THE STORY BEHIND THE STORY
Get a behind-the-scenes all-access pass to Amber Cross's A Full-Bodied Love!
SYNOPSIS:
In the northeast corner of Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom lies the town of Somerset, a place with more cows than people and a male-female ratio of 3:1 on a good day.
When lawyer and judge Abby Wilson moves there, she is followed by her stepbrother David Wang and their half-brother Romney Wilson.
Abby finds love in Precedent for Passion with Glen Plankey, divorcee raising two teenaged children; Romney falls for Glen’s cousin Emmeline in Tender Possession, and David reconnects with Jonnie Moulton in Open Door to Love. Lisa Kirkpatrick appears in Tender Possession, has a bigger role in Open Door to Love, and finds her own romance in A Full-Bodied Love with Glen’s brother Roger.
This series is about close-knit families in a small town; ordinary people, some with extraordinary talents or challenges; mixed race relationships; and the power of true love.
What is the sub-genre and trope? Did your characters lead you to this genre or
was that decided before the story began?
These are contemporary romances. I knew they would be before I started writing.
Are you more character or plot driven?
Character driven
With many main and secondary characters, how do you keep
them separated in your mind? Do you have
a story/vision board above your workspace?
Maybe because I have a huge family, I have no trouble keeping them separate and unique from one another.
I don’t have a story board but I usually have a map-literally, of the town-and a page where I jot down important information like birthdates, favorite colors, and other things that come up in the writing so I don’t contradict those details later.
I know from previous interviews that characters take on a
life of their own. Were any of the
characters in this series determined to take their own direction instead of
where you initially wanted them to go?
Lisa had a very small role in Tender Possession as the HR director at the hospital where Emmeline works.
In Open Door to Love she became Jonnie’s best friend. Somewhere along the way she started shouting, Write my story! So I did.
Are any of the male/female POVs based on anyone you know?
No, but certain traits are
Was there any one character/scene that was harder to write about than the other?
Not really
What is your favorite book in the series?
A Full-Bodied Love and Tender Possession are probably tied
I know that we aren’t supposed to have “favorites” as far
as our children, but seriously, who’s your favorite character and why?
It’s a tie between Lisa and Emmeline. Lisa is effervescent and fun but physically handicapped; Emmeline is sweet and caring but shy and aloof.
In both cases, they might be overlooked by lesser men, but not by Roger and Romney!
Series question - Who is your favorite couple and why did
you decide on their dynamics?
I love them all.
How do you get inside these character’s heads to find
their perfect HEA?
They have to be whole enough to take care of themselves, but at the same time missing something they may not even be aware of. To find their HEA, their partner has to be the missing piece or the complement to their own personality.
What scene in this book/series sticks out the most for
you? Why?
Lisa’s drive in a snowstorm in A Full-Bodied Love. She’s being stubborn but the people who love her won’t let that stop them from making sure she’s safe.
Series - Were any of the books harder to write than
others?
Open Door to Love. I wanted so much to tell Jonnie’s story, and to show what a great guy David is, and I’m not sure I achieved that.
Sometimes you’re just too close to your characters (in your head.)
This question is if you write in MULTIPLE POVs not just
the hero and heroine - I love the multiple POVs in a book. It’s not just the hero and heroine, but we
get inside the heads of multiple characters throughout this series. I feel that it gives the story further
depth. Do you think you will write
another book or series following this multiple POV outline? (if applicable)
If I ever write mystery, I’ll have multiple POVs, but not in romance.
How long did it take you to write this book/series?
Four years.
How did you come up with the title for your book and series?
Precedent for Passion: Abby is a judge, and our legal system is based on precedents. The attraction she felt on meeting Glen fifteen years before set a precedent no one else could match.
Tender Possession: Emmeline is hurting when Romney meets her, so he will have to use caution when trying to win her tender heart.
Open Door to Love: The United States and China had an Open Door Policy in the 19th century, and since David is a Chinese American, this name fit.
A Full-Bodied Love: Lisa has spina bifida, but that won’t prevent her from experiencing grand passion and true love, while Roger enjoys full-bodied red wines, so the name was a play on both characters.
If you met these characters in real life would you get
along?
Yes.
Series question – Did you know in advance that you were
going to write this as a series or did one of the characters in book one demand
their own story?
No. I wrote Precedent for Passion and fell in love with Abby’s brothers, so I continued.
If your book/series were made into a movie, which actors
do you see as playing your characters?
Will Demps (football player) would be Romney;
Lucas Bryant could be Glen;
Hu Ge could be David;
and, Jake Gyllenhaal could be Roger.
I don’t know any actress who could be Abby, because she’s super short, full-figured, and a redhead with Bahamian blood;
India Eisley could be Emmeline;
Victoria Silvstedt could be Jonnie;
and Jennifer Garner could pull off Lisa.
Can you give us a hint as to what we can expect
next? Whether a new book and series or a
sequel to an existing series? Can you
share a small tease?
I have a paranormal romance coming out in August about a werewolf who works for a special defense agency. This is part of an anthology, and my contribution is A Pack of Love. Here’s a teaser:
Someone is trying to kill archaeologist Brynn Connor. Until the culprit is found, werewolf Cole Grayson will protect her. A simple assignment, except the prickly woman has an issue with her “personal space” and doing his job puts him directly in it. Sparks, and fur, are guaranteed to fly.
I’m finishing final edits on what I hope is the first in a new series. I don’t want to say too much, but here’s a teaser:
Levi Turner is returning home after thirteen years to a place he never wanted to see again, but can he resist the Call of the Plantation? This is a deep woods, remote rural American story about coming to terms with family, the past, and one nosy neighbor determined to help.
Check out all my interviews/reviews for Amber Cross!
https://readingbydeb.blogspot.com/2022/06/author-at-glance-amber-cross.html#more
Bio:
Amber Cross was raised on a family farm in New England, one of a dozen siblings, each one inspiring her writing in some way.
She still lives in that same small town with her husband and the youngest of their five children. She loves spending time in the woods, in the water, and watching people because every one of them has a unique and fascinating story to tell.
Connect with Amber:
Glen can’t get away fast enough. Everything about Abby reminds him of a terrible day in his life, yet his brain turns to adolescent mush at her curves and his heart skips a beat every time she smiles.
Soon undeniable attraction leads to scorching passion and grows into a true love affair. But is it strong enough to survive when he thinks she has played him for a fool?
Romney Wilson is his mother's second son and his father's second child. Success may take him all over the world, but he is still that youngest sibling trying to find his place in it. Quite simply, he needs to be needed.
The connection between them is immediate and strong. But can she trust this impulsive and spontaneous charmer to stick around? And will he get past her wall of self-preservation only to scare her away?
This confident new Jonnie makes David's blood sizzle. He plans to keep her close and not just because she's living in one of his resort cabins.
He "gets" her like no one else. She excites him more every day. But is this simply passion, or have they found an open door to love?
Lisa Kirkpatrick is stubborn, but she's not stupid. If this guy needs a date to evade an unwanted admirer, who is she to object? It's not as if handsome men are lining up to ask her out. Sure, they know there's a woman in the wheelchair, but it would never occur to them that there's a WOMAN in the wheelchair. He notices. This solid, fun, straight-shooting guy ticks off every box on her ideal man list. But why do they call him Slick?
Roger Plankey thought his life was full until he walked into the town clerk's office and laid eyes on the woman behind the counter. A spunky, independent woman with a dash of humor and just enough sass to keep him on his toes. She fills that unknown void in his life like she was made for him. But is there such a thing as too perfect?
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