Whitney Dineen - Funny, Quirky, Heartwarming, Small Town Drama

Whitney Dineen is an Amazon bestselling author of romantic comedy, non-fiction humor, thriller…pretty much whatever the voices in her head tell her to write. Her first rom com, She Sins at Midnight, won a silver medal in the 2015 Reader’s Favorite Awards. Her first series, The Mimi Chronicles (The Reinvention of Mimi Finnegan, et al), won a silver medal at the Readers’ Favorite Awards, Honorable Mention at the London Book Festival and is a finalist in the 2016 RONE Awards. Her second series, The Relativity Series (Relatively Normal, et al), is taking the country by storm—a kilt-wearing, haggis eating, bagpipe playing storm, that is!  Whitney lives in the beautiful Pacific Northwest with her husband, Jimmy, where they raise their children, free-range chickens and organic vegetables. As our Author of the Day, she tells us all about her book, The Event.

Please give us a short introduction to what The Event is about.

The Event is a romantic comedy starring Emmie Frothingham, a small-town Missouri girl who moves to New York City to pursue her dreams. Moving back to Creek Water is something she never considered until she had no choice. Emmie is forced to confront the gossipy country club set and her own insecurities, which leads to some pretty funny situations.

What inspired you to write about someone who wants to leave her hometown as soon as possible?

I think it’s a common feeling among people to want to break out of their norm and set the world on fire in a big way. Of course, life happens and that’s not always the way it goes.

What, would you say, is it about small-town communities that can make them feel so suffocating?

Small towns can feel suffocating simply because everyone knows everyone else and often makes it a point to know their business, as well. When that’s all you’ve ever known, the desire to leave can be a powerful motivator.

Who is Emmeline Frothingham? What makes her so special?

Emmie Frothingham is a woman whose life takes turns she never expected. She’s no more special than any other woman on the planet. She’s you, your sister, your best friend. She’s highly relatable and likable and struggling just like the rest of us.

Tell us more about the cover. How did it come about?

I wanted vintage-inspired covers for this series to show how life in small towns doesn’t always move as quickly as in more urban areas. My designer, Becky Monson, is the brains behind the operation.

Besides writing, what other secret skills do you have?

I make the world’s best macaroons and chocolate chip cookies. Seriously. When we lived in Los Angeles, I was dubbed “Cookie Maker to the Stars” by celebrity news program, Extra.

Why did you title this book "The Event"?

The book starts out with Emmie attending an award ceremony for her job. Things go spectacularly wrong, which ultimately leads to her leaving New York and moving home. This event is the catalyst for her whole story.

This is the first book in a series. Can it be read as a standalone? How do the other books in the series tie in with this one?

The books in the series are The Event, The Move, The Plan, and The Dream. The Event is about Emmie Frothingham’s life. The other books in the series are about her cousins, Beau, Amelia, and Davis. Even though they all take place in Creek Water and share much of the same quirky cast of character, they can all be read as standalones.

All books in the series are available for only $0.99 or can be read for free on Kindle Unlimited.

Is there an underlying message you wish to relay about basic human nature through your characters?

No matter where you live, people are never only what they seem on the surface. There’s always a deeper story, and that’s where the fun lies.

What did you have the most fun with when writing this book?

I loved writing about Cootie Wilcox, chief pot-stirrer, and country club gossip extraordinaire. She’s the character I’d want to play in the movie version of The Event.

Do you have any interesting writing habits? What is an average writing day like for you?

I have two young daughters, so I generally wake up between 4-5 a.m. so I can get some good solid writing in before the household erupts in chaos.

What are you working on right now?

I’m getting ready to release The Dream (June 21, 2020) which is the fourth and final book in the Creek Water series.

After that, I’ll start on the first book of my new series: Seven Brides for Seven Mothers.

Where can our readers discover more of your work or interact with you?

My Facebook author page is the best place to connect with me. https://www.facebook.com/Whitney-Dineen-Author-11687019412/

For news about upcoming books and sales (and for a FREE romcom short), it’s best to subscribe to my newsletter. https://whitneydineen.com/newsletter/

I’m on Twitter and Instagram but have yet to do much on either platform. I’m too busy writing.