Today I'd like to introduce you to Allison Knight, a fellow Champagne Books author, and the first to kick off my author exchange features and interviews. To get things started, Allison wanted to share with you why and how she got herself pulled in to writing historical fiction.
“One night, while the Earl of Sandwich was playing cards, he got hungry...” So began another dinnertime tale about people to whom my father swore we were related. With every story Dad told, he instilled a love of history in all of us. For example my sister has become a genealogist. But Dad wasn’t the only one. My grandfather delighted in gathering his grandchildren around him and telling us about his life; how the snow came through the cracks of their one room log cabin on the night he was born, why he never got further in school than third grade, although by all standards he was a very successful man.
Mother also had stories to tell. Her tales centered around the antiques from relatives who journeyed to the US from Germany, Holland, even a bride from Spain who was supposed to have been a purchased bride. I have a rose bush that has traveled around the US with us which supposedly came with one of the relatives from Holland nearly two hundred years ago. Notice -- I said supposedly.
Of course, I'm also a romantic. I have to have a story with a happy ending. Yeh, I really like those fairy tales which have 'and they lived happily ever after' endings. So I write romance.
I also love delving into facts, researching a book. The valentine story, Roses For My Lady, released this February, came about when I followed the development of the Valentine card which began in the 15th century. Some facts, however, have a nasty habit of alluding an author, no matter how many attempts are made to discover the truth. So, as an author, I get to imagine how it would have been. After all, it’s called fiction for a reason.
Sounds like a truly intriguing book! Here's a look at the cover...beautiful!
Award winning author, Allison Knight began her writing career like many other authors. She read a book she didn’t like and knew she could do a better job. She grabbed paper and typewriter (computers were not available back then) and announced she was going to write a book. Her children hooted with laughter.
“Yeh, Mom, when cows fly,” her daughter declared.
She took classes, joined a critique group and RWA, and wrote, rewrote and wrote some more. When her first book sold, she came home from her teaching job to find a stuffed toy cow rotating from the ceiling fan in the family room.
It seemed - “Cows did fly!”
Since that time, Allison has written and published seventeen romances for both digital and NY publishers with a digital valentine novella coming out in February. Her current work is another medieval book from her 'song' series.
Because she loves to share her knowledge and her love of romance novels she often blogs with other authors. She also loves to talk about the growing digital market.
You can find her (and her impressive array of books) at:
She blogs once a month for The Writers' Vineyard, http://thewritersvineyard.com 
Wow! I had no idea she'd written so much! Great interview :) good luck with the new release!
ReplyDeleteHi Allison,
ReplyDeleteI love the cover of Roses For My Lady, it's so sweet and feminine. I can't wait to read it and it's actually in my TBR pile...presuming I ever get the chance to read for simple pleasure ever again! :) Very nice piece, TK, I like the new blog.
Rie
Thanks TK for having me today. And thanks Diana and Rie for commenting. I've been at this for a time and I love the excitement of getting my cover for each book. I be very honest. Champagne book covers are absolutely fabulous. Or maybe I'm a bit prejudice. (grinning!)
ReplyDeleteAllison
You're very welcome Allison!!! Anytime. And thanks Rie and Diana for stopping by.
ReplyDeleteGreat interview!
ReplyDelete*adds another author on Champagne's TBR pile*
*grumbles*
;)