Please welcome to the Pond today the wonderfully talented and funny Heidi Betts. Her latest book Tangled Up in Love was released on February 3, 2009, and is the first book in her Chicks with Sticks trilogy. Love Me, Love Me Knot will be released in August 2009 and Knock Me For a Loop will follow in February of 2010.
The new trilogy is based around a knitting group of which the heroines of each book, Ronnie, Jenna, and Grace, are members. Their respective heroes are Dylan, Gage, and Zack who are friends. The fun starts in Tangled Up in Love when Ronnie and Dylan, who work for competing newspapers, issue challenges via their papers to one other in a contest of man versus woman, which includes white water rafting, bungee jumping, mountain climbing, and, of course, learning to knit. And that’s only the beginning!
Now learn a little about the author who knits romance just as well as she does an Angora sweater.
I can’t thank Laura enough for inviting me to chat here at The Good, The Bad, & The Unread. When she first asked me to visit, she said that “Make a Splash” was pretty much an open slate & I could talk about anything I like. Ah, the power. It was tempting to take her up on the offer and do something truly wicked and wild. (For the record, I reserve the right to do that at some point in the future.)
Unfortunately, I recently wrapped up what we at my WIPs and Chains blog call the “Blog Tour 2009” and I haven’t quite recovered yet. The only things going through my brain are “Ohmigod, I’m so far behind on my next book!” and “It’s February already? Really? Where did January go?” So, being the generous and benevolent Lady of the Whip that she is, Laura offered to send me a series of interview questions instead. Ah, better. This I can do, I thought. And then I saw her questions. Lady of the Whip, indeed…she certainly doesn’t pull any punches when it comes to discovering her favorite author’s deepest, darkest secrets. (note to Heidi–shhhhh!! everyone here thinks I’m sweet and nice. And you can blame Sandy M. for the questions. Really, I am totally innocent here. *g*)
But anyway, here it goes:
Lightning Round:
– dark or milk chocolate? Dark may be better for you, but milk chocolate is the yummiest. Guess I’ll just have to get my antioxidants somewhere else.
– smooth or chunky peanut butter? Smooth, definitely. I like my peanut butter to get stuck to the roof of my mouth, not stuck in my teeth. *g*
– heels or flats? Well, I like fancy heels best, but since they pretty much make me look like a giraffe on roller skates when I wear them, I’ve gotta go with the comfy, casual, blister-free answer of flats.
– coffee or tea? Tea! All day, every day! Hot’s okay, but I like it better cold. Coffee—gack! I don’t know how anybody drinks that stuff.
– summer or winter? Neither. I prefer Spring & Fall. Summer gets too hot and winter gets too cold. Though the “not-too” times of each of those seasons are okay.
– mountains or beach? Oh, man, that’s a toughie. I love the mountains because of the seclusion and nature. Of course, that’s only if there’s a nice, comfortable cabin with heat, electricity, and running water nearby. If we’re talking sleeping on the ground and dealing with all kinds of bugs and critters… No, thank you. I love, love, love the beach. Except for the sun. But sand and water are wonderful. Of course, that’s as long as you don’t go too far into the water, because then we might be talking sharks, jelly fish, barracudas, and even sharp shells or stones that would cut the bottoms of my delicate feet.
– mustard or mayonnaise? Mayo! Hate, hate, hate mustard! (Except the wee bit they put on McDonald’s hamburgers. Don’t ask me why, but I can tolerate it there.)
– flowers or candy? Ahhh, can’t I have both? Please?!? Okay, I’m picky about my candy, so if I can’t have the good stuff, I’d rather have flowers. But I prefer live flowers over cut ones, so if they were just going to die in a week, I might have to go back to candy.
– pockets or purse? A purse. No, not a purse, a tote. And not just any tote…a bag the size of a small elephant. I need a dolly to drag my purse around most days, but God forbid I be without anything I might need when I’m out and about.
– Pepsi or Coke? Coke! Diet Cherry Coke, if you’ve got it.
