Interview with Amy Matayo

By Andrea Grigg

I can’t remember who introduced me to Amy Matayo’s books. God bless whoever it was! It wasn’t long before I was spreading the word about my new fave author and telling everyone who reads contemporary Christian romance they must read Sway. (Don’t think I’ll ever stop saying it.) 

Amy, who is from Arkansas in the USA, has been kind enough to let me interview her. Fan girl moment!

What did you want to be when you were growing up?

Depends on the age. From 5-8, a gymnast. Bless my parents for going along with that dream even though I was hopelessly awkward (still am). From 9-12, a model (because I was delusional and completely disproportionate). From 13-15, a songwriter (wrote a few complete with cheesy rhymes, but at least writing was involved). From 15 on, an author. That one stuck. Though I still haven’t given up on the gymnast thing...

If you could time travel, where would you go and why?

I would go back in (fake) time and be Mrs. Darcy, and he would ardently admire me and love me and we would have a couple of cute little Darcy’s and a nanny.

What does a typical day in the life of Amy Matayo look like?

My days are actually boringly typical and routine, and go something like this: Wake up, wake two kids, make breakfast, set plates in front of kids, shower, dry hair, slap on makeup, take kids to school, come home to write except get distracted by laundry and pets and Facebook, write a little, get coffee, sit back down, stare at computer, get more coffee, head outside with laptop, get distracted by falling leaves, write a little, watch more leaves, go back inside, write a little, give up, pack bag, head to coffee shop where actual writing happens until it’s time to pick up kids again. A writer’s life. It’s super-glamorous.

When and how did you get the writing bug?

It was there all my life, but it hit hard in seventh grade. My English teacher gave us a short-story assignment, and I wrote about a psychopath who kills an entire family. A little different than what I write today. But she loved the story, read it to the class, entered the story into a contest (I didn’t win), and told me I should be a writer. That’s when I really began to think about it. I never stopped.

What was the inspiration for your latest book, The Thirteenth Chance?

My neighbor. He played for the New York Mets and the Detroit Tigers, so I had first-hand access to research.

The Thirteenth Chance and The End of the World aren’t predominately Christian books. Can you tell us about your transition into the general market?

I’ve never really thought about it as a purposeful transition, even though I know others might. For me, my faith is always there, always constant. But the stories I feel an urge to write are always different. Sometimes I want to talk about faith, sometimes abandonment, sometimes adventure, sometimes crazy women with OCD issues. Sometimes the faith message fits the story, and sometimes it seems too much of a stretch to be included. But my sole purpose for writing (other than the fact that it’s necessary for me to do), is to entertain, be as real as I can, and hopefully deliver a good story. I write for me—often about things that indirectly relate to my current circumstances—and my moods change. The book I’m currently writing brings faith back into the equation a bit, but the next book might not. I realize that might make a book hard to market or fit into a specific category, but I’ve always been okay with that. I just want the name “Amy Matayo” to mean you’ll get a good, relatively clean story that will both entertain and maybe kill a few stereotypes. If I had a mission statement, that might be it.

Your first books were written in third person, your last three in first person. Personally, I love it, but what was your reason for the switch?

Initially I switched to challenge myself to a different style, just to see if I could do it. Turned out that I liked that style better. But soon I’m going back to third to challenge myself again. Or maybe first, but from only one point-of-view. I’ve only done that in novella form. I’d like to see if I can manage a full-length.

  

I hear you’re a sucker for an Australian accent. Any comment?

A total sucker. I mean seriously, do you guys hear yourselves when you talk? Best accent ever.

What’s your favorite holiday?

Christmas, hands down.

What kind of music do you listen to?
Any and all. My kids (I have 4) listen to everything, so I do by default. They’ll pass songs along to me. And then I have a couple of close friends who text me songs and introduce me to new artists. Some of my favorites have come from that.

Favorite treat?
Pizza, ice cream, Snickers bars.

Which author(s) inspire you?
My favorite author is Tarryn Fisher, because all her books are different in style and she’s a fantastic writer. I also like Colleen Hoover, Jenny B. Jones, Nicole Deese, Sarah Maas, Liane Moriarty, Stephen King.

