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Monday, January 20, 2014

Interview & Giveaway with Jim Cangany

Hot WIPs & Sassy Chicks is pleased to present a follow-up interview with Jim Cangany, author of Fallen Star and Lucky Star.

Q             Welcome back. You were here last April. What have you been up to since then?

A             2013 was a busy year for me. Fallen Star, Book One in my North Star Trilogy, was published in June. I also had a short story, The Christmas Angel, published in December. Lucky Star, Book Two in the North Star Trilogy comes out in a few weeks, February 14, to be exact.

Q             A ring is featured on the cover of Fallen Star. Does it have a connection to the story?

A             Yes, a vital one. The ring is a Claddagh. Those who have read Fallen Star know the hero, E.J., is proud of his Irish heritage and the Claddagh gave me an opportunity to expand on that. I don't want to give too much away, but the scenes in which it is featured are pretty important.

Q             You're a guy who writes romance, a field in which the vast majority of authors are women. Do you have any particular insights you can share with us on that issue?

A             The number one lesson I've learned is that, in the end, it's the story that matters. If you have a well-written story with characters that readers care about, it doesn't matter if the author is a man or a woman.

Q             What's up next after Lucky Star?

A             The final installment of The North Star Trilogy, Wish Upon a Star, is finished and is scheduled to come out in October. My current project is a contemporary romance with a completely new group of characters.

Q             Favorite season of the year?

A             Fall. I live in Central Indiana, where we get spectacular colors as the leave change along mild temperatures.

Q             Sweet or salty?

A             I lean toward the salty side. I love my tortilla chips and potato chips.

Q             Dream vehicle?

A             I would love to have a 60s or 70s era British roadster. An MG or a Triumph would be beyond awesome!

Q             Celebrity you'd most like to meet?

A             Grace Potter of Grace Potter and the Nocturnals. She is the real-life Cassandra Lawrence, after all!

Connect with Jim!

Website - www.JimCangany.com

Twitter - @jimcangany

Facebook - Jim Cangany Author

 

Lucky Star blurb
 
In Annie, E.J.'s found his North Star. In E.J., Annie's found someone who truly loves her for just her. Everything's great, right? Wrong! Despite their obvious feelings for each other, somebody’s intent on tearing down the foundation they've built. And E.J.’s the target. First his career is derailed. Then his reputation is sullied.

Annie’s determined to find the culprit. But how’s she going to do that when, as her alter-ego Cassandra Lawrence, she has a new album to record and a tour to plan? E.J. desperately wants to prove he’s worthy of Annie. Is it even possible when every time things are headed in the right direction, disaster strikes?

Can they figure out figure out who is so intent on driving them apart and put a stop to it before irreparable damage is done? From Northern California to New York and points in between, our lovers struggle to keep their unlikeliest of relationships alive amid joy, heartache and everything in between. But it's not until all appears lost once and for all that they learn faith--in themselves and each other--is what matters most. 
 
 
*** GIVEAWAY ***
 
Jim is giving away ONE $25 Amazon gift card to one lucky commenter! Please comment for your chance to win. Jim will choose the winner next week.

Wondering what to comment? Ask Jim a question about RWA, his already released novel, or his upcoming novel!

 


53 comments:

  1. Thanks a million for having me today, ladies! It's a real thrill to be here and to get to reveal the cover of Lucky Star while I visit!

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  2. Nice cover, Jim! I can't wait to read more about EJ and Annie!

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    1. Thanks, Mellanie! All three of us, Annie, E.J. and I, appreciate it! :-)

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  3. A fantastic giveaway, Jim! Don't enter me, obviously, since I live here (LOL) but I did post it on my Facebook page and encourage my readers to come and win it! Hopefully you will see them flood the comments soon. ;)

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    1. Thanks a million, Jessica. Appreciate the support. You rock!

