Monday, January 13, 2014

Interview with Sweet Romance Author Anita Higman


Best-selling and award-winning author, Anita Higman, has thirty-seven books published. She’s been a Barnes & Noble “Author of the Month” for Houston, Texas and has a BA in the combined fields of speech communication, psychology, and art. Anita is married with an empty nest. She loves good movies, traveling with her husband, and brunch with her friends. Please visit her website at www.anitahigman.com and drop her a note by clicking the “Contact Me” button.

This was a delightful story full of humor with three love stories intertwined together. It was fun to follow the lives of six different characters and see what direction their lives would take them. Immediately I knew that one couple was mismatched and I wondered how Anita Higman was going to get the right ones together. She developed her characters very well and it was hard to put down the book. She really knows how to weave a love story together with beautiful descriptions of love.” –Review by Linda Weaver Clarke, Author of Sweet Romances

Hello, Anita. Please tell us about your sweet romance, A Marriage in Middlebury.

Charlotte Rose Hill, who loves serving up country delicacies and uniquely blended teas, discovers that while she's been faithfully caring for her tearoom customers, she'd also been quietly turning into an old maid. Charlotte did fall in love with a young man, Sam Wilder, when she was 18, but his family forced her to walk away from their relationship. Now, more than a decade later, Charlotte finds that she still has feelings for her first love. Initially thrilled to learn that Sam has come home to Middlebury, Texas, Charlotte is then devastated to learn that he's brought someone with him: his fiancée. But all is not lost when one of the loveable but meddlesome townsfolk decides to get involved. Will the next marriage in Middlebury be for Sam and Charlotte?

Where did you get your inspiration for this book?

The idea for this book came from my absolute love of tearooms in Texas. In fact, here’s my note to readers on that very subject: More than a decade ago I met a woman named Linda Becker who opened a tearoom in the Houston burbs called, Tea for Two. Her eatery and gift shop did so well, she opened a second shop. Over the years I’ve enjoyed her wonderful tearoom fare as well as the quaint ambiance. Linda’s tearoom isn’t just a café—it’s a gathering place for friends, a place to eat home cooked food, and a place so cozy you don’t want to leave. As a writer I thought it might be fun to create a heroine who owns a tearoom similar to Linda’s and set her shop in a small town on the gulf coast of Texas. So, that’s how the novel, A Marriage in Middlebury, was born. Even though my story, the characters, and the town are fictional, Linda’s tearooms are real places you can visit and enjoy. Thank you, Linda, for the great food, and the fellowship, and the inspiration.

I love it when authors tell what inspired them while writing their stories. What kind of research did you have to do?

I didn’t have to do a great deal of research for this novel, because I had a knowledge of small-town life. You see, I grew up on a farm near a small town. I also knew about Southern tearooms, since I’ve been a big fan of them for decades!

So you’re a country girl, huh. So am I. I was raised in southern Idaho on a farm. Who is one of your favorite characters in this story and what do you love about him or her?

I like the heroine, Charlotte Rose Hill, because she is the kind of big-hearted woman I want to be when I grow up. She is generous and caring to a fault, but that’s why the townsfolk adore her so. They don’t just go to her tearoom for the food, but also for the love.

I feel the same way about Charlotte. I have read your novel and enjoyed it very much. You put a lot of personality and humor in your characters. Does humor come naturally for you?

I’m not totally sure. I don’t think I’m all that funny in person. In fact, some people might say I come off pretty serious, but when I write a scene I suddenly see the humorous side to what the characters are thinking and doing. That part does come naturally. So glad you enjoyed it!

Thank you, Anita, for this wonderful interview and for sharing a part of yourself with us.

70 comments:

Sara said...

This book sounds really good, definitely going onto my TBR. Thank you for the giveaway!! sdoyle@sucocoopwb.com

Caroline Clemmons said...

Sounds like a delightful story.
caroline@carolineclemmons.com

Laurean Brooks said...

