Today I am speaking with Shawna Moore.

Hi Shawna! And welcome to Fallen Angel Reviews! It is great to have you with us today. Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to answer some questions for us. The readers would love to hear something about Shawna Moore.

Shawna, you have a lovely pink tempting website. Why not begin by telling the readers about your outstanding books?

Shawna's pages are provocative and a reflection of the heat level of her fiction. My books embody real-life lessons as well as flights of fantasy. The heroines are tenacious and successful in their own right, but many of them make the mistake of falling for the wrong guy in the process of finding Mister Right-For-Romance. The heroes are Alphas but men who aren't afraid to let their softer/nurturing/caring sides show. They'll take a woman to her emotional and physical heights, dare her to confront her biggest fears, but they'll also be around with a steady hand and a strong shoulder upon which the heroine can lean in times of strife and turmoil. To date I've released various fiction works as follows, and the links below them are where readers will find excerpts, reviews and more information --

SAINTS AND SINNERS -- a touching historical erotic romance set in Jazz Age Lower Eastside Manhattan

http://www.grant-moore.com/shawna/sns.html

TAMING THE TEMPTRESS -- a bawdy Western historical erotic romance set in 1880 Tombstone

http://www.grant-moore.com/shawna/tempt.html

FORBIDDEN HUNGER -- a gripping historical erotic romance novella set in 1700 Salem Village

http://www.grant-moore.com/shawna/fh.html

LICKS AND PROMISES -- a high-voltage erotica novella set in Manhattan

http://www.grant-moore.com/shawna/licks.html

JINGLE BELL ROCK -- a sizzling contemporary erotic romance set in Malibu and Wyoming

http://www.grant-moore.com/shawna/wip.html

DEEP UNDERCOVER -- a gritty contemporary erotic romance/suspense set in Miami

http://www.grant-moore.com/shawna/deep.html

How long have you been writing and have you always wanted to be a writer?

Ever since childhood, my vivid imagination and fondness for creating fictional worlds have found me journalizing, performing skits for friends and family, and writing stories of varying lengths. Well before starting Kindergarten, I wrote storybooks featuring woodland animals, puppies and bears. At age eight, my Christmas play, KRIS KRINGLE'S CHRISTMAS CAPER, was presented at my grade school. During high school, I served as newspaper editor and also won various writing competitions. As a professional and full-time pursuit, I've been writing since January of 2001. With the support and blessing of my real-life hero, I left working in and managing medical offices behind. Writing has always been a strong passion of mine.

Is there anyone that you would love to pen a book with either living or dead?

Definitely F. Scott Fitzgerald, Tennessee Williams, D. H. Lawrence, Fannie Flagg, Rebecca Wells, and John Steinbeck are all authors with whom I'd love collaborating. There are countless others whose books I admire, but these are authors who fictional works touch a chord deep within me.

After you've written your book and it's been published, do you ever buy it and/or read it?

At present, I don't re-read my books once they are published. However, once I'm a decade into my career, I will likely page through some of the older releases simply to see how I've grown as an author.

Among your own books, do you have one favorite? Perhaps a favorite hero or heroine?

Of the books, short stories and novellas I've published, there is a tie for my favorite hero and heroine. In FORBIDDEN HUNGER, a historical erotic romance set in 1700 Salem Village, I admire Sarah Bradford for her courage in daring to defy societal convention and explore her physical and emotional attraction to the Village's young doctor, Thomas Thorne. Thomas is a man driven by his profession, and he finds a soul mate and a savior in Sarah. She opens up a new world for him and shows him that there are other, more pleasurable pursuits than ministering to others' troubled bodies. But it is through his special touch and healing that Sarah's character strengthens and grows. Also, in my latest book, DEEP UNDERCOVER, which is a contemporary erotic romance/suspense set in Miami, a Narc., Jade Hunter, is a woman who has paid a steep emotional price for her dedication to undercover duty. She's emerged stronger but relationship-wary from an abusive relationship, but it takes the book's hero, Brad Masters--a playboy club owner--to show her it's not a sign of weakness to rely upon others on occasion. Brad is her informant/cohort in crime-solving when they team up to bring down his heroin-trafficking uncle.

Within your writing career what book had been the easiest for you to compose? The hardest? The most fun?

The contemporaries were, by far, the easiest to compose. The hardest are always the historicals due to the fact one must strike the proper tone and setting for the time period. The hardest one to write was also the most fun. FORBIDDEN HUNGER, a novella-length fiction work, was composed in three days. A trip to Salem months beforehand spurred the storyline idea. In the wee hours of one morning, I awoke and booted up the writing computer. The first several scenes had played out in my dream, and I wrote over fifty pages in less than two hours. All of my books are labors of love and immensely satisfying pursuits during the plotting, researching, writing and editing process.

With your creating, which comes first, the story, the characters or the setting?

