Author Chat with Linda Engman

Hi Linda! So glad to have you at Author Chat, where we can learn a little bit about you, and your book.  
Cate, thanks so much for having me here today.

Grab a cappuccino and let’s chat. Unless you have another favorite drink (alcoholic or otherwise)? 
Actually a cappuccino sounds perfect.  Although I wouldn’t turn down a martini or glass of white wine. 

A woman after my own heart. :) Fur or feathers, petwise?
My family and I have two Griffon hunting dogs, Bay and Pal.  They camp out in the corner of my living room and follow me around all day.  The highlight of their week is the UPS man delivering a box or consuming popcorn on the weekends.

Any pet peeves? One thing that really burns your biscuits?
I’m a pretty easy going person so it takes a lot to rattle me.  But if I had to pick, I’d say my husband’s messy habits.  I’m a total neat freak and constantly find myself picking up after him.  Besides that he’s a night owl-I’m a morning person.  He drinks beer-I’m into wine.  The list is endless.  I guess opposites do attract. 

Sounds like me and my hubby! Favorite quote? 
“In order to be irreplaceable, one must always be different.” Coco Chanel 

Love that. What’s your ideal day like? 
First of all having my makeup looking perfect for once along with having a good hair day.  Then enjoying a blueberry muffin and coffee, before a fun day of shopping and lunch out with my girlfriends or daughter.  Followed up by cocktails and dinner out with my husband.  If I could do this every day I’d be in heaven!  My other perfect day is hiking or skiing with my family, followed up by a great dinner together and a movie.  My son picks out the best action movies.  He’s got me hooked on them. 

If you could live out any fantasy, what would you do? 
I’d love to live in Manhattan and work as a cosmetic executive and live in a trendy modern loft in SoHo.  I can just imagine the big walk-in closet I’d have and all the shoes I’d buy. 

I love NY too. Beethoven, Beatles, Foo Fighters or Keith Urban? 
My favorites are a mix of Stone Temple Pilots, Tony Bennett, Scorpions, Diana Krall, Amy Winehouse, Travis Tritt, to name a few.  I love all kinds of music as you can tell. 

My tastes are very electic too. Do you have a music playlist for your book? 
Music for me plays a big part in developing a story and even characters personalities.  For each of my romance novels I create a different play list.  For Manhattan Holiday, I listened to a lot of Christmas music as I wrote the scenes that took place in snowy Manhattan.   For the scenes in Miami, I listened to Alejandro Sanz for that sexy Latin influence. 

Which of your characters would you most/least to invite to dinner, and why? 
Easily, I’d invite all the girls from my two Cedar Point romance novels, I’ve Got You and Falling For You:  Amber, Heather, Stacy, and Brook.  In each book these ladies loved to gossip about men over cocktails and yummy food.  They have the best time together, so it would definitely be a fun evening with them.  I also wouldn’t mind a dinner out with my sexy rugged hero Cooper Gerhardt from FFY.  Although I’m sure my husband would insist on coming along. J 

While creating your books, what was one of the most surprising things you learned? 

How much I love my characters and how hard it is to move on to another project once I’m finished.  I loved Cedar Point in I’ve Got You so much, I wrote the sequel Falling For You, and have readers and reviewers asking for a third book in the series.  I also especially loved my time working on Manhattan Holiday.  It’s such a fun, sexy, fantasy story, that I hated to see it end.  I’m contemplating writing another holiday story set in Manhattan. 

They do become like family, don’t they? Where can readers find out more about you? 
Readers are welcome to visit my website and blog.  I update it every month with new information and fun things on my blog.  There is also information where to find my books.  I also have an email address on my website for readers to send me mail.  I’m also on Facebook and love it when readers send me friend requests.

Please share a book blurb and/or excerpt.

Book Blurb: Manhattan Holiday

Get Ready for a Very Romantic Holiday

Recently jilted, legal assistant April Sutton is ready to find a way to forget her ex-fiancé and the heartache she’s been carrying around snowy Manhattan.  With the New Year holiday approaching she’s determined to restart her life.  Never in her wildest dreams does she expect a last minute marriage to dynamic Roman Vasquez, along with a sultry weekend trip and a romantic dream wedding, to do the trick.

In order to meet the New Year’s Eve deadline of his grandfather’s will, successful developer Roman Vasquez will do whatever it takes.  Even if it means giving up his bachelor status and convincing an unwilling April Sutton to tie the knot.  Although he finds all it takes to persuade her is—one kiss, a contract, and the wedding of her dreams.

Will Roman and April keep it all business...or let the magic of the holiday season, along with meddling friends, family, and hidden feelings turn their temporary whirlwind marriage into everlasting love?  

Thanks for chatting, Linda! Hope your holidays are merry.

In the Author Spotlight: Linda Engman

Today I'm turning the blog over to wonderful author Linda Engman.

Hi everyone! I believe falling in love when you least expect it is so romantic. That’s just one of the many reasons why I love to write romance; the unexpected heart stopping first meeting. So much fun to write about. For myself, I’ve been reading romances since my teens and writing them is a dream come true.

