New Adult Book Club discussion

Hey NABC!

This week we have Stina Lindenblatt visiting us for a Q&A! Stina is the author of Tell Me When, Decidedly Off Limits, On the Line, My Song for You, and many others!

Leave your questions for her below! <3

What inspired you to become a writer?

Debra wrote: "What inspired you to become a writer?"

Hi Debra!

When I was nine years old, I was a reluctant reader. Then one day I started to read The Famous Five series by Edith Blyton. I became hooked. I also decided that I wanted to write books. I quickly gave up after my friend and I tried to co-write a book. lol It wasn't until my teens when I discovered sexy historical romances that I became interested in once again writing stories. But I knew nothing about writing fiction and didn't get anywhere. I gave up but the dream to become an author never truly died.

It wasn't until I left my pharmaceutical sales rep job to be a stay-at-home mom to my three young kids that I finally pushed hard to become an author. This time I studied books and took writing workshops so that I could figure out how to succeed this time and not give up. :)

Hello Ms. Stina!

If you are given a chance to collaborate with an author, who will it be and why?

Who's your favorite author?

Hi Stina!

If you were given a chance to meet one classic author who would that be and why?

Beatrice wrote: "Hello Ms. Stina!

If you are given a chance to collaborate with an author, who will it be and why?"

Hi Beatrice,

Oh, wow. This is a tough question. I would say for romantic comedy, Emma Chase. I love her books and writing style, especially for her first two series (Tangled and Legal Briefs).

If I was going to write collaborate with an author who writes in 3rd person POV, I would love to work with Jill Shalvis. I love her books and her humor in them. The only problem is Jill writes 90 page outlines (eek!) for her books before she writes them. I don't. I write a 3-5 page outline and pretty much wing the rest of it. We would drive each other nuts with our level of OCD (or lack of). lol

Caryl wrote: "Hi Stina!

If you were given a chance to meet one classic author who would that be and why?"

Hi Caryl,

That one is easy. Louisa May Alcott and Jane Austen. Yes, I'm cheating and picking two authors.

Louisa: When my mom was trying to figure out my middle name, she looked on the bookshelf and went with Louisa. I was destined to be an author just because of that. lol

Jane: I love her books, plus when I was growing up in England, my town was near where she used to live. Of course by then she had been dead for 150 years.

Jemima wrote: "Who's your favorite author?"

Only one???? If I have to pick only one romance author, it would be Jill Shalvis. Her romances are autobuys for me.

And now I'm going to cheat and give two more, one for romantic comedy (Emma Chase) and one for psychological suspense (Lisa Gardner).

For all three authors, I love their stories and their writing styles. :)

Do you like to snack while you write? What's your favorite?

Emily wrote: "Do you like to snack while you write? What's your favorite?"

Hi Emily,

I try not to snack around my keyboard because no matter how careful I am, I get crumbs in the keyboard. :P But I do like to sneak a piece of chocolate or two while I write. This is why my kids and husband always buy me chocolate for birthdays, Christmas, and Valetine's Day. And then I have to hide it from them or else they'll eat it. lol

are you a "one story at a time" author, or are you the kind that has a lot of plots at the same time fighting for attention in your head??

MiDouradoP wrote: "are you a "one story at a time" author, or are you the kind that has a lot of plots at the same time fighting for attention in your head??"

Hi MiDouradoP,

I tend to work on several projects at once...but not usually in the same day. For example, I'm currently working on the first draft for my November release. Once I've finished that, it will go on a mini vacation while I do another round of edits on a novella that comes out in September. They are from two different series.

Usually I complete a round of edits or first draft before working on another project. I don't put one book aside in the middle of an edit or during the first draft because I got a new I idea that I'm dying to work on. But I also plan my publication schedule a year in advance, so all I have time to do is write the new ideas down for when I need them later on. :)

If you could be any book character for a day, who would you choose and why?

J. wrote: "If you could be any book character for a day, who would you choose and why?"

Hi J,

Hermonie Grainger. Because she's smart and loyal and she goes to the coolest school in the world. Granted, having dark wizards and witches trying to kill me wouldn't make my day, but since I've read the series several times, I know I'll come out okay. lol

Stina wrote: "Jemima wrote: "Who's your favorite author?"

Only one???? If I have to pick only one romance author, it would be Jill Shalvis. Her romances are autobuys for me.

And now I'm going to cheat and giv..."

I love Emma Chase's book! I'll definitely be looking into Jill Shalvis and Lisa Gardner. Thank you!

