Thursday, March 24, 2016

Interview Perfect Sense by Amanda Cowen




1. What inspired you to become an author?

I’ve always been a writer. When I was kid, I would lock myself in my room and write story, after story, after story. I continued to write into my teen years, but stopped for a while when I was in University. But I always came back to writing. Then after a family friend passed away suddenly (she was only 30 years old with two kids), I realized life was too damn short not to be doing what you love… and I love writing. So I dug deep and I started taking my writing seriously. I pumped out three YA novels in one year, but wasn’t satisfied with any other them. Then inspiration struck and I finally wrote Between Friends and published it in 2013. I’ve had such a lag between that book and this one, mainly because life happens and I’m not a writer full time, even though I’d like to be. But I’m very happy with how Perfect Sense turned out, and I hope all my readers will enjoy it as much as I enjoyed writing it! I will never stop writing, I will always be an author and you can expect to see much more from me in the future! 

2. Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp? 


If anyone takes anything away from Perfect Sense, it’s that love isn’t always easy when you love someone with an addiction. Addiction is a disease. And people tend to stereo type addicts negatively as unemployed, victims of bad upbringings, high school drop outs and prostitutes. People think they take drugs in dark, dirty alleyways, rob innocent people, or go on binges and engage in high risk behaviors. But in reality the majority of addicts are just like everyone else, and many are professional athletes, people in power, celebrities, or someone you know. Addiction does not discriminate between rich and poor, young or old. And hopefully, Cash and Quinn’s story portrays that.

3. Is the book, characters, or any scenes based on a true life experience, someone you know, or events in your own life?

Yes, Cash and Quinn’s story was inspired by my husband (who is also a hockey player). We were sitting around one night and I was telling him I wanted to write an angsty love story. I was working on another novel but I felt like it just wasn’t coming together the way I wanted. I told him I needed to challenge myself and write something different than my comfort zone and previous novel Between Friends (which is more of a romantic comedy and sweet love story). So he said that I should write a story about a hockey player, and told me about Theo Fleurry, a Canadian hockey player who suffered with an addiction. I immediately Googled Theo Fleurry and his story. He had an autobiography published in 2009 called Playing with Fire. And as I read his story, it started to inspire me to write and create Cash and Quinn’s story.

3. What book are you reading now?

Me Before You, by Jo Jo Moyes. So far, I’m in love with Will Traynor. He’s my latest book boyfriend.

4. What is your current “work in progress” or upcoming projects?

I’m working on two other novels, TAINTED (a love triangle romance) and FROM A TO Z (a friends to lovers romance), both anticipated to be released 2017. I am also working on a book titled WINGMAN (a second friends to lovers romance), anticipated to release 2018. I have a lot on the go! I wish I could just write full time and pump out all the characters and stories swirling around in my head J

5. Can you share a little of your current work with us?

Yes! Perfect Love (Perfect Series #2), the second book to Cash and Quinn’s story will be released later this year. I don’t want to give too much away, because that means I would give away the ending of Perfect Sense. So I’ll just say it will be worth the wait!

6. Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?

Yes, finding the time. I work full time, have two kids (who play hockey), and like having down time for myself (not writing). But when I do get to write, it just flows out of me and I love every moment of it. 

7. Do you have to travel much to do research for your books?

I have, and I do find inspiration from places I’ve travelled. Most of my writing is influenced by people and places I am familiar with. But sometimes, I am not familiar with a place I’ve chosen to write about. I find it fun to research that unfamiliar place and create it as I imagine it to be.

8. Who designed the cover of your latest book?

Sarah Hansen at Okaycreations.

9. Do you have a song or playlist (book soundtrack) that you think represents this book?


Yes! 2 Heads by Coleman Hell! He’s from my hometown and I swear it’s like he wrote his hit song for Perfect Sense!

Perfect Sense
Perfect Series
Book One
Amanda Cowen

Genre: New Adult Contemporary Romance

Publisher: Amanda Cowen Books

Date of Publication: March 22, 2016

Number of pages: 277
Word Count: 79,000

Cover Artist: Sarah Hansen - Okaycreations

Book Description:

He’s gorgeous.

He’s reckless.

And he’s every woman’s dirty fantasy in the state of California.., except one… Quinn Ashby.

