Archive for the 'Interviews' Category

The Write Side of Life

August 7, 2007 | Interviews

ST: Welcome back, Susan. Tell us what made you decide to be a writer?
SK: I’ve always been as story teller and a reader. Finally some of my stories needed to be written.

ST: How long have you been writing?
SK: Over five years.

ST: How many books have you written?
SK: Ten completed and another under way.

ST: Which is your favorite and why?
SK: This one. THE GREATER GOOD is the story that pushed me into writing.

ST: Do you find writing to be fulfilling? And in what way?
SK: I love watching my characters develop. Sometimes the story doesn’t go the way I expected because my characters have grown or changed. They become like real people to me. I’m always a little sad when I finish a story.

ST: What’s a normal day like for you?
SK: When I’m teaching school, I write at lunch time and often late at night. During days off, I usually have a lot of house work or gardening to take care of plus cooking for all those kids. In the evening I most often have to go watch one of my children play in one of their sporting events. Whatever time is left over, I write.

ST: With your busy life how do you find time to write?
SK: Sometimes I write at a baseball game if it’s not too crowded. Mostly, I skip on sleep and stay up very late.

ST: I admire your dedication to your craft. Will you have time to catch up with us tomorrow?
SK: Absolutely!

ST: Until then…

Happy Writing!
Sloane

Susan Kelley Tells All

August 6, 2007 | Interviews

ST: Good morning everyone. Welcome to our week long chat with Susan Kelley. Hi Susan, welcome and thank you for visiting with us.
SK: Hi Sloane. Thanks for having me.

ST: Tell us about yourself.
SK: I’ve been writing romance and fantasy for over five years. I’m a very busy mother of 4 and I teach high school full time.

ST: Your latest novel, THE GREATER GOOD, looks to be an exciting, hot read. Please tell us about it.
SK: THE GREATER GOOD takes place in the future after a natual disaster has set civilization back into the age of swords and small colonies.

ST: How did you come up with the story line for a futuristic romance?
SK: I often thought about how people would survive if we suddenly lost all of our luxuries. I think people would have to be very brave, heroic even. This story is about a few of those heroes and heroines as they do what they can for everyone’s benefit no matter the cost to themselves.

ST: And where and can we buy THE GREATER GOOD?
SK: Please visit the New Concept Publishing site

ST: Thanks for stopping by, Susan. I look forward to chatting with you tomorrow.
SK: If anyone has questions, please post them. I’ll be happy to answer.

ST: Until then…

Happy Writing!
Sloane

Gazing into the Crystal Ball

July 20, 2007 | Interviews

ST: Tell us, Minx, what does the future hold for you?
MM: Hopefully many more books. I really don’t have any lofty goals, maybe I should! LOL, but I just want to write and enjoy it. I try to write everyday so we’ll see what other twisted things come from my brain. *smiles ominously*

ST: If you had one wish that would be granted, what would it be?
MM: That everyone could be happy. This would pretty much cover all manner of things, no hunger, no violence, no jealousy, no pain. This is an impossible wish of course because without pain I’m not sure we would even know what happiness was. I suppose all things are necessary even if they aren’t pleasant. It’s a balance.

ST: What’s in the works for the future?
MM: I’m actively writing the sequel to The Djinni which focuses on the villain of the book, the brilliant, arrogant and highly sexy Amshare. He is the High Priest of the Magi, an ancient order of Egyptian wizards who is about to get a taste of his own medicine from none other than his wife!

ST: Thanks, Minx, for spending so much time with us. It’s been a great week and I’ve enjoyed learning more about you. The very best to you in the future and keep us posted on your future releases.
MM: My pleasure Sloane. This has been great fun and thanks for inviting me!

ST: Have a good weekend everyone. I’ll be back on Monday. Until then…

Happy Writing!
Sloane

The Soft Side of Minx Malone

July 19, 2007 | Interviews

ST: Good morning, Minx. Please describe your writing space for us.
MM: Strangely enough I don’t have one. I’m something of a nomad and I’ll write in any space large enough to fit me and my laptop! The changing scenery is kind of inspiring actually…

ST: What’s your favorite part of writing?
MM: I love bringing my characters to life. Sometimes I’m actually sad to finish a story because it’s such fun to discover who they are.

ST: What do you absolutely hate about being an author?
MM: I hate the anguish of wondering whether I’m doing a good job at it. Criticism is a necessary evil but that doesn’t make it any easier to deal with.

ST: In your opinion what’s the most important thing for a new writer to learn?
MM: Persistence and humility. You need to be humble enough to learn from others and take honest criticism of your work. The persistence will get you through the rough times. I heard once that true courage isn’t the absence of fear, it’s the willingness to go forward despite fear. I think a little courage thrown in there helps a lot too!

ST: Your website suits you and your novel. I recommend everyone cruise over to the site and check it out. How did you decide on the content and design?
MM: I have been having so much fun acting as an amateur web designer lately. I’ve figured out how to animate gif files, make flashing banners and let’s not even get started on the MySpace thing! It’s easy to get distracted with all the fun web stuff but it cuts into my writing time so I have to watch it.