Hey Anita,

We have something in common. I grew up a country girl in the South. I would love to have a copy of this book for my very own. When I finish reading it, I will loan it to Miss Pearl, a little elderly lady in assisted living who devours books. She's read everything in the book case there, twice. I bring her something fresh every week.

Congratulations on another wonderful release, and Linda, thank you for an interesting interview with a gifted author.

Katherine said...

Sounds like a great story, I'd love to read it! Thanks for the giveaway!

katsaddress AT gmail. DOT com

LAWonder said...

It sounds wonderful!
I would love to win/read/review it!
Thanks to you both. I do enjoy the Interviews.

Library Lady said...

We have Anita's books in the church library.
I would love to win this book to add to our collection.
Thank You!
Janet E.
von1janet(at)gmail(dot)com

Anita Higman said...

"Thank you for stopping by and for your comments. I am honored you took the time out of your day to show your support. Blessings in this new year!"

Anita Higman

Koala Reading Den said...

It sounds like a wonderful read, thanks for the chance on this. Koala571 (at) msn (dot) com

Sonja said...

What a fun and interesting looking book. Would love to win this! Who wouldn't! Thanks so much for the opportunity.

Unknown said...

I like that it takes place in a small town. Charlotte sounds like a character I will enjoy reading about working in the town tearoom meeting different townspeople. Will she end up with her old love.
marybrandis@gmail.com

ilookfamous said...

This book sounds like it at have some lol moments w/the town members getting involved w/Charlotte's romance. I'd enjoy reading this! Thanks for sharing,
ilookfamous@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...


Hi all!

I love tearooms in Texas and all things tea. I hope you enjoy this story that surrounds that kind of world. Thanks again for your interest!

Blessings,
Anita Higman

Jax's Book Magic said...

Your book sounds wonderful. Congratulations.

jessie2247 said...

This book sounds wonderful! Thanks for your giveaway.
i_love_books at aol dot com

Ladette said...

This is a great book!! I loved it! :) Of course, I haven't read anything my Anita that I didn't like. Thanks for being part of the blog hop and offering this book!!

ladettek[at]gmail[dot]com

greeniejoey said...

I would love to read this novel; I enjoy books where the lives of the characters intertwine. If I should win, please contact me at greeniejoey at gmail dot com

Heather B said...

I really enjoyed your interview questions! Thank you for the giveaway. faramena at gmail dot com

angel lawson said...

Thanks for posting.

angelou08@gmail.com

Unknown said...

Charlotte sounds like a very interesting character and I love small town stories. Everybody knows everybody. thanks for the giveaway

bemiown(at)yahoo(dot)com

Anonymous said...

sounds like a delightful read.
trinitygsd at yahoo

Unknown said...

Sounds like a good book!
farr_brenda@yahoo.com

Unknown said...

There's something about that first love, isn't there?

michelle_willms at yahoo dot com

Susan Heim said...

Thank you for this delightful interview and giveaway!
smhparent [at] hotmail [dot] com

katja9_10 said...

Sounds like a story that could take place in my small town. Would love to read this.

katja9_10 at hotmail dot com

Christy Maurer said...

When I was young, my grandma used to take me to a tea room for lunch. It was so much fun. Thanks! ineedadietcoke at aol dot com

Amy said...

Sounds like a good book...small town romance! amhart311@gmail.com

Rick Estep said...

Looks like a great book. Thanks for the giveaway and the interview.

Librarybooks at religious dot com

Anonymous said...

Great book giveaway!
booksintheburbs at gmail dot com

las930 said...

This sounds like a book my mom and I both would love
Thanks for the chance to win
las930@charter.net

Anonymous said...

Great interview!
sylvesternator (at) yahoo (dot) com

Unknown said...

I love reading stories that take place in Texas.
leighannecrisp @ yahoo . com

Susan @ The Book Bag said...

Sounds like a wonderful story. I love the cover! Thanks for the chance to win!
suzebomb54(at)yahoo.com

Unknown said...

Your review was quite good. I look forward to reading. Thanks.

Dede said...

I loved this book!! Anita Higman is one of my favorite authors.

Dede said...

