Interview with Amie Denman—and giveaway!

Last month, I was lucky enough to get to read an advance copy of Amie Denman’s HER LUCKY CATCH. I loved it so much it became one of my top contemporary romance reads for February. Laugh-out-loud funny with a down-to-earth heroine, Her Lucky Catch caught me from its opening pages.

I’m so glad to have Amie here today. Her Lucky Catch is coming out on February 27th, and Amie’s giving away a copy to one lucky commenter, so make sure you say hello or ask her a question!

Welcome, Amie!

1. I love hearing new authors’ publication stories. How did it happen for you?

I’ve been writing a novel in my head, on paper, or with a keyboard for twenty years. My early manuscript attempts look like a technology timeline! Big square floppy disks, zip drives, discarded laptops, sleek thumb drives, and even stacks of paper give testimony to my undying desire to keep trying to find a home for the characters in my head.

Her Lucky Catch was, I think, the sixth full-length novel I finished—maybe the seventh, there were a few forgettable ones along the way…

Although I’d submitted earlier manuscripts to different houses and gathered many rejections, Carina Press was the first and only place I sent Her Lucky Catch.

I had a wonderful gut feeling about Carina before it even opened its doors. I attended the Carina “launch party” at the Romantic Times Convention in 2010 and sat in the back of the room listening with fascination to Angela James and other Harlequin executives talk about the new line. I resolved then to write something fresh to submit. Her Lucky Catch was a bit of a risk for me because it was the first novel I had written in the first person with comic intentions.

Turns out, I loved using that voice. Carina must have liked it, too, because I did NOT get a rejection. Instead, I got a very polite “revise and resubmit” from Angela James. I considered this hugely encouraging and knocked myself out making the suggested changes.

I’ll admit, I was a little less enthusiastic when I got a second “revise and resubmit” but I didn’t give up. I figured if my wonderful Carina editor, Gina Bernal, saw enough potential in the manuscript to ask for another revision, it really was a good sign.

A few months later, I received a message on my answering machine from Carina with an offer of publication. I had to rush upstairs to my computer to read the follow-up email confirming the offer—just in case a prank caller decided to pose as Angela James. I still get a tidal wave of happy endorphins just remembering the moment I got the offer.

And I believe in signs! The day I sent off the second “R & R,” I hopped in my car to go shopping. I got stuck behind a slow boat on a trailer on the highway. The boat’s name? Sunshine. In Her Lucky Catch, my hottie fireman Kurt uses the nickname Sunshine for my heroine. I smiled all the way home.

2. Her Lucky Catch is set in the quirky town of Bluegill. Have you ever lived in a place like Bluegill? Is it based on somewhere you know, or is it purely from your imagination?

Although the name has been changed to protect the innocent (and the guilty—I’m an equal opportunity author), I live in a town that is exactly like Bluegill. It’s a wonderful place on a lake in the Midwest that happens to have a quaint marina and a snazzy fireboat just like in Her Lucky Catch. It’s the kind of town where kids learn to ride bikes in the church parking lot, people leave their houses unlocked, and secrets have a very short shelf-life.

3. You have Her Lucky Catch coming out this month from Carina Press, and you also have a couple of books out with Turquoise Morning Press. What’s it like working with two publishers?

My experience with both houses has been overwhelmingly positive and a great opportunity to connect with a circle of authors and learn from them. Turquoise Morning Press is a smaller press than Carina, but it is also only a few years old. It’s exciting to be fairly close to the ground floor at both places, and I think both of them really want to “grow” their authors. Gosh, I hope so!

My novels with Turquoise Morning Press, Blue Bottle Beach and Will Work for Love (October 2012), are more serious contemporary romances. I’m hoping—fingers crossed!—Her Lucky Catch might have a sibling with Carina in the next year.

4. Her Lucky Catch isn’t out yet but it’s already getting really good reviews. Do you have something special lined up to celebrate release day?

Being featured on terrific blogs like yours is a great way to celebrate. Thanks very much for your generous review and invitation to be here today.

What will I do on the actual release date? My friends have asked the same thing. Seriously, this is a dream come true! It’s tempting to dial 911 and ask for a truck full of the hottest firefighters in town to help me celebrate. Think they’d let me blow the siren?

Honestly, I’ll probably look at the Carina website or Amazon twelve million times then go out to dinner with my family. I believe Jazz would recommend a margarita or two and I know just the place.

5. Your writing style reminded me a lot of Kristan Higgins. You have funny characters but also a lot of poignant scenes. Who are some of the authors who’ve inspired you?

For great stories and a laugh, I go with Janet Evanovich, Kristan Higgins, Jill Shalvis, and Shannon Stacey. For a more serious romantic read, I love Julia Quinn, Mary Balogh, Lisa Kleypas, Susan Wiggs, and Nora Roberts.

Giveaway!

Amie’s giving away a digital copy of Her Lucky Catch to one person who leaves a comment. I’ll randomly choose a winner on Tuesday February 28th!

Commenters will also automatically be entered into my $25 gift certificate giveaway.