[Interview] Winnie J. Panicker

Winnie J. Panicker lives in Kerala, India.

She published her first poetry collection, Loveliness of Dawn (MaluBen Publications, 2004), when she was 17 years old.

She followed this up with Flowers on the Violin which is due out shortly from Bluemango Books.

In this email interview, Winnie Panicker talks about her concerns as a writer.

When did you start writing?

I started writing when I was in my 7th grade. I was 13 then.

It was my dad who introduced me the site poetry.com and in the beginning I used to just write for fun. Later, I realized that poetry was a medium through which I could express myself freely. Then I started writing for that website often.

When I started writing, I never had the plan to be a published writer. I just wrote what I felt like writing.

When I was in my 10th grade, I had a set of poems in my hands and I thought of publishing them. I talked to my dad and he helped me contact the publishers.

My first book, Loveliness of Dawn, was published in 2004 when I was in my 11th grade. The book is a collection with 33 of my poems. The foreword was written by Shri Ayyappa Paniker.

How would you describe your writing?

I write about all topics. War, love, old age, childhood, nature, colors... all have become my topics.

I don't usually use rhymes or a pattern. Most of my poems are in the style of prose. I try to mix emotions with color, nature and so on. I also try to portray the ills of society through my poems. When I feel there is no other way for me to respond to what is happening around me, I write about it and in that way respond.

Who would influenced you most?

Well… I personally don't have a favorite writer or author. I like Sylvia Plath and Robert Frost.

There is no particular person who has influenced me, but my parents have inspired me and have encouraged me to write a lot. I would, right now, say that they are the people who have given me the urge to write.

Right now my publishers, BlueMango Books, are also giving me a lot of encouragement.

My friends and teachers, too, have played a big part. I have friends who critique my poems and who comment on how I can improve it.

What are your main concerns as a writer?

I believe it's the obligation of every writer to defend the common man, their rights and freedom.

I have written some poems on social issues such as prostitution, war, corruption and so on. For example, my poem, "Filthy Roads" is about the tragic lives of some unfortunate women in the Red streets. "Broken Dreams and Hopes", on the other hand, is about war. It is about the despair of a father and mother who lost their only child in a war.

How have your personal experiences influenced your writing?

Till my 10th grade, I was in Saudi Arabia. There, I used to miss my home. I never got the opportunity to stay with my grandparents. I used to miss that part of my life and have written some poems about that. Poems like "one day even you will be".

After leaving Saudi, I experienced hostel life and there, too, I used to write about the loneliness. Being in my teens, infatuations have also found a way into my poetry.

I love being in Kerala. At first, the rituals around death, marriage and so on, all, were alien to me. Everything was a new experience for me. Kerala has given me more experiences than Saudi.

What are the biggest challenges that you face?

Being recognized as a writer is not an easy task. If there is anything in my poems that readers find worthy, then I consider it my blessing.

Right now, the biggest challenge that I am facing is to match my readers' expectation. I believe there is a standard to which readers expect me to write. I have to reach that.

I have a dream to write something really different. This is a time of fusion. There is fusion coming in dance, music and so on. I would like to do something like that in writing. It is a challenge for me. I am trying to write something like that with a mix of colors, love, passion, music, thoughts…

Do you write everyday?

No, I don't write everyday. I write when I get the urge to do so.

Usually, I keep the points that I want to write collected in my mind and jot them down when I get time. I usually like to write when it is evening and it is quiet.

Once I start writing, I never leave my poem incomplete or for a later time. Once I sit to write, I get up only after completing it.

When I start writing, I might not have a clear idea as to how the poem might end. But, when I write, the end just comes and I end the poem that way.

What is your latest book about?

My latest book has been named Flowers on the Violin. I didn't write with an aim to publishing the book. It was just that I keep writing.

This book contains some of the poems that I have written from the time I was in my 10th grade till now. Later, I contacted Bluemango Books to see if they would publish the poems.

