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Wednesday, February 24, 2010:
There's Something About Julie James....
 ...that makes her an incredibly engaging writer. Right from her first book, Just the Sexiest Man Alive, it was obvious she had "it", that unique quality to draw the reader in and totally capture their attention with her snappy dialogue, smart and savvy characters, and attractive settings. She's definitely got a fan for life with me (so that means she better keep writing *g*). Julie James is an autobuy for me, no question. That's pretty amazing considering it happened right from her first book.
Her latest release, Something About You, is no exception. I fell completely in love with Jack, and wanted so badly to be Cameron. After reading it, I was curious to know how things were going with Julie's writing, so I figured what the heck, I'm nosy, so I'll just ask her. Here is what Ms. James had to say:
S~ In the 3 books you've had published, each of the heroines is an attorney or has practiced law in some capacity. Do you see yourself writing about a different profession, or do you find that you have more stories to share with readers about this profession?
JJ: Funny you should ask. . . shockingly, the heroine in my fourth book is not a lawyer. She owns a wine shop in Chicago. That being said, I think there are a lot more stories I could write that involve the legal profession--I'm definitely not done with that!
S~ I like how you've incorporated some part of your personality or interests into your heroines. For example, we know you like wine and that you're a vegetarian (both of which have been traits shared by one or more of your heroines). Do you find yourself including little pieces of yourself into your characters or is it more that it just feel right with the story you're telling?
JJ: It's certainly easier to write a character's personality traits and interests if they are ones I personally identify with. But my knowledge of, or interest in, a subject is really just a spring board for what I use in the book. For example, before beginning to write my fourth book, in which the heroine owns a wine shop, I only knew the basics about wine. My heroine obviously needed to be more familiar with the subject, so I took a wine education class, read some books, and have gotten to know the owner of my local wine store, who was nice enough to let me shadow her for a day. So I guess the real question is, do my heroines take on my interests and personality traits, or do I adopt theirs? Hmm...
S~ Something About You is definitely your sexiest story so far, and we get to see a lot more intimacy between Jack and Cameron. Is it difficult to throw the bedroom door wide open and write those sexy love scenes between your characters? Or do you think it's something that feels comfortable within the scope of a romance?
JJ: I felt comfortable writing "hotter" scenes in this book because they fit with the overall story. With the suspense subplot, this book has more of an edge than my previous two, and I felt that more intimate love scenes worked better with the tone. Plus, there's a LOT of sexual tension between Cameron and Jack, and I thought people might kill me if I didn't show the scenes where that tension finally boils over. ;-) (You got that right, sister! *g*)
S~ Do you listen to any type of music to inspire your stories?
JJ: I don't listen to music while I'm actually writing, but I do play music during breaks that I feel fits with the book I'm working on. For Something About You, I listened to a mix of Rihanna, Billie Holiday, and the Black Eyed Peas. Weird combo, I know.
S~ We know that you've used real actors as inspiration for some of your heroes. What about your heroines? Do you have a specific person in mind when you create them or are they all based on you? (LOL)
JJ: Cameron Lynde from Something About You is the first heroine for whom I had a specific actress in mind: Eva Green's character in Casino Royale, Vesper Lynd. I even borrowed the last name. I love how tough yet feminine her character is, and I wanted to create the same impression with my heroine. So this is what I picture Cameron looking like:
 S~ Has writing novels gotten easier since you first started? Where do you see your stories going? Are you happy writing contemporaries, or do you see your exploring other genres? JJ: I wouldn't say it's gotten easier, no. Actually, my first two books were easier to write than Something About You. Adding a suspense subplot definitely makes things trickier, especially when other parts of the book are light and humorous. Balancing those two was a challenge at times. As for where I see my books going. . . I'm happy writing contemporaries, and I plan to continue with that for now. With my fourth book, I've again added some mild suspense, but like in SAY, it's just a subplot.
S~ How extensive does your research get? JJ: I'll be honest--I did pretty much no research for my first two books. Particularly Practice Makes Perfect--I mean, I lived that life, I KNEW it. For Something About You, however, I had to do a fair amount. Since the hero is an FBI agent, and there's a suspense element, I researched guns and tiny spy cameras, how criminal investigations are conducted, those kinds of things. And I also had to do research for my heroine--even though I was a civil trial lawyer myself and obviously know what lawyers do in general, I wanted to know more about the day-to-day life of a criminal prosecutor. Luckily, I have a friend who is an Assistant U.S. Attorney, like Cameron, and I would send him emails with odd questions like: "How many other people do you share your secretary with?" or "When you meet with FBI agents to discuss an investigation, do you meet at their office or yours?" I had the big picture of the job, but I needed to know the little stuff.
S~ How has the transition from practicing law to writing full-time been? JJ: I do sometimes miss being in a courtroom, taking depositions, things of that nature. But I enjoy writing full-time even more, so it's been worth it. And it's nice to have a job you can do in sweatpants. ;-)
S~ Since writing romance, have your reading preferences changed, or do you still continue to read in the same genre as before? JJ: I definitely read more romance now that I write romance--before my first book came out, I was pretty unfamiliar with the genre. Now I read a mixture of both romantic fiction and literary fiction. Within romance, I try to read a mixture of all the subgenres.
S~. Since it was just Valentine's Day, what do you think, without getting too specific of course, is the most romantic thing your (brilliant :D) husband has done for you? JJ: Oh boy, Mr. James just eats these compliments up. ;-) Probably one of the most romantic things he's done for me was on my 30th birthday--I went to New York with some girlfriends and left on my actual birthday. He gave me a card before my flight and said I couldn't open it until I got to New York. Once we checked into our hotel, I opened the card and inside was a scavenger hunt-type message directing me to go to a store located at Fifth Avenue and 57th Street, and that I'd find my gift there. My girlfriends and I walked there from our hotel, and since none of us were that familiar with New York, we had a lot of fun on the way guessing what store it would be. And since you said not to be too specific, I'll end the story there. ;-) (WHAT?! That is just so wrong! LOL)
S~ Where can we expect to see you this year, either at signings or conferences? JJ: I'm doing a signing in Chicago on March 13th with Beth Kery, Shiloh Walker and Joss Ware/Colleen Gleason. If people are in the Chicago area, we'd love to see you! (I love all these authors! And I'll definitely be there). Details on that, and my other upcoming appearances, can be found at: I'll also be signing books at the Chicago-North RWA Spring Fling on April 24th, and then I'll be attending the RT Convention in Columbus. As for the July conferences, I plan to attend RWA and may attend Rom Con as well, if I can make it work.
S~ What's next for Julie James? Readers like me are DYING to know!
JJ: I'm finishing up my fourth book, about a wealthy wine store owner who agrees to pose as the girlfriend of an undercover FBI agent (as part of a sting operation) in exchange for her twin brother's release from prison. And people who like Something About You will be happy to know that a couple of the characters make appearances in supporting roles. I liked Jack so much, I had to bring him back. ;-) It's the first time I've linked two books together, which was fun for me. Then it'll be on to my next book, the hero of which I think is going to be a character from the book I'm finishing now. But I won't know that for sure until I get into the story and start drafting a synopsis. S~ Well consider me a happy little camper! I cannot wait for that one to be in my possession. Sounds fabulous! Thanx Julie, for spending your precious writing time answering my questions. I really appreciate it. Now, as for the rest of you, I can't just leave it at that. Now I'm not sure if Julie will be stopping by today (Wednesday) but regardless, I will be having a random drawing for a copy of Something About You, which will be released on March 2nd. So here's the deal: Contest is open to anyone who can receive mail, and will end on Sunday, February 28th, at 3pm CST. All you have to do is answer the question(s). One entry per person, and please do not leave your email address. Winner is responsible for contacting me no later than one week from the time announced, otherwise a new winner will be randomly selected. Since Something About You is about two people who, due to a terrible situation, cannot stand each other, yet due to unexpected circumstances, are thrown together for an indefinite period of time. What I want to now: What book and/or movie portrays your favorite love/hate relationship, where the characters can't stand each other but are also very attracted to each other?
Feel free to give additional examples if you'd like. This is one of my favorite tropes, and I'm always looking for good recommendations. Now go forth and enter. Good luck!
Labels: contest, interview, Julie James
posted by Stacy~ at 2/24/2010 07:06:00 AM
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Monday, October 26, 2009:
Waking up with romantic Suspense author Kylie Brant
How she came to my attention: Recently on Twitter I was advised by author Colleen Gleason about Kylie Brant, and that she'd just come out with a new series from Berkley that sounded very promising. Being on a rom suspense kick, I immediately added them to my tbr list, and the next time I was at the bookstore, I snapped the first 2 books right up.
Then Kylie expressed interest in being a guest at my blog, which always makes me happy :) I enjoyed her first book, and definitely wanted to find out more. And I love visiting an author's website and digging past what we normally see and trying to find out more about what makes an author tick. Kylie graciously answered my questions, and I want to thank her for taking the time to answer my questions and share a little of her writing process with us. Here's what she had to say....
S~ Kylie, you mentioned at your website you started writing because some of your favorite writers couldn't write fast enough. Who would those authors be? Kylie: I was reading all of the Silhouette Intimate Moments line at the time so some of those early authors remain on my keeper shelf: Nora Roberts, Elizabeth Lowell, Linda Howard, Parris Afton Bonds and Sandra Brown. Once I started writing myself, I understood why they couldn't write faster :)
S~ What was the first romance you remember reading and how old were you?
Kylie: I started reading teen romances when I was 13 or so. I believe Beverly Cleary was my first author, and Jean and Johnny was the name of the book. I read it so often I can still remember parts of it. 
