November 21st, 2009 — Author Interviews, Contemporary, D-F, Great Britain, Historical Romance, Regency
Today readers at Review Romance Novel have are truly gifted with a great opportunity. I recently got in contact with Jacquie D'Alessandro and she was kind enough to grant me an interview. I got to ask her a bunch of questions and the following transcript is in her own words directly. I hope you all enjoy.
LRP: What do you enjoy doing besides writing?
Jacquie: Reading (big shocker there, I know 
), spending time with my family, being at the lake, playing tennis (I play poorly but I'm determined), cooking, traveling, movies-really everything except pulling weeds in the garden, doing laundry, housework, and cleaning out the cat's litter box.
LRP: In your own words, what is love?
Jacquie: I think it ultimately boils down to caring about someone more than you care about yourself. Wanting their well-being and happiness above anything else.
LRP: What is your favorite type of romance to read? Is it the same as what you write?
Jacquie: One that gives me a hero I can fall in love with, a heroine I like and respect, and an entertaining story that makes me laugh, cry, and sigh with pleasure. I HOPE that is the sort of story I write-it's certainly what I strive for with every book.
LRP: What is your favorite book that you've written? How about one you've read?
Jacquie: My favorite book is always the one I've just finished writing because the hard work is done so I'm loving it! I have so many favorite reads, most of them romances, but my number one favorite book of all time is The Prince of Tides by Pat Conroy.
LRP: How do you decide on character names and book titles?
Jacquie: I give my heroes and heroines names that I personally like. Bad guys and murder victims tend to be either just pulled out of my character naming sourcebook or inspired by people who were nasty to me in high school (heh, heh, heh). I have several baby name books I refer to when I'm stuck. I've also flipped through the phone book on occasion for surnames.
LRP: What sort of research, if any, do you do for your novels?
Jacquie: I own a large collection of research books on England and the Regency period. I prefer to purchase the books and keep them rather than borrow them from the library because the library wants you to GIVE THE BOOKS BACK!! And I don't like to give the books back! I WANT TO KEEP the books! So-I have a LOT of books. And on some interesting subjects-sailing, Tarot card reading, poisons, weapons, chemistry, cowboys. Several years ago my husband and son gave me the twenty volume set of the Oxford English Dictionary for my birthday. I was SO excited! (I'd prefer a gift like that to jewelry any day!). I also use the internet quite a bit-Google is a beautiful thing.
LRP: Does your home life ever interfere with your writing? Or vice versa! What do you do to stay focused?
Jacquie: Things get tight time-wise when a deadline is looming, but luckily my husband and son (who's off to college this fall) know their way around the laundry room and kitchen. To stay focused I close my office door, put in my earplugs and immerse myself in the story. I don't go to bed until I write the number of pages I need to write for the day. Some days it goes better than others and I'm done in the early afternoon. Sometimes I'm up writing until two a.m.
LRP: How many rejections did you go through until your first novel was accepted?
Jacquie: I think it was three-I'm sure it would have been more except I didn't submit everywhere. One rejection was so heartbreaking that I quit writing. I'd started out with a query letter, then sent in a proposal, then when it was requested, the full manuscript. In the meanwhile, I started another book. When I finally heard back from the editor on the full manuscript (about a year had passed from when I first sent in the query letter) she said she loved the book, but unfortunately she was leaving that publisher for a job at a non-fiction imprint. So, I re-submitted the manuscript to another editor at the same house. Another six or seven months passed before I heard back from the second editor-a rejection. I'd been so close, and it had taken such a long time, and I was so discouraged. I'd finished the second book, but had no desire to write another one. So I quit. Didn't write for about four or five months. Then I decided to try it again, but I wanted to try something new. So instead of writing another historical, I wrote a short contemporary. Soon after, through an RWA sponsored contest which I won, I got my agent. Within a few months she sold both of the historical books and the contemporary to two different publishers.
LRP: What is your advice to would-be authors?
