FALLING FOR THE FIREMAN - Allie Pleiter, Free Book

Author Bio:

An avid knitter, coffee junkie, and devoted chocoholic, Allie Pleiter writes both fiction and non-fiction.  The enthusiastic but slightly untidy mother of two, Allie spends her days writing books, buying yarn, and finding new ways to avoid housework.  Allie hails from Connecticut, moved to the midwest to attend Northwestern University, and currently lives outside Chicago, Illinois.  The “dare from a friend” to begin writing has produced two parenting books, fourteen novels, and various national speaking engagements on faith, women’s issues, and writing.  Visit her website at www.alliepleiter.com or her knitting blog at www.DestiKNITions.blogspot.com

As an author, I know it takes a lot of people to birth each book. Who were the people involved in the birthing of this book, and what were their contributions?

I spoke with several Fire Departments and Fire Marshals in order to get the details correct.  I also had great fun getting to know the people and places of Galena, Illinois, which is the town that inspired Gordon Falls.

If you teach or speak. What’s coming up on your calendar?

I always list my full speaking schedule on alliepleiter.com, but I’m especially excited to be speaking at NOLA Written in the Stars conference in Shreveport LA in March.  It will be my first time at that event.  April is packed full with appearances at the RT Convention in Chicago, Barbara Vey’s Reader Appreciation luncheon in Wisconsin, The Southern Kentucky Book Fest in Bowling Green, and the Spring Fling Writers Conference in Chicago.

f you had to completely start over in another place, where would you move, and why?

It’s January in Chicago...I’d go anyplace warm in a heartbeat right now!  Between my daughter going to college in Charleston and my next book being set in Columbia, South Carolina is high on my list at the moment.

If you could only tell aspiring novelists one thing, what would it be?

Write.  Craft classes are good, books can be useful, writers groups can be supportive, conferences are good investments, but NOTHING replaces sitting down to write.  Nothing.  Everything else stems from mastering that discipline.

You’ve been asked to be in charge of a celebrity cruise. Who would you ask to take part, and why? (AS in what program, singers, etc. [it doesn’t have to be writing related])

Well, in my case it would definitely be a knitting cruise.  I’d invite all the knitting authors I’ll be interviewing on my knitting blog this year (a brand new feature at DestiKNITions I’m wildly excited about), some of my favorite pattern designers, and maybe a couple of knitting movie stars for excitement (does anyone know if Hugh Jackman wants to learn to knit?).  We’d cruise to Australia--because I’ve always wanted to go (for reasons other than just Hugh Jackman spotting)--and then to New Zealand, England, and Ireland for fabulous yarn purchases.  Oh, and yes, there would be an onboard barrista (or twelve) and an excellent chocolatier.  So, any cruise companies out there listening who’d like to take this on?

I would sign up for the cruise in a minute. I am a knitting author, you know. Tell us about the featured book?

Falling for the Fireman is the first book in what will be a series set around the Gordon Falls Volunteer Fire Department.  Just like my popular Bluegrass Series, I’ve created a small town with a cast of the quirky types of characters readers have come to expect in my books.  Falling for the Fireman brings together a sunny disposition Mom fighting for her son’s recovery from a fire with a grumpy fire marshal.  Like all good love stories, Jeannie and Chad dislike each other for all the reasons they’re perfect for each other.  Throw in a lot of chocolate and a lovable dog, and that about covers all the fun.

Please give us the first page of the book.

Jeannie Nelworth had the faucet handle in a death grip.  It wasn't that the women's bathroom of The Stew Pot restaurant was a tense place, she just hadn't expected her nerve to go out from under her quite so completely tonight.  Somewhere between picking up name tags and the Merchant Association's first agenda item, she'd had to bolt into the ladies room to pull herself together.  She found the bright red wallpaper amusing before, but now it felt loud and suffocating.

Abby Reed was predictably right behind her.  A best friend can usually see through faked calm, and Abby was as intuitive as they come.

  

“I’m okay,” Jeannie lied the moment Abby pushed into the tiny room.

"You are not okay.”  Abby reached behind and threw the door’s small deadbolt Jeannie had forgotten to latch. “I told Mary Hunnington not to ask you about postponing tonight's presentation, that you'd say 'go ahead' when you shouldn't have."

"I like being at these dinners," Jeanie forced a cheery tone, pulling her hand off the fixture to fuss with her long brown hair that didn't need fussing.  It was true; normally, she did enjoy the monthly gathering of businesspeople in town.  The many shopkeepers, hotel owners, and restauranteurs that made up Gordon Falls were her family.  Even the tourists were part of her life here.  That’s why her sweet shop was loved...before.

"Besides,” she continued, “Nicky'd never forgive me for ruining his monthly video-game sleepover.  Much as it kills me, that eighth-grade tornado loves a night away from his mom."

Abby sighed and gave her the look half the other merchants had.  She knew her colleagues cared for her, only now their warm but pitying looks made her feel simultaneously welcome and on display.  "Really, there isn't a soul here who would have blamed you if you missed this one.  You're the last person who needs to hear tips on holiday lighting and fire safety." 

Why bother waiting?  Another thirty days wouldn't change the fact that her candy store and home had burned down a few weeks ago.  "If I stayed home, what would that solve?"  To stay home was admitting defeat, and Jeannie liked to think of herself as the kind of woman who gave no quarter to tragedies like that.  “Okay, it’s hard” she admitted, but even those three words felt too big, “but God is bigger than a burned building.”

“It’s not just a building, it was your home.  And the home you had with Nicky.  The home you had with Henry, God rest his soul.  God is big, but that’s huge.” 

Where can we find you on the Internet?

You can visit my website at www.alliepleiter.com  or my knitting blog at www.destiKNITions.blogspot.com

Thank you, Allie, for dropping by today.

Readers, here’s a link to the book. By using it when you order, you help support this blog.

Falling for the Fireman (Love Inspired) - paperback
Falling for the Fireman (Love Inspired) - Kindle


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