HOLIDAY LOVE!!! Q&A WITH MAGGIE MCGINNIS & GIVEAWAY

Hi Maggie, welcome to Book Obsessed Chicks and thank you for answering my questions.

 Can you please tell us a bit about yourself?

Oh, gosh. Let’s see. I’m a cowgirl-wannabe trapped in New England, I’m a NASCAR driver-wannabe trapped in a minivan, and I’m a daredevil-wannabe trapped in a scaredy-cat body. Seriously, though – I’m a mom, a wife, and an author … usually in that order. Except on deadline weeks.  I write contemporary romance that falls on the sweet side, with two books out now, and lots more on the way for 2015-2016, so I’m very excited!

 When and how did you know you wanted to be a writer?

I taught English for years, and always fancied myself a better editor than writer. Then I had twins, which led to an immediate reduction in both sleep and sanity. In the dead of night, with two colicky infants, I started created stories in my head so that I wouldn’t go completely nuts (and to give me some illusion that I controlled SOMEthing about my life).  That’s when I really started, and once the writing bug got hold, it just wouldn’t let go.

 Tell us about your upcoming work?

I just barely released my second Loveswept book – A Cowboy’s Christmas Promise. I’m thrilled with the response from reviewers and readers, since this is a book that ripped my heart out more than a few times. It features a single-dad vet raising twin daughters, and a city-gal who never expects to find her happily-ever-after on a Montana dude ranch. If you love Christmas romances, half of it takes place at the holidays. If you don’t love Christmas romances, half of it DOESN’T take place at the holidays! Win-win! The third book in the series (Once Upon a Cowboy) comes out in June!

 Can you tell us your favorite character from your books so far and why?

It’s kind of embarrassing to admit, but at some point in each book, I manage to fall utterly, completely in love with my hero … so much so that when it’s release week, I’m sort of sad to let him go out to readers. Thus far, the only cure I’ve found is to write another book … and fall embarrassingly in love with ITS hero.

 Was it difficult for you to get published?

Hmm. Good question. My first book got me a Golden Heart nomination, which was a lovely, wonderful surprise. I signed with my fabulous agent soon after the nomination, and out we went with the book. Unfortunately, although my cozy mystery-slash-contemporary romance-slash-romantic-suspense garnered some excellent feedback, there just wasn’t a sales shelf with that many slashes on it, so it didn’t sell. While it was out on submission, I decided I needed to curb my latent ADD and make my next book belong to only one genre, and that’s when the Whisper Creek series was born. I created a triumvirate of Boston gals who find their happily-ever-afters with Montana cowboys, and we found a home for the series with Random House Loveswept. I’m SO happy with them, and will hopefully get the chance to keep working with the Loveswept team for a long time to come!

 Who are your favorite authors/reads?

I claim to be Kristan Higgins’ first super-fan, but I know a lot of others who can make that claim as well. I just adore the way she weaves in her secondary characters, and her books are a master class in dialogue and humor. I’m also a huge fan of Julia Quinn, and hope someday to write humor HALF as well as she does. My keep-forever shelf also has lots of titles from Rachel Gibson, Christie Craig, Nora Roberts, and Emily Giffin.

 Hobbies?

Ooh! Easy question! I love gymnastics and taekwondo and flute lessons and swimming and birthday parties every weekend and skating and skiing and crafts. Definitely love crafts.

Wait.

Those are not MY hobbies. Those are my children’s hobbies, which by necessity have become MY hobbies. Hmm. It occurs to me that I don’t have TIME for hobbies right now. That’s okay, though. I’ll have lots of years ahead when I’ll be sitting down doing a hobby … and wishing my kiddos were still running my life.

 What is your dream job?

Well, since I’m too old to train for the Olympics, and too wimpy to survive a NASCAR track, I think I’d have to say I already HAVE my dream job. On a daily basis, I get to live and relive the magic of falling in love, and I get to do it in my pajamas, with plenty of chocolate at hand. What better job could there be?

 Do you have any favorite TV shows?

I’m shamelessly addicted to Nashville. I love the writing, and I LOVE the music. It’s just such a good show. My treadmill TV show right now is Love it or List It. I love watching the transformations of the homes … but the down side is I come away with lots of “Honey, if we just took out this wall …” ideas. McTool-Guy may suggest reducing our cable package if I’m not careful.

What’s next for you?

The third book in the Whisper Creek series (Once Upon a Cowboy) comes out in June, and I have a new 3-book series whose first book (Forever This Time) releases this coming fall with St. Martin’s Press. I’m so excited to have the chance to work with two fabulous editors and publishers, and am doing my best to keep up with all of the deadlines!

Where can we find you?

Right now, I’m most active on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Maggie-McGinnis-Author/498505866880467

I also tweet occasionally: https://twitter.com/Maggie_McGinnis

And of course, my website: http://maggiemcginnis.com/

I’ve thus far avoided Pinterest because I’m pretty sure I’d never come back out! J

Thanks so much for having me, Kim!! It’s always fun to talk with you!!

Thanks so much for participating!!!

GIVEAWAY ALERT!!! 

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