Oh, if I win -- I will give this to my grandmother. I know she would like the story, too.
dedezoomsalot at yahoodotcom

DebraKay Neiman said...

Look forward to this one. Happy New Year from Oklahoma, USA. crystalbluern at onlineok dot com

Unknown said...

thank you, janeycat1@outlook.com

Sherry said...

This sounds like a good book. I enjoyed the interview.
sstrode at scrtc dot com

Linda Trinklein said...

thanks!
lzamudio02 @ hotmail .com

Unknown said...

Thank you! pam_gurganus@yahoo.com

Rich Morris said...

Looks really interesting!
rmorris2203@gmail.com

Jenny said...

Sounds awesome! Would love to read this book! playin @ jenblogs.com

jmay said...

Thanks for the chance. juanitamay67@gmail.com

Unknown said...

Thanks for the chance to win this great book. I am also from the south and love the tea room concept. It is a wonderful place to gather with my friends and catch up and have fun.
Jeanne
jtagee@bham.rr.com

Lisa R said...

enjoyed reading your interview and thanks for the chance

sibabe64 at ptd dot

BookLady said...

What a wonderful book! Thanks for the great giveaway.
bhometchko(at)hotmail(dot)com

SueFitz said...

Thanks for the great giveaway

suefitz1 (at) gmail (dot) com

Adelina Priddis said...

It sounds like such a delightful book. I love that she based it off her own experiences in a tea shop.
familyroom2 @ gmail . com

Unknown said...

Wow I love the cover!!!!

Josiehink122026 at gmail dot com

charychild said...

Thank you for the review and giveaway!
charychild at gmail dot com

Linda Kish said...

This sounds like a very interesting story. One that I would love to read.

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Anonymous said...

I am so wowed by the response and your many kind comments. Thank you so much.

Blessings to each of you!!

Anita Higman

Katrina said...

I forgot to leave my email in my original comment! Anyways!
Sounds like the perfect book to snuggle up to with a cup of tea. ;) Love it!

oneagainst at hotmail dot com

Unknown said...

A Marriage in Middlebury sounds like a great read!

Thanks for the amazing giveaway!
elizabeth @ bookattict . com

DMS said...

This is my second time seeing this book in the past week- and I currently drinking tea (though not in a tea room). It sounds like an interesting read. I have added it to my list and hope to read it soon. Thanks for the giveaway and interview. Now I just need to find a tearoom! :)
~Jess
haightjess@gmail.com

Daniel M said...

sonnds like a fun one thanks for the giveaway! - regnod(at)yahoo(d0t)com

Kristen1822 said...

Sounds like a great story. I would love to read it. kristen1822@gmail.com

Emi said...

I must have tried to win this before since it is on my amazon wishlist but I do not own it yet. Love the story line.

Unknown said...

I would love to win this book. It sounds like an amazing story! I hope it has a happy ending. Thanks for being part of such a great giveaway!

Triquetra said...

Sounds great!

sal410cat@gmail.com

Unknown said...

I would love to read this book.
karenldrake@mail.com

Shan said...

Sounds like a great story. Thanks for the chance to win! shan4178 at comcast.net

Stephanie said...

sounds like a great read!
shawneegurl@yahoo.com

Unknown said...

Great giveaway! I would love to win!

*Dusty* said...

This book sounds amazing, I would love to read it.

Beautiful Disaster said...

Great interview and thanks for sharing :) Sounds like a very interesting book.
lorih824 at yahoo dot com

Roses said...

Thanks for the interview.

harnessrose(at)yahoo(dot)com

/\Heather/\ said...

Many of the things I enjoy: country life, Texas, tea rooms, humor...but sometimes one can do without the meddling small town folks (I speak from experience in a bad way, although in this case, it seems to possibly work out for the main character). lol
heatherpooh (hotmail)

Hotsnotty2 said...

I would love to win this, thanks for the chance!

AWinesburg@hotmail.com

Linda Weaver Clarke said...

Congratulations Mary B, Christy M, and Jeanne A! You are the winners of this wonderful book. I know you'll enjoy it.