Tattered Pages Welcomes Wild Rose Press Author Amie Louellen!

Amie Louellen loves nothing more than a good book.  Except for her family…and maybe homemade tacos…and shoes.  But reading and writing are definitely high on the list. When she's not creating quirky characters and happy endings she enjoys going to little league baseball games and boy scout meetings. Born and bred in Mississippi, Amie is a transplanted Southern Belle who now lives in Oklahoma with her deputy husband, their genius son, a spoiled cat, and one very hyper beagle.

Good morning, AJ and Blog World. I’m so glad to be here today!

I'm so happy to have you, Amie! Tell us how your writing career began.

Once upon a time, my family had the privilege of living in the Caribbean. (Yes, live. Yes, it was amazing.) Since I didn’t have to work then, I ended up with some time on my hands. (After all, there’s only so many hours one can while away lounging by the pool.) My sister-in-law and I used to go to the local used book store in town. She found a copy of Megan McKinley’s Till Dawn Tames the Night there and said I had to read it. She was right, and I’m glad I did. After that, I kept telling her, “We can write a book like this.” And we did. I admit our first book together holds a special place in my heart, I don’t think it will ever be publication-worthy. But it started the journey. I write solo now, but I still have the copy of Till Dawn Tames the Night. <g>

Have you ever considered self-publication?

I have, but not for my romance works. I have a children’s book that is near and dear to my heart. I wrote it for my son, who is amazing, but severely ADHD. (Yes, there are severities in the condition). He’s had a tough time adjusting to the world around him. My biggest concern is making sure his self-esteem has not been damaged by those who don’t understand the condition, and those who think they understand it as well. It’s a book for kids who suffer from ADHD. It lets them know how special they are, that nothing’s wrong with them, and they are perfect the way God made them. (Now will somebody give me a hand down from my soapbox? J

What are you working on now?

A week or so ago, TWRP editors gave a call out for a new series of Champagne Roses called the Millionaire’s Club. Old school romances where the nanny/housekeeper/babysitter/secretary gets the millionaire. LOVE these kinds of stories. I have two that I’m hoping to submit in the next couple of weeks. Just as soon as I can rescue one of them from the A drive! LOL

 After finishing a manuscript, do you take some time off or dive right into the next story?

I always say I’m going to take a break, but I usually just dive right back into something. I have a “To Do” list posted at my computer. I sometimes veer off course, but it helps me remember what my plans are and gives me a direction to dive towards.

What are you reading now?

I just got a copy of Sarah Grimm’s Not Without Risk in the mail yesterday. (Thanks, Sarah). Just haven’t sat down long enough to actually start it. Probably tonight. Then I have a loooooong list of books I need to read by the great authors of TWRP. Including one I featured on my blog recently. J

Who is the one person that most influenced your life?

Do I really have to pick just one? I have three very dear friends who are always there for me. Michele Bardsley who has always been an inspiration to me ever since we met—back eons ago before either one of us published. Laura Marie Altom, who is so very supportive and somehow finds the time to answer my emails even though I know she’s incredibly busy with her own writing career. And Karen Crane (who also writes as Karen Toller Whittenberg) because she has always believed in me, even when I didn’t believe in myself. It’s hard to beat friends like them.

Does your husband/significant other read your work? What’s their reaction?

My husband has been going around telling everyone he’s my inspiration. I told him that he might want to read the book before saying that. (After all, he’s not a green-eyed construction worker from Vegas.)  But hey, if makes him feel manly…What’s really going to be funny is when one of his co-workers actually reads it. Maybe hubby will see what it’s all about after that. Probably not! <g>

What are your hobbies?

I love to read, cross-stitch, watch my “boys” play sports, piddle with paint, scrapbook, and garden. Pretty much anything that can get me out of housework.

 Any pets?

We have a really fat beagle named Ammo and a geriatric cat named Cheng. But I keep telling the boys that as soon as the little one goes to college I’m buying a poodle. They think I’m kidding. Since he’s just in the fourth grade, they’ll have to wait a few more years before they find out how serious I am.

Thanks again, AJ for allowing me to hijack your blog today. My pleasure, Amie!

Please keep reading below for the blurb and excerpt to Amie's latest novel, Brodie's Bride, which releases June 24th from The Wild Rose Press, and has one of the most beautiful covers I've ever seen. Whoo Hoo!

Waking up next to a beautiful golden-haired stranger isn’t the worst thing that has ever happened to Brodie Harper, but staying in a fake marriage in order to gain a new construction contract could very well be.

Savanna Morgan just wanted a way out of an engagement to a man she didn’t love.  Marrying Brodie seemed liked the perfect answer at the time.  Less perfect the next morning when she finds herself disowned by her father and flat broke.  Now she must make it through the weekend. Monday they can get it all annulled and forget it ever happened.

The real problem may be keeping their hands off each other until then.

Excerpt--

 “Married,” the official supplied with a happy nod.

For the first time since the blonde had screamed and set off the pounding in his head, Brodie noticed the band that circled the fourth finger of his left hand. Married. Images of a scarlet chapel and gold rings flitted through his mind. Lost in the fog of straight shots of tequila, the whole ordeal seemed liked a dream. But if what the man said was true...

Holy heaven. The last time Brodie had gotten drunk had been the day his grandfather died. Then, he’d only acquired a tattoo, but this time... Married? And to a hooker? A gorgeous hooker. An expensive hooker by the depleted state of his wallet, but a hooker none-the-less.

“Where’s my dress?”

Brodie half-turned as his hooker-bride stumped down the stairs, her naked glory covered by the rumpled satin sheet. One red, high-rise pump was missing.

“I wouldn’t know,” he replied, his headache tripling.

“You took it off. You find it.” She punched him hard in the chest with one red lacquered fingernail.

“You want it. You find it,” he countered.

“That dress was an Armani. And you—”

Brodie leaned away from the blonde and closer to the man behind the counter. “Are you sure we’re married?”

“Quite certain.”

“Married?” she squeaked.

“One hundred percent sure?” Brodie added.

“It was a lovely ceremony.”

“Married?”

Damn, Brodie thought. He was too nice of a guy, but he couldn’t stand the panic he heard in her voice. He faced her and took her left hand in his own, turning them both so she could see their identical rings. “Seems we tied the knot last night, sunshine.”

Contact Amie on the web at:

http://www.amielouellen.com/

http://amielouellen.wordpress.com/

www.twitter.com/AmieLouellen

amie louellen--author FaceBook