Cleanreadbookclub

Date: Sep 21, 2012

THE HEART'S DISCOVERY DISCUSSION

Author Amy McGuire · Veteran Member

Welcome, anyone who had the time to stop by. Looking forward to answering any questions you might have about the book.

Date: Sep 21, 2012

Amy what was your inspiration behind the cover? It seems as though the book contained so much more than the cover showed.

Author Amy McGuire · Veteran Member

Ah. Well the inspiration was basically due to a fellow author. She said she found it helpful to use a scene from the story as a cover. So I gave that a try and a lot of people liked it. I was also given the advice that simple is better. Originally I was going with a bit of a blackberry theme. You can see the previous cover ideas in my gallery on my site at http://www.shesanauthor.com. One of the covers I was told looked like a book of poetry and the other like a cookbook. Ha ha!

Date: Sep 21, 2012

I really loved in the book how your supporting characters played critical roles in the life of the book as well. I loved Anjaline and Gabriel but do you think you would do any spinoffs with any of the supporting characters in the book?

Author Amy McGuire · Veteran Member

Oh absolutely. I actually already have two more books planned for after the 'trilogy' of Anjaline and Gabriel. Evelyn gets her own story and so does Leah. In age order. And actually Damian gets his own story too. Hoping to have that out by February 2013 as a stand alone yet part of the saga. I'm calling it Runaway: Damian's Story. I want to get more in depth with all the supporting characters and I think my next few books will do that.

Author Amy McGuire · Veteran Member

Actually, I never intended for Damian to have his own book, but I had so many readers begging to find out what happens to him and I got inspired. It will be my first action romance. ;) Emphasis on the action with a teeny bit of romance. :)

Date: Sep 21, 2012

You write romance for YA do you think you will venture into other areas of romance?

Author Amy McGuire · Veteran Member

I hope to do adult romance someday. And actually, I have a couple sci-fi (adult) books on the back burner too. I like to think I don't have to be hemmed in by any one genre.

Date: Sep 21, 2012

I know you love and all your characters but is there any one in particular that you favor in this book and why is that?

Author Amy McGuire · Veteran Member

Hmm. Well, it's a bit of a toss up I guess. Of course I love Anjaline and Gabriel and wouldn't mind meeting Gabriel in real life. I have to say though, my favourite character is Robin. He's just a fun character who knows how to flirt while careful of boundaries. He's also cute which doesn't hurt anything. He's a very loyal friend and seems to genuinely care about the relationship between Anjaline and Gabriel. Even though he's initially attracted to Anjaline and could probably get her to fall for him in a heartbeat, he chooses instead to try talking some sense into Gabriel. That's the kind of friend you can depend on and trust to be alone with your girlfriend or boyfriend. Robin is just one amazing guy.

Date: Sep 21, 2012

I know THE HEART'S DISCOVERY is a YA romance but what do you want your readers to get from your characters Anjaline and Gabriel?

Author Amy McGuire · Veteran Member

Honestly, when I first wrote Anjaline and Gabriel's story, I was writing for me. I had no intention of publishing when I first wrote it. It was basically therapy. My daughter was just over 9 months at the time and sleeping large chunks in the day so I would spend those times writing. So at first there was no real 'message'. I guess if I had to think about what message I want Gabriel and Anjaline to portray, it would be twofold. First, if you really care about someone, don't keep it bottled up. Yes, admitting your feelings for someone if you don't know how they feel about you can be pretty scary. But if you don't ask or tell the other person how you feel, you'll always live in regret. Secondly, I think they demonstrate how you can have strong feelings for a member of the opposite sex and yet never cross the moral lines. I had a reader point out that they spend a lot of time alone. And yet they never go beyond kissing, and when things get too hot to handle, one or both of them back off. So it is possible to overcome temptation and stay pure until marriage despite hormones. :)

Date: Sep 21, 2012

I like to see writers venture into other genre's. It can be a hard one at times, especially when your interests or writing fits a certain genre, however, it's always possible :)

Date: Sep 21, 2012

Does a lot of your inspiration for your books come from real life experiences either personal or just heard about or does it come strictly from your imagination or creativity?

