make a name for ourselves. Fortunately, we were able to help each other out with that, and we developed a solid friendship along the way.
Q: You’ve recently started your own record label. Can you tell us what prompted that decision?
A: There are so many talented artists out there who never get a chance with the big labels because they don’t fit inside the box. My label is all about finding those artists. I guess I’m looking to buck tradition, if you will.
Q: Do you have your eye on any new artists that you can tell us about?
A: Yeah, I’m looking at this guy Ty McCall, right now. If I were a betting man, I’d say he’s gonna be huge one day. Nothing is set in stone yet, but I’ve definitely got my eye on him.
Q: You had a pretty public relationship with Trey’s younger sister and stylist, Marisa Turner, for a while. Rumor has it, you two broke up and you’re back on the market. Is that true?
A: I’m a very private person. I don’t like to talk about my personal life, but let’s just say, Marisa will always be important to me. I wish her nothing but the best.
Q: Do you think there’s a chance you two will ever reconcile?
A: It takes two people to make a relationship work. Unfortunately, I can’t speak for her. I don’t know where her head’s at right now.
Q: Does that mean you’re still hoping to reconcile with her?
A: If she wanted another chance to try and make it work, would I be willing to do whatever it took to make that happen? I sure as hell would.
Q: If you could give one piece of advice to a new artist starting out in this business, what would it be?
A: Don’t! (Laughs) Seriously, I’d tell them they need to be a true artist, not just a good singer. I’m looking for singer-songwriters who play instruments, and read and write music. But that’s still not enough. They also need to have a unique sound and style. They have to learn about branding and marketing and understand the importance of being vulnerable and connecting with an audience. There are so many pieces to the puzzle, and if one is missing, it just doesn’t work.
Q: So, what lies ahead for Luc Spencer?
A: I’m just keeping my head down and focusing on the future. Trying to start a new business isn’t easy, even when you’ve already paid your dues. Right now, my career has to be my top priority.
Q: Does that mean there isn’t a special woman in your life right now? A: Marriage is for other guys. Me, I’m in it for a good time, not a long time.
Q: That seems like a cynical approach to relationships. Is it safe to say you’ve been hurt before?
A: We can’t say we’ve lived until we’ve been hurt. Sure I have, but would I do it all again? In a heartbeat.
RUTHLESS (Nashville Nights, Book #3) by Cheryl Douglas
Marisa Turner has
wanted her brother's best friend, Luc, forever, but she also wants a
baby and it seems Luc isn't up to the challenge. She has to choose
between the man she loves and the family she hopes to have. Fortunately,
there's another man waiting in the wings to make her baby fantasy a
reality.
Luc Spencer is tired of hearing about marriage and babies.
He loves Marisa, but he can't promise her forever. After two years
together, she tells him it's over. He's not worried, he believes she'll
be back. But what will happen when he finds out there's another man
waiting to take his place?
It took me thirty-seven years to decide what I wanted to be when I grew up. I thought I'd found my calling. In fact, I worked as a nutritionist for twelve years before I finally admitted to myself that while I enjoyed my work, I couldn't imagine doing it for the next thirty years.
My sub-conscious knew that I wanted to be a writer long before the conscious part of my mind decided to get with the program. While my sub-conscious was hard at work creating character profiles, plots and storylines, my conscious mind was telling me it was crazy to give up a successful business on the off-chance one of my manuscripts might rise to the top of someone's never-ending slush pile. After years of listening to that negative voice, I was finally ready to stop making excuses, face the fear and follow my dream of becoming a full-time writer, no matter the outcome. I'm so thankful I did.
I love bringing my characters to life and I am so grateful to have readers who love those characters as much as I do.
When I take a break from writing it's to spend time with my husband (a.k.a. my real life hero), my son, and my writing partner, Tia, a spirited Havanese who enjoys tapping her paw on my keyboard whenever I need a little comic relief.
www.cheryldouglasbooks.com
Thanks so much for taking the time to feature my new book, Ruthless. I hope you're feeling better!
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