Which aspects of the work you put into the book did you find most difficult?

Actually, I start writing a poem only when I am fully confident about it. So when I write I don't find it very difficult. I sometimes find a difficulty in finding the correct words. But, if I sit for a while, I get the right word or at least a similarly satisfying line.

In the book, the poem "red" was written because I felt like mixing the color red with the emotions, love and anger. I was in a totally confused state while writing it. That is one poem which I found difficult to write.

One topic which I still cannot put into words is rain. It is a very common topic among all writers, but all my attempts to write on rain have failed.

Which aspects of the work did you enjoy most?

I enjoy everything that I write. To pick out a few, I enjoyed writing "Flowers on the Violin". I felt there was some music in that poem. Then I enjoyed "Silence'. That was a poem that gave me some emotional satisfaction. There are other poems too, like "Axe Across my Heart" and 'The Call".

I feel extremely happy after writing. It happens to me after I write anything. Joy always follows my writing.

What sets the book apart from other things you've written?

My previous book was published when I was around 15. And that book contained the thoughts of a child. My new book focuses on current issues, love, war, nature, colors, music, personal experiences... and the poems that I am more attached to.

Writing from experiences gives one's work more fullness.

As a person grows, his or her way of thinking will also grow. And maybe I also grew that way.

I believe, however, that it is the readers who should analyze the differences between the two book.

In what way is it similar?

There will surely be similarities in the way I write.

I have written on things like nature, old age and parents in my first book -- and these topics have found a place in the second book as well. I wrote about them from a different angle.

What will your next book be about?

I find pleasure in writing poetry and feel that it's the easiest medium for me to communicate. I will continue writing poems and, if possible, publish them .

As of now, I haven't started to think about my next book. If at all I am doing another book, it will surely be another collection of poems.

What would you say has been your most significant achievement as a writer?

At the age of 19, being recognized as a writer is an achievement. I consider this recognition a blessing and will try to live up to the responsibility. This is my first stepping stone. Quoting Frost, "Miles to go before I Sleep… Miles to go before I Sleep".

This article was first published by OhmyNews International.

Possibly related books:

,,

[Interview] P. T. Harris

P. T. Harris is an MBA and Citizen’s Police Academy graduate.

Her books include the Detective Priscilla Taylor novels, ASSISTdead and REGRETdead. Currently, she is working on a third detective novel, DICTATEdead.

In this email interview, P. T. Harris talks about her concerns as a writer.

When did you start writing?

Like many, I wrote poems and short stories as a kid and I've always read voraciously, dreaming -- with each "The End" -- of someday penning my own stories.

Three years ago, after corporate America and I got sideways one too many times, I decided that my talent for "too long emails" might be better utilized. So, instead of crafting another resume, I began my Priscilla Taylor detective series.

How did you decide you wanted to be a published author?

The idea always burned in me, but the monthly nut called louder. When the epiphany hit that job security is an oxymoron and trying to fit into someone else's suit had worn me out, I did the most irresponsible of all things. I chose writing as a career. This, mind you, is not a sane decision, so perhaps I had progressed beyond "worn out..."

As an MBA with thirty years of corporate experience, I tackled the project as I would any new product launch.

I designed a product, my character, Priscilla Taylor. I decided on her "features and benefits." The spreadsheet began. Peripheral characters joined her on the sheet -- a partner, the M.E., the department shrink, a best friend. Never would I forget who had blue eyes or how tall I might have made them. She needed a "hook" so I developed one. Every title would end with "dead" in place of the "ed." With forty-plus Priscilla Taylor titles and corresponding mental issues on my spreadsheet, I began writing.

How would you describe your writing?

My genre is crime/detective, but I'm focused on the psychological aspects of crime; what I call "scintillating psychological suspense". I address the scientific aspects minimally -- you won't find a CSI type education in my work. Instead, I prefer to engage the audience in the why versus the how or who.

