Writer’s Window: Allie Pleiter
Joining us today for Writer’s Window is romance author Allie Pleiter.
One lucky commenter* will win a signed copy of Allie’s latest release, Yukon Wedding. Deadline for leaving a comment to enter the drawing is Friday. To enter the drawing, you must answer the question posed by Allie at the end of the interview. Only one comment per person will count toward the drawing. Please do not include your e-mail address in the body of your comment—just make sure it’s correct when you sign in to leave your comment. The winning name will be drawn next weekend and the winner will be notified via e-mail.
- *U.S. residents only, void where prohibited. If you win the drawing, you will be ineligible for the next three drawings, though hopefully you will still come back and join in the discussion.
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YUKON WEDDING
Harlequin Love Inspired Historical
April 2011
ISBN #978-0373828630A gold-rush town is no place for a single mother. But widow Lana Bristow won’t abandon the only home her son has ever known. She’ll fight to remain in Treasure Creek, Alaska—even if it means wedding Mack Tanner, the man she blames for her husband’s death. Mack sees marriage as his duty, the only way to protect his former business partner’s family. Yet what starts as an obligation changes as his spoiled socialite bride proves to be a woman of strength and grace. A woman who shows Mack the only treasure he needs is her heart.
Welcome, Allie!
What do you like best about being a writer?
- Getting to work in my pajamas? No, actually I love the un-containable nature of it. It is fluid, can happen anywhere and anytime, so I can flex and bend with the crazy demands of my family. I pull stories out of thin air…I am continually energized by the wonder of that.
What do you like least about being a writer?
- There’s only me. Successes are all mine (and God’s, of course), but failures can’t be shucked off to someone else. No one else can do my job, fill in on vacation, etc. When all that’s standing between me and my deadline is me, well, it’s not especially fun.
Pop, Soda, or Coke? What do you call it, and what’s your favorite variety?
- I don’t like soda at all. I’m a 100% coffee gal. Even when it’s 90 out.
What’s your favorite dessert?
- Chocolate anything, although a good key lime pie or cheesecake can turn my head. Come to think of it, so can a good crème brûlée. My favorite dessert? The one that comes before dinner 🙂
What’s the most fun/interesting/crazy/scary/unique hands-on research you’ve done for a book?
- Oh my, I specialize in this. I’ve done everything from learn to walk a tightrope to making a latte on the world’s most expensive espresso machine with a world-ranked barista to cracking a ten-foot bullwhip. I LOVE research, talking to experts about their passions. I’ve spent some amazing time with firefighters doing research for my Feb 2012 book, FALLING FOR THE FIREMAN –and that’s been incredibly inspiring.
What’s your favorite movie from childhood?
- I have always adored How the Grinch Stole Christmas. I’m a sucker for clever lyrics.
If you were to write a novel about what your life would have been like if you’d become what you wanted to be at eight years old, what kind of character would the story be about?
- I don’t know what I wanted to be when I was eight, but I went to college to become a soap opera villainess. Really. Tall, dark, alto voice, I thought I had it made. Until I discovered being six feet tall is a tremendous disadvantage in television.
What makes you happy?
- Knitting. I am a huge knitting freak. I even have my own blog, DestiKNITions.blogspot.com, where I travel all around the country interviewing yarn stores and their communities.
What makes you nervous?
- While I’m totally fine with public speaking, I have a hard time playing an instrument or singing in public (despite having a theater degree . . . go figure).
What’s your biggest dream for the future?
- I’d love to see one of my books turned into a movie. Casting Hugh Jackman or Daniel Craig or David Tennant as a hero would be a definite high point.
Tell us about your newest release and what you’re working on now.
- I’m launching a new series next year—another great cast of quirky small town characters beginning with Falling for the Fireman in February. After that, I’ll have a WWI historical romance featuring a Naval hero and a South Carolina nurse running the Red Cross Knitting Campaign—you know I’ll have fun with that one.
Where can people find out more about you/connect with you online?
- www.alliepleiter.com
www.destiKNITions.blogpot.com
I’m also on Twitter and Facebook
Now it’s your turn to ask the question. What question do you want to ask the commenters to answer?
- What’s the most outrageous thing you’ve done to catch the attention of someone’s heart?