S~ Have you traveled to do research for one of your books? If so, what was the most exotic location you've been to? Kylie: I don't often travel to the site I'm researching, simply because lack the time. But the first trip I made to the Dominican Republic ended up in the prologue of The Business of Strangers. For my November release, Waking the Dead, I went to Oregon to crawl through caves, searching for the perfect one to hide seven bodies in. Found it, too!
S~ You also mention you're not a chick-flick type of girl, but do you ever get squeamish with where a storyline takes you? Or do you have a line that you won't cross, a need not to get too graphic?
Kylie: There's sort of a personal 'I can't go there' line that exists for every author, I think. I'll admit to having creeped myself out a time or two writing the first three Mindhunter books! It's a fine line to show the villain at his most chilling, yet not detail too much of his violence on scene.
S~ Having been published for nearly 20 years now, how have your stories evolved? Where do you see yourself going in the next 20 years?
Kylie: I think I was still learning and perfecting my skills for the first dozen books or so. I was fortunate enough to get published fairly quickly, but that also meant I was pretty ignorant. My suspense plots have grown increasingly more complex and my characterization more indepth. I hope to continue learning and improving for the next twenty years! S~ What's the most fascinating thing about writing for you? Kylie: I can always get lost in the research. I find it so intriguing. In the November book I learned some pretty interesting tidbits about defleshing bones. Just thought I'd mention that in case you're in need of some dinnertime conversation :) (S~ Wow, thanx Kylie,just what I've always wanted to know LOL)
S~ Has there ever been a story you've wanted to write and either the idea was rejected or you just haven't gotten around to writing it yet, something burning inside your imagination to get out?
Kylie: I've been extremely lucky in that all my proposals/stories have eventually found a home. Actually, I think book six was sort of rejected, but I was still too dumb to figure that out so I revised it and handed it back in. It was bought after that revision. Usually I have three storylines running in my head at any one time. I often write trilogies and each of the books' plots are evolving simultaneously. S~ Do writing such suspenseful, sometimes horrifying stories ever give you nightmares, with all those gruesome thoughts floating around in your head? If so, how do you counteract them?
Kylie: I'm pretty good at compartmentalizing. With five kids, I had to learn to be! And I teach full time so I'm used to turning off the writing side of my brain for hours at a time. I can't say I've ever had nightmares from the books. When I'm done writing for the day I shift into some other mode and let the plot fall away. It's not something I have to work at; it just is.
S~ Based on your acknowledgment page, you thank a lot of experts who've talked with you about procedure and their experiences. Have you ever interviewed victims of some of these crimes?
Kylie: No, and the thought makes me squeamish. I'm very empathetic and that would make it difficult for me to write the scenes dealing with some ofthe villain's acts.
S~ Have you learned a lot of safety precautions because of what you've learned in your research, or taken any self-defense classes to prepare for a story? Do you know how to shoot a gun?
Kylie: LOL, I'm the biggest wimp around. Whenever the kids start wrestling with me I'm the first to whine about my sore back, wrists or frozen shoulder :). I've picked up a few tips along the way, but wonder sometimes how effective I'd be if I were the victim of a crime. I had never touched a gun in my life until the Kiss of Death outing at the RWA convention in Atlanta. I was horrible with a shotgun but was pretty good with the handguns, if I do say so myself. I tend to be pro-gun control, but after that experience I can better understand collectors and people who like to target shoot. It's sort of a rush.
S~ With your latest books, the Mindhunters, how far do you plan to take the series? Will we learn more about the fascinating Adam Raiker in subsequent books? Will he eventually get his own story?
Kylie: I've been surprised and gratified by the number of people wondering about Adam. We recently went back to contract with three more Mindhunters books and the last of that trilogy will be Adam's story. (S~ Yay!)
S~ How connected are the Mindhunter books? Are they stand alone? How do you feel about writing a series of books that are tightly intertwined? Kylie: Each of the books are stand alone. The only thing that ties the first three books together is that the heroines work for Raiker. The next three books will be more closely tied together with an overarching suspense plot. Writing three more closely connected books takes a lot more thought because all three books need to be carefully plotted. Since I'm not an outliner, it takes a lot of up front planning for me.
S~ How is writing for Berkley different than writing category romances? Has it been more freeing or more difficult for you?
Kylie: It's been absolutely liberating. I'm loving being able to tell the story in my own time, in my own way. It's especially nice to allow the romance to develop at its own pace, without having to 'force' things because of the length. I tend to write long, so I'm really enjoying taking all the time I need to let the story spin out. Oddly enough, the category romances got more difficult as the word count got shorter. It's difficult to plot a complex suspense with a satisfying romance in 60,000 words. S~ What book are you currently reading right now?
Kylie: I'm enjoying Cindy Gerard's Feel the Heat. She writes great heroes and wonderful adventure romance. It's tough to put down!
S~ Once you finish a book, how do you un-wind from all that intense focus? Kylie: Lot of times as soon as I send in one book I have to start on another. So really the only down time I have are a couple ofweeknights to veg after work before it's right back to the computer again.
S~ You like to travel to tropical locations. Are you able to relax and enjoy the sights or are you always "writing" stories in your head?
Kylie: I was still writing the final scenes of Waking the Dead when I was on my way to our tropical vacation last March. I finished at 11:00 PM that evening at the hotel near the airport. Then I edited on the plane and the first evening and following morning in the Dominican. Sending that book in was such a relief; I'd written four books in 17 1/2 months while teaching full-time and was pretty exhausted. After I emailed it in, I was absolutely transported to a different world. For two solid days I didn't think of a thing--not writing, working or family (!) It was sort of disorienting to come back to reality, LOL, but that's the mark of a great vacation. When I can lose myself in the moment.
S~ One reader complaint I've seen about romantic suspense novels is that the hero and heroine always stop in the middle of a dangerous situation and end up having sex. Sure it's the adrenaline talking but it has to be realistic. How do you balance the romance in a romantic suspense novel without one element overshadowing the other, yet still make it believable?
Kylie: Well, it's not like the author can put the suspense on hold while we take the relationship to the next level. That would destroy the pacing. And sometimes it's the editor, rather than the author, who wants an intimate scene at just that spot. That said, I'm not a fan of having the characters engage in sex in the middle of a physically precarious situation. That would have me doubting their intelligence and capability of bringing down the villain.
S~ You sound like a practical woman, but surely you have some vice(s) or weaknesses that you can share: unrequited love for some actor? A love of karaoke? Addiction to dark chocolate? Spill!
Kylie: LOL, I am depressingly practical while having unexpected bouts of frivolity. My vices are Diet Coke and Skittles. Throw in pizza and I'd be good on meals for weeks at a time. I have the dietary habits of a four-year-old :) I have to force myself to eat semi-healthy. It's a battle.
S~ When you create a character, how indepth do you research them? Do you have a detailed log complete with pictures and personality descriptions or do you draw off an outline? And what actors and actresses do you picture as your characters?
Kylie: Confession time: The writer side of me is completely different in some aspects than the other me. Does that sound just a tad schizophrenic? But in my 'regular' life I'm organized to a scary degree. I'm a list maker and freakishly sequential. My approach to a project tends to be part to whole: step by step to the end result.
But when it comes to writing, not so much. I'm not a plotter at all. I begin knowing the characters very well, the overarching suspense plot, the climax, ending and I have ideas for a couple scenes. That's about it. Sometimes I know up front who the villain will be. Sometimes that changes during the course of the story. The thought of plotting charts and outlines give me hives! My approach to the story is very much whole to part: I have an overall idea, but the details are fuzzy :)
The happiest time in my writing career was when I finally realized there was no 'correct' process when it came to writing. It used to be that the characters appeared first for me. But now that the plots are more complex, I'd say the suspense and the characters appear almost simultaneously. The characters begin as ideas, forming and reforming in my mind until they evolve into story people that I find intriguing. I rarely write anything down prior to a proposal or first chapter. It's all in my head. I like to write the first three chapters prior to a proposal (although if I can get out of the synopsis altogether, I'm happiest!)
During those three chapters I'm getting a better handle on each character's distinct voice. For Waking Nightmare, I had Clive Owen pictured as I was writing Ryne Robel. But I'm not really very good at remembering the names of actors and actresses, so I always have to research pictures of them when I'm trying to come up with one that matches my mental picture of my characters.
S~ You definitely seemed to have found your niche with romantic suspense, but do you ever see yourself going in other directions, perhaps tackling a suspenseful historical or riding the paranormal wave? What keeps you challenged?
Kylie: Because I also teach full time I feel like I can't get the stories inside out quickly enough. So I haven't yet grown blase about writing dark romantic suspense. I don't really see myself heading in any other directions, but have always been intrigued by the thought of doing YA suspense.
S~ Let's talk booksignings and conferences. Any plans to take the "Waking" books out on tour, let's say, to the Chicagoland area or thereabouts? Do you attend the various writers conventions throughout the year - RT, RWA, etc? Any plans in 2010?
Kylie: Most of my outings take place in the summer when I have more time. I have tentative plans to attend RT in 2010 and of course will be in Nashville for RWA in July. I'm still trying to make up my mind about attending Thrillerfest that month, as well.
S~ How do you feel about the multitude of social networking venues out there,such as Facebook, Twitter, MySpace? Do you think they are helpful to you as a writer? Why or why not? Kylie: I do think they help me reach a wider audience. It's impossible to quantify, of course, but I have had readers tell me they found me through Facebook or Twitter. I find MySpace to be overly cumbersome, but love Facebook. It has become my new timewaster :) as if I needed yet another.