Do I want to make people think? I suppose to some degree I do. Not too much, though. My work is definitely entertainment, with maybe just a tad bit of thought-provoking thrown in.

Who is your target audience?

Anyone who loves to think, solve mysteries, root for a flawed character, revel in humanity's imperfections.

I couldn't write anything else. I love mysteries, law and order, crime, psychological thriller pieces. They've kept me company on countless flights and entertained me through many sun tanning summers.

What separates us from the rest of the species is our minds. Nothing could be more fascinating to me than stories which delve into our motivations, reactions, and their resultant outcomes.

Who influenced you most?

I'm a Kellerman fan, Jonathan and Faye. I love Patricia Cornwell, John Sandford, Richard North Patterson, David Baldacci, Robert K. Tannenbaum. Did I mention, I'm a law and order mystery buff?

I love the mind; how it works, the challenges it overcomes, the disastrous situations it (often) leads us into. It's the why, always the why that fascinates me.

If life had do-overs, I'd probably have chosen a career in psychiatry or law. Now, I fulfill both of those fantasies in my writing. I can play arm-chair psychologist or put away the bad guys with my keyboard.

As a writer, what are your main concerns?

Evoking emotion. Keeping the reader engaged. Not crossing the line between making them think and making them uncomfortable.

I write, with my voice, and accept the reality every author faces. Fiction is like food and everyone has different tastes. My work won't please every palate.

What are the biggest challenges that you face?

Eating. Paying the mortgage. I thought I understood the business end of writing; that I'd done my research like grad school taught me. I hadn't.

I didn't realize agents/publishers see 1.3 million submission annually for a publishing schedule of maybe 200,000 books. I didn't realize the average author makes about $4,000 a year, or that almost 80% of books sell less than a hundred copies.

I didn't realize that writing the book was the easy part. The true challenge is selling it.

Would that have changed my direction? No.

I've loved every minute of writing; every critique class that's made me go home and cry; every rejection letter I've received. Why? Because I love my work. I love when I get it right, love when I'm eating out and a couple walks in that I can't wait to write into a scene, love when I'm researching. I love the process. You can't write for wealth and fame. You have to write for your soul.

How many books have you written so far?

I've completed two novels, ASSISTdead and REGRETdead, both self-published in 2007 as ebooks.

ASSISTdead introduces Detective Priscilla Taylor, who takes every murder personally. As she struggles to find the killer, more than a few of her most private failures make front page headlines. Can she unravel the case before she unravels, or will she succumb to this most public psychic persecution?

In the sequel, REGRETdead, Detective Priscilla Taylor faces a case that won't go away, a case too vile for words, and a personal onslaught that just might destroy her as she addresses the toughest of questions: Everyone has regrets. What if yours killed?

Do you write everyday?

Lately, I haven't been writing, except in my head. I'm not suffering writer's block; in fact my notes list is growing daily. Other things have simply kept me from organizing all those notes.

One of the things I love about writing is I'm always working, whether it's while I'm pulling weeds or cleaning the bathroom. Some people use storyboards to capture their plot. I don't. I free-write sequentially. The notes I make help me throw in a unique character, some line I found funny or compelling, or toss in some fact I stumbled across.

I always carry a 3x5 notepad with me and jot down ideas as they come, then transfer them to a word document.

When I sit down to write, I review my notes list first, then reread the last couple of chapters to refresh myself on where I am in the storyline. The storyline itself has a begining and an end. The part in between? I rely on my characters to lead me there.

How did you chose a publisher for the books you've written so far?

I completed my first two books in about a year and a half. It was important to me, before I sought publication, that I proved I had more than one book in me.

Secondly, I thought demonstrating my ability to deliver more than one manuscript would make be more marketable. Once "The End" hit the page for REGRETdead, (after numerous editing and rewriting) I began the query letter process.

