Author Spotlight ~C.H. Admirand~

Early 2011 I picked up a book named Tyler, by a new author to me, C.H. Admirand, and quickly fell in love with Garahan family in the story. Being who I am, curious to say the least, I wanted to know more about this talented author, so I sent her an email about how I enjoyed the book C.H. emailed me back quickly and so began our relationship. This week her third book in the Secret Life of Cowboys series, Jesse is hitting thhe bookshelves and I would like to share the Colleen Admirand I know with you.

I was very fortunate to meet C.H. Amirand at last Summer's RWA in New York and loved her from minute one. She is so enthusiastic about meeting her readers and so appreciative of anyone who approaches her. Then we got to have a splash of an great time at Lora Leigh's RAW, where Colleen spent time with Denise and I and pretty much dragged me over to meet Lori Foster, who I was a tad nervous about meeting. That went very well. I might add.

In November 2011, Colleen came down to see the Book Obsessed Chicks group in my home and we had the best evening with her.She told all about her series and her previous books, and we got to know her on a very relaxed level. Every single one of my girls is a staunch supporter and big fan of C.H. Admirand and I would love you all to be as well.

Last time I was fortunate to see Colleen was this June at the Book Obsessed Chicks 2nd Annual Beach BBQ Blast at Lido Beach, N.Y. The lovely lady brought along her friend and fellow author, Tara Nina to share in the festivities where we all got to find out more about the author and a great lady whom I call my friend, Colleen Admirand.

Q&A with C.H. Admirand in honor of the release of
 ~THE SECRET LIFE OF COWBOYS (BOOK 3) JESSE~

1. When did you know you wanted to write? I've always loved writing. I used to write poetry--badly--for a high school crush and then wrote my first short story...entitled MISSING...in my high school creative writing class.

2.Did you find it difficult to get published? LOL! I had 99 rejections before I received the call. I started writing seriously for publication in 1995 and received the call in June of 2000...my first book was published in December of 2001. But the hard part was wondering if I was going to be a one-book wonder because I didn't sell my second book until 2007...and then I sold six more! My first editor left before THE MARSHAL'S DESTINY was published. Being orphaned before the book was actually published was difficult. After years in the Library and Small Press Market, I achieved one of my career goals and sold a trilogy to Sourcebooks. TYLER was my 10th book, but my first mass market paperback. :)

3.Tell us a little about yourself and about Jesse. I'm definitely a homebody and my brand really does describe me: Romance, Family, Hearth & Home. My family centers me and has been supportive of my career from the beginning. They totally understand that when I’m on deadline, it's the 3 Ps for dinner: Peanut Butter, Pasta, or Pizza! LOL. I love writing and reading Romance, spending time with my family and our beautiful grandbaby, baking, and playing in the dirt in our gardens.

JESSE is the youngest of the dark-haired, dark-eyed, handsome-as-sin Garahan brothers. He loves his brothers and the Circle G Ranch and will do anything he has to in order to save their 150 year old legacy. He’s had his heart broken twice—by the same woman, so it seemed only fair that he would fall in love with two…the curvy blonde he stopped to help at the side of the road on the way into town—and her three-year-old pixie-pink, cowgirl daughter!

4.What inspired you to write The Secret Life of Cowboys Series? It all started with one of my author friends asking if I’d go with her to support her publisher and the Ellora’s Cave models by going to a local club to see them. Of course I’d do just about anything for my friends…but next time, I think I’ll ask questions first…because we ended up at LeBare in Houston, a ladies’ club. I thought I was old enough to go…but apparently I was wrong. I was mortified and so uncomfortable that I nearly missed out on the perfect opportunity to do research. By the time the final act walked out onto stage…a cowboy…my interest was captured. And I began to wonder, why would a real cowboy be up on that stage? And then I knew—to save the ranch! Once the creative juices started to flow, I had the synopsis for the first book and on the plane ride home, the bare bones for two more!

5.Who was your favorite character to write and why? Hmmm…that’s a tough question, because while I’m working on my wip, I live with those characters…eat with them, sleep with them, etc., heck they even wake me up in the middle of the night because they’re arguing in my head! But I do have to say that Jesse, Danielle, and Lacy have been pure pleasure to write about…as a mom, incorporating snippets of memories of our three when they were little was so much fun.

6.What do your family and friends think about your choice of career? My hubby and our three kids…and now our son-in-law are very supportive and are ready to be a stand in for an action scene, for example, if I can’t envision just where my 5’4” heroine would get hit if she stepped in the middle of a fist fight. LOL!  For some reason, my guys really enjoy pretending that they’re about to clip me in the chin. My author friends and I support each other, reading when needed and doing events and promo with and for one another. Do they read your books? My daughter has read chapters for me over the years, but not my guys…but they’ve all said they’d read my digital comic when it’s released in March.

7.On a personal note, what’s your favorite television show? If and when I get the remote, I enjoy watching NCIS…other than that I love tuning in to the Encore Western and Hallmark channels.

8.Who are your favorite authors? Nora Roberts, Julie Garwood, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Christina Skye, to name a few.  Favorite Book? Hmmm…that’s a tough one because I have so many…Ransom by Julie Garwood.

9.Do you have any role models? If so, who? From the first moment I heard her speak at a writer’s conference, Nora Roberts has been a huge influence. She’s smart, savvy, and sooo talented, but besides that has her finger on the pulse-beat of what readers want and delivers it time and time again. Mentors? I don’t have any personal mentors, but I have a group of mentors RWA and NJRW…without those two writer’s groups, I do not think I would have ever received the call.

10.What’s your favorite holiday? It’s a tie between Thanksgiving—big fan of turkey, stuffing, and PIEs…and Christmas…it’s the cookies. LOL!

 11. Do you have any say in cover choice? I did for my first book…that’s my great-grandmother, the real Margaret Mary Flaherty on the cover of the book.  I decided to use family names in all of my books and am still working on my Irish ancestors’ names…Margaret Mary Flaherty was the heroine in my first book.

12. Any last words of wisdom to your readers? For those that are aspiring writers—NEVER give up! You never know just how close you are to receiving that call if you do. For readers—thank you for supporting Romance and loving it as much as I do!

P.S. LET'S KEEP OUR COWBOY SUMMER GOING!!!