Spotlight On... Allie Hawkins

Today I'm excited to have Allie Hawkins with me at the keyboard. Welcome, Allie, can you tell us a little about yourself? 

In my previous careers, teaching high school adolescents, creating public library programs and developing high-tech marketing materials, I worked mostly with men. I think those experiences give me a good basis for writing heroes who may come off as tougher than many heroes in romance. I think my heroines—independent, sassy and resilient—reflect having to hold my own in male-dominated environments. Acting in melodrama and teaching Spanish tuned my ear to “hear” dialogue. I love writing dialogue—especially between the hero and heroine. Personally, I’m fortunate to have married a man who enthusiastically supports my writing—even though he’s not my targeted audience.

Tell us about UNRAVELED and where we can find it.

UNRAVELED is an e-book available for all devices from The Wild Rose Press (publisher, )Amazon, Barnes and Noble. It’s also available in print from the same sources. Release is tentatively scheduled for early October.

Which character is your favorite and why?

I’m a big fan of the heroine, Quinn Alexander. Her blind loyalty to her brother strikes a cord for me. She reminds me of how easily we can excuse the bad behavior of those we love.

Will there be any sequels or other books in the same series? 

I do have a sequel started, starring my second favorite character in the book. JR Ryder is a maverick cop who falls for Quinn and sets off on a path of quiet self-destruction. Her plea to him to help her find her missing daughter forces him to work with a partner who offers his only hope of redemption.

What is the hardest scene you had to write in this piece?

The hero cheated on the hero four years ago. Writing the scene in which she forgives him and lets him back into her life was tough—because she has deep fears of abandonment. (Her father abandoned her when she was seven).

That would be a difficult scene to write. What are you working on right now? 

MISSING, the romantic-suspense sequel to UNRAVELED.

What would your readers be surprised to learn about you?

I love to dance Zumba. I go to Zumba classes three times a week and find I write much better after kicking up my heels.

I love it! Where can we find you on the web? 

http://alliehawkins.com

Is there anything you’d like to ask our readers?

Two questions: What kinds of flaws appeal to you in heroes? How important is it that the hero is a hunk? (That is, what other qualities and values trump good looks?)