Friday, April 16, 2010

Friday Friends with Angela Kay Austin


Welcome to Friday Friends with author Angela Kay Austin.

Thanks for being with us, Angela. I know tomorrow is your birthday, so HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Okay, let's get started.

HWH: Tell us about LOVE'S CHANCE and how you came up with the idea.

AKA: I lived in central Pennsylvania for three years, and Love’s Chance grew out of that experience. Although the story is false, some of the events mentioned are not. I’ll let the readers try to figure out which ones.

Here’s a blurb:

To pay back her parents and prevent the loss of their family business, Sinclair Mosley leaves her family and friends behind. Pennsylvania doesn’t welcome her with open arms, but Chance O’Malley does. At the risk of losing everything that brought her to Pennsylvania, including her family’s restaurant, Sinclair must decide if she’s willing to take a chance on love.

HWH: This is your first romance novel. How long did it take you to get published? And what advice would you give to aspiring writers?

AKA: This is my first manuscript that sold, but not my first completed work. My first novel has not sold, yet, but I’m currently working on edits to submit it to a publisher. This novel took me about six months to write. Not because of length or anything, but because of time. I work full-time, and carving out moments in the day to work on my writing can become difficult at times. If I had to give any kind of advice to authors, I’d say: “Write all the time, and tell everybody.” If you don’t believe yourself to be a writer, why would anyone else. Even if you don’t get paid for it, write.

HWH: Good advice, Angela. What do you think makes a good romance novel?

AKA: Developing a strong connection between the story and the reader. If the readers don’t care what’s happening to your characters or that they do or don’t find their happily ever after , then I think as a writer you missed your mark…if you’re writing a romance novel.

HWH: What are you working on now?

AKA: Several different pieces. Interracial romance. Women’ s fiction. Poetry.

HWH: What do you find helpful when you have writer’s block?

AKA: Ice cream, and the Scifi network. I veg out, and forget about the story for awhile. Usually, when I return to the story, I’m ready to type out a few chapters.

Thanks so much for being with us, Angela. Visit her at http://www.angelakayaustin.com/ to learn more about her up and coming books. Leave Angela a birthday wish on Heroines with Hearts today, or on her website tomorrow for your chance to win goodies.

Enjoy the excerpt for LOVE'S CHANCE:

Chance pulled out a chair beside Sinclair and sat. He leaned back and rested his arm across the back of her chair. His thigh touched hers underneath the table. “Your presentation was really good. I think you were the only one who actually kept to the time limit.” He ran a hand across his military hair cut. “How long was Raquel up there? Forty-five minutes.”

She could feel her cheeks redden due to his nearness. “I think so.”

Chance’s look fixed on something across the room; he shifted in his seat. His body leaned closer to hers. “So, when are you leaving? I’ll walk you to your car.”

She followed his stare. Raquel Dickinson, Bakery Category Manager, stalked in their direction. Her broad, angry movements destroyed the effect of the body hugging dress she wore. Reddish blonde hair flowed like untamed fire over bare shoulders.

Sinclair searched the room for her boss, Daniel Houser. She caught a glimpse of his back as he and his wife slipped out of the dining hall. As the breath escaped her, her shoulders slumped. Not so much as a pat on the back or job well done. For some reason, he spent as little time as possible around her. He wasn’t a bad guy, but he definitely was not the ‘go to’ guy in case of emergency. “It looks like I can leave at any time.”

Chance stood, and pulled out Sinclair’s chair. “Let’s go.”

Raquel reached their table before they could leave. “Calling it a night so early?”

He stood between the two women, and reached for Sinclair’s hand to help her stand. “Yeah Raquel it’s been a long night, and I’ve got a meeting in the morning.”

Raquel leaned around Chance. “Sinclair, do you mind if I walk out with the two of you?”

“Of course not. Are you ready?”

Chance released Sinclair’s hand, but walked closely behind. “Raquel, where did you park?”

She snaked her arm around his. “Next to your truck.”

“And Sinclair what about you?”

“I am on the other side of the lot. You really don’t have to walk me all of the way.”

“Sinclair, Chance and I would not dream of letting you walk to your car alone.” Raquel rubbed her hand up and down Chance’s arm, and looked up into his eyes. “Would we Chance?”

Chance stopped underneath the awning in front of the banquet hall. “Sinclair, wait here. Come on Raquel.” Chance and Raquel walked into the night toward their cars.

Sinclair didn’t wait; she headed in the direction of her car. Footsteps behind her caught her attention.

“Sinclair. Stop.” Chance’s voice was stern. He blocked her path. “I asked you to wait.”

“I know, but I didn’t want to be any trouble. You and Raquel…you seemed—”

“We seemed what? If you have a question, ask it.” His stare was amplified by his silence.

She had questions, but they didn’t matter. She shook her head from side to side. “No. It’s really none of my business.”

“None of your business?” Chance walked slow and close.

“No. You and Raquel have your own thing.”

“We do have a history, Sinclair, but—”

Sinclair stopped at her car door. “But it’s none of my business.”

Chance stepped in closer. “What if I want that to change?”

She took a step back. “It couldn’t.”

He stepped back, and stared. “It couldn’t or you wouldn’t let it?”

“Chance, I can’t.” She turned to open her car door. “Thanks for walking me to my car.” She stepped back to open the door, for a moment her body fit into his. She slid into her car, and shut the door behind her.

9 comments:

  1. Angela, thank you for being here on your birthday! I salute you for writing interracial romance. I embrace the genre, but have to confess I feel intimidated by it. How do you approach it?
    Ana

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi Angela,

    Welcome and Happy Birthday! Thanks for joining us today.

    I can totally relate to trying to squeeze writing in with a full-time job. Congrats on "Love's Chance".

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hi Ana,

    First let me thank Toni again for inviting me here today. It's a great way to begin my birthday weekend!

    I think I approach Interracial Romance like I would any other genre. I do a lot of research. For me, that entails asking my friends of other races, religions, etc. a lot of questions. I people watch a lot, too. And, I throw in my own experiences.

    The blend, I hope, creates an interesting experience for the reader. There are also a lot of boards out there dedicated to writers and readers of IR Romance. If you're interested let me know, and I'll send you some of the boards.

    Angela

    ReplyDelete
  4. Debra, who says women can't do it all!

    Angela

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hi, Angela - and Happy Birthday!
    I used to write at the same time as having a full-time job. Maybe that's why, even though I am now retired, I usually do my writing in the evening!
    Good luck with 'Love's Chance'- it sounds really interesting from the blurb and excerpt you gave us.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I'd love to know the resources that are available. Thank you!
    Ana

    ReplyDelete
  7. Paula, it's amazing how some routines are hard to break. For me, I think it'll be hard to give up ice cream as a cure for writing road blocks. Good thing I don't like the sinfully delicious stuff ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hi Ana,

    Here are a couple: http://imrrbookclub.multiply.com/;

    http://richwriters.multiply.com/

    Angela

    ReplyDelete
  9. Debra and Paula, I want to say thank you for the birthday wishes. If you both would contact me through my contact page at www.AngelaKayAustin.com, I will send you both your prizes.

    Angela

    ReplyDelete