Author Archive



May 14th, 2009
by Amie Stuart
The Power of Love

@Karenknowsbest twittered this morning about a sign she saw on the freeway. It said: “Kelly I love u, pls come back!”

The collective Awwwwwwww was heard ’round Twitter. I know I awwwwwwwww’ed and I’m about as close as you can get to a cynic. I mean really, other than the gooey mushy closet romantic center that is my heart. But please, don’t tell anyone. I’ll just deny it.

But it got me back to thinking about something I’ve been thinking about for a while and that’s themes writers address in their books. And I’m talking as a reader AND a writer. For the most part I try not to think too hard when I wear my reader hat or get too scholarly about what I read–I read purely for enjoyment (unless it’s self-help LOL)….

In Hater by David Moody (not a romance), the main protag was an ass for like 1/2 the book, the stuff going on around them was horrifying (people appear to be infected with “something” that makes them attack the people around them) and the Protag is very judgmental/hateful of the attackers….until the end when the big reveal comes. Granted Hater is very much a horror novel in the tradition of classic twisty horror and not for the faint of heart but what did I realized when I was done? I think the author deliberately didn’t want me to like the Protag. and in the process took me on an exploration of the different facets of Hate.

And in Ann Aguirre’s Blue Diablo…well, where do I begin? First off, if you haven’t read it, why not? Yes, I’m a total fan girl and while BD isn’t “technically” a romance, I think it’s worth looking at because Blue Diablo tackles a theme I see a lot in my own work (believe it nor LOL)…and that’s Redemption and not just with Corine who I think seeks/wants/needs some form of redemption regarding her mother’s death, but with Chance, who redeems himself in Corine’s eyes by showing her (and the reader) a more vulnerable side, and even the alleged baddy who joins them at the end (whose name I can’t remember); I don’t want to say too much for fear of spoilers regarding him but I thought it was a really cool twist.

I picked both of these books because they left a strong impression on me. Like I said, I see a lot of redemption though mostly in my non-erotic/less hot work. And of course, as a closet romantic, I think “Love” is the ultimate redeemer.

So what are some of your favorite themes? Is it also redemption? And do you have any favorite redemption books/redeemed heroes or heroines?

March 16th, 2009
by Amie Stuart
Skids in, Trips and Drops Her Tools

I’m LATE! I’m so very late!! Like a whole day late!!! My apologies! The kid are off on Spring Break…and so am I. Yesterday we were off to see Watchmen–how do stay at home mom’s do it??? and I had to buy food because, you know, they’re 5’11 and 5’6 and they have friends. (Don’t worry. I also snuck off to get a pedicure!)
Then I came home, and guess what I did? GUESS!!!!
I finished installing the dishwasher! I know…you though I was going to say, I wrote something fabulous, but trust me this is almost better than writing. You see, we haven’t had a dishwasher (one that didn’t bitch and moan every time I said, “Do the dishes,”) for like 8 months.
Now I started this little adventure on Tuesday night when I went to unhook the old one…and couldn’t. So Wednesday when they showed up with the new one I was still wrangling with the old one. I FINALLY GOT It out and spent four hours wrangling with the new one. FINALLY Got it installed only to discover the copper pipe leaked :(
So I called a plumber who wanted to have sexual relations with me screw me. And decided on Friday when I couldn’t get another plumber out, I’d just have to figure out how to install the new pipe myself (it’s not copper but flex-tube). And as luck would have it, I found a wrench!!! That made the going much easier–I have lots of tools but my children like to touch them. When will they learn to not touch mommy’s tools?
Now the dishwasher is in, the house didn’t blow up or burn down and I have clean dishes.

So what about you? Do you do power tools? Do you install? Or do you have a good plumber in your iPhone? And if so, can I get his number? I have a toilet that needs it’s guts replaced.

February 15th, 2009
by Amie Stuart
Drain Bred

*giggle* After a 14 day contest on my blog and 2 children with the flu…I got not a lot. I am officially brain dead. So how about a piece of fiction that has absolutely nothing to do with anything?! yeah! LOL I know…I have a release in nine days and should be pimping it but….nahhhhhhhhh
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December 15th, 2008
by Amie Stuart
Happiest Time of the Year

March 2009So everywhere you go these days it’s all HoHo…er Doom n Gloom, HoHo…er Doom n Gloom, rinse and repeat. I have to say, it’s tiring. The economy’s in the sh*tter, the book business is imploding (Except for K who thankfully, that we know of, have had no layoffs), the car industry is sinking like sumo wrestler in quicksand and the jobless rate is an at all time high.

At the same time it’s the Hap-Hap-Happiest time of the year, right? Of course it is, because happiness is isn’t a place or a goal you’re supposed to struggle toward, it’s a state of mind. And I’m bound and determined to enjoy this Christmas…and I’m going to tell you why! I splurged and bought a new Christmas tree this year. That’s right, a new tree. Right now, it has no ornaments, but it’s still lovely and our puppy hasn’t figured out how to knock it over. I’m doing Christmas Eve at my house this year with my family. We’re having BBQ, because I’m just too smart to cook. And while there will be fewer presents under the tree this year, we have a house to hold our tree, the bills are paid, we’re warm and fed and most importantly of all, we (me, the kids, the cats, the dogs) have our health.

We have a lot to be thankful for and that’s really what this time of year is all about.

This is the first time in three years…okay five or six years I’ve done any real baking. One of my fondest memories is making Snickerdoodles and fudge with my mom, and Chex Mix (BEFORE you could buy it in a bag!!! Hmmm Maybe I should make some this year).

I even tried out this lovely recipe last night.
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July 26th, 2006
by Amie Stuart
Left Behind so It’s Party Time

Jodi Lynn Copeland, Devyn Quinn and I are going to be chatting and posting excerpts on the Aphrodisia Authors and Fans Loop tomorrow, so ya’ll stop by!




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