Our Interview with author Amy Manemann

Welcome Amy and thank you for joining us!  

We have a great interview, information about her book and then a great review to reveal today!

Tell us a bit about yourself:

Do you work another job when you are not writing?

Yes! In addition to being a full time Mom of a 7 and 8 year old I also work part time at a medical office here in town.

What is your favorite thing to do when you aren’t writing? 

Playing with the kids and reading, of course!  

What is your favorite color? Why? 

Blue. It’s a calming color for me and in fact I’m in the process of repainting our bedroom blue. My husband is thrilled ;0)

What is your favorite season? Why? 

Spring. I LOVE watching flowers reawakening after a long winter slumber and to hear the sounds of newborn birds snuggled warm in their nests. The winters in Iowa have been pretty harsh the last few years so when Spring finally comes it’s as if new possibilities are just around the corner.

If you could live anyplace on earth, where would it be? Why? 

Oregon. I had the pleasure of visiting Portland Oregon many years ago and fell in love with the beauty of the land and laid back country lifestyle there. It truly is a beautiful state to visit, I highly recommend it if you’re looking for somewhere to kick back and enjoy the simple things in life.

If you could have any car, what would it be? 

Well I drive a Pontiac Montana Mini Van which suits my family great so I’d say anything that’s full size and comes with a movie player!

Tell us about your writing:

How long have you been writing? Was it a dream, a goal or is it just a hobby? 

I’ve been writing actually since my middle school days when it was easier to withdraw into myself and write about having an awesome life rather than face the awkward trials of middle school. As I grew older my writing morphed from being just a hobby into a dream of some day having people actually read one of my stories. 

How many hours a day do you devote to writing? Do you have a set routine or do you write when the mood strikes? 

As the kids keep me busy and I do still work part time I try to get in an hour of writing a day so I can focus on everything else going on in our chaotic lives. Nothing is ever set routine in our household (unless you’re talking about sports practices!) I typically write when the mood strikes and if I’m busy when that happens I quickly jot down my thoughts and go back to them later when I have more time to be creative. 

 

Is there some place special you like to be when you write? 

One of my favorite spots to write is sitting in bed with my laptop, which typically only happens when my husband is on nights as he’s not a fan of a glowing computer screen when he’s trying to sleep. Another favorite spot is in our living room next to the front window where I can sip a cup of hot tea and stare aimlessly out the window if I get stuck in a spot. 

Do you listen to music or do you need a quiet place to write?

A quiet environment works best for me as I like to be able to block out everything around me and just focus on the computer screen in front of me. 

Tell us about your book:

What is the name of it and is it part of a series or a stand alone novel? 

Deadly Reunion which is book one of the Taci Andrews Deadly Series. This is a planned four book series with book two, Deadly Science, coming out in 2012. 

Where did the idea come from? 

It actually was derived from my own apprehension at being faced with the possibilities of attending my own high school reunion. People always say when you grow up you shouldn’t still harbor old grudges and hurts from your youth but that’s easier said than done. Writing Deadly Reunion was sort of a release for me and though the plans for our class reunion fell through I was able to move past that time in my life.

 

How long did it take to write?

As I didn’t work on it every day (and had multiple writer’s block problems!) I believe it took me around 6 months to complete.  Deadly Science has been a much faster write for me as the writing kinks from my first book have already been worked out and I’ve established an easier writing rhythm that works for me and my family.

What is it about?

Smart mouthed Taci Andrews is an investigative reporter for the Riverdale Times with a lot on her plate. Between receiving a dreaded invitation to her fifteen year high school reunion, her best friend's divorce drama and her own solitary dating status her fun meter is pretty much pegged.

When Taci’s partner goes missing while covering a missing child feature she is suddenly thrown into the story of her career, which oddly enough delves into a past she would rather forget. She soon finds herself squaring off against a malicious class Barbie Doll, the High School Quarterback and a steamy Fireman from her past whose deep blue eyes are still enough to curl her toes.

Concerned about the disappearance of his friend's daughter, Firefighter Tony Parsons returns to his hometown of Riverdale to see what is being done with the case. Having a few connections with the police force he decides to pull in a few favors, running into former classmate Taci Andrews in the process. His last memory of Taci was back in high school when she'd given him a black eye for feeling up her shirt. He had to admit the grown up version of Taci was even better than the adolescent version and when he learns she's covering the story for the Times he decides to tag along.

Despite babysitting three hyped up children, having a disastrous date night, receiving an ominous warning and nearly getting blown up, the sparks that quickly ignite between Tony and Taci are hard to ignore, despite their best efforts. As they delve deeper to uncover the deadly truths surrounding the sleepy town of Riverdale, the old feud that rested between them for ages begins to give way to an unexpected passion.

But new feelings for one another or not they both have a job to do and a missing child to find. Can they put their feelings aside to solve the case or will they be next on the missing person’s list?

Your other work:

Do you have any upcoming projects in the works or other books that have been published? 

Yes! In addition to the second book in the Deadly Series, Deadly Science, being released in 2012 I also have three other series in the works to include paranormal romance, thriller suspense and hunky loveable cowboys so be on the lookout for these next three series!

Where can readers connect with you? 

I am always available on my website at www.amymanemann.webs.com, on Twitter @AmyManemann or on facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Amy-Manemann-Author/198959956834001

Where can we buy your books? 

My books can be purchased in both paperback and ebook forms on Amazon or Barnes & Noble. 

Review of  Deadly Reunion by Stacy Eaton

This is the first book in a series that I know will go far. Author Amy Manemann shows a great writing style and a deeply involved plot in this first book published.

Taci Andrews is a great Alpha female who doesn’t let the Alpha males around her control her or manipulator her into doing the “safe” thing. She has her own mind, and she does what she wants, when she wants and doesn’t much care what others think. Her sharp wit and the banter that goes among the characters is playful and brought many smiles to my face as I read it.

Ms. Manemann’s ability to write a strong character without being over bearing was done very well. She also did a great job with hiding some of the plot twists that came about throughout the story. Her descriptions were well thought out and gave you what you needed without overdoing anything.

I look forward to reading more from Ms. Manemann, especially the next installment of “The Taci Andrews Deadly Series”.

Join Amy Manemann and 35 other authors for the 99 Cent Book Event, in celebration of the release of award-winning,

bestselling author Melissa Foster's 

COME BACK TO ME

Tues., Nov. 1 - Thurs., Nov 3. 

ALL BOOKS 99 CENTS, ebook giveaways, and more! www.womensliterarycafe.com