Fallen Angel Reviews would like to welcome multi-published author Sahara Kelly. Thank you so much for taking the time to answer a few questions. I'd like to start out by asking you a few questions about your day-to-day life.

Thanks for thinking of me, Serena. Shoot...

What is a typical day like for you?

Pretty quiet as a matter of fact. I’m an early riser, drink far too much coffee first thing in the morning and then hit the computer. I like to write before lunch, then deal with emails and do any other on-line business afterwards. I’ll make my phone calls, and then get caught up with any graphics work that needs to be done. That’s it, I guess. Like I said…rather quiet.

Tell your fans something about you they would never guess.

Hmmm. That’s tough. LOL Well, I’ve never kept it secret that I’m a NASCAR fan…but it’s probably not the kind of thing that immediately leaps into anybody’s mind when they meet me!

Of all things you have accomplished, is there one accomplishment you are most proud of?

Well, I’m a wife and mother, both of which are sources of pride. But I will say that when it comes to my own individual achievements, I’m most proud of my books. Those are uniquely me. The rest of my life involves others - just as it should. I’m very proud of my husband and son. But my books…they’re me and me alone. It’s a nice feeling.

Could you tell us your biggest pet peeves?

How much time do we have? LOL Actually there isn’t much that gets my knickers in a twist…I'm pretty even tempered, but I do dislike people who see a good idea somewhere else and immediately grab it and do it themselves. I don’t like it when it happens on TV and I don’t like it when it happens in the publishing world. There are so many wonderful ideas out there yet to be thought of. Let’s put our brains to work and find them, not rip off somebody else.

Since everybody needs a break, even when doing something they love, how do you like to spend your time away from writing?

Umm…. I used to read a lot but I don’t have as much time to do that any more. I do enjoy a couple of TV shows (CSI’s of course!) and like to catch a movie now and again. I don’t have any hobbies - no quilting or knitting or anything like that. Spending time with a couple of friends is always fun…we try and get together once a month for dinner or a little “field trip” someplace. Just girl time…yakking and laughing.

What makes a book a great book to you?

The characters, no question about it. I HAVE to care about these people, to want to know what happens to them. I have to care about the ones I’m writing every bit as much as the ones in that paperback I bought last weekend. If I don’t care about the characters then I don’t give a hoot whether they end up together or not and neither will my readers. The best books I’ve read have living breathing people jumping off the pages into my head. That’s what I aim for with my stories too.

If you could go anywhere, be anyone, do anything for 24 hours, what would it be?

George Clooney’s bodyguard? Honestly? I don’t know….never been asked that question before! Good one!! Hmmm…oh…I think I’d like to spend a day someplace where I could swim with dolphins. Florida maybe or the Caribbean? I have always wanted to do that. Someday….

What is your favorite part of a book to write?

The part that works! Actually, that is true…sometimes when I’m writing it’s like the gears in a machine which shift slightly and all the plot twists just drop into place, producing a delightfully smooth story which is a heck of a lot better than what I’d originally planned. I do enjoy pretty much all of the process - typing “Chapter 1” is every bit as exciting to me as typing “The End”.

What does your working space look like?

In the morning it’s a bit cluttered with coffee cups! Mostly I’m sort of organized. I have two LCD monitors and a good-sized desk in our family room. I have a phone (with headset) within reach, several pens and staplers, the usual stuff. My most important tool is a pad of flower-shaped sticky notes. Thousands of dollars worth of state of the art technology and I STILL have sticky notes stuck on my monitors to remind me of things. Sigh. I’m waiting for an INTERNAL memory upgrade … for my brain.

Do you outline your stories or do you just write as you go?

I guess I start most of my books with a pretty solid idea of the direction they’re going to take. The outline is in my head and flexible, but it is definitely there. Not on paper though - it’s never helped me to make notes that way unless it’s a really complex story. I did make reams of notes for “Peta and the Wolfe” - my one attempt at a murder mystery which I wrote backwards. LOL Long story for another time. Also “The Gypsy Lovers”…six guys, each with a story…I needed notes to keep timelines and incidents clear in my head so that they could all be tied up neatly at the end.

You write so many different types of books, how do you keep them all straight?

