Today I have the chance to welcome Karen Hopkins to the blog. Karen is the author of Temptation and Belonging - the tale of two teens who fall in love. But things get a little complicated when one Amish and the other ... isn't.
1. How far after Temptation does Belonging take place?
Belonging immediately follows the ending of Temptation.
2. Why did you decide to write about the Amish?
Shortly after moving to the northern Kentucky Amish community, Amish teens began arriving at my horse farm to participate in horseback riding activities. As I watched the interactions between the Amish kids and the non-Amish ones, I noticed some flirtatious behavior going on, which grew the seed of Rose and Noah’s forbidden love affair in my mind.
3. Noah and Rose have a somewhat forbidden love. What are some of your favorite tales of forbidden love?
Obviously, Romeo and Juliet, comes to mind immediately, but a more current story I enjoyed about problematic romance was Twilight. I think whenever you have two people who are crazy about each other, but are unable to be together easily, it makes an interesting story.
4. Who is your favorite character to write?
I spent a lot of time observing and interacting with the teenage boys in my community before I felt comfortable writing Noah’s POV. I enjoyed writing his POV, because of the challenge of it. Sam was also fun to write. His voice just popped easily onto the pages.
5. How many books will be in the Temptation series?
There will be three books in the series. The third book is called FOREVER and will be released in 2014. There may be more books in the future focusing on other teens living in the Meadowview Community.
6. What are some YA books that you’re excited about in 2013?
I’m looking forward to reading Mind Games by Kiersten White and A.G. Howard’s Splintered.
7. What sets the Temptation series apart from other young adult series’?
It’s set in the real world, yet still has the feel of fantasy about it. The Amish lifestyle is fascinating and also strange to outsiders, but it really exists in a large portion of the United States. The Temptation series gives the reader information about a culture that they probably don’t know much about, while enthralling them in the Rose and Noah’s story at the same time.
A native of New York State, Karen Ann Hopkins now lives with her family on a farm in northern Kentucky, where her neighbors in all directions are members of a strict Amish community. Her unique perspective became the inspiration for the story of star-crossed lovers Rose and Noah. When she’s not homeschooling her kids, giving riding lessons or tending to a menagerie of horses, goats, peacocks, chickens, ducks, rabbits, dogs and cats, she is dreaming up her next romantic novel.
Your heart misleads you.
That's what my friends and family say.
But I love Noah.
And he loves me.
We met and fell in love in the sleepy farming community of Meadowview, while we rode our horses together through the grassy fields and in those moments in each other's arms.
It should be
ROSE & NOAH
forever, easy.
But it won't be.
Because he's Amish.
And I'm not.
Giveaway:
Tour Schedule:
Monday, April 22th - Ashley loves books
Tuesday, April 23th - A Little Shelf of Heaven
Wednesday, April 24th - One Day YA
Thursday, April 25h - Fic Talk
Friday, April 26th - Bittersweet Enchantment
Monday, April 29th - Reader Girls
Tuesday, April 30th - Bumbles and Fairy Tales
Wednesday, May 1sh - The YA Bookworm
Thursday, May 2nd - The Book Heist
Friday, May 3rd - Page Turners
Monday, May 6th - Books Complete Me
Tuesday, May 7th - Bookish Escape
Wednesday, May 8th - Book Sp(l)ot Reviews
Thursday, May 9th - Irish Banana
Friday, May 10th - The Cozy Reader
She lives on a horse farm? JEALOUS! I grew up with horses and rode all through college, but when I moved from Cincinnati to Columbus I moved away from my stable and trainers and haven't had the opportunity to ride again. *cries* I so adore a story about forbidden love, so this series sounds right up my alley!
ReplyDeleteHi Jenny. Have you ever visited the QH Congress Horse Show held for three weeks every October at the fairgrounds in Columbus? If you have the horse bug, it's the perfect place for you! Thousands of horses, clinics, demonstrations, shows and everything horse for sale. I try to make it up there each year, since it's only about a 2 1/2 hr drive from where I live in northern KY. Also, the Temptation story has scenes in Cincy. I'm sure you'll get a kick out of that part. You can see more pics from my neighborhood, farm and the equestrian drill team I coach on my author FB page (Karen Ann Hopkins or link above)
ReplyDelete