Author Amy McGuire · Veteran Member

I think so too Salwa. I actually have a bit of scattered brain at times and I think moving into different genres and 'testing them out' will help me kind of harness my thoughts and ideas. If nothing else it will give me a couple more titles to my name...though I fully intend to use pen names for my different genres so I don't confuse my audience. :)

Date: Sep 21, 2012

Hey Samantha Fury here.

I think different pen names for different genres are a great idea.

Date: Sep 21, 2012

I was thinking the same thing Samantha although I hadn't thought of it until Amy mentioned it :)

Author Amy McGuire · Veteran Member

Wow Crystal. That's one of those multiple answer questions. I'll try to break down what I mean. Some of the book is definitely based off personal, real life experience. For instance, though there is no Hope Valley, the tiny village you can only get to by boat that I based it off of does in fact exist. A lot of the places mentioned in the book are real places, with their names changed. I have loosely based all my characters off people I knew at the time, which I think helped to flesh them out. I used the original people as a bit of a base and kind of worked up from there. As for the scenes in the book, many, many were strictly imagination, though they were still researched to make sure the details were correct. One example is the Festival of Fruit and Flowers in Quito. Real festival at the time of year I mention. So it's a combination of all of the above I guess. A wise person once told me, 'write what you know'. I think my first novel is a result of taking that person's advice.

Author Amy McGuire · Veteran Member

Hi Sam! Welcome! Yes. I believe one of my writer friends suggested that. And it does indeed make sense. Even using a pen name for the genre I'm writing in now. For instance, Amy McGuire is based off my own first name and my grandmother's maiden name. Author Nora Roberts writes Sci Fi under the name J.D. Robb. I think a lot of famous authors do it, and yeah. It really does make sense.

Date: Sep 21, 2012

How soon should we expect to see Damien's story come out?

Samantha Fury · Newbie

Hey! I write my Christian Crime Drama Romance under Samantha Fury
And my normal romance under Samantha Lovern. I like keeping the first name the same, it really helps to simplify things.

Date: Sep 21, 2012

Hmmm...interesting - Pen Names for different Genres, okay :)

I agree it stretches us to delve into other genres. I do wish you the best with all your writings.

Date: Sep 21, 2012

IS ANYBODY GETTING THIS?!! yawn yawn yawn

Author Amy McGuire · Veteran Member

Hi Ken. Welcome!

Author Amy McGuire · Veteran Member

Thank you Salwa! :)

Date: Sep 21, 2012

YES!!! Ken yay!!! glad you're here :)

Samantha Fury · Newbie

I wanted to use Samantha all the time because it makes it easier on me. Amy do you have any of your other pen names chosen?

Author Amy McGuire · Veteran Member

Crystal: As long as everything goes well with the release of Worlds Apart (book two of The Hope Valley Saga and the sequel to The Heart's Discovery) I'm hoping to have Runaway: Damian's Story out by Valentine's Day 2013.

Author Amy McGuire · Veteran Member

Sam: I haven't chosen them yet. I have played around with a couple for my sci fi genre but nothing has stuck yet. When I hit upon it though and when the first sci fi novel comes out, I will be sure to let all my fans know it's me. :)

Author Amy McGuire · Veteran Member

Oh, and Amy will not be a first name for any of the other pen names.

Date: Sep 21, 2012

What inspired you to write this story, Amy? And would you be willing to be hosted on my Blog in a bit?

(probably no sooner than next week)

Samantha Fury · Newbie

Thanks! I've written a sci fi to me the hard part is the edit. Do you have more issues with writing the novel or is the other parts irritate you more. Cover, editing and such.

:)

Date: Sep 21, 2012

Why not keep the same pen name for all the different genres? Or simpy have 2?

