Monday, August 15, 2011

Interview with “Sweet Romance” Author Ruth J. Hartman

Ruth Hartman is a published romance author and licensed dental hygienist. She lives in rural Indiana with her husband. Ruth’s “furry children” are her cats Maxwell and Roxy. She’s pretty sure Max is German. He likes eating sauerkraut out of the pan.

Hello Ruth. Please tell us about your new book. What happens when a dental hygienist falls in love with her patient?

Grace Hart meets Bruce Gardener when he shows up in her office as a new patient. She’s a smitten kitten from the get-go. But doesn’t think anyone as good-looking as Bruce would take a second look at her.

This sounds like a fun book to read. Where did you get your inspiration for this book?

I have a friend who used to be a dental assistant. She met her husband when he sat in the dental chair where she worked. I thought it was such a cool story, and used a hygienist instead of an assistant.

With the rule of no dating patients, the couple has to find creative ways to meet. A Reviewer wrote, “This brings a lot of humorous scenes to the story. Ms. Hartman keeps Flossophy of Grace flowing with a quick wittiness that made me laugh out loud several times.” Is it difficult to come up with humorous scenes?

Not usually. My imagination is pretty vivid. Weird stuff happens to me all the time, and I use that in my writing. My husband says I find the most unusual things amusing.

So your sense of humor is natural, I take it. What does your family think about your writing? 

My husband just shakes his head and calls me a “sap” because I love writing stories with goofy humor and happy endings. My family always tells me they’re proud of me. 

Hey, "goofy humor" with happy endings is what makes me laugh. I love it. Okay, now it’s time to tell us something about the real you that we’ll never forget.

My whole house is decorated with stuffed animals. Mainly cats. Anymore, my husband will often get me those instead of flowers for my birthday or anniversary, because he knows I love them so much!

Thank you, Ruth, for such a fun interview. Now we know the real you: The cat lover who writes humorous romance stories! I love it. I would like my readers to read a few paragraphs of chapter one from your book. I love it:

Chapter One

“Ouch!”

That was the fourth time she’d been bitten since lunch. She hoped they weren’t doing it on purpose, but sometimes she wondered. Maybe it was a pint-sized conspiracy. It was fall break for the elementary schools. All the elementary schools. That meant her dental hygiene schedule was crammed full of little people. There were kids yelling in the waiting room. Kids squirming in her patient chairs. She even heard a little girl loudly warbling her ABC’s in the bathroom. She felt like Mr. Rogers. She needed a cardigan sweater. Won’t you be my neighbor?

Grace loved kids. She really did. They were funny and sweet, and loud and annoying. They asked the most interesting, offbeat questions. And she normally looked forward to doing their prophies (cleanings) since their tiny mouths had less square footage than most adults’. But sometimes the little people tended to tell her too many intimate details about their parents she’d rather not know. Ever. And they all seemed intensely hyper today. The hooligans who weren’t bouncing like pogo sticks were playing trampoline on the waiting room chairs. Had their parents given them all ultra doses of Mountain Dew before their appointments? That would be wrong on so many levels. She’d had enough of the little guys for today. It was usually a nice reprieve from a day full of adults, but enough was enough. They had worn her down to a frazzled nubbin. Where was that cardigan sweater?

Since she’d arrived at the dental office at 8:30 a.m., she’d done twelve patient prophies, taken seven sets of tiny x-rays (that’s when the unfortunate biting incidents took place), given ten grape-flavored fluoride treatments, and instructed (or tried to) all of the little darlings how to remove the ick from their teeth with a toothbrush. She also dutifully handed out what seemed like 5,092 stickers. Whether the kids behaved like lambs or hyenas, they all got stickers. Unfortunately, she noticed several of the sticky handouts found their way to the recently painted waiting room wall. In between all of the patients, she cleaned her patient chair areas and helped with getting her instruments ready to be cleaned and sterilized. All in her spare time. She was pooped.

