Today I am speaking with Carol McPhee.

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

Carol, I was fascinated by your website and the fact you live in a log cabin. I have always wanted one myself. And the picture of the canoe and the water, I imagine you have some fun times.

The cabin is our summer cottage. We let the grass grow long and wild to give me the feel of the rustic cabin used in Undercover Trouble and Jeweled Seduction. I don't think the neighbours were impressed.

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

I've been writing for ten years. I never gave writing a thought before 1996.

How many books have you written in your lifetime and how many have been published?

I've finished 12 full manuscripts; 6 have been published and three more are due for release by next year.

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

I always buy copies of my books for myself and our four grown children but haven't read them yet. I've started reading Something About That Lady from time to time but because it was my first published, my hands get shaky and I have to put it down.

Among your own books, have you a favorite book? Favorite hero or heroine?

My favourite book is always the one I've written last. But looking at them all, I would have to say Something About That Lady. My favourite hero is Jed from that story and Andrea from Be Still, My Heart!

What book for you has been the easiest to write? The hardest? The most fun?

The easiest and most fun was Undercover Trouble. The book wrote itself and it was a joy to sit at the computer each morning to see where the characters took me.

Which comes first, the story, the characters or the setting?

It varies. In None So Blind, the first story I ever wrote and also my latest release, the plot kept spinning in my mind. I wrote it down to get rid of it, lol. Little did I know another story would replace it, then another and so on. In Means To An End, the gorgeous Nova Scotia coastline setting came first and gave me ideas for several novels. In Jeweled Seduction the plot came barreling into my head and led to the most complex involvement I've ever had the pleasure of knowing.

What are the elements of a great romance for you?

A lovely setting that fits the mood of the characters, a growing attraction between the hero and heroine, and the conversion of the hero from an indifferent personality going about his ordinary life to a tender, caring man interested in the heroine's well-being more than his own are elements that send my heart in a dither.

What is the hardest part of writing/the easiest for you?

Writing a synopsis of the story is the hardest part. The easiest is putting the characters together then standing back to type out what happens.

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

The characters definitely control me and I wouldn't want it any other way.

Have you experienced writer's block---> If so, how did you work through it?

Recently I experienced it for three weeks and once I discovered the root of the problem I eliminated it. I had forced my plot in an unrealistic direction.

What is the most rewarding thing about being a writer?

The most rewarding thing is for a reader to tell me how much they enjoy my stories.

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

Growing old. lol.

Are there any words of encouragement for unpublished writers?

Two things I will recommend. Write something everyday and persist with your dream.

What question would you love to answer that I didn't ask?

My question would be: Do you need help in writing your stories? I would answer that I have a fabulous group of aspiring male and female writers in an online writing group called wePublish. They are the wind at my back and their advice is invaluable. My writing chapter of Romance Writers Of Atlantic Canada gave me the foundation I needed and continue to provide ongoing support for my endeavors.

Do you have a website other than http://www.geocities.com/carolmcphee2003 that you would like to share with your readers?

Yes, the site where my books are currently sold:
www.wingsepress.com

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

Thank you for having me and giving me time to reflect.

Anyone interested in reading more about Carol and her marvelous books, please visit her website to read more about her wonderful works. It has been a pleasure Carol, and I wish you the best with your writing.

Interviewed by: Linda L