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Harlequin Medical Author Amy Andrews with a Giveaway!

Today I’m honored to be hosting Harlequin Mills & Boon Medical Author Amy Andrews.
Amy, thanks for agreeing to do this interview. It's great to have you here!
 Great to be here, Nas. Wow! Your blog has gone from strength to strength!!
Thanks! So we asked Amy her views ...On Writing and Reading…
So, when did you start to write, how long did it take you to be published, and how did you decide which genre to write?
I wrote my first book when I was 22. I scored my first contract at 34. 12 years!!! I always knew I wanted to write romance and the only house I was interested in targeting was Harlequin – why not target the publishing house that had the biggest distribution and readership in the world?? My first book wasn’t a medical but it did have a Dr hero. I’m a firm believer in writing what you know so when I discovered that Harlequin had a medical line I targeted them.
I bet all that juggling of jobs, relationships and commitments gives you plenty of fodder for your books. What sparks your creativity?
Anything can spark an idea. I think writers are great observers aka eavesdroppers. Anything is grist for the mill!
What do you love most about being a writer?
Having my work acknowledged by an established publishing house as being worthy of print. And knowing that I can make a lot of women smile/laugh/cry/vibrate :o) with a couple of keystrokes.
Do you write under a pen name? If so what was the motivation to use one?
I was asked to write under a penname. Alison Roberts also writes for the medical line and the eds didn’t want there being any confusion.
Where do you write? Home office.  Coffee shop etc.
Home mainly. I do like to get out and about when I can and have been known to edit in coffee shops etc. But its editing only – when I’m writing I can't do ANY distractions!!
Do you have a favorite locale or setting for your novels? What is it and why is it your favorite?
I usually set my books in my hometown of Brisbane. I’d like to say it was because of the outstanding attributes of this great city but to be honest I’m such a lazy researcher, I try to stick with what I know! I have set books in faraway places – war zones, tsunami ravaged Pacific islands, Italy, UK – but I feel most comfortable, most authentic, writing about what I know.
Which of the books you have written is your favorite?
Well I know we shouldn’t have a favorite but I do… The Surgeon’s Meant-To-Be bride. It’s in a 24 hour format, each chapter is an hour of the day and the action takes place over 24 hours. I loved writing that book – it simply flew from inside of me and its probably the best black moment I’ve ever written!
On Romance...

Describe the ultimate romantic meal.
A beach, chilled wine, seafood and sticky date pudding!!!
What is your all-time favorite romantic movie?
I don’t have one, I simply can't, there are so many .… okay, if you put a gun to my head I think I would chose Notting Hill but only because the ending stands out as probably the best ending to a romcom I’ve ever seen – I never get tired of that press conference scene!!
What is your all-time favorite romantic song or composition?
Well I love the soundtrack to Notting Hill :o)
What is the most romantic gesture or gift you have received? Ocasionally I get a “just because” bunch of flowers and they beat any expensive showy Valentines delivery hands down
How do you keep the romance alive in your relationship? Sleep. If I have enough sleep then I can be pretty much convinced to do anything :o)
What tip would you give your readers to make their lives more romantic? Sleep. ;o)
No seriously….if you’re with the right person, romance is secondary!
Where is the most romantic place you’ve ever traveled? Italy – no contest!
Tell us something about yourself people may not expect or know. I can do the splits!
WOW! Really?

To finish up, do you have any advice/handy tips/craft skills you'd like to share with unpublished authors?
 Be smart. Do not waffle around as I did. Read heaps, hone your craft, find out what publishing house is publishing the stuff you want to write and target them specifically, enter comps, join a writing group, get a good crit partner (and by that I mean someone who is writing/reading in your genre, do not get a poet if you are writing fiction or a romance writer if you are writing seventeenth century literature!!!), don’t take the easy way out if you know you can do better. Do everything you can to help get you over the line. Treat the time your unpubbed as an apprenticeship and learn all you can.

NOW TELL US ABOUT YOUR BOOK
Just One Last Night is a reunion story (my fav kind) Grace and Brent are old university flames. They meet again after twenty years during a time when Grace is struggling to be a stand-in Mum to her orphaned niece and nephew - a traumatized little boy and a rebellious teenager – and juggle the demands of being an ER doc. Brent has made her complicated life a whole lot more complicated!! But can she resist his pull the second time round?
Thanks for sharing your insights about writing and some fun facts about your life, Amy, it's been a honor having you here.
It’s been fun chatting with you, Nas!
 And I will give away a copy of Just One Last Night to one lucky commenter!