She looked at her yellow cat-face clock on the wall. It was almost time. In forty-five blessed minutes, she’d be finished with her last patient of the day. Thank goodness! It couldn’t come soon enough. Whoever it was, she wanted them done and scooted out the door, toothbrush in hand, as soon as possible. The only thing she knew about her next patient was that it was a man, and that he was fairly new to town. Other than that, she had no clue what to expect. Grace desperately hoped he wasn’t one of those men who thought he was good-looking in his plaid pants, white belt, and bad toupee. She always had a hard time holding back a snicker in those situations. She grabbed the last, lonely chart from the pink plastic holder on the wall and wearily called out the name.

“Bruce Gardener?”

As Grace looked up to greet her new patient, the sight that entertained her eyes nearly knocked her on her size-twelve backside. Good grief, he was gorgeous.

What happens when a dental hygienist falls in love with her patient? Visit Flossophy of Grace.
You may also visit Ruth at her blog: R J Writes.

49 comments:

Ruth J. Hartman said...

Thanks Linda, for hosting me today :)

Glenda said...

This sounds like suce a fun book to read that I will have to look for it. Thanks for sharing it Linda and thanks Ruth for being interviewed I enjoyed getting to know you.

Ruth J. Hartman said...

Thanks Glenda :)

Faith Hope and Cherrytea said...

too FuN! thanks for the note, Linda & a great interview. thanks for writing, Ruth!! and including the excerpt "))

Ruth J. Hartman said...

Thanks, Faith, glad you liked it :)

Literary Chanteuse said...

This sounds really good! I had a Dentist once who was very attractive. Unfortunately he was married but this could have been my story.(just kidding lol)

Margaret
singitm@hotmail.com

Katherine said...

This sounds like a great book! I'd love to read it!

katsaddress AT gmail DOT com

Ruth J. Hartman said...

Margaret, my husband teases me that this was non-fiction. I assure him I didn't do any actual research for the hygienist and the patient :)

Ruth J. Hartman said...

Thanks, Kat, I had a lot of fun writing it :)

The Doves said...

What a great line inspiration for a novel. I met my husband in the workplace as well.... Perhaps I can add this to my collection it sounds wonderful to read.
jdovefamily@gmail.com

Ruth J. Hartman said...

The Doves,

Thank you! I can't say I met my husband at work, though, I was a senior in high school. :)

Rainey Daye said...

This book sounds hilarious!! Would love to read it!!

Ruth J. Hartman said...

Thanks Julie :). I've been told my sense of humor is very goofy!

Darlene said...

I'm a cat lover, too! :)

Please enter me in the draw! My email address is darlenesbooknook at gmail dot com.

Thanks for the giveaway!

Ruth J. Hartman said...

Hi Darlene,

I've always loved cats. Every one of my books has a least one in the story :)

Miss Mae said...

Now this sounds original! :)

Wonderful to meet you, Ruth, and here's wishing you much success!

*I don't enter contests, so please don't submit my name*

Thank you!

Ruth J. Hartman said...

Thanks, Miss Mae :)

VentingVebber said...

Great interview and the sample given was fun to read as well. Would love to be entered for the giveaway. Thank you for the opportunity!

My Hyer Space said...

Enjoyed the interview. Thanks so much for sharing. agent3547ataoldotcom

Ruth J. Hartman said...

Thank you Beverly!

Ruth J. Hartman said...

My Hyer Space,

Thank you :)

Ruth said...

This sounds like a fun book. The part that stood out to me in the interview was the cat lover part. I have become a cat lover--I wasn't before. We had 6 cats before, but a few weeks ago, the population unexpectedly increased by 8! We have lots of feral cats, and I am the designated person to care for them! I would love to win!
ruthaw_1974@yahoo.com

Ruth J. Hartman said...

Hello to another Ruth! In this book, the heroine has six cats. All living inside.

We have two inside and several feral ones outside, that I feed. We think there's a "vacancy" sign outside on our shed :)

Linda Weaver Clarke said...

