There’s something really wonderful about men who write romantic comedies. It always brings to mind Richard Curtis for me. Who as far as I’m concerned just makes the world a better place with films like Love Actually, Four Weddings & A Funeral, and my absolute favourite About Time – seriously if you haven’t seen the latter do yourself a favour this weekend. Bill Nighy, Rachel McAdams, the adorable Domhnall Gleeson, time travel, Cornwall. I swear it’s this film that was one of the reasons I fell so in love with the area and wrote The Postcard.

Another wonderful guy writing romantic comedies is Rich Amooi, who I’m thrilled to be interviewing on the blog today. Rich is the author of Five Minutes Late, Dog Day Wedding which has just been released, and Kissing Frogs which will be available in April.

Welcome Rich! Tell us a little about yourself?

Thanks! I’m a former Silicon Valley radio personality and wedding DJ who is fortunate enough to be writing romantic comedies full-time. I’m happily married to a kiss monster (seriously) and have a hairy golden retriever/lab mix that likes to eat carrots, tuna, and Manchego cheese imported from Spain.

Now tell us something about yourself that someone would be surprised about, grin.

I had a period in my life where I was single and didn’t date for over thirteen years. Then I met a woman at Starbucks (my future wife) and moved in with her two months later.

Did you always want to be a writer?

No. My first passion was radio. After I graduated from high school, I took a broadcasting course and eight months later I graduated at the top of my class. I got my first job offer a week later and ended working “on the air” in Silicon Valley for over thirty years.

It’s so refreshing to see a man who enjoys writing and reading romantic comedy, what prompted you to write in the genre?

I have always been a HUGE fan of romantic comedies at the movies (ever since When Harry Met Sally) so it seemed like a logical choice for me to write them.

Your latest book Dog Day Wedding sounds really funny, what inspired you to write it?

Dog Day Wedding actually started out as a short story that I wrote in a creative writing class at Stanford. The title is based on the 1975 Al Pacino movie, Dog Day Afternoon. In the movie, Pacino robs a bank and ends up taking everyone hostage. My story is a little lighter since it’s a rom-com. The big finale of the story is a wedding with hostages. Don’t worry… nobody dies and there’s plenty of red velvet cake for everyone!

Do you ever miss your characters when you finish a novel?

Oddly enough, no. When I finish a novel, I am so motivated to write another one that I just move on. But the characters will always have a special place in my heart! (and on my shelf)

Do you have a favourite leading man or lady from your novels. Or would that be like having a favourite child?

No favourites. And I love the secondary characters just as much. Especially since I can get them to say some crazy things I wouldn’t dream of having the leading characters say.

What is your writing process – do you write every day?

Where do you write? I write at home most of the time. Occasionally I will get together with a group of writers at a local coffee shop to write for a few hours. Although I do want to write every day, it doesn’t always end up happening. But I do work on some part of the business every day, whether it is writing, marketing, updating the website, etc.

What’s the biggest lessons you’ve learnt in your career as a author?

It takes discipline to sit down and write consistently with all of the distractions.

30 second Rich

• Champagne and canapés or tea and scones? Since I don’t see donuts as an option, I will choose tea and scones.
• Sea or country? Sea (although I do love the country).
• Dogs or cats? Hmm. This is a tough one too. I have always been a cat person but got a dog as part of the package deal when I met my wife. I love the dog a lot but I do miss having a cat.
• Plot or free form. Another tough choice! Are you doing this on purpose? I’m kind of in the middle on this one. I do a very loose plot—just one sentence for each scene. For example.

Scene 1: Giovanni gets jilted at the altar

Scene 2: Giovanni tries to set his ex fiancée’s clothes on fire.

Scene 3: Natalie stops Giovanni from setting the clothes on fire and they have a connection.

Brilliant, thanks so much Rich!

If you want to find out more about Rich’s book visit his website here, or follow him on Twitter here.

Also if you’re keen for some more rom com told by another fab guy check out this interview I did with the hilarious T.A Williams author of What Happens in Tuscany.

And … ahem self-promotion alert, if you’re in the mood for a magical ghost story set in Cornwall, that has an average 5 star rating about love, loss and finding hope in dark times, The Postcard is still on sale for only 99 cents.

Uncategorized Author interview Cornwall Rich Amooi Romantic comedy The Postcard