You can read my review of Just One Last Night here!
All you have to do is leave a comment or question for Amy and you'll go into the draw for this book.

50 comments:

  1. Nas- This was a terrific interview!

    Amy- wow, a heap of information here! Sticky pudding is the best. thanks for sharing!

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  2. Nas, thanks for another great interview.

    Amy, you can do the splits?! Impressive!
    I'm interested in the 24 hour format for a book. Haven't read one like that before.

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  3. Hey Summer, a fellow sticky date devotee - yay!!

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  4. Hey Rachel - it was out quite a few years ago now but I think you can still get your hands on it around the ridges.
    Yes, the splits is my party trick :o) Not that you would know it to look at me but I am extremely flexible

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  5. Its going to be great to talk to everyone the enxt few days but just a heads up, my Mum is very sick in hospital at the moment and I'm going to be spending a fair portion of the next couple of days there. I'll check in when I can and pleasse do leave me a comment - I promise I'll get to them all.

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  6. Hi Amy!
    It was so much fun meeting you at RWA national!Holy cow! You can still do a split? I think if I tried I'd wind up in the hospital! And I'm still waiting for a quality book to fly from inside of me. I continue to struggle over every single word!

    You and your mom are in my prayers. Take care!

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  7. Hi Amy,

    We all are praying for your Mum. Sincerely hope she gets well soon.

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  8. Hi Summer, thanks for coming by.


    Hi Rachael, thanks for your lovely comment!

    Hello Wendy, I saw your RWA photo with Amy, wow! you lucky girl, getting to meet everybody!

    ANd friends, just under the followers I have the links for Wendy's Mega Giveaways, please follow the tour for a signed book giveaway at every stop!

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  9. I enjoyed meeting Amy. Thanks for hosting her, Nas. Her book sounds like a fun read. (And I'm ready with Wendy's post for Wednesday!)
    Ann Best, Memoir Author

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  10. Hi Ann,

    Ah, yes, it will be our friend Ann here, who will be hosting Wendy next! And a signed 2in 1 book giveaway!

    Thanks for coming by and the reminder Ann!

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  11. Great Interview Nas! It was nice to learn more about Amy. The book sounds great! I love reunion books, becuase even though sometimes things are meant to be, that doesn't mean they're meant to be any any given point.

    Amy I will pray for your Mom!

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  12. I LOVE reunion stories so can't wait to read this book. I laughed at the SLEEP advice by I think you are so right, especially after you have kids :) In my non-fiction book about breastfeeding there is a chapter called 'Sleep - The New Sex.'

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  13. Hi Lolarific,

    Thanks for coming by, and for the prayers for Amy's Mum. Last I heard she was on the mend, then she took a turn for the worse.

    And yes, the reunion story in JUST ONE LAST NIGHT is full of unexpected twists and turns, you'd love it! Click through to read my review.

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  14. Hi Rachael,

    When I was setting up this post and reading through, I also had to chuckle at the sleep advice!

    Where can we get your book from?

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  15. "Just because" flowers are the best! Nice to meet you and learn more about your books, Amy! :)

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  16. Amy, my dh and I were talking just last night about your party trick! I'm *still* so impressed!

    Really looking forward to reading your Presents Extras too! I'm sure readers are in for a special treat there!

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  17. Hi Nas!! Thanks for asking. My non-fic is available at some books stores in Oz and also online at www.breastfeedersanonymous.com x

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  18. Love your story and glad you did not give up.

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  19. Hi All - back from a day at the hospital. Mum's conditon has stabilised a bit so all your lovely prayers must be helping!!
    Thanks so much for your patience today and chatting amongst yourselves.
    love Amy

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  20. Hey Wendy - great to meet you in NYC!!

    Those books that fly are gifts. It took me 6 books before I got one :o)

    Amy

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  21. Hey Ann. Thanks for stopping by. The book IS a fun read :o)

    Amy

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  22. Hey Lolarific - thanks for your prayers today! I love that excat thing about reunion stories too. That whole Sliding Doors thing.