Author Amy McGuire · Veteran Member

K.R.: I was actually inspired by an old friend. We were talking about our time together when we were children and lived in 'Hope Valley' which is the cover name for an actual place in British Columbia that you could only get to by boat at the time. He suggested that I write down a few of our 'adventures' and before I knew it, there was a whole story. As I wrote, the characters started to come to me, demanding I write them in. And soon Evelyn and Leah were practically shouting at me that their story needed to be told too. So they will get their own books later in the saga. Stubborn muses. ~L~

As for being on your blog, I would love to! And whenever is most convenient for you. My email is shesanauthor@gmail.com. Email me and we can discuss the details.

Also, to anyone else, I am always eager to be on a blog with a different audience than my own. And I love interviews, guest posts or anything really.

Date: Sep 21, 2012

I do want to encourage anyone who has read the book to post a review on the sites the book is sold. Amy would you list all the areas reviews can be posted.

Author Amy McGuire · Veteran Member

K.R.: Using the same pen name for different genres confuses audiences. For example, Nora Roberts writes romance but J.D. Robb writes sci fi thrillers. If I picked up a book by Nora Roberts that was sci fi thriller I would be quite confused. So it keeps the audiences from either being really confused or even disappointed if they had been looking forward to your current book and it wasn't what they expected.

Samantha Fury · Newbie

Hey sorry I gotta run phone, mom. Good luck with your novels Amy. I like two pen names one for my Christian Genre's and one for my non Christian Genres. It's more about not offending folks than anything.

Gnight girls!!!

Sam

Author Amy McGuire · Veteran Member

Thanks for reminding me Crystal. You can leave a review at the following links:
Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/146706
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/The-Hearts-Discovery-Valley-Volume/dp/1475265115/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1348189221&sr=8-3&keywords=the+heart%27s+discovery
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13553523-the-heart-s-discovery
My site: http://www.shesanauthor.com/apps/testimonials/

Author Amy McGuire · Veteran Member

Goodnight Sam. Thanks for stopping by!

Date: Sep 21, 2012

Thanks for claryfing about the pen names and such. And I'll try my best to get you on my Blog soon. I'm afraid, though, that I've been a bit.....*cringe*.......lazy about my Blog. I need to work on it some more. And I'll email you the questions I usually ask anyone.

Date: Sep 21, 2012

This has been a great discussion but have to go and feed the family. Amy you are an amazing writer with many more stories to share with this world which so desperately needs the positive influence of authors such as yourself. I absolutely loved THE HEART'S DISCOVERY and await many more of your novels to come

Author Amy McGuire · Veteran Member

Thanks Crystal! This is a wonderful forum and I'm having a blast.
Everyone, I'll be on here for awhile longer, so if you have any questions, feel free to post.

Author Amy McGuire · Veteran Member

K.R.: No rush. I look forward to being on your blog.

Author Amy McGuire · Veteran Member

And anyone just watching, please feel free to ask questions.

Date: Sep 21, 2012

I agree completely with Crystal!! You have so much more to offer the USA, North America..........the entire world!

Author Amy McGuire · Veteran Member

Aww. That's very, very sweet K.R. Thanks for the encouragement. :D

Author Amy McGuire · Veteran Member

To anyone who will leave a comment in the future (I hope), if you read my book, please review it on any of the following forums:

Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/146706
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/The-Hearts-Discovery-Valley-Volume/dp/1475265115/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1348189221&sr=8-3&keywords=the+heart%27s+discovery
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13553523-the-heart-s-discovery
My site: http://www.shesanauthor.com/apps/testimonials/

Thanks!

Author Amy McGuire · Veteran Member

Hmm. If there aren't any more questions at this time, I will probably sign off. If anyone still had a question, feel free to post it and I will reply as soon as possible.

Author Amy McGuire · Veteran Member

One more minute for any last minute questions before I head out. Remember, any questions you didn't have tonight can be posted tomorrow and I'll get to them.