The Story is About   +  novel

Today's interview is with Amy Brecount White, debut author of Forget-Her-Nots, as part of her Spread the Flower Love blog tour and contest! Forget-Her-Nots debuted, yesterday March 2nd.

As for the contest... Each blog on the tour will offer readers a single virtual flower which they can collect into a bouquet. At the end of each week, readers can submit their bouquet on Amy's site to enter themselves into the contest. The tour runs for four weeks, so you get four chances to enter.

Books

• Forget-Her-Nots

Forget-Her-Nots

When someone leaves three mystery flowers outside her dorm door, Laurel thinks that maybe the Avondale School isn't so awful after all — until her own body starts to freak out. In the middle of her English presentation on the Victorian Language of Flowers, strange words pop into her head, and her body seems to tingle and hum. Impulsively, Laurel gives the love bouquet she made to demonstrate the language to her spinster English teacher. When that teacher unexpectedly and immediately finds romance, Laurel suspects that something — something magical — is up. With her new friend, Kate, she sets out to discover the origins and breadth of her powers by experimenting on herself and others. But she can’t seem to find any living experts in the field of flower powers to guide her. And her bouquets don't always do her bidding, especially when it comes to her own crush, Justin. Rumors about Laurel and her flowers fly across campus, and she's soon besieged by requests from girls — both friends and enemies — who want their lives magically transformed — just in time for prom.

It’s my dream come true. Success was far from instant when I started writing this book, and there were days when I felt like I was nuts to keep working on it. Now, it’s wonderful to know that my tenacity and patience paid off. It’s wonderful to connect with so many readers.

Describe your writing in three words.

Lyrical, sweet, moving. (I hope.:))

Is there a different genre that you'd like to try in the future?

My next novel, String Theories, is totally realistic, so that’s a change from the magic realism of Forget-Her-Nots. I am hoping to revisit the world of Avondale in a companion novel after that.

One you'll stay away from?

I don’t see myself doing paranormal or sci-fi, but I wouldn’t rule anything out. You never know what’s around the next bend in your road.

Do you think having an online presence has had an effect on the awareness of your upcoming novel, Forget-Her-Nots?

Definitely. My book has a very unfamiliar and original concept – the Victorian language of flowers – at its center. I hope that through my blogging, tweeting, and contests lots of people now know about the language and are excited to find out more in FHN. It’s also been incredibly fun. For lots of my guest posts, I’ve had to write about embarrassing moments and the romantic highlights of my own life. And I feel like I’ve made amazing new friends all around the world. I’m so impressed by the time commitment and organizational skills it takes to run a successful blog.

Wish there was such a thing when I was a teen!

What was the first flower you ever received from a boy and what did it mean?

Oh, wow. I’m sure it was a wrist corsage; those were very big when I was growing up in Dayton, Ohio, and it was probably the Homecoming Dance of my Freshman year in high school. I’m guessing it was white roses, because they matched everything. White roses symbolize “girlhood,” so my date could have done something a little more romantic.

If you could travel back in time for one year, where would you go?

Sometimes I think Regency England in the time of Jane Austen, but I’m feeling more like a frontier woman today, the Little House on the Prairie type. (I loved reading those to my kids, even my boys.) I love being outdoors with the sunshine, fresh air, and wildflowers, and they knew how to do amazing family meals. It was a hard and simple life, but they truly appreciated the good times.

And what three things would you take with you?

Oh, it would be hard to live without my laptop, but I guess a pen and notebook would have to do. (I’m going to count that as one.) My contact lenses or glasses, so I could actually observe the world around me. And I’d have to take my Epipen, so I don’t die from eating a nut or peanut! Severely allergic. I sound awfully practical, don’t !?

Maybe I should just take my three kids with me instead!

Thanks so much for hosting me, Kristi!