Today I am speaking with Kally Jo Surbeck.

Good Morning Kally Jo, thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to talk to Fallen Angel Reviews today.

Thank you so much for having me.

Kally, I love the introduction of your website, it is quite alluring and pulls the reader into all your great works. You are a wonderful storyteller.

Thank you very much. The website usually gets update at least once a month so there are new and exciting links, stories, causes, promos and the likes. Try to have a bit for everyone

Why not begin by telling us about your works in progress?

Works in progress! Whew! 2007 is just full up, it seems. I have been incredibly blessed to have a line up of upcoming and in the pipeline.

From Vintage Romance Publishing the second book in my Bound series – Bound By Dreams is slated for a late April release. This is my sweet historical series set in 1907 Minnesota. BBD is Lucas and MaryBeth’s stories brought to you solely by reader demand. That is such a cool feeling, knowing that people cared enough about my characters to still want more.

Samhain Publishing has thrilled me with taking my Yadderwal Series that was previously released from Triskelion. The books have been expanded and I am so in love with this series that I have plotted out and am planning on pitching 3 more books to the series. Both SUDDEN FALL and WHISPERED PROMISE are slated for a 2007 release. I will keep you posted on additional books for that series. I have been lucky enough to have that high fantasy world of Yadderwal embraced by Samhain and RT, where it received a 4.5 review. WHISPERED PROMISE was a Recommended Read here at FAR and SUDDEN FALL was a 5 angel review! I hope everyone will really enjoy the expanded versions...

Phaze, the romantic subsidiary of Mundania, has offered me and a couple of my dear friends a fantastic opportunity. Kara Fey, Rena Marks, Melissa Schroeder and I will be releasing a fantasy anthology from them spring 2007. It’s based on the sisters of FATE, hence the name TEMPTING FATE. My story is about Atropos the Death Dealer, entitled THE AWAKENING. It’s kind of a dark story about personal growth and realization. We have a fantastic blend in the anthology with varying heat levels and humor. We have the full spectrum there, so there should be a little bit of something to please all of our readers.

New Concepts Publishing has contracted the love of my life. That’s right, the first book I ever wrote. Now, to be fair, it is no longer the first book I wrote. That book was 478 pages of back story. But this trilogy is what made me start writing novels. It is a high fantasy as well. It is still tentatively entitled SUCH AS THESE Book I NO NEUTRAL GROUND. This novel was a finalist in the KoD Daphne contest!

I have a couple more projects I am working on, but nothing else contracted at this moment.

Do you have a favorite author? Favorite book?

A favorite author? Hmm. I do not think that I can pick a single favorite. Just as in life and with my friends, I like to surround myself with lots of different people and stories and skills. I read almost all genres and just really look for a good story. Some of my favorite books that are on my keeper shelves:

Dance With The Devil -- Sherrilyn Kenyon
Bewitched -- Jill Barnett
Silk and Steel -- Kat Martin
Killjoy -- Julie Garwood
The Body Farm -- Patricia Cornwell
A Maiden’s Grave -- Jeffery Deaver
Chalice And The Blade -- Glenna McReynolds
The Stand (Unabridged) -- Stephen King
The Last Mermaid -- Shana Abe

I have so many! But those are right there at eye level.

Who are some of your other favorite authors to read?

I am so blessed to be friends with a lot of my favorite authors and I get to do promo with a group of ladies I adore: Melissa Schroeder, Eve Vaughn, Bev Havlir, Liz Andrews, Maggie Casper, Lena Matthews we are all in a group called Sexual Chocolate. That said, I love their work. Other keeper authors are: Christine Feehan, Pamela Clare, Tara Janzen, Rachel Gibson, Jenny Cruise, Katherine Kingsley, Kristina Cook, Amelia Grey, Larry Martin, Michael Crichton, Jeff Strand, Lori Handland, Jo Beverly, Joan Johnston, Amanda Quick, Elaine Cordvidae, and the lists go on and on. Books are my investment. Okay Okay. They are a must have and I have 3 keeper bookcases and I need more!

Who, if anyone, has influenced your writing?

There are so many people who have influenced my writing. I would say everyone does a little bit, every day. Each conversation and experience molds the way I think and the way I respond. So there probably isn’t anyone who hasn’t influenced my writing in some way or the other. That said, I would say that my mother has most greatly influenced my writing.

What are some of your favorite things to do?

