FUN FRIDAY -- With the Love at First Laugh Crew!

What a fun week we've had here on the Alley!

Ashley chatted about The Writing Rush Hour -- encouraging us to take a breathe and slow down a bit.

Then Pepper kicked of a series she's doing about character arc--which she is SO GOOD at!!

And TODAY I have the excited honor of hosting the women of Love at First Laugh!

About a year ago, God planted this dream in my heart--to step out of my comfort zone and try to start a box set focusing on "funny" romances aka romantic comedy. There were LOTS of box sets out there--contemporary romance, historical romance, suspense, etc. But I hadn't seen any in the Christian realm that focused on romance with a comedic flair.

I was chatting with fellow author Heather Gray about the matter, and she got excited about it!! IMAGINE THAT!! So together, we prayed about it and put out feelers and God brought us a FANTASTIC team of authors.

Since the set is now on preorder and releases March 6th, I thought I'd take today to do a FUN interview of my fellow Love at First Laugh authors --- and TWO of them are fellow alleycats!!!

FAVORITE romantic comedy book
Pepper: "Oh goodness!! AHHH!! Okay....Miss Invisible by Laura Jensen Walker"

FAVORITE Romantic comedy movie
Marion: "My Best Friend's Wedding"

FAVORITE Valentine's Day gift you've received
Laurie: "My husband and I started dating ten years ago this Valentine's Day. I was in a chemistry lab until late, but I knew he was the man for me when a Chewbacca holding roses popped up in my email. I have never felt more known and loved by someone who was "wooing" me."

FAVORITE writing how-to book
Jessica: "Make a Scene by Jordan Rosenfeld"

Romantic hotel room overlooking the ocean -- or secluded romantic cabin in the mountains?
Heather: "Summer? Give me the ocean! Winter? Secluded cabin in the mountains - definitely!"

FAVORITE writing spot!
Elizabeth: "Wherever my five year old can't climb all over me and pepper me with questions about what I'm doing and why. This usually ends up being the dining room table."

Would you rather -- receive flowers or chocolates?
Christina: "Flowers over chocolate, mainly because other people in my house consume chocolate and I'm left with nothing. "

Most memorable date!
Laurie: "My husband and I went to San Francisco, and after exploring the city and eating at these famous restaurants, we stayed in a beach house in this cute little town called Stinson Beach. We listened to music as we made lemon spaghetti with all the doors and windows open. And that glorious simplicity was more memorable than the acclaim and bright lights of the city "

Best piece of writing advice you've ever received 
Pepper: "Write....and remember the reason you love writing in the first place:-)"

FUNNIEST joke you know 
Christina: "When I was a kid I was in the hospital a lot and spent a good deal of time in the blood drawing room. They had a cartoon on the wall of two mosquitoes. One was blown up like a balloon, and his friend said, "Pull out! You hit an artery." I thought that was hilarious at the time, but in retrospect it was all I had to look at besides medical posters. And I was ten."

How did you meet your spouse? 
Marion: "Our parents were church friends, and I used to play in his tree house when we were about ten. Our first date, I asked him out (as he thought I was out of his league so wouldn't), and then I promptly fell into a mountain stream and spent the rest of the date freezing and wet. He did warm me up later LOL."

MOST embarrassing moment 
Jessica: "My most embarrassing moment was that one time I sort of cheated on my husband...in church...during service...(longer version of the story here!)" (Krista: You are in for a real treat... I seriously have tears rolling down my eyes reading this!!)

When did you fall in love for the first time? 
Elizabeth: "I dated the same boy for two years in high school and at the time, I would totally have said we were in love. After falling in love with the man who is now my husband, I can look back and see that high school romance for the vague shadow of real love that it is, but...it's probably still the most honest answer."

Why should people read Love at First Laugh? 
Heather: "I'm biased, of course, but when a group of authors come together and work corporately to create something that honors God and encourages His people, it's worth the read. The bonus here is that there's romance and laughter involved, too - both things I like."

Let's Chat!

Feel free to take any of the questions above and YOU answer them in the comments today! I'd love to hear YOUR answers!! (or ask any more questions and one of us from the set will be happy to answer!)

And be sure to check out Love at First Laugh releasing in March!!!

