Danita Minnis

 

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Amy Craig will be awarding a $15 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner.

Author Interview: Amy Craig

1. How did you choose your genre? What made you write this book?

After conquering the young adult section of my middle school library, I started picking up any books around me… which include some 1998 Nora Roberts. I was hooked!

The Starlight Motel is roughly my tenth romance novel. It’s set in Palm Springs, CA and features Kada, a muralist at a turning point in her career, and Dane, a cowboy farmer who’s master of his domain.

When my husband and I relocated from California to Louisiana with our black lab/shepherd mix, we drove through Palm Springs. The agricultural influences amazed me. I always thought of Palm Springs as a 1950s Hollywood resort, but its character goes deeper than Sinatra and desert sands. Don’t get me wrong, those aspects are part of its identity, too, but I wanted to explore the farms and single-story motels dotting the windswept highways.

Kada also has more than one identity. She’s a devoted daughter, an artist who needs to regroup, and a caring, compassionate woman who walks the line between responsibility and self-sacrifice. Dane’s not about to let anyone push him around, but what has he missed by being so hardcore?

2. Writers write what they know, and must observe the world. Are you a first born, middle or last child and how does this shape your view of the world?

I’m a first born, and I stick my nose into everything, but I also have a disciplined and organized approach to writing. I’m diligent about meeting deadlines, researching topics, and developing complex, well-rounded characters.

First-borns are often caretakers, too. I write characters who are compassionate, supportive, and protective of their loved ones. THE STARLIGHT MOTEL explores themes of care, sacrifice, and familial bonds amid 1950s chic palm trees, cacti, and a vintage pool. I bet the mixed drinks are great at the motel!

3. Where is your favorite place to write?

Coffee and writing sprints go together! The Baton Rouge area around Louisiana State University has some great coffee shops.

Highland Coffees is a beloved spot for students, writers, and coffee enthusiasts. With its cozy atmosphere, ample seating, and a wide selection of coffee and teas, it’s an ideal place to get into the writing zone. The outdoor patio is perfect for fresh air on cool, fall days.

Light House Coffee offers a warm and inviting space for writers. Known for its friendly staff, delicious coffee, and community-oriented vibe, it’s a wonderful spot to get some work done. The cozy seating and natural light create a comfortable and productive environment. Also, they have great gluten-free food!

Garden District Coffee – This coffee shop offers a tranquil and inspiring place to write. With its cozy interior, excellent coffee, and a beautiful outdoor garden area, Garden District Coffee is perfect for both focused writing and casual brainstorming sessions. You’ll always find cakes under their glass domes.

French Truck Coffee – With its bright and cheerful decor, French Truck Coffee is a delightful place to write. The coffee is top-notch, and the friendly staff and comfortable seating make it easy to settle in for a productive writing session. The vibrant atmosphere is perfect for sparking creativity. Their New Orleans Style Iced Coffee is sweet and energizing.

4. How do you feel about killing your darlings, and what do you do with the remains?

Romantic suspense is so much fun to write! It’s a puzzle, and putting together the pieces reveals a connected world. THE STARLIGHT MOTEL is a contemporary, holiday romance, but Kada loses her grandpa before the story stars. He was a veteran, a hard-worker, and a good storyteller. I would have loved to share a beer with him and listen to his tales. You can tell Kada misses him!

5. You are introduced to your favorite author. Who is it, and what is that one burning question you must ask them?

The downside of writing romance is that I find myself stepping out of the immersive, charming aspect of reading romance stories. I start judging word choice, punctuation, character development etc. Don’t be the Wizard of Oz unless you want to know what happens behind the curtains!

To keep myself engaged books, I read other genres. Lately, I’ve been reading James Baldwin. He would be a fascinating person to interview. His insights into race, identity, and society are profound. I would ask him, “How did living abroad influence your understanding of American identity and racial issues?” Also, I just learned Baldwin & Co. is a black-owned independent bookstore in New Orleans. I can’t wait to day trip and visit!

6. Inquiring minds want to know…tell readers something about you that no one knows.

I’m an excellent cook. My kids, bless their hearts, might discover my skills when they’re adults. Right now, they’re on the grilled-cheese-and-pasta diet. As toddlers, they start out strong and eat fruit, veggies, and fiber. As they pickup habits from their peers, they turn into carb-dairy fiends. I’m making peace with their preferences. Kind of. They’ll come around.