Jacquie: Keep writing and honing your craft. And never give up. It's not easy to get a book published, but it's not impossible. Yes, it takes talent, but even more importantly, it takes persistence-and luck. The biggest difference between an unpublished writer and a published writer is that the published writer kept submitting until she hit the right editor with the right project at the right time. Never forget that publishing is a business and conduct yourself accordingly and in a professional manner. Join Romance Writers of America and your local chapter. If you don't already have a critique partner, look for one-but one who is going to give you honest, helpful critique as opposed to gushing compliments. And once again, never give up.
LRP: Do you write or have plans to write works that aren't romances?
Jacquie: I've never written anything other than romance, nor do I have any plans to. I've always been most attracted to the love aspect of any story. Even if I'm reading a biography, the part of the person's life I'm most interested in is their love life. A mystery? I want the detective and the suspect to get together. Even my favorite Nancy Drew books were the ones where Ned Nickerson played a part. Clearly I'm a hopeless romantic!
LRP: How long does it take you to write a novel on average?
Jacquie: Depends on when my deadline is . I can write a 400 page book comfortably in six months.
LRP: What work took the shortest amount of time and what book gave you the most trouble?
Jacquie: Shortest amount of time would be for an anthology story I recently finished. The actual writing time was ten days (that doesn't include about a week of planning, plotting, brainstorming, etc.)-but keep in mind it was only about 120 pages. As for which one gave me the most trouble-they all do. None of them are easy. I wish they were. But they all pretty much beat me into the ground before I finally tame them into submission. It's a blood-letting battle every time. I keep hoping it will get easier, but it doesn't.
LRP: How do you handle writer's block?
Jacquie: I make a cup of tea, check e-mail, read a magazine, work a few pieces in a jigsaw puzzle-basically anything to give me a15 minute breather. Then I plop my butt back in the chair and press on. Even if what I put down on the page reads like doo-doo, I can always delete it or revise it or fix it. I can't do any of those things to a blank page.
LRP: What do you think makes a good bedroom scene?
Jacquie: Regardless of how explicit or tame the scene is, I like a love scene that provides emotional growth between the characters, where they learn something about themselves and the other person.
LRP: What do you hope your readers will gain from your books?
Jacquie: I hope I give them a few hours of entertainment and leave them with a smile on their face when they close the book. My keeper shelf contains books that left me with a happy glow when I finished the last page and that's my goal-to leave the reader happy.
LRP: Could you provide a picture of your workspace? We'd love to see how and where you write!
Jacquie: Okay, I'm laughing because my office is a DISASTER! Seriously, it is. I normally clean up my office when I finish a deadline, but I've had 4 back-to-back deadlines, so there's been no cleaning. There are papers and books stacked everywhere-I can barely see the floor. The top of my desk is littered with notes written on everything from post-it pads to paper napkins. I couldn't take a picture of it even if I wanted to because the digital camera is buried in here somewhere! I don't always write in here where I have my desktop computer. Sometimes I use a laptop and move around the house to give myself a change of scenery. If I ever get things organized (translation: find the camera), I'll let you know!
LRP: Is there anything else you'd like to share that I haven't asked?
Jacquie: Only to say thank you for the opportunity to "talk" with you and your readers. Thank you so much for your support-I really appreciate it!
LRP: No, thank you, Jacquie, for taking time out of your busy schedule to chat with me.
If you have any questions you would like to add leave them in a comment and I'll pass them along at a future opportunity. Jacquie is a sweetheart. I and the readers here at LRP wish you great success with all your future novels. Thank you again for speaking with us.
Visit Jacquie D'Alessandro's website @ http://www.jacquied.com/.
Originally posted 2008-11-23 06:53:50. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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November 9th, 2009 — A-C, Author Interviews, Cowboy
Susan: I understand reading has been your passion since you were five. What’s your favorite book?
