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Beth Ciotta | Cupcakes & Community with Heart
August 29, 2012
The day I learned I had the opportunity to write a new series for St. Martin's
Press goes down as one of the most exciting and inspired days of my life. The
genre? Small-town contemporary romance. The premise? Several different romance
stories revolving around the members of a "Cupcake" club. Cupcakes, huh? My brain stalled for a moment. I could write about a small town.
I grew up in a small town. I love small towns! But (initially) I didn't
know much about baking. (Sssh. Don't tell anyone.) I mean I love eating
cupcakes. Who doesn't? But baking them? Still, I've written a lot of stories out
of my personal area of expertise. Amazing what you can learn and accomplish via
research. My brain revved a little and I thought, if I could just come up
with the background of that club—why they formed, what they do
exactly, and how they make a difference—everything will spring from
there. I was right. As soon as I hatched the Cupcake Lovers, the club's members,
their small town, and several scenarios exploded in my mind. All relationships
and romances would naturally evolve or be inspired by the two basic ingredients
in this mix: CLUB and COMMUNITY. Follows the unedited notes of my original
vision of the Cupcake Lovers and Sugar Creek. THE CLUB -- Founded in 1942 by local women whose husbands and sons were off
fighting in WWII. Once a week they'd get together at one of the member's houses
to enjoy the host's featured cupcake, to swap recipes and to share news and
letters from loved ones as well as providing companionship and a joyful outlet
for one another. Soon they started spreading that joy by sending care packages
overseas, featuring their homemade cupcakes. That became a tradition as did
participating in fundraising events to help various causes. Over the years it became a shared oath never to sell their cupcakes for personal
profit. In some cases they simply donate the cupcakes. When sold, all proceeds
go to charity. Recently, some of the older members of the club have made a
concerted effort to attract younger members (women in their 20s and 30s) in
order to insure the Cupcake Club (*later changed to Cupcake Lovers)
continues to evolve and thrive. As in the past, the club meets once a week at a
member's house for cupcakes and companionship. Lots of gossip, but equal parts
support for those going through troubling times as well as swapping recipes and
planning upcoming fundraising events. THE COMMUNITY -- Sugar Creek, Vermont (some sort of local legend behind that.
Boy pouring maple syrup into the creek making the ice cold water, sugary sweet)
A small quaint town rich in history. Depends heavily on tourists dollars. A
lot of craft shops featuring the works of local artisans. Custom Furniture,
Antique Shops, Handmade jewelry, Quilts and Knitted Goods, Art
Gallery—intermingled with shops for the locals—a general store,
department store, grade school, daycare center, library, police and fire
department. City hall, a popular restaurant and bar, scattered B&Bs and
Colonial Inns. Tourists come and go, but the majority of locals pretty much stay near or around
Sugar Creek all year around and for most, if not all, of their life. Lots of
quirky characters, close-knit family and friends as well as family and friend
feuds. (Think the small community as featured in Gilmore Girls, only more
remote. The remote area brings a sense of adventure, especially in winter when
snowbound) As soon as I started writing the launch book of the Cupcake Lovers series, FOOL FOR LOVE, every
character, the club, and the community, came to vivacious and complicated life.
I realized quickly that this was because the concept had heart. True heart.
Although book one (FOOL FOR
LOVE) is just now debuting, I've already written book two (THE TROUBLE WITH LOVE) and
I'm now gearing up for book three (ANYTHING BUT LOVE). Each book
features a new hero and heroine as well as peeking in on other budding romances
in Sugar Creek. Characters I've grown to love, the complicated relationships of
friends and family and the on-going mission of the Cupcake Lovers carry over and
evolve. And in the meantime, I'm actually learning how to bake!
Comments
56 comments posted.
Re: Beth Ciotta | Cupcakes & Community with Heart
Sounds like a fun series. Looking forward to visiting.
Good luck and happy writing!
(Tracie Travis 3:39am August 29, 2012)
Good morning, Tracie! Hoping you enjoy your visit to Sugar
Creek. It's a fun place to be! Have a great day!