Six months later, I had 67 rejection letters, one agent who agreed to represent me, an "I really thought about it, but no," agent response, and a contract from a new publisher. The agent had a poor reputation and the new publisher wouldn't be able to deliver my book for two years.

The question had to be asked. Would that publisher survive two years? I researched self-publishing, and in the end, I chose ebooks. My capital outlay for the software was low and, no matter who published me, it would still be up to me to sell my work.

What advantages or disadvantages has this presented?

The challenges are many. Ebooks are in their infancy as far as acceptance, with a few major sites dominating ebook sales. A stand alone website in the Internet universe is tough to generate a presence for. Without a tangible product, readings don't result in sales.

The advantages? I set the sales price. This is the key reason I didn't go with another ebook site. I couldn't get my head around the idea that I, no-brand-name P. T. Harris, could sell tons of books at the same price or higher than say, Kellerman or Sandford.

Since most authors make little on the first couple of books, I sought to use the ebook format as a venue to build my own brand by delivering great fiction at just $3.99 per book. Then, two or three books later, my major publisher (she dreams) can reissue ASSISTdead and REGRETdead.

Time will tell whether the strategy pays off.

Like writing itself, success as an author seldom arrives in one moment. It's a series of moments that work toward the end result.

Which aspect of the work you put into REGRETdead did you find most difficult?

Editing! I hate the process, but it's necessary, and I use the following quote to remind me why: " "You write to communicate to the hearts and minds of others what's burning inside you. And we edit to let the fire show through the smoke" -- Arthur Polotnik.

Editing is boring, redundant, takes time away from creating new words, and never ending. I can't stop tweaking. Thank God! I'd probably edited REGRETdead five or six times before I realized a major plot gap. This is where free-writing can kill you.

Now, to make it easier, I edit as I go along. When I reread a chapter, I'm also editing. Second, I build the chapter by chapter synopsis as I go along. Some agents require them and it helps me keep the plot in line.

What did you enjoy most?

I love dialogue. In fact, writing description is work. (Maybe I should try screenplays?) I love humor, which can be dangerous, and I love inner thoughts.

I write first person and Priscilla is always in her head. Well, sometimes those thoughts that should remain unspoken pop out, but most of her sarcasm and distaste for others rambles in her brain while she smiles sweetly.

Again, it's the psychological aspects of human beings that I find fascinating -- their self-doubts, their humor, their concerns, their convictions. Dialogue and inner thoughts let me express those ideas.

What sets REGRETdead apart from other things you've written?

In the corporate world I wrote proposals and programs. In my youth I wrote about teenage angst. (Didn't most of us?)

Now, I've written two almost four hundred page novels.

The accomplishment of weaving together plotlines and characters and ideas, twice, is what sets these works apart.

In what way is it all similar?

Grammar counts. Punctuation counts (and, oh, do I struggle with commas -- like using them way too often.) Spelling counts. You need a beginning, middle and end.

You are trying to compel people to read on; you have to use "the word." You need continuity of thought, a logical progression, understandable and believable situations.

Anytime you put words to paper you are asking someone to accept your voice, whether it's a sales proposal, a love letter, or a fiction novel.

Honor your reader by presenting your absolute best.

What will your next book be about?

The third novel in my series, DICTATEdead, finds Detective Taylor facing the police chief's retribution for some of her questionable actions during REGRETdead.

Now, as punishment, the highly successful homicide detective isn't working a heinous murder; she's investigating a series of dummy dissections left in city parks. Under the guise of having an opportunity to stop a potential murderer, and with the Chief's nephew as her new partner, she again finds herself under the media's microscope. Can she figure out what rage drives her perpetrator before she faces an actual corpse, or will this case be the embarrassing end to her career?

What would you say has been your most significant achievement as a writer?

I have a one minute monologue due for publication in an actor's handbook this fall, and a piece in an anthology that is still seeking a publisher, but my greatest achievement is that I have completed two novels.