S~ What's the last good movie you saw? Any t.v. shows you just have to drop everything to watch?
Kylie: I thought The Proposal was cute--love Sandra Bullock. Russell Crowe's State of Play and Clint Eastwood's Gran Torino were excellent.The only thing I drop everything to watch is NCIS. I'm a huuuge fan! But I also like to watch Two and a Half Men, Medium and Grey's Anatomy.
S~ Would you consider yourself to be adventurous? Do you skydive? Surf? Battle dirty dishes with a fearless heart? Or do you save the heroics for the fine men and women who grace the pages of your stories?
Kylie: I like to try new things. I've gone white water rafting and would love to skydive, scuba dive and hang glide. My husband is not up for any of these, though, so my biggest challenge is finding someone to go with me. S~ When you find time to read, who are currently some of your favorite authors writing today? Kylie: Nora Roberts is my favorite romance author. I especially love her JD Robb books. Tami Hoag, Lee Child and Robert Crais are also auto-buys for me. S~ How have romances changed since you started writing? Do you like the way relationships in today's books have evolved? Has it made it easier to write the relationship aspect of your stories? Kylie: I think the romance relationship takes a much more realistic arc than it did in the past. The obstacles in the couple's path are genuine and not based on easily resolved issues like misunderstandings or lack of communication. Heroes are more complex. I do think it makes the relationship easier to write because the arc tends to be much less formulaic. S~ Do you ever see yourself writing strictly non-romance, or is it too ingrained in your blood? What do you think romance lends to your stories?
Kylie: Hmm, I don't know if I could ever give up the romance. After reading a straight suspense or watching a thriller movie, I invariably think about how much better it would have been with a relationship in it. One thing romance offers a dark suspense story is hope. While the plot can deal with gritty issues, the reader is still uplifted by the journey the h/h take overcoming past traumas and finding a future together.
S~ Do your family members read your books? How do they feel about having a writer in the family?
Kylie: I've been published since my kids were ages 6-14, so they've pretty much grown up with an author as a mom. They keep me pretty grounded, LOL! My husband has read all my books, and is my biggest fan. My dad also reads and brags about my books. A couple of my daughter-in-laws read them all, and two of my sons have read a couple. I have plenty of people offering me critiques :) S~ You don't have a critique partner but do you ever participate in brain-storming sessions with other authors? Have anyone locally you bounce ideas off of? Kylie: A couple years ago two of my published friends and I started getting together for weekend brain-storming sessions twice annually. It works because we know each other very well and so the suggestions we make are usually spot on. It's difficult to schedule those weekends, though.
S~ I've noticed that a lot of romance writers are incredibly supportive of new and unpublished writers. Have you come across someone that you think everyone should know about?
Kylie: Allison Brennan has very insightful comments about the industry and I always find myself reading all of her posts. She's very generous about answering questions for newer authors. S~ So Kylie, what are you currently working on now? What can we look forward to in the coming months? Kylie: I recently went back to contract for three more Mindhunters books. (S~ Excellent!) These will have an overarching suspense plot and the last of the three will be Adam Raiker's book. S~Thank you so much for taking the time to answer any of these questions LOL. I appreciate it, and am really looking forward to posting this interview! And I thank Colleen for giving me a heads-up about your books. Waking Nightmare kept me up way past my bedtime!
Kylie: Thanks for the opportunity, Stacy! Glad you enjoyed WN :)
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So there you have it. Stay tuned for your chance to win a copy of Kylie Brant's Waking Nightmare, the first book in her Mindhunters series!
Labels: interview, Kylie Brant
posted by Stacy~ at 10/26/2009 08:33:00 AM
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Thursday, September 10, 2009:
Sweet at heart: spending time with author Leslie Parrish
Anyone who's read my blog over the last few months knows how much I've been raving about this new romantic suspense series about the Black CATS. Well, it's written by none other than Plotmonkey Leslie Kelly, writing as Leslie Parrish since these books are so different from her funny and sexy romances. Leslie was gracious enough to take time out of her super busy schedule to grant me an interview (thanx Leslie! Smooches!) and I got to find out some fascinating things about one of my favorite writers. See for yourself....  S~ You've been published for about 10 years now. During that time, how often did you think of writing something besides the funny, sexy romances you are known for? What finally prompted you to do it?
Actually, I thought about it a lot before I sold because my two favorite genres are romance and horror. (Quite a dichotomy, I know!) If I hadn’t sold romance, I am quite sure I would have eventually tried my hand at thrillers, suspense or horror. Once I had sold, however, I barely had enough times to make my deadlines and trying something else was something I had to put on the shelf.
I was prompted to actually do it when the bottom fell out of my Leslie Kelly single title career. I was still happily writing Blazes, but found myself unable to sell another longer, stand-alone contemporary romance. So it seemed a good time to invent a new creative persona and give it my best shot.
S~ As a writer, what have been some of your most memorable experiences, whether it's a specific character or that "aha!" moment? When you look back, what stands out?
When I wrote BLACK AT HEART I had a picture in my mind of what the story was going to be, who would star in it and who the villain was. But once I started to write, I found myself going in really unexpected places. Then one day, I typed a sentence, without forethought or planning, and the whole thing opened up and went in a different direction. It was really the perfect plot twist because it brought things full circle and so totally matched the theme of the entire book. I had to go back in and layer things differently, but I really love how it all turned out. (Don’t want to say exactly what it was, because it’s a big spoiler. Sorry!)
S~ How is writing and getting published different today than it was 10 + years ago?
Getting published has always been difficult (despite my Cinderella story on my 1st book) but I think it’s now harder to stay published than it was then. There are fewer publishers now than there were a decade ago. Those that are left have gradually wrapped their accountant’s fists around the midlist and squeezed until the pressure is almost at the popping point. Used to be a publisher would stick with an author, build her career, confident in the talent and the books. Nowadays, I know people who have been dropped on the basis of one or two bad-selling books.
In that respect, I am very lucky that my publisher, NAL-Signet, wanted to go back to contract with me even before the Black CATs trilogy debuted. They could have waited to see if it did well, then decided. Instead, they wanted to get me lined up for more release slots in 2010 so they went ahead and bought two books in a completely different series. My hope (theirs, too!) is that the Black CATs will do well enough that we can then add more of those books on another contract.
S~ Out of your Leslie Kelly books, which was the most difficult to write, and why do you think that is?
The books that have always been hardest for me to write are the ones in which I was given certain parameters in which to work and had to develop my characters and stories to fit them. I guess I’m just not a good team player when it comes to writing—I like to do my own thing. So being told I had to write a book about a gorgeous, health-conscious former cosmetics model who had In-Vitro fertilization to have a child when she was only in her twenties (gag!), paired with a really wimpy hospital administrator whose male biological clock is ticking (at 30!!!) so he wants to adopt a baby on his own (double gag!) did NOT make me happy. (This was just so not me!) But when you do a continuity book for Harlequin, you do get assigned stories with that level of detail. So writing THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY, part of Harlequin’s Forrester Square series, was pure torture.
I hated every minute of it, but forced myself to stay at my desk to get it done, ignoring the pain in my back. Then after I sent it off, ended up having to be taken to the hospital and had emergency spinal surgery for two herniated discs.
Damn book almost killed me! (Thank God that didn't happen!)
S~ Writing for the Blaze line must have really been an eye-opening experience at the time, considering how far they were willing to let you explore the possibilities when you leave those bedroom doors wide open. Do you ever see yourself writing more erotic type romances, or are you happy with the level of heat your books currently contain? When do you think it becomes too much?
It’s funny, I really resisted writing Blaze at first. I was very happy writing Temptations and just couldn’t see myself having to come up with “a sexy premise” which was required for Blaze in the early days. Eventually I was tempted by the chance to do a simultaneous-release miniseries with my bud Jill Shalvis. (Love her!)
I don’t think I’ll ever go any further with the heat content in my books. Overexposed and One Wild Wedding Night were about the max for my own personal comfort level as a writer. I love both of those books and think they have just the right amount of heat. 
And I think it becomes too much in any story, not just my own, whenever the sexual content takes the center stage over the emotional content. I don’t mind scorching heat as long as the safety net of true emotional connection is always right there.
S~ How did you approach writing the Parrish books as opposed to writing the Kelly books? There's obviously more research involved, so how do you prepare?
Despite the fact that I go away with the Plotmonkeys to plot out my books, I rarely sat down and follow detailed plots or outlines. For me, the work we do on those retreats was always just to talk about the stories and get all my juices flowing. Big picture stuff, not little plotty stuff.
The Black CATs books, however, HAD to be more thoroughly plotted. They were a lot more intricate, have more characters, needed clues and red herrings and villains. Plus there’s a storyline that weaves throughout all three books! There was absolutely no chance of going the seat-of-my-pants route with those books.
I also did a lot of research. Bought books on crime investigation, crime scene analysis, profiling. I spent a lot of time taking notes from the FBI website, and lots of time interacting with an Internet expert who agreed to answer questions for me. Usually my process is to just sit down and write, look up something as I stumble across the moment in the book when I need it. Just can’t do that with the Parrish books or I’ll be stopping every couple of pages!
S~ Having read all 3 of the Black CAT books with the 3rd one at the top of my re-read pile, I'm dying to get my hands on more. I think you've really approached the stories from a realistic standpoint, invested in creating some smart, savvy characters who are utterly believable in their reactions and emotions. I'm totally hooked on the series. What can we expect next from this incredible series?
