Let’s give a hearty welcome to author Katie Meyer today. Thank you for stopping by to answer a few questions for us. Shall we get started with a few questions about your writing. Will you share a sneak peak about you upcoming release A Valentine for the Veterinarian?

“Grace, you just saved my life. How can I ever repay you?”

The woman behind the counter rolled her eyes. “It’s just coffee, Dr. Marshall, not the fountain of youth. If you leave a few coins in the tip jar, we’ll call it even.”

Cassie clutched the cardboard cup like a lifeline, inhaling the rich aroma. “I had an emergency call last night, ended up performing a C-section on a schnauzer at three a.m., and then was double-booked all day. So right now your caffeinated nectar is my only hope of making it through the meeting I’m going to.” She paid for her coffee and took a cautious sip of the scalding brew. “You’re my hero.”

“That kind of flattery will get you the last cinnamon scone, if you want it.”

“Have I ever turned down a free baked good?” Cassie accepted the small white bag with the proffered pastry.

“Thanks. This ought to keep me out of trouble until I can get some dinner.”

“Speaking of trouble, here comes that new sheriff’s deputy. I’d be willing to break a few rules if it would get him to notice me.” Grace craned her next to see more clearly out the curtained front window. “Don’t you think he looks like a man who could handle my rebellious side?”

Cassie nearly spit out her coffee. If Grace Keville, sole proprietor of Sandcastle Bakery, had a rebellious side, she’d kept it well hidden. Even after a full day of baking and serving customers. She looked prim and proper in a crisp pastel blouse and tailored pants. From her lacy apron to her dainty bun, she was the epitome of order and discipline. Not to mention she was happily married and the mother of three. “You’ve never rebelled a day in your life.”

Grace sniffed. “Maybe not, but that man makes me consider it. Hard.”

Rebellion wasn’t all it was cracked up to be. She’d been there, done that, and had considerably more than a T-shirt to show for it.

Great excerpt. I am certainly intrigued and cannot wait to read A Valentine for the Veterinarian . Did  you have any challenges writing this book? Or the start of the series at all?

The hardest part about writing this book was getting started. It seems “second book syndrome” is a very real thing, and I had all the usual fears – what if I only had one book in me? What if I forgot how to write? What if this was all just a big mistake? Also, I’d gotten so close to the characters in the first book, so starting over felt really weird. It took me a while to remember that getting to know the characters takes time, and sure enough by midway through the book I felt as close to them as I did to the first couple I wrote about. Other than that the only other sticking point was when the story kind of took off without me for the first time. The pregnancy plotline was NOT something I’d planned for but it just insisted on happening – I’d consider it the ultimate surprise pregnancy as it surprised even me.

LOL I can soo relate to a surprise pregnancy I had one at age 42 and after 20 yrs of marriage. They are such a blessing to all involved! Can you tell us how you got your start in writing?

I wrote some short stories and poems as far back as elementary school, but the idea of writing a whole book was pretty terrifying. About ten years ago I started one, but life got in the way and that story was lost in a hard drive crash. (Back up your work!) I didn’t write again until I started The Puppy Proposal, the first book in the Paradise Animal Clinic Series. I had gotten to a point where I felt a bit more confident, and figured it was worth a shot. I entered that book in Harlequin’s So You Think You Can Write contest, and after making the top ten finalists attracted an editor’s attention. That was the start of my career!

 I loved The Puppy Proposal and am glad you chose to try your hand a writing again. Have you always have the writing bug?

Yes and no. I flirted with poetry more than anything, but physically writing with a pen and paper was always hard for me. I had terrible handwriting and it just hurt to write much. So I tried to avoid it. Honestly, if keyboards didn’t exist I’m sure I’d still be that kid that hated writing book reports.

I bet a lot of authors are glad for modern technology in propelling them through their dreams. What were your favorites books as a kid? What will we see you reading now?

Anne of Green Gables and the Trixie Belden Series, for sure. But I read anything I could get my hands on. Now, I rotate between Romantic Suspense authors like Melinda Leigh and small town romance authors like Kim Law, with some old school SciFi (Clarke, etc) thrown in.

Sounds very diversified. I myself like to try new authors and genres every now and again to change things up.
Do you have any other books in the works?

 The third book in the Paradise Animal Clinic Series, Do You Take This Daddy will be out in the spring, and I’m working on the first book in another series, also set in Paradise. 

oooh cannot wait for that book. And another series in Paradise, awesome I would love to stop and visit Paradise someday. Tell us are you anywhere on social media?

Facebook, twitter, Etc? I’m a bit bad about keeping up on twitter, but I try. You can follow me atwww.twitter.com/ktgrok. I do love facebook though, and I welcome fans to follow/friend me.www.facebook.com/katiemeyerbooks. Or you can always email me at katiemeyerbooks@gmail.com or check out my website www.katiemeyerbooks.com

Thank you for making it easy for readers to find you. Why should readers give you books a try? What do your books offer that another might not?

Hmm, I like to think my books fit that middle ground between sweet and sexy. They have a sexual tension that is true to life but are nothing you’d be ashamed to have your mother know you are reading. And they focus on themes we all can related to: balancing family loyalty to our own growth as individuals, learning from mistakes without letting them hold us back, and the importance of friends and family.

Very good reasoning! As a reviewer myself I love reading new authors..How do you react to good and bad reviews?

I won’t lie, a good review can make my day, maybe even my week. I love knowing that my writing made someone happier, even if only for a few hours. Bad reviews tend to be from people who just aren’t into the kind of story I’m writing, and that’s okay. We all have different tastes. My feelings aren’t hurt, and I’m just grateful someone even bothered to read it at all.

Sounds like you take both good and bad in stride. How about we shift to a few personal questions. Do you have any bad habits?

Oh boy….plenty. Biting my nails (which I’ve mostly, but not entirely broken myself of), forgetting to close the cabinets, not locking doors, and generally being an unorganized disaster. Does being messy count as a habit? How about losing things and breaking things? My family would say I make a habit out of those.

Lol at least you admit to some bad habits, I truly hate to admit I have any. Do you have any Hobbies?

Reading…that’s my number one form of escape. Other than that, I’m a homeschooling mom with three kids, I don’t have time for hobbies.

When you home school more than one child I think their hobbies become yours, Lol how about your favorite foods, music, movie? 

Does coffee count as a food? I drink a lot of cold brew coffee, usually with whipped cream on top.  I love a good country song, and almost never get to the movies. But Sweet Home Alabama is one that I can watch over and over again.

Yes coffee and chocolate are their own food groups! If you won a million dollars, what would you do with it?

Buy a bigger house, with more room for bookshelves. And then I’d travel, first to visit family and then to Europe. I’d love my kids to be able to experience more of the world.

Great answers. Thank you so much for giving us a peek into the life of Katie Meyer. I wish you luck, success, and many sales in your future.