– ebook or print? Print. Gotta have a book in my hands. Gotta be able to see and stroke the cover, turn the pages, smell the ink and glue that hold them all together. Gotta be able to mark my place with a good old-fashioned bookmark and come back to it later.
-knit or crochet? Ah-ha! A trick question. You’re trying to get me into trouble, aren’t you? Considering that I’m currently writing and promoting a series of sexy-hot and crazy-funny romance novels that are all about knitting, I’m going to have to go with KNITTING! (Ha! You can’t trip me up that easily, Laura!) Although I do actually crochet, too, and enjoy it just…I mean almost as much.
Some other fun stuff:
1. What is your favorite word?
Floccinaucinihilipilification. It’s the longest word in the English language (not counting medical terms and such) and I’ve always loved it, mostly because I can pronounce it. When my mother was teaching, if she heard a student using the F-word, she would take them aside and tell them that they could either take detention or sit and write her F-word—complete with definition—25 or 50 times. I just always thought it was fun to say—and fun to watch people’s eyes glaze over when you use it in conversation. *g*
2. What is your least favorite word?
No. I do not like to be told I can’t do or have something. I mean I really don’t like it. And it usually just makes me angry enough or more determined to figure how I darn well can do or have what it is I want.
3. What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally?
Would it be wrong of me to say Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson? Oh, come on. Look at that man and tell me he doesn’t get your juices flowing in every way.
4. What turns you off creatively, spiritually or emotionally?
I’m going to sound like a total snob here, but I have to admit that bad writing and bad grammar drive me batty. I’m not a complete Grammar Nazi; I mean, I won’t jump down your throat if you end a sentence with a preposition and even—gasp!—do it myself from time to time. But I refuse to go through the “10 Items or Less” lines at the grocery store on principle and nearly go into spasms over the misuse of who/that. I know, I know, but it’s a deeply ingrained pet peeve. I think it comes from being raised by two school teachers (see Question 9), one of whom went to parochial school, where bad grammar meant getting your knuckles rapped by a ruler-wielding nun. *shudders*
5. What sound or noise do you love?
I love to listen to my cats purr. I don’t know how they do it and each one is unique, but it’s just adorable and melts my heart every time—even when I’m mad at them.
6. What sound or noise do you hate?
Well, nails on a chalk board is right up there. And, omg, the sound of a nail file (the gritty, sandpaper kind) scraping against anything but an actual fingernail. Sends shivers down my spine every single time.
7. What is your favorite curse word?
I’m the daughter of a Navy man, so I have lots of favorite curse words—not many of which are fit for print. “Son of a bitch” is a favorite and oft-muttered swear in my house, and I’ve also always been fond of “funky butt-lovin,” (from Rookie of the Year), which is exceptionally satisfying to use when you stub your toe or such.
8. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?
Other than exotic dancer or space cowgirl? I’d have to say something that has me working with animals—veterinarian, marine biologist, Head Clubber who clubs the [dirty word]s who club seals…
9. What profession would you not like to do?
Just about anything Mike Rowe has done on Dirty Jobs. Yuck. I also would not like to be a teacher in any way, shape, or form. Both of my parents were teachers, and I don’t know how they do it. I swear, I would kill half my class within the first twenty minutes (yes, even the younger kids) and run screaming from the building in forty.
10. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?
Well, a warm welcome would be nice. I certainly wouldn’t be happy if He said, “Hi, you’re dead, but you also took a wrong turn. You want to go back the way you came, hang a left instead of a right, and follow the escalator going dooooowwwwwn.” Yikes! Other than that, I would really like to know that I’m going to get to be with my dad and all my babies again, and I don’t care if He tells me that or just points me in the right direction.
It’s me again. Heidi has generously offered up to three (3) posters and a book from her backlist. Even though this doesn’t include Tangled Up in Love, there are several other very good books to choose from. You have all weekend to enter and we’ll have Heidi draw the winners on Monday (2/22/09). In the mean time, if you are looking for a really good book to read and keep you warm on the cold winter nights, pick up Tangled Up in Love and check out Heidi’s blogs at WIPs and Chains and Must Love Yarn.
