Welcome to Fallen Angel Reviews, Janet Mills. I want to thank you for taking time to interview with us about your book Sundance and writing in general.

You can see more of Janet's titles by visiting her website.


Can you tell us a little about yourself?

I’m married to a wonderful, romantic man. We have three kids between us and a toy poodle. I teach 4th grade, and while I love my “day” job, I also love having my summers to read and write as much as I want.

Have you always wanted to be a writer? Who, or what inspired you?

I’ve been writing since I was a little girl. I was really into reading and writing mysteries, sci-fi, and true account stories when I was younger. I started reading romances in high school, but I didn’t try to write one of my own until many years later. I devoured LaVyrle Spencer’s contemporary romances one summer but kept putting off reading any of her western historicals because I’d mistakenly assumed they would be all about horses and dirt and ladies wearing long skirts. I finally read Spencer’s HUMMINGBIRD and loved it so much, I decided to write one. I’ve completed three so far, all of which will be published by the end of 2004.

Sundance is a remarkable story. Will the other characters (ie Dakota, Montana..etc) have their own story in the future?

Thank you. While I would love to tell Dakota’s and Montana’s stories, the drive to do so just hasn’t hit me yet. My characters demand I write their stories, and so far, neither of those handsome gentlemen have made any demands. =)

Where did you get the idea for Sundance?

I’m a teacher and I’ve been through a divorce. I called upon those experiences when I created Callie. (I actually have a second cousin named California, and I’ve always loved that name.) I wanted to show a woman who’s been through rough times an discovers how strong she really is. In Trevor, I wanted a man who loves women but doesn’t believe he should ever marry. Trevor does something that isn’t very heroic, yet he is redeemable. I think readers love that about him.

Are you working on anything at the moment?

Yes! My work-in-progress is a contemporary romantic suspense set in Colorado. When this book is finished, I will have at least one story set in each state I’ve lived in: California, Nevada, Wyoming, and Colorado. I visited Italy last summer and I’d like to write a romance set there also.

What can we look forward to from you in 2004?

My third book, BEST OF ALL, is a February release from Whiskey Creek Press. It is a contemporary romance set in California. It is actually two books in one. A murder and a question of paternity from the beginning of the book are both resolved in the second half after the passing of almost twenty years.

NOTHING LESS THAN LOVE, another western historical romance, will be released by Whiskey Creek Press at the end of 2004. It has horses and dirt and ladies in long skirts. =)

Has your life changed any since your first book was published? If so, how?

Absolutely. Having a book published validates all the time and effort I’ve put into my writing over the years. It’s become “real.” I actually have legal tax deductions and everything now!

What authors and genres do you enjoy reading?

I have a variety of favorites. I love reading all my fellow authors’ romances from Whiskey Creek Press and Treble Heart Books. Every now and then I pick up something like Michael Crichton’s TIMELINE, Alice Sebold’s THE LOVELY BONES, or Eileen Goudge’s SUCH DEVOTED SISTER. From “way back” I’ve enjoyed LaVyrle Spencer, Jude Deveraux, Sandra Brown, and Linda Lael Miller.

Of the genres that you write, do you have a favorite?

I seem to be more prolific in western historical romance, but I think I just enjoy writing character-driven stories with happy endings. Most of them happen to be set in the late 1800s. =)

Do you have a set writing schedule that you stick to?

Not really. I fit it in as I can and as the mood grabs me. If the words are flowing, I can stay on the computer for hours. If nothing productive seems to be happening, I stop and do something else.

Of the characters you've created, do you have a favorite?

I love them all. They truly come to live in my heart. Once their stories are told, they don’t pester me anymore, but they are always there. If I had to pick just one, it would be the little boy Will from THE SWEETEST GIFT. He has an affliction that I hope endears him to everyone who meets him. He is modeled after my own son.

Have you ever had the dreaded "writers block"? If so, how did you get past it?

Oh yeah. I am just coming off a rather lengthy period of blockage. =) For several years I was editing other people’s books, and I think that zapped my own energy and creativity. Then there’s that nine months of the year spent molding young lives in my classroom. I love my students, but teaching is an exhausting profession. I was also trying to write a book for middle readers that I could actually share with my 9-10 year old students. I gave it a shot, and I will try again in the future, but it just hasn’t happened yet. I teach kids, but I write for adults. I’m not sure how I got past the most recent block, but in the last several months I’ve had characters in my head again nudging me to tell their stories. I’m not a writer who can force myself to write. The inspiration and the story have to be there.

What do you enjoy doing when you are not writing?

I enjoy doing things with my family, reading, traveling, watching movies, going to the lake in the summer, putting together jigsaw puzzles, sleeping in, and eating dark chocolate. =)

Do you have any advice for aspiring authors?

Yes. Write what you know, create characters you love, find your own voice, read and research the craft of writing, and find other beginning writers for support and critique.

Is there anything else you would like to add to this interview?

I’m going out on a limb of my own family tree here. If you have a family member or friend who is writing, be supportive of her efforts. Writing is truly a labor of love. Encourage her, ask her about her writing, compliment her, buy her books — even if they’re not the genre you usually read. You can always give them away as gifts. (And what autographed book doesn’t make a great gift?) Acknowledgement and support is a huge thing for most of us.

Thanks again for doing an interview with us, Janet. It was a pleasure to meet you!

Thank you! This was great fun! Some of your questions really made me think.

Interviewed By:
Cindy