Book Twins Reviews is incredibly honored to present to you

Author Interview
Helena Hunting

OMG!!! This is a milestone and an incredible opportunity.

We are absolutely honored to have the pleasure of presenting our interview with Helena Hunting. She is one of my UNICORN authors and someone I never thought I would ever meet, let alone have the opportunity to interview.

Not only was Helena Hunting up for answering our questions, she went above and beyond and I’m stoked to present you with an in-depth view into one of my most favorite authors. This interview has been a highlight for me personally and I hope for you, our readers, as well.

If you haven’t read any of her books yet – YOU MUST!!!!

She writes sexy, funny, often hilarious NA romances. Helena Hunting’s characters will stay with you for a long time. And even more, you’ll be a part of an amazing community of PUCKED lovers. I’m coming  right out to shout it from the rooftops: I’m a devoted Lance Romero fan – PUCKED OFF – ♥♥♥.

But if you love tattoos and you are fascinated by quiet and brooding alpha males you must read her INKED series. I was an emotional wreck after reading Clipped Wings. It’s BEAUTIFUL and incredibly touching!!!

So don’t hesitate, first enjoy reading this interview, but afterwards go and grab one of her books. If you’d like to start with a standalone, she just recently released her newest standalone Shacking UP and all I can say is it’s super SEXY and HOT!!!

Let’s get to know
Helena Hunting 

Did you always want to be an author?

I think so. I started writing books as soon as I could string words together. When I was little I’d draw pictures for the words I couldn’t spell. I was always the kid with the journal or the notebook, jotting down ideas.

Tell us something about yourself we’d never guess.

I used to be an avid cross-stitcher. Super cool, I know. I’m sure when I’m retired I’ll go back to it. Mostly I need to do something with my hands.

What does a day in the life of Helena Hunting look like?

I get up at 6:45, make coffee, get my kidlet ready for school, sometimes I go to the gym to start my day, and after that I sit down in front of the computer and work—whether it be to write, manage social media, edit, promote a release—I spend the majority of my day at my desk. Monday through Friday at noon I facetime with my bestie Debra Anastasia and we have lunch. If she lived closer we’d probably eat together every day, but it’s an hour an a half plane ride, so we manage with facetime.

I’ve always loved ice hockey sports romances, but I’m the first to admit I just read about it, how much is hockey part of your life?

Hubs used to play rec hockey when we were dating, and still plays now. I used to go see him play back when I had time and we didn’t have nearly as many responsibilities as we do now. I don’t have a lot of time to watch TV, but we went to an NHL game when we were in Vegas recently and hubs got me tickets to a game in Buffalo later this month, which I’m very excited about!

Do you have pets? I loved Francisca in Shacking Up and was wondering where the idea of a pet ferret came from and did you research their mannerism?

I have two awesome cats, one senior girl and one young boy who is kind of a jerk. I love animals and had a friend who had a ferret as a pet. Kidlet and I watched a lot of ferret videos and I did some reading on their habits when I was writing Shacking Up. They’re pretty adorable, sort of halfway between a cat and a dog and full of absolute mischief!

I’m currently reading Hooking Up and Bora Bora is a big part of the story, have you ever been to the island?

It is on my bucket list for sure. I can tell you that I spent a lot of time looking at pictures and wishing I could go there for a few weeks to write that book! It’s such a serene, gorgeous place!

I still remember, long before Pucked, when Clipped Wings ruled my kindle, I was obsessed with all things tattoos and tattoo artists. Where did the idea of creating a tattoo studio as the central point came from, and do you have tattoos?

I have always been quite enamoured with tattoos and body art and modification. Tattoos can be such a catharsis after loss, or a way to commemorate a memory or an event. It’s such an incredible form of artistry, to take something two dimensional and put it on a three dimensional surface and keep it’s integrity is quite a feat. I really loved the idea of family in Clipped Wings, and how these amazingly talented artists had found a way to make their passion their career. And yes, I have tattoos, but they’re all small and I got them when I was younger.

