Joining us today for a Q&A is the fabulous Amanda McIntyre. Hi Amanda, Thanks for joining us. Let's get started with a few questions about your new series and the first book in the series, Rugged Hearts

1. Tell us about this awesome release, RUGGED HEARTS?

Rugged, quiet, hardworking, Wyatt takes his position as head of the Kinnison family seriously. But the scars of betrayal by the women to whom he once trusted his heart now prompt his stark, simple game plan, and no one in hell is going to convince him any differently. What matters most, besides the welfare of his brothers, is to manage the ranch left to him and never risk his heart again to something as foolish as love—but after meeting Aimee, Wyatt begins to realize that a man should never say never to a determined second grade teacher.

When vivacious, resilient Aimee Worth loses her twin sister in a tragic accident, she makes the choice to live out her sister’s dream of teaching in the small mountain community called End of the Line, Montana, never suspecting she’d meet her Mr. Right in the middle of nowhere—he just doesn’t know it yet. Used to challenges, her spirit shatters the perceptions that have kept him isolated from living life beyond the ranch, proving to him that when it comes to love, the greatest risk is not taking one.

2. Where did the inspiration for this story come from?

I was born in Oklahoma and was raise in Missouri and Iowa, so I’ve been in the Heartland all of my life. Having lived and worked in the city, I returned to small town life and have been here ever since.  When I was young, I couldn’t wait to escape small town life, older now, I see its beauty. I’d been writing historical erotic romance for a time and wanted to embrace my Heartland roots a bit more. I’d written a short story called The Cowboys Christmas (it makes a cameo appearance in this book) and a short novella, about a grade school teacher who gets stranded on a ranch. As I looked at the two separate works, an idea began to form and the greatest writing tool a writer has—the GREAT WHAT IF—began to work its magic. By the time, I’d finished the one plot outline for Rugged Hearts, I had two more books outlined, a town called End of the Line, Montana and a quirky cast of delightful secondary characters rounding out the potential for a series of books. I think for the first time ever, I’m beginning to embrace all the fabulous nuances of small town life that I’ve always been aware of, but never truly appreciated until now.

3. Are Wyatt Kinnison or Aimee Worth modeled after anyone personal that you know?

Bits and pieces.Not any one particular person, however. I do have to give credit however, to my daughter who is a middle school teacher. She was great help in my research.  Because I am an artist, and therefore a visual writer, I create a storyboard of sorts with pictures of characters, clothing, settings, housing, towns, etc. I actually have a map layout of End of the Line that I use.

4. Since you listen to music while you write, what was on your playlist for RUGGED HEARTS ?

One of my favorite songs about country life is “Cowboy Take Me Away” by Dixie Chicks. It was also the inspiration for my first ever full-length, contemporary romance novel which I’ve re-released on Amazon, called UNFINISHED DREAMS. To me the lyrics exemplify the heart of a country soul—an appreciation for the earth and giving back what you take. Jed (The original head of the Kinnison ranch) instilled this type of respect for the earth and community in the boys he raised and ultimately left his legacy to. I will say too, that Blake Shelton’s “Boys ‘Round Here’ might be a bit of an influence as well;)

5. Tell us about your typical writing day?

Up around 6:30.Coffee, breakfast, news. Turn off television. Turn on Computer. Answer emails. Attempt to stay away from Facebook. Take a deep breath. Begin and try hard to stay present in the story. Not always as easy as you might think!;)

6. How do you feel about the cover art of RUGGED HEARTS? (we think is is yummy by the way) 

I am actually quite invested in fact in that cover. I knew the look I wanted, found a picture and knowing I wanted to create a series ‘look’ I commissioned my brilliant friend, Sahara Kelly at P and N Graphics to create my vision. She is absolutely brilliant and has done a number of covers for me, including the upcoming covers in this series.

7. Every author has certain scenes that are easy, and then hard to write. What fits in these categories for you and how do you deal with the hot sizzling sex scenes that spice the pages of your work?

Well, let’s just cut to the chase here;) Sex scenes. I have to say that there was a time in my writing career when it would take me days to write a sex scene. Days.(If only such carnal delights could really last as long, right?? LOL) Being a touch older now than when I first started and with the amount of reading, research and plain experience I’ve had, I don’t find sex scenes at all difficult to write. Now there are those associated with romance and those that are not—I prefer those that do, or have the potential to turn into something more—even if it takes a long and rocky road to get there;)  I honestly think now, for me personally, that scenes were a person dies are much more difficult to get through on an emotional level.

8. Is there a favorite scene in RUGGED HEARTS that is special for you, and why?

It has probably got to be the scene where Wyatt is reading the story to the kids. There is so much internally happening in this scene—realization, redemption, forgiveness, romance, understanding…it’s very powerful to me even now when I think about it.

9. When will the next book come out?

That largely depends on the publisher’s schedule. Right now I’d hazard a guess that it will be early 2014.

10. Rein's woman, is she who I think she is???  Half-sister??

Um…not Rein’s half-sister.;) That’s all I’ll say! ;))

Wendy's Review: HERE

Thanks for having me here today! It’s been a blast! 

Celebrating RUGGED HEARTS upcoming print release August 1^st--

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Buy Links for RUGGED HEARTS:

 Amazon / All Romance e-Books / Decadent Publishing

Amanda McIntyre Bio:

Growing up the daughter of a father who was a distributor for a New York Magazine Publishing firm, Amanda usually had her nose stuck in the latest issue of Vampirella or a Hitchcock Mystery book. An artist first, her penchant for creating started at an early age with crayons and colored pencils and much of what she learned makes her a ‘visual’ writer.

Amanda has been referred to as a "true artist in the writing realm' and her zest for life inspires her "character-driven" stories. Her passion is to take ordinary people and place them in extraordinary situations, delving into the realm of potential and possibility as she watches them become the heroes and heroines of their own stories. She counts herself fortunate to be able to do what she loves, aspires to stay fresh and unique to her voice and listen to her readers. A member of RWA, and a multi-genre hybrid author, her work is published internationally, in audio, in e-book and in print. She currently writes sizzling contemporary and erotic historical romance.  Learn more and join her social networks at http://www.amandamcintyresbooks.com/

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