I’m so pleased to have author and one of my fantastic crit partners, Callie Hutton, here today.
CERI: Welcome Callie! Can you tell us a bit about yourself?
CALLIE: My first love is being a mom. Second, reading, which naturally segued into writing–for me, anyway.
I’ve been making up stories since elementary school, and writing gave me a way to turn off the voices in my head. I’ve had a number of things published, and about a year and a half ago, decided to put it to the test and write a book.
Although I’ve lived in several states, Oklahoma is where I’ve hung my hat for the last several years, but I hail from New Jersey. I’m an Okie-Jersey girl. And proud of it.
I love my animals, two rescue dogs and a rescue cat. My daughter, Anna, still lives at home while she works on her Law Enforcement degree at Oklahoma State University. My son has given us whiplash the last few years, moving in and out. Currently he’s in–I think. Add to our group my hubby of thirty-five years, and things are always hopping.
CERI: Sounds like a busy household! I can relate to that, though all my kids are 21 and under. The Okie-Jersey girl combo intrigues me! LOL as does the beginnings of your writing. Where do you get your inspirations for you books these days?
CALLIE: Everywhere and anywhere. One time I got an inspiration in church (fitting, wouldn’t you say?), and wrote an outline of my Regency novel, The Elusive Wife, on the back of a check I pulled from my purse. Sometimes a song, or a movie or book.
CERI: That’s great! I always try to carry paper around with me for such an emergency. You can’t turn off an idea once it’s coming. What genre do you prefer to write in or are there more than one?
CALLIE: I’m was a history major in college, so Historical is pretty much my favorite genre. But last year I was part of a group of my Oklahoma RWA who wrote novellas on a cursed Scrimshaw Doll. That book was a contemporary, and I had a lot of fun using the modern day clothing and sayings. There’s a website dedicated to the series here: http://talesofthescrimshawdoll.wordpress.com/. My book, Annie’s Attic releases from TWRP on May 30th. I also wrote a Regency last year, that I plan to re-write and get subbed. And sometime in the future there will be aScottish/Irish book.
CERI: Oh, a writer after my own heart! Nothing like a Scottish/Irish story and cursed dolls are very cool! What a fun, and creepy series to be a part of! You sure do cover a lot of area with all your stories. What inspired your latest story?
CALLIE: I just finished the third in my Oklahoma Lovers series, entitled A Prescription for Love. It’s the story of how Heidi and Michael, the oldest nephew in A Run For Love, fall in love. I had been playing around with his story in my mind since I first wrote a Run For Love. The time was right to tell their story.
CERI: I’m honored that I was able to meet these characters already. It’s a wonderful story. You should be very proud of it. What do you do besides write?
CALLIE: Read. I love to read, and go through probably three to four books a week. I pretty much stay in the historical genre, but I’ve been known to sneak in a few contemporaries every now and then. In fact, last summer I read all seventeen of Janet Evonovich’s Stephanie Plum books.
CERI: I’m so jealous! It takes me forever to get through one book. I haven’t ready any J.E. books, so if you read all 17 then that is a high recommendation. I’ll have to give them a look. Okay, now I’m going to have you answer the following just for fun!
Pick one word to describe yourself:Upbeat Favorite animal:Pig Favorite comfort food:Hot tea Spring, summer, autumn or winter?Autumn Favorite book:So many, it would be hard. But The Perfect Wife by Lynsay Sands sticks out. If you weren’t a writer, what would you want to do?Lawyer
Best vacation ever:One still to be had. Hubby and I plan a trip to Europe in about two years
Now let’s hear about your book!!
Book description: A Run For Love is an historical romance that starts out with the Oklahoma Land Run of 1889.
Blurb: Feisty school teacher Tori Henderson values her independence and has no use for a husband. When she finds herself the legal guardian of her two nieces, two nephews, and facing eviction from her Kansas home, she enters the 1889 Oklahoma land run and confronts a new set of challenges. The biggest obstacle being her new neighbor, cocky lawyer Jesse Cochran, the son of a whore–a man determined to put his past behind him and start a new life and family of his own.
Despite the undeniable attraction between them, Tori is determined to keep him at arm’s length, but a family emergency brings them together and they declare a truce. Can Jesse win Tori’s heart after a series of unplanned events, or will a tragedy tear them apart forever?
Excerpt
“Jesse never gave up on me.” She pointed a shaky finger at the pastor. “He never gave up. Never! No matter how many times I pushed him away, he never, ever gave up. You didn’t know that did you?” Her voice lowered and she rubbed dirty, bloody hands down her skirt, her voice shaking. “I’m not giving up on him either.” She flung her arm out. “So you can all go on home, but I’ll be here until I find him.”
And to think after all the time I’ve known you Callie, I still learned something new. I had no clue about you loved pigs or would’ve chosen a career as a lawyer!
Congrats on your upcoming releases and your past successes with your books. Looking forward to A Prescription for Love 🙂
I also bought Janet’s book: How I write (or something like that). I read it while I wrote A Wife By Christmas, and I contribute the fast pace of that book to her advice. Thanks for saying hello.
We have very similar tastes in fiction: fun, fast-paced, emotionally satisfying. So glad your writing career is ticking along at a rapid pace, Congratulations and best wishes, Callie.
Thanks, B. J. And you know I loved Highland Legacy. Best of luck with you new WIPs. I appreciate you stopping by, especially with you being so popular at your chat on Romance Reviews.
