Beyond the Pages: An Inside Look at the Mind and Motivation of Janine Amesta
- BirdieMama
- Apr 1
- 6 min read
Updated: Apr 1
Janine Amesta, the author of Love at First Flight, a small-town romance, is set to release April 15, 2025.
Who is Janine Amesta?
So I did a thing, I put a call out on Threads looking for some interesting people from the literary space to spotlight. Out of left field comes author Janine Amesta. Straight away from browsing through Janine's profile I got a really good feeling about her. You can tell from her posts, reposts, and comments that she is not only incredibly talented, but she's also deeply humorous, and a big supporter of her fellow authors. I love when authors and creatives alike are comfortable enough in their own skin to not only promote and share their work but also do so for others in their space as well. These types of actions exude confidence, a sense of appreciation, and camaraderie that I believe speaks volumes about one's own character.
Through her supportive nature, she shows that she understands the importance of community both inside and outside of the creative process, recognizing that success is not an individualistic feat but rather something that can be shared and celebrated as a collective whole. In a world where promoting oneself often takes center stage it’s refreshing to see someone like Janine, who balances her own accomplishments with a genuine desire to see others succeed. Her actions serve as a reminder that the literary space is not just about individual achievements, but about building a network of mutual respect and showing encouragement to one another. I hope that this type of mindset continues to grow in the literary arena because I think it will prove that richer storytelling, stronger bonds, and a kinder literary landscape are possible. Through this article, I hope to not only spotlight Janine's work but also show readers and fellow authors that she deserves to be supported and appreciated in return.
The Interview
Chapter Chirp: Tell me a little bit about yourself and how you decided to become an author?
Janine: I’ve always been a bit of a creative writer—writing short stories and plays when I was
younger. In college, I studied screenwriting because I planned to go into the film industry.
Back then, my writing voice was very serious, and I mostly focused on dark, gritty thrillers.
But even though that’s what I thought I should be writing, I’d always had way too much fun
writing the meaningless banter. In 2017, I was going through a rough time, and reading
romance books was my escape. One day, I woke up and decided to try to write a novel just for my own amusement. Instead of writing something dark, I wanted to write what I, personally, found to be fun, which was lots of romantic banter.
After I finished writing my first book, I thought I might as well try to get it published. I had
absolutely no idea what I was doing. Ha! But I guess I figured it out because I’m about to have my fourth book released.
Chapter Chirp: How long did it take you to write your latest title and what was your inspiration for this book?
Janine: Love at First Flight is the first in a three-book series, and it’s a small-town romance
between a hot-air balloon pilot and a state park ranger. I was inspired by the area where I
currently live: Central Oregon. It’s a very outdoorsy area with lots of beautiful places to
hike. I absolutely love it. Sometimes when I’m walking around early in the day, I’ll spot a
hot-air balloon from one of the local companies that give tours. After seeing one, I just
thought I’d really like a book with a hot air balloon on the cover. So with that in mind, I
started to think about what kind of story that could be.
Once I have an outline, it takes me about a month and a half to write a first draft. Usually, I
spend a lot of time doing revisions, but this one felt really good from the beginning.
Sometimes you can tell in your gut when a story is something special, and I got that
feeling with this one.
Chapter Chirp: What is your favorite part of this book (i.e: character(s), theme, title, cover art, etc.) and why?
Janine: I adore all my characters, but I think my favorite character is one that doesn’t speak at all, and that would be Harper the crow. While I’ve included animal characters before in books, this one is definitely unique. And the funny thing is that I never planned on having a
crow; it wasn’t in my original proposal. I have no idea where this crow came from. I’m just
drafting my story, minding my own business, and suddenly the park ranger has a crow friend that brings trinkets and gifts. Out of all my animal characters, Harper might be the best one.
Chapter Chirp: What was the most surprising thing that you learned while writing your most recent book?
Janine: I had never planned on writing a book as emotional as Love at First Flight. I always
go in thinking that I’m just going to write something light and fun with lots of kisses
and romance. And it does have these moments—but somewhere along the drafting
process, the characters become real for me. I get invested. I want to see through
their journey with them. And with them working through their issues on a deeper
level, I feel like I was able to work through some things going on in my life too. But
this was never my intention going into the story. It’s a by-product of writing, and it
always feels like a good thing, even if it takes me by surprise.
Chapter Chirp: What types of readers do you believe will enjoy this book most and what do you hope that your readers will take away from your book?
Janine: Readers who enjoy romance, especially small-town stories, will love my book. Also, if you’re looking for something that’s more on the quiet side with a lot of heart that
tackles love and loss but will make you feel good in the end, then you should check out
Love at First Flight. My book revolves around a family that finds itself in a dark hole
after the unexpected death of the father. So while there are some heavy moments, I
always like to show some hope and bright moments as well. That feeling of hope is
what I want my readers to feel when they read my books. Things may be dark now, but
there’s always some light for you to grab onto.
Chapter Chirp: What's next for you, can you share a sneak peek or drop some teasers about your next work?
Janine: After Love at First Flight comes out April 15th, there are two more books in the series. There are three sisters, so each sister has her own book. The second book comes out in September 2025 and is called The Wedding Con. The third book, The Love Feud, releases March of 2026.
Final Thoughts
Prior to my callout, I wasn't wholly familiar with Janine and her work but it's another example that sometimes technology and the internet can be a good thing. Without the social media platforms that I frequent, I may have never met or learned about Janine's amazing books. Her transparency and openness allowed me to appreciate the fact that it's not just the stories one might tell, but also the person behind those stories. I really enjoyed getting to see what she had to say, and I genuinely look forward to checking out her books in the near future. I am excited to explore the worlds she has created, the characters she has brought to life, and to experience the emotions and thoughts that her writing will no doubt bring about. Finally, I would like to thank Janine for taking time to participate in this spotlight and I look forward to seeing what she what she comes up with next. I invite my readers and followers to join me in checking out Janine's work and help me support this lovely author in her journey.
Author Website: https://www.janineamesta.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/janineamesta/
Love at First Flight will be available for digital purchase April 15, 2025 on the following platforms:
Amazon Kindle
B&N Nook
Apple Books
Kobo
Google Play
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