4/11/2016

WELCOME BACK AMELIA AUTIN!!

Her latest release, A Father's Desperate Rescue...
is part of the Man on a Mission series, which spotlights a film star in his darkest drama yet.

Widower Dirk DeWinter is a screen legend, but his favorite role is caring for his twin toddlers. So when his daughters are kidnapped while he's on location in Hong Kong, the desperate dad enlists the help of private investigator Mei-li Moore to track them down. But digging up secrets from Dirk's past unleashes something more potent—and dangerous—than either of them ever expected.


Mei-li knows Dirk is off-limits, both professionally and emotionally, still she can't help but fall for the doting father. As their mission threatens to unravel, will they risk their hearts and lives to save the twins—and each other?

READ AN EXCERPT: http://bit.ly/22j9Vy3

BUY THE BOOK: http://amzn.to/22ja3xi



Award-winning author Amelia Autin is an inveterate reader who can’t bear to put a good book down…or part with it. Her bookshelves are crammed with books her husband periodically threatens to donate to a good cause, but he always relents…eventually.


Amelia is a long-time member of Romance Writers of America (RWA), and served three years as its treasurer. She currently resides with her Ph.D. engineer husband in quiet Vail, Arizona, where they can see the stars at night and have a “million dollar view” of the Rincon Mountains from their back yard.


Jan Schliesman: How often do you Get Lost In A Story?
Amelia Autin: Every day. Either reading, or writing. There’s kind of a funny story I’d like to share about getting lost in a story I’m writing.

I was talking with a friend who’s also a fan last New Year’s Eve. We were discussing my November 2016 Harlequin Romantic Suspense (RS) release, The Bodyguard's Bride-To-Be. I was telling her that even though some readers had asked for it, it wasn’t Niall Jones’s story after all (Niall’s the second-oldest brother of Alec and Liam Jones of Alec’s Royal Assignment and Liam’s Witness Protection). I explained that at the time I’d submitted the proposal for The Bodyguard's Bride-To-Be, I didn’t know anything about Niall except that he was a black ops warrior—not enough to write his story.

I went on to say that since I’d turned in that proposal, I’d learned a lot more about Niall when I wrote the manuscript for Killer Countdown (my August 2016 release), which I’d just submitted to my editor the day before New Year’s Eve. (Killer Countdown is Shane Jones’s story, the oldest brother.)

My friend laughed in a humoring sort of way, and when I asked her why, she said, “You talk as if Niall’s a real person.”

I blinked at her. “Umm,” I stammered. “Well yeah.” Then I laughed, too, because she was right. I do think of my characters as real people I only get to know as I write them. So I couldn’t possibly write Niall Jones’s story before I knew more about him. Not just his profession, but the man he is deep down. That’s why almost all my heroes start life as secondary characters in other books.

Cody Walker, of Cody Walker’s Woman à Reilly’s Return
Trace McKinnon of McKinnon’s Royal Mission à Reilly’s Return and Cody Walker’s Woman
King Andre Alexei IV of King’s Ransom à McKinnon’s Royal Mission
Alec Jones of Alec’s Royal Assignment à McKinnon’s Royal Mission
Liam Jones of Liam’s Witness Protection à McKinnon’s Royal Mission
Dirk DeWinter of A Father’s Desperate Rescue à King’s Ransom
Shane Jones of Killer Countdown à Liam’s Witness Protection
Captain Marek Zale of The Bodyguard’s Bride-To-Be à King’s Ransom and Alec’s Royal Assignment

See a pattern here?

Sorry, I got off on a tangent. But that’s what I mean when I say I get lost in a story when I write. My stories are real to me.

Jan: If you could go back and pick a different career, what would it be?
Amelia: Funny you should ask that. I love accounting, which is why I went into that field, and I wouldn’t change that at all. Unless I could have been an opera singer. Then I would have been an opera singer.
The one thing I would have done differently if I could go back in time is, I would have kept writing. I had two books published by Silhouette Intimate Moments in the 90s, and received glowing reviews from Romantic Times for both of them (back when RT was the only game in town for romance reviews). But fear of failure was my nemesis back then—if you don’t try, you can’t fail, right? I’m not afraid of failing anymore…well, not much, anyway.

Jan: How did you know that romantic suspense was your style?
Amelia: I didn’t know. I still don’t. I’m the most surprised person in the room when someone says I write romantic suspense. I never set out to write suspense…it just sort of happened. And I’ll be honest, I’m looking to break out of that mold. Not that I don’t want to write romantic suspense, but I don’t want to be restricted to only writing that kind of romance.

Jan: What do you love most about A Father’s Desperate Rescue?
Amelia: That’s easy—my hero, Dirk DeWinter. I loved Dirk so much in King’s Ransom, he actually threatened to hijack the story from King Andre Alexei IV of Zakhar—not an easy thing to do with an alpha male like Andre. So I knew I would have to write Dirk’s story eventually, especially since heartbroken readers begged for him to have his own happily ever after ending following the devastating loss he suffered in King’s Ransom.
It was a challenge, though. Some readers questioned whether I could pull it off—Dirk had been so in love with his wife in King’s Ransom, you see, and I think they feared a new love would tarnish the old. Diminish it somehow. I didn’t want that. And that’s not the kind of man Dirk is. He truly means it when he tells Mei-li, “Loving you doesn’t mean I don’t still love her. I always will. But there’s room in my heart for both of you. Is that wrong?” The reviews I’ve read by readers whose opinions I cherish have indicated I succeeded…or rather, Dirk succeeded in making them believe it was possible.