"Vacancy" sign? Now that's hilarious! Hahaha.

Ruth J. Hartman said...

We couldn't think what else it could be. But then, we also get raccoons and possums. :)

karenk said...

would enjoy this novel...thanks for the opportunity to read it :)

karenk
kmkuka at yahoo dot com

Ruth J. Hartman said...

Thanks Karen :)

Gail Pallotta said...

Hi Ruth,

What an interesting interview and idea for a book. I don't think I've heard of one about a hygenist falling for a patient. Sounds like lots of fun.

Ruth J. Hartman said...

Thanks, Gail :). I had fun writing it from a hygienist's perspective since I've been one since 1984. Although, the falling in love with the patient part was purely fiction on my part. :)

Anonymous said...

I wasn't going to enter because I have too many books now, but reading about the plot really hooked me, so now I want to have one more book! :)

Good luck with the sales, sounds like a winner.

LouisePledge at yahoo dot com

Ruth J. Hartman said...

Aw, thanks so much, Louise :)

chirth7 said...

Hi, It's so nice to talk to you. Your picture reminds me of someone I knew but I can't place it. Ever been in Missouri, maybe around St. Peters? lol I've added your book to my Amazon Cart in case I don't win. There's a lot of entries already. I must be coming late to the party. I just love you already because you have cats and you let them eat out of the pan. :)
A German cat that's so funny. Sorry I'm a cat lover. Cat's & their owners are always in with me.

Congrats on the book and thanks for the giveaway!! Christine
chirth7(at)yahoo(dot)com

Ruth J. Hartman said...

Thanks Christine. Yep, cat lovers always stick together :)

If you see my twin, tell her I said "hi"!

Ruth J. Hartman said...

Thanks everyone for your comments!

I'll be in the dental office cleaning teeth today, but will answer any comments tonight when I get home :)

Vicki said...

I find the most unusual things amusing too. My youngest son and daughter share my sense of humor. My oldest son and hubby, not so much!

Thanks for the interview and for the chance to win this book!

irbratb(@)gmail(.)com

ZoeRainDasherBenji said...

Whoa... that was interesting. When does the size-12 girl ever get the hot guy? I can only think of one other book. Size 12 is Not Fat.

So happy that someone else decides to write a book where the girl who's not perfect gets the guy too! Yay for underdogs!

therainhouse17(at)gmail(dot)com

Mutti said...

Sounds like a delightful read! How fun! Thanks... to both of you... Ruth for writing it and Linda for sharing your interview of Ruth with us.

Ruth J. Hartman said...

Thanks, Vicki. It makes everything more fun, doesn't it? :)

Ruth J. Hartman said...

Thanks, Zoe. I can identify. My husband is way prettier than I am. :)

Ruth J. Hartman said...

Thanks Mutti:). I appreciate your comment!

Anonymous said...

This sounds like a very interesting novel. I can totally connect with being called a 'sap' my whole family calls me that as well. Would love a chance to win this novel.

LoveDreamer01@AOL.com

michelle130 said...

The interview was great.
I also love cats and have 2 Buffy and Tiger and they are so fun to watch.
msuck27@hotmail.co.uk

Ruth J. Hartman said...

Ashley,

From one sap to another, thank you!

Ruth J. Hartman said...

Michelle,

Right now, my cats are sitting in front of the window watching two hummingbirds outside. I love it that the cats are sitting side by side, with matching upright ears and twitching tails. :)

michelle130 said...

This sounds like a great book.
msuck27@hotmail.co.uk

apple blossom said...

love to be included in this book giveaway thanks

ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com

Ruth J. Hartman said...

Thanks Michelle :)

Ruth J. Hartman said...

Apple Blossum, thanks for your comment :)

Linda Weaver Clarke said...

Congratulations, Jennifer Dove, you are the winner of this awesome book. I know you'll enjoy it. Thanks, everyone, for participating in my book giveaway.