Hooked on You Blog Tour: Author Interview + Giveaway

Hooked On You JustRead Blog Tour

Welcome to the Blog Tour for Hooked On You by Kathleen Fuller, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

Title: Hooked On You
Series: Maple Falls Romance #1
Author: Kathleen Fuller
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Release Date: May 11, 2021
Genre: Contemporary Romance (clean/sweet)

She never wanted to come back. He never wants to leave. The town of Maple Falls has plans for them both.

Riley McAllister is living the dream in New York City . . . if the dream means being a struggling mixed-media artist, part-time food delivery driver, and having a carefully curated social media to hide all of the above. She refuses to admit defeat and move back to small-town Maple Falls, but when her grandmother breaks her leg sliding into third base during a softball game (she was safe, by the way), Riley reluctantly agrees to go home and help the woman who raised her—while secretly hoping she can convince Mimi to sell her house and yarn shop and move in with a good friend. Then Riley can return to her new life in NYC, on her own and for good.

But Mimi has her own plans, which include setting Riley up with local baseball star Hayden Price, who returned to Maple Falls after an injury ended his major league career. Now he works at his father’s hardware store, coaches the church softball team, and worries about the declining town. It’s not the life he dreamed of having.

With a little meddling and a lot of kindness from the town, Hayden and Riley find themselves unexpectedly falling for each other as they discover the true meaning of home.

Welcome to Maple Falls, where everyone knows your name and your business.

With over a million copies sold, USA Today Bestselling author Kathleen Fuller is the author of several bestselling novels, including the Hearts of Middlefield novels, the Middlefield Family novels, the Amish of Birch Creek series, and the Amish Letters series as well as a middle-grade Amish series, the Mysteries of Middlefield. Visit her online at KathleenFuller.com

CONNECT WITH KATHLEEN: Website | Facebook | Instagram

Welcome Kathleen! Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions and allow my readers a chance to get to know you and your newest book Hooked on You.

I always like to start these interviews the same way with something fun to break the ice: can you share 5 random facts about yourself that we will NOT find in your bio?

1)    I recently discovered my favorite way to eat a hot dog, or rather a Slaw Dog, as it’s called. It’s a Nathan’s hot dog on a bun with mustard and the key ingredient—KFC coleslaw. It will change your life, trust me.

2)    I’m terrified of heights. I get nauseous, vertigo, the whole unpleasant experience. Oddly enough I like riding in an airplane, but that’s probably because I’m not standing on the edge of something during the trip.

3)    I love, love, love to mow the lawn. Riding or push mower, it doesn’t matter. It’s a combination of the smell of fresh grass, being outside, and seeing a nice, tidy yard after I finish that makes me so happy. My husband thinks I’m nuts, but at least the yard looks good!

4)    I’ve been to several foreign countries—Canada, Mexico, England, Scotland, Italy, and Austria. I hope to go to a lot more in the future. Ireland is number one on my list.

5)    I’ve eaten rattlesnake before. Tastes like chicken. ;)

When did you first discover that you had a passion and talent for writing?

I’ve always loved reading and stories, but I never thought I had a passion for writing until I started reading Christian and sweet romance and decided to try to write my own story. That was in January 2000, and I haven’t stopped writing since. I don’t know how much talent I have, but I do have a willingness to keep improving my craft and the perseverance to write the stories.

You are best known for writing Amish fiction, but Hooked on You (and the Maple Falls series) are contemporary romance. Does your writing process change at all between the two genres?

My process didn’t change, but my brain did, if that makes sense. Switching back and forth between the two genres isn’t too challenging because my stories have some commonalities—small town, sweet romance, and humor. I do sometimes have my non-Amish characters (English as they’re known) say an Amish word or two before I catch myself, and I’ve had to remember that my Amish characters couldn’t just hop in a car and take off somewhere. But overall, I’ve been able to keep the two separate.

With so many books already written, where do you continue to find inspiration for new stories?

For me, inspiration is everywhere. For example, a visit to Arkansas Yarn Co inspired Hooked on You, I wanted to explore how someone would handle being diagnosed with Meniere’s Disease (which in turn was inspired by Alan Shepherd, the first man in space) in Words From the Heart, and in the second installment of the Maple Falls series, Much Ado About a Latte, I was interested in how competing businesses affect a blossoming romance. It’s part paying attention to my surroundings, part exploring psychological interests.

What is the best writing advice that you have been given, or that you would give to aspiring writers?

To be persistent. Persevere in writing, in finishing your stories, in getting them published, in honing the craft. A writer can have all the talent and connections possible, but without perseverance she won’t have a writing career.

I am loving the titles of this series so far... I love a good play on words! Hooked on You takes place in a yarn shop, which so perfectly incorporates your own love of crocheting as well. Can you tell us about some of your favorite crochet projects you’ve completed, or what you’re working on right now?

My favorite project is my most recent one—a purse I designed. It’s a cross body bag, and I used two skeins of yarn and lined the inside with a tea towel from Dollar Tree. I discuss how I made the purse in the May 12^th edition of my Books and Hooks Newsletter. Readers can sign up for the newsletter here on my website.

Can you tell us a little bit more about Hooked on You?

When her grandmother injures herself sliding into third base, Riley McAllister must return to her small hometown to help run the family yarn store. She intends to go back to New York as soon as her Mimi is back on her feet, but certain citizens of Maple Falls have other ideas. One is Hayden Price, a former pro baseball player who loves his hometown as much as Riley hates it. Romance ensues, but not without some daunting obstacles. If you love Hallmark movies, then this is a book for you.

As a bonus, I’ve teamed up with yarn artists and designers to offer the Hooked on You yarn colorway and the Riley Hat crochet and knit patterns, inspired by the cover of Hooked on You. Information about the hat, yarn, patterns, and kits are on my website. Just click on the Hooked on You yarn page on the top menu bar.

What do you hope readers will take away from the book?

I always want readers not only to be entertained, but to feel that by the end of the book they’ve become a part of the story, and that the characters are like old friends.

Thank you again for taking the time to answer these questions. Before you go, are there any other projects you are currently working on that you can share?

I have several books releasing this year: the sweet rom com novella collection This Time Around, with Denise Hunter and Melissa Ferguson (July), An Amish Schoolroom novella collection with Amy Clipston and Shelley Shepard Gray (August), and Matched and Married, an Amish Mail Order Bride book (September). Much Ado About a Latte, the second Maple Falls book, releases January 2022, and is Anita and Tanner’s story.

Thank you for hosting me on your blog!

(3) winners will receive a print copy of Hooked On You by Kathleen Fuller!

Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight May 17, 2021 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on May 24, 2021. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

ENTER GIVEAWAY HERE

Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!