Jan: What’s your favorite sports team?
Amelia: Sports? Who has time to watch sports? Seriously, though, I used to be a rabid Chicago Bears fan (football) for years and years—I’d even listen to the games on the radio. And I’ve been an LA Lakers fan (basketball) since the days of Wilt Chamberlain and Jerry West…and that’s a long time!

Jan: Any writing rituals you follow? Celebrate a certain way when it’s completed?
Amelia: I don’t have any writing rituals, other than I keep track of my word count every single day when I’m writing, and I calculate my progress percentage-wise toward the word count I need to reach by the end of the manuscript (okay, I’ll admit I’m an accountant by nature as well as by training).
As for celebrating, my husband (always referred to as Bodyguard on Facebook) and I go out to dinner when I sign a contract or turn in a manuscript, but that’s about it.

Jan: What’s the creepiest thing you’ve done in the name of research?
Amelia: Creepy? I can’t think of anything I’ve done that would qualify as creepy. I have shot a gun, though. And I saved the targets from the one time I visited a gun range…not to mention all the spent shell casings. I still have them. Is that creepy?

Jan Schliesman: Best vacation you’ve ever taken?
Amelia: Probably my most recent one, a fifteen day land tour / river cruise through northern China. I crossed several things off my “bucket list,” including the Great Wall of China, the Forbidden City, and the Xi’An terracotta warriors.
 
Before the China trip it was Yellowstone National Park in the wintertime. I’ve been there in both the summer and the winter, and while both are unique in their own way, winter wins out for me. If you’ve never been there, you should make a point of going—it’s amazing. And snowmobiling is like flying.




Jan’s GOTTA ASK: What is your unhealthiest habit?
Amelia’s GOTTA ANSWER: Moi? Unhealthy habits? Surely you jest! (Sigh. I guess you don’t buy that, huh?) The most unhealthy thing I do is sit for hours at a time, both at work and in my home office, writing. I know it’s bad for me, but I get caught up in what I’m doing and somehow the hours fly by. Before I had knee replacement surgery I’d really pay the price when I finally stood up—my knees would be so stiff and painful! But now I have bionic knees, so…

Then, of course, there’s chocolate. But we’re not going there.

FIND AMELIA AUTIN:

UP NEXT:
Her Colton P.I. (book 5 in the Coltons of Texas multi-author continuity series, May 2016)

A private investigator tracks a mysterious widowed mother of twins in the next gripping installment of The Coltons of Texas series!

Raised in foster care apart from his six siblings, PI Chris Colton knows what it's like to be separated from family. So when a kindly older couple hires him to find their son's gold-digging widow who ran off with her twin toddlers, Chris won't rest until Holly McCay is held accountable. But he quickly discovers that his employers are out to get Holly. And they'll eliminate anyone standing in their way…including the brave woman and sweet little boys the investigator-turned-bodyguard has come to think of as his own! http://amzn.to/1oKuTZf

My 10th published book overall (a small milestone, but important to me), and my 8th in less than two years—Killer Countdown will be out in August. Is this a great cover, or what?

A reporter helps a sexy senator evade a deadly assassin in this thrilling Man on a Mission tale

TV reporter Carly Edwards has the scoop of a century! She's discovered that Senator Shane Jones was diagnosed with a life-altering illness, but she can't help but be drawn to his courage. So when Shane saves Carly’s life from a killer, she resolves to keep her story—and the irresistible politician—alive…


A politician and a media personality are a recipe for romantic disaster. The last thing Shane wants is to endanger Carly. But how can he prevent her from getting close when the very air between them sizzles? As their lives are threatened, Shane realizes Carly's the one woman he wants forever—if he can keep them both safe!


HUGE THANKS TO AMELIA FOR SUCH A GREAT INTERVIEW!!  THE FUN CONTINUES WITH SEVERAL FREE BOOKS UP FOR GRABS TO A U.S. READER WHO ANSWERS THIS QUESTION: Alpha or beta heroes? Or alpha-beta? Which do you prefer? And why?



One lucky reader who leaves a comment will win a copy of A Father’s Desperate Rescue.

One lucky reader who leaves a comment will win a copy of Her Colton P.I.

**CONTEST ENDS FRIDAY, APRIL 15TH!!**


BONUS GIVEAWAY: Copies of Alec’s Royal Assignment and Liam’s Witness Protection (companion books) to the first reader who answers all five questions correctly. (All answers can be found on my website, www.AmeliaAutin.com.)

1)      In what year did I win a Romance Writers of America® Golden Heart® award?
2)      What’s my favorite color?
3)      What’s missing from the cover of Reilly’s Return? (Not as bizarre as Christina Dodd’s three-armed heroine on the cover of Castles in the Air, but still upsetting to me.)
4)      The idea for the opening scene in Alec’s Royal Assignment came from a real-life incident that occurred in what country?
5)      What does Juliana Richardson want her agent lawyer to do in the opening scene of King’s Ransom?


