Interview with women's fiction writer Amy Impellizzeri

Today marks the last stop in Amy Impellizzeri’s virtual book tour for her debut women’s fiction novel, Lemongrass Hope with Goddess Fish Promotions.

During her tour, Amy will be awarding a signed copy of her book (US Only) and a $15 Amazon or Barnes and Noble (winner’s choice) gift card to a randomly drawn winner. To be entered for a chance to win, use the form below. To increase your chances of winning, feel free to visit her other tour stops and enter there, too!

Bio:

Amy is a reformed corporate litigator, former start-up executive, and award-winning author. Amy’s first novel, Lemongrass Hope (Wyatt-MacKenzie 2014) , was a 2014 INDIEFAB Book of the Year Bronze Winner (Romance) and a National Indie Excellence Awards Finalist. A favorite with bloggers and book clubs, Lemongrass Hope was named the #1 reviewed book in 2014 by blogger, The Literary Connoisseur.

Amy is also the author of the non-fiction book, Lawyer Interrupted (ABA Publishing 2015), and numerous essays and articles that have appeared in online and print journals including: The Huffington Post, ABA Law Practice Today, The Glass Hammer, Divine Caroline, Skirt! Magazine, and more.

Amy is a Tall Poppy Writer and a volunteer for the Women’s Fiction Writers Association. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, three kids, and one energetic weimaraner, where she is currently hard at work on her next novel, Secrets of Worry Dolls.

Welcome, Amy. Please tell us about your current release.
Lemongrass Hope is a layered story about hope and choices and second chances that will surprise you – right up until the last page!

But at its core, it’s about a woman who meets two men on the same night – one becomes her husband, and one remains potentially the great love of her life.

What inspired you to write this book?
I came up with the idea for my first novel, Lemongrass Hope, after I took what was supposed to be a one year sabbatical from my 13-year corporate law gig. I had never wanted to be anything other than a lawyer, and so when I embarked on my sabbatical, it took me by surprise that I started to re-evaluate – for the first time – choices I had made and paths I had taken in my professional life. This second-guessing and re-evaluation must have had my subconscious working in overdrive, because while I did not leave the law to write a book, when an idea came to me about exploring second chances and roads not taken in the context of a unique love story, I decided to pursue it.

Excerpt from Lemongrass Hope:
Benton came and sat down next to Kate. Right next to her. Almost on top of her. Benton was tall and thin, and had long hair the color of Autumn. The right mix of red and brown with flecks of gold. She had friendly eyes and a bright white smile and was dressed all in navy like a banker, even though she looked like no banker Kate had ever met.

“See, I knew it.” Benton had said confidently, waving her long, manicured fingers over the textbooks and handwritten notes scattered across the park table, nearly knocking over Kate’s cup of coffee without apology.

“I told my friend last night that you were not a starving actress. That you were an academic. An intellectual. He said that you were too pretty to be an intellectual – that you were for sure, a ‘wannabe actress.’ His words, not mine, - so gauche no?”

Kate laughed in spite of herself. In spite also of having no clue what this gorgeous but obviously deranged creature was talking about.

***

Later, she would enjoy telling the story of how she met Benton in Bryant Park over and over again to Ian. He would say, “Wait, show me exactly how she sat down. And you had to actually push your chair back to shake her hand? And you couldn’t remember me? Not at all?”

Fake pout and then tender, long kiss.

Kate would always shake her head, of course, as incredulous as Ian was that she did not remember him as Benton’s dinner companion at Rocco’s that first night.

Especially since that is the night he had always said that he first fell in love with her.

What exciting story are you working on next?

The novel that I am working on now – Secrets of Worry Dolls – has evolved over the years since finishing Lemongrass Hope, and arises from my love of and fascination for Central America (part of the story takes place in Guatemala) … and also my love for a special gift I received as a child – a small box of worry dolls.

Secrets of Worry Dolls is about two sisters, Lu and Rae, and their mother, Mari, all of whom have very complicated relationships – made even more so by the secrets that will unfold throughout the book.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

Well, for 13 years – as a corporate litigator – I was a professional writer, but I never really considered myself a “writer” until I finished the manuscript for Lemongrass Hope … and until I started actually saying the words out loud: “I am a writer.”

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?
For the last year, I have been writing full-time alongside a host of volunteer activities and my other full-time job: mother of three. I write a little every day, but I try to clear my schedule a few days each week so that I can write for an interrupted 8-9 hours, but I’m laughing as I type that, because that’s almost impossible in the summertime.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
I don’t know how interesting it is, but my kids often catch me talking to myself!

I spend a lot of time thinking about scenes before I actually put pen to paper.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I wanted to be a lawyer AND a writer. But I thought that was impossible. Turns out, I was wrong!

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?
Lots of people ask me how to get a book published and I always say – there are no shortcuts. You have to work hard, put the time in, and do your research. But it IS possible. If you really dream of writing a book … pursue that dream aggressively and persistently! Don’t wait until tomorrow.

Links:

Website | Facebook | Amazon

Thanks, Amy!

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