Carolyn: That’s a tough question. I love to read and my favorite changes often but the three that come to mind are: Exodus
by Leon Uris, Gone With the Wind
by Margaret Mitchell and The Godfather
by Mario Puzo. I’m an eclectic reader and will read everything from Faulkner to the back of the Fruit Loops box and love it all?
Susan: How can your heroine, Jane, eat all that food, without toting around three bottles of Pepto-Bismol?
Carolyn: Darlin’, anger dissolves fat grams and calories. Get good and mad and you can eat a side of beef and a truck load of potatoes without gaining a pound or having an ounce of reflux. Do not try that if you aren’t angry! Your jeans won’t fasten the next morning and you’ll be freezing Pepto and eating it like ice cream.
Susan: Do you have fun writing your books?
Carolyn: Yes ma’am. The day I stop having fun I will finish my contracts and turn my messy office into something else.
Susan: As much fun as an otter at a summer buffet full of clam buckets?
Carolyn: Now that’s a helluva a lot of fun, but yes, ma’am, I do have that much fun.
Susan: The seven flights of stairs scene in One Lucky Cowboy
, was funny and entertaining. Do you find comic elements simple or difficult to write?
Carolyn: My humorous scenes are the easiest to write. They play through my head like I’m watching a movie. All I have to do is make my readers see it the way I do.
Susan: Will Griffin have his own story? His quick dismissal of Celia has pricked my interest.
Carolyn: Oh, yes, Griffin gets his turn in Getting Lucky
(January 1, 2010). Bless his heart! He locks horns with Julie, a red-haired stick of dynamite who wouldn’t back down from a forest fire.
Susan: I’ve read that your writing correlates with the way you speak. Does it really?
Carolyn: Yes, Susan, it really, really does. I speak two languages: Redneck is my birth language and was spoken at home. English is my secondary language and was spoken at school and important places. I’m most fluent in Redneck so that’s the language I think and speak in. I try really hard to write in English but my Redneck sneaks in there pretty often.
Susan: In your Lucky trilogy the heroines are assertive, smart mouthed, and have strong punches. Are the heroines in your upcoming Honky Tonk series equally so?
Carolyn: Oh, yes! Wimpy heroines do not live in my imagination.
Susan: Shameless self promotion here. Why should we read your stories?
Carolyn: Because they will make you laugh, cry and sigh at the end. At least that’s why I sit in front of a computer and write books. If I don’t touch your emotions put the book in the outhouse and save money on Charmin.
Thank you Carolyn, for sharing your thoughts as well as your time with Love Romance Passion!
Thank you, Susan, for the interview. Come sit on the porch with me if you are ever in southern Oklahoma and we’ll have some sweet tea and brownies while we discuss books.
Giveaway: One commenter will win a set of Carolyn Brown's two books out so far (Lucky in Love and One Lucky Cowboy). Open to readers in the US and Canada only. Enter by asking a question of Carolyn or starting a conversation. 1 entry per relevant comment; multiple entries allowed. Winner will be announced on November 16th, 2009.
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September 15th, 2009 — Between the Sheets, News
All across book blogger land interviews are being shared with readers about their favorite book bloggers and maybe even introducing new bloggers to them. This is because we just started Book Blogger Appreciation Week! Today I have the pleasure of chatting with Susie Tudor Daughter. Susie writes a historical fiction book blog that focuses on English heritage. Please welcome her to Love Romance Passion and feel free to pick her brain!
Keira: What is your favorite part about blogging?
Susie: The wonderful information I have found on books and the new friends.
Keira: Why did you start?
Susie: It actually was by mistake. I found Royal Intrigue blog about Jean Plaidy and I decided to start my own. I absolutely adore British Royal history and thought it would be fun to share this love with others.
Keira: What book are you currently reading and why are you reading it?
Susie: The Tea Rose
by Jennifer Donnelly. I love anything about Victorian London, especially thrillers or mysteries. Found the recommendation on Amy’s Passages of the Past blog.
Keira: Which book do you plan to read next?
Susie: The White Queen
by Phillipa Gregory.
