Author Interview: Meet Cheryl Harper!

Cheryl Harper, author of quite a few novels (her latest is SANTA, BRING MY BABY BACK, due out on December 17, 2013) was kind enough to answer a few questions for At the Corner of First and Romance about her novel and her writing process.

INTERVIEW

Welcome to At the Corner of First and Romance, Cheryl! I love the Elvis-themed hotel in this series of books! What made you want to write books with this theme?

The theme of the series is really about finding love and home in unexpected places, a favorite of mine. I really wish I could say I had this master plan all along, but I just love places like Graceland that draw true fans. I still remember my first visit there. It was so much fun to imagine who would build a hotel like this, who would work there, who would visit, and whether or not they’d love it or hate it or somewhere in between.

Introduce us to SANTA, BRING MY BABY BACK. What is your favorite scene and why?

My stories all start with a single scene (see the answer to question 6 for more on why), so when I was trying to come up with this book, I could see an impatient man in a gold lame jacket and a beautiful woman in a wedding gown. I knew he was supposed to be performing the wedding and she was missing one groom. From that point I had to figure out what happened and how to get the two of them together. Turns out that Charlie is the hotel owner’s son, and he’s impatient because he doesn’t much care for the hotel but he’s trying to make up for a big mistake by helping his mother out. And free-spirited Grace is a failed gold digger who’s spent too many years looking for the place she belongs. He doesn’t trust many people, certain they’re out to take advantage of his mother. And Grace has a hard time staying in one place. But as sometimes happens, they find exactly what they were looking for in the wrong place at the right time.

Of all your books, which one is your favorite? Why?

Hard question! Am I really allowed to have a favorite??? Okay, well…I love this one because I love holiday stories and it’s the last one in the series so it’s a little bittersweet, but my favorite of the series is probably Can’t Help Falling in Love, mainly because Misty the bloodhound has such an important role. And there’s a bookstore kiss.

Of all your books, which character is your favorite? Why?

I love all my heroes. KT from Stuck on You was the handsome charmer. Charlie in Santa, Bring My Baby Back is the take-charge leader type. But my favorite of all has been Tony from Can’t Help Falling in Love. He’s had a hard life, but instead of being bitter or hard, he’s thankful for what he has. He doesn’t give up. He’s the strong, silent type, inspires a lot of faith, and never once lets anyone down. Plus, he’s a bookworm and hot like whoa.

Are there more stories like this in the pipeline for you? What's next?

This is the last of this series, but I’m working on another sexy series now. My next book will be released by Harlequin Heartwarming in February. A Minute on the Lips is a sweet romance about a small-town sheriff who has a case to solve, an election to win, and a too-handsome newspaper editor who always shows up when she least expects it.

Tell us about your writing process - are you a plotter, a pantser, or both?

I’m still figuring out how to do this writing thing, so I hope I’m transitioning from pantser to plotter because I think it would be easier. My first book was pretty pantser, but since then I’ve tried to plot loosely. Still, no matter how it flows, every story starts with one scene in my head and it builds as I figure out more about the characters in that scene.

What do you do when writer's block strikes?

Moan. Play Candy Crush. Really, I’m not sure I believe I have writer’s block where I don’t know what’s happening with the story. Instead, what I have is days where I’m overwhelmed with the certainty that I have no idea what I’m doing, everyone in the world writes better than I do, and I should go watch television instead. I usually  know what happens next, but I have to get around the fear that makes it hard to put words on paper.

Give us your top 3 favorite kiss scenes - movies or books!

I have the world’s worst memory for stuff like this. My favorite kiss that I’ve written was Tony and Randa’s first kiss in front of the bookstore. Books and a hot guy are totally my idea of the perfect first kiss. Let’s see…movie kisses…one that sticks out in my memory is Bridget and Mark at the end of the first Bridget Jones movie. She says, “Nice boys don’t kiss like that.” And he says, “Yes, they…do.” A kiss that takes your mind off the fact that London can see your underwear is a good kiss. And let’s see…the kiss in Sixteen Candles was seriously sweet, a fabulous way to end that movie. Oh, Jake Ryan…where were you when I was in high school?

What is your most interesting writer quirk?

I’m not sure I have one. I need to get on that! Maybe it’s that all my writing is fueled by Diet Coke.

Tell us about you - what do you like to do when you're not writing?

I spend way too much time in front of the television. Shopping is always fun and I’ve been known to wield some serious knitting needles. Given a free hour or two, though, I want a good book in my hand.

How can readers get in touch with you?
They can always visit my website, http://cherylharperbooks.com, or tweet with me @CherylHarperBks.



Thanks, Cheryl! And if you haven't yet, go grab some of her books. They're sweet, humorous, lovely reads that are guaranteed to put your in a good mood!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Whether she's writing, reading, or just checking the items off of her daily to-do list, Cheryl Harper loves her romance mixed with a little laughter. When she's not working, you will find her ignoring housework, cursing yard work, and spending way too much time with a television remote in her hand.