Q&A with author Julie Lindsey & Giveaway!

I'm excited to welcome author Julie Lindsey to the blog today!  I chat with Julie from time to time on Twitter and when I found out she had written a book I just knew that I had to have come on the blog to talk about it.  Let's learn a little about Julie first:

About Julie:

I am a mother of three, wife to a sane person and Ring Master at the Lindsey Circus. Most days you'll find me online, amped up on caffeine & wielding a book.

You can find my blogging about the writer life at Musings from the Slush Pile

Tweeting my crazy at @JulieALindsey

Reading to soothe my obsession on GoodReads

And other books by me on Amazon

Welcome to Hanging With Bells Julie!  Tell us a little about yourself. I’m Julie! I live with my 3 small children and my incredibly patient husband in a lovely rural Ohio town. I have everything I could want, plus books! It’s like a tiny utopia over here. LOL. I’m silly and forgetful and get my foot stuck in my mouth sometimes. On occasion I wear two shoes or climb into the passenger seat when I’m the only adult around. But, more or less I get things done. And I’m almost always happy about it.

Your first book Bloom was released last month and I have to tell you that I love this line that is in the description of the book:  If they let it, love will find a way to Bloom.  What is it about the genre of romance that you like so much that inspired you to write this book? I write romance because I am such a sap. I need to know my hero/heroine is going to find true love. I noticed a while ago I’d chuck a book at the wall if I didn’t find some chemistry in the first few chapters. LOL. (Not really. I never throw things. I am not volatile. I swear).  For a long while I thought I loved YA books, then it was mysteries. What I learned was I loved the romance! After abandoning half dozen books because there was no romance in my future with them, the light finally snapped on. (I’m a slow study). It wasn’t the genre it was the romance! Now, I’m making a plan to bring back sweet, toe curling, cheek pinking romance. *twirls sweet loving mustache*

Bloom is a part of the Honey Creek series.  I thought I saw you mention somewhere that Honey Creek is an actual place.  Where exactly is Honey Creek located?  Honey Creek is based on a real town, but sadly Honey Creek itself is fictitious. Though, in my mind it’s getting to be pretty real.

How many books do you plan on having in the series? Well, I have three short e-books in the Seeds of Love series coming this year, but I’ve also written a longer Honey Creek sweet as well. That one will be here this time next year.  Truthfully, I’m so hooked on Honey Creek. I can’t imagine not writing these stories. There are too many people in Honey Creek who need to find true love. I have to help them! LOL

What were some of your favorite books that you read growing up and was there any that inspired you to be a writer? I was a huge Anne of Green Gables fan as a child. In college I got hooked on classics like Wuthering Heights, Pride & Prejudice and Jane Eyre. The English language is so addictive and exciting.  I love the way words can change our moods, change our day, change the world. A few years ago I read a book that made me excited about words again. I was a tired mother of a new born, a toddler and I homeschooed. This book changed my day. I knew then I wanted to do that. I wanted to write something that would give a reader somewhere a break or an escape from their day, troubles or doldrums. I hope I accomplish that someday.

You have a pretty huge following on Twitter and I must say that you are very entertaining with your tweets.  LOL  What is it about Twitter that you enjoy the most? Oh boy. I’m a huge people addict. I blame my parents because I’m an only child. I’ve always craved crowds. If I were an evil being on a movie, I bet I’d be the kind that thrives on energy. I’d lurk around amusement parks and sporting arenas getting my fix.  I became obsessed with Twitter a couple years ago when I realized it was like walking into a crowd. I can talk to anyone at any time or just observe. Both are exciting options for me. People say the craziest things! Plus I follow a lot of readers and I think readers are the most interesting. (Hugely shamefully biased). Readers are open minded, witty and connected by their obsession with words.  I get the scoop on what’s hot that I MUST read. I love that. I hate thinking I missed out on an awesome read. On twitter, I found my people. We have lots of fun.

Do you plan on writing anything else in the future? Oh, why yes, I do! (I write a lot). I have a novel coming next month that is far from romance. It’s called Death by Chocolate and it’s insane. The tale of one slightly unstable housewife who sets out to punish her cheating hipster husband and ends up trying to get away with murder.  I also have a YA on submission now and another YA getting polished up now for submissions. Oh, and I’m writing a mystery at the moment I hope to pitch this summer. Plus the Honey Creek sweets. Did I say I was OCD? I think I’m OCD.

Thanks for coming by the blog Julie. I can't wait to read Bloom in the near future!  There's nothing like a good love story to entertain a romance lover.

Oh definitely! And thank you again.  I’m so stoked to be here! Man, check me O-U-T! I’m Hanging with Bells!

Bloom by Julie Anne Lindsey

In a town filled with her past, she never expected to find her future…

Seven years ago Cynthia left Honey Creek with a broken heart. Three years ago Mitchell arrived with one.  Now Cynthia’s come home, and these two hardened hearts can’t stop arguing. If they’d only take a break long enough to find some common ground, they might be surprised to find love can grow anywhere.

If they’ll let it, love will find a way to Bloom.

*Bloom is book one in my new Seeds of Love series.  I’ll be planting those seeds all year.

Giveaway!

Turquoise Morning Press is generously offing a ebook copy of Bloom to one lucky commenter. Please leave an email with your comment if you are interested.