I would like to welcome Kimberly Lang, Anna Cleary, Kelly Hunter and Ally Blake to What I'm Reading. (Each of there names is coordinated to what each author said)
How did y'all come up with the idea of When Honey Got Married?
You know, I really don’t remember.
It seems like one second I was emailing Ally with a “hey, you still
interested in maybe doing something?” and the next I was saving hummingbirds
from taxidermy, debating ice sculptures, and teaching crash courses in Southern
Culture. We actually have our own Yahoo loop and I’m tempted to go back and
take a look at all those early emails (I want to say that there may have been a
dead body around at one point…) but at the same time, I kind of like the
feeling that the stories were just meant to be.
We wanted a strong theme that would thread all our stories
together. I’m not sure who first
suggested a wedding, but once that idea was floated, it rocketed to the stars
with spangles and sparkles! I’d never
written a big white wedding before, so I was twice as keen to plunge right in.
I’ll never forget that first exciting moment when we asked each
other did we want to link our stories as part of the one wedding. It was like a
detonator. All at once our brains were pinging and the emails were flying!
I can’t remember! I do remember having to be
persuaded to write a story based around the Louisiana Wedding of the Decade. I
had this notion that I didn’t ‘do’ big white weddings – right up until we
started planning Honey’s. Lordy, we spent some (fictional) money and had some
fun.
There was an idea floating about between we four,
that maybe, one day, wouldn't it be fun to write a series of linked stories set
around, maybe...a wedding? I have this
mortifying feeling it was me who got really excited one day and Googled lots of
pictures of Channing Tatum and said, "Hey this guy could be the
groom." And well, from that moment
we were off and running!
What is the best part about working on an anthology?
There’s never a
dull or boring moment. We were all so invested in each other’s stories, and it
was so important that they came together seamlessly, that we were constantly
sending ideas back and forth. The enthusiasm of the others was contagious – and
a little addictive. I miss it now that I’m working on a book without them. It’s a little lonely and quiet…
For me the best part was working with such inspirational
people. Individually, I guess we’re all
pretty creative ladies, but together we were dynamite. The ideas just exploded out of us like
fireworks. Once we’d decided on Louisiana for our setting, and came up with the
name Bellefleur, the population of that small town created itself within a very
short time.
As colleagues for some time, the four of us were already
friends, but I think this collaboration has made that friendship even warmer.
You can’t laugh together till you cry without something happening! I know my respect for Kelly’s, Kimberly’s and
Ally’s talents has magnified a millionfold. I’m simply blown away by each of them.
Reading all the other stories for the first time is
my favorite part of the collaboration process. All the delights of feeding into
other people’s ideas and seeing what they turn into, and none of the work! We
each had our own stories to tell, but Honey was open slather and we piled drama
after drama upon her until that poor bride practically crumbled. And then the
talented Ally Blake brought Honey’s story home.
That question sent my mind to spinning as it kept
landing on more and more fabulous memories of the whole experience that has
been When Honey Got Married... So for brevity's sake, I'll say right now is the best part. This. This is pure delight - having the book
we love so much out there and all that joy in the fact to share between four.
Would y'all collaborate again on another anthology?
I would work with
these three ladies again in a heartbeat, if they’d have me. Aside from their
brilliance and talent, they were also just downright fun to work with.
Tomorrow. This was one of
my most fantastic writing experiences ever. Somehow, the four of us just
clicked. We had so many laughs over the shocking howlers we Aussies were making
about Southern wedding culture—lucky we had Miss Kimberly to set us straight
and show us our inner Southern Belles!
In A Heartbeat.
Done. What's
it about? When's would you like it
written -- Oh, that was hypothetical!
What inspired you to become a writer?
I had all these
characters and stories in my head. It was either become a writer or go crazy.
I was lucky. As a young person writing came easily to me. I’ve
wanted to write my own books ever since I knew how to read. It helped that I
came from a family of readers, and we always had masses of books.
Practical reasons, mostly. I wanted a career that
was fully portable, had flexible hours and allowed me to get creative. Best job
in the world.
I'm not sure I actually had a choice! My one-page fourth grade English assignment
about a day in the life of Robin Hood went for six and a half pages. Thankfully rather than mark me down for
over-writing the thing, my teacher, and the next and the next and the next,
encouraged me. I can hear the other
girls here sniggering that they should
have marked me down. Do I still write
long? You bet!
Who is/are your favorite author(s)?
If I say Anna
Cleary, Kelly Hunter and Ally Blake, am I sucking up to my co-authors too much?
J
Ah. There are so many.
Georgette Heyer, Anita Shreve, Fitzgerald, Ruth Rendell, Annie Proux,
Christos Tsiolkas... And I go through grisly periods of being addicted to crime
and thrillers. Right at this moment I’m finding it hard to look further than
Kelly Hunter, Kimberly Lang and Ally Blake!
My talented co-authors are some of my favorite romance authors on planet.
If I want to go off planet I turn to Douglas Adams. If I want to head for the
Regency period I read Anne Gracie. I could go on…
Beside the three honestly supremely talented witty fabulous women with
whom I penned this tale, I adore the heroes of Dick Francis. I weep at the wordage of John le Carre. John Christopher wrote my favourite book
ever. Joseph Heller delights and awes
me. Of late I've really taken to Rachel
Gibson for her dry wit and hot heroes.