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  4. hi jim!! im from jessicas fb i wanted to enter in your giveaway and im suspose to ask you about RWA? :)

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    1. Hey there. RWA is the Romance Writers of America, of which I am a proud member. Fun little fact-I'm the only guy in my local RWA chapter so my nickname is Token Dude. Its all in great fun. Romance authors are the best!

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  5. I think that since it's roMANce, there should be room for more male authors. *scoots over* And this sounds like a great story!

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    1. Nice cover and congrats on your new release

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    2. Thanks very much Jeannette. The Claddagh ring means a lot to me. I'm glad you like the cover!

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    3. Thanks for stopping by Teri Anne, and for your kind words!

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  6. Hi Jim, RWA ? I am from Jessica's fb page your book looks like one I will diffently read thank you for chance to win gift cert.

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    1. Hey there, Stephanie! Jessica's great, isn't she? RWA is the professional organization for romance writers. I met my blog host, Marisa Cleveland, at the national convention last summer!

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  7. Do you use people you know in your stories?

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    1. Hi there Honolulubelle! I don't use people I know as characters, but I like to use names of people I know in my stories as a little thank you for their support. For example, two supporting characters in Lucky Star, Ryan and Aidan, are named after my two sons. I get to have a lot of fun that way.

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  8. woot i Like when they as all kinds of questions! I live in northern IN so its always nice to see someone else from around these parts! the book looks awesome and jessica lemmon sent me this way! - :)

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    1. Cheers to living in the Hoosier State, Kris! I think I owe Jessica a beer for all the nice ladies she's directed here. Thanks for the thoughtful words about Fallen Star!

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  9. Jessica Lemmon sent sent me this way can't wait to read your book

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    1. Glad you came by, Sydney. My romances aren't quite as "spicy" as Jessica's, but I like to think they're a lot of fun!

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  10. Jessica sent me over. Love the cover of your book. Will need to check it out. Are you going to RT 14?

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    1. Hi Shari! I'm so glad you like the cover. When my editor asked me about featuring a Claddagh on the cover, I couldn't say yes fast enough!

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  11. Jessica sent me as well. This is more a personal question because I see you've covered a lot of info on your books: When you are not writing what do you enjoy doing?

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    1. Hi Tricia! I'm a huge fan of professional bicycle racing and spend a lot of time during the winter months cheering on the Butler University men's and women's basketball programs. I love to read, too.

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  12. How did you come up with the character E.J. and Annie. Both characters are quite colorful. Thanks for the book description.

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    1. Thank you, Kai. My original ideas for E.J. and Annie go all the way back to my college days in the late '80s. I wanted to write a story about what it might be like to meet a mysterious stranger while you're traveling on vacation - thus the premise for the first Annie & E.J. story, Fallen Star. For E.J., I wanted someone you'd like to hang out with. For Annie, I wanted somebody who was virtually the polar opposite from what the public perceived her as. I've had an absolute ball getting to know them better with every story I've written about them.

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  13. Don't have a question but I love the cover on Lucky Star!

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    1. Thank you, Carol! The story of the Claddagh ring really resonates with me. I gave my wife one on our 5th wedding anniversary and got her a new one for our 20th. She gave me one for our 10th anniversary and I proudly wear it every day.

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  14. Love the blurb for the book. Always happy to find new romance books especially when they have a bit of suspense and mystery. Is this part of a series or a standalone?

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    1. HI Steph! Thanks and great question. Lucky Star is the second book in my North Star Trilogy. The first in the series, Fallen Star, came out last June. Lucky Star picks up shortly after Fallen Star ends.

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  15. Love the title and cover. I like to find new romance writers..

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    1. Thank you, Sally Jane. My editor went back and forth a number of times on the first book in the series before we agreed on Fallen Star. This one was called Lucky Star from day one. I really do think it's a great title for the story. thanks for checking in!

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  16. Love the title and cover. I like to find new romance writers..

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  17. I too came over from Jessica's page. It's always wonderful to find new authors and read about their stories.

