Interview with romance author Andria Henry

Contemporary romance author Andria Henry joins me today to chat about Who Says You Can’t Go Home.

During her virtual book tour, Andria will be giving away a $25 Amazon or Barnes and Noble (winner’s choice) gift card to a lucky randomly drawn winner. To be entered for a chance to win, use the form below. To increase your chances of winning, feel free to visit her other tour stops and enter there, too!

Bio:
Andria Henry is the author of adult sweet romance and romantic comedy, as well as young adult and middle-grade science fiction and fantasy. She firmly believes that coffee is a food group, the holiday season starts on November 1st, and that stories are our most important resource. She lives with her husband, kids, and furkids in Hamilton, Ontario

Welcome, Andria. Please tell us about your current release.
Who Says You Can’t Go Home is a book that somehow turned into a love letter to my home town. It has all the small-town quirks (and quirky characters) you’ll love if you enjoy stories like Gilmore Girls and Hallmark movies. Our main character, Kylie, left home after high school looking for a fresh start, but found herself in a cycle of trying, and failing, to keep up with the fashionable party life in Toronto. She is forced to return to her hometown of Camden to start fresh, but her first stop is getting pulled over for speeding by the town’s only officer, Derek, who just happens to be Kylie’s high school crush. Too bad he turned into a total jerk.

Derek doesn’t have time to deal with his mixed feelings over Kylie, who he used to like, but has turned into a complete city snob. He’s got to focus on helping his sister raise her little boy and save the town’s waterfront from development.

Hijinx and bickering most definitely ensue.

What inspired you to write this book?
I was taking a romance writing course one summer and the culminating assignment was to write the first chapter of a romance novel. I was visiting my parents back home at the time and had taken my laptop to the library to work. Well the library in my hometown has big windows overlooking both the lake and the football field, and I decided then that I wanted to write stories based in my home town (or a version of my home town). I started playing with the idea of someone having to get used to living in the small town again after living in Toronto and our city party girl Kylie was born!

Excerpt from Who Says You Can’t Go Home:
“So, tell us, Kylie. Are you a Carrie or a Samantha?” Derek’s voice cut over the music.

She looked up to see him sneering over his shoulder at her.

“I’m sorry?” A challenge edged her voice.

He turned in his seat to face her, mockery rippling off him. “I mean, do you think you fell off the set of Sex and the City or something?”

Even though the music was still playing through Nick’s speakers, the garage seemed to go silent. Everyone was shifting their gaze between her and Derek. She should have played it cool, taken the high road, but embarrassment mixed with anger. Why was he coming at her like that? Even after she’d offered to help him. No good turn goes unpunished.

“Oh, definitely a Samantha.” She glared back at him. It wasn’t even close to true, but she couldn’t understand why he was being so rude. Maybe he’d had a few too many drinks.

“Really? I figured only Carrie would dress so outrageously for a garage party.” He stood up, his disdain for her clear.

Her knees shaking, she rose out of her seat to meet him.

If she wasn’t so hot under the collar, she might find his intimate knowledge of Sex and the City funny. “At least I have some style. You smell like a barn.”

They were almost nose-to-nose now, and he didn’t have a reply to that.

But Audrey did. “Actually, that’s probably me.”

Kylie bit her tongue and shot an I’m so sorry look at Audrey who was frowning.

“You really do think you’re better than everyone here, huh?” Derek loved to criticize her, didn’t he? “You should probably go back to the city, before you get anymore country on you.”

Kylie was out of place and alone. Now, she’d insulted her closest friend in the room, and Derek was calling her out in front of everyone. She wanted to keep getting angry, but her breath hitched as her chest caved in.

Instead, she grabbed her jacket then made for the door. “I’m sorry everyone. Enjoy your evening.” She hoped her voice sounded steady as she left the house.

What exciting story are you working on next?
Right now, I’m drafting Book 2 of the Camden Lake series and I’m so excited about it. I don’t mean to brag, BUT I think it’s even funnier and swoonier than Who Says You Can’t Go Home. But also, the female main character is based much more on myself this time, as she struggles with her ADHD, and so it feels like a personal mission of mine to give her the happiest of endings. And folks absolutely loved two of my side characters from Book 1 (Forrest and Edna, the adorable elderly couple that befriend Kylie) and so I’ve found away to have them hang around more for Book 2 and I’m so glad I did. They are some of my favourite characters.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?
My instructor for that romance writing class I mentioned actually gave me great feedback on that first chapter assignment and told me that I could really turn it into a book. That I could make a go of this writing thing. It still took me years of working on my craft and building up my courage to put my work out there, but that was the moment I felt like a writer.

Do you write full-time? If so, what’s your work day like? If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find time to write?
My workdays are split between writing and freelance editing. I love helping other folks make their stories shine, and it’s always work to make sure I have time for my own writing. But luckily, my jobs are both in storytelling and publishing.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
I love dropping references and Easter Eggs into my books. This series in particular is full of Canadian references and pop culture tidbits. Truly, what is the point of writing if you can’t take all the things you love and squish them together into one spot to enjoy endlessly?

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I wanted to be an astronaut so badly. I still love space and science, but now I turn my attention more to science fiction, which I also love to read and write.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?
Who Says You Can’t Go Home is meant to be a warm hug of a read. Readers have described it as “Stars Hollow vibes” (for any Gilmore Girls fans out there), “Canadian Hallmark”, and “Like a giant scoop of ice cream.” It’s a lot of fun and full of heart and I can’t wait for you all to visit my quirky little village of Camden.

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