Exclusive Interview & Giveaway ~ Author Amanda McIntyre "Rugged Hearts"


Bestselling author Amanda McIntrye has a Sizzling New Series- The Kinnison Legacy! 

Today she stops by FBL for a little Q & A's and if you scroll down you can enter to win a copy of her latest book:     RUGGED HEARTS—Book I:
 

Rugged, quiet, hardworking, Wyatt takes his position as head of the Kinnison family seriously. But the scars of betrayal by the women to whom he once trusted his heart now prompt his stark, simple game plan, and no one in hell is going to convince him any differently. What matters most, besides the welfare of his brothers, is to manage the ranch left to him and never risk his heart again to something as foolish as love—but after meeting Aimee, Wyatt begins to realize that a man should never say never to a determined second grade teacher.

When vivacious, resilient Aimee Worth loses her twin sister in a tragic accident, she makes the choice to live out her sister’s dream of teaching in the small mountain community called End of the Line, Montana, never suspecting she’d meet her Mr. Right in the middle of nowhere—he just doesn’t know it yet. Used to challenges, her spirit shatters the perceptions that have kept him isolated from living life beyond the ranch, proving to him that when it comes to love, the greatest risk is not taking one.
Thanks for stopping by!!
How did you get interested in writing this particular genre?
Thanks Kat, for having me! 
My very first book was a contemporary “rural” romance actually called Unfinished Dreams, featuring a farm foreclosure situation. Growing up in a small town, leaving, getting married and returning to the same small town for the past twenty-some years has also endeared me to the great wealth of stories to be derived from small towns and what I like to call “country boys.” More specific, this series was born of a combination of a short novella I wrote called ‘Stranded with Children” and a holiday article I wrote for the newspaper once called “The Cowboys Christmas.” From there, was launched the fodder for three unlikely brothers, raised by a man who was not their father and how they came to be his legacy and fulfill his dream for the Last Hope Ranch.

What kind of research did you do for this book?
Just knowing the people I’ve grown up around small town life, farmers and cowboys—and men with the heart of a cowboy all of my life. I also researched specific areas of Montana, the old mining towns and how many of them are having to find alternate ways of surviving in this economy. Included as a part of my story are the artisans and beliefs of the American Indian tribes of the area and also I researched cattle ranches and watched a lot of RFD TV. I have never been to a working dude ranch, but it’s on my bucket list of things to do.

What do you think is the greatest creative risk you've taken in this book? 
Great question. Probably not knowing how it would be received in a particular time when it seems that Fifty Shades style books, and YA are the big draw. I am strange that way—I rarely choose to write in whatever the popular genre of the month is.

What was your favorite chapter (or part) to write and why?
There were a number that I really enjoyed, but perhaps the most poignant, where I see a huge evolution in my heroes character and my heroines, is when he is reading a story to the kids who’ve become stranded in a storm at his house. In particular, after the harrowing life and death experience they’d all had earlier in the day. Just seeing how he responds, the realization and growth he goes through in this scene,  mostly internal, but critical to his redemption.

Do you write detailed character profiles before writing, or do you find the characters come to life as you write?
I usually gather a few pictures first and create a collage of sorts. I love hands and eyes on a man, the nuance of an expression. Because most art forms from publishers ask you to give a physical description for use on cover art, I’ve already mapped out a number of details in my mind. However, there are many times when an unexpected obstacle, or twist will come up in the process of writing that may change the character either physically or mentally. To answer, you question, I guess I’d have to say both ways have happened to me, and usually in the same book.

You have a very sexy cowboy for your book covers! Can you tell us how the process works in selecting these gorgeous men for your cover? 
With the Kinnison series I chose the cover art and had it commissioned by P & N graphics, because I wanted a very specific look for these covers. Most generally, authors fill out a detailed “art form” for publishers to work from to create the cover. I’ve been very fortunate in my writing career. The Cover art gods have been very good to me;)

Is anything in your book based on real life experiences or purely all imagination?  
I have been snowed in, unfortunately not with a hawt cowboy, but with children;) But honestly, in this book there was a lot based on my (hopeful) skills in storytelling;)

How do you market your work? What avenues have you found to work best for your genre? There is honestly no sure fire marketing aspect. Its always changing, depending on the event, the number of readers, where your budget is, so many , many variables. There are street teams to help authors get the word out about their books. There are conventions, large and small, where readers can participate in events where they can meet readers and industry personnel. However, what I’ve come to realize is that the BEST marketing tools are the ones that place you in direct contact to the readers. Only then are you going to be able to find out what readers are looking for in reading.

Have you written a book you love that you have not been able to get published? 
Yes, more than one actually, but one in particular, and one of these days I intend to publish it, because there is a readership for it. It simply doesn’t fit into the marketing templates of many traditional publishers.

Tell us what you next releases or what you are currently working on?
My current release was the special e-book launch of Rugged Hearts, Book I in the Kinnison Legacy series. It was released to be made available at the RT Booklovers E-Expo. FYI, it’s launch was not directly responsible for the brief snowstorm in the KCMO area that week.;) The print book will release in late summer amid the release of other pre-holiday books. I am currently working on a number of stories. The second book in the Kinnsion series (Rustlers Heart) and also a short contemporary novella as well as an historical erotic thriller story that I hope to have out this year. I have just released my very first full length book, Unfinished Dreams, a sensual, contemporary rural romance at Amazon Kindle.


Today Amanda is giving away a signed hardcopy ARC of Rugged Hearts to one lucky person leaving a comment on 
"Why you love cowboys!" 
Continental US only, please.



A staunch believer in potential and possibility, best-selling, multi-genre author Amanda McIntyre has succeeded in an office career, as a mother, a newspaper columnist and now fiction writer.
Since 2001, Amanda has enjoyed writing and receiving awards for numerous novels, novellas, short stories, anthologies ,as well as non-fiction books. Her readers and reviewers describe her work as "highly sensual and character-driven" She is currently working on her next novel.    
Visit Amanda on her Website

Buy links for Rugged Hearts:   Amazon       All Romance e-Books 

Amanda’s next appearances:
Lora Leigh’s Reader Weekend, Sept 19-22
Heather Grahams New Orleans Writers Weekend, Dec. 13-15.

5 comments:

Elizabeth H. said... Best Blogger Tips

I love cowboys because I love the way they tip their hat and say "darlin'" or "ma'am" and I LOVE the way they fill out those chaps :)

Thanks for the chance to win!!

ehaney578 at aol dot com

Elizabeth H. said... Best Blogger Tips

And I am so in love with this cover!

Amanda McIntyre said... Best Blogger Tips

Agreed Elizabeth, that tipping the hat move..*sigh
Sahara Kelly at P and N Graphics responsible for that gorgeous cover!!

Kat ~ Forever Book Lover ♥ said... Best Blogger Tips

Thanks Elizabeth... You are the winner of the Giveaway.!!!
I sent an email to you and Amanda.

Elizabeth H. said... Best Blogger Tips

Thanks Kat! I got the email and received the book from Amanda! Thanks again for the great giveaway!

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