All about A Double Shot of Love, part of the Coffee Loft series
Who is TJ Amberson?
TJ Amberson writes sweet rom-coms and romances that are filled with sizzling chemistry, swoony kisses, laugh-out-loud moments, and guaranteed happily-ever-afters. She also writes thrilling, clean fantasy adventures for teens and advanced tween readers.
TJ hails from the Pacific Northwest, where she lives with her husband, the best on-demand story advisor ever. When she’s not writing, she might be found enjoying a hot chocolate, pretending to know how to garden, riding her bike, video editing, or playing the piano. She loves to travel. She adores all things cozy and holiday-themed. She thinks there’s no such thing as too much seasonal décor.
What is A Double Shot of Love about?
She absolutely must not fall in love…
Danielle Gillespie knows she needs to focus on three things: getting top grades in her college classes, preparing for medical school, and working as a tutor on campus.
She also knows that she absolutely doesn’t have time for romance.
So even when she totally embarrasses herself in front of the hottest guy she has ever seen, Danielle isn’t too flustered . . . until she learns that Mr. Hottie is Joel Lambert, the university’s star athlete and the individual she will be tutoring for the entire month.
However, Danielle remains certain that she won’t fall for Joel. She’s not only too busy for love, she would never be interested in a cocky athlete, anyway. Plus, she’s sure a celebrity like Joel would never be interested in a bookish girl like her.
Yet as Danielle and Joel start working together, she begins to discover that he’s perhaps not the obnoxiously conceited man she assumed him to be, and she soon joins forces with him to fight for a cause they both believe in.
Now with everything—both on and off the court—suddenly on the line for each of them, Danielle realizes her regimented, academics-focused life is on a collision course with Joel’s celebrity-athlete world . . . and her heart is going to have to decide what matters most.
Interview
What was your inspiration for A Double Shot of Love?
This is a story I’ve wanted to write for a long time. A DOUBLE SHOT OF LOVE is not only part of the wonderful multi-author collaboration, the Coffee Loft: Fall Collection, it’s also the prequel to my own Lakewood Series books. My Lakewood Series books are sweet, closed-door romcoms that follow the lives and loves of medical students, residents, and ER attending physicians at fictional Lakewood Medical Center. In the Lakewood Series, Danielle Gillespie and Joel Lambert are side characters who are established as a couple. Yet I’ve always wanted to “go back in time” to write the story of how Danielle and Joel fell in love. So I was delighted when the opportunity to write their story came along, and that is how A DOUBLE SHOT OF LOVE came to be!
What drew you to writing?
I have no idea! All I know is that I’ve been reading and writing ever since I was a very young girl, and I’ve always loved doing so. I am immensely thankful for supportive elementary school teachers who kindly read my stories and encouraged me to continue pursuing my love of writing – their positive influence is a reason why I’m writing today.
How did you choose which character to centre the story around?
It depends on what book I’m writing. For a series, such as my Lakewood Series books, I’m usually planting hints in earlier books about who’s going to be the heroines and heroes of later books, and that’s extremely fun to do. For stand-alone novels, typically it’s an image of a heroine and hero that pops into my head, along with their initial story, and the book develops from there.
What was your process for writing your books?
By nature, as an author, I’m more of a “pantser” than a “plotter,” though I am incorporating more plotting nowadays. So usually I have the general story idea in mind, and I put together a basic outline of what plot points I want to reach in each chapter. After that, I begin writing a first draft . . . and inevitably, characters do things that surprise me, and events I didn’t initially plot end up as part of the book. I love seeing how my initial ideas evolve into the final product – sometimes, I’m as surprised as my readers!
What is your approach to world and character-building?
To be flexible yet consistent. When I’m writing thrilling, clean scifi/fantasy adventures that are specifically for teens and advanced tween readers, it requires inventing a whole world of rules, lands, languages, and more – and it’s important to make sure the rules that govern the world are consistent and without loopholes. When I’m writing contemporary, sweet, closed-door romance or romcom, the world (i.e. the “regular” modern-day world) has already been established, so it’s important to be creative and flexible with the town, the characters, and all the other things that make the setting and characters still stand out.
Did you have a favourite moment in the book to write?
For A DOUBLE SHOT OF LOVE, my favorite moment was writing the scene where Joel comes to Danielle’s rescue . . . I don’t want to say more to avoid spoilers, but I absolutely and always love writing swoony moments in my books where the hero has a chance to, well, be the hero!
Which of the characters do you relate to the most and why?
In A DOUBLE SHOT OF LOVE, I relate most to Savannah Drake, who’s Danielle’s best friend. (Savannah is also the heroine of Book One of the Lakewood Series, LOVE AT LAKEWOOD MED.) Savannah is super fun to write because she utilizes a lot of my own sense of humor – the humor elements flow easily when she’s around.
Has writing and publishing a book changed the way you see yourself?
I’ve been writing my whole life, and I’ve been publishing professionally for over a decade. Through the years of writing and publishing, I’m not sure if the process has *changed* my view of myself or rather given me deeper insight into who I am. Either way, it’s great to tap into that creative side of oneself. I will add, though, that writing and publishing professionally has most definitely changed how I view the publishing industry!
Are there any books or authors that inspired you to become a writer?
When I was really young, I devoured everything by Beverly Cleary, L.M. Montgomery, and Lloyd Alexander, so I would say those fabulous authors had a huge influence upon my love of literature.
What advice would you give to a writer working on their first book
My advice to writers working on their first book is: understand who you’re writing for. Do you know who makes up your target audience? Does your book adhere to the current industry standards and trends for books that are written for that target audience? Once you can really answer those questions as “yes,” you’re on the right track!
What’s your favourite writing snack or drink?
Hot chocolate. Definitely. Even when it’s summertime.
Do you play music while you write — and, if so, what’s your favourite music?
Sometimes, music helps me slip into creative mode and feel the mood I need for a scene. Other times, because I love music so much, it’s actually distracting and so I must write without it. I’ve written along to everything from classical to Sara Bareilles to Keane to The Corrs to random mixes and more.
Who has been the biggest supporter of your writing?
My husband. He is unfailingly supportive. He’s someone I bounce ideas off of, ask “is this what a guy would really do?” questions, read aloud to, and laugh with about all the weirdness that is part of the professional indie publishing world.
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