While Kristan Higgins' books are like warm fuzzy slippers...just
heavenly to sink into.
What is the best thing about being a writer?
Reading great books and surfing the internet for hot guy inspiration
pictures because it’s work and totally necessary. Working in pajamas is
also just awesome (for me. Not so much for my family or the mailman…).
Escaping into other worlds. And the amazing learning you acquire
about other places and cultures when you’re researching a book.
It’s entirely possible that I secretly want to be Supreme Ruler of the Universe, or, at the very least President of the Galaxy. Escaping into a
different world – and making it turn out just the way I want it – is hands-down
the best part about being a writer.
Working in your pyjamas.
If you had to write your own biography, what would your title be?
Well, It Seemed Like A Good Idea At The Time: Lessons I
Learned the Hard Way
On the Inside.
Zaphod Beeblebrox Once Had A Twin Sister
I Do Believe in Fairies
Book Description:
Four high school friends and a high
society bride reunite to celebrate the wedding of the year with the sexy,
successful men who steal their hearts and set their skin aflame...
A wedding planner should never mix
business and pleasure, but Grace couldn’t resist breaking rule number one for a
hot night with her high school crush!
Eve hoped to make one last play for the groom-who-got-away…but instead the down-on-her-romantic-luck actress instead found herself in dark corners with his successful, seductive cousin.
The sister of the bride needed a date of convenience and who better than her hazel-eyed, mysterious co-worker? If only Nina could keep her hands off his perfect body until she learned his true identity…
The groom proposed to her eight years earlier, but it was the steamy kiss that Pippa shared with his brother the night she left town that haunted her memories. Now she’s back and sharing much more than just kisses.
Nothing was going to ruin Honey’s wedding to the man of her dreams. And she has just the wedding surprise for her beloved groom!
Book Information
Title: When Honey Got Married (Anthology)
Author: Kimberly Lang, Anna Cleary, Kelly
Hunter, and Ally Blake
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Length: 277 pages
Release Date: May 2013
Imprint: Indulgence
Book
Websites:
Book Website: http://www.whenhoneygotmarried.com
Book Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/whenhoneygotmarried
Book Twitter: https://twitter.com/honeygotmarried
Book Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/whenhoneygotmarried
Book Twitter: https://twitter.com/honeygotmarried
Buy
Links:
Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Kobo
Tour-wide Giveaway
As
part of a tour-wide giveaway the authors are offering a $40 Amazon Gift Card to
one lucky winner! Please see that either the rafflecopter is embedded into your
blog post or that you link to the form using one of the provided means below.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Author Information
Kimberly Lang
Bio: USA Today bestselling author Kimberly Lang believes that romance should have both sizzle and sass. A former ballet dancer and English teacher, Kimberly now does yoga and writes the kind of books she always loved to read. She's a Southern belle with a trouble-making streak and a great love of strong heroes and even stronger heroines. Visit her website at www.BooksByKimberly.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BooksByKimberly
Anna Clears
Bio: Anna Cleary is an affectionate Australian who discovered that writing is an even more powerful means of escape than reading. To this end she writes romance novels that are flirty and funny, sometimes weepy or dramatic, always emotional, and often piping hot.
Anna enjoys her family and friends, adores music and the arts, has an ongoing love affair with Italy, and is kept under constant surveillance by a thoughtful and deeply sensitive cat.
She loves to hear from readers. Write to her at http://www.annacleary.com
Author
Website: http://www.annacleary.com/index.php
Twitter: https://twitter.com/annaclearybooks
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/anna.cleary.12
Kelly Hunter
Bio: Australian born Kelly Hunter is a USA Today bestselling author, a three time Romance Writers of America RITA finalist and loves writing to the short category romance form. Visit her at www.kellyhunter.net
Author
Website: http://www.kellyhunter.net/index.html
Twitter: https://twitter.com/KellyHunterova
Ally Blake
Bio: Australian writer Ally Blake is a redhead, a footy fan, a devotee of the language of Aaron Sorkin; she is addicted to stationery and M&Ms, weak in the face of Italians and firefighters, married to a spectacular and ever-patient man, mum to three beings of pure delight, and a firm believer in love, luck, and fairies. She is also a best-selling author with more than twenty-five fun, flirty romance novels under her belt with over three million copies of her books sold worldwide. For Ally’s take on life, writing, and other fancy stuff, head to www.allyblake.com.
Author
Website: http://www.allyblake.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ally_blake
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/AllyBlakeAuthor
Thanks for having us, Melody! I grinned from ear to ear reading the others' answers.
ReplyDeleteAlly
When Cameron set the answers, I thought all y'all answers were awesome.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the chance to chat, Melody. From reading these answers I think you'd have to say the four of us have achieved a strange and beautiful state of sync!
DeleteBy the way I loved the book, I thought y'all did a marvelous job. It was amazing, you really got a sense of the south. I love that I got to see Louisiana in y'all story.
DeleteTHANKS FOR THE GIVEAWAY AND GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR BOOK! SHELLEY S. calicolady60@hotmail.com
ReplyDeleteLoved the book, thanks for doing the giveawag. Good Luck Everyone !
ReplyDeleteBrilliant interview ladies!
ReplyDeleteJust brilliant :)
ReplyDelete