What can you tell us about your new release, Just Say Maybe?
Just Say Maybe is a sassy contemporary romance set in magical and mountainous Thistle Bend, Colorado. A super-sexy outdoor sports enthusiast literally falls into the path of the real estate attorney he hires to represent him in buying a local abandoned lodge with a shady past. A little mystery is solved, old wrongs are righted, and finding true love turns out to be quite an adventure!
What books are currently on your night stand?
I’m reading America’s First Daughter, a fascinating fictionalization of the life of Thomas Jefferson’s oldest daughter, Martha “Patsy” Jefferson Randolph. My amazingly talented author friends Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie drew the story from thousands of letters and original sources to pen a story that transport readers on a journey from Monticello to revolutionary Paris to the Jefferson White House. I’m learning so much about the enigmatic Thomas Jefferson, his dark family secrets, and the drama surrounding the early days of our nation.
Where is your happy place? Why does it bring you joy?
My happy place is in and around Crested Butte, Colorado, a charming restored Victorian mining town nestled in the rugged Rocky Mountains. I love the area for so many reasons. My husband’s family has roots there, and we’re always welcomed by the friendly townspeople who fondly remember his grandparents. Life happens at a slower pace in Crested Butte, and the natural beauty of the area is simply stunning. In the summer, I enjoy hiking, biking, and back-country four-wheeling in the peaceful, wide-open outdoors. Crested Butte is known as the Wildflower Capital of Colorado, and I’m always amazed at the gorgeous array of wildflowers blooming, even in the starkest environments. Thistle Bend, the magical town that is the setting of my series that includes Should’ve Said No and Just Say Maybe, is based on the real-life town of Crested Butte—population 1519.
What's the best advice you've ever received?
“Think before you speak.” Spoiler: I freely allow the characters in my books to ignore this—it makes the stories much more fun!
What's your favorite thing about writing?
I love when I think I know everything that’s going to happen in a story and, all of a sudden, a plot twist occurs to me out of nowhere. I’m amazed when it fits in with everything that’s come before it and that I have planned afterward. Those moments are so exciting (and few)!
What's the most exciting adventure you've ever been on?
Marriage! I’ve been on all kinds of exciting adventures—flown in a stunt plane, ziplined in the Swiss Alps, snowmobiled on the Continental Divide—but being married to my superhero husband tops all of those experiences. He’s handsome and smart and funny, and he sees the world from a totally unique perspective that makes every day an adventure. There’s a little of him in each of my romance heroes, and our real-life happily ever after inspires me to write the ones in my stories.
What scene in Just Say Maybe was your favorite to write?
There are so many scenes I enjoyed writing in Just Say Maybe. One of my favorites is the first scene where the heroine meets the hero after he gets pitched off his mountain bike while hot-dogging on a ridge trail. The chemistry between them is instant and fun, and I love how the sparks fly between them. Here’s one of my favorite snippets from the scene:
“You’re going to need those brakes on the switchbacks heading down. On the third one, about thirty yards into the Aspen grove, there’s a tree blocking the trail.” Holly winked. “Just in case you’re rusty on your bunny hops.”
Bryce gave her a wry grin. He wasn’t rusty on his bunny hops—or any of his other techniques—and he’d jump at the chance to prove it to her.
Do you have a motto, quote or philosophy you live by?
Always be thankful. I’m a grateful, stop-and-smell-the-roses, notice-the-little-things kind of person. We live at such a fast and stressful pace. I enjoy taking time to reflect and appreciate the beauty in the world, the goodness in people, and all the abundance in my life.
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