AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT: Amy Knupp interview and giveaway

Stepping into the spotlight, Amy Knupp...and she's brought a giveaway with her!

Bio:

Amy Knupp lives in Madison, Wisconsin, with her husband, two sons, five cats and a turtle. She graduated from the University of Kansas with degrees in Journalism and French and feels lucky to use very little of either in her writing. She’s a member of Romance Writers of America, Mad City Romance Writers and Wisconsin Romance Writers. Her ninth book, Because of the List, is available now from Harlequin Superromance.

Amy, thank you so much for joining us today. Can you tell us a little about your latest story? What inspired it?

My latest story, Because of the List, is about an Army helicopter pilot and his best friend's younger sister, who is an insecure brainiac/computer geek. Not my usual types of characters (lately I've been writing firefighters for heroes, and I tend to write confident, strong heroines.) I love romances with military heroes, so I guess in a sense, all the awesome mil rom authors I've read inspired me to finally try my hand at it. :)

BECAUSE OF THE LIST

Taylor McCabe likes equations. They make sense. But one buttoned-up computer whiz plus an injured army pilot simply does not add up. It's time to get over her childish crush on Alex Worth, her brother's best friend, and find a husband. Enter The List – Taylor's ten must-have traits for a viable suitor.

But her plan goes awry when Alex insists on vetting each contender. The way he dismisses them feels like the actions of a protective boyfriend. Strangely, his attitude makes her even more attracted to him. Too bad he doesn't meet even one of her requirements….
To read an excerpt, visit
http://www.amyknupp.com/botl.php

BECAUSE OF THE LIST sounds wonderful! So, in addition to military romance, what are your favorite genres? Least favorites?

Of course I like reading all kinds of romance, especially contemporary (both single title and category) and paranormal. I also love young adult lit and wish I could do nothing but curl up and read all the amazing YA books out there. So much good stuff! When I need a break from fiction, my favorite is military non-fiction.

What’s in your TBR pile and why?

My TBR pile is kind of large, especially considering I'm a slow-ish reader. I have lots of YA, women's fiction, contemporary romance, category ( especially Supers, Desires and Blazes), and paranormal. I have a little bit of fantasy and urban fantasy, a few general fiction books and lots of non-fiction, from military to stuff I use for research (currently books by paramedics and firefighters.) I've cut down hugely on buying print books but my digital library is starting to get out of control now. In a good way. :)

What’s your favorite flavor of romance? (Sweet? Spicy?) Do your tastes vary when it comes to reading versus writing?

I like to read a range. I don't really choose my books based on sensuality level, I just want a good story whether there are love scenes or not. As far as my writing, I wouldn't classify it as sweet, but it's not up there with erotic romance either. So middle of the road, really, for both reading and writing.

How do you pick your story settings?

In ten books, I've really only written 4 settings because I love to create a contemporary, fictional world that becomes real for me and that I can reuse for more books. Places I visit can definitely inspire my settings. San Amaro Island, which is the setting for all of my Texas Firefighter books, is loosely based on South Padre Island. Lone Oak, Kansas, the setting for my Salinger Sister books, came to me after visiting Atchison, KS, which is my mother's home town. I have several other settings in mind to use for future books. No stories for those settings yet, but I'll get there. :)

How long have you been writing and what prompted you to begin?

I was friends with Maya Banks back before she was Maya Banks. When my younger son was 2 months old, she challenged me to write a story with the intention of becoming published. We started together and critiqued each other's dreck and got better and researched the market, me with my baby boy nursing every hour while I typed. :) That was 10 years ago. It took me 4 years to sell my first book, and Maya sold hers shortly after that (and has since written circles around me!)

When pursuing that first sale, what line did you target?

I've always targeted Superromance. When I decided to start writing for publication, I read up on all the lines at that time and quickly narrowed it down to a couple that resonated for my own writing style. Supers seemed like a natural fit because of the realism of the stories and characters. I also loved the variety of plots, hooks and characters in the line.

