Fangirl Friday: An Interview with the Fantastic and Fabulous Abby Cavenaugh

So full disclosure here to start. Abby and I are friends IRL. We knew each other for about a year or so before we discovered we were both writers. So I was super-duper excited when she announced she was publishing her first novel! Needless to say, I think she's pretty awesome, and because I'm totally and completely biased, I can't review her book on my blog.

But you guys should absolutely buy it because it is so much fun. Seriously. And the links to do so are at the bottom of the post!

In the meantime here's a little about her debut novel!

GOING HOME AGAIN 

Abby's: Facebook   Twitter   GoodReads

Published by Swoon Romance

Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance

Pub Date: Out now--get on this, people!

About GOING HOME AGAIN

In high school, it was doubtful Michael Day knew Alyssa Jones existed. Twenty years later, when the now-famous pop star returns home to coastal North Carolina, Alyssa gets a second chance to make a first impression on Michael. On sabbatical from his failing marriage, Michael agrees to an interview with Alyssa, a journalist for the local tourist magazine. When the chemistry between them ignites, Alyssa and Michael are hit with the harsh reality that he isn't yet free to love her. 

With Michael's wife and son still very much in the picture, can Alyssa hold out until he ends his marriage for good? Or will she risk it all for a second chance with the one who got away?

About Abby Cavenaugh

Abby Cavenaugh is a writer of romantic women's fiction and YA paranormal. She is a newspaper editor by day, but dreams of someday retiring to the North Carolina coast to write books full-time. She lives near Charlotte with her twin sister, also a writer, six-year-old niece and crazy cat, Gus, and is driven by dreams, Diet Coke and chocolate

Okay, Abs, tell us a little about your writer's journey so far:

It’s been a loooooooong, hard road. And I’m not where I want to be yet, which is financially able to make a living just writing novels. I have wanted to be a writer since I was about 12 years old. It took me 26 years to get published. I’ve been close so many times, and it never panned out. But hopefully, I can inspire someone else who might be thinking about giving up. Your day will come, if you work hard enough, believe in yourself enough and, in the words of legendary N.C. State basketball coach Jim Valvano, never, ever, ever give up.

What's your favorite thing about being a writer?

Losing myself in the writing itself. When I go on what I call “a writing spree,” and I look up at the clock and I’ve been writing for hours and didn’t even notice…. It’s one of the greatest feelings in the world.

What's your least favorite thing about being a writer?

Without a doubt, the WAITING!!! Waiting to hear back from agents or publishers on queries, waiting to hear back on your revisions, waiting for your pub date, waiting, waiting, waiting. And that’s so much of what being a writer is. I’m an impatient person, unfortunately, so it’s really a challenge for me sometimes to deal with the waiting. All part of being a writer though.

What inspired you to write GOING HOME AGAIN?

It may sound a bit crazy, but truthfully, my first encounter with my favorite New Kid, Jordan Knight, inspired the story. In October 2008, there was this insane“mutual attack” between fans and Donnie Wahlberg and Jordan Knight in the parking garage underneath the arena in Charlotte. I happened to get a quick hug from Jordan during the madness, and afterward, I got to thinking how amazing it was that Jordan finally knew I was alive (at least for that minute) after 20 years. I never even got close to meeting any of them back in the day. And then I thought wouldn’t it be amazing if that unattainable guy you crushed on in high school was suddenly attainable 20 years later? From there, the idea just grew.

Now it's time to brag a little--What do you love most about your book?

What I love most about GOING HOME AGAIN is my characters. I honestly feel like they’re my babies, and they’re all grown up and out in the world now, and I’m so proud that readers love them as much as I do! I’ve had several people tell me they couldn’t stop thinking about Mike and Alyssa, and that’s what every writer dreams of.

What has surprised you most about publishing post-contract (in other words, something unpublished writers may not know about how the process goes after you get a contract)?

I have to brag on my publisher, Swoon Romance, here. I’ve been most surprised with how supportive the writing world is. My publisher sends out emails almost every day, congratulating the authors on sales and other accomplishments, welcoming new authors to the team, giving us opportunities to support each other through blogs and stuff like that. It has definitely been a pleasant surprise.

And now a little about the authoress herself. I stole these questions from In the Actor's Studio with James Lipton...

What is your favorite word?

My favorite curse word? ;) Fuck. It’s so versatile! Favorite non-curse word? Plethora. Because I just like saying it.

What is your least favorite word?

Moist. *shudder*

What turns you on?

A hot guy with a sense of humor. If you look good but can’t make me laugh, it’s not happening.

What turns you off?

Judgmental people. Racism. Prejudice of any kind.

What sound or noise do you love?

The ocean.

What sound or noise do you hate?

My alarm clock.

What profession, other than your own, would you most like to attempt?

I want to be on HGTV, somehow working with the Property Brothers. In all seriousness, I love HGTV and I remember when I was younger, when we’d visit my Grandma White, we’d always look at her HOME magazines, so I would probably do something involved with real estate (flipping old houses) or interior design.

If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear G-d say when you arrive at the pearly gates?

Hi Abs. I’m a fan of your work. Welcome to an eternity of New Kids on the Block concerts on the beach, only not as hot as Half Moon Cay in 2011. (Because that’s my idea of heaven… of course, with just my friends and New Kids.)

Finally, what's the one question you've always wanted to answer in an interview? (And of course, you have to answer it!)

You know, I really don’t know. I haven’t thought about it that much. I guess maybe “So what did it feel like when you hit the New York Times bestseller list?” And that hasn't happened yet, so I can’t answer. But someday. I hope.