Behind the Scenes with Love Inspired Suspense! {{GUEST POST by JESSICA R. PATCH}}

AMY here: I am so excited to have my sassy southern friend and fellow debut author Jessica R. Patch as my guest on the alley today! She is very recently published with Harlequin's Love Inspired line and I asked her to share a bit about the process of working with LI as I know so many of us have pitched or have considering submitting our stories to the popular line. And make sure you check out Jess's new book Fatal Reunion!!! It's on the top of my TBR pile! It is garnering fabulous reviews and I can not wait to dig in! Here's Jess!

First, I want to say a big thank you to the lovely, Amy Leigh Simpson for having me today. It's always so much fun to hang out with the alley cats!

I can remember when I first started writing. All those big day dreams of what it would look like to be a published author. Then I started reading industry blogs and I realized it wasn't quite as I'd envisioned it. You mean my words might get cut? Scenes red-inked? Titles changed? Gasp! But I'm glad I read them because it prepared me. It will prepare you!

My agent had been pitching my manuscripts since 2011. In Winter of 2014, she asked me if I would be interested in writing for the Harlequin Love Inspired Suspense line. They were looking (and are) for new authors and she thought I'd be a good fit. I told her I would. I'd read many of the books, but I wasn't familiar with the formula. Yes, there is one. I checked out the guidelines and cooked up a story. I wrote the book. Sent it to my agent and in October, I received a revision letter from my editor, Shana Asaro (who is just fabulous).You can read more about my journey HERE. Tip: Always be willing to make the revisions. They want to see them. They know what they're talking about and it can land you a contract. I did what was asked of me and in January of 2015, I sold the book! Now what?

First, I had a phone call to meet my editor. Two hours later, I knew we definitely were paired up for a reason. We have a lot of the same tastes in books, heroes, heroines, and TV shows like Gilmore Girls and One Tree Hill.

Next, I received my first set of revisions, all about the content, and was asked when I could get these turned in. I set the date and  read through the track changes, making the necessary fixes.

Once that was finished it wasn't long and I received what's called an AFS. Art Fact Sheet. It's an online form Harlequin uses to help them with cover art and how to place your book in the catalog etc... It's a lot of questions about my main characters from personality to physical traits. I also include three key scenes and include pictures found on the internet to give them an idea for the cover.Since I already use Pinterest in this way, it was super helpful getting the information they needed quickly! I happen to enjoy the process, minus that short synopsis (not the blurb). But I get it done!

 

Then comes the title. I'm asked for title ideas and given some direction as far as the hooks they want to use. Then one is chosen. My tentative title for what is now Fatal Reunion was Price of Betrayal! Tip: Don't get hung up on your titles. Nine times out of ten they're going to change!

 

In between this and my second round of edits (line), I write my Dear Reader letter, Dedication, and choose my scripture for the book. I also get to see the mock-up for my cover!

 

It all takes about nine months or so for the process. It's been a great experience and I love writing for LIS. I walked away from 2015 with 4 contracts. Fatal Reunion hit shelves in January. Protective Duty releases in June, Veiled Threat and Final Verdict are slated for January 2017 then later in that year.

 

I share all this to give you a little look inside the publishing process with LIS, and to encourage you to never to give up on your dreams, but also let God develop and mold those dreams the way He wants. Writing for Harlequin didn't cross my mind until my agent brought it up. Always be willing to be re-routed. This has been an amazing journey so far. I can't complain about a single thing! Trust God. Believe. Keep writing!

 

Do you have any other questions about the publishing process? 

 

Purchase Fatal Reunion: Amazon Harlequin B&N

 

 

Overview

WRONGLY ACCUSED

When her beloved grandmother is almost killed during a home invasion, Piper Kennedy isn't surprised that she's a suspect—especially since Luke Ransom is on the case. The handsome detective she once loved thinks she knows more than she's telling about the attack. And given her crooked past and the heartbreaking way she'd been forced to betray Luke years ago, Piper understands why he doesn't trust her. But when attempts are made on her life, Luke insists on keeping her safe and finding out who wants her dead. And Piper and Luke soon realize a remorseless criminal will do anything to keep them from the truth…or an unexpected second shot at a future.

 

About Jessica

Jessica R. Patch lives in the mid-south where she pens inspirational contemporary romance and romantic suspense novels. When she's not hunched over her laptop or going on adventurous trips in the name of research with willing friends, you can find her watching way too much Netflix with her family and collecting recipes to amazing dishes she'll probably never cook. Sign up for her newsletter at www.jessicarpatch.com.