Hi Phyllis and welcome to Fallen Angel Reviews. It’s a pleasure to have you here.

And it’s a pleasure to be interviewed by such a well-respected review site!

Tell us a little about yourself.

I'm a full time mother, full time wife and full time employee of the state of Utah where I was born and raised. I've been married for almost twenty years to a wonderful man who has been an inspiration to me in many ways. I have two beautiful teenage daughters who are driving the boys crazy (not to mention mom and dad), an older stepdaughter who is married and given us the cutest grandson anyone could ask for. I wasn't thrilled at first to be a grandmother at age 35, but now I love it!

I’ve had four stories contracted for publication through electronic companies: three historicals with Champagne Books, and one other historical with Wings-ePress. I’ve won second place in Utah’s Chapter RWA, The Golden Pen Award for my historical, MY KNIGHT, MY ROGUE, and my contemporary, 10 WAYS TO MELT A MAN’S HEART was voted a Reader’s Choice Finalist in the Author’s Red Room Contest. Recently, my historical, MY HEART BELONGS TO YOU, with Champagne Books was chosen for “Publisher’s Pick”.

I’m an active member with RWA, Utah’s Chapter. I’m also involved in several online romance writers’ forums and critique groups. I’m owner of one, and moderator of another geared toward historical romance. I have received 5-star reviews for my published stories. So far I've started thirty-four stories. That was a mouthful, huh? LOL

MY HEART BELONGS TO YOU comes out in April 2005 from Champagne Books. Can we get a preview?

When an ambitious woman seeks to find her wayward husband what she finds is more than she wanted.

Lady Jenna Ashton and Lord Cole Hamilton are married in name only. Abandoned, practically from the alter, Jenna waits two years before seeking out her husband for an annulment. But he has more in his closet than disguises from his investigation business.

Besides finding himself unexplainably attracted to his wife, he has been framed for a crime he didn’t commit. The estranged couple is forced to seek refuge in an old castle, the beastly master of which has plans of his own.

Jenna is swept into a whirlwind of mystery, passion and adventure, but will she discover the truth of her own heart before it’s too late?

What made you take the leap from romance reader to romance writer?

About fifteen or so years ago, my stepmother-in-law gave me my first romance novel to read. "A Rose in Winter", by Kathleen E. Woodiwiss. From that point on, I've been an avid lover of romance - either stories or movies or music. I didn’t get inspired to write until I’d picked up a story that had a really bad ending and I wondered if I could do better. Between that and my dreams, I decided to give writing a try. Now, almost ten years later, I can't stop writing. But I don’t want to stop. I LOVE writing!! I love going into the different world and creating a romantic life – Although my daughters think I like to write so that I have someone to boss around who’ll do everything I say. LOL

 
Describe a typical work day for you.

LOLOL – typical? Every day is different. Since I work an 8-5 morning job and have the weekends off, I tend to do most of my writing during the weekends. But I also like to sneak some writing time in during the week. So – I when I come home from work at 5:00, I rest for a half-hour then rush to get dinner fixed. As soon as I’m finished with dinner (usually around 6:30 –7:00) I’m on my computer until about 10:00. Saturday I spend a lot of time on the computer – but leave every so often to get things done around the house to make it look like I care what my house looks like. (heehee) Sunday I go to church in the morning, come home and take an hour nap – then I’m on the computer until time for bed. Of course – I do take time for my family, which lately has been taking a lot of my writing time.

 
Which of your characters has been the most personal to you?

I actually have two stories where my characters became really personal to me. My western, HOLDING OUT FOR A HERO, which will be released with Wings-ePress in May 2006, means so much to me. While writing this, I named my heroine’s parents after my own parents. At the time, my father was sick and dying, and although I gave the heroine’s father a disability, he didn’t die. My father did pass away not too long after I’d finished the story, and I know he was proud to have his name in this story. Besides that – my characters Summer and Jesse were fun to write. They love to bicker back and forth, but their scenes sizzle with sexual tension.

The second story that comes to mind is my romantic comedy 10 WAYS TO MELT A MAN’S HEART. Right now this story hasn’t been contracted, but I’m crossing my fingers Champagne Books will want it. The reason the characters became so personal is because my heroine Charley is a lot like me. Her feelings of inadequacy, and her clumsy nature, and her crazy off-the-wall sarcasm. Plus – she goes off to find the man of her dreams – when the Mr. Right is in front of her the whole time. That’s a little like me when I was looking for Mr. Wonderful. (BG)

Tell your fans something about you they would never guess.

I’m very musical. I play the piano, sing, love to dance…and I even play the clarinet.

 
 
You find yourself stranded on a desert island, what things could you not survive without?

My romance books, of course!!! I’d have to have my computer with me…and the Internet, of course. LOL

 
How does a character come to life for you?

I live by Debra Dixon’s book – GMC. The more goals, motivation, and conflict I can add to the story, the more my characters respond. I try not to make them too perfect, either. Sure, my hero has to have a perfect body (lol) but I also give him flaws that he’ll have to overcome. Same with heroine. She’ll have the model body I’ll never have, but she also needs something to make her grow. And they have to grow together no matter what.

 
What can fans expect to see from you next?

Oh, what a question!!! I only have twenty some-odd books up my sleeve. LOL I’ll be writing a novella to go in a Christmas Anthology for Champagne Books this winter. Other than that, I want to add to the series I have with Champagne Books. My first historical, MY HEART BELONGS TO YOU, has a sub-character who has a brother. The brother is the sub-character in my story, MY KNIGHT, MY ROGUE, (coming in August). That same brother has his own story which will be coming in December LOVE COMES BLINDLY. But…the series doesn’t stop there. The hero in LCB also has another brother who is a sub-character in one story and the main character in another. It’s my goal next year to revise these stories so they can be published in 2006. Not only that, but I have several other historicals up my sleeves. Of course…during this time I’m sure I’ll be writing more contemporary stories as well.

You write in several different genres. Do you have a favorite?

HISTORICAL!!! Since I read my first historical romance book, A Rose in Winter by Kathleen Woodiwiss, I’ve been hooked on historical – Regency / Victorian era.

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

I don’t think there’s much to tell. My whole life is my family, my church, and my writing – there’s nothing else to me!

Thank you Phyllis for being here with us today.

Thank YOU for wanting to spend time with me and get to know me.

 
For more information on Phyllis Marie Campbell , go to her website.



Interviewed by: Jaymi