SPOTTED: Amy Brecount White & Forget-Her-Nots (Interview + FHN Trailer!)

Hi guys! Today, I have with me, the awesome author of Forget-Her-Nots! I've SPOTTED Amy Brecount White!

I have questions for her that I've been meaning to ask...and I finally got the answers to all of them in this interview:

How long did it take for you to finish the draft of Forget-Her-Nots?

Far too long. From the first idea to publication was about 8 years. I was also freelancing and finished another manuscript while I was figuring out the agent thing, but it was much longer than I thought it would take.

But the long years are definitely worth it now that FHN is out in the stores!
When have you conceived the concept of using flowers in your novel?

I have always loved flowers, and my mom gardened. We also had a neighbor who had amazing blooms that no one else grew, like bleeding hearts. I loved her yard! When I knew I wanted to write a novel, I started thinking about what I loved and wanted to share with the world. Flowers came to my mind, and I also found a language of flowers book. Somehow it all came together. :-)

What a great source of inspiration! And I AM interested in that language of flowers book.

What inspired you to start writing Forget-Her-Nots?

I went to hear novelist Toni Morrison speak. She said, "Write the novel that ONLY you can write." I thought about that for awhile and came up with the idea. I had always wanted to write a novel sometime, but I felt a sudden urgency that I had to start it at that point in my life.

Tell me about the main character in your novel. What makes her unique?

Laurel is unique, because she has a special way with flowers. (I don't want to give too much away!) She is also unique in that she is mourning the loss of her mother at a young age, and she's an amazing soccer player. In many other ways, she's like most girls you know.

I think I want to know more about Laurel. *curious* I'm going to grab a copy of FHN asap!
Is there going to be a second book?

I hope to write a companion novel to FHN, but my second book, STRING THEORIES, isn't about flowers. It's about love and lust, the physics of relationships, connections and getting even.

Well, for me, String Theories sound interesting too, like FHN!

How does your mood affect your writing?

I try not to let it. I do my best to get involved in the world of the story and forget my own. I have three kids, so I have to use all the free moments I can whether or not I'm in a good mood. My mood does affect my story, because when I have a strong mood, I try to remember what that feels like so I can describe it in my writing.

Is it important that you are in an ambience that you like when you write? If yes, why?

The most important feature for me is silence. I don't listen to music or anything else, because I want to hear the voice of the characters and the sounds of the story in my head.

What are you working on now?

I've been wrapping up STRING THEORIES, doing interviews, and thinking about the next book. I'll probably do some freelance pieces for magazines while I'm brainstorming for the next novel.


What tips can you give to aspiring writers (like me)?

Your job as an aspiring writer is to try to figure out how good writing works. So read a ton, figure out what you like, and then decipher how it works. How does an author create suspense or add sensory details or make you want to cry? Writers read differently from readers. Writers are always looking at how the words work together to create both the parts and the whole.

I'll do that. Yeah, words matter a lot! My creative writing prof always reminds the class about word choice. Thanks Amy!

Do you tend to guess a person's personality through their favorite flowers? If yes, can you tell me a circumstance in which you guessed right?

Hmmm. Interesting question. I think people who like things simple love gerbera daisies. People who are higher maintenance might like gorgeous and fragrant lilies or orchids. I usually try to guess what a person will like based on what I know of them. Most people love to receive a variety of flowers, and I like to mix them up too.

Right now, I'm thinking if there should be "flower psychology" a branch of psychology that will allow you to predict the behavior of a person depending on the flower he/she likes. Interesting! You could do it vice versa!

Last question. What’s your favorite flower and why?

I'm very fond of gardenias, probably because of their scent. It's sweet but not overbearing, and they seem very pure and lovely to me. I even like their dark green wavy leaves. But I do love all flowers!

Thanks so much for having me, Precious!

The gardenias seem nice. I honestly haven't caught the scent of one. Now, I want to! Thanks Amy for dropping by and sharing!
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Amy's Links:

Amy's official website
Follow Amy on Twitter

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Buy FHN here!
Book Description:

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.

Here's the trailer Amy made to help her readers see the world of FHN!

Forget-Her-Nots is available now! Grab a copy now and don't miss Amy's unique debut novel!