BooksChatter: ℚ♫ Broken Down: Hidden Scars [2]

Today we have the pleasure of meeting up with author Amanda K. Byrne to talk about Broken Down (12 April 2016, Radiodemon Publishing, 208 pages), a Contemporary Romance, book two of Hidden Scars series.

Author Q&A | Synopsis | Teaser | The Series | About the Author | Giveaway & Tour Stops

A very warm welcome to Amanda K. Byrne; thank you for joining us on BooksChatter!

Here at BooksChatter we love music; do you have a music playlist that you used in Broken Down, or which inspired you whilst you were writing it?

"Yes, Broken Down has a playlist! It actually takes its title from one of the songs on the list."

What was the inspiration for Broken Down?

"Shane’s backstory was inspired by something that actually happened to Lajon Witherspoon (lead singer for the band Sevendust). He lost his brother and a friend in the same year, though not under the same circumstances that Shane does in Broken Down."

How much of yourself is reflected in this book, and how?

"The snark. Oh, the snark! And I pulled from my decades-long friendships with my girlfriends to create the friendship between Sara and Krista."

The first thing that draws me to a book is its cover. Can you tell us about your cover for Broken Down - why you chose that concept and who the artist is.

"I’m pretty picky about cover art. This one was harder than most because I didn’t really have an image in my head of what it should look like. I just wanted something sort of sad. When I found the image, I passed it on to my cover artist, RaineyCloud9, and she did the rest. She’s amazing."

Why should we read Broken Down and what sets it apart from the rest? What makes your book unique?

"So…Broken Down is about a rock star. BUT. He’s not all that famous and he’s not a billionaire. Shane’s a confident guy with communication issues, but he knows what he wants, and that’s Krista. He’s older (late 30’s) and he’s starting to think that maybe the musician life isn’t for him. Their story is less about Shane being a semi-famous musician and way more about two people trying to find their way back to each other, despite the obstacles barring their way. They were one of my favorite couples to write."

Can you tell us something quirky about Broken Down, its story and characters?

"I originally hadn’t planned on telling Krista’s story (she first appears in Hidden Scars). When I came up with the idea for Broken Down, though, it was easy to turn Krista from a minor character in Hidden Scars and into the heroine of the next book in the series."

Who would you recommend Broken Down to and what should readers be aware of (any warnings or disclaimers)?

"Anyone looking for something different from their rock stars! But readers who have trouble with addiction and abortion should be advised."

If you could / wished to turn Broken Down and the Hidden Scars series into a movie, who would be your dream team?

"Michelle Williams – she’s such a versatile actress, and I think she’d be awesome as Krista. In my head, Shane was always Michael Ealy, only with green eyes instead of blue."

What do you like to write and read about? Do you stick to a particular genre or do you like to explore different ones?

"I’ll write about almost anything if I think the idea’s interesting enough for a book. I’m not much for alpha heroes – I like reading about them, but I can’t write them. Believe me, I’ve tried! I also bounce between genres: New Adult, contemporary, urban fantasy, suspense, erotic…you’ll usually find a combination of at least two of those in most of my stories."

What is your writing process?

"I usually write on an idea until I either have a complete book or I run out of steam. If I can’t come up with enough conflict to keep a story going, I’ll set it aside and work on something else. It usually takes me between 4-6 weeks to write a first draft, though on occasion it can take longer; Broken Down took me over three months. Revisions, unless they’re major, take far less time. My critique partner usually reads after the first draft or the first set of revisions, depending on how much work I think the story needs."

What is in store next?

"I have a New Adult romantic suspense trilogy coming out. The first book releases in July. I’m super excited for readers to get to know Cass – she’s a college student who happens to kill people for spending money, and she ends up falling for one of her targets. I have a novella in an anthology releasing this August. The story’s called Sultry, and it’s a friends-to-lovers story featuring a shy, nerdy hero. After that, look for Learning Curve, Paul and Marie’s story, to release next June. Guy asks his best friend to look out for his little sister while he’s off fighting insurgents…what could possibly happen? :D"

And as a final quirky thing, to get to know you a little bit better... do you have a pet or something that is special to you that you could share with us?

"This is Demeter. She’s 13 and still acts like a kitten. She’s usually annoying, occasionally clingy, and I love her to bits. Also, she seems to think she’d look better without fur, so she’s constantly licking herself. This is her favorite spot – squished between me and the back of the couch."