AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT - AMANDA MEUWISSEN
Amanda Meuwissen is a bisexual and happily married 35-year-old geek. Primarily an M/M romance author with a focus on urban fantasy, she has a Bachelor of Arts in a personally designed Creative Writing major from St. Olaf College and is an avid consumer of fiction through film, prose, and video games. Amanda lives in Minneapolis, MN, with her husband, John, and their cat, Helga.
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AUTHOR NAME: Amanda Meuwissen
Introduce yourself and your writing
I am a bisexual and happily married 35-year-old geek. Primarily an M/M romance author with a focus on urban fantasy, I have a Bachelor of Arts in a personally designed Creative Writing major from St. Olaf College and am an avid consumer of fiction through film, prose, and video games. Currently, I live in Minneapolis, MN, with my husband, John, and our cat, Helga. I am now at a dozen published titles and have been averaging two books a year for some time now. I can’t seem to stop!
Tell us about your new release. What inspired you to write it?
My actual newest release is Public Enemy, Undercover Lover, which is an enemies to lovers contemporary romp with a healthy amount of sex. My most recent of the titles I am promoting today, all more in my backlog, is from late last year, and is also a somewhat enemies to lovers tale, but with an urban fantasy/superhero slant. After Vertigo – a wannabe hero without powers blackmails a thief with powers into being the hero the city needs against a bunch of evil-plotting supervillains. Something about a budding romance that starts at odds is the most fun for me. Lovesick Gods, which I’m also promoting today, is even more so enemies to lovers, as it’s an actual superhero and his nemesis falling for each other.
How did you decide on the title?
Titles in general are tricky. Sometimes they come to me without thought; sometimes they take effort. Coming Up for Air was easy, A Model Escort was easy and came to me as a great pun, since it also deals with predictive models, and After Vertigo was sort of a gimme. Interpretive Hearts was given to me by a reader, who the book is dedicated to, and Lovesick Gods was a mix. I always knew it would be Lovesick, but when I realized the story was far too long for a single book, I had to get creative. And what is closer to Gods and Titans than modern superheroes and villains?
What are you working on at present? Would you like to share a snippet?
I am finishing up a fairy tale that I hope is the beginning of a trilogy – The Prince and the Ice King. However, I’m also playing with another fantasy book idea, very much inspired by both Dungeons & Dragons and Dracula, so today, I think I’ll share a little snippet from that:
Zen drew back the hood of his robe and turned his face to the sun. His eyes watered almost instantly, even while closed, an itch overtaking his skin like the start of a burn, but the warmth was still enjoyable for a time.
He couldn’t look directly at the sun, his eyes a similar blueish gray to his skin tone, though more reflective, as if made of metal, and far more sensitive. If he did, or stayed outside during the day too long, he’d see spots for hours and suffer nauseating heat sickness.
He should have hated the sun for that, but he no more resented the golden light in the sky than the god it represented.
The Sun God couldn’t be blamed, after all. He’d never listened to Zen’s prayers to begin with.
The bustle of the market drew his attention back out of the alley, and he flattened himself against the wall to fade into the shadows, watching for his prey.
Jorgen always came this way at nearly the exact same time each morning, off to collect his daily grain, which he used to make ale more often than he gave it to his wife for baking bread.
He was a slender human, tall and bony, his skin not properly fit for his form, with hideous features that all seemed to be meant for different men. His outward appearance wasn’t why Zen targeted him, however.
At long last, Jorgen’s long strides carried him through the market, shoulders tense and eyes narrowed, looking every which way around him like a nervous thief.
Zen chuckled, taking what he knew to be perverse joy in his task, but he had no intention of stopping.
As soon as Jorgen walked by where he was hidden in the alley, Zen reached out and plucked the man’s coin purse form his belt without the faintest hint of noise, jostle, or weight change. He’d become a master of the art over many youthful years of guile, but Jorgen was his favorite target.
“Oh dear,” Zen said loudly, stepping out of the alley and watching Jorgen’s shoulders tense higher. “Master Jorgen, sir, it seems you’ve dropped your purse.”