Recent graduate of Penn and top of her class, Quinn is whip smart, ambitious and interning as the new marketing coordinator for the Bexley Bruisers American Hockey League team. The last thing she needs is to waste her time on guys…especially one as lethal to her focus as Cash Brooks.

But once the bad boy hockey star tempts her into his world, threatening her professional future, she’s forced to decide whether to let him into her heart…or to leave him behind forever.


Excerpt:

I round the corner into the secluded hall leading to the washrooms, and my heart stops. Cash on the ice, sweaty and dressed in hockey equipment, was sexy, but the Cash sitting feet away, wearing an expensive modern-fit, pastel brown suit, is insanely hot. I eye the two women perched on either side of him on the red velvet chaise. To his right, a long-haired blonde with extensions rests a possessive hand on his chest. To his left, a woman with jet black hair toys with her side ponytail while running the fingers of her other hand through his wavy honey-colored hair.
His piercing blue gaze snaps to mine, and he tilts his head to the side, studying me. A cocky grin curves his full lips. I move forward, unable to breathe as his stare slides down my peplum dress, stopping once at my breasts and once at my hips. His eyes lock with mine and I fiddle with the gold-toned slider bracelet around my wrist.  He pushes up from the chaise, abandoning the two women feeling him up in the corner. I turn away, and as my palm slams against the door of the ladies room, a big, warm hand closes around my wrist.
Cash spins me around and I press back against the wall beside the door. He cages me, his palms flat on either side of my head. He leans toward me, his mouth inches from my face, so close I can the warmth of his breath tickling my cheek. He smells ridiculously good, like honey and cinnamon.
“Mittens,” he whispers, his mouth dangerously close to my lips. “I didn’t peg you as the stalking type, especially since you took off after I scored that hard-earned goal for you.”
What an arrogant bastard!
I arch an eyebrow at him. “Excuse me? Do I know you?”
His eyes flicker, and his lips curl in amusement. “Come on, Quinn. I don’t ever forget a pretty face. I’m willing to bet you don’t forget one either.”
My heart pounds as I glare into his sharp baby blues. His sexy athletic build towers over me. He makes me feel even more petite than usual. I try to ignore the rise and fall on his muscular chest, but despite myself my nipples harden.
Even though my body is betraying me, I refuse to act like every other puck bunny, falling at his feet. “You’re really full of yourself, aren’t you?” I say. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to use the ladies room.”
He chuckles, “How about you stop playing games with me and admit you came here looking for me.”
I shoot him a disgusted look. “I’m not here for you.”
Cash smiles at me with what I am guessing to be one of his most charmingly rehearsed expressions. He cocks his head to the side then bites his bottom lip like he is thinking about something. “Alright, since you want to play it that way…” He leans in close enough that I feel his stubble brush against my cheek. “Can I buy you a drink?”
An unwelcome shiver of awareness shoots up my spine. “Listen, asshole. I am Hilton Ashby’s daughter and the newest employee in the Marketing and Promotions Department for the Bruisers. So if you wouldn’t mind stepping aside so I can freshen up, I would really appreciate it.”
Cash’s dimples deepen, and a dangerous grin pulls at the corners of his lips. “Perfect, now I know where I can find you.”
I feel myself weaken for a brief second at his smile, until I remind myself this guy is nothing but trouble. Wrapping my fingers tightly around his tie, I yank him against my chest, and whisper in his ear, “Stay away from me, Brooks. I don’t do arrogant dickheads.”

Cash looks straight into my eyes, his grin still in place. He runs a callused fingertip along my collarbone. “I’m not going anywhere.” He leans down, his lips close to mine.  “I promise you, this is just the beginning.”

About the Author:

Amanda Cowen can be found eating cupcakes, singing off-key, or watching a good RomCom when she isn't trapped on her computer writing stories. She is an "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" fanatic, a hater of roller-coasters and a country music junkie. She lives in Thunder Bay, ON where the summers are short and the winters are long.

Her next Contemporary Romance/New Adult Fiction novel PERFECT SENSE (The Perfect Series #1) will be available March 22, 2016.

Amanda would love to hear from her readers. Contact her via her website,
become a fan on Facebook, follow her on Instagram, or on Goodreads.



Instagram - @authoramandacowen

Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6913682.Amanda_Cowen




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