Welcome Author Amber Leigh Williams

by Jeannie Ruesch

Happy Monday morning, folks! Today I'm happy to introduce special guest Amber Leigh Williams, celebrating her recent May release SUMMER'S HOPE. 

0758220278.gifAmber, welcome to Happy Endings, where we love happily ever afters. What inspired you to write romance?  What romantic genre do you write? 

I always gravitated toward happy endings, even before I discovered that there was a whole genre dedicated to them. I read my first romance at fourteen, Nora Roberts’ Carnal Innocence. Needless to say, I was hooked for life.

I write a little bit of everything. My debut novel is a romantic adventure. I’ve published a romantic suspense, a western romance novella going to print in an anthology this summer, and I just celebrated the launch of my contemporary romance, A Summer’s Hope, on May 27!

Congratulations on your new release! For everyone, here is the blurb for this new book:

Briar has spent half her life upholding the family business. As another summer rolls around, it looks like her luck is running dry and she’s dangerously close to losing the only thing that matters, Hanna’s Inn, her late mother’s bed and breakfast. Amidst deep financial difficulty, a shaky relationship with her estranged father, and a non-existent social life, hope is all she has left.  
Enter Cole, a new guest at Hanna’s. Fresh from the turmoil of a bitter divorce and haunted by his mistakes, he’s desperate for escape. In a matter of weeks he captures the lonely innkeeper’s heart and together they discover a passion as hot as the southern sun and as unstoppable as the bay tide.

Do they dare trust this wellspring of hope they’ve found in each other’s arms?

What is your biggest challenge as a writer?  

Juggling all the stories in my head, by far. There are just so many in there. I’ve completed nineteen romances, but for every novel that I finish I have three more concepts to choose from if I don’t have another WIP lined up immediately after. I wish I was one of those people who could write more than one at a time, but no way! I’ve tried it! It’s crazy!

On the flipside, what is the one thing that gets you most giddy as a writer?  

When I sit down and can write for hours without interruption and be truly satisfied with what I’ve done when I walk away from the computer later on. That sense that I’ve done my job for the day…there’s nothing better. Okay, five star reviews feel good, too. Really good!

If you could possess the body of a historical person for 24 hours, who would it be, when would you choose to do it (in their time), and what would you do?

Elizabeth Bennet. I know she’s fictional, but come on: a day with Mr. Darcy? What’s better than that? I’d probably choose the day he first tells her he loves her. That conversation would’ve gone a heck of lot differently. And, he-he, it probably would’ve defied convention. Glad Mr. and Mrs. Collins conveniently decided to go on an outing πŸ™‚

If you could have a superpower, what would it be and would you use it for good or evil (or totally selfish personal gain for at least 24 hours)?

You mean, besides the power to summon my muse at will? Hm…probably teleportation. I’m terrified of flying. You’d have to tranquilize me to get me on a plane. But I still dream of seeing Europe one day. With teleportation on my side, I could wiggle my nose and voila! I’m in Paris! Squeeee!

What did you want to be (when you grew up) at the age of 6? 13? 20? Now?

At the age of six, I wanted to be Ariel, the Little Mermaid. My parents couldn’t get me out of the pool and I spent quite a few years wishing I were red-headed. At 13, I wanted to be a marine scientist and work at Sea World so I could work with the whales, the dolphins, and the penguins. (Just leave out of sharks! Eek!) At 20, I wanted to be exactly what I am now. I’d just begun to write fulltime and fulfill my dream of writing romance for the rest of my life. My hubby’s a heck of a support system!

If they made a Made For TV movie of your life, who would you want to play you? Would this be a comedy? A tragedy?  

It’d take place in my head because my imagination would make much better television than my real life. I don’t know anyone who wants to watch Amber tap it out on the Toshiba all day, LOL. A new love story would air every week! Right now you could tune into a dark paranormal romance featuring a shape-shifter and a psychic. It’s just starting to heat up too so don’t forget the popcorn!

If you could become the heroine in a favorite book, which book would it be and how hunky is your hero?

I dream of being one of those tough, kick-butt heroines. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve wished I was more like Eve Dallas from J.D. Robb’s In Death series. And Roarke? Rrrrrr! That’s some definite man candy!  

Okay, next question: I’m sending you on a date with the hero character from ANY romantic entertainment – book, movie, TV show.  Who would you want to go on the date with and what would you do (err, PG rated)?

Okay, as much as I love Roarke, I’m going to have to betray him for John Matthew from J.R. Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood. We could be fighting lessers for all I care…as long as he’s looking at me the way he looks at his female, Xhex. Yoohoo! John, I’m over HERE, honey!

Because this IS Happy Endings, I have to ask: What is your favorite fictional romantic happy endings — either from a book, a movie or TV show. Why that one?  

I’ve read a lot of great happy endings. I’m split down the middle. First I’d go with Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy. No matter how many times I read that book or watch the movie, I still get ridiculously giddy and weepy at the end. My hubby thinks I’m nuts!

I’m also going to go with Eve Dallas and Roarke again. No matter how many books there are in the series, no matter how many serial killers or marital spouts are between the beginning and the end of each book, I know at the end of the day that Eve and Roarke are going to be together forever always. And that just makes the reading experience all the more enjoyable! And, sorry hubby, but any excuse to dream about Roarke at the end of the day… Sign Me Up!

