Lounging around with Amy Hatvany

Amy Hatvany, author of Heart of Mine chats with the SheKnows Book Lounge about her novel, her passion for cooking and her next project.

SheKnows: Tweet us a blurb of your novel

Amy Hatvany: Ugh. This is so hard.

“Heart Like Mine is an honest look at the aftermath of loss and the messy emotions that make up the foundation of a blended family.”

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SK: How did you think of the idea for Heart Like Mine?

AH: It came from a conversation I had with my husband a couple of years ago, in which we were discussing our family and some of the particular challenges of being a step-parent. That sparked a question in my mind of what it would feel like to be a woman who doesn’t have children — who isn’t sure she’d make a good mother in the first place — but ends up falling in love with a divorced man with two children.

Blended families are more common than ever, and with such complicated emotional dynamics, for me, it was a ground ripe with issues to explore.

SK: What are you reading now? What's up next?

AH: I actually just had an early read of Stacey Ballis’ upcoming release, Out To Lunch, and it was totally funny and smart and moving. I loved it. I’m not sure what I’ll be reading next — my too-read pile is starting to overtake the house, though, so I’d better get on it!

SK: OK, so spill your secret, how do you have time to cook gourmet meals, write books, and be a wife and mom? And on that note, what's your current favorite recipe?

AH: Ha! Well, I don’t think there is a secret. I’m like every other woman out there with a job and a family to take care of. I get up and I do whatever next step is put in front of me, you know? Write, clean the bathroom, go grocery shopping, cook dinner. I find it helps me not get overwhelmed with all I have to do if I break it down into single events and then just take them one at a time.

And picking a favorite recipe is tough, because I tend to be sort of an impromptu chef — picking whatever I have around and adding ingredients until it tastes good. But my favorite chef is Ina Garten, so I think I will go with her Turkey Meatloaf Recipe. It’s healthy, not complicated, and total winner with my family… and me, because it’s HUGE and the leftover sandwiches are fantastic.

SK: Can you give us any details on your next book?

AH: Yes! It’s called Safe With Me, and it’s about three women who are linked together by tragedy, bound together by secrets, and when all is revealed, become each others’ salvation. I realize this description is a little cryptic, but I don’t want to give too much away!

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