Skip to main content

Q&A with Marie Harte, author of The Kissing Game

The Kissing Game

The favorite part of my job? There are many. That being said, doing Q&A's with authors and hosting authors events are big perks. This past month my Romance Book Club read The Kissing Game by Marie Harte and I loved the book. Even more, loved the opportunity to get to know the author a little more. Here is our Q&A with the fabulous Marie Harte! 

-  When did you start writing? Was it a hobby at first or did you always wanted to be a writer?  I used to write on 3x5 index cards and create stories when I was a kid. I’ve always loved stories and storytelling and dreamed of being a full-fledged novelist. I majored in English in college and started writing while in my early twenties, but on the side. (I was in the Marine Corps at the time.) It wasn’t until 2002 when I quit my job to write full-time. Then I became pregnant and continued to write, publishing in late 2004 with a small press publisher.

- When you are not writing what genre do you enjoy reading? And do you have a ’go-to’ author? I am very into urban fantasy right now. I also like paranormal romance. My go-to authors are Ilona Andrews and Patricia Briggs. I have reread the Kate Daniels and Mercy Thompson series (written respectively) so many times!

- What was the inspiration behind The Kissing Game? In 2014, I introduced Rena Jackson in What to Do with a Bad Boy. I have been DYING to write her story for years! When the opportunity for a Valentine’s Day romance came along, I knew it would be perfect for Rena, a character in love with love. She’s the ultimate romantic, and I couldn’t wait to give her a happily ever after with tough guy, Axel Heller.

- Were any of the characters inspired by someone in real life? I wish. The Body Shop Bad Boys crew brought Axel Heller into being. Sadly, they are fictional.

- What was your favorite scene to write? When Heller goes to see Rena after she’s canceled their first date. He arrives at her home and sees her without her makeup/glam that she wears at her salon, and he finds her more beautiful than ever. Rena has a mini breakdown, in that moment so many of us have had, wondering if she’ll ever find Mr. Right. Yet Mr. Right is right there, holding her, and I just love that scene of connection that’s so close but not yet apparent.

- Do you have any more books coming out this year? I am currently working on a new series for Sourcebooks about firefighters who fall in love, but they don’t release until 2021. This year, I plan on a holiday romance in November/December. At present, I’m focused on marketing and re-releasing older titles that have been sitting in my queue and need to be released.

 

Thank you so much for joining our Q&A

 

Thank you for having me!


Comments

Popular posts from this blog

A Romance Catch Up!

 It has been a crazy month and I fell behind badly on my reviews! But here are some highlights for you. Barbarian Lover (Ice Planet Barbarians #3) Ruby Dixon  2.75/5 Although I liked this one it is my least favorite in the series so far. The book was going well until a little over the halfway point when it just doesn't read right. She accepts leaving someone behind too easily and although up to this point the book does a good job at dealing with infertility it all of sudden throws it all out of the window. So good, I will carry on with the series, but not great. A Precious Jewel (Stapleton-Downes #2) Mary Balogh  3/5 This was different, unique. And I like that about it. I have not read any other book quite like it. She is a prostitute;  he starts of as just any other client. The story was sweet and interesting . The MC comes across  rather clueless at times,  but it is somewhat endearing. The romance is believable  and they make a very charming couple! The Gunslinger's Guide to

Radiant Sin (Dark olympus) by Katee Robert [arc review]

This is sadly, not going to be a very popular review. I adore Katee Robert. But this one just wasn't for me. It wasn't a terrible book or anything like that, it just left me wanting more and very puzzled. Every one of the books in this series follows a certain trope and/or subplot genre. Neon Gods is very much a Greek Mythology retelling;  Electric Idol  has the plus size influencer and the sweet bad boy, it is a very modern contemporary romance;  Wicked Beauty , and my favorite so far has that hunger games/dystopian vibe. Radiant Sin  is a murder mystery. The 'one house'/'one train' style that has always been so popular. Here lies problem number one for me, because I don't like murder mysteries at all. Even on my teen years when I read a lot of mystery it was never those. Problem two- there were way too many characters in that house, and they all got their time on the page making it one very confusing mess. It was very hard to follow at times. I think this

The Book Hater's Book Club by Gretchen Anthony

The Book Hater's Book Club  at first appears to be about a struggling bookstore and its imminent sale. Elliot, the co-owner of Over the Rainbow Bookstore, started  The Book Hater's Book Club , a newsletter of reading recommendations for the self-proclaimed non-readers of the world, because he believed there was a book out there for everyone. Something I wholeheartedly agree with! For years he and Irma have kept the store going and always had a recommendation in hand. When you finish this book, you will have yet another list of books to read.  However, this book is about more than just books and a struggling bookstore. It is also about grief, the price of secrets, and a little more grief.  You see, Elliot is gone, and his grief-ridden business partner has agreed to sell the store to developers. Problem is, she didn't tell that to anyone until the deal was almost done. Which is making her daughters ask questions. Why is she selling? Is it grief alone? Is there something else