Thanks for hanging out in the pond with us, Heidi!!
Hi Heidi! Thanks for coming to play with us today 😀 Loved the questions/answers. I’ve never seen the word “floccinaucinihilipilification” before – and who hasn’t joked about being an exotic dancer? 😉
As for number four… you should come here and add your two cents!
Hey Heidi!
Awesome interview 🙂 And to all those out there who haven’t read Tangled yet (that is if there actually are any unenlightened souls lurking) get to a bookstore double quick and dive in. Oh, and be sure to stop for munchies on the way home—’cause once you dive in you won’t want to leave your comfy reading spot 🙂
Take care all and have a great weekend!
Ellen
Hi, everyone! Thanks so much for inviting me to splash around with you today. If I’m a little late checking in, it’s only because I got caught up on that pic of Dwayne. Ah, Dwayne. Dwayne, Dwayne, Dwayne…
What? Who? Where am I again? 😉
Hi, Lime! It’s great to be here. He-he, I got to stump somebody. It’s not exactly a word you use in everyday conversation…unless you’re trying to either impress or frighten. *vbg*
Love the Word Warrior post, too. Unless I missed them, tho, you didn’t mention a few of my personal pet peeves: sneak/snuck … who/that … & one I got snotty letters about in one of my books, course/coarse. For the record, I know the difference & there *is* such a thing as a typo! Sometimes I’m amazed at the mistakes that can still squeak thru even after so many sets of eyes edit & proof a book. 🙁
Hi, Ellen! Thank you *so* much for the awesome shout-out about TANGLED. I’m so glad you liked it. I’m absolutely loving this series & can only hope everyone else will fall in love with Ronnie, Dylan, & the rest of the gang as much as I have.
Oh, & for anyone who hasn’t already seen it, Laura wrote up a totally fabu review for it right here at TGTBTU :-D:
http://goodbadandunread.com/2009/02/13/review-tangled-up-in-love-by-heidi-betts/
Heidi – we got that one in the comments. (Well, someone else did.) And… awe – sorry to hear someone wrote you a letter about one typo. Heh – at least they were really paying attention, right?! :X
You’d be surprised at what readers send author. 99% of the letter & e-mails I get are fabulous, but every once in a while something weird slips in. It’s funny to see how many people think authors are in completely control of their books, from start to finish–oh, if they only knew! LOL And they sometimes seem unable to just shrug things off that are simply typos or honest mistakes. But like I said–99% FABULOUS, which makes it much easier to ignore that obscure 1%. 😀
What I’m finding really tough these days is keeping e-mail/blog & text jargon separate from my professional writing. In the edits for LOVES ME, I actually typed “thru” for “through” & *thank God!* my editor caught it. I tend to type really fast & know what I want to get down, but don’t necessarily pay a lot of attention to how I’m spelling stuff in the moment. I always run spell check & also review mss. for myself, but I think I’m so used to seeing some of these abbreviations that they no longer stand out as being wrong. So even tho I have just returned a manuscript that the copyeditor was a bit too heavy-handed with, I have to say that I am hugely grateful there are copyeditors out there who *are* watching my back & catching things that slip under my radar. And after all that, typos & mistakes still manage to find their way into the finished books…go figure. 😛
I guess the attachments I send with my emails to Heidi make up for my horrible grammar. *g*
Great interview Laura!!! and Heidi too!!! See what happens when you share those pink fuzzy handcuffs!?!
Its always nice to learn new things about people we like!!
LOL, Laura. Your attachments make me willing to forgive just about anything! But my internal editor tends to shut off when it comes to e-mails. Those are just too quick & laid back to worry about. It’s books & movies/TV when people should *know better.* I esp. want to send letters to Dr. Phil & Tyra Banks, who consistently use “that” instead of “who.” It offends my delicate ears…& you know how delicate & innocent I am, Laura! ;-P
Hi, Hollie! Thanks for popping in to say hello!
I think the reason Laura is so determined to hang on to those cuffs is that she’s having too much fun with them. Either that, or she used them, but lost the key & *can’t* share them. LOL
Hi Heidi,
It’s so nice to see you here. Do you think Mistress Heidi will make it through the Pearly Gates?
