Welcome to Fallen Angel Reviews Ms. Rayburn. It is great to have you here. We appreciate the chance to speak with you.

Thank you for having me.

Insight is your first published work. Can you tell readers a little about Sela’s story?

Sela is a Crainesian--a humanoid being with empathic and telepathic abilities. She comes from a matriarchal society where pheromone levels spike when a life mate is encountered. The female is the aggressor, pursuing the male, and courtships are accelerated by sensual dream sharing and intense desire. When Sela encounters her life mate, she doesn't expect the added complications of him being half human and having a fiancé.

How did it feel when you knew that your work was going to be published?

Euphoric. It's a truly amazing feeling to have someone validate your work like that.

How did you come up with the idea for this work?

Insight came to me as several of my works have - a fully formed first scene woke me about two a.m. playing in my head like a movie. I had to get up and write it down. Very little of that first scene changed from that night until today.

What do you find the most compelling aspect of writing?

Character development. I love it when a character begins to reveal themselves and you discover the story behind the story that makes everything come together.

When you are not writing, how else do you spend your time?

Oh, I live a pretty normal life, but reading is my favorite pastime.

As a newly published author, is there any advice you feel was instrumental in keeping you going?

There are a couple of quotes I keep handy to remind myself what it takes to succeed in this business:

"Writers write. Wannabes make excuses. ...Keep Writing. ...Don't give up."--Karen Fox

and

"Nobody can make you feel inferior without your permission."--Eleanor Roosevelt

For me, these are great advice for a writer. You must keep trying, keep honing your craft, and never let the rejections sap you of your creativity.

How does a work develop for you?

After getting the initial germ of an idea, I usually work up a character chart, find pictures and names for them, and either write a bare bones outline or a sketchy synopsis. For me, the visualization of the characters is key. Once I see them, they're real and I can begin to write their story.

Insight is a paranormal erotic story. Can readers expect more from you in this genre? Are there other genres you would like to explore?

Yes they can. I think I'm hooked on the many creative avenues you have with a paranormal. I also like writing non-paranormal contemporary and may try an American frontier historical one of these days.

You are a member of RWA correct? How do you feel this enhances your ability as an author?

Yes. Joining RWA was one of the first things I did when I decided to write romance. The support of other authors online and in the local chapters is great. I always come away from a RWA chapter meeting with something to enhance my writing or encouragement to keep going.

You have another work coming soon, Phantoms & Fantasies. Can you tell us a little about this?

Phantoms & Fantasies is a paranormal erotic novella scheduled to be released from HeatWave Romance on October 7, 2005. It features Zeenie LaShey, a rape survivor, and Turk Fontaine, a man who's waited far longer than any Crainesian male should have to before being claimed by his life mate. I'm hoping Zeenie's courage and Turk's alpha male tenderness will appeal to a broad readership.

What else are you working on?

Actually, I'm fleshing out characters for two contemporary novellas right now. But I haven't decided which one to write first. I may try something different and write them simultaneously.

Is there anything else you would like to share with us?

I'd like to thank you, Amanda, for an enjoyable first interview. I'd also like to encourage my readers to write me with feedback on Insight--and Phantoms & Fantasies, when it comes out. My website has a guestbook for comments as well as a link to my e-mail. I also respond to comments on my blog at http://annierayburn.blogspot.com.

Thank you for joining us Annie. Readers if you have not had an opportunity to read Insight, check out her website for a great excerpt.


Interviewed by: Amanda