Jorgen spun around.
Zen had shorter strides, but he was still tall for a darkling—the nickname given to mixed children of humans and dark elves—and was a hair’s breadth from Jorgen’s face by the time he’d fully turned. “Here you are, sir.”
Jorgen recoiled—every time—which was why Zen kept ‘finding’ it for him.
“Thank you,” Jorgen said shortly and tore the purse from Zen’s fingers, careful not to touch him. He’d stopped giving Zen a suspicious eye or asking where he’d found it ages ago. He knew the game, Zen choosing a different hiding spot each day and never failing to catch him unawares, but there was nothing he could do about it, since Zen always returned the purse without a single coin missing.
“Why do you do that, Master Zen?” a small voice asked after Jorgen huffed off.
Zen turned, finding a familiar boy, small, eight years old at best, with a pale complexion and long, pointed ears. “Because, young Jax.” Zen crouched before him, “it makes him uncomfortable, and some people deserve to be uncomfortable.”
Is there a book you wish you had written?
I had planned years ago to work on a nonfiction book with stories contributed from different women, but it never got off the ground – Prettier Than You.
While talking to my husband one day, I came upon a startling revelation. He said that men couldn't help it that whenever they entered a room the first thing they did was scan for other guys and ask themselves, “Could I take him?” I wondered if that translated for women. And then I realized. We do it too, only the question we ask is, "Is she prettier than me?"
I had this whole idea around that concept planned, how we see ourselves and others, what does ‘pretty’ mean, with different chapters on different subjects. I started gathering anecdotal accounts, but I was never able to gather ENOUGH. It didn’t seem right to write something like that only from my own perspective, so it sort of died in pre-production. Maybe someday.
What other novels do you adore/ writers you follow?
I’d say I’m bias toward K.L. Hiers because we’re friends, but then, we became friends because I started squeeing over her writing. She has a great series out, Cold Hard Cash and Hard Earned Cash, as well as a vampire novel that takes some really fun deviations from traditional lore, but I am most excited for her next release, coming later this year, Acsquidentally in Love, available for pre-order now, combining urban fantasy, M/M, and tentacles, which for me cannot go wrong.
Do characters and stories just pop into your head, or do you take your time thinking about and planning them?
They pop into my head first, almost entirely realized, like knocking on the door to my brain, introducing themselves, but over time, they let me learn more about them to become even more flushed out. I always say, I don’t make up stories, I discover stories that character demand I write.
Do you write often? Do you have a schedule?
Every single day. When I go one or more days without writing, I start to get antsy and don’t feel like myself, the ideas and need to get something on the page bubbling up powerfully within me. I don’t have a daily schedule, as I try to sneak in time whenever I can, but often I’ll write after dinner for an hour or two.
What are your writing and personal goals for 2020 and beyond?
This year I’ll have another book release, a vampire novel called Their Dark Reflections, I plan to get my fairy tale novel, The Prince and the Ice King, submitted to my publisher, and to finish the initial draft of at least one more novel – whichever one might grab my attention more to write first. Personally, I’m looking forward to finally quitting my day job to focus on writing full-time, potentially moving to a new, larger house, and looking forward to some changing tides in life.
Are you a cat person or a dog person? Tell us about your pets.
Cat 100%. I’ve grown up with cats and can’t stand not living with at least one. I do like dogs, but I’m allergic, so even though I still pet them and want to snuggle, it has to be cats for me. I’ve also worked animals into several books, but especially cats, often depicting my own real-life kitties. I just love how independent and easy to swoop up into your arms they are.
Are there big events in your life that affect your writing?
Everything does in some way. Whatever I’m really invested in at any given time, maybe TV, movies, other books or hobbies, tends to leak into my characters because it’s top of mind. Bigger events though, like age milestones, loss, life stage changes, etc., really don’t. More my likes and dislikes to a subtle extent.
BACKLIST TOUR
BOOK 1
It’s not easy being someone’s fairy tale.
