Meet Amy Gettinger and her new release: ROLL WITH THE PUNCHES
Tell us about your newest release or WIP:
Roll With The Punches is a humorous, adventurous mystery with a romance wrapped inside. It’s got a thirty-something woman enduring roller derby bouts, a mudsliding house, a street chase on wheels, and a real cliffhanger. Plus, there are two cute hunks and a case of plagiarism. What’s not to love?
What is the story about?
Staying up on your skates, no matter what. Making tough choices between family and work.
You see, Rhonda Hamilton’s got two big problems. The latest novel from a reclusive national bestselling author is a twin to the manuscript she’s just finished and started marketing to agents. Some wild roller derby girls add a hint of crazy to Rhonda’s hunt for the book thief, but can they find out the truth before her reputation tanks?
Plus, Dad is acting odd, storing milk in the garage and throwing away Rhonda’s clothes. Two drool-worthy guys offer to help, guys Rhonda would gladly fall for, if her life weren’t careening between crazy Dad, crazier roller girls, and crazy-cute hunks, then rocketing through derby bouts, giant mudslides and burlesque fundraisers. If she wants to nail the wily plagiarist and keep Dad safe, Rhonda had better stay up on her skates to avoid a very big fall.
Who is the main character?
Rhonda Hamilton. She’s a book lover—a librarian and novelist. She’s also six-feet-one-inch tall. She’s the baby of the family, and her parents are suddenly showing their age. She’s a bit clueless about taking care of them. And so far, she’s been awfully unlucky with guys. They just don’t measure up to her in many ways.
What inspired this tale? How did the story come to you?
I wanted to write a story with romance and mystery, but I was tired of reading and writing about murder. So I chose plagiarism as my story’s crime. Writing takes mucho time for a lot of people. When you walk through a bookstore and see new books out every two or three months by the same best-selling author, if you’re a writer, you have to wonder if that person is really writing them—or not. Then I wanted a tough main character, so I gave her a cool sport—roller derby. Plus, with the athleticism comes the camaraderie of the team. Rhonda had a lot of roller girls to hang with, making the story more fun. The plot line about her dad just added to her woes and gave the story texture--and a reason for Dal to show up.
Did you have to research for this novel and if so, why?
Yes, I had to hit some roller derby bouts and learn all about the game to make the bouts in the book realistic. But not real. They’d never pull someone off the street and have her practice with them that fast. But books don’t have endless pages, so I glossed over a few steps it would take to become a real roller girl. I attended several Los Angeles Derby Dolls bouts and an Orange County Roller Girls bout. It was lots of fun to watch. Then, I encouraged a Facebook friend to become a roller girl back East, and she loooooooooooooves it.
If you did research, what do you think surprised you most to learn and why?
How much injury there is in a normal roller derby practice or bout. Ouch. And how many points they can make. Those jammers skate really fast! Oh, and how much money Indian tribes with casinos make. Wow. I didn’t have to research the Alzheimer’s part. I watched that first-hand in my family.
Do you relate to your character? Is your protagonist anything like you personally?
Somewhat. A lot, actually.
If yes, then how?
She’s a worker bee and an optimist and she’s fairly relaxed about things, like me. Neither of us is a perfectionist. She appreciates her parents, though she may make fun of them a bit. Like me. She’s younger and taller than I am, and her job is less compelling to her and she does more pull-ups than I do. But she is really under the gun in this book. I’m not sure I’ve ever had quite that many problems concentrated in my life at any one time. Well, maybe.
What made you write this character; what made them important to you or made you want to tell their story?
I wanted to show the close relationship between Rhonda and her dad. I also wanted a main character who could handle the tough stuff when it comes, not always completely gracefully, but with humor and persistence.
Is there anything specific you want readers to know about this piece of work?
It took me ten years to complete and publish it. And it still makes me laugh when I read it.
When will the novel be available for purchase? Has the book already been published?
Yes, it’s out on Amazon for Kindle. And I’m planning on doing a paperback soon.
It’s time to meet your character. Come on in. Wow, what a big girl you are, you barely fit through the doorway. Uh, you know skates don’t work on carpet, right? Okay, who are you and what is your name?
Rhonda Hamilton
Are you a fictional or historical character?
I guess I’m fictional, but I sure feel solid enough to be real. No, you can’t pinch my thigh.
Sorry about that. What should we know about you?
Look. Whatever anyone tells you, I DID write that bestseller, Memory Wars, but I named it Memory Serves. Reynard Jackson can just go take a long hike off a short cliff. The book is MINE, not his.
Okay. Uhm, I think I’ll move over just a tad, don’t want to crowd you. Tell us about your story:
When and where is your tale set?
2006—Orange County, California.
What is your personal goal? I mean, what do you ultimately want?
I want my good name back! Everyone says I stole my own book! For god’s sake! Are they nuts? And, of course, I’d like Dad to get back to normal. He keeps throwing my clothes away. Old buzzard. And I’d like a man in my life who doesn’t gamble my life savings away. Right. When pigs fly. I’d also like to rid the derby of all red-haired people. All of them. You’ll have to read the book.
What is standing in your way? What conflict(s) do you face?
Fate. The media. Dad himself. And a tiny little red-haired wasp who I’d like to smush like a bug.
Well, thanks for stopping by and I hope you get everything sorted out.
You can connect with Amy Gettinger at:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AmyGettinger
Website: https://amygettinger.com
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Amy-Gettinger/e/B00S9Y99II
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