Thank you so much, Stacy, I really appreciate that! I would love to write more of these books. I actually did a full proposal for B.C. # 4, featuring Christian, a character who is introduced in Black At Heart. I was hoping to get another 3 book contract, his book first, then Anna Delaney, another new team member who showed up in BAH. All that to build to Brandon’s story. That’s the one I would really like to write—I just needed to age him a little, make him the end of another story arc in the 2nd trilogy. (I really hope to read more about Brandon!)
Great plan, I thought. But the publisher just wasn’t willing to invest more in this series until they found out if it was going to do well. So while they are still interested in more Black CATs books, they instead contracted me to start an entirely new series.(It’s called eXtreme Investigations—all the books are about detectives with a paranormal detective agency.)
If the first B.C. trilogy does well, I am very hopeful that NAL will give me the nod to proceed with the next set of books. Fingers crossed! (Mine too!)
S~ You've written some creepy, utterly chilling scenarios in your books, sadly many of which have been or could be enacted in real life. How does this affect you emotionally to write such gritty, horrific storylines? How do you unwind from writing such grim, tragic scenes?
They’re certainly not easy. Writing anything that’s too close to my real life is especially difficult. I have teen and college-aged daughters, so there were parts of FADE TO BLACK that were very difficult. But I knew what needed to happen for the sake of the story, so I just shoved Leslie Kelly the mother into a mental closet and let Leslie Parrish the romantic-thriller writer take over for the day or the week or however long it took to get through the more difficult stuff.
Probably the most disturbing scene I wrote is one that ended up getting cut out altogether because it so bothered my editor. It was to be the prologue of book 3 and was in the point of view of a pedophile on the way to a clandestine meeting. Being inside his twisted head was very difficult and though I thought the scene was effective, my editor convinced me that inside the head of a pedophile was one place romance readers just would not want to be. I took her advice and cut it. (Watch for that deleted scene on my blog in late August!)
S~ Other than the Plotmonkeys (which is a given) which authors' books do you enjoy reading? What book are you currently enjoying?
I go through waves where I read new books and then reread old favorites, obsess on one genre, then get bored and switch. A month or two ago, I got in a mood to read nothing but historical stories so I dove into all of Philippa Gregory’s Tudor books. (Other Boleyn Girl, Boleyn Inheritance, etc.) Then I went into a reread of Ken Follett’s Pillars of the Earth (one of my favorite books ever, though I wasn’t crazy about the sequel.) And caught some historical romances I’d somehow missed—one of which was Anne Stuart’s Lady Fortune, where the hero is a royal fool—literally. Loved it! 
More recently I’ve been glomming horror and thrillers. I just went through a Peter Straub phase and reread Mystery, Throat and Lost Boy, Lost Girl. I absolutely loved Steig Larsen’s The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo and am dying to get my hands on the sequel. Also can’t wait for Chelsea Cain’s new book.
S~ In these days of Twitter, FB and other instant social networking sites which allow you access to information immediately, how do you maintain that edge to keep readers coming back for more?
I am not really that active on those social networking sites. I have different FB accounts, but keep my Leslie Kelly one private, for friends and family I actually know in person. (I do take all friend requests for the Leslie Parrish page, though!) They can be a lot of fun but also a huge time suck, and I’m already really bad about letting myself find any distraction I can to avoid working! (Follow Leslie on Twitter: www.twitter.com/lesliekelly)
S~ I'll be honest. I started reading romance around the age of 12 and gained quite an education because of it, and that was 20+ years ago. How do you feel about having readers that young, and do you believe it is up to you to write for your audience, knowing you might have pre-teen fans, and how they may be influenced by what they read?
I started reading them at the same age, Stacy! I read The Flame And The Flower sitting in a closet with a flashlight, then was stupid enough to ask one of my sisters what a “manhood” was. Busted!
I know younger readers do pick up these books, but honestly, I can’t think about that when I’m writing them. I think of my Blazes as being appropriate for anyone who’s sexually active. These days, that means teenagers. Younger than that, probably not.
The thrillers are definitely less sexy, but there’s a lot of violence in them. (Though it’s probably no worse than you’d find in an average episode of Criminal Minds.) They are pretty dark and I would hope they wouldn’t fall into the hands of really young kids. Hopefully their parents are paying attention (or their older sisters are…lol!)
S~ Your husband Bruce is the definition of a romance hero. How does he stay so down to earth when you write all these stories based on him? LOL
You figured that out, huh? Seriously, he might not be the firefighter or the FBI agent or the journalist, but Bruce is absolutely the soul of every hero I have ever written, and I make no attempt to hide that. I guess because he has such a good, loving, tender soul, he doesn’t let it go to his head. (Awww...)
S~ What do you want your girls to know about romance novels? Do any of them read your stories?
None of the three are into romance novels, possibly because they just associate them too closely with me, and with my writer friends, many of whom they have met. Plus the younger two are really into fantasy and are totally entrenched in these long, epic series (the Terry Goodkind one is the newest fad.) Oldest is very eclectic, goes from reading classics to Christopher Moore.
That said, my girls have all read at least one or more of my books. The oldest two have tried the Leslie Kelly books but I have to paper-clip the sex pages together. They just don’t want to go there…lololol! They do, however, absolutely love the Leslie Parrish books. Oldest even did an entire Bible of the series for me so I could keep everything and everyone straight as I wrote subsequent books. (Any writers out there who need this service, let me know—she did a fabulous job and is looking for part-time work. )
The 13 year old is right now reading her very first book of mine. Fade To Black. It’s a little dark for her, but she is the bloodthirsty one who loves scary books and wants to be a coroner and so far she is loving it!
S~ Okay, let's have a little fun. What actor/celebrity are you crushing on? Have they inspired any of your stories?
Hugh Jackman. Of course, I liked Hugh Jackman before it was totally cool to like Hugh Jackman. Way back in 2002, I even included a scene in Naturally Naughty where the heroine is fantasizing him while she, er…never mind. 
S~ Considering your enjoyment of the theatre, have you ever based a story based around the world of the stage?
The same book I mentioned above, Naturally Naughty, has a very sexy scene on the stage of an old theater. It is completely based on the gorgeous old building in which Bruce and I used to do plays when we first met and started dating.
S~ Do you think there's any classic romance novel that's highly overrated? What's your idea of the perfect love story?
I am not a huge fan of Laura Kinsale’s For My Lady’s Heart, which seems to make a lot of readers’ and reviewers’ “favorites” list. I have loved several of her other books, just not that particular one. I found the language too distracting to really enjoy the story.
S~ What's your idea of the perfect romantic getaway?
Anywhere that gives me a chance to be alone with my husband can be romantic. That can be a picnic in my back yard or a week in the wine country. Really doesn’t matter as long as the entire focus is on the two of us as we enjoy the same connection we have always felt. It’s funny, we’re getting older, the kids are growing—two off to college this fall. And we have often talked about how much we like being back up here in Maryland, where we first met, first dated. (We live less than 5 minutes from the outdoor shrine where we got married!) How appropriate it is to approach the next phase of our lives, when it’s just Bruce and Leslie again, in the place where it all started.
S~ Some of the scenes in your Black CAT books are very violent and the stuff of nightmares (beginning of Pitch Black comes to mind). Do you like scary movies?
I LOOOOOVE scary movies! We have big scary movie marathons in October where I dig out all the scary DVD’s. I really love creepy ones that make me flinch rather than in-your-face terror. (IE I’d much rather watch The Sixth Sense than Texas Chainsaw Massacre!)
And actually, when I wrote that scene in Pitch Black, the whole scene played out in my mind like a movie. I can still close my eyes and visualize it so easily. I think that book would be a terrific film!
S~ I can't not ask about the Plotmonkeys! Have the 4 of you ever thought about writing something together, perhaps an anthology? Maybe something about writers?
Yes, we’ve talked about it.
No, I can’t share details. (EVOL!)
I can say that Julie and I have a Blaze anthology coming out in November. It is absolutely adorable (if I do say so myself.) Fairy tales Blaze style, and we had a ball working on it together!
S~ What are some of your guilty pleasures? Favorite beverage? Favorite food? Do you like something that others might give you weird looks about? (i.e. the Chucky movies perhaps?)
I love Nacho Cheese Doritos. Would happily make a meal on them every day if I could. Along with about a half-dozen Diet Cokes. (I console myself with the fact that I do not drink coffee!)
Chucky—lol! I loved the first one! Probably more shocking, though, is that I adore zombie movies. Dawn of the Dead, Shaun of the Dead (even better!), 28 Days Later. And I just can’t wait for Zombietown. We’re all big zombie fans in this house, we always ace the “How would you survive the Zombie apocalypse” and have dinnertime conversations about the best place to go in a zombie attack. (Sam’s Club. Duh!) The girls even got Bruce a machete for Father’s Day, with a tag saying, “Zombie Killer!”
Probably not the typical romance novelist interest, but there you go.
S~ Do you have a book of the heart? One that you hold the most dear?
I have a few that stand out. I really loved the Derryville trilogy I did for Harlequin. Started in Temptation with Trick Me, Treat Me, about a hero who gets conked on the head and wakes up thinking he’s a secret agent. Then Thrill Me, about a timid church secretary who secretly writes hack-em-up horror novels. And finally Killing Time, with probably my favorite all-time hero, Mick Wi nchester. The guy with the Big Bad Wolf tattooed on his hip and the attitude to match. Just adored him.
Of the Parrish books, I really love Fade To Black. Mainly because of that heroine, something about Stacey Rhodes just captivated me. I wanted to BE her more than I’ve ever wanted to be one of my heroines. So competent and smart and wise and kick-ass. Just loved her. (Me, too.)
S~ If you weren't writing, you'd be....
