Tomato Stakes is the second book in my series of memoirs. Letters To Young Chong, my first memoir, was based on the friendship I developed with Melissa Moore.  It followed us along as we grew from rambunctious teenagers to crazy women in our early twenties.  Tomato Stakes picks up where LTYC left off and the reader will experience the unhealthy ( but ridiculously funny) obsession I develop for a man who doesn’t even know I’m alive.  This isn’t a romantic love story, but more an easy read poking fun out how ludicrous us ladies can be in the face of amor.

We interviewed you about Letters To Young Chong and loved that book. Tell us more about Tomato Stakes.
Here’s the official synopsis: 

Occasionally, a woman will need to branch out and find a man to occupy her time. I had spotted a gorgeous fellow at one of my favorite watering holes and I could not stop thinking about him. After seeing him a mere two times, I was completely enamored. My inner gypsy was losing her magic powers and suddenly I found myself attached to the thought of this man.

Julio was a crew leader for one of the tomato harvesting companies that came to our area in the summer. The company would once again return in the warmer months. It would take a great deal of patience to wait out the winter, but a mutual friend was sure he could make a match when the time came.

The obsession became unhealthy, as most are. Before you could say cherry tomato, I lived in a fantasy world that I would indeed love, marry and copulate with Julio . I was going to be his world, his reason for getting up in the morning, his reason for living.

If I only knew then what I know now, I would have checked myself into the psych ward.

Come join me for some Coronas, a few shots of tequila, and a crazy ass time following around an irresistible man.

What genre is it?
Adult Humor.

What kind of readers will it appeal to?
Readers who will enjoy this will be looking for easy, fun read.  This book pokes fun at my behavior.  Readers should be ready to giggle, laugh and bang their head on a wall at the pure insanity that goes down.

So tell us about this man, Julio.
Just his presence could make a woman weak at the knees!  We are talking smoking hot.  Those good looks came at a price though!

We met Melissa in LTYC, will we be meeting any other friends in this book?
There are a whole host of friends throughout the book.  These friends partake in the drinking, partying and ridiculing of my obsession.

Why Tomato Stakes, by the way?
I knew I wanted to have the word tomato in my title, since it was the only thing that brought Julio and I together.  Tomato Stakes came to me after staring off into the fields as I drove by, hoping to steal a glance of him.  (See, I told you the obsession was out of control!)  Even though I was completely enamored with the man, many times I felt that there was a stake stuck through my heart.

And if anyone hasn’t read LTYC yet, do they have to read the books in order?
If a reader enjoys Tomato Stakes, they should backtrack and try out Letters To Young Chong.  However, Tomato Stakes can stand alone.

Will there be future instalments to your story?
I want readers to be excited about the next installment, Mosquito Fog.  Hopefully, a reader will finish this book and want to tell all of their friends, “You will not believe the hilarious book I just finished.  We should go have a drink and talk about it.”

Complete this sentence for us: if you like _________________, you’ll love my book.
Laurie Notaro or The Bridget Jones series.  Or tequila.  If you like tequila then you are definitely my kind of reader!

Tell us a bit about yourself.
I work full time as a licensed veterinary technician on a tiny little peninsula called The Eastern Shore of Virginia.  I love my little rural hometown and wouldn’t trade it for any big city in the world.

I enjoy writing in my spare time and hope to continue to do so as long as my little fingers will keep hitting this keyboard.

Do you have a website where we can keep up with your work?
My blog is a great place to keep up with me and to get a feel for my writing style. www.melaniejomoore.com.

How can we follow you on Twitter and/or Facebook?
Yes!
www.facebook.com/LettersToYoungchong and @MelanieJoMoore.

When can we expect to get our mitts on Mosquito Fog?
I anticipate it to be released next year.