Today I have the opportunity to interview Nancy Darryl.

Good morning, Nancy, it is so good to have you with us today! Welcome to Fallen Angel Reviews and thanks for taking time from your busy schedule to visit with us.

Thanks for having me, nice to be here!

I would like to tell you, Nancy, that I read your book, Here Lies Love, and really enjoyed it. Did you have fun writing it?

I’m so glad you enjoyed it, that means a lot to me. I did have fun writing it, although it’s always more fun once the first draft is nailed down. Until that happens I tend to fret about the characters—what they’re doing or how they’re feeling, and is the plot making sense, etc. Once I’m happy with the first draft I really enjoy fleshing out the rest of the book, that’s my favorite part.

Why don’t you tell us what it’s like in the life of Nancy Darryl?

I live with my husband and twenty-one year old daughter and my dog, Sam. My twenty-three year old daughter got married and left the nest last summer. I’ve retired from nursing, so now I’m able to write full-time. I spend most mornings writing but allow time to do promotion work as well. I stick to a regular schedule and take my writing very seriously. Evenings and weekends are for family and friends (unless I’m in The Zone, or have a deadline coming up). Then I hole up in my office until the work is done.

Have you always desired to be a writer?

I never thought about being a writer at all, but it’s in my blood. My father was a writer, unfortunately he never published the non-fiction book he worked on all his life. But he owned a small publishing company in Montreal in the seventies and they published commercial brochures and pamphlets for different industries, so he made a good living. Their biggest project was the Guidebook for the ‘76 Olympic Games. My sister wrote more than I did, in journals and magazine columns, and in fact released her first novel last year also. I started writing as a way to relieve job stress, and that’s when I realized how much I loved it. And I’ve always loved to read romance, so I decided to write what I know.

What was your reaction when you sold your first book?

Disbelief, initially. After so many ‘no, thank-yous,’ it was a shocker. But I was really happy and proud of myself. I celebrated with a large glass of red wine.

Are you characters sometimes based on real people or made up?

They’re definitely made up, but they come from inside of me, and so they’re a culmination of my personal experiences in life, or the result of things I’ve read or heard about. My husband helps me with questions I may have about the men in my books, you know, ‘would a guy do this or that’. He gives me the male point of view, which is very helpful. I’ll also discuss plot scenarios with him, it helps to run those by somebody first. I also have a great critique partner, Selena Robins, (Sabrina’s Destiny, Treble Heart Books) who keeps me on the straight and narrow.

Do you listen to music or watch television when you are busy writing, sort of like an inspiration?

Music is a definite inspiration, so I’ll listen to my MP3 player while I’m running the treadmill. I enjoy walks outside, and that’s when I’ll think about my stories. But when I’m actually writing, I need a quiet atmosphere so I can concentrate on the people in my head.

Do you have an agent?

No, not yet. My dream is that one will come along some day, someone who loves my work and believes in it.

What would surprise your readers about Nancy?

No big surprises about me, really. I left a lucrative nursing job to write full-time, (mostly for health reasons) but there are a lot of writers out there who ‘quit their day job’ in order to write. Thankfully I don’t need to support myself on what I make from writing, or I’d be out on the street! Contrary to popular belief, new authors don’t make a ton of money with their books.

If you could choose someone to write with you whether living or dead, whom would you choose?

My sister, Lesley Crewe. I’d like to do an anthology with her. She writes women’s fiction, more mainstream than romance, but there are some similarities in our writing.

Have you ever written a screenplay or considered writing one?

I’ve never written one, but I have considered it, and someday I probably will. I’ll write about an older heroine, somebody fascinating and unique. Then I’d send it to one of the ‘older’ actresses in Hollywood looking for decent scripts, somebody like Jane Fonda or Meryl Streep or even Shirley MacLaine. They’ve long complained about the lack of strong roles for older women in Hollywood. It’s disappointing how few unique and interesting scripts are made into movies. There are too many remakes out there…I mean, how many King Kong remakes to we need? Hollywood has forgotten how to entertain moviegoers. Now whoever has the most money and clout makes movies. Sometimes they get a hit, but more often than not, the stories are just boring.

What is the longest book length that you have written, published or not?

My books average anywhere from 75,000 to 90,000 words.

Do you have a favorite author?

Jennifer Crusie, I love her writing. I also enjoy Janet Evanovich.

Do you have a website other than this one that you would like to share? www.nancydarryl.com

Sure, I’ll put a plug in for my big sister, Lesley, at www.lesleycrewe.com. Her book, Relative Happiness, was released September 2005 from Vagrant Press, an imprint of Nimbus Publishing, Halifax.

Is there a link where anyone can buy your books that you would like to share with us?

My book, Here Lies Love, can be purchased online in CD, PDF download or trade paperback at Champagne Books, www.champagnebooks.com

My next release, Bad Hair Day, will be ready this spring from Treble Heart Books, www.trebleheartbooks.com

Would you like to add anything else that your readers might enjoy?

If you drop by my website, please sign my guestbook, I love hearing from readers!

Nancy, we really appreciate you stopping by today and sharing time with us. Anyone who would like to read more about Nancy and her engaging books be sure to look at her website. You don’t want to miss all the books that she has out and those she is working on. It has been a delight talking with you and best of luck to you in your writing career.

Thank you, Linda, it was my pleasure.

Interviewed by: Linda L