TOOLBOX TRINKETS
How did the idea for the
collection come about?
In early December, I was studying the market and
noticing how the Christmas collections had taken off with high sales. Two
random thoughts collided—first, we are writers of romance and, second, an
upcoming holiday is all about romantic affection. What if we could get
something short and sweet ready in time for Valentine’s Day? Each piece would
be like a chocolate in a sampler box, the first one making the reader want to
“taste” the next. After one night of mulling it over, I pitched the idea to
publisher Cynthia Hickey. She posted it on our authors’ Facebook group to test
interest. I think the collection filled in half an hour! She set the length at
6,000 words and then slammed down the deadline –January 1st! Oh my, that put
all of us in a scramble!
Are the stories
connected, and if so, how?
We decided the stories would be linked, and the
interacting characters would be the merchants in town. We designed a town
square where the proprietors could be right down Main Street
What’s the hardest thing
about writing a part of a collection?
From my perspective as a writer, I wanted to
protect the integrity of the other writer’s story. For instance, my heroine Willow
To prevent any inconsistencies, I became the
editor/reviewer for the collection. Our use of names turned into a comedy of
errors, so I focused on that aspect to make sure the right guy showed up with
his correct love interest whenever two story-lines merged. Secondary characters
also had to coordinate – even off-the-page characters merely referred to had to
match. The brick-and-mortar town seemed to become authentic the more we
described it, which was fascinating to watch develop.
How did collaborating
with the team impact you?
By the third story I reviewed (Renee’s), I
realized how sweeping the creativity process is in the discipline of fiction
writing. The imagination aspect was epic, as we started with a rote description
of a town built around a central park. When the authors populated it with
characters that began to share their hopes and dreams, it truly breathed life
into the setting. That sensation was elevating for me, making me want to read
on to know more. By the way, Renee Riva is so genuinely funny, and it leaks
into her writing with understated charm. Everybody in town comes to see her
heroine, Shelby, at the cafe!
What did you want the
reader to take away?
I remember thinking, if we can get this to be
seamless, the reader will be taken away to Sweetwater and anticipate the
arrival of Valentine’s Day just like our townsfolk. We can hold them there
suspended and let them enjoy the romance of it all. Our job was to sweep them
away! Most of the couples end up at Annie Bob’s B and B for a table-for-two
buffet on Valentine’s night. You’d think that outcome would be predictable,
considering the common setting, but the readers are in for a real treat!
Questions will be asked, but maybe not the ones you might expect! This
collection is all about love, whether it lands at first sight or takes a decade
to mature. Romance readers are sure to be pleased with the variety offered by
this sweet sampler.
Please give us a peek
at your story.
Toolbox Trinkets
begins with the quintessential query into love: a newcomer, Willow Stevens,
peeks into the hardware store’s front window from Main Street Willow
What’s the best piece of
advice you’ve been given?
In the vastly circulating sea of good advice to
authors, I think the advice that strikes a resonating truth for me is “write
your next book.” So many writers get bogged down with cyclic editing or endless
marketing. Yes, there’s much ancillary work to be done, but without a
well-written book at the core, it’s all meaningless. Go sit down and write your
next book. By the middle segment, you should be thinking “series” or at least
“follow-up book.” Writing should be a fresh river, not a staccato set of
stagnant pools. Time will go fluid if you devote yourself to the task of
completing a full manuscript. Enjoy the euphoria of penning “The End” and then
regroup and do it all over again.
Where can you be found
on the Internet?
My website has my complete booklist, my new
release blog and a newsletter sign-up button (please do!): http://cindymamos.wixsite.com/natureink
Twitter at @cindymamos
Also follow me on my Amazon author page and on
Goodreads.
Thank you so much, Lena ,
for having us on your blog today! And before it’s too late…
Let me wish you a Happy Valentine’s Day!
It’s my pleasure, and thank
you.
New in town, Willow Stevens arrives at The
Master’s Toolbox hardware store, hoping to get some assistance with a detailed
home improvement project. Caught soldering a seam for his latest metal-craft
project, Evan Masterson soon becomes interested in another type of bond—right
in time for Valentine’s Day. When Willow
When romance flutters down on Sweetwater , Kansas
About the Author
Cindy M. Amos writes inspirational romance from
the heartland of Kansas Kansas
CYNTHIA HICKEY
How did the idea for the
collection come about? Cindy M. Amos pretty
much said it all. It was a very fast turnaround and done more or less as an
experiment. If this set does well, we’ll do more holiday themed short story
sets.
