Interview with Angela Ruth Strong and GIVEAWAY

by Elizabeth Goddard

Today I'm interviewing Angela Ruth Strong. She is giving away a copy of A CAFFEINE CONUNDRUM to one winner (US only). Please comment and leave your contact information to enter the drawing!


Bio
Angela Ruth Strong published her debut novel, Love Finds You in Sun Valley, Idaho, in 2010, which became the first in her Resort to Love Series. She’s gone on to publish with Harlequin and have a book selected as TOP PICK by Romantic Times and become an Amazon Bestseller. This Idaho Top Author and Cascade Award winner also started IDAhope Writers to encourage other aspiring authors. She currently lives in Idaho with her husband and teenagers where she teaches yoga and works as a ticket agent for an airline when not writing. You can find out more at www.angelaruthstrong.com.


If you had to describe yourself in one sentence, what would you say?

According to my daughter, I’m more happy than most people. Coming from a teenager, this is not a compliment, but I’m, ya know, happy with it. 😊

What do you do when you’re not writing? Any interesting hobbies?

I teach fitness classes, and I work for an airline. Basically I like to get paid to exercise and travel.

What was your favorite book as a teen or child?

I loved reading the Mandie series by Lois Gladys Leppard so much that halfway through the year, my 4th grade teacher refused to let me use them for book reports anymore. This broke my heart because there were no other stories as exciting as a rich 12-year-old and her cat solving mysteries in the south during the early 1900s.

Tell us three things about yourself that might surprise your readers.
I have a bad ear, and a couple years ago my good eardrum ruptured so that I could barely hear for a month. I had to get a tube put in as an adult. Without corrective lenses, I’m legally blind. I’ve worn contacts since 6th grade. I didn’t take swimming lessons until college.

What genre did you start out writing? Have you changed course? Why or why not?

Since you asked…

The first novel I sold was a sweet romance in the Love Finds You line of books. The crazy part is that I sold Love Finds You in Sun Valley based on having only written three chapters if it. This isn’t normal. I honestly believe this happened because God wanted to give me some encouragement that I could do this.

See, right after I sold that book, my first husband left me. I quit writing romance since I didn’t believe in love anymore. I even ended my relationship with my agent, and the publisher went out of business.

So I wrote a series for ages 8-12, starting with The Water Fight Professional. It’s super fun and I love it, and I’m so glad I had this opportunity.

But then I fell in love with Mr. Strong, and I realized that love changes lives, and there’s nothing else I’d rather write about. Plus, my debut novel had been optioned for film. Though I’d ended my relationship with my agent and the publisher had shut down, God breathed new life into the book.

A new publisher helped me get my rights back and write love stories for my hero’s brothers in the Resort to Love Series. There is an audio book now, and Finding Love in Big Sky is in development with a producer.

After that, I decided to try romantic suspense. A lot of my local writing friends wrote for Love Inspired Suspense, and I thought that would be fun. So I wrote Presumed Dead. And I joined two book sets with other romantic suspense novels.

I like romantic suspense, but the genre pulled me away from what I enjoyed about writing sweet romance—quirky small town characters. To blend those genres together, I ended up with a new cozy mystery series. The CafFUNated Mysteries focus on two female leads—a tea lover and a coffee lover—who run a business together and solve murders. I would compare it to the television show Psyche.

Writing in various genres like this goes against everything my agents have ever told me to do. I don’t recommend it, but I also don’t regret it. Maybe eventually I’ll find a genre I want to stick with.

What has been the toughest criticism given to you as an author? What has been the best compliment?

Criticism—More than one editor has liked my ideas but not my finished product and said, “I wish you wrote better.” And I’m like, “So do I!” I’m working on it.

Compliment—I like it when my stories are considered delightful and charming despite dealing with tough issues. To quote an old agent, “You make the tragic entertaining.”

Any other genres you’d like to try? If yes, what and why?

I just wrote my first screenplay. And I have a non-fiction book proposal under consideration. Why? Because God opened doors. And it makes me happy. Tee-hee.

If you could go back in time and do something differently at the start of your career, what would it be?
I would lay my selfish ambition to rest.

What is the most important thing you’d like readers to take away from your books?

Life is a divine romance. Love and be loved.

What is the most valuable piece of advice you’d like to give to unpublished authors?

Your writing is never as good or as bad as you think it is. It’s worth pursuing AND it can always improve.

Connect with Angela!

Website: angealruthstrong@gmail.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1557213161269220/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AngelaRStrong
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Caffeine-Conundrum-CafFUNated-Mysteries-Book-ebook/dp/B07FRXWSVM/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1537499543&sr=8-5&keywords=Angela+Ruth+Strong
B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-caffeine-conundrum-angela-ruth-strong/1129283276?ean=9781943959471
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40945129-a-caffeine-conundrum
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1557213161269220/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AngelaRStrong


Back Cover Copy of A CAFFEINE CONUNDRUM

Sassy city girl Tandy Brandt moves to the small town of Grace Springs to start a coffee shop, never imagining she'll be competing with local beauty queen Marissa Alexander and her dream of running a tea house. Unfortunately, the current store owner dies before selling the location to either of them, and they both become murder suspects.

The unlikely pair team up in an attempt to discover the real killer, though with the secrets in Tandy's past and Marissa's infamous clumsiness, they could be their own worst enemies. Despite their differences, they follow clues to question a sweet, apple pie baking antique store owner, a GQ Santa in the retirement center, and a hipster millionaire with no social skills. Will they be able to figure out whodunit and prove their innocence before one of them goes to jail...or worse? 

Remember to comment to enter the drawing for A CAFFEINE CONUNDRUM!