Plot or Pants?

A combination of the two. I tried hard to be a detailed plotter. It would make me very happy to be able to plan out a story so I know what's going to happen and all I have to do is just…write. (My favorite part!) But no matter how detailed I got, I always had to scrap about 75% of the plot when I actually wrote the story. So I stopped plotting so much. Now I have to turn in a long synopsis to my editor, which like any sane writer (does such a thing exist?) I detest, but it helps me grasp the big picture of the book. Then when I write, I don't follow the synopsis much. When I actually get into the writing, the characters dictate things differently than I planned, even if the plan is vague. I'm learning to accept that and trust my instincts, but it hasn't been easy.

What’s the best piece of advice you have to offer to an aspiring author?

I would say, especially if you're targeting a category line, learn to revise. Not just edit and band-aid, but learn to rip the heart out of your story if there's a problem with it, and reconstruct it into something stronger. I know for a fact my ability to do this was why/how I sold my first book. Revisions are ugly and can be a drag, but when you have good editorial or critique partner input, incorporating it into your story can make it into a stronger story. How to learn this? Practice, I guess. I use a spread sheet ONLY for revisions, (I'm not much of a chart or spread sheet kind of girl, otherwise) and that helps me keep the old version and the new version straight in my head. Sometimes they're two very different beasts. If you can make a story evolve in the revisions stage, you'll be much better prepared to write for Harlequin, in my opinion.

What has been the biggest obstacle in your writing career?

Chaos. I have 2 young children and actually started writing when the younger one was 2 months old. So my time is not really my own for most of the day. I've been lucky enough to stay home with my kids, but having two boys running around with Nerf guns isn't exactly conducive to writing a love scene! It gets better as they get older, but I spent a year home schooling my older child and getting up at 4am to get my writing time in. I'm the kind of person who thrives on routine, and it's been tough to have a consistent one from one year to the next. But that's just the way life is for all of us, I think, so we just have to adjust. I'm still trying to master that!

Thanks for having me on The Pink Heart Society! I'd like to give away a copy of Because of the List to one commenter.

To be entered into the random drawing for a signed copy of Because of the List, just tell me what your favorite romance novel hooks/themes are. (Mine are best friends to lovers, reunions, and military characters.) Thanks for reading my interview!

And Amy, thanks so much for joining us! Amy will be back tomorrow to select a winner, so be sure to check back through the comments to see if it's you!

For more about Amy Knupp:

Facebook author page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Amy-Knupp/253309601369486
Twitter name: @amyknupp
Website: http://www.amyknupp.com

Deadline Recipes :: Red Velvet Beet Cake

The mommy-guilt can really get to a writer who's had her head in a novel for an entire month (ahem, NaNoWriMo anyone?). The Pink Heart Society editor Jenna Bayley-Burke step into the kitchen to try and ease some of the angst her family collected while surviving on skillet meals and crockpot fare.

My eldest is allergic to red food coloring. If you're kid is going to have a food allergy, it's teh one to get. I mean...if it's red, it's not for him. Easy. And he gets a rash, not some scary rection. No big deal most of the time.

He only really mentions it for two things - Fruit Punch Kool-Aid and red velvet cake. Not a lot I can do about either, being red is part of their schtick. Except I got to thinking...what if there were a natural way to color the cake?

I found lots of recipes online, with lots of different results. I combined a few in what I hoped would give me the reddest cake. The cake...is reddish brown. BUT it tastes like red velvet cake. That dense, rich with hint of cocoa flavor. I suppose it's not the best recipe for Valentine's Day, but I think the tall boy appreciated the effort.

1 ¼ cup - sugar
1 cup - (1 stick) butter, softened
3 - eggs
2 cup - cake flour
½ cup - unsweetened cocoa powder
1 ½ tsp. - baking powder
½ tsp. - baking soda
1 tsp. - salt
1 cup - buttermilk
2 tsp. - balsamic vinegar
2 tsp. - vanilla extract
1 can shoestring beets, pureed

Cream the butter and sugar, add the eggs. Sift the flour and dry ingredients. Add the beets to the butter mixture, then half the flour, then the buttermilk, vanilla, and vinegar, then the rest of the flour. Bake as you'd like to serve, we tend to bake in 13x 9 pans (45 minutes).

