Sit-Down Saturday with Beth Carpenter



It’s hard to believe that SWEET HOME ALASKA is my fifth Harlequin. Less than three years ago, my husband and I had dropped someone at the airport in Phoenix and were touring the Desert Botanical Gardens. We were looking at a heart-shaped prickly pear (foreshadowing?) when my cell phone rang. It was my agent, saying Harlequin wanted to publish my first two books!

And here we are at number five. The heroine in this story is Volta Morgan, a flight certified EMT. While researching the book, I had the pleasure of getting to know Sarah Smith, a real flight EMT, and learning more about her job transporting ill and injured people from all over Alaska. She even arranged for me to tour their headquarters at the airport. I am in awe of the work these people do.

I live in Anchorage, where we have hospitals and ambulances, but 86% of Alaskan communities are not connected to the road system. When people there need medical evacuation, they depend on flight EMTs, flight nurses, and pilots to get them where they need to go. The flight techs juggle air pressure, oxygen levels, and turbulence along with all the usual medical difficulties. Fortunately, they’re highly trained professionals. It’s good to know that if my friends or family get hurt while out exploring the state, there are people like Sarah standing by.




I had a great time and learned so much researching for this book. More good news: I've recently received word that Harlequin wants three more books in the series. The next book involves goats and a gold nugget, so that research should be fun, too. Onward to number six!

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SWEET HOME ALASKA is going on tour! The book blog tour starts Monday, July 8th, with reviews, excerpts, and a prize package. On Monday, you’ll be able to find the whole schedule at Prism Book Tours. Hope to see you there!



Sweet Home Alaska

Some sparks last forever.

But once burned…


World traveler Dr. Scott Willingham is known for being calm and levelheaded—except where Volta Morgan is concerned. In the ten years since they parted, Scott still can’t forget her. Now he’s come to Alaska to find Volta and finally let her go, only to find their attraction is stronger than ever. Can Scott leave her behind one last time…or has he truly found a place to call home?.

Comments

  1. Sweet Home Alaska is on my Kindle waiting for me to finish Claire's Reunited With A Cowboy. What a great month this is for Heartwarming readers. I'm glad we're going to get at least three more visits to Alaska with you!

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    1. Thanks, Liz! I just finished Reunited with A Cowboy. What a great story!

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  2. Congratulations on your release--sounds like you have really interesting characters doing important work. All the best with this one and however many more you want!

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  3. I love your story about getting ‘the call’...a great locale for such heartwarming news. :). Congratulations on your new deals and I’m so looking forward to reading this one!

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  4. Congrats! And I didn't know you visited Phoenix (my neck of the woods). Next time you're here, we have to get together! Hope to see you in NYC. And congrats on the new contract.

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    1. Thanks! We fly through Phoenix several times a year on our way to Prescott. Maybe we can find each other sometime. I'm not going to make it to NYC this year, but I'm hoping for lots of fun pictures from those of you that are. Have fun!

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  5. Congratulations on this new book, Beth! And the next in the series to come. I'm wondering how these EMTs and pilots manage in an Alaskan blizzard. Such dedicated, brave people. Loved your "call" story. I'm a member of the botanical garden here. As Cathy said, next time you're in the area maybe we could all get together.

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    1. Thank you! They use planes with skis for snow, but in a true blizzard with low visibility, they can't fly. They just have to hang out and wait for an opening in the weather. The botanical garden is just lovely. Such incredible desert plants.

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  6. Congratulations, Beth. Isn't writing fun? And it's better when you get a benchmark to brag about. So brag on. It only happened once for five books.

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    1. It is fun. Frustrating and hard, but fun! Thanks, Shirley.

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  7. Congratulations! Your book sounds great. I enjoyed this post. :)

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  8. I loved hearing about the moment you got 'the call'! Congratulations on your new book AND on the new book deal!

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