Working in a job where I could actually make a decent living? lol!
Honestly, I don’t know what that job would (will!) be, but I’m thinking about it a lot these days.
S~ What are your plans for Halloween this year?
Hahahahaha…you do know I love my Halloween! Bruce has been talking for a couple of years about doing a haunted cornfield in our front yard. A major one, with a really scary life-size scarecrow. It’ll be a big project, but I am thinking we’ll try to go for it. 
S~ What might people be surprised to learn about you?
I actually have a lovely singing voice. That sounds arrogant, I know, but since I don’t have many talents—can’t dance, can’t draw, can’t paint, can’t play an instrument--I’m going to pipe up on the one I do have!
S~ What are you currently working on?
eXtreme Investigations Book 1. About a psychic who helps locate missing children and the reporter who wants him to help her prove a serial killer is behind a series of local disappearances.
S~ Love the sound of your new series! Anything else you'd like to share? A picture of your favorite hottie? A meaningful quote? Secret to winning the lottery?
Here’s a quote I love, that truly describes my best writing time/process (late at night, when the house is utterly silent):
"At night, when the objective world has slunk back into its cavern and left dreamers to their own, there come inspirations and capabilities impossible at any less magical and quiet hour. No one knows whether or not he is a writer unless he has tried writing at night." – H.P. Lovecraft
PS: If I knew the secret to winning the lottery, believe me, I’d have invested a whole lot of money in advertising this Black CATs trilogy because I SO want them to succeed. Not because I would need the money at that point, but because I am just so darn proud of these books and want readers to find them.
Thanks so much for having me, Stacy! This was a lot of fun, some really great questions and I genuinely appreciate you taking the time to be so creative.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~ And thank YOU, Leslie, for taking the time to answer my questions and give such wonderful answers. It was a pleasure having you here. Okay folks, you know I tend to do a contest once I post one of my special interviews, and this time is no different. I'm excited to be offering up all 3 of the Black CAT books for one lucky winner. Stay tuned tomorrow for details.....
Labels: interview, Leslie Kelly
posted by Stacy~ at 9/10/2009 06:47:00 AM
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Wednesday, May 27, 2009:
A Hint of Jennifer Haymore
I am so excited that today I am sharing with you my interview with author Jennifer Haymore, author of "A Hint of Wicked". This book was one of those that captured my attention right from the beginning, and I think readers will really respond to her writing. I can't promise that Jennifer will have a chance to stop by today, but feel free to ask questions, just in case *g* And tomorrow I'll be having a contest to win a copy of "A Hint of Wicked".
Now, heeeeere's Jennifer......
S ~ Congratulations on the release of your first novel, "Hint of Wicked", a historical set in the early 19th century, right after the Battle of Waterloo. What appealed to you about this time period for this particular story?
JH: Thank you for the congrats! This is my first novel published as Jennifer Haymore. I do have some shorter e-books out as Dawn Halliday, and my first full-length historical erotic romance as Dawn, Highland Obsession, releases in August.
I’ve always loved European historicals, specifically those that take place in England. I’m an American, but my family’s roots are in England, and I’ve always felt a special bond to the place. I love going there, I love visiting the areas where my family lived before immigrating to the USA, and I love the history that you can find around just about every corner in England.
Over time I also learned that English historicals, particularly those that take place during the Regency, are a favorite of many readers. When I first came up with the concept of A Hint of Wicked, the story actually did take place during the Regency period. I really wanted to use the Battle of Waterloo, however, as the “starting point,” and as I researched the marriage laws, I decided to stretch the timeline a bit beyond the Regency.
S ~ What was the inspiration for "Hint of Wicked", and how did it evolve over time as it was being written?  JH: The core idea for A Hint of Wicked was my husband’s—I use him as a sounding board and a brainstorming partner all the time. The story, however, has developed quite a bit from his original “vision,” which was of an enraged husband catching his mourning wife in bed with another man. I latched on to that scenario and ran with it…but I don’t think I ran in the same direction he envisioned for the story! I guess that’s my prerogative as the writer .
S ~ I really liked the character of Sophie, a very independent woman who has loved and lost, and is now finding love again after many years. How were you able to create the delicate balance of Sophie's independent nature with her unwillingness to hurt her loved ones, while at the same time not making her come across as weak and indecisive?
JH: That’s a great question—that was one of the most challenging parts of the book for me. From the beginning, I knew Sophie was strong, and I knew she was independent and steadfast, but the trick was to get it across to the readers without making her seem indecisive and weak. In order to do that, I had to make sure to put Sophie in situations she would react to in ways that showed her strengths. Basically I couldn’t let her sit around wringing her hands and moaning a lot (and at times, given the high level of conflict, the compulsion to do that was pretty strong)!
S ~ It's no secret in the story that Sophie deeply loves both these men whom she thinks of as her husbands. It was a gutsy move to have her unapologetically respond sexually to each man individually, and enjoy these intimate encounters without feeling ashamed of her nature, especially during this inhibited time perod. Can you elaborate on why you chose to create such a bold, sensual heroine for her time period and station in life? Were there real women who inspired Sophie's personality?
JH: No, there weren’t real women that inspired her specifically, though if you look at the most celebrated women in history, many of them were as bold and sensual as Sophie is.
I tried not to consider how a stereotypical woman of the period would react to the situation that Sophie was in, but rather how Sophie would react to her own situation, given her past and background. I think sometimes readers and writers get tunnel vision when it comes to personality traits in certain periods, and we forget that in any period, there a wide range of reactions different people will have to different events. A person’s reactions aren’t only derived from general societal norms and beliefs, but on her personal history and experience as well.
I tried to create a heroine who was in truly in love with two men, both of whom she did not want to destroy. Sophie has loved Garrett and Tristan since she was a child, and this love was encouraged by the people who surrounded her. So while she is cognizant that society would condemn her for loving two men, in her mind, loving them both is natural and normal.
S ~ In addition to the love triangle, you also include a subplot involving a villain intent on destroying the Duke of Calton. What inspired this angle of the story?
JH: I felt that this book required a balance between the internal and external conflicts. Without the villain subplot, the book would have been almost entirely about characters mired in angst. Not only that, but the villain subplot was crucial in bringing the three characters back together in understanding and ultimately essential in the resolution of the love triangle.
S ~ I'll be honest, "Hint of Wicked" really riled up my emotions, even on occasion making me rather angry. How do you feel about writing a story that could be considered controversial in some regards?
JH: My intent wasn’t to write a book that was controversial for the sake of being controversial. I just wanted to write a book that worked for me on an emotional level (And if it works for me, I can only hope that it works for readers, but it’s something I find very hard to predict!). I can see why some readers may get angry with certain elements of the characterization and plot, but as I’ve answered in previous questions, I tried to keep my characters true to themselves by having them react to the situations as organically as possible.
As a reader, I’ve found that some of my most memorable reads have made me angry in parts. Sometimes I also find a little touch of bittersweetness along with that happily ever after to be compelling and realistic.
S ~ How long did it take you to write "Hint of Wicked", and then how long to find a publisher?  JH: I sold A Hint of Wicked on proposal—the first three chapters (about 60 pages) and a detailed synopsis. It actually didn’t take me very long to write the proposal—maybe a month or two? It sold fairly quickly after I sent the proposal to my agent, I’m thinking it was about 2-3 weeks. And then when I had a contract in hand—and it was my first major contract!—I was so pumped up that I finished the book in record time (for me, anyway). I think the amount of time from contract to the date I finished and turned it in was about five months. S ~ What is your absolute favorite aspect of writing? Least favorite? JH: My favorite part of writing is finishing. There is nothing like writing “the end” and feeling that amazing sense of accomplishment I always feel at having written an entire book. My least favorite part of writing is knowing that I have a long way to go and that the book isn’t going to be done for another few months. I’m very impatient—I want to be able to write the entire book today. Unfortunately, it just doesn’t work that way! S ~ Have you been a life-long reader of romance novels, or is it something you gradually turned to over time? JH: It’s something I gradually turned to over time. As a kid, I read everything I could get my hands on, but as I grew older, I turned mostly to horror, science fiction, and fantasy. In my early 20’s, I read a lot of bestselling political & legal thrillers and literary fiction. I can’t really pinpoint the moment I discovered historical fiction, but as soon as that happened, I was hooked. Then I began to realize that the elements I found most compelling in the historical fiction I was reading were the relationships—how they began, how they developed over time, how the characters dealt with them. I thought I’d give romance a try, and I quickly learned that I’d found my niche. S ~ Many authors today write in several genres. Do you see yourself branching out into paranormals and/or contemporaries, or do you feel like there are plenty of historical romances you long to write? JH: Right now I’m fairly focused on historicals. I’ll never say never, though. I enjoy paranormals and contemporaries, so I can definitely see myself writing more of them someday. S ~ Reading your bio, I admit to being intrigued that you learned how to fly airplanes. Do you see that experience being written into one of your stories? Or perhaps a book inspired by growing up in Hawaii? Maybe even characters who are actors? JH: You know, I’ve never thought about writing flying into any of my books! I really wonder why that is, because I have often thought about writing about sailing. I think I’m a little more attached to sailing than I am to flying. Plus the fact that it’s easier to write sailing into a historical…  I’ve actually written a book that was inspired by growing up in Hawaii: 10 Days in Paradise by Dawn Halliday. It was the first romance I wrote. And as for characters who are actors—when I was involved in acting, it was the most un-glamorous life ever. I spent my time hanging around struggling people who were waiting tables at night and working their butts off during the day at auditions. I listened to people tell me I was too (***insert unkind adjective of your choice here***) to ever make it in the business. It can be such a hard life. Take me back to the aristocracy in Regency England any day! S ~ I see your next book, "Touch of Scandal", will be a 2010 release, set 4 months after "Hint of Wicked". Can you share a little about what we can expect to see? JH: It’s hard to talk about A Touch of Scandal without revealing spoilers for A Hint of Wicked, but I will say that it’s the continuing story of the “losing” man from A Hint of Wicked. Most of the characters from the first book make an appearance, including the villain, and Rebecca, Garrett’s younger sister, plays a big part in the story’s conflict. The third book in the series (currently untitled) is Rebecca’s story. S ~ Now for a few fun questions: a. What are some of your favorite t.v. shows? JH: I don’t watch much t.v. because I work when my husband gets home at night. But two of my guilty pleasures are Heroes and American Idol. b. Do you have a favorite romantic movie? JH: You can find a list of some of my favorites here: http://www.jenniferhaymore.com/about/
c. Are you a re-reader, and if so, what is one of your comfort reads?
