We chat with author Amy Barry about Seven Brides for Beau McBride, which follows Beau McBride who wants a wife, and his meddling little sister Junebug is itching to find him a mail-order bride. But why stop at just one?
Hi, Amy! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
Hi! I live in Adelaide, South Australia with my beautiful family and my two kittens. I’m an Associate Professor in Creative Writing at Flinders University, where I get to teach undergraduates and postgraduates and research commercial genre fictions, including romance. I feel incredibly lucky I get to read and write and talk about books for a living.
When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?
So, so early. Before I could actually write. I’ve always been a huge booklover – one of my earliest memories is being a toddler and sitting in a beanbag in the sun, flipping through a book (which I couldn’t actually read yet). The first thing I remember writing was a retelling of Cinderella. I got my mum to write the words down and I drew all the pictures. All through school I wrote – including a serial novel in high school that got passed around the class.
Quick lightning round! Tell us:
- The first book you ever remember reading: The Magic Faraway Tree by Enid Blyton
- The one that made you want to become an author: Clan of the Cave Bear by Jean Auel
- The one that you can’t stop thinking about: Forever Amber by Kathleen Windsor
Your latest novel, Seven Brides for Beau McBride, is out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Colorful, fun, swoony, joyful, romantic
What can readers expect?
This book is a swoon wrapped in a pretty cover. Junebug McBride and her older brother Beau live in the wilds of Montana in the 1880s and they have a bet to see who can find Beau the best wife. The problem is Beau finds a great wife, so Junebug realizes she can only compete with him if she ups the ante and orders six brides. Chaos and fun a love and games ensue.
Where did the inspiration for Seven Brides for Beau McBride come from?
I like to think of it as Seven Brides for Seven Brothers meets Anne of Green Gables. The McBrides are like a Technicolor musical – they’re bright and energetic and pure fun. And with cowboys! Who doesn’t love a cowboy?
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
I always love writing Junebug – the youngest McBride. I seriously can’t wait for her book. But aside from Junebug, I love the heroine of this novel, Ellie. She’s bookish and prone to daydreaming – she tends to wander off into her imaginings and have to be brought back to earth. Usually by Beau, who definitely falls first!
Did you face any challenges whilst writing? How did you overcome them?
The main challenge is always finding enough time to write. Life gets so busy. But I make a commitment to myself that I’ll carve out time, not matter what. My philosophy is there’s always a reason or excuse not to write – the time is never right. So I do it no matter what. I tell my friends and family that I’m on deadline and I find if I take my deadlines seriously, then so do they.
What’s next for you?
So many things I can’t tell you about because they’re secret! But I can tell you that there’s another McBride brother about to be landed with an unexpected bride!
Lastly, what books have you enjoyed reading this year? Are there any you’re looking forward to picking up?
I’ve read so many good books this year. I host two podcasts, the QBD Romance Book Club and the AMY & podcast and book club, and I’ve been spoiled with great reading and great interviews. I just read Melanie Saward’s Love Unleashed, which I adored, and Jodi McAlister’s An Academic Affair. And I had the joy of talking to Elsie Silver on the QBD pod recently so I went on a binge re-reading all of her books.
