Amy Kathryn Jones stopped by the Tule blog to discuss the second book in the Matched series, Flipping the Script!
Where did you get the inspiration for Flipping the Script and the Matched series?
The Matched Series itself was inspired by years of watching The Bachelor, The Bachelorette, and Bachelor in Paradise. I wanted to explore what all I imagined lands on the cutting room floor, and what the lives are like for the people who make reality shows like this happen. Flipping the Script was a natural progression from a relationship I saw blooming in the first book in the series Behind The Scenes. Matt and Kat are very good friends, long-time co-workers, each with an unrequited crush on the other. I’ve always wanted to write a friends-to-lovers romance, and this was a perfect opportunity. It allowed me to play with a few other fun tropes, too. Workplace romance, single dad, and fake relationship. It was a ton of fun to write.
Welcome to Tule! Can you share a fun fact about yourself to help us get to know you?
Thank you! It’s so great to be here! I’m a labor and delivery nurse by trade, and have been since 2003. I was a psychiatric nurse before that. I have two teenagers testing me at every turn in my house and a husband with a man bun (which I love without shame). My two fuzzy little dogs, Ray & Gozer, keep me laughing on my days off when I’m trying to do my other full time job of being a writer, and my cat Venkman minds his own business. Yes, they’re all named after Ghostbusters, which is our favorite movie. I participated in Pitch Wars in 2017, which is how I met my writing group originally, and the eight of us talk every single day on Marco Polo. Right now, I’m a mentor for #KissPitch in its inaugural year. I have two mentees, and I’m paying my amazing Pitch Wars experience forward with my other passion—developmental editing. So I keep very busy.
This is a fun fake relationship and workplace romance. What drew you to these tropes? What’s your favorite trope to write?
Thanks!, I had a lot of fun writing Matt and Kat’s steamy romance. Pining and unresolved sexual tension are my favorite parts of romance. I know it’s a workplace romance, but that ended up being more of a happenstance. I see it as friends-to-lovers and fake relationship. Do I have a favorite trope to write? Hmm…I do love a good rivals to lovers when one of the characters is desperately pining for the other, and the other one is, but won’t admit it to themselves. Fake relationship is also a lot of fun because the lines are so easily blurred. Friends-to-lovers is tender, sweet, and delicate, so there’s something special about that for me, too. I can’t pick a favorite!
If you could spend the day with Kat or Matt, who would you choose and what would you do?
I had to think so hard about this question because I don’t want anyone to think I don’t like my characters, it’s just that Matt and Kat are so—not like me! If you’d asked me about Ginger and Elliot, I would have said Elliot, hands down, but Matt? He’s too good looking, and I would be blushing constantly and hopelessly because he’s so in love with Kat. I don’t really see him as being great with strangers either, so he’s a no, and so by default, Kat. She’s vivacious and extra and has a lot of great qualities of a wonderful best friend. But she’s a very strong personality and I could probably learn a few things from her over dinner and a few margaritas!
What are you currently reading?
Currently, I’m reading a few things. My mentees’ manuscripts and Stiletto contest entries mainly (one is by a fellow Tule Author!!), but the last book I bought that I started was Mariah Ankenman’s The Wedding Dilemma—a fun rom-com by one of my agency sisters. I’m really looking forward to Emily Henry’s new release as well as Christina Lauren’s. They are auto-buys for me.
Thank you for letting me stop by and talk about Flipping the Script and The Matched Series! I can’t wait to hear what readers think of Matt and Kat, and I’m looking forward to the third book coming out this August.
About the Author
Amy Kathryn Jones is the author of steamy contemporary romance featuring a wide variety of swoon-worthy heroes and the women who never saw them coming. A labor and delivery nurse by trade, she’s no stranger to happy endings and new beginnings. She moonlights as a married mother of two and part-time pet wrangler, but she loves nothing better than quiet time at her home in Dallas, Texas.
A huge fan of reality TV, romantic comedies, and Pride and Prejudice, she has a soft spot for hot messes, men in glasses, hidden tattoos, and dimples that pop. Other passions include colorful pens, craft books, clever banter, and comfy clothes.
After being showcased in Pitch Wars, she went on to become a 2018 Golden Heart Finalist in the contemporary romance category.
I loved this series. I just wish it was longer.