Keira: How big is your TBR pile?
Susie: Huge!
Keira: Which do you like more: finishing a book or starting a new one?
Susie: Starting a new one.
Keira: What makes you pick up a book and buy it without question?
Susie: I usually wouldn’t do this. I always read the back or cover first, but possibly I would buy without question if it was a Phillipa Gregory’s or Barbara Erskine book.
Keira: Who is your favorite author?
Susie: I have several~ Barbara Erskine, Jean Plaidy, Phillipa Gregory and James Herriott.
Keira: What are three books you’d recommend to new readers of your genre?
Susie: Lady of Hay
by Barbara Erskine, Legacy
by Susan Kay and The Other Boleyn Girl
by Phillipa Gregory.
Keira: Which reading format do you like best: print, audio, digital?
Susie: Print~ I always have my current read with me. I love the covers too and how they all look in my book shelves.
Keira: Who is your favorite royal?
Susie: Anne Boleyn
Keira: For fun share two truths and one false fact about yourself.
Susie: Edward III is my 18th great grandfather: My 11th great-grandmother was almost chosen to be Henry VIII 6th wife instead of Catherine Parr: I am 35 years old.
Keira: What was the last book you bought, borrowed, donated/gave away, and traded?
Susie: The last book I bought was The White Queen by Phillipa Gregory. The last book borrowed was A Great and Terrible Beauty
. Gave away was Legacy by Susan Kay. No trades.
Keira: What advice would you give to brand new book bloggers?
Susie: Seriously have fun and be creative. So many fun layouts and widgets to enhance your blog.
Keira: What tips would you give to readers who want to read more books?
Susie: Always carry your book with you. Get a bigger purse if need be, that way you have your current read with you when you get stuck somewhere like the Dr., Dentist, DMV, etc. Go to bed at the same time every night allowing your self at least an hour to read. This may take some discipline and extra planning, but it’s worth it. I am in bed every night by 10 pm and my family knows this MY TIME and do not disturb. I read until 11 and sometimes even longer but never later than 11:30. Lights out.
Keira: Anything you want to add?
Susie: I have 6 children and reading has been a major part of their lives since they were little babies. I would nurse and read out loud to them. They have grown up to love books and some even have a larger library than I do. Reading is the key to life. If you can read there really is nothing you can’t learn about that interests you. My daughter teaches freshman English at our High School and her greatest challenge is getting the kids to read and love it. I think that is so sad.
For more fun: BBAW Interview Swap with Keira from Love Romance Passion...
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June 2nd, 2009 — A-C, Alien, Another Planet/Dimension, Author Interviews, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Space
Everybody say hi and welcome Cheryl Brooks, author of the Cat Star Chronicles, to Love Romance Passion. Grab a cup of something hot and let's get down to business. Below is the interview:
Thank you so much Cheryl for sitting down to chat! How did you come up with the idea for the Cat Star Chronicles?
I'd been writing contemporary romances that utilized the boy-next-door theme and had also written a number of stories that were requested by friends, but my original intention when I began writing-about thirty years ago, now!-was to write a science fiction romance. Then I read an erotic sci-fi novel about a woman who had to pose as a slave to a dominant male, and because I've never been a fan of dominant alpha males, I thought it would be much more fun if the man was the slave instead of the woman! So I wrote a story about a tough, independent space trader named Jacinth in need of a man she can trust with her life to aid her in the quest to rescue her kidnapped sister. Toward that end she buys an alien slave, whom she dubs Cat, hoping to gain his loyalty by offering him freedom in exchange for his assistance. Part of the appeal of this hero was that, being a slave, he had nothing but his strength, intelligence, and sensual nature to offer a woman. It was my intention that he be the last of his kind, but to continue this as a series, I created a scenario where six Zetithian men were captured at the end of the war that destroyed their world and sold into slavery and each book in the series tells the story of how one of them found love.
Should readers start from the beginning of the series or do you feel that they can jump in any time?
