Today we have with us
Stephanie Queen...
Welcome, so
great to have you here with us. Can you
tell us a little about yourself?
Thanks for having me on your blog!
About me--I’m NOT short or redheaded, unlike the
heroine in my upcoming release THE HOT SHOTS. But I do share a restless yen for
adventure like she does. I get my kicks in a safer way—no escaping from
terrorists with a Scotland Yard hunk on the run for me.
So far, the only terrorist I’ve had to escape from
lately is my cat, Kitty. She runs a mean household—err…Queendom.
Other than that, I live peacefully in my house—I mean
castle--among the bucolic hills and dales (?? Don’t ask me what a dale is) of
New Hampshire where I write up a storm—when there’s not a power-sapping storm
raging outside.
Do real life
events find their way into your stories?
I’m not saying I ever jumped off the USS Constitution
into the Boston Harbor, but I may have done a bit of running for safety here
and there (see comment about Kitty).
If my next story features a heroine stranded with a
hero after a hurricane, then you’ll know for sure.
Do you ever
mimic family members or people you know when you choose characters?
If the true identity of Oscar, the mob informer in
witness protection, were ever revealed, I’d be on the run for real! (Only half-kidding) (Not saying I actually
have a relative in witness protection, just saying—well—NOTHING, ABSOLUTELY
NOTHING!)
Do you find
yourself going back to the same inspiration for each story or is it always
something different?
Lately, I’m into James Bond as inspiration. I’ve
always loved larger than life heroes and a dash of adventure in my romance
stories.
When do you
write? Early morning? During the day
sometime or all day? After the kids go
to bed?
I’d have to take some serious doses of No-Doze to stay
up past my kids’ bedtimes! I have two college student sons who seem to live
like vampires by the light of the moon and have an aversion for morning
sunlight.
Me, I’m a morning person, but I’ve been known to write
any time I can get an inspiration—including while driving down the highway at
70 miles per hour. (Okay, so I’m exaggerating. I tend to slow down and pull to
the right when I write against the steering wheel. Besides the horn ends up
beeping and traffic seems to steer clear—by a wide margin) (half-kidding)
How do you feel
about marketing your book?
Luckily, I like writing. Marketing turns out to be
more writing! (Here I am!) Whether it’s Tweeting (@StephanieQueen) or Facebook
where I have a Stephanie Queen page or blogging on my website
StephanieQueen.com, it’s all writing. (See how I just did some marketing right
there?)
What social
sites do you feel work best for marketing?
See above—although I don’t know “what works best”.
Believe me, if I did, I’d sell that secret and become a gazillionaire. My rule
of thumb is to have fun with whatever marketing I do.
Do you like to
pitch stories to your publisher or do you wait until you have written the story
and have a final manuscript to turn in?
I’ve done it both ways, but I find if I haven’t
finished a novel and I pitch it and an editor likes it—that gives me extra
motivation to write fast! Guess I’m a
good-at-writing-under-pressure-because-I’m-scared-to-death-of-disappointing-an-editor
kind of writer.
Is there any
other genre that you would love to try writing?
If so, what is it?
I have a few chapters of a women’s fiction novel in
the works. But I put it on the back burner because it’s got a more serious
literary theme and so I’m worried it will ruin my reputation.
Do you always/ever
see yourself as the heroine/hero when you write a story?
What would be the fun if I didn’t?
Just for fun, I
have a few personal questions,
Favorite 5
1) Favorite Male Actor - Sean Connery
(what? I’ve seen re-runs of his old movies…)
2) Favorite vehicle – 1963
Corvette Stingray
3) Favorite way to relax – On the couch popping chocolates, reading a romantic
thriller with an old romantic comedy movie on the TV in the background. (Or
maybe I’m laying on my pink velvet divan…)
4) Favorite ice cream - Pistachio
5) Favorite outfit – Jeans
and a UConn sweatshirt—Go UConn!
And for a
bonus: If you could pick any place in
the world to live, besides where you are now, where would it be? (Of course, without the hindrance of jobs or
money needed)
Anywhere
along the northeast U.S. coast—preferrably on a high bluff (concession to the
recent hurricane!)
Where can our
readers find you??
Twitter: @StephanieQueen
Facebook: Stephanie Queen
Website/blog: www.StephanieQueen.com
Amazon author
page: Stephanie Queen: http://www.amazon.com/Stephanie-Queen/e/B005NHDC4Q/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1
Is there an
upcoming or current release you would like to share with us today and where can
we find it?
THE
HOT SHOTS will be available on November 16th on
Amazon.com. This is book 2 of the romantic comedy mystery series, the Scotland
Yard Exchange Program. Book 1 of the
series, THE THROWBACKS, is currently available wherever ebooks are sold.
B&N
link: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-throwbacks-stephanie-queen/1107379316?ean=2940013558946
Now before we let you leave us today, do you have a favorite recipe you'd
like to share? I like to cook and am
always looking for new recipes to try and share.
Sunbeam
Food Mixer Recipe – adapted and baked numerous times and eaten by Stephanie
Queen
TWO-EGG
CAKE
(“Short-Cut” Method)
Preparation: Have shortening
at room temperature. Assemble all ingredients and utensils needed. Grease two
deep 8-inch layer cake pans and sprinkle with flour, shaking out excess.
Preheat oven to baking temperature. Sift flour once before measuring.
Sift into large bowl of Mixmaster:
2 cups sifted cake
flour
1 1/3 cups sugar
2 ½ teaspoons
double-acting baking powder or 3 ½ teaspoons fast-acting.
¾ teaspoon salt
Add:
½ cup shortening
(soft)
2/3 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
Beat on No. 3 speed—2 minutes, scraping bowl
while beating. Stop mixer. Scrape beaters.
Add:
2 eggs, unbeaten
¼ cup milk
Beat on No. 3 speed 2 minutes longer, scraping
bowl while beating. Pour batter into prepared pans.
Bake: (350 degrees
F)—moderate oven—25 to 30 minutes. Remove from pans. Cool. Ice with Fudge
Icing.
Makes: 1 medium sized
cake.
Stephanie, I can't thank you enough for being here today. It was great learning more about you and I'm seriously anxious to try that delicous cake recipe.
Readers, make sure you get your copy of The Hot Shots today!
Until next time, happy reading !!
Krista
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