Book Title: Coming Up for Air
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Cover Artist: Tiferet Design
Length: 66736 words / 191 pages
Release Date: April 30, 2019
Genre/s: Romance / Gay / Paranormal / Urban Fantasy / Merman / Shifter / Crime / Mystery
Trope/s: not what he seems, thief with a heart of gold, friends to lovers, fated love
It is a standalone story.
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Leigh Hurley is making a name for himself among thieves and criminals, even if it isn’t the life he would’ve chosen. He shouldn’t have screwed over the Moretti brothers, though. It landed him in the river with weights on his feet. But somehow he’s escaped certain death. The last thing he remembers before waking on the riverbank is a beautiful face and a soft kiss.
Then, Tolomeo turns up naked at Leigh’s apartment.
Tolly comes from a race of killers—merfolk who drown humans for fun. But Tolly is different, and when he sees a human in trouble, he offers a kiss, granting the man the ability to breathe underwater… and himself the ability to walk on land, at least until the next full moon. The ancient laws state that if he is given a vow of love by the one he kissed, he will be able to keep his legs. If not, he will be put to death when he returns to the water.
But love is not something Leigh offers easily… and Tolly has a secret of his own.
Blurb
Shy data scientist Owen Quinn is brilliant at predictive models but clueless at romance. Fortunately, a new career allows him to start over hundreds of miles from the ex he would rather forget. But the opportunity might go to waste since this isn’t the kind of problem he knows how to solve. The truth is, he’s terrible at making the first move and wishes a connection didn’t have to revolve around sex.
Cal Mercer works for the Nick of Time Escort Service. He’s picky about his clients and has never accepted a regular who is looking for companionship over sex—but can the right client change his mind? And can real feelings develop while money is changing hands? Owen and Cal might get to the root of their true feelings... if their pasts don’t interfere.
Blurb
In the competitive world of dance, Teddy was a flawless performer and hardass choreographer who students feared and admired in equal measure. But hip surgery ended the glamour and drama, and now Teddy is recovering at his beach house, lost and listless.
Until he meets Finn, his neighbor, who is too perfect, gorgeous, and kind to exist—but very ill timed. In a seaside town as small as theirs, they can’t avoid each other, especially since Finn is also Teddy’s new physical therapist. But Teddy isn’t the man he used to be, and though Finn flirts shamelessly with him, Teddy can’t believe a has-been dancer is worthy of someone so young and full of life.
Finn’s sunny smile is also hiding heartache. Pursuing Teddy challenges both his professionalism and his self-preservation, but if he can convince Teddy to trust him, maybe they both can heal.
Blurb
In a flash, the world changed. A solar flare—later dubbed Vertigo—activated the DNA of more than half the world’s people, granting them special abilities. Brilliant scientist Benjamin Krane might be Powerless, but his inventions are the only thing giving the police a fighting chance against super-powered evil. Ben doesn’t have much of a life beyond work, and when he gets wind of a robbery one evening, he decides to test his newest invention personally….
A thief, rogue, and shameless flirt, Grey Miller—aka the Streak—likes shiny things, but he doesn’t hurt people. When Ben catches him—and proposes they team up against the real bad guys—Grey doesn’t know whether it’s the offer or the man he can’t resist. But one thing’s for sure—they’re an ideal match in more ways than one.
With a psychotic supervillain’s catastrophic plan moving forward and everyone he cares about in danger, now might not be the best time for Ben to give in to Grey’s seduction, no matter how tempting. Grey is a man of secrets, and if Ben wants a future with him, he’ll have to learn to trust Grey—and himself.
Blurb
The elements touch everyone on Earth—Fire, Water, even Light—but every so often someone becomes more attuned to their elemental leaning and develops true power. When an evil Elemental known as Thanatos arrived in Olympus City, it saw the rise of its first hero—Zeus. But the death toll caused by defeating Thanatos changed Zeus, who by day is young detective Danny Grant.
It’s been six months since Thanatos terrorized the city at the start of Lovesick Gods. Danny should be used to his duty behind the mask, but the recent past haunts him. His girlfriend left him, he snaps at the barest provocation, his life feels empty—he needs an outlet, any outlet to pull him out of his depression.