All about the Books

Do you plan your books or let the characters drive the stories?

I’m a plotter. I typically have a 5-10k outline written for the book with character profiles and the story arcs nailed down before I start the book.

Have you ever had a character take over, and if so, who was it?

Lance was a complete compulsion. I was testy when I was writing that book because it was like I couldn’t get the words down fast enough.

Are any of your characters based off real life people?

I think my characters are bits and pieces of people I’ve encountered in everyday life. I’ll pull traits and mould them into a character I want them to be so the hero and the heroine compliment each other.

Helena, where did the idea of Violet, Alex, but especially Beaver and the MC come from? And what about Violet’s penchant for sawing costumes?

Violet is every person, but without a filter. I’d just finished writing a really heavy part in The Clipped Wings series when I started Pucked. I needed the comic relief, and so Violet was born. We all think things we should never say, except Violet just says them all, without reservation. Alex is a dork, but he’s so hot, so you almost don’t realize how dorky he is. The Super MC scene—a few people in the editing stages were like, um . . . really. But I wasn’t letting go of that scene. If you’ve never thought of dressing up a penis, you sure as hell have now. I just thought it was ridiculous, and Violet is insanely ridiculous, so the scene made perfect sense in my mind.

What I love most about your books but especially about the Pucked series is your capacity to make me laugh. The Pucked series has one of the coolest and funniest casts I’ve read. Where does the inspiration for these characters come from?

I think the inspiration comes from normal life events and twisting them around until they’re ridiculous. Sometimes I’ll throw in funny things that have happened and just push the envelope until it becomes something crazy. I’ve loved writing those characters so much!

Which one of the Pucked characters was the hardest to write and why?

Probably Miller. He wasn’t easy because he followed on the heels of Alex, who is kind of ideal when it comes to heroes. He’s intelligent, sweet, hot, amazing in bed and has stamina forever. And he can manage Violet.

Which one is dearest to you and why?

Lance definitely stole my heart. I have a thing for broken boys, and Lance is the most broken of them all. That book consumed me when I wrote it. It was like a compulsion. I just couldn’t stop until that story was told.

Do you have stories on the back burner that are just waiting to be written?

Oh yes. I have five stories waiting to be written.

And if so, do you have a teaser for your fans?

This is an unedited excerpt from I FLIPPING LOVE YOU, coming May 2018.

“We should have naked Sunday.”
“Naked Sunday?”
“Yeah. You know, where we just spend the day hanging out naked.”
“Is this something you do often?” I envision spending an entire twenty-four hours sans clothing with Pierce. I can’t imagine getting anything accomplished, apart from wearing out my vagina with whatever parts of his body he felt like sticking in there.
“No. I’ve never actually done it before, but I figured it could be our thing.”
“Our thing?”
“Yeah, you know, like the thing we do together, just us. On Sundays. We can make it a weekly standing date from here on.” He nods, maybe to himself, like this is the best idea he’s ever had.

For Grins and Giggles

How many books have you read so far this year?

My Goodreads account tells me I’ve read 32 books, but I’ve probably read a few more paperbacks that are unaccounted for at the moment.

What is the most interesting thing you have in your purse/wallet?

One of those things that sticks to the wall when you throw it and lipstick that looks like a penis.

What store do you shop at the most?

It’s probably a toss up between the grocery store and Michaels. We do a lot of crafting on the weekends in this house. Today I made a tiny stuffed sloth.

Last time you were emotional?

Yesterday.

Has your world ever been rocked?

Yes. His name is Sebastian and I married him.

What is one item you could NEVER live without?

Lip balm and coffee.

Where would you want to retire?

Debra Anastasia and I have plans to retire together in Florida. I think I might invite my husband to come along.

What is your best childhood memory?

Spending the summer at the family cottage. I loved it up there so much.