Hello Yolanda and welcome to FAR. We are really pleased to have you with us today. Readers are eager to learn more about Yolanda Sfetsos and her great books.

Wow, your cover certainly caught my attention on your website, very nice indeed. You certainly spin some noteworthy stories that bring on a dynamite read.

Yolanda, the readers would love to share a day with you. Why not begin by telling us what we are in store for as we follow you around for a day?

Hi Linda, thank you so much for having me here.

I have to agree with you, the Wither cover is certainly eye catching. I never get tired of looking at it and splash it around as much as I can. :)

Well, an average weekday for me involves getting up as soon as the alarm goes off in the morning. I usually sneak out and check my emails, then get hubby up so we can either do a yoga workout or lift some weights. That’s shortly followed by the usual rushing around morning routine of brekky, showers, and getting my daughter ready for school. We walk her to school, drop her off and then walk back. After that it’s lunchtime with hubby. When he goes to work, I’m left home alone with Loki (my cat) and the characters that live inside my head. Lol.

This is when I buckle down and get writing or revising. I try to squeeze in as much as I can before it’s time to head out again.

Once my daughter gets home I don’t do any writing. I might squeeze in some reading, though. When she’s tucked in for the night, I get stuck into a little more work before hubby gets home. By this time I’m pretty much ready to go to bed, and ready to get up the next morning to do it all over again.

Could you enlighten us a bit about your latest, Wither, Book One, and a bit about this series?

Wither’s the first book in my Sci-Fi world. The series is called Recast and if you read it, you’ll know why. Every story in this world will somehow be connected to the Recast.

In the first installment we meet Colt, a space cowboy who wrangles for a living and winds up helping his ex. She’s a feisty sheriff with a feral problem and a whole lot of secrets.

In future books I intend to extend the world and visit other planets and space stations. There’ll be a different hero and heroine in each, but characters from previous books will make appearances. I love doing that!

Where did you get the inspiration for this series?

I wanted to write a story about a space cowboy. That’s where the whole idea came from. I’m a huge fan of Cowboy Bebop, Trigun, Firefly, and the original Star Wars movies. I really wanted to write something that captured my love for the genre, but give it my own twist. And that’s where the idea for Recast came from.

I also wanted it to be sexy, with lots of wonderful opportunities for romance, as well as other less romantic situations. It was important that every character had some sort of dark past that somehow shaped what they’ve become.

Oh, and I wanted to throw in some sort of otherworldly angle too…

Could you tell us where you get all the ideas for your books?

I wish I could. But I get ideas from the strangest places and at the oddest times. Sometimes I’ll wake up from a dream that seemed more like a movie and quickly jot everything down. And there’s a story. Other times characters seep into my head from out of nowhere, and then the world slowly comes together. I’ve even merged more than one idea to become one story.

I like to credit my muse for the ideas because she’s a slave driver… ah, I mean, she’s always on the lookout for inspiration. ;)

What does your work area look like?

I don’t have a desk, so my work area can be the main computer desk or one of the couches in the living room. I grab my notebooks, research, pens, laptop and stable table and move around, settling wherever I feel like sitting at the time.

It’s cool.

In your opinion, what are the three most essential ingredients of an excellent novel?

A compelling plot, sympathetic/interesting characters, as well as an interesting voice that keeps me reading.

How do you keep your ideas fresh and imaginative?

By being aware of everything going on around me, the smallest details can spark a whole story. I like to take notes, and sometimes don’t return to them for ages. I like to let them simmer. Music, pics, research, and walks also help keep my mind wandering. And of course, reading helps to keep my imagination active.

You have written a good many stories, which one would you; say has left the most impact on you?

I spend so much time with each story--from starting as a small idea inside my head, until I’ve done several drafts to clean it up--that all of them leave some sort of impact on me. There are, however, some that get so under my skin that I can’t help but write more than one story set in that world, and continually find myself coming back for more.

Oh, Yolanda, I love to watch Supernatural, Burn Notice, and True Blood, too. If you had the opportunity to be cast on any one of the three shows which one would you choose?

OMG, talk about a hard question! Um… I’d love to have a small part in all of them, to be honest. Can you imagine hanging out with the cast of any of those shows? Talk about cool. But if I have to pick only one, I’m going to have to go with Supernatural. I’d love to spend an episode with the Winchester boys chasing monsters in the night. Awesome!

Do you have a favorite pair of shoes that you cannot do without?

I absolutely LOVE sneakers and have quite a few, but I have a lovely black pair of Converse Lo-tops that I couldn’t do without. They were the only shoes I could wear after I broke my pinkie toe last year. Plus they just rock!

You have been asked to switch homes with a family that lives in New Zealand for a month. They live in your home for a month, you in theirs, do you agree?

Ah, no, I’m going to have to pass. I like things to be a certain way. Even my clutter is somewhat organized. So, no, I couldn’t let anyone else live in my home for any amount of time if I’m not there. Besides, I love my apartment too much to go anywhere else.

Would you like to share your website, or myspace or any other links so readers can see what you are up to?

Sure, that would be great.

Website: http://www.yolandasfetsos.com
Twitter: http://www.yolandasfetsos.com
Blog: http://ysfetsos.blogspot.com/
LiveJournal: http://yolandasfetsos.livejournal.com/
MySpace: www.myspace.com/yolandasfetsos

If you could switch places with anyone for a day, whose shoes would you like to fill?

You know, this is probably going to sound really boring, but I don’t want to switch places with anyone. I like being me. I’ve reached a place in my life where I’m finally comfy in my own skin, accomplishments, and ongoing ambitions. I love my little family and wouldn’t want to change that even for a day.

Yolanda, I cannot thank you enough for sharing time with us today, and I wish you success in your writing.

Thank you so much, Linda. It’s been a pleasure.

Interviewed by: Linda L.