Anne Kemp Interview and Giveaway!

Alexis: Today we have contemporary romance author Anne Kemp who is giving away the first 3 books of the Abby George series to one lucky commenter! 

Welcome Anne. Everyone has their own writing process…how they come up with ideas, how they name their characters, how they choose the setting. Can you describe your writing process?

Anne: Usually I aim to write in the afternoon. I sit down and promise myself to work for at least one hour, but I always clear my schedule for up to five hours so I can get “lost” in the story. Ideas always hit me when I’m quiet – out for a walk, listening to music, staring out the window or in the shower. I have a list of working ideas and all of them have hit me at moments when I’ve been alone and just let my mind be open.

Alexis: What are you working on now?

Anne: I’m currently in final edits for the fourth book in the series I’m working on, The Abby George Series. It’s a Contemporary Romance about a woman in her mid-30s from LA who gets laid-off right after her fiancé dumps her and she is offered the chance to take care of some family business in the Caribbean. She heads to the islands prepared to do her family duty, but when she arrives, she finds out the island, its inhabitants and her new responsibilities are much more than she had expected. Of course there’s a bit of a romance twist  – between a hunky and mysterious stranger from down the road and a hot architect 10 years her junior ;)

Alexis: Sounds hot in more ways than one ;-) Where did you get the idea for this story?

Anne: I was laid off in 2008 and ended up with the chance to live on the island of St. Kitts in the Caribbean for most of 2009. I began an online class through UCLA Extension for Fiction 1 and wrote my first chapter as part of that class. From there, I began writing to keep myself busy and because I had once told myself I would write a book “one day.” Lucky for me, one day had come, so I got off my butt and did it! So far, the three installments in the series have all hit the Top 100 on Amazon at some point over the last few years… and I couldn’t be prouder!

Alexis: That's fantastic! Does your pet help with your writing or distract?

Anne: A little of both :-) Having my pets with me in the office when I’m writing makes me really happy – either one of two cats are there for the petting or one of our two dogs curls up at my feet. There are times they get a little needy, but I usually take that as my cue to get up and get them outside for some play time.

Alexis: They are good about reminding us to stretch are legs, aren't they? What is your favorite treat? Why?

Anne: A freshly made margarita and my homemade guacamole - Hands down!! They remind me and my husband of SoCal, where I used to live before I moved to New Zealand, so we try not to indulge too often ;)

Alexis: Sounds like a perfect snack to me. Thank you Anne, for visiting us here on Happily Ever After Thoughts again. This series sounds like a lot of fun. Do you have a giveaway for our readers?

Anne: Since I’m in the throws of final edits on the next book in the Abby George Series, SUGAR CITY SECRETS, I wanted to offer something fun just for the Happily Ever After Thoughts readers - so I’m giving away ALL THREE installments of the Abby George Series so far! To enter, just leave a comment here sharing with me where YOUR ideal tropical getaway would be… any island, any where… and who you’d take! Good luck!!!

About Anne:

Anne Kemp is the author behind the Abby George Series. To date, the series consists of her debut mini-novella, All Fruits Ripe, a novel, Rum Punch Regrets, and novella, Gotta Go To Come Back. Soon to be released in early 2015 is the latest novel in the series: SUGAR CITY SECRETS.

Currently, Kemp resides in Wellington, New Zealand with her husband and their two dogs and two cats.

Connect with Anne at www.annekemp.com, on Facebook, Twitter, or on Instagram @MissAnneKemp. Stop by and say hi!!

Want to buy one of her books? You can find them on Amazon, Barnes& Noble, iTunes, and they’re available for Kobo!

Alexis: Don’t forget to leave a comment about your ideal tropical getaway spot and who you would take for a chance to win the first 3 books in this series!  Good luck :-)

Guest Author Interview: Anne Kemp

Today we are interviewing Anne Kemp, women's fiction author, who is giving away one of her books.

Alexis: Hi Anne, thank you for visiting Happily Ever After Thoughts :-) You just had your first novella debut last month, ALL FRUITS RIPE. Can you tell us a little about it?

Anne: Sure! It’s the prequel or mini-novella that introduces readers to the character, Abby George. It’s a fun 30 page teaser giving you a sneak peek at her world in LA, just after being laid-off and right when she’s given an offer to relocate to the Caribbean. 

Alexis: Living in the Caribbean myself, I'm sure I know what her decision was :-) And already you have the next in your series coming out this coming week. How exciting! You already know I love your setting. So what is RUM PUNCH REGRETS about?

Anne: RUM PUNCH REGRETS is about what happens to one LA woman when laid-off and offered the chance of a lifetime. It’s about discovering family secrets, while discovering oneself, coming to terms with your siblings and who they are…and about falling in love again!

Alexis: Where did you get the idea for this story?

Anne: Funny enough, - well, now it’s funny - I was laid-off like many others in 2008, right before Christmas. It felt like the world around me had collapsed. My ego was bruised and I was still smarting from the news when I was offered the chance to take off to St. Kitts. How do you say no to an opportunity like that?

Alexis: You don't :-) So this idea came straight from your life. That is wild. What is your favorite character trait of Abby?

Anne: I really wanted her to be relatable and early feedback showed me I hit the nail on the head :-) I love her so much. She’s fun, fun , FUN to hang out with!

Alexis: I like fun people and I'm guessing that you are fun too :-) You are also an award winning blogger. What made you decide to write women's fiction?

Anne: I’ve always wanted to write a book so I finally made myself do it. Plus being laid-off….kinda of gave this gal a little incentive.

Alexis: And a little time, right? What can we expect next from you? Do you have any new releases coming or a work in progress?

Anne:  I’m blessed that I get to write a whole series about Abby George! I’m currently working on the next novella to be released in early fall and the second full-length novel. Each book takes you a little deeper into Abby’s Caribbean world – and it’s going to be a bit adventurous!

Alexis: How fun. Every day here in the Caribbean is an adventure, so I'm sure your books will be very entertaining :-) Thank you so much for sharing your stories with us. It's a pleasure having you visit.

Anne:  Thank you for having me – it’s truly and honor.

Alexis: For a chance to win one of Anne's books, be sure to leave a comment for her. If I have contact information, I will let you know when you win, otherwise, check the side column for your name on Wednesday under WINNERS :-)

For more information on Anne’s books go to http://www.annekemp.com/books.html

BIO:

Anne Kemp is the author of the Abby George Series, which includes her debut novella, All Fruits Ripe, and first novel, Rum Punch Regrets. She is also the columnist behind “Anne In Progress,” which appears monthly in the Frederick News-Post, a newspaper in the DC-Metro area. As a blogger, she is known for penning “Life My Way” and “The Ultimate Late Bloomer.”

Her original and honest sense of humor used in her columns and blogs earned her a Bloggers Choice Nomination for Best Humor Blog in 2010.

A portion of Anne’s book revenue is donated to Lupus LA.

Alexis: Don't forget, for a chance to win one of Anne's books, leave her a comment :-)