Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Author spotlight-Angela Quarles


Please join me in welcoming Angela Quarles as she is celebrating release of her geek romance titled "Beer & Groping in Las Vegas" 


Contemporary Romantic Comedy
Secret Cravings Publishing
Release Date: December 19, 2012
Length: Novelette (13,500 words)
Price: 3.99
Content advisory: Adult language, explicit sex


Please tell us about your writing. Can you explain the title without giving too much away?
Certainly! I work in a bookstore and was trying to think of possible titles for a new project, and was shelving some Hunter S. Thompson, and I was like hmm, what could be a twist off of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, and first I was like Beer and Loathing, but I write lighthearted romances, and then 'groping' popped into my head. In the next instant I had the hero, as I thought he should be a microbrewer and that the heroine would be an overworked software programmer. Once I had that, things started falling into place, including the description for him of being a geek trapped in a good ole boy's body. I had that tagline for him before I even started writing the story. It was the first time I came up with a title first.

What was your journey as a writer?
I've been mainly non-fiction for a long time, but started dabbling in fiction by way of Jane Austen fan fiction back in 2005. But that was still just a lark, and I didn't get serious about writing as a viable career option until 2008.

I am inspired by authors like Arturo Perez Reverte, Jack Vance, Dan Simmons, Beatrice Small, J.R.R Tolkien, C. S. Lewis. What writers inspire you?
I love Reverte and Tolkien too! My number one inspiration is Jane Austen, her ability to capture characters in single slivers of time so aptly leaves me in awe. On the completely other end of the spectrum, Christopher Moore is another favorite author and inspired me to take up writing with humor. Others are Anne Rice, Frank Herbert, Umberto Eco, Christi Phillips and Kevin Hearne. In Romance, it'd be Loretta Chase, Amanda Quick, Courtney Milan, Katie MacAlister, and Tessa Dare.

What are your future writing goals?
To get my time travel novel, MUST LOVE BREECHES, picked up by an editor! As far as things I can control, I'd like to finish revising two novels I've already written, and write and revise the sequel to MUST LOVE BREECHES next year.

Whom do you see as your ideal reader?
Someone who loves history and its nuances, but also doesn't mind the occasional jaunt into modern times. But above all has a fun, quirky sense of humor. 

When you have time, what would we find you reading?
Sounds like you think I don't have time to read? That'd be a travesty! I'm first and foremost a reader, I think. I read every day, usually at lunch and when I go to bed. I've got a huge stack next to my bed. You'd definitely catch me reading a romance, but also in my TBR pile is Umberto Eco's latest, as well as non-fiction (history!)

What do you learn from your writing?
Every time I sit down to write I learn more about myself, which is great. I also learn more about others around me and the environment.

Who has been your biggest supporter?
That's tough. I have some great friends who support me, and my family, thankfully, does so as well. I don't think I can single one person out.

How are you promoting your work?
I'm so new at this, since it's my first release. I bought a couple of ads on some romance blogs, and I've also lined up guest slots on a number of blogs. Six Sentence Sunday has also been a great way to connect with potential readers. I also made a trailer and posted it to YouTube.

What advice can you give to aspiring writers?
Don't get too caught up on the idea of being a writer. You run the risk of creating this image of who you need to be and where your writing should be that you'll scare yourself into ever typing in a single word, or you'll start and abandon it part way through because you're convinced it's utter crap. The truth is, all first drafts are crap. No one is going to see that first draft. Get your story down first, and then go back and make it brilliant.

Where can our readers find a copy of your work?
At first it'll only be up at store.secretcravingspublishing.com but will be added to other outlets shortly after. The best bet is to visit my book page on my website, where I'll keep it up-to-date with buy links.

And finally, as an author, do you have any quirks or habits that help you write better?
Hmm, I'd like to be interesting and say that I have to don my lucky Jayne hat, or rub the belly of my wooden Buddha, but nope. I just sit and write. I do have trouble with staying off social network sites, so I find that on those days, I go to the coffee shop and write. I also find the hashtag #1k1hr on Twitter helpful for keeping me on task.

Thank you for being my guest today. I wish you the best of luck with your writing. 
Thank you for having me! And good luck with yours!

Latest release:
Can a djinn and a magic slot machine bring two geeks together?

Riley McGregor is a geek trapped in a Good Ole Boy body and as owner of a microbrewery, smart chicks never look at him twice.

Rejected by a geek who wanted to “trade up,” Mirjam Linna would rather immerse herself in work than be the girlfriend-of-the-moment. Stranded in a Vegas hotel, she makes a wish—a night of hot sex with the man of her dreams. It’s granted. She agrees to dinner, but afterward, she’ll say thanks, but no thanks, and see what’s on the SyFy channel. But when they meet, they’re surprised to find they had a shared connection in their past. Sparks fly as these two learn to be in the moment, be themselves and find love.

Fans of Star Trek, Star Wars, Monty Python, Firefly and Marvin the Martian will enjoy this romantic comedy.

About Angela

Angela works at an independent bookstore and lives in an historic house in the beautiful and quirky town of Mobile, AL, with her two matched gray cats, Darcy and Bingley. When she's not writing, she enjoys the usual stuff like gardening, reading, hanging out, eating, drinking, chasing squirrels out of the walls and creating the occasional knitted scarf. She's had a varied career, including website programming and directing a small local history museum.

She's an admitted geek and is proud to be among the few but mighty Browncoats who watched 
Firefly the first night it aired. She was introduced to the wonderful world of science fiction by her father, by way of watching reruns of the original Star Trek in her tweens and later giving her a copy of Walter M. Miller Jr's A Canticle for Leibowitz as a teenager. She hasn't looked back since. 

She has a B.A. in Anthropology and International Studies with a minor in German from Emory University, and a Masters in Heritage Preservation from Georgia State University. She was an exchange student to Finland in high school and studied abroad in Vienna one summer in college. She recently found representation with Maura Kye-Casella at Don Congdon, Assoc.



Thank you, Angela. Where can readers order your book? 


8 comments:

  1. I Wanna Read It!
    Fear & Groping sounds like a total hoot, Angela. Great job with the interview, ladies!

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    1. Thanks for stopping by, Liv and for sharing on Twitter.

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    2. Thanks Liv! Hope you enjoy it!

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  2. Hi Angela, good luck with Fear and Groping - great title - it sounds like a lot of fun. I have a Buddha on my desk and I don't rub his belly either. He does hold a nice lavender candle for me, though :)

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    1. That sounds like a great use for your Buddha! Thanks for stopping by!

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  3. cky15: It was nice that you were able to give some advice on writing. It is so true that if what you first write is crap but as you said it always is. I enjoy stopping by to read your interview. Besides love this hopping.
    cwall88atyahoo.com

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  4. Both Angela and Zrinka mentioned authors who are amongst my all-time faves: Jack Vance and Frank Herbert. Another reason to buy and read!

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  5. Lovely interview!

    Merry Christmas to Zrinka and her guests!

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