JH: I very rarely will re-read, but here are a few books I have read more than once:
Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
Flowers from the Storm by Laura Kinsale
River God by Wilbur Smith
The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
 d. ideal romance hero and heroine in a book or move? JH: Hero: Jamie from Outlander. Sigh… Heroine: Hm. There are many I like, I think I’ve yet to find the ideal. Any suggestions? e. did your husband read "Hint of Wicked", and if so,what was his reaction? JH: Yes, he reads everything I write. He’s patently positive about my writing, so I’m pretty sure he said something like, “Wow, it’s great! I’m impressed!” upon finishing it. f. any plans for a book tour? JH: My publisher has arranged a blog tour. More info about that here: http://www.jenniferhaymore.com/bonus-features/appearances/
g. Can you share the name of a recent romance you read that you highly recommend?
JH: Hm, I’m wracking my brain over this, since I’ve read a lot of good romance lately! But one that really affected me and stayed in my mind long after it ended was Sweet Persuasion by Maya Banks. It’s very, very erotic, though. Definitely not your traditional romance.
h. What would be your dream vacation?
JH: I want to go everywhere! My travel whims change almost on a daily basis.
Today I’d really love to go back to Bora Bora and stay in an overwater bungalow in one of the resorts.
i. What exotic location would you like to have as the setting of one of your books?
JH: I’d like to set one of my historicals in the Caribbean. I really love the history and locale!
j. If you could be doing anything right now - flying, sleeping, climbing a mountain - what would it be?
JH: Right now? Definitely sleeping.
S ~ Any last words, or secrets you'd like to share? Come on now, don't be shy!
JH: Thanks for taking the time to read the book, and thanks for asking such great questions!
S ~ And thank you, Jennifer, for answerng them :) I am so looking forward to your next book!I hope you all stop by tomorrow for your chance to win a copy of "A Hint of Wicked", a June release :)
Labels: interview, Jennifer Haymore
posted by Stacy~ at 5/27/2009 06:48:00 AM
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Monday, May 18, 2009:
Toni Blake: Getting "Reckless"
 Happy Monday, everyone! I hope y'all had a fabulous weekend. Finally it seems like the weather is catching up and getting nice. How extraordinary to see the sun again :)Today I have a special surprise - Miss Toni Blake, a favorite author of mine, has kindly taken time out of her busy schedule to answer some questions, and most especially to tell us about her upcoming release, "One Reckless Summer", which I read and enjoyed VERY much. She also gives us a little tidbit of information on what erotic romance author Lacey Alexander has in the works, which I'm very excited to hear about.. Without further ado, let's bring out Toni. And please be sure to stop by tomorrow, when I'll be having a random contest for a copy of this book, to be released on May 26th. I think fans of Toni's work are really going to enjoy this one. S ~ Toni, thank you so much for stopping by. As you know, I've been a fan for years. What has been your most rewarding experience as a writer?
Toni: For me, it’s ALWAYS, ALWAYS when I meet or get an e-mail from a reader who really loved or was moved by one of my books. To me, at the core, writing has always been about connecting with other people, so to find out I’ve succeeded in touching someone with my stories is the ultimate reward!
S ~ How challenging is it to write as both Toni Blake and erotic romance author Lacey Alexander? How do you choose which persona to be from book to book?
Toni: It’s both challenging … and not. ; ) The hard part is keeping up with it all – two web sites, two sets of deadlines; two names in general is a lot to juggle.
But the writing part comes pretty easy for me. I don’t really choose which persona to be for each book – to me, there are huge differences between a Toni Blake book and a Lacey Alexander book and I approach them with entirely different methods of writing.
A Toni Blake book is focused on two people, one of whom is often a bad boy hero, who have a lot standing between them – and it’s very much about breaking down barriers, overcoming adversity, and about the heroine ultimately using the power of love to sort of “rescue” the hero from whatever made him such a bad boy in the first place. These books use a combination of emotion, angst, humor, passion, and everything in between to hopefully create a very “complete” feeling story. Toni Blake books also have much more complex plots, usually with a secondary story that ties closely with the primary one, and there are usually a lot of small threads and strings that must be tied up neatly in the end to pull it all together.
A Lacey book, conversely, focuses very firmly on sexual content and a sexual situation. From there, the characters and their conflicts grow, but the plot is less complex.
The main thing I feel the two types of books have in common is that they both have a lot of emotion in them. Whatever’s going on, I consider it my job to make sure the reader knows what the character is feeling while it’s happening.
S ~ What was the romance novel you remember reading? Did it convince you to keep reading them?
Toni: Jennifer Crusie’s MANHUNTING and GETTING RID OF BRADLEY – the original first editions. ; ) And yes, absolutely. A friend of mine suggested I should switch from writing literary fiction to romance. I’d never really read romance, so she shoved those books into my hand and promised me they weren’t what I expected. She was right – at that time, I had no idea romance could be so smart and sexy and funny. It literally changed my life because I immediately started reading and writing romance, and I’ve never looked back.
S ~ What's the most decadent thing you've done in the name of research? (i.e. gone to a spa, taken a luxurious vacation, etc)?
Toni: Well, I wouldn’t call it a luxurious vacation, but when I was writing IN YOUR WILDEST DREAMS, my best friend and I took a research trip to New Orleans. I’d been there several times before, but there were some very specific questions I needed answers to – and some things I wanted to experience rather than just read about, like floating along a bayou. We had a great time, and I also got all the answers I needed.
S ~ How do you think the industry has changed since you first became published? Is it easier or more difficult to find an audience?
Toni: Wow, great question. These days the book industry is struggling, right along with the rest of the economy, and competition is stiffer than ever. So I really do believe it’s more difficult to build an audience and get a foothold now. I’m still trying to do this after eleven years in the business. ; ) Particularly, I think these days it’s more challenging to get publishers to stick behind newer authors and give them a chance to grow, and I also think it has become more rare for a publisher to really put a lot of backing and support behind an author until he/she is a bestseller – and the flipside of that, of course, is that it’s hard to become a bestseller without that big backing and support. ; )
So … to anyone who picks up a copy of my new release, ONE RECKLESS SUMMER, you have my true and sincere appreciation! :)
S ~ How do you pamper yourself after spending weeks or months working to finish a book?
Toni: Hmm. Usually, I do something really wild and decadent like … read a book. ; ) Which might not sound that exciting, but lately my reading time is at a minimum, so getting a chance to read feels pretty fun. I also sometimes treat myself to a little shopping. And I allow myself to work on my quilting more – because I have bad shoulders, and usually, typing all day does them in. So in the short periods when I’m not typing all day, that’s a great time to punish them by quilting. ; )
S ~ What is the most valuable piece of advice you've gotten about writing?
Toni: Never give up. Because most people do. If you don’t, you’re already ahead of the odds.
S ~ How do you feel about promotion - what avenues do you think have been positive about getting the word out there about your books? Do you find any medium that has not really worked for you?
Toni: Another great question, Stacy! For the most part, I feel that in the world of “big publishing,” there’s not a lot authors can do to really tip the scales – it’s about things like getting great covers, getting great distribution, etc. But at the same time, I’m a believer that every sale counts and moves you toward your goals. The promotion I most enjoy is doing online stuff when I have the time – stuff like this interview, hanging out at my online readers group (www.Yahoogroups.com/ToniBlakeFans for anyone who’d like to join us!), doing occasional guest blogs, etc., and I do believe that things like this help. I personally believe I have picked up new readers – and friends – through MySpace. And I’ve shied away from things like buying print ads because they’re usually really expensive and I’m not sure they do any good. ; )
S ~ As Toni, you've recently completed an amazing story for the new and exciting Destiny series called "One Reckless Summer". What was the inspiration for this story? What else can we look forward to seeing in the rest of the series?
Toni: Ah – thank you, Stacy! :) As you know, I love me some alpha heroes, and I personally think Mick Brody is my ultimate alpha creation thus far. ; ) And I think this book is my personal fave of all I’ve written. The story actually began with a question: What would make a woman cross a dark lake in a canoe in the middle of the night? And then another question: What might she find on the other side in the woods? ; ) Actually, I answer this question in more detail – and you can see the woods that inspired the question – in this short video about the Destiny series: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qT5QdisCOVE
As for future stories, most of the characters you’ll meet are introduced in ONE RECKLESS SUMMER. For example, in upcoming books, you’ll find a hot cop, a sexy fireman, another long-missing bad boy who returns home with some secrets – and, of course, all the women who can tame them. ; ) The girls in the series all congregate at Under the Covers, the local bookstore, and their banter about guys and love and life has been a lot of fun to write so far. By and large, the Destiny books are heartwarming and life-affirming but at the same time are super sexy and fun to read.