29 comments:

  1. Great to have you back, Amelia, and thanks for all the giveaways!!

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  2. I like alpha men who really are softies at heart. They are the ones who seem more real to me.

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  3. My answers - 2) What’s my favorite color? Blue
    3) What’s missing from the cover of Reilly’s Return? (Not as bizarre as Christina Dodd’s three-armed heroine on the cover of Castles in the Air, but still upsetting to me.) His moustache
    4) The idea for the opening scene in Alec’s Royal Assignment came from a real-life incident that occurred in what country? Yemen
    5) What does Juliana Richardson want her agent lawyer to do in the opening scene of King’s Ransom? Break her contract

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    Replies
    1. 1) In what year did I win a Romance Writers of America® Golden Heart® award? 1994

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  4. LOL, Tammy, I was just going to ask what happened to the answer to #1. You really did your homework! Congratulations, you are the first to get all five answers correct, which means you have won the bonus giveaway - autographed copies of ALEC'S ROYAL ASSIGNMENT and LIAM'S WITNESS PROTECTION!

    Please email me your mailing address at AmeliaAutin@aol.com, and congratulations again!

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    Replies
    1. I was copying it and pasting it so I could have the questions with retyping it and must have missed the first line when I pasted it. Did this on my lunch hour at work.

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    2. Tammy, don't forget to email me your mailing address at AmeliaAutin@aol.com so I can send you the autographed books you won. These are particular favorites of mine -- I love Alec and Liam Jones. So alike, and yet so different. Just as the women they fall in love with are so different.

      And though these books are standalone, they truly go together more than any other of my books -- I wrote them sort of simultaneously!

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    3. Just did email you - cannot wait to get your books

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  5. Also, I like both Alpha and Beta heroes for difference reasons. Alpha's take change. Beta's are more thoughtful.

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    1. That's why I refer to my husband as the perfect alpha-beta man, Tammy. He's alpha in some ways, and beta in others. I LOVE how he's such a good father...that's one of his best beta traits. And he's SUCH a romantic! Far more romantic than I am, actually.

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  6. I like both Alphas and Betas... just enjoy seeing their personalities some to life in their stories and seeing happiness coming their way! greenshamrock ATcox DOTnet :)

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    1. All my heroes are alpha-betas, Colleen -- at least I think so. That means they have some of the good alpha characteristics...and some of the bad ones. SUCH a trial! But then those good beta characteristics kick in, and...well...that makes them lovable.

      So is now the time to admit I love all my heroes? (Sigh) And right now I'm totally in love with Dirk DeWinter (A FATHER'S DESPERATE RESCUE) and Chris Colton (HER COLTON P.I.). Just don't tell my husband!

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  7. Definitely alpha can't get enough of em

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    Replies
    1. I hear you, Natasha! Not sure we would really want them in real life, but they're fabulous to read about.

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  8. alphas; don't read betas

    bn100candg at hotmail dot com

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    1. So what about alpha-betas? I love reading about alphas, but wouldn't want to be married to one. So I tend to write alpha heroes with a few beta redeeming qualities.

      Speaking of alphas, though, my November book, THE BODYGUARD'S BRIDE-TO-BE, has a hero that even the heroine describes as uber-alpha...until she reins in those tendencies in him. He he he.

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  9. I love them both! Thank you for the chance and welcome back, Amelia!

    Kathleen Bylsma

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  10. Thank you, Kathleen! It's great to be back, both on the blog and writing. And I love both alphas and betas, too. The heroes in A FATHER'S DESPERATE RESCUE and HER COLTON P.I. are both alpha-betas. I mean, a hot guy and cute babies that turn him into mush? Babies he'll risk his life to protect? What more can you ask for, right?

    Thanks for stopping by and commenting -- good luck in the drawing!

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  11. While the bonus giveaway has been awarded and the books mailed to Tammy Y, the other two drawings are still open until Friday, April 15th. Good luck to everyone who has already commented and entered!

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  12. Hi Amelia! Just bought your latest this week--can't wait to dive in to Dirk's story! :)

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    1. Thanks, Lara. And you've got a new miniseries starting in July, Doctors in Danger, kicked off by Enticing the Operative. Can't wait!

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    2. Rats, Enticed by the Operative, NOT the other. Blame it on the late (early) hour. I knew I'd typed it wrong the minute I hit publish, darn it!

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  13. The winner of an autographed copy of A FATHER'S DESPERATE RESCUE is Colleen C! Colleen, please email me your mailing address at AmeliaAutin@aol.com.

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  14. The winner of an autographed copy of HER COLTON P.I. is Kathleen Bylsma! Kathleen, please email me you mailing address at AmeliaAutin@aol.com.

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  15. Oh boy! Thank you so so much! Email sent and congrats also to Kathleen on her win! :)

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  16. Kathleen Bylsma, I'm still waiting for you to email me your mailing address so I can send you the book you won, HER COLTON P.I. (AmeliaAutin@aol.com)

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