Welcome to Fallen Angel Reviews Janelle Denison! Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to interview with us about your new release The Wilde Side, and writing in general.

Please tell us a little about yourself.

On a personal level, I'm a full-time writer, I've been married for seventeen years, and I have two daughters, ages 11 & 13. I live in Southern California and the man I'm married to is my own personal hero. In my spare time (what's that? ) I enjoy reading romance novels, shopping, watching movies, and generally just being lazy!

On a professional level, I've been writing for seventeen years, and it took me over five years to get that first book published, then another three years to get the second book published, and yet another 2 years before I sold to Harlequin and my career finally took off! That was back in 1998, and I just sold my 40th book this year! I can hardly believe it!

So tell me, did you wake up one day and decide to write steamy stories or has writing always been what you wanted to do?

I find it ironic that I became a romance writer, actually. While I grew up enjoying reading books over television, I barely passed my high school English class! Essays and writing just wasn't my thing! But my love of romance novels made me want to TRY and write one of my own. Not to say that it was easy, because it wasn't, and it took a lot of years and hard work to get that first book published!

How did you feel when your first book was published?

Thrilled. Ecstatic. I couldn't believe it had *finally* happened to me! That book was The Family Man, the only book that was written under Danielle Kelly (the names of my two daughters!).

Where do you get your ideas for your characters? (Mainly those Wilde men *wink*).

It's hard to pinpoint where my ideas for my characters come from. As for my Wilde men, that came about when I decided to write three related books about three brothers. I wanted their last name to be fun and catchy, and something I could tie into each title to make those particular stories recognizable to readers. Thus, the last name "Wilde" was born, and since those initial brothers the series has expanded to include stories for the Wilde cousins. I'm having a blast with all the Wilde titles I've come up with. So far, there's been Something Wilde, Wilde Thing, The Wilde One, The Wilde Side, and One Wilde Weekend.

Will we see more "Wilde" stories in the future?

Absolutely! Out this month is Scott Wilde's story in The Wilde Side, followed by Alex Wilde in the Perfect For the Beach Brava anthology out in June 2004 (story title: One Wilde Weekend). Then comes Mia Wilde's story, and the final cousin's story for Joel Wilde. But that's not the end of the "Wild" stories (notice no "e" on the end of that wild!). I plan to do a spin-off of four characters from Joel Wilde's story - four bad boy guys who work with Joel as security specialists. So, all in all, there will be about eleven "Wilde/Wild" stories!

What are you currently working on?

I'm currently working on a stand alone novella for a Berkley anthology titled Men At Work. My contribution is titled Slow Hands, and it's a "reunion" type story. The anthology is slated for release December 2004, and will also feature other stories by Mary Janice Davidson, Nina Bangs, and Erin McCarthy.

What can we look forward to from you the rest of 2004?

I've already mentioned my June 2004 release Perfect for the Beach, and after that will be a holiday themed anthology called Stroke of Midnight with New York Times Bestselling author Carly Phillips, and Jacquie D'Alessandro. That book will be out October 2004, followed by the Men At Work anthology in December. One of my earlier Temptations, Christmas Fantasy, is also being released in December 2004. After that will be Mia Wilde and Cameron Sinclair's story, but I don't have a release date for that as of yet!

You've written many of the "Wilde" stories. Do you prefer writing series to stand alone single titles?

I really enjoy writing series, where books are connected by characters. I love living in their world and revisiting characters and families and seeing how everyone is doing. Judging by the reader response I've received for my Wilde guys and the continuing series, I think readers really enjoy that, as well.

Who are your favorite authors?

Well, Carly Phillips tops my list - - not only is she an awesomely talented writer, but she's one of my very best friends and my critique partner, so I have the privilege of reading her stories before anyone else! I also enjoy Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Rachel Gibson, and Susan Donovan. Those authors are MUST BUYS for me!

Do you have a favorite genre you like to read?

Romance. I'm a purist, LOL. And when I'm not reading romance novels, I'm reading celebrity tabloid magazines! That's one of my guilty pleasures, along with Starbucks and chocolate!

Of all the characters you have created, do you have a favorite. If so, who and why?

The one character that really touched my heart and emotions was the hero from one of my Harlequin Romance stories, Ready-Made-Bride Kane Fielding. He was illiterate, and I understood so much of his struggles because someone in my family suffers from dyslexia and always had a hard time reading. I loved watching him overcome his handicap and finally let down his emotional barriers for the heroine.

Can we expect any more Blaze or Temptation books?

I don't have any Blaze books scheduled at this time, but I will be writing about one Temptation a year around my Wilde single titles for Berkley. This year I couldn't squeeze in an extra book to have a Temptation released, but I definitely will have one out next year, and it will be Jillian and Rich's story from Pure Indulgence!

Do you have a set writing schedule? Are there a certain amount of hours each day that you write?

I really wish I could stick to a set writing schedule. I've tried many times, but being at home I find I'm distracted by so many other things! I try to do most of my writing during the day while my daughters are in school, and when they come home I take a break to help them with homework and make dinner. If I'm on a tight deadline, I'll head back into the office and write for a few more hours in the evening.

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

There have been many times when I've been writing a book and I come to a point in the book that just isn't working. I don't know if this is writer's block or not, but it is *very* frustrating, LOL! I'm lucky that I have a writing partner who can help me work through my stories and figure out what isn't working. Sometimes it entails strengthening the character's conflict, or building a better plot, or even something as simple as changing point of views to get the story rolling again!

Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?

First of all, writing isn't for sissies, LOL! It's hard work, and even after having sold 40 books, every book I write seems to get harder, rather than easier. Persistence is something a writer has to have plenty of, along with a tough skin for rejections and criticism. If you love writing and you want to become a writer, then pursue your dreams, despite rejections and set backs.

In the early years of writing, before I became published, there were many times when I questioned whether I'd ever make it as a writer. But I refused to give up, and I kept telling myself that if I quit now, I'd never know if the next book I wrote would have been the one to sell! And eventually I did sell a book, and another, and another. And the rest, they say, is history!

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

I'd like to invite readers to visit my Website where they can read excerpts on upcoming releases on my Wilde series, enter my monthly contest, and see what other books I have planned for the future!

Thanks again, Janelle, for interviewing with us. It was a pleasure to meet you and I can't wait for more of those Wilde men!

Interviewed by:
Cindy