_________________
Q: What can you tell us about Broken Together? I’m excited to say that Broken Together is being released by Wild Horse Press on September 14th, 2010. Broken Together is the first in a three part series of novels featuring a small town called Rebel Canyon where readers invest in the lives of three close friends. Bryn Baxter is hugely successful professionally but when it comes to relationships, let me just be candid–she’s a mess. When her otherwise orderly life falls apart, Bryn gets help from a hired gun, Beck Reynolds. Bryn wants the fairy tale but she doesn’t want to have to think about how to make it all work. So Beck takes control…
Q: What does it feel like to be a published author? Well, as of late I’ve been quoted as saying that writing a book and seeing it through to publication has given me ADD. My little boy has a form of Autism known as Asperger’s Syndrome and we’re very open as a family about his diagnosis. When he heard me telling his daddy about all of the different hats I’m wearing as a writer, he asked for our attention and very graciously stated that “he always knew it wasn’t just him!” He’s the love of my life and I’ll tell you, we just laughed. Then he had me list everything I’ve been doing and wow–it adds up quickly!
Q: What was it like when you got “the call”? I received my first contract via email and it came as a total surprise. I read the email several times, re-read it, forwarded it to my husband and then called him only to have him not answer his work line. I immediately sent out the SOS text message that we have in place for emergencies. Well, it was an emergency! He called and congratulated me and then I called my best friend and first line editor and we celebrated. Then I hung up the phone and sat here at my desk crying like a baby.
Q: How did you know you wanted to become an author? I wrote my first unpublished masterpiece with a friend in 6th grade. Since that time, I’ve always had a story in my mind and something scribbled on paper. Since having a family, my hubby has worked very hard so that I can be here raising our son. It’s the toughest job I’ve ever had but being a mom is my favorite. Unlike when I was younger, I think I started writing to carve out personal time for myself as a way to escape some of the stress in my daily life. Without really knowing where I was headed at the time, I created a contemporary romance with strong fetish/erotic elements. I know it sounds corny but I love “love”. I love the underdog, the person who deals with their own brokenness and finds the courage to make their life happen against the odds, whatever those might be. That’s why I write romance. I really want the happily-ever-after. The Rebel Canyon Series was born on a mountain in Utah. I was hanging out and reading in the lodge at Deer Valley (Utah) while my husband and son were out skiing. I took several books to read for the week since I don’t ski and honestly, each one I finished left me flat. By the end of the third day (and the fourth dissatisfying book), I ran to the gift shop, bought a notebook, refilled my hot chocolate and decided I could do better. Hence the Utah setting for the series.
Q: What’s your average day like? I love to eat breakfast out and can often be found with my parents or one of my girlfriends doing just that. If I happen to be alone, you can bet my laptop is with me. I usually check email first thing in the morning and again later afternoon and I like to write in between while my son is at school. I also try to write at night after my little guy goes to bed and I check email last thing before the computer goes off for the night. I keep my laptop in my truck and if I have a few minutes, I’m usually writing. That being said, close to half of Broken Together was written at our racquet club while my son played tennis!
Q: Do you read e-books? It’s funny you ask because as I was answering the last question, it dawned on me that if I’m not writing, I’m reading. While I love printed books, I do own a Kindle and have made the conversation to an 80/20 degree. On average I read about a four books a week.
Q: Who is your favorite author? Lora Leigh and Maya Banks are two of my erotic romance idols. Anything they write I own. I enjoy Robyn Carr’s books as well (Contemporary Romance). I also read quite a bit of autobiography. On my nightstand right now is Open by Andre Agassi (we both love to hit that fluorescent yellow felt ball). Elin Hildebrand is my favorite women’s fiction author and T. A. Chase gets the nod for M/M.
Thanks for being with us!
Hi BethAnn
I loved the premise of your book & your interview & that was before I saw that you play tennis too. That’s so cool. I haven’t read Andre’s book yet but I plan to.
Tennis & books – what else is there? LOL