Jemima wrote: "Stina wrote: "Jemima wrote: "Who's your favorite author?"

Only one???? If I have to pick only one romance author, it would be Jill Shalvis. Her romances are autobuys for me.

And now I'm going to..."

The Sweetest Thing by Jill Shalvis is currently on sale for $1.99. I haven't read it yet. I need to get it!

I love her Heartbreaker series (romance). I haven't read her women's fiction books.

Stina wrote: "Jemima wrote: "Stina wrote: "Jemima wrote: "Who's your favorite author?"

Only one???? If I have to pick only one romance author, it would be Jill Shalvis. Her romances are autobuys for me.

And n..."
Done! Just bought Sweet Little Lies 😁

Jemima wrote: "Stina wrote: "Jemima wrote: "Stina wrote: "Jemima wrote: "Who's your favorite author?"

Only one???? If I have to pick only one romance author, it would be Jill Shalvis. Her romances are autobuys f..."

I LOVE FINN!!!! I would say it's my favorite book from the series, but I love them all. I had an impossible time putting the book down. I think I'm going to reread it now! Did I mention that I love Finn??? lol

Stina wrote: "Jemima wrote: "Stina wrote: "Jemima wrote: "Stina wrote: "Jemima wrote: "Who's your favorite author?"

Only one???? If I have to pick only one romance author, it would be Jill Shalvis. Her romances..."

Hahaha..ok..you're getting me excited to read it. Once I'm done with this ARC..I'm on it!

Hi Stina :)
Which character of yours is your favourite and why?

Stina wrote: "Beatrice wrote: "Hello Ms. Stina!

If you are given a chance to collaborate with an author, who will it be and why?"

Hi Beatrice,

Oh, wow. This is a tough question. I would say for romantic com..."

I love Emma Chase's books! Her books made me laugh and swoon. Out of all her books which one is your favorite? My favorite was Sustained.

I haven't read any book by Jill Shalvis, which one do you recommend the most? I've been wanting to give her books a try but idk which one to start 😂 90 outlines? 😱 That's a lot!!

Irma wrote: "Hi Stina :)
Which character of yours is your favourite and why?"

Hi Irma,

Wow, that's a tough question. It's like asking a mom which kid she likes best. The answer might depend on what day you ask her. lol

But if I have to pick only one, I would say Trent from Decidedly Off Limits. My husband was part inspiration for him. :)

Beatrice,

My favorite Emma Chase book is Tangled. I swear my husband was close to divorcing me while I was reading it. He would be sleeping and I would start giggling at something crazy Drew had said.

I loved Sustained. And Overruled and Appealed. I've read them all several times.

As for Jill's books. One of my all time favorites of hers is from her current Heartbreaker series. I'm actually re-reading Sweet Little Lies (my favorite) because it's sexy and funny and sweet. It's like comfort food. And after the tragedy last week with Humboldt hockey team (10 of the hockey players are from my province of Alberta, and the female trainer got her degree in my city), I needed something that made me feel a little better. Sweet Little Lies is THAT book. :) :) Plus I LOVE the hero Finn!!!!

Stina wrote: "Irma wrote: "Hi Stina :)
Which character of yours is your favourite and why?"

Hi Irma,

Wow, that's a tough question. It's like asking a mom which kid she likes best. The answer might depend on w..."

Sounds just about the right answer. Thank you.

Do you listen to music while you write? If so what type of music?

Grace wrote: "Do you listen to music while you write? If so what type of music?"

Yes and no. My house is open concept, and this includes my office. During the day, when no one is home other than me and my cat, I don't play music. But when my husband and 15 year old son are home, I have to put headphones on to block out their noise. They like to talk loudly to each other from the opposite ends of the house. I also play the Harry Potter movie soundtracks to further block out their noise. :)

Are you a "write one story at a time" author, or do the plots fight over your head for space and attention?

MiDouradoP wrote: "Are you a "write one story at a time" author, or do the plots fight over your head for space and attention?"

I'm not sure if you just asked this question or if Goodreads is going wonky and posting it again for before. You asked it before, so here's the same answer. :)

Hi MiDouradoP,

I tend to work on several projects at once...but not usually in the same day. For example, I'm currently working on the first draft for my November release. Once I've finished that, it will go on a mini vacation while I do another round of edits on a novella that comes out in September. They are from two different series.

Usually I complete a round of edits or first draft before working on another project. I don't put one book aside in the middle of an edit or during the first draft because I got a new I idea that I'm dying to work on. But I also plan my publication schedule a year in advance, so all I have time to do is write the new ideas down for when I need them later on. :)