Today, I’m welcoming Amy Patrick to my blog! Not only is she my Golden Heart sister, but she has written a fabulous New Adult novel, CHANNEL 20 SOMETHING. Trust me, I’ve read it, and I would not pimp a book I didn’t love! I read a huge variety of genres both in romance and out, but I’m embarrassed to admit I had not yet dipped my Kindle in the New Adult pool. Well, that’s going to change after Amy’s book. Although, I’m a little worried she’s set the bar too high.
I hope Amy doesn't mind, but I *have* to share the opening paragraph. It totally hooked me. I’m honestly a little jealous I didn’t write it :)
“Fear is a lot like a Mississippi mosquito. It likes to sneak up on you and take a bite when you’re not looking. It starts out small but grows fatter the more you let it eat at you. And, given the opportunity, it’ll drain you dry.”
I hope Amy doesn't mind, but I *have* to share the opening paragraph. It totally hooked me. I’m honestly a little jealous I didn’t write it :)
“Fear is a lot like a Mississippi mosquito. It likes to sneak up on you and take a bite when you’re not looking. It starts out small but grows fatter the more you let it eat at you. And, given the opportunity, it’ll drain you dry.”
Now, let’s ask Amy some burning questions!
1. Tell us about your book. CHANNEL 20 SOMETHING is the first book in my 20 SOMETHING series, New Adult romances about twenty-somethings entering the world of TV broadcasting where what happens behind the scenes is the real news. Here's a bit about the main characters:
22-year-old Heidi Haynes is almost one year into her “real life”. She has her first reporting job, her first apartment, and a comfortable relationship with her college sweetheart. But for some reason she’s not as eager to talk about walking down the aisle as he is.
Heidi secretly longs for big cities, big-market breaking news, and real independence from her way-too-close-by helicopter parents. Problem is, the last time she left the security of home for new places and new people, things didn’t go so well. Disastrously, in fact, and she came running back to a local college and a “safe” boyfriend.
Aric Serrano is definitely not safe.
He’s six-feet-four-inches of missing-Hemsworth-brother-hotness and plans to stay in small-market-Southern-Hell just long enough to grab a cup of coffee and put together a kick-ass “escape tape”. He’ll serve his one-year contract, then he’s taking off for a higher rung on the TV sports ladder—alone—the way he likes it. Then he meets his new co-anchor.
Heidi would be so much more comfortable if she could simply ignore Aric. He’s just her type—the type she’s so careful to avoid these days. But that becomes impossible when she's forced to work closely with him on the weekend newscast. Now the attraction between them is growing even faster than the ratings, and what happens behind the scenes is the real news.
2. What was your favorite part to write and why? I enjoyed writing about different aspects of the TV news career I loved so much, but my favorite part was writing Aric. It's okay to fall in love with your own made-up imaginary guys, right?
3. Totally okay! And, the details of life at TV station seemed so genuine. I’m watching my evening news with different eyes. Just like your heroine, you were a reporter in MS out of school too, right? Does Heidi remind you of yourself in your cub reporting days? Oh yes, definitely. She's not me, of course, but I gave her some of the same experiences and hang-ups. For instance, the nervous stomach issue before going on live TV? Totally had that. And the story about throwing up in front of the governor right before going on air? Yep. I also experienced the same turmoil over covering heart-wrenching news stories and trying to stay professional. Oh, and when I met my husband, he was the hot new sports guy. ;)
4. Rapid fire questions:
Milk or Dark Chocolate - Dark
Favorite Season - Summer
Favorite Color - Red, followed closely by hot pink and orange #girlygirl
Dogs or Cats - Dogs-- I have a Beagle named Duke
Tea or Coffee - Tea. I'm one of the weird ones who never learned to like the flavor of coffee-- even coffee ice cream and candy don't tempt me
Thank you so much for having me today Laura! Congratulations on your book deal. I've read your story blurbs and can't wait to buy and read your books when they're available.
Thanks Amy! And, thanks too for introducing me to the awesomeness that is New Adult!
Amy is a two-time Golden Heart finalist (2013 and 2014) who writes Young Adult fiction as Amy DeLuca and New Adult romance as Amy Patrick. She lives in Rhode Island with her husband and two sons and actually craves the heat and humidity of Mississippi, where she grew up. She's been a professional singer and news anchor and currently narrates audio books as well as working as a station host for a Boston TV station.
1. Tell us about your book. CHANNEL 20 SOMETHING is the first book in my 20 SOMETHING series, New Adult romances about twenty-somethings entering the world of TV broadcasting where what happens behind the scenes is the real news. Here's a bit about the main characters:
22-year-old Heidi Haynes is almost one year into her “real life”. She has her first reporting job, her first apartment, and a comfortable relationship with her college sweetheart. But for some reason she’s not as eager to talk about walking down the aisle as he is.
Heidi secretly longs for big cities, big-market breaking news, and real independence from her way-too-close-by helicopter parents. Problem is, the last time she left the security of home for new places and new people, things didn’t go so well. Disastrously, in fact, and she came running back to a local college and a “safe” boyfriend.
Aric Serrano is definitely not safe.
He’s six-feet-four-inches of missing-Hemsworth-brother-hotness and plans to stay in small-market-Southern-Hell just long enough to grab a cup of coffee and put together a kick-ass “escape tape”. He’ll serve his one-year contract, then he’s taking off for a higher rung on the TV sports ladder—alone—the way he likes it. Then he meets his new co-anchor.
Heidi would be so much more comfortable if she could simply ignore Aric. He’s just her type—the type she’s so careful to avoid these days. But that becomes impossible when she's forced to work closely with him on the weekend newscast. Now the attraction between them is growing even faster than the ratings, and what happens behind the scenes is the real news.
2. What was your favorite part to write and why? I enjoyed writing about different aspects of the TV news career I loved so much, but my favorite part was writing Aric. It's okay to fall in love with your own made-up imaginary guys, right?
3. Totally okay! And, the details of life at TV station seemed so genuine. I’m watching my evening news with different eyes. Just like your heroine, you were a reporter in MS out of school too, right? Does Heidi remind you of yourself in your cub reporting days? Oh yes, definitely. She's not me, of course, but I gave her some of the same experiences and hang-ups. For instance, the nervous stomach issue before going on live TV? Totally had that. And the story about throwing up in front of the governor right before going on air? Yep. I also experienced the same turmoil over covering heart-wrenching news stories and trying to stay professional. Oh, and when I met my husband, he was the hot new sports guy. ;)
4. Rapid fire questions:
Milk or Dark Chocolate - Dark
Favorite Season - Summer
Favorite Color - Red, followed closely by hot pink and orange #girlygirl
Dogs or Cats - Dogs-- I have a Beagle named Duke
Tea or Coffee - Tea. I'm one of the weird ones who never learned to like the flavor of coffee-- even coffee ice cream and candy don't tempt me
Thank you so much for having me today Laura! Congratulations on your book deal. I've read your story blurbs and can't wait to buy and read your books when they're available.
Thanks Amy! And, thanks too for introducing me to the awesomeness that is New Adult!
Amy is a two-time Golden Heart finalist (2013 and 2014) who writes Young Adult fiction as Amy DeLuca and New Adult romance as Amy Patrick. She lives in Rhode Island with her husband and two sons and actually craves the heat and humidity of Mississippi, where she grew up. She's been a professional singer and news anchor and currently narrates audio books as well as working as a station host for a Boston TV station.
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