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Author Interview,  Giveaway,  Hope-filled Fiction

Interview with Denise Hunter & a Giveaway

April 30, 2025 / 22 Comments

I hope you enjoy this interview with Contemporary Romance & Women’s Fiction author Denise Hunter. She’s sharing about her writing life and her latest release, The Summer of You and Me. For a chance to win an ebook of Denise’s new release, comment below by May 6. (US winner only)

Welcome, Denise! It’s a pleasure to have you on the Hope-filled Fiction blog for the first time. Let’s start with you sharing the premise of your new release, The Summer of You and Me.

When a woman returns to her coastal hometown to spread her late husband’s ashes, she has a fleeting encounter with a man who’s his spitting image

That line alone makes me want to read the book! Is the story inspired by true events or personal history? 

The story was actually inspired by a real-life experience. While visiting my small hometown in Ohio, I ran into a virtual twin of an old friend. But his whole family had left town many years ago. I couldn’t help but ask myself, who was this doppelgänger, and why did he look so much like my old friend? The wheels started turning, and before long I had the inspiration for my next novel. 

I love how a simple observation can spark a story. What is the setting of The Summer of You and Me? Is it a real location or fictional? Tell us about it.

Although Seabrook is a fictional town, it was largely inspired by the town of Carolina Beach, NC. I knew early on I wanted my heroine to have a chance encounter with someone who looked just like her late husband—and I knew I wanted it to happen at a beach-side carnival. 

I chose Carolina Beach because of its terrific boardwalk carnival. My husband and I visited so I could get a complete picture of this quaint seaside town. It has just the nostalgic feel I was looking for. 

Sounds like the perfect setting! What was the best money you ever spent as a writer?

Research trips to the setting of my stories is the best money I ever spent. I can’t put a price on the actual experience of going to a town and immersing myself in the culture. There’s so much to see and experience about a place and the people who reside there. I get a much fuller picture than what I could’ve gotten if I’d just researched the town online. Then later when I’m writing that story, I’m able to visualize it in a way that helps me bring the setting alive for my readers. 

How fun! When you’re not visiting your stories’ settings, what does a typical day in your writing life look like? 

My best writing hours are in the morning. On the first draft I write until I have six good pages written. It takes anywhere from 3-5 hours. The rest of the day is for non-writing tasks: communicating with my publisher, updating my website, putting together newsletters and social media posts, doing interviews, etc. 

How long, on average, does it take you to write a book? 

From conception till I turn it in to my publisher is six months. From there, I do two more rounds of edits with my editors. I’m contractually required to write two books a year, so my writing schedule definitely keeps me on my toes.

You certainly stay busy, for which I’m sure all your fans are thankful! What does your writing space look like?

I’ve gone through phases with the location of my writing. For years I wrote in a coffee shop. These days I’m writing in the comfort of my living room. Next year, who knows?

What a blessing that you can focus on writing in various locations. Do you have a favorite drink or snack you indulge in while writing?

I’m sort of addicted to Baja Blast Zero. Don’t tell anyone. 

Your secret is safe with me. LOL What’s next from you?

My next release is in October and is called The Second Story Bookshop. It’s about a woman who inherits her grandma’s charming small-town bookshop. But the gift comes with some unexpected problems—including the man who broke her heart years ago.

You can’t go wrong with a story about a charming bookshop. Thanks so much for sharing on the blog this week, Denise. I pray God will continue to bless your writing career with much success!

Visit the #HopeFilledFiction blog and comment on @DeniseAHunter’s interview by 5/6 for a chance to win #TheSummerofYouandMe. #giveaway #contemporaryromance

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Join the conversation. Are you a Denise Hunter fan? Does The Summer of You and Me sound like a story you’d like to read? Which of Denise’s books or series is your favorite?

Be sure to scroll to the comments section below and leave your comment by May 6 for a chance to win an ebook of The Summer of You and Me! (US resident only)

The Summer of You and Me book cover

The Summer of You and Me by Denise Hunter

Click the book cover for purchase link

Maggie Reynolds is finally ready for love again—until the past shows up in the form of someone who may or may not be the late husband she thought she’d lost.

Five years after her husband’s death, Maggie is finally ready to let go of him and the dreams she had for their future. A summer at Seabrook, where she and Ethan first became childhood sweethearts, seems the perfect time and place to find closure. Plus, she gets to spend time with his family, the Reynoldses, whom she loves like her own.

Unbeknownst to Maggie, her brother-in-law, Josh Reynolds, has been in love with her since they first met all those years ago. But his brother ultimately won Maggie’s heart, and Josh’s unrequited love has ruined all his relationships. If Maggie is ready to move on, then Josh is ready to lay it all on the line and come clean about his true feelings for her.

But his plans soon get put on hold when, shortly after Maggie returns to Seabrook, she runs into a man who could pass for Ethan’s twin. But he disappears into the amusement park crowd before she can confront him.

The event rattles Maggie, stirs up impossible questions, and sends Josh and her on a quest to discover the man’s true identity. But their search ends up raising more questions than answers—and soon Maggie isn’t sure she wants those answers after all.

Denise Hunter is the internationally published bestselling author of more than 40 novels, three of which have been made into Hallmark movies. She has appeared on The 700 Club and been featured in Woman’s Day and Southern Living.

Denise writes heartwarming, small-town love stories, peopled with layered characters who struggle with real-life issues. Her readers enjoy the experience of falling in love vicariously through her characters and can expect a happily-ever-after sigh as they close the pages of her books.

In 1996, inspired by the death of her grandfather, Denise began her first book, writing while her children napped. Two years later it was published, and she’s been writing ever since. Her husband says he inspires all her romantic stories, but Denise insists a good imagination helps too!

When Denise isn’t orchestrating love lives on the written page, she enjoys traveling with her family, drinking coffee, and playing drums. Denise makes her home in Indiana where she and her husband are currently enjoying an empty nest and four beautiful grandchildren.

Connect with Denise on her website.

Denise Hunter head shot

Please share Denise’s interview on social media to help spread the word about her new book!

If you missed Donna Jo Stone’s spotlight on When the Wildflowers Bloom Again last week, FIND IT HERE.

As a Jesus girl for more than thirty years, Deena Adams understands how important hope is to daily life, which fuels her passion to inspire others through hope-filled fiction based on true to life stories. She is a multi-award-winning writer, an active ACFW member, and ACFW Virginia president. Connect with Deena through her website, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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