Skip to main content

Interview with Allie Pleiter

Captain’s Log, Stardate 07.02.2007

Today I have an interview with chick lit author Allie Pleiter talking about her latest novel, The Perfect Blend.

Opening a Christian coffeehouse in Seattle—that was my dream. I wanted to call it Maggie Black's Higher Grounds.

So when banker William Grey III denied my loan, I was crushed. But then Mr. Grey (who's a tea drinker—figures!) explained that if I took his small-business course, the bank might reconsider my application. It would take the help of some of my fab coffee, but I was sure I could stay awake long enough to learn something. Besides, despite Grey's stuffy facade, his velvety British accent could make even financial analysis sound interesting.

Read an excerpt.


And now, here’s me and Allie!

How'd you come up with the idea for THE PERFECT BLEND?

I don’t know how I come up with any of my books. They show up in bits and pieces in a way I can’t really explain. BLEND started out with the concept of an “impossible dream”—one where the odds are so clearly against you. Like opening up a coffeehouse in a city already jam-packed with coffeehouses. That, and the fact that I was looking for an excuse to visit Seattle, coffee capital of the USA. I loved the idea of God planting a daunting idea in a risk-taker’s head, and her having to convince risk-averse people in order to make that idea happen. Will Grey is one of those characters that started out just as a banker, then grew into this wonderfully complex guy—and when he grew into a tea lover, (which of course made him British), then it all began to take on the fun quality of opposites attracting. Stir in my passion for good coffee, and you’ve got a book I had a grand time writing (or should I say brewing?).

What's your favorite scene from THE PERFECT BLEND?

Hands down, it’s the scene where Maggie explains and demonstrates the different types of coffee drinks to Will. That one made me laugh every time I worked on it, and I could see it so clearly in my head. Followed, as a close second, by Will’s tea rebuttal, which was a delightful research surprise. If I give away any more than that, I’ll ruin it—but I will tell you that lots of people have asked me about that tea scene, so it must be resonating with readers as well.

If Maggie were an ice cream flavor, what would she be and why? (And no cheating and saying coffee-flavored.)

But she EATS coffee ice cream in the book, so that’s not really cheating. Okay, I’ll play along here and come up with another flavor---I’d have to say butter pecan, because that feels artistic and vintage to me, and that’s one of Maggie’s characteristics. But she might also go for the textures of Rocky Road, too. She’s a complex gal. I’ll jump in here and put in a plug for my favorite flavor, Graeters Mint Chocolate Chip, found only at the astounding Graeter’s Ice Cream in Cincinnati Ohio. (They ship, you know…).

Do you drink coffee or tea, and what's your favorite way to take it?

I don’t just drink coffee, it’s a food group for me. I take my coffee VERY seriously and in large quantities. Daily coffee means a hazelnut blend with cream and sugar, drunk within minutes of my gaining consciousness. My “coffeebar” drink is the largest available size of Mocha Latte with skim milk (so I can load on the whip cream and not feel guilty). Readers might want to know that the whip cream trick in Chapter 14 really happened to me—so how could I not put something so delightful into a book! Now, aren’t you intrigued?

Curious readers want to know: What novel are you reading right now and how do you like it do far?

I just finished Isabelle Allende’s Zorro, because I’m working on a dual identity historical novel for my next book MASKED BY MOONLIGHT, coming out from Steeple Hill in June 2008. I loved Allende’s sense of the epic, and how human she made a figure familiar to all of us. She took a character we think we know all about and created a rich, authentic, and revealing backstory. She has a lyrical, lush narrative style I could never hope to duplicate.

You're off the hotseat! Any parting words?

“Go buy my book”—how’s that? Actually, I might broaden it out to “support your local author and your local bookseller” with a touch of “support your local coffeeseller, too!” God bless and thanks!

Camy here: Thanks, Allie!

Popular Posts

Michael’s Scarf knitting pattern

Michael’s Gray and Brown Scarf I had just written a scene in Lady Wynwood’s Spies, volume 5: Prisoner where my character Michael gives the heroine a very significant scarf. When looking for a stitch pattern, I found the one used in “#31 Comfort either for a Lady or Gentleman” in The Lady's Assistant , volume 2 , published in 1842 by Mrs. Jane Gaugain, pages 125-126 (click on the link to view and/or download the free PDF of the digitally scanned book). When I did test swatches, it turned out to be a pretty eyelet pattern that looks like branches or vines winding upward. I tried the pattern as a parallelogram scarf and discovered that the pattern has a changeable orientation, looking vertical or diagonal depending on how you looked at it. So I decided to use this pattern, knitted as a parallelogram, as Michael’s scarf. I decided to use a smaller needle and add a slip stitch in the pattern to make the eyelets a bit more close and less lacy. When paired with a brown an

Grace Livingston Hill romances free to read online

I wanted to update my old post on Grace Livingston Hill romances because now there are tons more options for you to be able to read her books for free online! I’m a huge Grace Livingston Hill fan. Granted, not all her books resonate with me, but there are a few that I absolutely love, like The Enchanted Barn and Crimson Roses . And the best part is that she wrote over 100 books and I haven’t yet read them all! When I have time, I like to dive into a new GLH novel. I like the fact that most of them are romances, and I especially appreciate that they all have strong Christian themes. Occasionally the Christian content is a little heavy-handed for my taste, but it’s so interesting to see what the Christian faith was like in the early part of the 20th century. These books are often Cinderella-type stories or A Little Princess (Frances Hodgson Burnett) type stories, which I love. And the best part is that they’re all set in the early 1900s, so the time period is absolutely fasci

