Interview with Bethany Maines, Author of Elevator Ride (The Valkyrie Brothers Book 1)

What’s the story behind the story? What inspired you to write Elevator Ride (The Valkyrie Brothers Book 1)?

Elevator Ride was inspired by my day job as a graphic designer. My firm worked with an estate planning seminar, and as a result I listened to an amazing amount of tales of estate planning gone wrong. The amount of times that someone literally tried to kill a grandparent to get the farm was shocking. (Yes, the family farm!) Elevator Ride doesn’t involve a farm, but it does involve a missing will. And I know that doesn’t sound like the great kick-off to a rom-com, but when combined with German Shepard type ex-marine and a spitfire paralegal, it makes for a fun ball of romance, action, and mystery that will make you laugh all the way through.

If you had to pick theme songs for the main characters of Elevator Ride (The Valkyrie Brothers Book 1), what would they be?

Rowan Valkyrie – the hero – has a secret love of Destiny’s Child and Beyonce. “Say My Name” is his secret jam, but if anyone asked he’d say his favorite was Bruno Mars or eighties rock bands.

Vivian Kaye – the heroine – loves Top 40 but likes things with a little extra flavor like Teddy Swims and Camila Cabello. Her favorite is probably “Havana” from Camila Cabello.

What’s your favorite genre to read? Is it the same as your favorite genre to write?

I love reading romance, mystery and fantasy and that’s equally what I love to write.

What books are on your TBR pile right now?

I’m attempting to finish a paranormal romance right now, so I’m trying to ignore my TBR pile. But once I’m done, Game Changer – a Sierra Hill single dad-nanny romance – is waiting for me!

What scene in your book was your favorite to write?

The first kiss between Rowan and Vivian was so much fun because while it was steamy, I also knew I wanted it to be funny (it involves lingerie and an RC car). After I wrote the first draft I had to run it by my writer’s group to make sure the physical comedy was translating from my head to the page. Once they gave it the thumbs up, I knew my characters were destined for each other.

Do you have any quirky writing habits? (lucky mugs, cats on laps, etc.)

I don’t know if it’s quirky, but it is a spreadsheet. I track my characters names, my chapters, all the things on a spreadsheet like I was clocking baseball statistics. Spreadsheets make a novel happen.

Do you have a motto, quote, or philosophy you live by?

I try to live my life by the words of the great Snoop Dogg: “I gotta be me at all times.”

If you could choose one thing for readers to remember after reading your book, what would it be?

Friendship matters. My heroine volunteers for a veterans charity focusing veteran mental health and if I learned anything from that research is that simply reaching out to a friend can make a difference in someone’s life. I know we all get busy, but call, text, send a meme, whatever. You never know what that check in means to another person.

Bethany Maines is the author of the new book Elevator Ride (The Valkyrie Brothers Book 1)

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