A "Magic Moment" with Angela Adams

Today I have the pleasure of featuring Angela Adams, who writes and reviews contemporary romances. Her work has appeared in Romance at Heart, Oysters and Chocolate, and The Long and Short Reviews. In December 2011, Whimsical Publications published an anthology, Winter Wonders. Ms. Adams' short story, "Burgers and Hot Chocolate," was among the collection. Now she's here to talk about her book -- Magic Moment. Don't you love the title? Angela has agreed to answer some of my questions.

Thank you, Vonnie, for inviting me today.  I’m a frequent reader and often a commenter on Vintage Vonnie.  It’s a thrill to be featured. 

         1.   Do you ever dream of writing in a different genre?

Sometimes I think I would like to write a children’s book (but I can’t seem to come up with an idea).  My favorite children’s story is The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams.  I love that story.  Almost all children have a stuffed toy that makes them feel secure.  Although the item they’re holding is just a soft and cuddly object, the security and contentment that they feel is real.  Just as the rabbit is real at the end of The Velveteen Rabbit.

 

2.   What part of the writing process brings you the most pleasure? The most angst?

 

The most pleasure is when I read a scene, and I feel it’s working.  The most angst is the first draft.  When I stare at the computer screen and nothing is coming out.  My mind wanders.  It’s very frustrating.

 

But, once I get the first draft down and start the revisions…I enjoy revising…and, feedback.  I love feedback, positive or negative.  Magic Moment was entered in several contests.  One judge made an excellent case that Chase wasn’t likeable until the third chapter.  I felt Chase needed to be liked a lot sooner, so my first three chapters were redone.

 

Obviously, I had made a good decision because after those revisions, I sent the manuscript to Crimson Romance.

 

    3.   What are you currently working on? 

I started a story about two years ago – more of an “inspirational warm and feel good” not a “Romantic Suspense.”  But, it’s so ironic, I write a few chapters then something happens to take me away from the book – like Crimson accepting Magic Moment, then the edits for Magic Moment, now the promotion.  Hopefully, I’ll be able to get back to it soon.

 

   4.   Tell us about your current release

I started to write Magic Moment about four years ago.  I’d already had the idea for a hero who was going through life believing he has to be the type of person others want him to be, rather than the person he wants to be.  Chase is a man who grew up torn between a self-centered, unprincipled father and compassionate, selfless mother.

Then, a colleague of mine, who also has three children, said she wished that her family could live on only her husband’s income and that she didn’t have to work.  Since she had to have a full-time job, she mentioned some important milestones she had missed in her kids’ lives.  For example, her oldest daughter took her first steps in day care.  She said she would be happy being a lunch mom at her daughters’ school and going to PTA meetings.      

Some of our colleagues scoffed.  I couldn’t see anything wrong with her feelings.  Her sadness over those missed moments kind of tugged at my heart.  Those comments influenced Laura, a woman who never aspired for a high-power career, but a simple life as a wife and mother.

Bringing the FBI into their lives, and sending the couple on the run, I threw in for twists and turns.  My television viewing is basically police dramas and soap operas.  The most successful romances are the ones littered with suspense.

Blurb:

When the FBI brings Laura Roberts – a quiet, reserved bookkeeper– in for questioning regarding activities at the warehouse where she works, an uneasy Laura resigns her job – only to be attacked by thugs.

 

Chase Donovan intends to spend a few peaceful days on his boat getting his head together – and finds a woman being assaulted by two men who say his father told them to do it.

Chase doesn’t want to believe his father could hurt anyone. Laura doesn’t understand why she’s a target. Can they learn to work together to discover the truth – before someone dies?

 

 

Excerpt:

As she opened the cabin door, a pleasant, tangy sea breeze tickled her senses.  Stiff limbs hindered her movements, but she climbed the stairs to the deck.  The sun blazed in the clear blue sky.  The boat teetered, alone, in a vast mass of water.  A brisk chill nipped the air, and Laura hugged herself.

 

“Chase,” she called.  No answer.  She called his name again, this time her voice having an edge.

 

He wasn’t in the wheelhouse.  She darted back down the stairs.  If he had been moving around in the bathroom or “head” as he had called it, she would have heard him.

 

“Chase.” Panic gripped her. “Chase.”

 

Her heart pounding, she ran through the narrow corridor and stopped dead in the eating area.  Propped up on the stool, he was asleep at the bar with a half-filled liquor bottle and an empty glass.  His head rested on folded arms, his breathing deep.  A laptop was also on the bar.  The monitor was dark, but the yellow light blinked.  Laura hit the space bar and print appeared on the screen.  Several windows had been minimized.

 

Clicking on one minimized window, she skimmed the on-screen print and gasped, amazed at the words she read.  She clicked another window and saw a search engine page. Chase had been reading articles on women who had been assaulted.  Her eyes scanned the list of titles.  He had wanted to understand, wanted to know how he could help her.  From what she had observed of Chase in the last three years, she never guessed he had this sensitive, compassionate side to his personality.  Her perception of Chase had been that of a friendly, but overindulged, self-absorbed playboy.

 

Who would have guessed?

 

Blog: http://www.authorangela.blogspot.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/authorangela