Angie Stanton never planned on writing books, she wanted to be a Rockette. However, growing up in rural Wisconsin with her brothers’ 4-H pigs as pets, dance didn’t work out. Instead, she became an avid daydreamer. After years of perfecting stories in her head she began to write them down, and, as they say, the rest is history.
Angie attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison and attained a degree in Journalism. She loves natural disaster movies, Broadway Musicals and dipping french fries in chocolate shakes. When not writing, Angie is concocting ways to make more dreams come true, whether it be tickets to a Broadway show or convincing her family they should rent an RV and travel the country.
Best selling books by Angie include Rock and a Hard Place, Snapshot, Dream Chaser, Snowed Over and Love ‘em or Leave ‘em. All are contemporary romances.
Thank you for taking the time out to answer Andrea’s Book Blog questionnaire!
When did you first start writing and when did you finish your first book?
I started writing probably around 2003. I never planned to be a writer and I hated English and writing courses, but a story was in my head and it wouldn’t leave me alone. My first book probably took me three years, but I stopped and started writing a lot.
Where did you get your ideas from for your Young Adult and New Adult Romance novels?
I always wonder things. For example, I wondered what would it be like if you were on a reality dating show and you didn’t want to be there, you thought they were stupid. What would happen? So I wrote Love ‘em or Leave ‘em.
What if an average girl, who is very down on her luck, randomly meets a rock star and they fall in love? That ended up being my best seller Rock and a Hard Place.
When I really wonder something and start imagining what would happen, it often becomes a book.
Can you tell us about the challenges in getting your first book published?
It took many years and lots of waiting. Love ‘em or Leave ‘em was actually lost twice by a guy at Harlequin. That wasted about 18 months. After several rejections, Avalon Books bought it.
Have you written a book you love and did not published?
Nope. Everything I’ve written has ended up published. I wish I had more sitting in a drawer somewhere.
What is the toughest criticism given to you as an author? What has been the best compliment?
I have a great critique partner who reads everything I write and tells me when it works and when it fails. Luckily, she is kind hearted, and I am hungry to make each book better.
The best compliments? There are many. Reviewers who say they stayed up all night reading, they kept laughing out loud, or they cried so hard they woke up their husband. One reader said she read Dream Chaser over twenty times. That’s amazing!
What kind of project are you working on currently? In the future?
Currently I am working on a YA/NA book titled Royally Lost. It’s about an American girl on a European vacation with her family. She meets a guy, who she later learns is a prince on the run. That should be finished in a couple of months.
It comes out September 2014. Too long!
Next up will be the long anticipated third book in the Jamieson Brothers collection. The oldest brother Garrett, a real piece of work, will finally get his story.
Andrea Book Blog believes in helping others help themselves; are there any charity groups or organizations that you would like your fans to know about?
My mother always told me she felt the Salvation Army ( http://www.salvationarmy.com) was the best charity as the most money went to those in need and less to the corporation. Around the holidays, I always try to put something in every kettle I see and write a year-end check.
blog: http://angiestanton.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/AngieStantonAuthor
Twitter: @angie_stanton
Thank you again for taking the time to answer my questions can’t wait to meet you on Saturday even though you are a PACKERS fan… 🙁 (LOL)
Below are the links to her books: ALERT Author is running a sale in honor of being a Indie author for two years. “Rock and a hard Place” will be on sale for .99 cents on amazon until June 3, 2013 and she has a giveaway to celebrate running on http://angiestanton.com!
Check out Angie’s taped short interview!
http://youtu.be/5pCuEJRyWUk
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