What’s the best piece of
advice you’ve been given?
This is the advice I give all my authors. You
won’t be found if you don’t promote. Advertise, interact with your readers, and
write the next book.
Where can you be found
on the Internet?
Amazon
Whisper Sweet Nothings
Lori Clark had made a life for herself after the
love of her life left her ten years before with no explanation. She'd married,
had a child, been widowed, owned a business...now Drake Langley was back in her
life with an incredible story and professing a love for her that never went
away.How can she forgive someone who broke her heart? Can she learn to trust again and accept the love Drake offers?
Multi-published and Amazon and ECPA Best-Selling
author Cynthia Hickey has sold over a million copies of her works since 2013.
She has taught a Continuing Education class at the 2015 American Christian
Fiction Writers conference, several small ACFW chapters and RWA chapters. She
and her husband run the small press, Winged Publications, which includes some
of the CBA’s best well-known authors. She lives in Arizona
MARTHA ROGERS
How did your story for
the collection come about?
I wanted to write about a bakery and a girl who
had to bake her own birthday cake because her birthday was on a holiday. Added
in the long-time boy friend she’d like to whom she wanted to be more and there
was the story. It was fun to write and add in characters from other stories.
What is the hardest
thing about writing a part of a collection?
Making sure I had the facts right about other
characters and places.
Where can my readers
find you on the Internet?
@martharogers2
Martha Rogers is a multi-published author and
writes a weekly devotional for ACFW. Martha and her husband Rex live in Houston , Texas where they
are active members of First
Baptist Church Houston in August each year, a member of ACFW, ACFW WOTS
chapter in Houston
ICING ON THE CUPCAKE
Lilly and Landon have known each other since
they were pre-teens, but love has been a secret held in their hearts. He plans
a special Valentine’s Day for her as it is also her birthday. However, Hudson
Barnes, the new man in town may be the one to derail all of Landon’s secret
preparations. Valentine’s Day will either be the end of ten years of
procrastination or be the penalty for not declaring his love before now.
RENEE RIVA
A peek into my story Sweetwater Café:
Welcome to the Sweetwater Cafe in the small town
of Sweetwater , Kansas
For Shelby Smith, enough is enough. After six years of working the BBQ Lunch Special under the overbearing eye of grumpy, Great Aunt Beula,
Can Chase Tanner change the direction this city wannabe is heading, and help to heal a family at the same time?
C'mon in for a BBQ Sweetwater Burger and find out!
I can be found on the internet here:
Amazon Central
Renee Riva has been writing stories ever since
she won her first writing contest in the second grade. She combines her
memories of a happy childhood (growing up in a big Italian family with a bunch
of noisy siblings she wouldn’t trade for anything in the world), the heart of a
“hopeful” romantic, and adds a big dose of gentle humor to delight the hearts
of readers. Renee has published two children’s picture books with
Waterbook/Random House: Izzy the Lizzy
and Guido’s Gondola, a humorous ,
family trilogy published by David C. Cook:
Saving Sailor, Taking Tuscany
Before becoming an author, Renee wrote for
Madison Park Greeting Cards as an in-house contributing editor. Her articles
have appeared in Our Family Magazine
and Guideposts. Renee is a touring
author for schools, has belonged to Get Lit: sponsoring authors to visit small
rural schools in Washington State , and has a weekly booth at Market at the
Parkway in Richland , Washington
JENNIFER ALLEE
What is the hardest
thing about writing a part of a collection?
We had a lot of fun brainstorming the name of
the town, then details about different businesses and characters. The tricky
part is continuity. We want to have characters cross into other stories to
reflect the small town community, but have to make sure they're portrayed
accurately. One author, Cindy Amos, read all the stories to make sure nothing
was out of whack. That was a big help!
What is the best piece
of advice you received as an author?
Just keep writing. Careers will have ups and
downs, but no matter what, a writer writes. And I've never doubted that I am a
writer. LOL
For the first 10 years of her life, Jennifer
AlLee lived above a mortuary in Hollywood , California , one block away from Hollywood
Thank you all for sharing this new collection
with us. My readers and I love novella collections.
Readers, here’s a link
to the book.
Sweetwater Romances: A Valentine Sampler
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