7. You are stranded on a deserted island with only a back pack for company. What three items are in your survival pack?

You want to hear about dry champagne, a cute swimsuit, and a good book? I’m an engineer. LOL. Here goes!

I would prioritize items that would help ensure my survival and potentially facilitate my rescue. A versatile multi-tool, such as a Swiss Army knife or a Leatherman, would be invaluable for various tasks. A reliable firestarter kit, including waterproof matches, a magnesium fire starter, and some tinder, would be essential for starting fires. A portable water filtration system, such as a LifeStraw or a small water filter pump, would ensure access to clean drinking water.

I hope it’s a big backpack and I live long enough to get back to the finer things in life!

8. If you could have one super power in your existence, what would it be?

Flying would be nice.

9. Favorite snack?

Beef jerky. Nut butter cookies. Strawberries.

10. Indy 500 – Do you know how to get where you’re going or do you drive the speed limit?

I don’t drive like a Indy 500 driver, but I do consider driving 5 mph over the speed limit reasonable compliance. When I was in graduate school and driving along a remote, Adirondacks highway, I got pulled over for speeding and talked myself out of the ticket. I explained I’d seen smoke coming from my engine and wanted to get to a services station ASAP (with my dog in the front seat). The officer looked skeptical. Everyone looked at the hood. Smoke emerged on cue. After the officer let me off, I never saw the smoke again! Thanks goodness for whatever prehistoric bug got sucked under the hood and turned into charcoal.

 

 

THE STARLIGHT MOTEL

Amy Craig

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GENRE:  Contemporary Romance

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BLURB:

Experienced muralist Kada took charge of her family’s Palm Springs motel to give her mother time to grieve. As a grant deadline approaches, Kada must convince her mother to manage the motel so she can return to her art. Late in December, Kada encounters a horseman approaching the property. Dane, the reserved son of a local farming family, is a loyal workaholic with limited spare time or experience outside the valley. When lightning startles his horse, he lingers at the motel and stirs up Kada’s emotions about leaving the desert oasis. Wary of mixing business with pleasure, she struggles with her attraction. As New Year’s Eve approaches, will the cowboy convince her to chart a new course?

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Excerpt:

“I’m Dane Palmer,” the man on the chestnut horse said. “My family owns the land next door.”

“Oh, thank goodness.” She shaded her gaze. “I’ve heard about you.”

For as long as her family owned the motel, the Palmer family owned the surrounding farmland. Once or twice, the Palmer patriarch offered to buy the Starlight Motel, but Pops resisted and counted the family as friends. They produced the area’s top vegetable crops, cultivated table grapes, and managed fields of fruit trees. Every once in a while, Dane’s mother, Mariah, came by the motel to visit and give her business advice, but Dane and his younger brother remained enigmas. She exhaled. “I’ve met your mother.”

“I’m sure,” Dane said. “She gets around.”

The second man laughed like a rusted pail swinging in the wind.

Dane glanced at the seated cowboy. “This is Walter. He’s the farm’s crew manager.”

Tipping his hat, Walter nodded.

She tented her gaze. “Could you two get down? Between the horses and the low sun, I can’t see you to save my life.”

Hanging his hat on the saddle horn, Dane handed his horse’s reins to Walter. He threw his leg over the horse’s saddle and slid down its side with an easy, athletic grace.

Standing, he was six feet tall, long, rangy, and reserved. He wore boots, jeans, a dark shirt, and a fleece-lined leather jacket that beat back the wind. A hat had smashed his sun-kissed brown hair against his forehead, but he wiped away the mess, cocked his head, and held out his hand.

“Pleasure to meet you,” he said.

 

Author Bio and Links:

Amy Craig lives in Baton Rouge, Louisiana with her family and a small menagerie of pets. She writes contemporary romances featuring intelligent heroines. She can’t always vouch for the men. In her spare time, she plays tennis and expands her husband’s honey-do list. Before pursuing writing, she worked as an engineer, project manager, and incompetent waitress.

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