And while we’re talking about Destiny, here’s a lovely one minute video that totally captures the mood of the series: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjsMqXHNDds
S ~ What is Lacey up to these days? What can we look forward to seeing from her next? And when will her next book be released in print?
Toni: Lacey is as busy as ever. ; ) Her next book from Penguin comes out this November and is called WHAT SHE NEEDS. This is actually a slightly darker, edgier project for Lacey which I think fans will enjoy.
S ~ Okay let's talk about something else. How about....Guilty pleasures:
S ~ favorite beverage?
Toni: Classic Coke
S ~ Favorite vacation spot?
Toni: Oooh, I can’t decide. I have three faves so far in life: The Cinque Terre in Italy, the Canadian Rockies, and Hawaii. But for pure paradise/relaxation: Hawaii, from which I just returned a couple of weeks ago.
S ~ Favorite way to pamper yourself?
Toni: Shopping.
S ~ Favorite movie?
Toni: Too many to name, I’m afraid, so I won’t even get started.
S ~ Favorite hottie? Or favorite romance hero?
Toni: A cert ain Mr. Clooney comes to mind …
S ~ Which celebrity would you love to meet, and one you've enjoyed meeting?
Toni: Again, a certain Mr. Clooney comes to mind. :) I’ve been within five feet of him, but did not, alas, get to meet him.
I’d also love to meet Ellen. I’m a big fan, and I so admire her uplifting attitude and positive way of approaching life.
S ~ Do you listen to music when you write? If so, what type of music inspires those hot 'n sexy scenes?
Toni: Nope, I’m all about peace and quiet when I write – even though most of my Toni books do have “soundtracks” that run through the books, songs I use within the story to set the backdrop and mood for certain scenes.
S ~ Any last words, or information you care to share? Perhaps the latest on book #2 in the Destiny series?
Toni: First, thanks so much for such a great interview – this was fun! As for Book 2 in Destiny, I wish I had more to share. So far, no title is written in stone, but I expect the book to be out early next year and I hope readers will dig the Destiny series as much as I do. Thanks in advance to any and all who give ONE RECKLESS SUMMER a try – it’s a book I’m truly excited about and very proud of; I personally feel it’s my best work to date, so I hope people will check it out. And for an excerpt and more, readers can visit my website at www.ToniBlake.com !
S ~This was great, Toni! I learned a lot today. And Cincy is less than a month away - I can't wait to see you again :)
[Note: I don't know if Toni will get a chance to stop by today, but if you ask a question, I'll be sure to include it in the random entries for tomorrow's contest]
Labels: interview, Toni Blake
posted by Stacy~ at 5/18/2009 06:49:00 AM
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Sunday, May 06, 2007:
Cover model Nathan Kamp speaks....
You've seen his picture on just about every other romance novel out there, now hear him talk about himself and how he ended up as one of the most recognizable cover models outside of Fabio and John D'Salvo (well, those are really the only other models I recognize).
Thanx to Michele for giving me the heads-up It's much 'ppreciated ;) Labels: interview, Nathan Kamp
posted by Stacy~ at 5/06/2007 09:05:00 AM
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Monday, December 11, 2006:
Queen Bella plays with, er, chats about cover models, etc [Part 2]
Previously at Stacy's Place, romance columnist and Queen Bella Michelle Buonfiglio talked about the writing business, her take on romance novels and the benefits of reading them, as well as some of the authors that have inspired and supported her in her journey to spread the word on why love makes the world go 'round. Now, in part 2, we see another side of her job....where she really gets her hands um, dirty......
All right Michelle, time to get serious now. Romance book covers: love them or hate them, they generate a lot of debate. What are your favorite type(s) of covers, and what is your take on the great cover debate?
Cover cheese. I rate it cause I think readers who care might want to know what they’re in for at the counter. But I’m not rating the artist’s work, nor the inexplicable reasoning that went into deciding women would be attracted to a particular style.
I know writers are very tuned-in to them because whether readers are drawn to their covers can add or detract to sales. But readers are smart girls. They turn the book over, read the blurbs and the synopses, do flip-throughs.
I actually like some of the newer clinch covers, but that could be cause I’m getting older and beautiful young bodies appeal to me. But sometimes an artist does something that speaks to me. I’m thinking of a recent Kresley Cole flat which shows the heroine from the back, the hero behind her, facing her, with his head lowered toward her face or neck. He’s got his hand fisted in her long, blond hair, and the other is holding the flesh of her shoulder , exerting just enough pressure so his fingers depress her skin. It looked very sensual to me. Is this what you mean?
But I’m not digging the naked guy torso covers too much. And I don’t tend to be reactionary, so I think the covers are ok as is, and some will be dogs and some will look great. What I don’t like is dressing up romance to look like chick-lit or women’s fiction. That’s plain unfair to readers shelling out bucks.
Speaking of the cover models, Fabio is probably the one responsible for a lot of the popularity of male models we see today. Have you ever met him and what are your impressions? You seem to have a lot of respect for what he's done with his 15 minutes of fame.
I was thinking of him in your Barbara Walters questions, whether it would be fun to interview him. I’ll admit that I’d thought a lot about it when I first started Romance: B(u)y the Book, then it kinda fell to the wayside as things grew busier. Yeah, it’d be great to do a feature on him, but to find some really cool angle.
The original Fabio....
I’ve not met him, but I like that he seems – at least in the way he spins his pr – to take his past fame in stride. I like that he is self-deprecating, kind of like David Hasselhoff but with less money. I can’t remember if there’s ever been a Sponge Bob episode with a Fabio character – like Hasselhoff in the Sponge Bob Movie – but, bless my starfishes, there should be.
"No, no, you've mistaken me for the real Fabio..." Another Fabio that Michelle is a fan of....Cannavaro Doesn't he look like he belongs on one of the covers?
You knew this was coming - Nathan Kamp. You won my eternal admiration with your interview - insightful and revealing about someone who makes his living with his looks. What were you most surprised to learn about him?
I expected there was going to be something special about him because of his being Christian, and I say that meaning his discipline of practicing a religion and not implying that Christianity rocks uber alles. That’s part of the reason I pushed to get the interview; I knew in my heart he wasn’t gonna be some shallow narcissist who’d waste my time and disappoint me with an unusable interview. Some guy named Nathan Kamp
I guess I didn’t expect him to be as forthright about his parents being his heroes because they’ve handled tough times in their marriage in ways he admired. I find the ability to admit flaws, to bare pain without fear, to be incredibly heroic.
He’s also and incredibly classy guy for reasons I can’t even share with you (You are killing me here). He’s just a good man.
Do you have a greater admiration for cover models after your experiences?
I have greater admiration for Nathan Kamp. I’ve always known nothing is as easy as it looks, talented people just make it look easy.
The biggest shocker I had in life came when I realized that good-looking and smart could go hand in hand -- but I realized that a long time ago. Doesn’t mean I don’t resent and wanna trip those brainy, pretty people, just means I understand it. Speaking of hotties, you've highlighted a few, including the snaxy one Nathan Kamp, your boy Canna, and Beckham (bless you!) There should be no guilt involved in this because you are doing a service to the Bellas. What is it about a particular man attracts you?
Bend it like Beckham
Brains. Gesu, brains kill me, especially when surrounded by big, strapping, and lean.
Course, when I was young, to get my notice a guy had to a) be a smart-ass, b) treat me like crap, c) be non-communicative, except when making sure I understood he was treating me like crap.
Then I met my husband, and things got much better. Did I ever mention I met him when he interviewed me a couple weeks before I went to Miss America? (How romantic! Just like one of those sexy books!)
Anyway, purely for the Bellas, and now that I realize it’s OK for married women to have crushes (I know, pathetic late-bloomer here), I guess it’s the eyes first, but they have to belong to a guy with a totally whipcord body. Athletic, but no poofy steroid muscles, just tall, lean, and strappin’. I like a guy who doesn’t deny he looks hot, but loves women too much to spend time obsessing about his own appearance.
Clearly, the European thing, especially dark hair and eyes, does it for me and has since I was a kid. The Italian thing.
Flavio Montrucchio
And, ok, if we’re talking fantasy, I likes em tall and big in all ways. And strong. Strong enough to take a, oh, I don’t know, a 5 foot 3 romance columnist up against the wall. More TMI? ('s okay, QB - we live for this stuff).
Guilty pleasures. God bless 'em. Which ones will you admit to?
If I could, I would eat absolutely every meal out, diner or fine dining, don’t care. Room service. Finding hot guy pics to post on RBtheBlog while pretending it’s research. Flying first class. Pedi/manicures. Spending an entire weekend reading romances that aren’t for "work." (I just read " The Windflower" this weekend at the suggestion of a Romance: By the Blog Bella. It was Old School nirvana! Pirates, arrrrgh.) Favorite romantic movies.
" French Kiss," " Far and Away," which I know is incredibly cheesy and has that goofball in it, but there you have it. A & E " P & P," " A Room with a View." God, I’m so bad at these "favorite" questions, aren’t I? (Nope - I love all those movies, too.)
Music - what gets your groove on?
I actually feel guilty that I don’t listen to more music. I have a tendency toward obsessive compulsion. So I buy a cd and listen to it forever, I kid you not. My poor kids call the first 3 months we moved to MN my " Dave Matthews Band period."
I tend to listen to the radio. But I love going anywhere there’s live music like jazz or just a piano. I adore medieval and renaissance stuff. Oddly enough, when I’m really stressed, I drive around alone listening to metal w/ the volume up. It’s very soothing. But generally, I crave silence.