I frosted it with my go-to cream cheese frosting. 1 brick of cream cheese, 1/2 a stick of butter, 3 cups powdered sugar, 1 t vanilla.

Jenna's trying to decode what she wrote for NaNoWriMo. Oops. Be sure to check out her latest release. Private Scandal is ripe with secrets, sass, and sensational sex. Jenna's ode to retail, For Kicks, will be out in just a few weeks to help everyone through their post holiday shopping haze. Keep up with Jenna's spin on things on her website & blog.

Food and Books and a Website "Relaunch"!

Harlequin Romance author and Pink Heart Editor Donna Alward stops by to let you know about a fab event going on right now!

The Harlequin Romance line authors are re-launching their website right now and to celebrate, we're holding a contest that is going on as long as the books hold out. We're still at the same URL - www.harlequinromanceauthors.com but you'll see a new look: a front page with new and current material, a "Meet The Authors" page where you can have a gander at our mugs and read a bit about us, and a fun page where we've posted some candid pics from different events. We're really excited about our fresh new look and so of course the best thing to do on such an occasion is throw a party.

We launched officially on December 1, but our party is going on as long as there are books to give away. Stop by and visit each day as the spotlighted author is sharing a recipe (and personally there are a few that I'm DYING to try) and then giving away a book. All you need to do to enter is leave a comment, and when the bookshelf is empty we'll be posting a winner's list.

There are Christmas books by Lucy Gordon and Shirley Jump, anthologies from yours truly and Barbara McMahon, new releases by Liz Fielding and Nina Harrington and backlist titles too...

And the FOOD. You know it's gonna be good when you kick things off with Chocolate Truffle Cookies. Sweet or savoury - there are some real keepers for the recipe box.

We'd love it if you stopped by to help us celebrate - both the new look for the site and Christmas too, of course!

Donna's latest release is the print edition of BREATHE. Single-mom Anna has nowhere left to turn except to her old friend - and old flame - Jace Willow at Two Willows Winery. But rebuilding her life means she has to face their past once and for all - and maybe just discover the chance to love again.

Wildcard Weekend: Looking forward New Year's Eve and giveaway.

Harlequin Presents Extra and Riva author  Aimee Carson looks forward to her favourite holiday and offers a giveway book.

Thanksgiving is over and Christmas is right around the corner, but today I want to talk about how I like to spend my favorite holiday, New Year’s Eve.

The accepted standard is to celebrate at a party with dancing, champagne, and a countdown that culminates in a kiss.  Some people prefer to welcome the incoming year with fireworks. For those who don’t mind crowds, watching a ball drop in Times Square is a popular option, though a friend once described her experience as a very cold eight hours standing in one spot without a bathroom.  And although I love a good party and a falling ball as much as the next person, I prefer to ring in the New Year with a low-key evening on the couch with a bowl of popcorn, a good movie, and a restroom close by.  

The key to the evening, of course, is selecting the right film. For those of you who choose to spend the holiday at home, here is a list of my suggestions for New Year’s Eve themed movies:

When Harry Met Sally (1989) – Starring Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal, this is the ultimate friends-to-lovers movie, culminating on New Year’s Eve.  Perhaps best remembered for “that” scene in the diner, When Harry Met Sally has many memorable moments and a fascinating evolution of hairstyles.

An Affair to Remember (1957) – Each engaged to another, Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr meet on a cruise ship and fight the fact that they are falling in love. On their final night on board, they dance together during a New Year’s Eve celebration.  At the risk of being pelted with rotten vegetables, I’ll admit I lost interest during the last half of the movie. It feels as if the plot unwinds and then tries to redeem itself with a lovely, tear-jerker of an ending. It’s the first half that really shines, because the flirtatious and fabulously witty banter between Carey Grant and Deborah Kerr is absolutely sublime.

