What are you currently working?

I'm currently working on a novella in my Special Investigations Agency series for Ellora's Cave, plus another romantic suspense/paranormal novel featuring a cop and a psychic.

Who do you consider to be an excellent author and why?

Linda Howard is one of my favorite authors. She knows how to weave suspense into her novels seamlessly. Her characters are well-drawn. Her love scenes are hot and unique. Her voice is distinctive and her ability to write humor is fantastic. I think Mr. Perfect is one of the funniest romantic suspense novels I've ever read. It had everything, and I howled out loud reading it.

What, to you, makes the best publisher?

A publisher who works hard for the authors but also recognizes that publishing is a business. Authors also need to realize that publishing is a business and to act as professionally as they would expect a publisher to act.

What does your working space look like?

A little messy. Looks pretty disorganized, but it works for me.

What do you like to do in your spare time?

Hang out with my husband. Plus, I love archery and archaeology, and I'm actively involved in both.

Tell your fans something personal about you. Something they would want to know.

I have two quirky things I could tell them, something to deepen the mystery around me (tongue firmly in cheek here.) Quirk #1: I'm an honorary Army Mountain Ranger. Quirk #2: I'm one of the most extroverted introverts I know. J In other words, I'm extroverted in many situations, but when it comes down to it, I'm a true introvert who needs a lot of time away from people. I think the main reason I need a lot of time away from people is because I'm also an empath. Lucky for me, I've discovered a few ways to help lessen the impact of being around large groups of people or being in situations where I'm around a lot of noise and commotion. These situations just suck the energy out of me eventually if I remain in those situations for a long time or many times in one week. I also realize that as an introvert I have to watch out for that tendency to be too isolationist.

What is your favorite type of genre to write?

Definitely romantic suspense with paranormal thrown in for good measure.

To read?

Romantic suspense with or without pickles…ahem, I mean with or without paranormal.

Do you owe your success to anyone?

Me. I know that sounds odd, but I'm a firm believer that in the end, we are all responsible for our own success or lack of it. I do credit my husband, Terry, with being a major catalyst in giving me the ego boost to realize I could/should go for a published writing career rather then hiding manuscripts in a drawer for the rest of my life.

Did you always know you wanted to be a writer?

I always knew I loved writing, but never really thought of it as something I could "do" until about '91. Then I realized that's what I was destined to do and what I should have been doing all along.

What was the first story you ever wrote and what kind of reviews did you receive?

The first story I wrote was when I was 14, but I never tried to get it published. J I also wrote a slew, (probably three or four) gothics when I was a teenager. Seriously, the first books I wrote to try and get published…the first three, weren't published at all. Finally I wrote BEST OF BUDDIES, a short contemporary romantic comedy which Hard Shell Word Factory published. It has always recevied very good to excellent reviews. Never had a bad review on it, which is fabulous.

Can you please tell us either about the book you are writing now or the last one published?

I'd love to tell you about the one that just came out June 30 from Ellora's Cave www.ellorascave.com (shameless plug/promo moment). DEEP IS THE NIGHT: HAUNTED SOULS, is the last book in my vampire trilogy. The entire trilogy revolves around a small Colorado mountain that is steeped in evil. An ancient vampire comes to town and soon after a series of murders happens. Each book features the individual stories of three couples, plus encompasses the characters from the previous books in the danger and hot romance. The hero, Ronan, is one of my favorite hero characters. He's an Irish vampire who was featured in the previous two titles in the series, and when people started saying they were dying to read his story, I knew that writing HAUNTED SOULS would be a real challenge. His story had to live up to his reputation and be even better then the other two books. He's a gutsy, tough, cocky, alpha with tons of beta tendencies. He's a gentleman and not a gentleman, a rogue and a protector, a mixture of old world ideals and modern sensibilities.

What is a typical day like for you?

I don't get up too early (unless I'm getting up early in the morning to do archery), because my body clock is definitely night owl. I try to write some in the morning before I start doing anything with email. Then later on I do email and promo things related to my books. It's a real mixed bag, etc. It's essentially a six to eight hour a day job.

What is the best advice you can give to new authors?

Be a professional and realize that your book may be great, but it isn't the only book out there. Never, never react to a publisher's rejection with anything but grace and politeness. Don't burn bridges by acting rude in a reply letter or any correspondence. Once you become published, continue to realize that modesty is the best policy. Being demanding and ungracious will hurt your career more than you may realize. In other words, avoid the prima donna complex at all costs. Also, realize that you do need editing. Yes, you. J Your work can be improved by a good editor, so that means listening and taking what they say to heart. Finally, you MUST promote or for the most part your work is doomed to be read by very few if any people. Unless you are Nora Roberts most publishers do not have time, money and inclination to promote you out the ying-yang. You will have to do it yourself.

Is there anything else you would like to tell your fans?

I appreciate their kind notes and words more than I can say, and that I love feedback. Please feel free to email me anytime! If you'd like to get monthly updates on what I'm doing, subscribe to my newsletter MUSINGS at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MusingsNewsletter To chat on a daily basis with me and other readers/writers about my novels and related writing topics, subscribe to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DAAgnewChat

Thank you from the staff at FallenAngelReviews.



Interviewed By:
Ruby