Amie Stuart is my author interview today. She is the author of the very first Wicked ever released by Cobblestone Press. The Wicked line is a line of seriously hot short stories. Here’s the blurb for ROPERS RULE:

Betsy Henley has sworn off cowboys for good, and only an invitation from a long-time crush could draw her back in to the rodeo world she left behind. She accepts, eager to find out if Alex Lucero sees her as more than his former team- roping partner’s little sister.

There’s only one problem… Alex is now roping with her ex-boyfriend, who also wants her back. How can she choose between the man she’s lusted after for years and the man she has a history with?

Then again, maybe Betsy doesn’t have to.

She also has several other books in print (see pretty cover art above). Now, let’s move on to the questions….

Q. You have the very first Wicked book up for sale at Cobblestone Press. What made you enter the contest?

A. I think it was actually a combination of things. I really really love writing shorts, in part because you can really let your imagination run wild *g*, but up until recently, it’s been hard to find a market for them. I originally wrote Ropers Rule for Black Lace a couple years ago, but my editor left and the new editor rejected it. I shopped it a few other places then finally gave up. And even though I sold to New York, I’ve really struggled to find balance the last couple of years so one thing I’ve been working toward the last six months or so is having more fun with my writing (and getting back to writing being fun)—Burnout’s a bitch. On top of all of that I have a lot of respect for Sable and Deanna and what they’ve done with Cobblestone.

I think that was a really long way of saying opportunity knocked and for once, I listened LOL

 

 

Q. So, do you have a thing for cowboys? (it had to be asked!)

A. Yes, and it’s really shameful. I’ve even gone to the George Strait Team Roping Classic a few times *sigh*

 

 

Q. How did you end up writing erotic romance?

A. I actually started out writing short erotica (really BAD short erotica LOL), then my mom passed away and I didn’t write for three years. When I started back up again, I found myself writing really hot mainstream romance. I like the combination of sex and a good story and you know, I cut my teeth on Bertrice Small—when I was in my early 20’s it didn’t get much hotter than her. *g*

 

 

Q. Do you write in other genres?

A. Yes, mainstream romance (that has hot sex in it—I guess you could call it erotic romance but I hate labels LOL), and my agent is currently shopping a futuristic. I’ve also dabbled in women’s fiction, chick lit and young adult fiction.

 

 

Q. You have TWO print books coming out shortly. What can you tell us about your road to publication?

A. I started writing seriously, for publication, in 2003. By the time I sold in 2006 (which doesn’t seem like a very long time), I’d racked up nearly 100 rejections on five or six different manuscripts (hey I gave up TV!) and hired and fired my first agent, so I definitely think I paid my dues. I signed with a new agent in March of 06 (after I sold to Aphrodisia), then parted ways with her…a year ago over the manuscript my current agent is shopping. I probably AM at 100 rejections now—or over. I remember being unpublished and thinking how everything would be great if I could just sell a book. And published authors saying, it just as hard on that side of the fence because you trade one set of problems/issues/struggles for another. They were right. If there is one thing I’ve learned in this business, everyone has dues to pay. And I do mean everyone. You either pay them up front or they’ll catch you on the back end.

I’m currently finishing up the second book in my second Aphrodisia contract and honestly I’m excited to not be under contract for a while so I can write without that ticking clock hanging over my head J

 

 

Q. Give us a quick peek at NAILED and MAKE U SWEAT. What are they about?

A. I could just give you the blurbs but I think it’s more interesting if I tell you what the books are really about

In NAILED, Julie Burt is a woman on the run and Wynn Collier is the muscle hired to find her. Okay seriously…after the death of her sister and brother in law in a gas explosion, Julie Burt fears for her life and takes off, making it her business to fall off the grid. She’s convinced her sister’s death was no accident. She changes her name, has a little plastic surgery and gets a job in a small town doing apartment maintenance. That’s where she is when Wynn Collier catches up with her.