My favorite thing to do is laugh, followed closely by be surprised. Now, let me clarify that. Not like WHOA Surprise Party. I’m talking about when you are chatting with an old friend or you go to the grocery story and you see something that just pleasantly surprises you. Like a respectful kid, or a rainbow, or your favorite cookies are on sale.

Are you a member of any author groups - RWA, critique groups, etc.?

I am in so many groups. KoD, RWA, CRW, PPRWA, RBL. Of course, the sexual chocolate group. I am a part of a local sorority. I’m in Mary Kay. I have 3 different critique groups. They all serve different needs and functions.

What do you think of critique groups in general?

I think crit groups can be very beneficial if everyone goes into it with an open mind and if folks are really there for the same purpose. I have some of my best friends because I started in their crit group. I have been very blessed to be surrounded by talented people who have helped me with my writing and life in general.

But again, I think everyone there has to go in with the same purpose. I think it would be terribly hard if one person really wants published, one wants to have a social group, and one considers writing a fun past time. While those people could all get along very well – it’s hard to make sure everyone gets what they need from the group.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

I would like to see me as a steady seller. Someone readers keep on their keeper shelves. Still hearing from readers how much they love a certain character and where are they now. Mostly, I just want to still be writing consistently good books.

How many books have you written, how many have been published?

All of the books I have written have been sold, contracted, or published – hopefully more in the works! I have 2 anthology participations, 2 short stories, and I think 8 books.

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

This is a hard call for me. Because I love each book for what it is and who the characters are. And I have been so blessed in being able to have historicals, romantic comedies, action/adventure, romantic suspense, and fantasies. They are all so diverse, I cannot pick one – it’s like apples and oranges.

What book for you has been the easiest to write?

The easiest, fastest book to write was SHE BLINDED ME WITH SCIENCE FICTION followed closely by FOR THE LOVE OF. I think they were like 24/48 difference in time it took me to write them. They were just like watching a movie. I could tell you what I was seeing.

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

Yes! I don’t know that I have completely overcome it. This year has been a horribly difficult one for me personally. I have experienced a lot of loss. For me, I surround myself with people who are working toward the same thing, who look on the bright side of life, and those who just keep going. I take my lead from that and get involved. If I can’t be working that day, there is somewhere I can be helping. That is how I get through it.

Do you have another website other than www.kallyjosurbeck.com that you would like to share?

No. That one links to anything else I might be on

What is Kally’s favorite food?

Favorite food varies on my mood. I love to eat those chicken wraps at Applebees. I like Chili’s tortilla soup. Cheeseburgers are fabulous. Olive Garden….ahhh. Now I am hungry. Tonight’s menu is chicken green chili enchiladas. Everyone be careful, I’m cooking.

If you could be on a deserted island for a weekend with anyone, who would you take with you?

Can’t I have revolving weekends? No? Hmm. I suppose it would be.. PSYCH! I’ll never tell.

Is there anything else that you would like to tell your readers?

I would really like to thank everyone who has offered me their support since I have started writing. Those who have cheered me on and stuck with me. Those who write me and let me know what they like seeing and tell me what they want more of. I would tell them what I tell my best friend every day…my favorite word. BELIEVE.

Psst and to still keep in touch. It might take me a bit to write back, but I almost always do! Come join my loop chat with me and or my friends. Oh oh oh! And before I forget I wanted to talk about two more things. No. Wait. Three

They all involve RT. Three in one.

Mel and I will be hosting our reader party for the 3rd year. We are really excited about it and are already getting the names down of folks who want to come. Let either of us know if you are interested. Should be a good time. Secondly, the Sexual Chocolate group is hosting a workshop called LICK THAT CRAVING where we will be talking about how people who write different heat levels, different genres, how we all work together to cross promote. At the party we will be having some chocolate buffet of some kind. We will all be available to sign copies of our books – that way you don’t have to stand in line at the booksigning Perk. And lastly, Mel and I are backing (don’t read that much into my wording) the MR ROMANCE competition. We are not in anyway tied to the competition other than thinking we want to see more people participate in it. So both she and I have offered up that if any guy enters the contest and says that he did it because he heard about it from either Mel or myself, we will have lunch or dinner or a drink with said contestant at RT. Could be fun…

Kally, I enjoyed our talk today and wish you continued success in your writing career. Your stories have a way of really reaching out to the reader.

Thank you for your time!

Interviewed by: Linda L