LOL, Jane. I don’t think Mistress Heidi has a chance of even getting *near* the Pearly Gates. You know that saying, “Heaven won’t have me & the Devil’s afraid I’ll take over”? It was pretty much invented for–& about–her. *vbg* I mean, did you see the Friday Funny she made me post today? Eeek!
Hi, Heidi!
Just have to tell you that I’m going to be checking out Tangled Up in Love. I formatted your interview for Laura last night and enjoyed getting to know you, plus reading about your book. It sounds like a lot of fun and I look forward to reading it!
Shhhhhhh!!!!!!! People around here think I’m the *nice* one. I have a reputation to uphold.
YAY! I have corrupted er, I mean, convinced another. Sandy, you will love this book!!! Naked Knitting….you know you wanna learn all about that.
I just read Tangled Up In Love this week. I loved it!! Looking forward to this series.
Aloha Heidi!
Just finished Tangled and LOVED IT!!! I already recommended it to my reading group and even plugged it at a chatroom filled with fellow romance readers and authors. 😀
Thank you for all the belly laughs watching this couple spar in more ways than one. My friend and I was talking about tattoos and I told her, just remember, probably not a good idea to get one on your butt. LOL! And of course, the HOT scenes were worth their money in cold showers, too!
And I’m with you on the elephant bag, I’m always amaze at women who can carry around teeny little bags. The bigger the better is my bag motto!
Thanks again for your wonderful stories!
LOL, who can knit when they’re naked, Laura?????
Hi, Sandy! Thanks for all your hard work on the interview–it looks great! 🙂
And I’m so glad you’ll be picking up TANGLED. I am having the *best* time writing humorous contemporary, so I keep hoping everyone who reads it will laugh out loud & be clamoring for the next books so I can *keep* writing it. *g* You’ll have to let me know what you think of Ronnie, Dylan, & the gang! 😀
Oh, you’re “nice,” Laura, I’m just not so sure about “innocent.” How else do you explain your obsession with winning the Fuzzy Pink Handcuffs every single day? 😉
Hi, Stacy! Am I allowed to do a little happy dance that you read & loved TANGLED? Sorry, you can’t stop me… *hippy-hippy shake, hippy-hippy shake*
I just returned the copyedits for LOVES ME, LOVES ME KNOT today & I think it’s another one you guys are going to like. Well, okay, if you’re a Darling of The Dungeon, then there’s at least one scene in the story I know you’re going to *love* but I think everyone else will enjoy it, too! Gage & Jenna are such an awesome couple. 🙂
Heidi, I keep telling Simon he should sleep in but does he listen. Really it’s not me posting that early it’s Simon. He really thought today’s blog was funny. I can be innocent. 😉
( when I want to be.)
Sandy knows WP, me–not so much. Okay, fine, not at all.
Sandy, I’m not telling you anything about the naked knitting. You will just have to read that part for yourself. AND NO SKIPPING AROUND TO FIND IT!!! Ronnie does have other ways to use those knitting needles and all I can say is Dylan does prefer the naked knitting to the other alternatives.
Hi, Jan! Thank you so, so much. (More dancing…but I’m a multi-tasker & can shake my bon-bon while I type. *g*) I can’t think you enough for talking up TANGLED to your friends, reading group, & online. That’s what I need most, I think–word out mouth!
I think a tattoo on the butt is a great idea…as long as you don’t mind standing for a while until it heals. LOL But don’t tell your friend what Ronnie’s tattoo means–let her find that out for herself. *g* Were you surprised when you found out the symbol’s true meaning? 😀
Heidi, I have a message for you from “b” girl. She said to tell you hi! 😀
Sandy~ Oh, ye of little faith. Wait until you start reading TANGLED, then you’ll discover just how much fun naked knitting can be. 😛
ROTF, Laura. Ah, yes, that makes more sense. *Simon* wants to keep the cuffs. Well, that must mean he’s putting them to good use then, mustn’t it? Innocent–uh-huh. 😉
And tell “b” girl I said hello! But she might not want to be reading over your shoulder…we’re talking about butts again. 😛
Laura, fuzzy pink handcuffs? Is there something you’re not telling us!?!?!?