The Wedding Kimono in the Clean Romance Books promo

My book The Wedding Kimono (writing as Camy Tang) is in this Clean Romance books Bookfunnel promo. Every book in the promo is FREE when you sign up for the author’s email newsletter. Check out the promo and all the great FREE clean romance ebooks! You might find a new favorite author! Clean Romance Books Bookfunnel promo

Lady Wynwood’s Spies book 1 in Amazon Prime Free Reads

Lady Wynwood’s Spies, volume 1: Archer in Amazon Prime Free Reads My book was chosen to be included in Amazon Prime Free Reads. If you have Amazon Prime, you’ll be able to borrow my book for free. Now’s the chance to read Lady Wynwood’s Spies, volume 1: Archer if you haven’t yet! Read Lady Wynwood’s Spies, volume 1: Archer free on Amazon

The Gentleman Thief in Free Historical Fiction Bookfunnel promo

My book The Gentlemen Thief (writing as Camille Elliot) is in this Free Historical Fiction promo. Every book in the promo is FREE when you sign up for the author’s email newsletter. Check out the promo and all the great FREE historical fiction ebooks! You might find a new favorite author! Free Historical Fiction promo

No Cold Bums toilet seat cover

Captain's Log, Stardate 08.22.2008 I actually wrote out my pattern! I was getting a lot of hits on my infamous toilet seat cover , and I wanted to make a new one with “improvements,” so I paid attention and wrote things down as I made the new one. This was originally based off the Potty Mouth toilet cover , but I altered it to fit over the seat instead of the lid. Yarn: any worsted weight yarn, about 120 yards (this is a really tight number, I used exactly 118 yards. My suggestion is to make sure you have about 130 yards.) I suggest using acrylic yarn because you’re going to be washing this often. Needle: I used US 8, but you can use whatever needle size is recommended by the yarn you’re using. Gauge: Not that important. Mine was 4 sts/1 inch in garter stitch. 6 buttons (I used some leftover shell buttons I had in my stash) tapestry needle Crochet hook (optional) Cover: Using a provisional cast on, cast on 12 stitches. Work in garter st until liner measures

Tabi socks, part deux

Captain's Log, Stardate 07.25.2008 (If you're on Ravelry, friend me! I'm camytang.) I made tabi socks again! (At the bottom of the pattern is the calculation for the toe split if you're not using the same weight yarn that I did for this pattern (fingering). I also give an example from when I used worsted weight yarn with this pattern.) I used Opal yarn, Petticoat colorway. It’s a finer yarn than my last pair of tabi socks, so I altered the pattern a bit. Okay, so here’s my first foray into giving a knitting pattern. Camy’s top-down Tabi Socks I’m assuming you already know the basics of knitting socks. If you’re a beginner, here are some great tutorials: Socks 101 How to Knit Socks The Sock Knitter’s Companion A video of turning the heel Sock Knitting Tips Yarn: I have used both fingering weight and worsted weight yarn with this pattern. You just change the number of cast on stitches according to your gauge and the circumference of your ankle. Th

Marketing Information Form, part two

Captain’s Log, Stardate 05.26.2006 Blog book giveaway: My Monday book giveaway is A GIRL’S BEST FRIEND by Kristin Billerbeck . My Thursday book giveaway is LIFE INTERRUPTED by Tricia Goyer . You can still enter both giveaways. Just post a comment on each of those blog posts. On Monday, I'll draw the winner for A GIRL’S BEST FRIEND and post the title for another book I'm giving away. Stay tuned. Continued from Marketing Information Form, part one : More stuff they want to know about my book: Other covers: What styles, fonts, colors? This is one area I didn’t really think about, but I listed the few covers that I thought conveyed the sort of atmosphere I wanted for my book: WHAT A GIRL WANTS by Kristin Billerbeck . The cartoon design is fresh, cute, clean. SASSY CINDERELLA AND THE VALIANT VIGILANTE by Sharon Dunn . This book, more than the other Ruby Taylor books, conveyed Ruby’s character—her vibrant red hair, bohemian dress, sassy post-modern attitude. THE TROUBLE WITH LACY B

Hosea 14:2

Lord Jesus, Thank You that we can freely come directly to You and pray to You. Thank You that You died for our sins on the cross and we can be forgiven. “Forgive all our sins and receive us graciously, that we may offer the fruit of our lips.” We praise and thank You, Lord, for how wonderful You are. We lift our hearts to You in praise today. Amen 主イエスよ、私たちが自由にあなたに直接近づき、あなたに祈ることができることを感謝します。あなたが十字架で私たちの罪のために死んでくださり、私たちが赦されることを感謝します。「私たちのすべての罪を赦し、私たちを慈しみ深く受け入れてください。」主よ、あなたがどんなに素晴らしい方であるかを賛美し、感謝します。私たちは今日、賛美のうちにあなたに心を捧げます。 アーメン

Keriah's Narrow Crescent Scarf

In my series Lady Wynwood’s Spies, my character Keriah is more emotional than her friend Phoebe, and so when writing about her in Lady Wynwood’s Spies, volume 6: Martyr , naturally I described her scarf as having more lively colors than the greens and blues that Phoebe favors. I didn’t really have a particular yarn colorway in mind when I wrote the scene, but when looking through my stash to knit her scarf, I found the Carnival colorway in Knit Picks Chroma Twist Fingering, and it was absolutely perfect for her. Chroma Twist Fingering is discontinued, but you could knit this in Chroma Fingering or any other color-transitional yarn. In the Regency era, a tri-color 3-ply yarn like Chroma Twist Fingering would probably not have been sold in shops, but it also may not have been completely unheard of. It is made by simply dying the wool rather than the finished yarn, and then the dyed wool would be split into 3 parts and each part spun into a single ply, before all three plies