About a Boy (2002) – Arguably Hugh Grant’s best film, the movie is about a self-centered, superficial guy who learns how to be a grownup via his new, twelve-year-old misfit of a BFF. One of my favorite moments occurs when Hugh meets Rachel Weisz, which he describes like this: “On New Year’s Eve, I met Rachel. She was interesting, smart, and attractive, and for about five minutes I had her convinced that I was too.”  The transformation of Hugh Grant’s character is masterfully done.

Bridget Jones Diary (2001) – After a New Year’s Eve spent alone, Renee Zellweger makes a resolution to keep a diary and improve herself. Charming and funny, I (mostly) didn’t mind the many cringe-inducing moments.

Trading Places (1983) – Particularly prescient given the current Occupy Wall Street movement, the plot involves a snobby investor (Dan Aykyrod) and a cunning street hustler (Eddie Murphy) who unwillingly trade lives after a one dollar bet between two callous commodities brokers. The climax involves a commodities scam, a New Year’s Eve party on a train, and a gorilla.  Dan Aykroyd and Eddie Murphy are fabulous together, and watching their developing bromance is a delight!

And finally, no New Year’s Eve movie list would be complete without the Poseidon Adventure(1972) and its 2006 remake, Poseidon. A band of New Year’s Eve revelers on a cruise have their party rudely interrupted by a massive rogue wave. They spend the early morning hours of the New Year trying to escape a sinking ship. My favorite of the two is the remake, mostly because it stars Josh Lucas. J

So, what’s your favorite way to ring in the New Year? A party? Fireworks? Or do you prefer to spend it at home? And if there is a New Year’s Eve themed movie you feel deserves to be on this list, don’t hesitate to let me know! To celebrate the beginning of 2012, I’ll be giving one lucky commenter a copy of my latest book, How to Win the Dating War, on shelves now in the UK.

Aimee Carson writes fun, flirty and steamy romances for Harlequin Mills & Boon. You can find her at www.aimeecarson.com and on Facebook:http://www.facebook.com/pages/Aimee-Carson/200905749960461 Follow her on twitter as @aimeecarsonmb.

Fill the Well Friday: Eat Super Foods

PHS Editor Michelle Styles Explains how eating  nutrient rich foods has helped to jump start her creativity.

In this my last column of Fill the Well Friday (Jenna Bayley Burke takes over in January!), I want to talk about that other important  part of maintaining creativity – eating the right foods. Thus far, I have mainly focussed on activities and things to do but we are what we eat. Nutrient rich food can give a flagging brain a boost.  Isn't it annoying when your mother (or in my case my grandmother) turns out to have been right about eating correctly? My maternal grandmother used to go on and on about the benefits but I didn't really want to listen as a teenager.

When you are writing away, you  can suddenly feel hungry. I used to go and eat something sugary or something containing gluten. This led me to developing a writer’s bottom but also it sapped my creativity.  If your blood sugar starts spiking and rocketing all over the shop, you end up feeling tired and lethargic. The key is stabilise your blood sugar and then learn to distinguish between thirst and actual hunger.  Or possibly  do you just need a break and a stretch and that is all the walk to the fridge is about?

When you are feeling hungry, eating nutrient dense foods such as apples, blueberries, almonds, or oranges will give your brain a boost longer than if you eat cake. Some people swear by porridge in the morning but I have  found that I am starving and unable to concentrate by 10:30 am. However if I eat fruit such as steamed apple and pear or have a blueberry, pomegranate, banana and orange smoothie, I can go from 7 am until 1 pm without feeling the need to refuel.

I also find that if I am not eating a lot of heavy starch, my mind is able to concentrate for longer periods. Heavy starch tends to put me to sleep. So I have learnt to forgo baked potatoes for lunch and reach for more complicated foods such as a tuna salad made with a vinegar and mustard dressing, or a carrot and ginger soup.  It is amazing how much more energy I have in the afternoon.

