1. What is your life like away from the computer? Tell us something about your household. Jazzie, my cat, wants to know if you have any kitty-pusses.
Please tell Jazzie that while I think cats are adorable, I’m allergic. So, no, there aren’t any kitty-cats in my house.
As far as my life away from the computer, when I’m not writing, I’m reading or checking out new books in the marketplace. I’ve had a library card since I was six-years-old. While the card has changed over the years due to wear and tear, I make frequent visits to the library and to my local Barnes & Noble. I’m also a baseball fan and while I’m listening to a game or the sports analysts on the radio, I rummage around on Amazon.com.
2. What authors and genres do you like to read?
I read mostly romance. If a particular book of another genre is recommended to me, like a mystery or general fiction, I’ll read it. But in a bookstore or library, I’m over in the romance section. I need that escapism and happy ending. I sit down with a book to relax, and I need to know that when I’m finished, I’m going to feel good.
As far as authors, I’m a big fan of authors who write series. Two of my favorites are Robyn Carr and Susan Mallery. I love Robyn Carr’s Virgin River series, mostly because the place, Virgin River, leaves me nostalgic for the small town in Vermont where I went to college. Plus, she’s created a cluster of endearing characters that anyone would want for friends, family, and neighbors.
Susan Mallery follows a similar formula with her Fool’s Gold series. I loved her third book in the series, Finding Perfect, since we got to see the teenager from a previous series, Raoul Moreno, as an adult male/hero.
3. Do you enter writing contests? If so, has this been a positive experience for you?
Yes, I do. Two or three a year. I’ve never been a winner, but I’ve gotten such good feedback. I don’t mean “gushy good” as in “what you’ve written is so wonderful.” I mean good as in the comments have been honest and helpful. To me, that’s good. I never enter a contest with the intention of winning--although it would be fantastic. I enter with the anticipation of discovering what others think of my work.
4. Do you ever dream of writing in a different genre?
Not really. While my short stories have been basic contemporary feel good romances, the two novels I’ve written are romantic suspense. That’s pretty much a genre within a genre. But I haven’t had much success with either of the novels. I’m still uncertain if the problem is with the novels or with me, the author.
5. Has your road to publication been a walk in the park or a steep mountain climb? Give us some details?
Well, I guess I would describe the “road to publication” more like curves winding through some peaks and valleys. Although I read primarily novels and I like to think of myself as a romance novelist, short stories--of which I’ve read very few--are where I’ve had the most success. So, although, it’s disheartening to go through rejection after rejection with the novels I’ve written, there’s the excitement of getting the email that my short story has been accepted.
6. Tell us about your current release…or soon to be release.
Whimsical Publications has released an anthology with a winter theme, called Winter Wonders. A collection of nine short stories, Winter Wonders, debuted on December 12th with a blend of authors. Authors like Janet Durbin (If Only), Regina Puckett (Hearts of Fire), Sharon Donovan (Christmas Angel), and Melissa Hosack (Saving Santa) have previous books with Whimsical. Also included in the anthology are Jenny Twist (Mantequero), Jane Wakely (Christmas Hope), S.M. Senden (Till Death Do Us Part), and Paul McDermott, (Long Winter) and me. The unique feature of this book is the variety. There’s a mixture of your basic contemporary romance along with a little melancholy and some mystic flavors.
Can you describe your story for us?
If I had to describe my story, Burgers and Hot Chocolate, in one word, that word would be “heartwarming.” Set in the small coastal village of Magic Lake (I combined my fondness for small town Vermont with my love of the New Jersey shore), Burgers and Hot Chocolate, is about a little girl, her widower father, and a volunteer in her After School Program. Will Keegan just doesn’t know how to let Theresa Reynolds know he’s interested in her. At the school’s Holiday concert, little Kelly does her part to get her father’s message across.
Angela, the anthology sounds wonderful as does the premise for your short story? Do you have an excerpt to share?
“Daddy, this is my Miss Theresa.” Kelly grinned so hard I thought the freckles that sprinkled her cheeks would burst. “Miss Theresa, this is my Daddy.”
When the man stood, my breathing stopped. This was Kelly’s father?
He was tall and muscular, with hair the color of golden wheat. Dreamy blue eyes accentuated an already handsome face. He wore a grey sweatshirt and jeans that emphasized his hard, sturdy legs. He was extremely attractive.
I would be lying if I said this was the first time I’d taken notice of him. I’d often passed this man going through the yard gate when I left the school each day. Sometimes, I had to stop myself from having heart palpitations. Assuming he was a father, I’d categorized him as off limits. Where there was a child, there was a mother and perhaps a wife. I never saw which child belonged to him, but admired a man who handled “pick up duty”.
Seeing him now, I realized the thought had never occurred to me he might be there to pick up Kelly. I’d heard one of the teachers mention in conversation that Kelly’s mother had been killed by a drunk driver three years earlier. I pegged him to be in his early thirties, not much older than myself. Already he was a widower, working full-time and raising a little girl. It couldn’t be easy, yet from my frequent, pleasant interactions with Kelly, he was doing a fabulous job.
“Will Keegan,” his deep voice said cordially.
I looked down at the hand he had extended, feeling my pulse speed up with my sudden rush of anxiety.
“Theresa Reynolds.” I shook his hand, hoping he didn’t notice how clammy mine suddenly felt.
His grip was firm and sincere. If he noticed my reaction to him, he hid it well.
Buy link for WINTER WONDERS is: http://amzn.to/taFg4j
BIO:
Angela Adams, writes and reviews contemporary romances. Her work has appeared in Romance at Heart,Oysters and Chocolate, Whipped Cream Reviews and The Long and Short Reviews. She’s a member of Romance Writers of America and the online chapter, From The Heart Romance Writers.
Angela Adams, writes and reviews contemporary romances. Her work has appeared in Romance at Heart,Oysters and Chocolate, Whipped Cream Reviews and The Long and Short Reviews. She’s a member of Romance Writers of America and the online chapter, From The Heart Romance Writers.
1 comment:
Angela, thanks for being my guest today. Here's wishing you great sales of your holiday story.
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