This can vary, but usually the story and characters come to mind about the same time. But I always let the characters dictate their paths through the stories. They solve their own problems, create their own passionate scenes, embark on their own journeys for knowledge, self-actualization, love, etc. It's their world, and I abide by their need to live it, and love in it, in the way they see fit. As for setting, in some books this counts as a more major player/character. In others, it plays a lesser role. I prefer Southern settings for my fiction simply because of the steamy/graphic nature of the storyline content. Also because those Southern jaunts have proven my most memorable/enjoyable. However, a recent extended vacation to the beautiful New England states has me contemplating some new settings for future stories.

What do you feel are the great elements of a wonderful romance for you?

I adore Alpha heroes, but they must never become abusive. They can be aggressive in pursuing the heroine, and in pursuing their chosen endeavors/professions, but they must respect the heroine. While I enjoy happily-ever-after endings, I don't find them imperative in a romance. A story and its characters dictate whether or not this occurs, and they might choose a happily-for-now or simply show a promise of commitment. Also, I believe there is a place for drama, trauma and loss in romance fiction. I'm likely in the minority with my viewpoints here, but that's fine. One of the things I don't believe is necessary in a romance is for the hero and heroine to be together on every single page, or nearly every single page. In love, that is stifling rather than strengthening. I'm a pragmatist/realist, but I'm also a woman who believes in true romance. I was blessed with finding one of those storybook heroes, and recently celebrated ten wonderfully happy years of marriage with him. However, I believe in including some of the aspects of real-life in my books. A bit of grit along with a bit of heart-pounding passion. A bit of sadness along with a bit of sweetness. Those types of fictional romances have stood the test of literary time, and those are the ones I prefer reading and writing. I cannot suspend disbelief if all goes well all of the time for a hero or heroine, or if all goes well for all but a small segment of the story. Give me a bit of grit and drama. Also, I write erotica. One of the things I always stress when chatting with friends and readers is erotica differs from erotic romance. In erotica, there need NOT be a romance, but sometimes an author includes one.

Do you find it hard or fairly easy to compose the synopsis of the story? Do you do this before or after the story is finished?

I enjoy writing synopses, hook lines, blurbs and pitches. Those are some of the most fun parts of the writing process for me. When I first started writing with intent toward publication, I was a seat-of-the-pants writer. Admittedly, upon looking back over those first several books a year or so ago, I realize I should have remained true to myself and plotted them in advance. I'm a staunch planner in most every aspect of my life. While I love spontaneity in my own romance, I prefer having a "road map" for my fictional story in place when composing the first sentence to the last. This advance planning also meshes with my fondness of time management.

Are you in control of your characters or do they control you?

I learned pretty early on to let the characters control their fictional destinies. The story flows more smoothly this way and characters remain truer to themselves. Also, I enjoy seeing where they steer the story and how they overcome conflict and reach their goals--usually one of which is finding love.

Have you ever experienced any form of writer’s block and if so were you quickly able to work through it?

As one who can focus on one task or many at a time, I've never had the misfortune of suffering bona fide writer's block. When I reach a point in the writing process where something stalls or isn't flowing as well as I want, I walk away for a short time and focus on something else. Usually within a very short period of time, I'm back at the keyboard and have brainstormed through the passage where I stopped. Sometimes I delve into a bit of research for forthcoming details/chapters. This works very well, gives my left brain a chance to play, and pushes my right brain past any possible periods of creative block. Most times, in the midst of Googling or reading something for research details, I have to jot down notes quickly and minimize the web page in order to return to the place where I'd paused in the writing process.

What do you think is the most rewarding thing about being a writer?

The ability to create fictional worlds and characters, bring them to publishing life, and share them with a readership.

If you weren't writing, what would you be doing?

Career-wise, I cannot see myself pursuing anything other than one in publishing. However, some of my favorite pastimes are--listening to music (especially that of the Beatles or Classic Rock from the 60s and 70s), shopping (especially for shoes), traveling, spending time with my real-life hero/love of my life, reading, and taking aerobic walks.

Do you have any words of encouragement for unpublished writers?

Never surrender to the self-doubt demon. It has bitten this diva on her derriere more times than she cares to count. Don't worry about perfection, because your perfection is someone else's sublime. Listen to your own creative instincts and let them drive your stories. Pamper and protect your authorial voice the same as you would a loved one or favorite pet.

Is there anything that you would like to add to this interview that I might have overlooked?

With God's grace and Shawna's sassiness, I'm hopeful my career will last until I reach the century mark in age. I love hearing from readers and invite them to contact me via my website at www.grant-moore. As well, feel free to drop me a note at shawnamoore96@yahoo.com.

May your wildest dreams become reality!

Do you have a website other than www.grant-moore.com that you would like to share with your readers?

At the present time, the grant-moore site is my only cyber home.

Thank you so much for sharing time with us today, Shawna.

It has been a pleasure, Linda. Many thanks for letting me provide a glimpse into Shawna's writing world :) Best wishes to you and the staff at Fallen Angel Reviews :)

Anyone interested in reading more about Shawna and her stunning books, please visit her website to read more about her wonderful works. It has been a pleasure Shawna, and I wish you the best always.


Interviewed by: Linda L