    Amy

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  23. lol Rachael, I love that!!! Sleep - the New Sex. So so true!!

    Amy

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  24. Hello PK, nice to meet you too!

    Amy

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  25. Hey Robbie!!! You're one of the lucky ones to have seen my party trick :o)

    I'm soooooooo excited about also writing now for the RIVA line. My first book - Innocent Until Proven Otherwise - is out in February. Yay!!!!

    Amy

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  26. Hi Liz - I glad I didn't either!!!
    :o)
    Nice meeting you.

    Amy

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  27. Great interview ladies!! :)

    I love romance too - guaranteed happy endings work for me :) I love that your romantic tip is sleep - so true! And I agree on the eavesdropping kind of research too.

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  28. Another great author to add to my library...Fantastic interview...

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  29. Hi Amy ! Great to meet you and hoping your mom gets well soon!!! And whoa, 12 yrs is a long time.. But as you said, if we think of it as apprenticeship, it really gives a whole new meaning to honing our craft!

    Fab interview, Nas!

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  30. Nice interview, Amy and Nas!

    I hope your Mom is doing as well as can be expected, Amy. It's always tough when someone close to us struggles with health issues.

    That 24 hours book sounds cool. Just One Last Night has a great premise, too. I like stories with annoying teens. ;-)

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  31. Hey Jemi - thats you and me for the sleep club then :o) Any other takers??

    Amy

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  32. I cvan tell you from personal experience ju that 12 years is a very very very looooooong time :o)
    So for goodbness sake y'all out there who are treading the same path be smart about it. Smarter than I was!! :o) Know your target punlisher/s and join a good group.

    Amy

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  33. Thanks LP.

    I loved writing that annoying teen. There's a great scene (even if I do say s myself) where the heroine catches her smoking. I really enjoyed writing that scene!! :o)

    Amy

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  34. Thanks Nas, for another terrific guest author.

    I enjoyed your interview, Amy. Your writing ideas are clear, concise and obviously true and tried. I will be looking up your books. Thank you.
    Manzanita@Wannabuyaduck

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  35. Hey Mazanita - pleased you'll be looking me up :o)

    So, where do I get a duck???
    Amy

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  36. Nas and Amy, what a fun interview! It was so fun getting to know you, Amy.

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  37. Hey Julie - how lovely! Thank you :o)

    Amy

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  38. Thank you, that was a really good interview, I felt I got to know more about you, and I will be stalking you in my google reader feed now too!

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  39. Thanks for another great interview.
    And being able to do the splits is an important skill to have in life ;)

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  40. Hey Alix - pleased to have you as a Google stalker :o)

    Amy

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  41. LOL Lynda - you have no idea how many situations that little trick has got me out of :o)

    Amy

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  42. Nas, this blog post sure took me back. I remember in the late 1970s reading the line of nurse romance books that filled several shelves in our hometown library. I wonder how many readers went into the nursing field as a result?

    I've left a response to your comment on Bird's-eye View. Thank you very much for being a new follower; I am excited about following your blog too.

    Michelle
    http://michellefayard.blogspot.com

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  43. Hi Michelle,

    I remember, and the cover always had a nurse in uniform, doctor with the stethoscope around his neck. I think the famous medical writers from back then were Mary Burchell, aye Amy?

    So true about so many young girls getting direction in their lives and turning to nursing. My teen daughter after watching all these Medical TV shows is adamant about going into Med school next year. Now she devours the Medical romances!

    Thanks for coming by!

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  44. Hi Michelle. Harlequin Mills and Boon first started their romance line with doctor/nurse romances so there is a long tradition of that from the London office. Betty Neels is probably the most well known I think??

    Amy

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  45. And the WINNER is ....

    Ann Best!!!!!

    Ann if you'd like to contact me via my website - click on my blue highlighted name just above this post and it will take you there - and I'll organise to get Just One Last Night sent to you.

    Thanks for coming to talk to me ladies - its been great getting to know you.

    Amy

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  47. Thank you Amy for taking the time out from your busy schedule to chat with us, we all enjoyed talking with you!

    Prayers to your Mum for her sppedy recovery.

    Congratulations Ann! Enjoy your book!

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  49. Amy, writing what you know and following your dream certainly worked for you. Congrats. Hope your book does continue to do well!

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