I have also discovered that mainlining coffee or tea with milk makes it far less easy for me to concentrate. Green or white tea or fruit tea which adds a hint of sweetness works better for me.

As I celebrated Thanksgiving last weekend (I may live in the UK but I’m American and certain holiday feasts are non-negotiable!),  I discovered that eating unhealthy food made me feel dull and lethargic the next morning. We had clam dip on the Thursday, even though Thanksgiving proper waited until the Friday evening when my daughter came home from university.  On Friday morning, despite not having drunk any alcohol, I felt like I was hung over and that my brain wasn’t working as quickly.  It amazed me that unhealthy food made me feel that way. Yes, I had read about it but until I actually experienced the sensation of eating unhealthy food and how I felt the next day, I didn’t really believe it.

So if you are feeling like the well is dry, you can always try looking to your diet and seeing if you can’t substitute a few of the empty calories with nutrient rich foods. If you are interested in this sort of thing, I recently found the Jack Challam books -- The Inflammation Syndrome and Stop Prediabetes Now to be really informative. Basically I wanted to discover why I felt so much better on a Protein and Produce diet with only limited amount of gluten and lactose.

I do hope you  have enjoyed this column and I really look forward to seeing what Jenna Bayley-Burke does with it in 2012. There are a lot of exciting columns coming in 2012 which are sure to jumpstart your creativity but until then, try adding some super-foods.

Michelle Styles writes warm, witty and intimate historical romance for Harlequin Historical. Her next novel, His Unsuitable Countess, will be released in August 2012. You can learn more about Michelle and her books at her website www.michellestyles.co.uk

Tawny Weber: Writing a Trilogy

Blaze Author Tawny Weber explains about the joys and pitfalls of writing a trilogy.

It’s easy to say that I lovewriting, because I really do. I love therelaxation of letting my imagination soar, the creativity of reining in thatsame soaring imagination into a workable story and the work of sitting down towrite and craft a story that does justice for readers to the one my imaginationcame up with. So when I had theopportunity to write a trilogy, I jumped at it. I mean, what’s better that one story but three, right? How much harder could that be. I was surprised to discover that it’sactually a lot harder... and even more satisfying.

There is a wider arc, which as areader I love. And being able to write astory that spans multiple books offers so much more room for plotting twists,more intriguing storylines and playing with the suspense a little longer.

There’s also a lot more charactersto keep track of. And as a reader, I’m ahuge fan of getting to know a family—all of the members. Even better is the chance to revisit familymembers as the other characters explore their story. So as a writer, I loved this aspect of thetrilogy. By the time I ended the thirdbook, I’d come to love these characters like old friends... after all, we’djust spent 9 months together.

Another thing about the trilogythat I loved was that the books are coming out back to back, with SEX, LIES ANDMISTLETOE in December, SEX, LIES AND MIDNIGHT in January and SEX, LIES ANDVALENTINES in February. Even better,this means each story features one of my favorite holidays!

So what about you? Are you a fanof trilogies or series stories? What’syour favorite thing about them?

Tawny Weber has beenwriting sassy, sexy stories for Harlequin Blaze since her first book hit theshelves in 2007. When not obsessing overdeadlines, she’s shopping for cute shoes, scrapbooking or hanging out on Facebookand Twitter. Come by and visit her onthe web at www.tawnyweber.com

In December of 2011 Tawnylaunched her Undercover Ops series with SEX, LIES AND MISTLETOE. The second book in the series, SEX, LIES& MIDNIGHT is on shelves in January 2012, quickly followed in February bySEX, LIES & VALENTINES. Be sure tofollow Tawny on her Holiday Survival Tour as she celebrates these threebooks with contests, giveaways and lots of fun. You can read thefirst chapter of SEX, LIES & MISTLETOE on her website, all you have to do is jointhe Reader LoveFest!