Author Spotlight: An Interview with Amie Stuart

21 October of 2015 by Deb Markanton

Author Amie Stuart has graciously allowed me to pick her brain (aka. being nosey) about her life, her writing, and her new book, The Big Girl’s Guide To Buying Lingerie.

AUTHOR BIO:
Amie Stuart is the last of a dying breed, a native Texan, and still makes her home there, where cowboys and music (her other two loves) abound. Growing up, she wanted to be a lawyer and a psychologist. No doubt the shrinks would have a field day with her head, but she’s seen the error of her ways and considers all those other jobs ‘research’ for the writing gig.

She’s a multiple contest finalist as well as a trained contest judge and is affectionately know as The Terminator by her critique partners. She’s written as CELIA STUART for Black Lace Books, & Liquid Silver Books, and as AMIE STUART for Kensington Aphrodisia, she has a short story (PEACHES ‘N CREAM) in Zane’s CARMEL FLAVA 2, and launched Cobblestone Press’s new short erotica line, Wicked.

Deb: Amie, you’re a mom, you have a full-time job…when do you carve out time to write? How long does it generally take to complete a first draft, and then how much more time until it’s ready to publish?

Amie: I’m lucky my kids are grown—my oldest turns 22 this week and my baby will be 20 in December—but I also wrote when they were younger. If you really want to write, you MAKE the time. I missed quite a few of the early seasons of Law And Order: SVU! LOL I write on the weekends, sometimes in the evenings and I do a lot of note-scribbling at work (I’m a huge fan of pen and paper!). A first draft is 30-90 days depending on how long it is. Then there’s edits — which usually involve a lot of hair-pulling, teeth-gnashing and tears and then my editor sends it back to me. I’m kidding. *ahem* anyway…edits can take a couple weeks to a couple months. It really depends on what needs fixing…truth be told, I’m my harshest critic so if it’s going out there into the world, it’s going to be as close to perfect as I can make it.

Deb: Is there anything in The Big Girl’s Guide To Buying Lingerie based on real life experiences or purely all imagination?

Amie: Oh yes, honey! There was a guy. There was the internet. There was heartbreak—and a trip to Target—retail therapy—for some bras that didn’t fit…and probably some Milanos, too. The basic premise is based on some real-life incidents, but the story itself is purely fiction.
And now there’s a book 😉

Deb: What would your main character, Skye, think of you, the author? Would she want to hang out with you?
Amie: She better! I’m hilarious! No, seriously, I think I fall about halfway between Skye and Betti (Blanchard Boudreaux, owner of The Blue Moon), especially when I was younger. These days, I’m more Betti than Skye.

Deb: What do you like most about Rowdy? Would you jump at the chance to date him?
Amie: OMG YES! *ggg* I love music as much as I love books, so dating a musician? Sign me up.

Deb: How do you research your characters and plots? Do you talk to friends, family, friends of friends for inspiration?
Amie: Family? Never…Most of my friends are writers, readers and/or librarians, book bloggers etc.
I have one cousin I’d love to have beta read for me (because she’s a hardcore, dedicated reader), but Bluebonnet and, on the flip side, Horseshoe Bend, are, in my mind, very set in stone, as are many of the characters. I know the majority of the characters in this series, like they ARE family—or better LOL.
I hate to say it’s some organic, ethereal, mumbo-jumbo, but it is (at least 50%…the other 50% is blood, sweat and a sore back from time spent typing) and just like writing a paranormal series, it takes on a life of it’s own. Example: When I sat down to write The Big Girl’s Guide to Buying Lingerie, I knew Jade was the ‘outcast’ but I didn’t realize Nicky (or Jade’s father) would end up being such cool characters (and I have a ton of fans on Wattpad who are still demanding Nicky’s story!). Sometimes they just appear on the page like that—see? Mumbo Jumbo! LOL

Anyway, I’m one of those weirdos who doesn’t really like to talk about her ideas a lot (until I start writing). Now, sometimes, I need a brain to throw plot problems against and then I’ll call up one of my critique partners. But for the most part, I fly solo till it’s done. Many years ago, I read an article where Susan E. Phillips said to, “Protect the work.” Protecting the work can mean a lot of things—it’s literal, but it’s also not literal LOL. It’s about protecting HOW you work or whatever it is that enables you to work/write. I guess I just really took that piece of advice to heart.

Deb: Is the next Bluebonnet, Texas series book planned out?
Amie: Planned out and almost finished. I’ve got about 20-30k words left…once I get this tour in the bag for The Big Girl’s Guide, it’s time to buckle down and finish up Tim and Toni’s story. I’m shooting for a January release, but I may push it to February to give myself some breathing room with the holidays and all.

Amie: BONUS NOTE: I really do wish there was a Mae’s Café. It’s hard to find authentic, southern, homestyle cooking!

Where to Stalk Amie:

Related Posts:

Contest:  The Big Girl’s Guide to Buying Lingerie blog tour giveaway

Review The Big Girl’s Guide To Buying Lingerie by Amie Stuart

The Tour

October 12th
–Archaeolibrarian – I Dig Good Books! >> Excerpt
–The Suburban Eclectic  >> Excerpt
–Fiction Dreams >> Interview

October 13th
–Authors You Want to Read >> Excerpt

October 14th
–Got Nikki? >> Interview
–Blushing Babes Are Up All Night >> Review
–Escape Into A Book >> Review

October 15th
–The Book Sirens >> Playlist

October 16th
–Plain Talk  >> Review
–My Book Filled Life >> Review

—

October 19th
–WickedGoodReads >> Review
–Padme’s Library >> Interview
–books are love >> Review

October 20th
–Written Love Reviews >> Review
–Book About >> Guest post
–Southern Yankee Book Reviews >> Review

October 21st
–Becky on Books >> Review
–Xtreme Delusions >> Review & Interview
–23 Review Street >> Review

October 22nd
–Booking It With Hayley G >> Review
–Book Bitches Blog >> Review

October 23rd
–Lindsey Gray ~ Author and Reviewer >> Review
–A British Bookworm’s Blog >> Excerpt