LOL, Heidi, I have to get to the bottom of this naked knitting! It does send a certain shiver down the spine!
Fabulous interview, Heidi and Laura! Thanks! It’s been a crazy week (how did that happen, since the kids are on break? ;)) so it took me ages to make it to the Dungeon, and then even more time to make it back out! And I definitely learned something new–I’d never heard of that f-word before! 😉
Hi there Heidi,
Another great blog and kudos to Laura J. for a well-written article with some great questions!
I am definitely learning new things about you!
Sandy~ I’m going to let Laura fill you in on the Fuzzy Pink Handcuffs, since she is most familiar with them. *vbg*
And the naked knitting scene is definitely worth investigating. Then you’ll have to let me know if it lived up to your expectations. 😉
Hi, Fedora! Now, why would life every be hectic or crazy with kids home on break? *vbg* Glad you’re back, tho…& then found your way out of the catacombs of The Dungeon to make it over here. See, you never know what you might learn when you hang around me. Some of it’s interesting, some of it’s just…disturbing. 😛
Hi, Carrie, thanks for dropping in! Laura’s questions were great…& loads of fun! As were her added pics. I just knew that if I gave her the opportunity to go hunting for pics of sexy men, she’d come thru with flying colors. 😉
Sandy, Really, I have no idea *what* is talking about. I sweet and innocent. What would I no about fuzzy pink handcuffs?
And I do need to add that Sandy helped with the questions. I *borrowed* them from her.
good to see u her heidi. congrats on teh books, love your desires
You are so cruel, Laura. You mean you aren’t even going to tell her what the Fuzzy Pink Handcuffs are? That’s just because you want to keep them all to yourself!
Sandy~ The Fuzzy Pink Handcuffs are a cyber prize I give away to the first commentor each day at WIPs and Chains (a.k.a. The Dungeon). You can check them out in the sidebar over there. Laura does manage to snag them most mornings, but others do occasionally get the chance to steal them away from her. 😀
And since Laura apparently stole much this interview from you, thanks for the fun & quirky questions. 🙂
Hi, Kim! Thanks so much for dropping by! I’m glad you enjoyed my Desires. I really loved writing those, too, so don’t be surprised if you see another one from me…someday. 🙂
LOL, think I’m going to have to interview Laura, interesting she keeps going for those fuzzy pink handcuffs!
No, don’t thank me that much for the interview questions, Heidi and Laura — they’re a combo of things I got from other folks! We’re just a huge old hodgepodge here at the pond!
And whenever she has to hand them off to someone else for a day, she apologizes for the smudges of whipped cream. I don’t mind telling you, I’m quite concerned about what she’s doing with them on the days she wins them. 😉
It’s also time to pick book winners, right?! Weeee! I always need a cat for this part & it’s nap time, but I’m sure the little one will be more than happy to wake up long enough to bat some papers around. *vbg*
And the winners are…
Jan
Sandy M
Stacy S
Congratulations, ladies!!! To pick the book you’d like from my backlist, bop over here: http://www.heidibetts.com/books/index.php#back Then go to the contact page of my website (http://heidibetts.com/bio.php#email) or e-mail me directly at heidi@heidibetts.com with your title of choice & mailing info, & I’ll get your prizes out to you!
Thank you again to Laura for inviting me–& being such a big cheerleader for TANGLED UP IN LOVE :-D–& to *everyone* for chatting with me this weekend. I hope you’ll all visit The Dungeon & Must Love Yarn soon, too…after all, it’s the only way to win those Fuzzy Pink Handcuffs. 😉
Oh, Heidi, you’re too kind, but I have to bow out of the contest! I’m a reviewer here at the pond too, so I can’t be part of the giveaways that are held. So please accept my thanks and do pick another commenter to enjoy one of your wonderful books!
And congrats to all the winners!
I plead the 5th.
Nah-uh!