Besides writing contemporary romances, I love shopping and playing tennis with my teenage daughter and talking football and watching action movies with my teenage son. I also love cooking, wine, hiking and photography. I’ve also started a blog and have the best time loading it with all kinds of fun things like photos and things I’m currently into, or recipes. My husband and I, our two kids, and two dogs call home in NW Wisconsin on a wooded lake in a chalet style house.


How to Make Your Romantic Hero a Guy
HEROES. They come in every form when it comes to romance. The heroes that I love to write about in my contemporary sexy romance novels are always hard-working, rugged, guys who may not always be the most suave when to comes to romance but they’re totally sincere, very hot, and always completely smitten with the heroine.

I also think adding layers of personality is the key to developing believable characters. So my guy-heroes have tons of layers both good and bad. I’ll take habits from my husband, male friends, guys I see about town, to fill in and give my heroes believable qualities. This in turn makes my heroes come alive with sexy-guy charisma and irresistible charm for my readers to enjoy. So today I’m sharing my top ten things I add to all my romantic heroes.

1. Bad Habits. A total must for any guy. Newspapers, messy apartment, unmade bed... No real guy is perfect. So find those little bad habits and have the heroine notice them in a good way. Kind of endearing.

2. A Sense of Humor. He doesn’t need to be the life of the party but should be able to make the reader smile at his self-deprecating humor. Again-another endearing quality.

3. Hobbies and Interests - other than just being in love with the Heroine. If he’s a real guy he’ll be into sports, hunting, music, hanging with the guys, drinking beer...you get the idea.

4. Friends. Speaking of hanging with the guys...a good hero needs some Bros, Backup, and definitely a good Wingman to see him through falling in love.

5. The Required Six Pack. Can’t be a Romantic Hero without awesome Abs!

6. A Devilish Smile. This goes hand in hand with the Abs.

7. A Job. Every good Hero needs something to do. So give him a job and make him work. Showcase his talents even if he’s a sexy-hot Auto Mechanic. :)

8. A New Experience. Take him out of his Safety Zone and make him do something he normally wouldn’t: Wear a suit...Try a new place to eat...Start a new business...You get the idea.

9. Pesky Family Members. Nothing shows what the hero is really made of, other than scenes with family members… especially a pesky younger sister.

10. A Secret!! Give the hero some mystery so the heroine will find the guy at least a little intriguing. Surprise her and the reader with an unexpected hobby, home, food choice, etc…it will make him definitely fascinating. But keep it normal...no weirdness please! :)

*Guys also love their…Music, Xbox, Motorcycles, Trucks, and Flat Screens!

Thanks so much Cate for having me on your blog today.
Happy Romance Reading Everyone!
Linda


Sexy, Fun, Forever… I’VE GOT YOU
As a former foster child, defense attorney Amber Bradley had a definite life plan: college, law school, work to the top of her profession—then find the perfect husband and have lots of kids. After unsuccessfully scouring the town of Cedar Point for the ideal guy, she never guessed that J.T. Craig would fit her husband profile, especially since the man didn’t fit any of her criteria.
Hunky auto mechanic Josh Craig knows he doesn’t have a chance with sexy high powered lawyer Amber Bradley. Clearly the woman doesn’t know he’s alive. Smart, beautiful, and educated, she’s all about her career and on the fast track to finding the perfect mate. Still he can’t help but fall for her, and with the help of his family, friends, and the entire town, show her he’s the man she needs in her life. One she can trust, depend, and count on forever.
Set in the hockey loving small town of Cedar Point, Michigan, Josh and Amber’s story will take you along as they find out dreams can come true—just not in the typical way.
~Available now in eBook

Coming Next… FALLING FOR YOU
One irresistible hockey player, one sexy female attorney, a case of mistaken identity, and one hot night all leads to—undeniable love.
It was supposed to be a simple move back to her home town of Cedar Point, Michigan for attorney Heather Grant and her two young sons. Only she hadn't counted on being rescued her first day back by a tall, handsome, and disgruntled auto mechanic. Widowed and looking to mend her broken heart, the last thing she anticipated was falling for dangerously good looking Cooper Gerhardt with his devilish smile, six pack abs, and mysterious questionable background.
The only thing tough hockey star, Cooper Gerhardt wanted was a year to heal his injuries, work as an auto mechanic to kill time, and get back to something that resembled a real life for a while. That was until he came to the aid of drop dead gorgeous attorney Heather Grant, with her hot sinful body and smoldering eyes, and found himself wildly tempted and rethinking what he wanted out of life.
But will Cooper be able to forget about his painful past and give his heart all the way? Will Heather be able to trust and love again now that she's back in Cedar Point? Find out in…FALLING FOR YOU!
~Available in both Print and eBook when released

To find out more about my books, read Excerpts and Reviews, or link to my FLIRT blog, please visit my website at www.lindaengman.com