Wynn’s not your ordinary hired muscle—he’s the black sheep of the family because he’s not a gun for hire like his brothers. After screwing up a job (with his brother’s help), Wynn has to bring Julie in so he can get back in his father’s good graces. The only problem is, he sleeps with her before he finds out she’s the woman he’s spent 18 months hunting. Hilarity and apartment maintenance ensue.

For what it’s worth, NAILED is much more erotic romance than erotica, with some mystery thrown in for good measure. It was a lot of fun to write but it’s not a story that takes itself too seriously J Julie is a feisty, pro-active heroine and Wynn is…hot and a really good cook.

MAKE U SWEAT is about three women (two sisters and a cousin) who have inherited a moving company! For two of them, it’s all they’ve ever known and they love what they do, but the third, Cousin Carla, hates the business and wants out in the worst way possible.

You know that old adage about opposites attracting? If that’s really true, then Reece Cavanaugh and Jack Saunders are the perfect match. Jack’s as laid-back as Reece is uptight (I can relate which made her fairly easy to write LOL)

Robbie Jo is the good-time party girl who finds herself enamored with Cash McBride, the stoic …wait for it…cowboy her sister hires on. (I think I like this one best and almost wish I’d gotten to spend more time with them. Hmmm I wonder why.)

Carla Cavanaugh is actually the villainess in the first two novellas…she wants to sell her part of the business and get out of Galveston. She’s got big dreams, and her lawyer, Josh Winters is more than willing to help them come true…for a price. Carla’s story was actually the most challenging—she’s such a BITCH in the first two novellas that I didn’t want to turn it all around and make her “misunderstood”—that would have been a cop-out. So, while she still bitchy and kind of immature in her own story, you find out there’s something bigger going on with her and in the end I think she grows into quite a lovely character.

Funny enough, when I actually came up with the idea, it was three guys, but I couldn’t get it to work no matter how I tried. When I tried the three women angle, it just all came together.

 

 

Q. I also found out that you are working on a recipe site. Can you share a quick favorite recipe with us?

A. Ah yes…never enough hours in the day. I’d love to get it up and running when I finish this book J

I tend to improvise /not measure when I cook…so you can adjust the onion/garlic/mushroom to suit. This one’s not for the dieter!

Here’s one from NAILED

Wynn’s Winsome Chicken Tetrazzini

1 8oz pkg pasta (spaghetti or angel hair work fine)

¼ cup butter

¼ cup flour

1 c chicken brother

1 c. heavy cream (though half and half works fine)

2 tbsp sherry

½ cup fresh mushrooms (canned works fine also)

½ small onion

1 garlic clove

2 cups chopped, cooked chicken (You can use canned, the pre-cooked Tyson packages of chicken, or boil chicken thighs off the bone and use the broth, or even sauté some chicken breast tenders up)

Salt and pepper to taste

½ cup grated parmesan (or more if you want—and don’t use the Kraft stuff you put on spaghetti—get the real thing)

1. Pre-heat your oven to 350 degrees.

2. Cook your pasta until al dente. If you use real chicken instead of pre-cooked you can start the pasta while your chicken cools

3. While your pasta cooks, slice and dice your onion, garlic and mushrooms. Sauté until tender and set aside.

4. Melt your butter, stir in flour, salt and pepper. Cook until smooth.

5. Remove from heat and add broth and cream. Return to heat and let cook for one minute.

6. Add sherry, mushrooms, garlic, onion, and chicken. Correct seasoning if needed

7. Add to prepared baking dish (9×13 works great). Top with parmesan cheese. Bake for 30 minutes.

I usually cover mine with foil for 15 then uncover for the second 15 minutes.

 

 

Q. What’s one of your favorite books?

Jude Deveraux’s Wishes is one of my all-time favorite books ever!

Okay, I don’t know about you, but I’m dying to try that recipe. Thanks so much, Amie, for the interview.

Kris

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