Enter notorious thief Malcolm Cho, the Ice Elemental Prometheus. There was a time when Danny welcomed a fight with Cho, filled with colorful banter and casual flirtations that were a relief compared to Thanatos. Even as a criminal, Cho had recognized the threat Thanatos posed and promised to help Danny stop him, but the day Danny needed Cho, he never showed. Cho was the reason so many people died that day—including Danny’s mother.
Danny decides to teach the man a lesson and fan the fire of their attraction into something more. At worst, he’ll get some no-strings-attached sex out of the deal and finally blow off steam; at best, he’ll get Cho to fall in love with him and then break his heart to spite him.
Danny doesn’t expect to fall for Cho in the process, and he certainly can’t predict the much darker threat on the horizon.
Then, Tolomeo turns up naked at Leigh’s apartment.
Tolly comes from a race of killers—merfolk who drown humans for fun. But Tolly is different, and when he sees a human in trouble, he offers a kiss, granting the man the ability to breathe underwater… and himself the ability to walk on land, at least until the next full moon. The ancient laws state that if he is given a vow of love by the one he kissed, he will be able to keep his legs. If not, he will be put to death when he returns to the water.
But love is not something Leigh offers easily… and Tolly has a secret of his own.
BOOK 2
What’s the value of love?
Book Title: A Model Escort
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Cover Artist: Bree Archer; Design by Paul Richmond
Length: 60686 words / 225 pages
Release Date: March 5, 2019
Genre/s: Contemporary Romance / Gay
Trope/s: shy protagonist, pretty woman, friends to lovers, abusive ex,
male escort, May-December Romance
It is a standalone story.
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Blurb
Shy data scientist Owen Quinn is brilliant at predictive models but clueless at romance. Fortunately, a new career allows him to start over hundreds of miles from the ex he would rather forget. But the opportunity might go to waste since this isn’t the kind of problem he knows how to solve. The truth is, he’s terrible at making the first move and wishes a connection didn’t have to revolve around sex.
Cal Mercer works for the Nick of Time Escort Service. He’s picky about his clients and has never accepted a regular who is looking for companionship over sex—but can the right client change his mind? And can real feelings develop while money is changing hands? Owen and Cal might get to the root of their true feelings... if their pasts don’t interfere.
BOOK 3
Love is easy once you learn the steps.
Book Title: Interpretive Hearts
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Cover Artist: Alexandria Corza
Length: 50692 words / 197 pages
Release Date: November 19, 2019
Genre/s: Contemporary Romance / Gay
Trope/s: friends to lovers, May-December Romance, living with disability, neighbors
It is a standalone story.
Buy Links
Blurb
In the competitive world of dance, Teddy was a flawless performer and hardass choreographer who students feared and admired in equal measure. But hip surgery ended the glamour and drama, and now Teddy is recovering at his beach house, lost and listless.
Until he meets Finn, his neighbor, who is too perfect, gorgeous, and kind to exist—but very ill timed. In a seaside town as small as theirs, they can’t avoid each other, especially since Finn is also Teddy’s new physical therapist. But Teddy isn’t the man he used to be, and though Finn flirts shamelessly with him, Teddy can’t believe a has-been dancer is worthy of someone so young and full of life.
Finn’s sunny smile is also hiding heartache. Pursuing Teddy challenges both his professionalism and his self-preservation, but if he can convince Teddy to trust him, maybe they both can heal.
BOOK 4
Heroes aren’t born, they’re made – sometimes reluctantly.
Book Title: After Vertigo
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Cover Artist: Tiferet Design
Length: 66422 words / 194 pages
Release Date: December 10, 2019
Genre/s: Gay / Paranormal Romance / Science Fiction / Urban Fantasy / Superheroes
Trope/s: frenemies to lovers, social awkward protagonist, 40-year-old virgin,
antihero, save the world, thief with a heart of gold
It is a standalone story.
