Writer Wednesday: Meet Courtney Hunt!

courtneyhuntWelcome back to Writer Wednesday, that delightful day of the week on which I get to share with y’all one of the many fabulous authors I’ve met in this writing journey.

This week, I’m pleased to have Courtney Hunt with us. Courtney is the author of smart and sexy romance (my favorite kind!), including, as she puts it, “smart, funny contemporary romances featuring strong heroines and the sexy heroes who steal their hearts.” Oh, yeah! Sign me up!

So grab that cup of tea and settle in for a minute to read a bit about Courtney and her latest work.


Creative Writing, Pencil on notebook with glowing light bulb

What inspires you to write?

Like many writers, I get my inspiration from anywhere and everywhere–a newspaper article, a snippet of dialogue overheard in the elevator, or an anecdote from a friend. I use Evernote to capture all my ideas until I’m ready to develop them. Right now, I have over 50 different series ideas so I’ll be busy for a bit:-) As for what gets me to write daily, if I don’t write my stories no one else will. My characters are counting on me.

Which type of romance do you love most, and why?

As a lifelong romance reader I love and read all kinds of romance. Any story that contains a happily ever after is fine with me. Some tropes I especially love include second chance, friends to lovers, fairy tale romance, and arranged marriage/marriage of convenience. 

Trunk Bay, St John, United States Virgin Islands.

Name one interesting thing you learned in researching/writing your last book:

When I was writing Coconut Iced Coffee, the August Cupid’s Coffeeshop release, I learned that the US Virgin Islands are considered national parks. Therefore, it’s illegal to take sand and shells home from the islands. As part of the plot, the heroine’s brother and cousin give her a mason jar to bring back sand and shells in. I ended up having her leave it on the island with the hero as a memento of their island fling.

Burning paperName two things people don’t know about you:

  1. Once, when helping my little sister do her homework, I set it on fire–accidentally, of course! The assignment was to create an ancient looking scroll. I thought I’d just burn the edges but that didn’t work out so well and the whole thing went up in flames. Of course, it was late the night before it was due and my sister had worked for days on it. Whoops. My mom wrote a note to the teacher and all was well but I’ve never been allowed to forget it.
  2. I also once won a Harry Potter trivia contest. My sister and I attended all the Harry Potter release parties together. At the one for Half-Blood Prince (the 6th book), the emcee kept trying to stump us with harder and harder questions, but we prevailed. The winning answer? Naming all Hermione Granger’s classes in 3rd year in alphabetical order 🙂

What fellow romance author do you recommend reading, and why?

There are so many amazing writers out there now, especially with the explosion of e-books and self-publishing. Right at the moment, I’m really enjoying reading Jill Shalvis, Marie Force, and Belle Andre. They have creative contemporary plots that I enjoy. 

Female legs jogging on a trailWhat one piece of advice do you wish you’d had when first starting out?

A writing career is a marathon, not a sprint. It takes time to build up a backlist and that burnout is a very real risk. When I first started publishing, I would get up early and write before work and then write until the wee hours after getting my son down for the night. After I got pneumonia, I learned to be a bit more balanced. 

What’s your favorite romance novel of all time, and why?

I’ll pick a sentimental favorite here. Partners by Nora Roberts as it was the first romance I ever read. I snuck it out of my mother’s library bag. 


courtneyhunt_applecider-2500

And now, a bit about the latest Cupid’s Coffeeshop, Apple Cider:

September means back-to-school along with crisp weather, ripe apples, and Apple Cider at Cupid’s Coffeeshop. 

Single mom Harper Wells has pined for gorgeous Cooper Mason, ever since he moved in next door two years ago. But the widower seemed focused on raising his only son. Neither single parent had any time for romance. 

As a fall friendship blossoms between them, can Harper and Cooper find their happily ever after right next door? 

Find Apple Cider on Amazon! https://www.amazon.com/Apple-Cider-Cupids-Coffeeshop-Book-ebook/dp/B01GTPSJ9I/


Red heart shapes on a handwritten old journal.

A Bit About Courtney:

Courtney Hunt is the author of the Cupid’s Coffeeshop series, the Always a Bridesmaid series, and the Kindle Scout winner, The Lost Art of Second Chances. An attorney by day, Courtney lives outside Washington, DC. with her husband and son. 

Want to connect further with Courtney? Find her here!

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Amazon | Goodreads | Pinterest


Thanks so much for joining us today, Courtney! It was a pleasure to learn more about you.