Thank you Anne-Marie for letting me interview you!

Who is Anne-Marie Meyer?

Anne-Marie Meyer is a USA Today Bestselling author who lives south of the Twin Cities in MN. She spends her days with her knight in shining armor, four princes, and a baby princess.

When she’s not running after her kids, she’s dreaming up romantic stories. She loves to take her favorite moments in the books and movies she loves and tries to figure out a way to make them new and fresh.

Interview

What was your inspiration for the Sweet Tea and Southern Gentleman series?

I love writing small town romances that interconnect and span across multiple series. I also love the south as I moved here three years ago. I knew I wanted Abigail in the series since she shows up in the Red Stiletto Series and I knew I needed to center the story around the Harmony Island Inn, and that’s where Shelby and Miles’ story was born. 

I also love writing relationships between women. So many times, we read antagonistic relationships between women, but I wanted a series that focused on them being friends. On the support that can grow and forgiveness that can be found. Shelby runs into Abigail and they form a friendship that they didn’t know that they needed. 

What drew you to writing romance?

Every time I sat down, my entire focus was romance. The first book I wrote was a mash up of just about every genre I could think of, but they all centered around romance. I can’t imagine writing a book where romance isn’t the main plot. 

How did you choose which character to centre the story around? 

For my Red Stiletto Book Club series and my Sweet Tea and a Southern Gentleman series, there are always 3-4 POV’s going on. There’s a woman who is going through a life changing event whether it is a divorce or starting over. Then there is a woman who is falling in love. One thing that my readers of my Red Stiletto series mentioned was that they wished they could see the story through the main male character’s perspective, so I added that into Sweet Tea. 

What was your process for writing Godwin’s Grocery?

Since my series is very interconnected, I knew who I was writing about before I started. It’s a second chance romance between Claire and Jax. There are things that we all love about Second Chance romances that I’m making sure to add into the story. Trying to prove that they have moved on by flirting with other people while the other one can see. Claire is forced to move in with Jax so we get close proximity of two people who act like they hate each other, but really…they don’t. 

And then we learn a little bit more about Juniper and her life. She’s running away from an abusive husband who also happens to be the “IT” family in town. I don’t want to give away too much but let’s just say, it’ll be my first bodyguard romance. 

What is your approach to world and character building?

Honestly, I try to figure out the basics of the world and the characters, but I don’t do much thinking about it until the words start to flow. I’m definitely a discovery writer and the more time I spend with a character, the more I learn about them. Harmony Island is definitely an always evolving world to me. 

How would you describe Godwin’s Grocery in five words?

Second Chance Enemies Forced Proximity

What can readers expect for Harmony Island Gazette?

Ooo, so we can expect a romance story between Juniper and her beau. Other than that, I’m still trying to work out the rest. I’ll know more after Godwin’s. 

Did you have a favourite moment in the book to write?

In Apple Blossom B&B, it was Bash’s surprise kiss with Abigail. It was a moment that he knew he was never going to get back, so he pulled her into his room and kissed her. I didn’t expect to write it when I started that day, but Bash just took over and did it. 

What was your favourite book growing up?

Oh, that’s hard to say. Anything with romance. I was a voracious reader so I read anything and everything. 

Do you have a favourite genre to read?

Romance. If the book doesn’t have romance, I lose interest.