Hey, Callie! I really need to start carrying paper around with me. I think of stuff, and then forget by the time I get home to write it down. I did buy one of those voice recorders…but it’s not always convenient to pull out and talk when the mood strikes :>)
Great Interview Callie and Ceri! Always love to hear about the process my favorite writers use! Callie, you’re writing pace is an inspiration to me! Enjoyed it!
Great interview and I can’t wait for the third in your series to release! What is your writing process? Are you an extensive plotter or do you fly by the seat?
Thanks, Cynthia. I just finished the third in the series. I haven’t sent it off to my publisher yet, but I’m thinking a late summer/early fall release. I’ll be sure to advertise it, lol. I’m a half and half. I start off as a panster, and then about halfway through, I usually do a (very) brief outline from the middle to the end. I appreciate you stopping by.
Thanks, Ella. Yep, NJ born and bred. People here in OK think I have an east coast accent, my friends/family in NJ things I’ve developed a definite OK drawl, lol.
We moved from Ewing Township (Mercer County) to Oklahoma. I have family in Middletown, Red Bank, New Belford, Point Pleasant, and Lawrenceville. My neice teachers at Piscataway High School, not far from Edison.
Super interview, Callie. Best of luck with your book. But cursed dolls scare me. LOL I’m looking forward to your Scots-Irish novel and your Regency, however.
I’m a little late today, but it was worth it to stop by. I loved learning more about you Callie. Can’t wait to read your Regency! Ceri, you have to read Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum books. That series is one of the few that made it onto my auto-buy list. I would loan you my copies, but it’s probably cheaper to buy them than ship them from Texas to New Hampshire.
Cerian Hebert 
Terrific interview ladies!
And to think after all the time I’ve known you Callie, I still learned something new. I had no clue about you loved pigs or would’ve chosen a career as a lawyer!
Congrats on your upcoming releases and your past successes with your books. Looking forward to A Prescription for Love 🙂
Hi Christine (she waves). First, as usual, lol. Yes, lawyers and pigs. I will not comment on that further. Thanks for stopping by.
Love Janet Evonovich’s– Stephanie Plum series, too.
Great interview ladies.
Looking forward to reading more of your stories, Calllie.
Neecy
Thanks Denice,
I also bought Janet’s book: How I write (or something like that). I read it while I wrote A Wife By Christmas, and I contribute the fast pace of that book to her advice. Thanks for saying hello.
We have very similar tastes in fiction: fun, fast-paced, emotionally satisfying. So glad your writing career is ticking along at a rapid pace, Congratulations and best wishes, Callie.
Thanks Ann. Always good to ‘see’ you. Glad you stopped by.
Hi Callie,
Loved A Run for Love and A Wife by Christmas. Looking for your next installment of the series.
Congrats on your books and success with future projects
Thanks, B. J. And you know I loved Highland Legacy. Best of luck with you new WIPs. I appreciate you stopping by, especially with you being so popular at your chat on Romance Reviews.
Hey, Callie! I really need to start carrying paper around with me. I think of stuff, and then forget by the time I get home to write it down. I did buy one of those voice recorders…but it’s not always convenient to pull out and talk when the mood strikes :>)
Great interview and awesome books!!
-Cheryl
I tried one of those recorders myself, and could never find it when an idea struck. Hence, the back of the check deal, lol. Thanks for stopping by.
Great Interview Callie and Ceri! Always love to hear about the process my favorite writers use! Callie, you’re writing pace is an inspiration to me! Enjoyed it!
Thanks for saying hello, Nancy. I can always count on my CPs to visit, lol.
Great interview and I can’t wait for the third in your series to release! What is your writing process? Are you an extensive plotter or do you fly by the seat?
Thanks, Cynthia. I just finished the third in the series. I haven’t sent it off to my publisher yet, but I’m thinking a late summer/early fall release. I’ll be sure to advertise it, lol. I’m a half and half. I start off as a panster, and then about halfway through, I usually do a (very) brief outline from the middle to the end. I appreciate you stopping by.
Wonderful interview. I had no idea you were from New Jersey. Loved the excerpt.
Thanks, Ella. Yep, NJ born and bred. People here in OK think I have an east coast accent, my friends/family in NJ things I’ve developed a definite OK drawl, lol.
Another great interview, Callie. Love your fave animal. Nice learning new things about a wonderful writer and cp!
Thanks, Calisa. Always good to hear from you. Yep, my favorite animal is a pig. Go figure.
Great interview, Callie. It’s always fun to learn more about another writer.
Thanks for stopping by Susan. It seems every interview I also learn something new about our SMP sisters.
Loved your book! Where in Jersey? My husband’s from Edison!
Hi Shelly,
We moved from Ewing Township (Mercer County) to Oklahoma. I have family in Middletown, Red Bank, New Belford, Point Pleasant, and Lawrenceville. My neice teachers at Piscataway High School, not far from Edison.
Wow! What a great day! Thanks to everyone who’s come by and said hello!
Super interview, Callie. Best of luck with your book. But cursed dolls scare me. LOL I’m looking forward to your Scots-Irish novel and your Regency, however.
Thanks Barbara. Ah, the doll’s not so scary. A bit spooky, perhaps. Thanks for stopping by.
Yes, it has been a good day, Ceri. Thanks so much for having me.
It’s been my pleasure, Callie. I enjoyed getting to know you better. 🙂
I’m a little late today, but it was worth it to stop by. I loved learning more about you Callie. Can’t wait to read your Regency! Ceri, you have to read Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum books. That series is one of the few that made it onto my auto-buy list. I would loan you my copies, but it’s probably cheaper to buy them than ship them from Texas to New Hampshire.