What do you do to relax?
Go for walks, sit by the lake, drive, go to movies.

What are you working on now?
I’m rewriting a book that I wrote six years ago, the third book I ever wrote. It’s my daughter’s favorite of mine, and I promised that I would redo it for her. It involves a famous musician and I’m be intentionally vague, but it’s called The Whys Have It. Will be out next summer.

Any plans for a trip Down Under?
Yes. I’m coming to your house. Did I forget to tell you? ;)

Haha. You know you're welcome :) Amy, thanks so much for the fun interview, for the intriguing mission statement, for the love of our accent, and for mentioning our own Liane Moriarty as one of your favourite authors. (She's one of mine too. After you, of course.) 

If you would like to check out Amy's books further, click on the Amazon link here. 

Andrea Grigg lives on the Gold Coast, Queensland, and is a writer of two contemporary Christian romance novels, ‘A Simple Mistake’ and ‘Too Pretty’. Her Christmas novella, 'All is Bright', was released September 27 in a boxset along with five other authors, entitled, 'An Aussie Summer Christmas', and is now available as a single title. You can find her books here.
She would love to connect with you via: 

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Email: andreagrigg@live.com

Book Review: ‘Here to Stay’ by Melissa Tagg

Amazon blurb:

After playing nomad for five years, Blake Hunziker has finally had enough of adventure. Not sure what reception he'll get from everyone back in Whisper Shore, he's stunned at not only a warm welcome from his hometown but also a job offer. The job is his if he can successfully pull off the annual Christmas Festival. If only he knew the first thing about coordinating events...

If there's one thing Autumn Kingsley knows, it's Whisper Shore. For years, she's been stuck running her family's inn when all she wants is to see the world. Now she has a visit scheduled from a potential investor who could take over the inn, as well as a dream job offer in Paris. But with just two weeks to whip the inn into shape, her chance at escape is a long shot.

The Hunzikers and the Kingsleys may not get along, but Blake knows Autumn's the only one who can help him. She agrees to a trade--she'll help with the Festival and he'll help with inn repairs. But what was meant to be a simple deal quickly becomes much more than that when the guy who's done running away joins forces with the girl who can't wait to leave.

My review:

So glad I read this book. While an easy-to-read romance, ‘Here to Stay’ is by no means shallow. Blake Hunziker and Autumn Kingsley both have their issues and Melissa Tagg explores them with honesty and sensitivity.

Usually it’s the female character I bond with the most, but, interestingly enough, not this time. I think it was because I already felt a connection with Blake after reading Melissa’s debut novel Made to Last. (While it's not essential to read this one first, I'm glad I did).

I really wanted to know Blake’s story. Don’t get me wrong, Autumn Kingsley is a well-crafted and lovable character too. She’s got grit and determination and a great sense of humour. I really liked her.

Blake, for reasons which unfold throughout the story, has been an adventurer and a wanderer but all that has changed. He wants to belong, have a normal life, have a purpose. Autumn Kingsley on the other hand, feels stifled by family issues and a small-town existence, – a job offer in Paris is exactly what she wants and she's going, no matter what. So when the chemistry between her and Blake can't be ignored any longer, it causes a fair amount of angst for Autumn. And the pair of them already have a major problem to deal with – the animosity between their families has been there for years and for painful and valid reasons.

I loved this book. It had all the things that appeal to me. Romance, obviously, but also family dynamics, hurdles to overcome and a load of humour. The banter between Autumn and Blake is terrific – it had me reading with a smile. The Christian element is there, but never preachy and to my mind, comes across very naturally. Here to Stay is a book I can recommend without hesitation.

About Andrea Grigg

Andrea writes contemporary romance. Her second novel Too Pretty will be released on August 1 by Rhiza Press. Her first novel A Simple Mistake was a finalist in the 2012 CALEB Awards.



Andrea would love to hear from you via her website or Facebook page:
http://www.andreagrigg.com/
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