It’s not as hard as you might think. These stories - each character is different, each setting is different - like having a large family. There may be a lot of ‘em in your house over the holidays, but you know Aunt Mary from Cousin Cheryl. Writing in different genres also helps. I slip from contemporaries into the Regency and it’s a whole different mindset. Which sort of leads nicely into your next question…

Do you find that some need more researching than others? Do you enjoy the research part as well as the writing?

Yes to both parts of this question. I LOVE research…never happier than when I’m digging up arcane facts about everything from movies to the Anasazi Indian culture. I am a bit obsessive about the facts I use in my books. I need to get it right. I owe readers - who are paying money for my stories - the most accurate information possible. If a woman gets undressed in one of my historical novels, then I want her wearing appropriate underwear. Bras weren’t invented until the 20th century. Putting her in one in the nineteenth is just careless and inexcusable. It would do me a disservice and cheat my readers.

Can you share some fun tidbits you've discovered while researching?

Hmm. Well, I had a SUPER time researching the Ancient Sumerian culture for “The Sun God’s Woman”. Those Sumerians really knew how to party. They invented beer, brewing the very first recipes (the Sam Adams Company recreated it a couple of years ago. It was “okay but not very marketable”.) The Sumerians were a sexually open society - public sex was an intrinsic part of many of their rituals, same sex affairs were part of every day life, nothing was frowned upon or concealed. They also enjoyed “Huk gil” - a distillation from the poppy! Those guys…beer, drugs…free sex…it must have been like Woodstock without the mud. LMAO Is it any wonder I set a couple of stories there? I HAVE to write another one there soon, come to think of it. There goes another sticky note on the monitor. .

Which are your favorite characters from your books? From anyone else's books?

Oh, tough question. I first fell in love with Kate Douglas’s aliens from her Starquest series, long before I wrote for Ellora’s Cave. And also Jaid Black’s Trek Mi-Quan warriors. Then there’s Marly Chance’s Oath series and those wonderfully sexy men of hers. So many great characters. These days I find myself continually impressed with S.L Carpenter’s people - of course, we write together, so I’m probably pretty biased there. LOL As far as my own books go…well, that’s like trying to pick a favorite child. I love ‘em all.

Your book, Georgie and Her Dragon, is coming soon from Ellora's Cave. I love the tagline, "No dragons were harmed during the writing of this tale". Can you tell us a bit about it?

(Smiles) Glad you like it. I had enormous fun with this little off-beat story. It’s an irreverent fairy tale, complete with a princess, a dragon and a fairy. A horny fairy with a headache. Of course, since it’s a fairy story it has a happy ending. Sort of. I’m afraid I sort of spoofed a variety of genres and just let it all go…I do like a good laugh and I’m hoping readers will share this one. Ellora’s Cave has been amazingly patient with me…one minute I’m sending my editor a savage and violent vampire tale and the next she gets Georgie! Poor dear has skidmarks on her brain from my books, I swear.

Do you have anything else in the works right now?

Absolutely. I have a contemporary in final edits (All Night Video book 2: At Cross Purposes), a short novella that invokes the Anasazi (Anasazi Lassie), and a gothic contemporary called “An Unkindness of Ravens” which may be the first in a series. Those are finished. Plus I’m into Book 2 of my “Shadows” Regency vampire series (Flame of Shadows was released in January). Then there’s the story Scott Carpenter and I are working on right now…Book 3 in the Partners in Passion series…the two stories going into anthologies… Um…yeah, I guess I have stuff in the works. LOLLOL I really do ADORE my job, can’t you tell?

I have to ask, is there any story behind the blue lotus on your site?

Sort of… My first book (Alana’s Magic Lamp) needed something that would work for a mystical genie-type prop, yet be easily identifiable. I found the Blue Lotus and did some research into its history…I also found incense in a Blue Lotus fragrance which I loved, and the flower itself was so beautiful it stunned me. It became my logo and my good luck symbol since that book was the first one accepted by Ellora’s Cave. I also have it tattooed on my ankle. I guess it’s probably a good thing I chose a flower, not a camel or something.

Is there anything you'd like to add?

Just my thanks for these great questions!! And my thanks to all the FAR reviewers! You’re all extremely important to us writers - we learn a lot from each and every one of your reviews…and we’re VERY grateful!! You rock!!!

Thanks again for taking the time to talk with us at FAR. If you'd like to find out more about this talented woman, check out her website at: www.saharakelly.com.

Interviewed by: Serena