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An avid knitter, coffee junkie, and devoted chocoholic, Allie Pleiter writes both fiction and non-fiction. The enthusiastic but slightly untidy mother of two, Allie spends her days writing books, buying yarn, and finding new ways to avoid housework. Allie hails from Connecticut, moved to the midwest to attend Northwestern University, and currently lives outside Chicago, Illinois. The “dare from a friend” to begin writing has produced two parenting books, fourteen novels, and various national speaking engagements on faith, women’s issues, and writing.
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KayeDacus.com 
love the interview. I have Allie’s book slowly winging its way here (they say 6 weeks and I think im almost at 4 weeks!)
I cant answer this question as have never captured anyones heart. but I have embarrassed myself infront of my favourite cricketer. I had a photo with him and it was the first time ever with a player and well a few weeks later I got the photo signed. Well I blabbered about how exciting it was to have the photo taken and how it was the first time etc. my mind was going shut up Jenny. my mouth kept going and he was taking forever to sign the photo. I made an impression he didn’t forget my name and went out of his way to say hello which of course made me even more embarrased!
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You know, AusJenny, I suspect you made his day. What could be more flattering than to have someone get starstruck on your behalf? I’d like to think he found it endearing if he called you by name the next time he saw you. Great story. My son met one of his baseball heroes last summer and I was so happy and grateful I was a blubbering idiot as I watched.
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Thanks Allie, I even did a website for him then he toured again 7 years later and he remembered me and my name! This is one special South African. He cares for his fans. He made my day his picture with me graces my mantle.
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Great interview! Yukon Wedding looks super!
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Thanks, Carla. It was an adventure to write and I hope that comes through in the story.
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It amazes me how differently everyone answers these questions…and what fun questions they are. Love the answer to the favourite dessert question because honestly, how could anyone just answer one thing????
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I suppose you could say my favorite dessert is dessert! I can’t think of a sweet I’d ever turn down (which may be why my scale is never going down).
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I really live a calm life, I’m guessing since I cannot think of anything truly outrageous.
I’ve had blind dates (many, many moons ago) have allowed myself to be set up with someone by a friend or family member but to actually DO something I guess I’m one of those people who will allow God to do the connecting and I just happen to be ready and willing with my heart open. ;0
I’ve enjoyed Allie’s writing and would love to win the book. Nice interview, Kaye. Good job and congratulations on hitting a deadline under pressure.
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You know, Joy, you make a really good point. If you have to do something outrageous, how right is that person for you? Perhaps it’s the author in me–we need our characters to be pushed to extremes to find each other or it’d be boring reading.
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Hi Allie and Kaye, it was fun to read more about you and your new book. I love to read LIH novels. This one sounds great!
When my husband, then my boyfriend, and I were dating, I was accepted to go to Europe for a summer mission trip. I didn’t want him to forget about me. So I made a three-month calendar with special message for each day, photos, fun memories, wishes, hopes and dreams. Then I wrote a ton of letters while I was away. When I returned, we both realized how much we loved and missed each other, and he asked me to marry him. Thirty-three years, and still going strong.
Blessings,
Carrie
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Carrie-
What a great story! Did he keep the calendar or the letters? What a family heirloom (and maybe a book plot…)
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let’s see…i stepped foot into a bar, and at the time, i was a tee-total-er against drinking. i didn’t drink when i was there, but i just wanted him to notice me. he did…but alas, we had actually very little in common.
hmm. now that i’m reading that, i find that very dull indeed. i mean, that’s not even all that outrageous. i’m going to hunker down and try to recall something a bit more swashbuckling.
when we met at the 2009 conference, allie, (you did my critique of a 1st person story i had written much in the same vein as The Perfect Blend), i remember being shocked that there was a woman at the conference whose eyes i could look straight into. it was awesome. but i too remember being dealt a huge blow in acting myself, when i lost the role of Marian Paroo my senior year in The Music Man (i got Mrs. Paroo instead)…and the director said, “I can’t have Harold Hill kiss a woman taller than him!” that’s stuck with me. actually very traumatic at the time….clearly.
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I have the book, so don’t enter me. I read and really enjoyed it. I’m hoping to post a review of it on my blog…someday.
I love that your favorite movie was The Grinch. I would list it as my favorite Christmas movie. The thing I love about it is that Christmas isn’t ruined just because no one has presents to open. Even though all the presents and the ‘roast beast’ are gone, Whoville still stands together and celebrates Christmas.
Kaye~ I love your creative questions ‘Pop, Soda, or Coke?’ I’m a Pop girl myself, and I have Southern relatives who make fun of me for it. But they call everything Coke, so I don’t let it bug me too much.
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