(Beth Ciotta 6:50am August 29, 2012)
This sounds like a great series. Good luck on your baking. Cupcakes our my favorite thing to make because you can make them each with different frosting.
(Emily Bowes 8:22am August 29, 2012)
This is a series I'd love to read!!! Thanks and good luck!!!!
(Bonnie Capuano 8:40am August 29, 2012)
Love cupcakes!!! The series sounds great!
(Vicki Hancock 9:04am August 29, 2012)
Yummy cupcakes and a gorgeous man, sounds like a sweet combination to me! Can't wait to read your latest book. Thanks for the opportunity to win! Good luck!
(Teresa Sullivan 9:25am August 29, 2012)
Emily, what a great idea. Different frostings for the same batch of cupcakes! Ah, variety!
(Beth Ciotta 9:41am August 29, 2012)
Thank you for the well wishes, Bonnie!
Vicki--Toasting my cyber cupcake to yours!
(Beth Ciotta 9:43am August 29, 2012)
I like the way you think, Teresa. :) Thank you for the well wishes. Have a great day!
(Beth Ciotta 9:44am August 29, 2012)
nice synopsis cammot wait to read
(Debbi Shaw 9:48am August 29, 2012)
i can't wait to read it!! I had my local B&N put back a copy for me - I'll definitely buy it this first week!!
(Kelli Jo Calvert 10:19am August 29, 2012)
Sounds like a good series and I look forward to reading it. Best of luck on your new book!
(Lori Yost 10:41am August 29, 2012)
That's a club I would love to be a part of, or at least read about. The cover is beautiful, as well.
(Michelle Donaldson 10:43am August 29, 2012)
Thanks for a fun post! Sounds fabulous :)
(Erin Fender 10:44am August 29, 2012)
Good Morning! What could be better than sweets and a man? Winning combination there. This series sounds like it will be full of funny as well as tasty escapades.
(Angelina Daniels-Shaw 10:58am August 29, 2012)
Haven't seen this author before, the book sounds great and who doesn't like sweets!!
(Deana Connelly 11:14am August 29, 2012)
Your book sounds sweet - and I'd love to win a copy. Best of luck with it.
(Nancy Reynolds 11:31am August 29, 2012)
Hi
Your book sounds so good, I love the "starting over" type of
story and the fact that it is surrounded by sweets is even
better.
Thanks for the chance
(Pam Brewer 11:37am August 29, 2012)
Great looking contest.
(Kent Cook 11:43am August 29, 2012)
I love the cover, makes me want to read and find out what this book is about.
(Pamela Fox 12:10pm August 29, 2012)
The cover is a keeper, very beautiful. Yummy cupcakes plus a gorgeous man makes me drool. LOL
(Shirley Sego 12:30pm August 29, 2012)
Enjoyed your blog, book sounds like a great read.
(Sheila True 12:43pm August 29, 2012)
Thank you SO much for the description and opportunity to win this book - I love it already, especially since I have become interested, of late, in shows like Chopped, Top Chef Just Desserts, etc.!
(Felicia Ciaudelli 1:58pm August 29, 2012)
Sounds like a fun series.
(Sandy Giden 2:01pm August 29, 2012)
Sounds like a great series... have to look for it!
(Colleen Conklin 2:12pm August 29, 2012)
Waving to Kelli Jo! Great seeing you here! :)
(Beth Ciotta 2:17pm August 29, 2012)
Looks like I'm surrounded by a lot of cupcake lovers today! Such great company. Thanks to all for the comments and interest! What fun!
(Beth Ciotta 2:18pm August 29, 2012)
THE SERIES SOUNDS FANTASTIC CAN'T WAIT TO READ THEM.
(Shelly Caggiano 3:17pm August 29, 2012)
Would love to read the series. :)
(Leslie Davis 3:40pm August 29, 2012)
I love cupcakes. I usually eat cake and can't rememember when I last had a cupcake. Just looked at the excerpt on Amazon. It sounds good.
(Michelle Fidler 5:14pm August 29, 2012)
Your Cupcake Lovers series sounds so goo-ood! Brings to mind the TV show I so enjoy watching, "Cupcake Wars". If you want a cupcake education on numerous yummy cupcake recipe concoctions...this is the show to watch, then bake up a batch and eat while reading your new fun book. What a beautiful book cover! I'll have to read these!