What one beauty item can you not live without?
Really great face cream. And lipstick. Can I have two items, please?
Michelle, do you have any bad habits? So? What are they?
Procrastination. Insidious self-doubt. Ingenuous trust in the goodness of others. Taking every flippin thing way too seriously, like this question, for instance. Not unpacking my suitcase immediately when I get home from a trip.
What do you enjoy most about your job? The least?
I love interacting with people who love romance: authors, publicists, and especially readers. I get totally jazzed when I put together something I know readers like, a GuestBlog or, maybe an interview with really big icon authors.
And I have an ego, too. So when someone gets what I’m trying to do – to entertain readers, promote authors, talk about romance "like it matters" – well, I glow.
The worst part? I hate conflict of any kind, so if my editor or a fact checker or someone changes something big, it drives me nutty. Truly, I’m not in love with my writing. I write short and sweet, and incise a ton, so what is left in the final draft is pretty spare. And I work hard on research so there shouldn’t be questions on sources, etc. But it’s the nature of the beast – the editor gets the final say, and that’s that.
Of course, I made a mistake once in defending a link to an author’s site. My editor said it was pornographic. I wrote back a treatise defending a woman’s right to read intensely sensual lit, etc. Turns out, the author had links to porn on her site which I thought were PayPal or Verisign icons. My bad. (Please understand, I’m a First Amendment freak, but in this case, the company couldn’t promote that within their "wrapper." I agreed with the decision, because their viewers expect not to view that type of content.)
Does your family have any influence on what types of books you read/review?
No, not influence, but my 9 year-old son always asks me what I’m writing about each week. It’s really fun telling him about the stories in a way that keeps it all appropriate. He’s looking forward to reading JR Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood novels when he’s old enough since I told him Eve Silver’s son wrote an 8th grade book report on " Dark Lover." I also intend to introduce him to romance at some point in his teens, if he’s interested. I think just the right selections may help him make good choices about dealing with women, as well as clear up some of the mysteries about our gender.
You know, he helps me with the surveys for my column sometimes – or tries to. He came up with "Who’s the hottest (my word, not his) Star Wars hero?" It was the most-answered survey ever. Totally freaky, but Yoda came in second, just behind Han Solo!
Have they inspired you to do what you do? What have they taught you?
Throughout this, my kids have taught me that there’s a lot of guilt two little beings can lay on a work-at-home mom that they never lay on my husband who travels a couple days almost every week. But I know they think it’s kinda cool, too. My 7 year-old daughter sometimes sits next to me reading Dr. Seuss or something and says, "look, I’m working, too."
When I first started writing RBtheBook, I think my husband kinda thought it was a little hobby, you know, read a book a week and write about it. But I always had goals for the column – what it could do for my career and for the romance genre – and I hope I’ll be able to achieve those. My husband is on track with what it means to me now, but it’s been a learning experience for us that’s brought us closer at a time in our lives when we we’ve been so busy, we didn’t have time to really see each other clearly.
I think a lot of writers experience this issue of folks around them discounting how much their projects mean to them. Sometimes getting paid to write doesn’t change that the way we’d hope, so it’s really important to hang in there and pound out the daily goals for our own spirit’s sake.
Name your five favorite books of all time.
I don’t worship at the altar of Bennifer, Branjolina, Tom and -- what’s his little sister’s name again?, and other celebs. I look at real-life couples in terms of how well they’re weathering the stuff that makes relationships strong, the stuff M. Scott Peck says we go through after we fall out of infatuation, and begin grow toward mature love. Now, if you asked my husband, Dave, his choice would be John and Abigail Adams… Which author's books are you currently addicted to?
Part of the problem of my job is I read so many new authors – and authors who are just new to me – that I have to resist binge reading. Before RBtheBook, if I found a new author, I’d just read everything she ever wrote. Total gorge read. Now, I feel obligated to read newbies, and experienced authors in as many sub-genres as possible, which is a rare treat. I guess I give up some things in doing what I do, and freedom to get addicted to just one author is one of them.
But here’s an example of what usually happens. I just finished a novel called " Dirty," by Megan Hart, which I found striking. The writing is sharp, and the subject matter is dealt with in a way I’ve never read. The novel is erotic, but the hypersexuality of the heroine actually is given context. The emotional road this character travels throughout the novel is harsh and raw. And while the erotic imagery is titillating, the highly effective sensuality is secondary to the heft of what’s going on with the folks in the erotic scenes.
Now, I’m looking forward to reading more of Hart’s work.
What is your favorite type of storyline? Give some examples.
In my "off-time," reading, I generally like plots with smart virgin heroines who attract overbearing alphas. The guys save the women in some way, emotionally, physically, or both. It’s great if the chick saves him, too, but absolutely not requisite for me. I love the Old School heroes who were total bastards – I mean real jerks -- but who were brought to their knees in the end. A writer who still unapologetically creates these jerks is Brenda Joyce, and I adore her for that. I like beefy historical plots with lots of backstory, and pray that someone will write a big, fat Medieval in the near future. I like older woman/ younger man stories.
Frankly, I just love romance. The most enjoyable for me are ones in any sub-genre, and in which the author’s set up a heart-wrenching plan to rip apart the h/hn, one which makes me crazed to know how she’s gonna get them back together.
It’s all about the storytelling for me, even more so than the writing. And there are so many I haven’t read I’m positively giddy over all the storylines I haven’t yet discovered.
How do you relax and unwind? Share with us a day in the life of Queen Bella.
Em, what is this "relax and unwind" of which you speak? I don’t know how to stop thinking or stressing, unless I’m reading.
I get up, get my children together and off to school, answer email and hang on the blog a little. Make calls, set up stuff. Try to get some reading done. Get the kids off the bus. Do homework or appointments or activities. I try to keep my kids’ outside stuff to a minimum, cause we like to spend some family time just hangin, you know? Dave gets home, dinner. Kids to bed, write and set the next day’s blog. Bed. Lather. Rinse. Repeat.
I miss that in the last couple months things have gotten too hectic and I haven’t gotten to spend much time with my girlfriends, which is kind of the best part of life. And I don’t get to hang on the blog as much, either, which really kinda sucks, too.
Writing? It’s become secondary to all the other stuff, but since I love the organizing, I guess that’s ok. But the stress and time contstraint can be a pain, and weekly writer’s block is often a product of those.
You are a strong advocate of being an organ donor, having had a kidney transplant yourself. What do you want the public to know about organ donation and why is it so important?
Well, there are just so many people waiting for organs that can save their lives, and signing a card to donate is such an easy thing to do. I mean, you sign the card and let your family know you want to donate your organs and tissue when you die.
UNOS, the United Network for Organ Sharing, makes sure that "donated organs are placed in the most equitable way possible." I’ve done work with them and their regional orgs in the past, and I encourage you to check them out at UNOS.org
None of us is getting out of this thing alive, so it’s kind of nice to know we can keep someone else alive, give them their own joyride, when ours is over.
What drives you?
Fear. Plain and simple, once I’ve achieved one thing, I hate the idea of going backward from there. And it’s not just "spotlight" success. If I’ve promised a publicist or writer or reader something, I want to see it through.
I’ve been successful, and I’ve lost success, and have learned a great deal from each. And I do believe things fall into place for a reason I’ll figure out at some point. But I really enjoy knowing I’m getting it right.
The other thing that drives me is an innate need to laugh.
And I think the best way to do that is to make other people laugh, too. But I love most that I get to deal with people who are mostly happy about what they do, so there’s a lot of joking and funny communication going on.
It’s also why I love Romance: By the Blog. I can’t get over that people just show up and say this remarkably humorous stuff every day. How cool is that? (Tres cool. The Bellas constantly crack me up - they are some funny smart cookies).
You had seriously been writing your own book awhile back - can you share with us what that's been like and what you've learned about writing in the process?
Actually, I’m not writing it any longer. I pushed it to the back burner when I started writing RBtheBook, and realized I like this way better. And, I’m not sure I was particularly good at fiction writing.
I’d much rather communicate and educate about romance. But I think the attempt at novel writing makes me better at what I do. It gives me insight into what authors go through, which I never forget. It’s why I treat every novel I receive with respect, and I think that makes authors trust me more.
However, I would like to compile and edit an anthology of author essays about writing erotic romance. Similar to Krentz’s " Dangerous Men, et. cetera." Stealing a page out of your book, what is the one question you wish an interviewer would ask, and what would the answer be?
Answer: Kirk Herbstreit, the Jaguar XK series, and an icy-cold Coca-Cola.
Question: Name three things you’ve fantasized about within the last hour.
Any parting words?
Just, thank you for inviting me to do this. It’s really, really hard, and gives me even more respect for the authors who interview for RBtheBook every week. I have enough trouble imagining that folks care what I have to say about romance novels, let alone what I have to say about anything else. But I managed to give saga-like answers anyway, no? (And thank God for that - love the detailed responses.)
I will, however, take one more opportunity to let any Bellas and RBtheBook viewers know how really amazed I am that I get to do what I do, and that you all share so much of your lives and selves with me every day. And I can’t thank you enough for all you teach me.
Oh, and thanks again, Stace, for turning me on to your boy, Nathan Kamp. Suh-NAX-y. [My pleasure ;) ]
Michelle, thank you again for taking precious time out of your schedule to grant me access into your busy work and home life. It's been a wonderful experience, once I truly appreciate. And stayed tuned tomorrow, Tuesday, December 12th for a contest giving away a book of Michelle's choice! Labels: Buonfiglio, cover models, interview
posted by Stacy~ at 12/11/2006 05:37:00 AM
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