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    1. Hi catslady! Thanks for stopping by. One of the best things about writing romance is that the authors are so kind to and supportive of each other, like Marisa, Jessica, Tamara and Elizabeth are by letting me visit. Have a great day!

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  18. Hi Jim, What a great interview! It was nice to get to know a little about you since you are a new author to me. Your books sound wonderful so I am thrilled with this giveaway. Thank you for the opportunity and I am definitely keeping my fingers crossed.

    mauback55 at gmail dot com

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    1. Hey there, Melanie, glad you enjoyed the interview. And thanks for stopping by, new authors like me truly appreciate it when nice folks like yourself take the time to visit.

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  19. I love the history of the claddagh. You are a new to me author. I'm looking forward to reading your books.

    I have to agree about MGs - they are fun cars. We had one for several years. :-)

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    1. Thank you, Glenda. Oh man, I'd love to hear some of your stories about driving an MG. Cheers to the British roadster!

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  20. GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR BOOK AND THANKS FOR THE GIVEAWAY! SHELLEY S. calicolady60@hotmail.com

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    1. Thank you for your kind wishes, Shelley. The giveaway is totally my pleasure as a thanks to everyone for stopping by. Your time is valuable and I appreciate the face that you've chose to spend some of it with me.

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  21. Happy to learn more about goings on of RWA. The ring on the cover does catch your attention.

    marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com

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    1. Thanks, Mary. I wouldn't be a few weeks away from having my second novel published if not for the amazing people of RWA.

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  22. That's an interesting blurb! I'll have to keep me eyes out for your books! Congrats on the new release, Jim!

    ahui89 at hotmail dot com

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    1. Thanks so much, Ada. I'm looking forward to sharing the latest "adventures of Annie and E.J." as I like to call it, with everybody.

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  23. I always enjoy finding new authors. Thanks for sharing this giveaway with us too!

    thebigbluewall77(at)gmail(dot)com

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    1. Thanks for swinging by to say hello, Anita. It's a blast for a new author like myself to make new friends like this. Have a good day!

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  24. Hey there, long time listener, first time caller! My questions to you are these: what's the name of Cassandra Lawrence's tour and will it make a stop in Indy? If so, where would she likely perform? And, will there be a companion CD of selected tunes that EJ and Annie listen to during their travels?

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    1. Hey there Anonymous, great questions!! I could play coy by saying the answers to the first two questions can be found in Lucky Star and the answer to the third can be found in book one of the Trilogy, Fallen Star. BUT, since you asked so nicely--Cassandra's Tour, is called the "I'm Right Here Tour" as a takeoff from her last tour, which was called the "Where Are You Tour." The tour will make a very special stop in Indy, where she will play The Lawn at White River. There won't be a companion CD, as Annie's a fan of jazz and E.J. likes jam band music, a la O.A.R. and The Dave Matthews Band. When they're together, they like to listen to The Black Keys, Ingrid Michaelson, The Head & the Heart, Brandi Carlile and Sara Bareilles

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  26. What made you come up with the idea for Lucky Stars?

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    1. Hi there, Saran, part inspiration, part desperation, really. I knew early on when I was writing Fallen Star, book one in the trilogy, what Wish Upon a Star, book three in the trilogy, would be about. The initial challenge was to bridge the gap between the stories. What I decided on was to answer the question "What Next?" How would this couple who has just met keep this thing going? It was quite a but of fun answering that quesiton.

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  27. Time for the gift card drawing! Drum roll please...and the winner is...Glenda. If you will shoot your email address to me at jim(dot)cangany@yahoo(dot)com, I'll get your gift card code to you. Thanks so much to everybody for visiting and don't forget to be on the lookout for Lucky Star beginning on February 14. Until next time - tailwinds!

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  28. Well I never heard from Glenda, so it's time to pull a new name and the winner is Ada! I'll be sending your gift card code to you straightaway!

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