ST: I understand. lol. Thanks for coming out today. We’ll see you in the morning.
MM: I’m looking forward to it.

ST: Until then…

Happy Writing!
Sloane

Author, Author, Tell Us More

July 18, 2007 | Interviews

ST: We’re back with Minx Malone who lives up to her name. Minx, are there any quirks you have or do before or while you’re writing?
MM: You mean do I turn around in a circle three times before writing, or do I have a lucky troll whose tummy I rub? LOL. No. Not really. Mainly I just need to be comfy and well fed. Sometimes I like to have a cup of tea or something with me.

ST: Who or what encouraged you to write erotica?
MM: Although it’s a fine line, my books are probably better described as erotic romance only because I always have a committed couple and there’s always a happy ending! I’ve mainly read love stories and gradually started reading more sensual stories as time progressed. Since I enjoy reading very erotic romance, it occurred to me one day to try spicing up my work. I figured if I was really bad at it no one had to know. As it turns out, I have a highly active imagination. *wink*

ST: Just how hot are your books, Minx?
MM: They’re rated Erotic and I think that’s a pretty accurate description. My themes tend to be conservative actually because the characters always fall in love. Like I said before, the main difference for me between erotica and erotic romance is whether the focus is on a romance or a sexual journey. For my works, it’s always on a romance. I want my happy ending dang it!

ST: Where do you get the ideas for your novels?
MM: I wish I knew where I get my ideas from because if I did, I would visit every day! LOL! I think most artistic people are like sponges, soaking up all the experiences from everyday life and then expounding on them. Have I ever met a sexy Djinni in real life? Unfortunately not. However, I’ve been interested in Egypt since I was a teenager. I’m sure movies or other books I’ve read introduced the idea of the djinn. Somehow my crazy brain mixed all that up and came up with the concept for THE DJINNI.

ST: How do you research your books?
MM: Like most writers, I am also an avid reader, so I have a personal library filled with everything from romance novels to biographies to textbooks. Also I am a master Googler! The internet is a very powerful tool for research and fun too. I’ve spent hours online reading about the various flora of Ireland or the alignment of the planets at the equinox. You can find the weirdest things online. I love that.

ST: Who is your support group?
MM: My sister, Michelle Lauren, is an amazing writer herself and has always encouraged me in everything I do. The rest of my family is also very supportive and happy that I’ve found something that brings me so much joy. I never realized quite how lucky I was to have them until I met other writers who have to hide what they do or deal with negative comments from those around them. I am truly blessed.

st: Thanks again, Minx, for spending your time with us.
MM: My pleasure and I look forward to tomorrow!

ST: Until then…

Happy Writing!
Sloane

The Write Side of Life

July 17, 2007 | Interviews

ST: Welcome back, Mix. Tell us, what made you decide to be a writer?
MM: I’m not sure what made me try it. I think I was just getting bored with what I was reading. Nothing out there was really what I wanted (multicultural, paranormal elements, scorching romance) so I figured instead of complaining maybe I should try my hand at it.

ST: How long have you been writing?
MM: I started writing in May of 2002 so it’s been five years now. WOW, I hadn’t even realized. However, I must admit that I wasn’t writing everyday in the beginning and didn’t really get serious until the fall of 2004. Before that it was just my little secret wish.

ST: How many books have you written?
MM: How many have I written or how many are available? LOL! I’ve written four books: 2 short stories, 1 novella and 1 novel. The novel was the first I wrote and will probably never see daylight (which is a good thing). I hope to sell the two short stories this year and my novella, along with finding a new home for THE DJINNI.

ST: Which is your favorite and why?
MM: THE DJINNI is my favorite, partially because it’s the one I spent the most time working on and partially because it came from such a great dream. *sigh* Man that was a good dream.

ST: LOL. Do you find writing to be fulfilling? And in what way?
MM: Absolutely. The first scene I ever wrote was something very suspenseful and when I got to the bottom of the page my heart was beating so hard I thought I was on the verge of a heart attack! It was such a rush and such a stunning pleasure to be in control of an entire world. In some ways, this is as close as I can ever get to the divine because it puts me in the role of creator. It’s a heady feeling.

ST: What’s a normal day like for you?
MM: Hectic! I usually wake at 6 am and check email first thing. I try to respond to as much as possible before leaving for work at about 7:30. I usually don’t get home until after 7pm and then it’s play time with my three year old son. His bath and bedtime will usually take until about 9pm. My husband and I are exhausted by the time we crawl into bed about 11pm.

ST: With your busy life how do you find time to write?
MM: I have a long commute to work so I write on the train and jot things down on sticky notes at work. I get ideas at random times so I just go with it. I’m always surprised at the cool ideas I get while standing in line to buy lunch or just walking down the sidewalk.

ST: Thank you, Minx. We’ll see you and our audience in the morning. Until then…

Happy Writing!
Sloane

Minx Malone Tells All

July 16, 2007 | Interviews

ST: Hi, Minx Malone, welcome and thank you for visiting with us this week.
MM: Thanks so much for having me Sloane!