(Linda Luinstra 5:24pm August 29, 2012)
This sounds like a really interesting series! Thanks for the chance to win a copy. Have a great day.
(Chelsea Knestrick 5:41pm August 29, 2012)
Sounds like a great series! Thanks for the giveaway!!
(Elizabeth Haney 6:00pm August 29, 2012)
This series sounds like a fun read - must be if it has
cupcakes!
(Diane Sallans 6:28pm August 29, 2012)
Cupcakes are the best. This book sounds like it will make the reader hungry. Thanks for the chance to win.
(Leona Olson 6:47pm August 29, 2012)
This sounds like a fun series. Thanks for the giveaway.
(Anna Speed 6:58pm August 29, 2012)
I like the starting over stories. This will be a good series read
(Pam Alderson 7:41pm August 29, 2012)
So thrilled to read everyone's comments. Such enthusiasm!
Wishing you all luck in the book giveaway and hoping to draw
each and every one of you into the adventures of the Cupcake
Lovers. Who mentioned 'Cupcake Wars'? Ah. Linda! Great show.
A cupcake education indeed! Now mix that with hunky men and
colorful characters galore. ;)
(Beth Ciotta 8:00pm August 29, 2012)
I can bake a cake but somehow I find baking cookies and
cupcakes just too much work.
(Jan D 8:09pm August 29, 2012)
Sounds like a great series. Can't wait to read it.
(Joanne Balinski 8:40pm August 29, 2012)
Sounds like a fun series!
(Mary C 8:40pm August 29, 2012)
I loved cupcakes - not only because they taste great, but they are portion controlled so I don't over indulge! Your books sound fun.
(Monica Vargo 9:40pm August 29, 2012)
food fun and sexy! what better combo is there? LOL thanks for the chance!
(Angie Lilly 9:44pm August 29, 2012)
Since I live in a small town now myself, I can relate completely to this book. The good thing is that I can bake!! lol The book sounds yummy in more ways than one, and I can't wait to read it!! When a series is good, I always tend to stick with the author, and I'm sure that yours is going to be one that I'll look forward to. Congratulations on your book, and I'll be looking forward to the series.
(Peggy Roberson 10:14pm August 29, 2012)
Looking forward to reading this book!
(Patricia Mellert 10:28pm August 29, 2012)
Sounds like a great a great series. Thanks for giving me a chance to win your book.
(Linda Hall 10:59pm August 29, 2012)
Love cupcakes. Please let me win it.
(Amy Milne 11:08pm August 29, 2012)
sounds like a great series to read and pass on to my friends so we all can enjoy them....
(Kimberly Hoefs 11:15pm August 29, 2012)
Sounds like a great series. I love food related and series books.
(Pat Lieberman 7:05am August 30, 2012)
Sounds like a great series! Just one question: Are any cupcake recipes included? That would really rock the books!!
Later,
Lynn
(Lynn Rettig 4:17pm August 30, 2012)
Shouting out with a big thank you for all the interest. Good luck everyone. And Lynn... Yes, there are a few cupcake recipes included in the back of the book! -- Beth
(Beth Ciotta 6:52pm August 30, 2012)
Sounds like a fun series!
(Dianne McVetty 9:39pm August 30, 2012)
I love the excerpt! can't wait to hunt this down and to make the recipes - you have great readers who are generous with the baking secrets!
(Beth Fuller 9:47pm August 30, 2012)
THIS SOUNDS LIKE A SUPER GOOD SERIES. putting on my TBR list.!!
(Barbara Studer 8:44am August 31, 2012)
I think the idea is lovely. However I would like some recipes featured which would suit my friends with Type 1 diabetes. Maybe there is a carrot cake version which would be appropriate?
(Clare O'Beara 5:49am September 1, 2012)
The idea of Cupcake Lovers sounds fabulous! I can't wait to read FOOL FOR LOVE!
(Olga Grun 7:14pm September 1, 2012)
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