Buy Links
Blurb
In a flash, the world changed. A solar flare—later dubbed Vertigo—activated the DNA of more than half the world’s people, granting them special abilities. Brilliant scientist Benjamin Krane might be Powerless, but his inventions are the only thing giving the police a fighting chance against super-powered evil. Ben doesn’t have much of a life beyond work, and when he gets wind of a robbery one evening, he decides to test his newest invention personally….
A thief, rogue, and shameless flirt, Grey Miller—aka the Streak—likes shiny things, but he doesn’t hurt people. When Ben catches him—and proposes they team up against the real bad guys—Grey doesn’t know whether it’s the offer or the man he can’t resist. But one thing’s for sure—they’re an ideal match in more ways than one.
With a psychotic supervillain’s catastrophic plan moving forward and everyone he cares about in danger, now might not be the best time for Ben to give in to Grey’s seduction, no matter how tempting. Grey is a man of secrets, and if Ben wants a future with him, he’ll have to learn to trust Grey—and himself.
BOOK 5
Heroes aren’t meant to act like their villains—or fall in love with them.
Book Title: Lovesick Gods
Publisher: Self
Cover Artist: Mario Hernandez, Design by Veronika Dolnikova
Length: 106609 words / 313 pages
Release Date: October 1, 2017
Genre/s: Bisexual / Urban Fantasy / Dark Romance / Superheroes
Trope/s: enemies to lovers, corrupted hero, redeemable villain, living with bipolar disorder, thief with a heart of gold
This is part 1 of a 2-part series.
Buy Links
Blurb
The elements touch everyone on Earth—Fire, Water, even Light—but every so often someone becomes more attuned to their elemental leaning and develops true power. When an evil Elemental known as Thanatos arrived in Olympus City, it saw the rise of its first hero—Zeus. But the death toll caused by defeating Thanatos changed Zeus, who by day is young detective Danny Grant.
It’s been six months since Thanatos terrorized the city at the start of Lovesick Gods. Danny should be used to his duty behind the mask, but the recent past haunts him. His girlfriend left him, he snaps at the barest provocation, his life feels empty—he needs an outlet, any outlet to pull him out of his depression.
Enter notorious thief Malcolm Cho, the Ice Elemental Prometheus. There was a time when Danny welcomed a fight with Cho, filled with colorful banter and casual flirtations that were a relief compared to Thanatos. Even as a criminal, Cho had recognized the threat Thanatos posed and promised to help Danny stop him, but the day Danny needed Cho, he never showed. Cho was the reason so many people died that day—including Danny’s mother.
Danny decides to teach the man a lesson and fan the fire of their attraction into something more. At worst, he’ll get some no-strings-attached sex out of the deal and finally blow off steam; at best, he’ll get Cho to fall in love with him and then break his heart to spite him.
Danny doesn’t expect to fall for Cho in the process, and he certainly can’t predict the much darker threat on the horizon.
Giveaway
Enter the Rafflecopter Giveaway to win
one of three ebooks from the author's backlist.
A Model Escort
Owen you sweet little nerd 🤓 I just want to wrap you up and keep all those bullies at bay.
Cal you simpering love-struck fool open your eyes! What are you waiting for? Everything you didn't know you wanted is right there within your grasp, demanding all your time, invading your most private thoughts. more...
Lovesick Gods
Yes!
Full review to follow as soon as I calm down
Thank goodness I own book two!
Public Enemy, Undercover Lover
I was a bit unsure in the beginning when I suddenly found myself dropped in the middle of quite the steamy reunion(?) between our two main characters. I was looking for an engaging who done it with a side of heat...
Turned out my early apprehension was for not.
#AuthorTour #Giveaway
with Author Interview
#gayromance #paranormal #fantasy #contemporary #amandameuwissen #kindleunlimited
Thank you so much for the spotlight, the interview, and the thoughtful reviews. ^_^
ReplyDeleteWhat you did with the Lovesick series?
DeleteAbsolutely Spectacular!! It had everything .
I loved the cast, the story line, the action, the suspense, the twists!
The fire and ice between our two main characters!
I'm so glad you enjoyed it! It continues to be the series I consider my favorite whenever I'm asked to pick. Thank you so much again!
Delete