ST: Tell us a about yourself.
MM: This is hard because I never know what to say! I live with my husband in the Washington D.C. area with our three year old son. I’m kind of boring really. I live vicariously through my characters! Although I do have varied interests such as astronomy, Egyptology and of course writing!

ST: You are anything but boring, Minx. Your debut novel, THE DJINNI, looks to be an exciting hot read. Please tell us about the book.
MM: THE DJINNI is about an ordinary woman who gets an extraordinary present one day. I think we’ve all had times when we’re plodding through the routine of our lives and wishing something exciting would happen. The heroine of my story, Ally, is an accountant whose boyfriend cheated on her. She lives alone now since the grandmother who raised her passed away and she’s not the most social person. Then she receives her grandmother’s last bequest, an antique ruby ring. Unbeknownst to her, she’s now carrying around Damien, an Egyptian prince now bound to her.

ST: How did you come up with the story line?
MM: I had a very vivid dream about a Djinni *wink* and just had to write something down. Somehow all the detail such as his Egyptian heritage, the Magi and the curse just seemed to spring from my brain later.

ST: And where can we buy THE DJINNI?
MM: My book was available at Triskelion Publishing. Since they’ve closed I need to find it a new home. lol. It wasn’t available in print, only e-book format but I actually prefer ebooks now, especially for the more erotic titles. No one can see the cover of what I’m reading and since I’m using my PDA, most people just think I’m updating my calendar or reading email! Keeps the nosy people away…

ST: I love it! Thanks so much for being here. Will we see you bright and early tomorrow>
MM: Definitely.

ST: Until then…

Happy Writing!
Sloane

Minx Comes Out to Play

July 15, 2007 | Interviews

Join us July 16 – 20 for a fun week as Minx Malone talks about her life as an author.

See you tomorrow. Until then…

Happy Writing!
Sloane

Gazing into the Crystal Ball

June 22, 2007 | Interviews

ST: Today we’re showing all of Cindy’s covers between our chat. All set for our last day, Cindy?
CSP: Ready to go. What do you want to know?

ST: What does the future hold for you?
CSP: If I knew that, I’d buy a lotto ticket! LOL More writing, I hope! Maybe even someday for one of the big-name houses.

ST: If you had one wish that would be granted, what would it be?
CSP: For my family and I to live long, healthy lives together. Sounds hokey, but really, isn’t that what we all want?

ST: How did you and your publishers come together?
CSP: I found one on-line and the other in a bookstore. I subbed like crazy until somebody took the bait.

ST: What’s in the works for the future?
CSP: I’ve just finished a sequel to DRAGON IN THE SYSTEM for Cerridwen/Ellora’s Cave and I’m getting started on the third cowboy book for Wild Rose Press. I also have a short story coming hopefully in July from Wild Rose Press, called BELTAINE BARGAIN. It’s a historical paranormal, so a bit of a change of pace, but fun, and an erotic Quickie from Ellora’s Cave called (go ahead and laugh, I did) BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD-ON in October.

ST: Thanks, Cindy, for spending so much time with us. It’s been a great week and I’ve enjoyed learning more about you. The very best to you in the future and keep us posted on your future releases.
CSP: Thanks for the invitation. It’s been fun talking to you, and if any of the readers have any further questions, I’d be happy to answer them. There’s a contact me page on my website, or they can catch me on one of the loops!

ST: Have a good day, everyone. I’ll be back on Saturday with an informative blog on publishing. Until then…

Happy writing,
Sloane

The Soft Side of Cindy Spencer Pape

June 21, 2007 | Interviews

ST: We’re back with another set of questions for Cindy.
CSP: Good morning, everyone!

ST: Please describe your writing space.
CSP: At the moment it’s my dining room table. Sometimes the couch. Sometimes I sit on my bed with my laptop. On really nice days, I have a sunny back deck. There is NO room in my house for an office, so all I have is my laptop, and it goes where I go. My little desk by the phone is officially my workspace, but is usually too piled up with bills, junk mail, and everything else to actually have room for the computer!

ST: What’s your favorite part of writing?
CSP: Seeing stories come to life. Going back and reading something I’ve written and feeling like I’ve turned the characters into people!

ST: What do you absolutely hate about being an author?
CSP: The whole no-paycheck thing. Though hopefully that will soon change. I do have trouble sometimes not having co-workers around. It can be very lonely, though the loops help with that a lot. I call the author’s social loops my office water-cooler. And I have very few excuses to buy nice clothes.

ST: Your website suits you and your novels. I recommend everyone cruise over to Cindy’s site and check it out. How did you decide on the content and design?
CSP: It does? Thanks. The design is courtesy of the free software provided by my webhost, so I just picked the one I liked best. As for content, well, that continues to evolve, but I basically checked out a bunch of other author sites and figured out what I like best.

ST: I know you’re busy today and have to boogie. Will you please come back tomorrow?
CSP: Most definitely!

ST: Until then…

Happy Writing!
Sloane