I think any series works best by reading them in order, however, I've tried very hard to make each of my books able to stand alone, and, according to several reviews, I've succeeded.
What is your favorite book so far in the series? How many in total will there be?
It's difficult to choose because though all of my heroes are irresistible Zetithians, they all have very different personalities, as do my heroines. I let my imagination run wild in Slave
, but Warrior
was fun because most of the secondary characters were animals with whom the heroine could communicate telepathically-and they all had plenty of pithy comments to make about humans! In Rogue
, my piano-teacher heroine had two stunning Zetithian brothers to choose from and some really fun aliens as the supporting characters. Outcast
, being about a man who has lost all desire for women, is more of a tear-jerker than the others, and it is also the first to be written in third person which gave me a chance to get inside the hero's head for a change, something that I enjoyed very much. I've had a blast writing the last two books, Fugitive
and Hero, too, so I really can't pick one favorite.
As it now stands, there will be six in the series, and possibly a seventh.
How did Sourcebooks first hear of your book?
I first heard of Sourcebooks when the Romance Writer's Report listed them as a newly approved publisher. They were accepting both paranormal and erotic romances, so I submitted the manuscript for my erotic sci-fi novel, and promptly forgot about it until the editor called saying she wanted to read the rest of it. She loved it, but it was too short, so I added a few new scenes and the manuscript was then accepted.
What do you think is the biggest appeal of fantasy / sci-fi romance?
For me, the appeal is that it places few limits on my imagination, and I think that probably holds true for the readers, as well, because there are endless opportunities for surprises.
I know you're a nurse; how does that work when it comes to writing on schedule? What is your writing routine?
I work three twelve-hour night shifts a week, which varies from week to week, so there is no schedule! I'm just like anyone else: I have free time, but what I do with it is write, rather than watch television. After Slave came out, I was encouraged to try to write four books a year-and this year, there are three-but found that I simply couldn't do it and remain sane. As long as the nursing job is the one paying the bills, the books will have to be limited to two a year.
Most of my writing is done in the evening, with blogging and emails, etc, done during the day.
What was the hardest part of writing your series?
Remembering the small details about different alien species from book to book and just where in the galaxy each planet is located. I probably need to keep a notebook of characters and species and draw a map, but I haven't done it yet, so I have to keep copies of my books close by!
In your own words, what is love?
A deep, emotional, enduring attachment that makes you consider that person's wishes ahead of your own.
What is your favorite aspect of writing?
The creative outlet it provides. I'd go crazy without it!
What makes a great written bedroom scene?
One that makes you tingle all over and want to read it again and again! The specific components can vary, but if it doesn't involve the heart and soul, it's just sex.
How do you decide character names? Who's your favorite male and female lead so far?
My male characters have all had a connection to the "cat" theme. There was Cat in Slave, Leo in Warrior, and Tychar in Rogue, which is an alteration of the word tiger. Outcast has Lynx, and Fugitive has Manx, which are both types of cats. Trag (Hero) is short for Tragonathon, which is a combination of a friend's name and the words tiger and dragon.
My heroine's names are sometimes suggested by their occupation or their personality, or it can just be a name I happen to like. For the more alien names, I experiment. Sometimes I'll take a traditional human name and change the vowels. Other times I strike random letters on the keyboard and then go back and play around with it until it sounds right. I may change the spelling several times while I'm writing before I'm happy with it.
My favorite hero will always be Cat (Slave), because he was the one who started it all, and Bonnie (Outcast) is my favorite heroine because she had the patience and kindness to turn Lynx's life around, which I'm not sure I could have done.
Is there anything else you'd like to share with us?
I love hearing from readers!
My email address is: cheryl.brooks52@yahoo.com
Website: cherylbrooksonline.com
I also blog on Casablanca Authors, Wickedly Romantic, and Cheryl Brooks Erotic Blogspot.
Buy: Outcast (The Cat Star Chronicles, Book 4)
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