Interview with romance novelist Andrea Stein

Today's guest is romance novelist Andrea Stein. She's in the midst of a virtual book tour for her New England-based novel Rough Harbor. 

Andrea will be awarding a $50 gift card (winner's choice of Starbucks, Amazon, or Walmart), to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour, so you want to make sure to leave an e-mail address with a comment below if you want to be entered for a chance to win. And if you want more chances to win, you can visit other blog stops on her tour and leave other comments.

Bio:

Hi, I’m, Andrea Stein an author, mother, wife and blogger and a certified mom-chauffeur. I have been scribbling stories for as long as I can remember, including my first adventure story, inspired by an obsession with Out of Africa (book, movie, and biography) about a young girl stranded in Kenya. It was serial fiction handwritten, given to my sister, who couldn’t read my handwriting. That story dies after one installment, but the next year I got a word processor (not a computer, but an ACTUAL WORD PROCESSOR) that showed about twenty lines of text at a time. This was before laptops were widely available and this allowed me to be able to type to my heart’s content in the privacy of my own room. Which I did. I think I spent the time writing stories about my “frenemies” to amuse myself. I also listened to a lot of the Cure and New Wave music. I have since moved on to a happier place.

Even though I read lots of different types of books, I write romance novels with a twist. More like contemporary romance than romantic suspense (I don’t write about serial killers or FBI agents) but I usually like to include a puzzle or mystery for my hero and heroine to solve.

Rough Harbor is my second novel, set in a small New England town. Coming soon is Ivy Cottage, also set in a small New England town on a river.

Other than writing I spend most of my time reading, watching TV, cooking, cleaning, taking care of kids, trying to keep the house clean and folding laundry. I love Twizzlers, chocolate and shows on the WB. For me, reading has always been an escape, a way to escape the ordinary and dive into a world that feels real – but with all of the ‘boring’ parts edited out.

As for the rest of my life, I grew up on Long Island, spent a lot of vacations in small New England towns, went to college in New York City, married by high school sweetheart, worked, had kids, stopped working, and kept on writing. Now I live in rural New Jersey (yes, there is such a thing), and though I don’t own any horses, I do have a barn, which I share with squirrels.

There’s something successful writers always tell new writers about their secret to success. Just do it…Bum Glue…write 1ooo words a day…write for two hours a day….Keep writing. And they’re right. I got more successful with my writing when I started to do it consistently. I don’t write every day, but I shoot for five days a week. This means that the words and pages pile up — and I have stories to shape, make and mold…and share.

I hope you enjoy my books, currently available at www.amazon.com

Links:

www.Andreasteinbooks.com

http://www.facebook.com/AndreaSteinBooks

https://twitter.com/andreasteinbook

Welcome, Andrea. Please tell us about your current release.

Rough Harbor is the story of the love that got away. When theyw ere teenagers, Noah and Caitlyn shared a passionate summer that ended in tragedy. Caitlyn pushed Noah away and they went their separate ways. Ten years later, they’ve both returned to their hometown of Queensbay where they’ve found that while time may have changed them, it hasn’t changed what they felt for each other. But unresolved questions about the long ago tragedy may just keep them apart.

What inspired you to write this book?

I had the vision for the heroine, Caitlyn for a long time, plus the setting is inspired by the beautiful area where I grew up, which is on the North Shore of Long Island. I love writing about the water and small towns.

Excerpt:

Noah leaned in closer, his lips hovering above hers, his arms moving around her, pulling her closer to him, so he could feel his body next to hers, feel the swell of her breasts, see every freckle on her nose.

“I have people for that,” he murmured, letting his lips feather across her. Her eyes opened wide, and he knew that she was feeling, that he had gotten to her.

“Noah…” It was more of a moan than a whisper.

“Shh, I know you’re not after my money. Just shut up and let me…”

Kiss you. And he did, their lips touching. Softly at first, so he could taste her, smell her perfume, something spicy, and her shampoo, something fruity. She moved in his arms – not away, but closer – and he took that for an invitation, an invitation that his attentions were wanted.

He deepened his kiss, letting his tongue explore, letting his hands slide from her shoulders down to the V of her neck, skimming lightly over her breasts, feeling the fabric of her bra, then the hard nub of her nipples which sprang to attention under his caress.

She moaned, answering his kiss, her hands running through his hair, pulling him towards her as their embrace deepened, grew more passionate, his hands roaming feeling, possessing her.

Until. “Stop, Noah, stop.” She broke free, her head moving away from him, her hands still twined in his hair. She lowered her eyes and leaned against his shoulders.

“What, what is it?” His voice was husky, raspy, and he could feel desire, the sheer wanting of her flowing through him, all the way through it. She felt it, too, and took a step back.

“Noah, you’re the boss. And we barely know each other. I mean now. I just can’t get involved right now.”

What exciting story are you working on next?

The Ivy Cottage, which will be out in January 2013. It’s the story of Noah’s best friend, Chase and Phoebe, who inherits her famous aunt’s house in Queensbay. Chase and Phoebe’s grandparents were a notorious couple, the affair of the century and when they meet, sparks fly. But is this love real – and lasting – this time around, or is just a publicity stunt?

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

As long as I can remember. I started out writing fairy tale fantasy (lots of knights, witches and stuff) when I was in elementary school. I used to write in journals, which I have but can’t bear to read. And then as I got older I started to write more romance/suspense type of things.

Do you write full-time? If so, what's your work day like? If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find time to write?

About twice a week I write full time – All the kids are in school and get a solid three to four hours of writing time in. Three other days, I work at night after everyone is in bed. I am not really a night owl or a morning person, so in the near future I am working on getting to more ‘normal’ writing day.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

I can only write on a computer. I have terrible handwriting and if I write anything longhand, even a few notes or a scene, it’s basically worthless because I can’t even read it. And I play music, but it’s to block out everything else, not because I need the music for inspiration.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

A writer. An antique dealer, and then an archaeologist. And then I found out that as a writer you can pretend to be anything you want through your characters – and that it’s a lot less work than actually doing it…

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?

Thanks so much for the chance to share Rough Harbor with you – I hope you all enjoy reading it as much as I did writing it.

Thank you, Andrea. Readers, remember if you want a chance to win a $50 gift card (winner's choice of Starbucks, Amazon, or Walmart), make sure to leave an e-mail address with a comment below. And if you want more chances to win, you can visit other blog stops on her tour and leave other comments.