An Interview with Amy Minett
Amy Minett loves her dog, her cat, and her sister, not necessarily in that order. A Maine native, she’s equally at home in the forest or on the beach, so long as she has a book in hand. Growing up, she always had a secret soft spot for lighthearted romance, and she still loves watching over-the-top romantic comedies with her sister.
When writing her own stories, Amy seeks to capture the warmth of everyday moments between ordinary people that develop into something more. Whether it involves friends to lovers, second chances, or unexpected encounters, she believes love can be found anywhere, if one will only open one’s heart.
Who/what made you want to write? Was there a particular person, or particular writers/works/art forms that influenced you?
Although I’ve always had dozens of story ideas dancing around for attention, it was only recently that I started dabbling in the romance genre. A big influence for that was my sister. She and I both love Hallmark-style romcoms, so I knew when I started brainstorming ideas that that was the sort of vibe I wanted to aim for—sweet, cozy, a little bit (okay, maybe a lot) cheesy, and heartwarming. For me, writing is about creating a story that I will enjoy. I might also have someone in mind when I’m writing it, who I hope will enjoy the finished work, but ultimately, it’s about writing a book I would seek out to read. If others enjoy it too, well, that’s just icing on the proverbial (fruit)cake!
What other professions have you worked in? What’s something about you that your readers wouldn’t know?
I actually worked in IT for a while! Mostly help desk stuff, handling support tickets for misbehaving machines or setting up new machines for users. Sometimes I’d visit an office to figure out an issue in person; that was often related to printers. Printers are the bane of any IT technician’s existence. They are liable to break if you sneeze at them and will chew paper, leak ink, or simply refuse to turn on at the most inopportune times. I do not miss working with printers.
Tell us the story of your book’s title. Was it easy to find, or did it take forever?
The title Fruitcake for Christmas almost came along before the story itself. I was mulling over some story ideas one day, because I’d been wanting to try my hand at writing romance, when I had an inkling of a thought to write a book that somehow related to food. (It’s possible I was hungry at the time. Mentions and descriptions of food in my first drafts often become more common and more elaborate if I’m hankering for a snack when I’m writing.)
Since the reason I was contemplating a romance novel in the first place was that I wanted to write the kind of cute romantic story my sister (and I) would enjoy reading, I decided it should be set during Christmastime (her favorite holiday). Then I started thinking about Christmas treats. Fruitcake is an often maligned dessert, but I’ll be honest—a good fruitcake is one of my favorite kinds of cake. I can and will polish an entire one off on my own if it is necessary.
So, armed with a holiday setting and determined to include one of my favorite sweets in the story in some form or fashion, I dove into what I initially described to my sister as a ‘Christmas romance about a cute caterer and a guy who hires him last minute to cater a fancy ball.’ I warned her that it was my first real attempt at a romance novel and would probably be terrible. She told me to hurry up and finish it so she could read it. The result was Fruitcake for Christmas, which, after a good bit of revising and polishing, we both agreed actually turned out quite well!
What part of publishing your book made it feel real for the first time?
Holding the physical copy in my hands was the moment it really sank in that I had honestly, truly written and published a romance novel. The weight of the bound pages, the glossy cover, that unique fresh-off-the-printer book smell—I was so proud and excited! There’s nothing quite like standing there, book in your hands, thinking, ‘This book is mine, I made it, it really exists!’ It was such a thrill that I may have squealed and jumped up and down like a little girl. Thankfully, my cat, who was witness to this shameless display, doesn’t judge me for my silly quirks (as long as I feed her on time).
What’s one thing you hope sticks with readers after they finish your book?
I want readers to walk away believing in the magic of romance. Whether it’s a chance encounter or a second chance, people often fall in love in unexpected ways. In real life, it doesn’t always work out for one reason or another, but the beauty of romance stories is that you can pick one up knowing that there’s a happily ever after waiting at the end. I think that’s why so many people enjoy them; it keeps that spark of hope alive in our hearts as we too search for that special connection.
What was the most rewarding/meaningful part of publishing your book?
This is the first romance novel I’ve ever published. It was a bit nerve-racking at times, since this is an entirely new genre for me, but it was also rewarding in so many ways. I loved bringing Ash and Elliot’s story to life, and I may have cried a bit when I held the very first proof copy in my hands. If it hadn’t been for the encouragement of many people in my life, especially my sister, this story would never have been written. Completing it and then finally seeing it in printed form made me so happy!
What creative projects are you currently working on?
I often bounce between projects as I write. If I’m dealing with writer’s block regarding one story, I’ll step away, give it some space, and focus on something else for a bit. This means I might have two, three, even half a dozen projects active at a time!
At the moment, my main focus is Scones for Valentine’s, which will be the second book in the Everlight City Romance Series. It features Jack Bellwood, who is struggling to connect with his often difficult sister while keeping the family business running smoothly. Through a chance encounter, he gets some advice from an unlikely source—Rory Brown, a charming repairman who has three sisters of his own. He doubts their paths will cross again…but when they do, he starts to feel drawn toward the kind—and rather attractive—man…
I’m really loving Jack’s (and Rory’s) story so far, and I can’t wait to share it with my readers!
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