Roarke is dreamy beyond belief! In fact, a few friends and I have a long standing argument about who would play Roarke in a TV show or movie.  We've yet to come up with ONE single actor that all four of us can agree on.  Any suggestions here?  Thank you for sharing with us, and I look forward to reading SUMMER'S HOPE.  

Be sure to visit Amber's website at: http://www.amberleighwilliams.com

Or hop right over to The Wild Rose Press to get a copy of SUMMER'S HOPE: http://www.thewildrosepress.com/a-summers-hope-p-1255.html

And for today, we'll leave you with her book video:

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YCXcBs1gImY

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11 comments

Stacey Joy Netzel June 8, 2009 - 5:42 am

Great interview, Amber, and some really interesting answers. I finished Blackest Heart not too long ago and REALLY enjoyed it! I’ll enjoy recommending it to others. I have a couple others of yours to read, but there’s also some other GIAMx2ers who’ve been waiting.

I hope you have a wildly successful release for A Summer’s Hope!

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Silver James June 8, 2009 - 6:52 am

Congrats on your release, Amber! Y’all will have to get in line behind me for Roarke. Sorry. πŸ˜› I’ve long thought about who could play him, too, and have narrowed it down to two actors: Clive Owen and Daniel Craig (if Craig would die his hair dark).

I’m curious as to how you decide your next WIP with so many swirling around in your head? (I have the same problem and I’m running an unscientific poll *wink*)

Thanks for dropping by HEA today! And I love the trailer, btw!

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Amber Leigh Williams June 8, 2009 - 8:47 am

Great to see you here, Stacey! Thanks so much for the praise for Blackest Heart. I love me some Judd and Stella πŸ˜‰

Silver, ah Roarke. Daniel Craig is defnitely an interesting choice. But, in my mind, NO ONE can play Roarke like the Roarke in my head does. To my thinking, that’s the reason why she hasn’t signed a TV deal for the In Death series – because they can’t find anybody suited to play Roarke. Gerard Butler maybe could play him, but still… Roarke is Roarke!

As to your poll, I go with the story that won’t leave me alone even after I’ve put the notes on paper. The more engaged I am with the story, the better chance I have of finishing it and the faster I’ll complete it and go on to the next. So whichever way my heart tugs me, really, is the answer πŸ™‚

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Jeannie June 8, 2009 - 9:23 am

I would guess you are probably right, Amber — it would be near impossible to find an actor who would BECOME Roarke in the way that he’s built into our heads.

Or for argument’s sake, Eve Dallas either. My friends and I have yet to agree on an actress who could play her, either.

These characters are larger than life, it seems impossible to find someone who could fit the role.

While I LOVE Daniel Craig as Bond, I don’t see him as Roarke. Coloring for one, but just not who I see in my head either. I don’t see Gerard Butler, either.

See? It’s impossible. LOL

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Lavada June 8, 2009 - 9:47 am

Hi Amber,
Just popped over and purchased Summer’s Hope. You’ve done an excellent job with the blurbs on it and I just couldn’t not get it.

I have a number of authors that are must buys. Mostly print so I’m looking for e authors as I’m trying to keep an e-book on the computer and someday on an e-reader.

Best wishes for many sales.

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Silver James June 8, 2009 - 9:51 am

Jeannie, I could see either Jill Hennessey or Emily Deschanel playing Eve. But yeah. To get the eyes right (on either character), the hair has to be altered. To get the hair and face right, the eyes would need contacts. It’s hard and I don’t blame Nora at all for not taking that step. All the fans have their own ideas and there’s no way to satisfy everyone.

Amber, thanks for the insight. That’s pretty much what I do, too. πŸ™‚

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Amber Leigh Williams June 8, 2009 - 10:26 am

Jeannie, actually from the start of the TV show Castle I thought the character of Kate Beckett was a lot like Eve Dallas. Tough cop, troubled past. She’s really long and slender and the hair’s right. Unfortunately, as much as I LOVE Nathan Fillian, I don’t think he could do Irish, LOL

Wow, Lavada, thank you so much for purchasing A Summer’s Hope! I really hope you enjoy it. If you like it, I hope you’ll check out some of my other titles. Blackest Heart especially has received some really good reviews πŸ™‚

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Jill James June 8, 2009 - 10:27 am

Amber, wonderful interview and really cool book video.

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Jeannie June 8, 2009 - 11:42 am

Actually, I think Kate Beckett is the closest I’ve seen for Eve Dallas, too. She’s close and she definitely has the “look” I think that could be worked into Eve.

It’s funny how hard it is to put actual actors to these characters! I don’t think I have such a hard time doing this with other books. LOL

So what about YOUR books? If they made a movie, who would you want to star in it?

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Amber Leigh Williams June 8, 2009 - 12:51 pm

Thanks, Jill! I appreciate you stopping by!
Jeannie, my characters are a lot like Roarke as far as casting is concerned. I may start out modeling them phsycially after a celebrity but then they develop their own persona and in the end they’re their own person. It’s really difficult to put actresses in my characters’ clothes. But I always thought David Greenwood from Prime and Bride Wars would make a good Cole. And Clare Danes would do well as Briar, I think. She did the John Grisham movie with Matt Damon and sounded authentically southern.

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Amber Leigh Williams June 8, 2009 - 12:52 pm

Oops, sorry – I meant “Bryan” Greenwood!

Reply

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