This interview came from part of my last book release. You can read the entire interview at The Armchair Heroines’ blog.
You write in a bunch of different areas within the romance genre. Is it difficult to switch back and forth?
I love writing in all the different genres. I find it keeps the writing fresh and original. It also stems off writer’s block. If you get tired or stuck in one, you just pick up another. I always have like six manuscripts waiting for attention. I love to read so many different genres so it only made sense to write them too. I remember a time I was writing my second NovelTea book (romantic suspense) and Dilemma of the Heart (historical) at the same time. My critique partner commented to me how very different they were and how on earth could I write them simultaneously. What can I say, my mind must be kept busy.
That’s wonderful! But how do you balance it all and not get hopelessly confused?
I do try to get myself prepared to write in a certain genre. Focused. I’ll read books in the genre and watch movies that insight my imagination for that particular genre. Like watching The Princess Bride before working on my humorous high fantasy or reading a Jane Austen novel before writing a historical. That sort of thing. It gets me in the mood. I just sorta follow my muse. She’s never let me down. I just have to remember to listen because maybe she doesn’t want to work on the ms that I currently have open.
That’s difficult to do – tune in and go with the flow. I find it much easier to make rigid plans and that doesn’t always pan out so well. :0) Do you have an all-time favorite sub-genre?
My two favorites are romantic suspense and historical. I could read those non stop. I grew up loving classic literature which infused my love of historical romance. And then I enjoyed mysteries like Sherlock Holmes and Agatha Christie which led later to Mary Higgins Clark and Catherine Coulter. But really if the author has an intriguing ‘voice’ and characters I care about then I’ll read it.
I’m with you there! For me, it’s all about the characters. Favorite authors or books?
Easy! I am a total Jane Austen fan. A JaneJunkie. That’s even my screen name over at YouTube. Jane Austen had a way of creating the best characters: characters to laugh at, hate, and fall in love with. I am always reading one or another of her novels these days.
Favorite Book?
Persuasion by Jane Austen. This is a second chances love story which is my very favorite kind of romance. Throughout the entire book, these two characters are still in love with each other and the tension continues to build and build that they should be together. It is so romantic when the hero, Captain Wentworth, writes a letter to his lady love, Anne Elliot. “I must speak to you by such means as are within my reach. You pierce my soul. I am half agony, half hope. Tell me not that I am too late, that such precious feelings are gone forever.” It just gives me chills every time.
That’s beautiful…and who wouldn’t want to receive a heart-felt letter like that?! What are you reading right now?
North & South by Elizabeth Gaskell (classic) This is another favorite of mine. Wizard of EarthSea (fantasy) by Ursula K. Le Guin, Masked by Moonlight (Historical romance) by Allie Pleiter. Oh and a couple others. I review books and I’m always in the middle of several books at once.
Ooh, I’ve been wanting to read Ursula LeGuin! Do you have a favored snack that you eat while you are writing?
Oh I can’t eat while I’m writing. It’s far too distracting. I just make sure that I’m full because I definitely can’t write when I’m hungry. After that, away I go. But never fear, I am a chocoholic and while I am in ‘writer-mode’ I have a healthy supply of the addicting stuff. I firmly believe it infuses my creativity.