Many start out with the same goal I did.

I actually achieved it.

This article was first published by OhmyNews International.

[Interview] Geoff Nelder

Geoff Nelder has worked as a teacher, a freelance writer and a magazine editor.

His books include the novels, Escaping Reality (Brambling Books, 2005) and Hot Air, which is due to be published by a Dutch Arts academy in a few months' time.

An extract from his latest novel, Exit, Pursued by a Bee (Double Dragon Publishing, 2008) is available at New Writing International.

In this interview, Geoff Nelder talks about his concerns as a writer.

When did you start writing?

As a student, decades ago, I wrote articles for the college magazine, comedy sketches for end-of-term shows, and I edited a university rag magazine. From the latter I still discover my awful gags in rag mags on sale today!

How and why I decided [to write] are inseparable. I didn’t wait to be old to be fascinated by the meaning of life and its demise. Right or wrong, I’d decided there was no supreme supernatural being and hence no afterlife. This meant it was what we left behind that signified our lives after its end. Art is immortal. Writing is a form of art and since I’d discovered early that readers liked my work, then my stories would carry on being my spirit after I’d stopped living. The when for that non-religious epiphany was my teen years. Since then I learnt that the Earth is doomed to be swallowed by our sun in five billion years, give or take a week, and so my writing isn’t immortal after all.

To achieve my supposed immortality, I submitted short stories and non-fiction articles to student magazines and they published them. More non-fiction books followed after graduation, but my first fiction book had to wait because teaching took so much time.

How would you describe your writing?

The key word for my writing is humour, followed by science fiction, fantasy, thriller and horror depending on my mood.

Most of my short stories and the three novels are aimed at adult science fiction and fantasy readers. Although I enjoyed children’s novels as a child, my main reading and aspirations have always been for adult SF. I can blame my mother because she signed me up for the children’s science fiction book club when I was four! In the 50s most science fiction such as Arthur C. Clark, [John] Wyndham and [Isaac] Asimov had no rude words so I was allowed to read them, and I wanted to write rollicking amazing stories like them. I still do, but now with a sprinkling of rudeness.

Who would you say influenced you most?

Even though he doesn’t write science fiction, Tibor Fischer inspired me most to love words, play with them in our writing, and to be subtle with humour.

How have your personal experiences influenced your writing?

I’ve not been captured by aliens but as said above my childhood was scifi driven. I cycle a lot and so I write cycling articles for cycling mags. My father has rib-tickling humour so I can accuse his influence on me to account for my hilarity in writing.

Do you write everyday?

I rise at 6.30 a.m. every day. Weekdays I push my wife out of the door to go and earn real money while I settle to respond to emails and knock out 1,000 fresh words on my novel in progress. I aim for 2,000 fresh words daily but rarely achieve it –- because I also have editing of other folk’s novel to do, write short stories and critique others’ novels and shorts in the two critique groups I belong to.

I am tempted to rent an office because working from home is distracting. There are always workmen to let in and make tea for, neighbours need parcels signed for because they know I am home, and if I look up from the computer I see the disorder and a twinge of conscience urges me to unchaos it. Nevertheless, it is a more productive space than a log cabin. I tried that but I could see Cadir Idris mountain out of the window and spent every dry day wandering over it.

How did you choose a publisher for your latest novel?

My latest book is Exit, Pursued by a Bee, a science fiction. It took a year to research and write. It is not technical in that non-scientists are enjoying it, but I had to revise my quantum mechanics to ensure the science wasn’t going to be laughed at by those knowing better. My first draft travelled through the British Science Fiction Association critique group so that several science writers and fiction editors had already lacerated it before I tried publishers.

A friend had had success with small press Double Dragon Publishing and after reading Exit urged me to submit it with her endorsement. Perhaps I should have tried a mainstream publisher first, but I admire the pluck of small press and I liked the authors already there. Piers Anthonyspeaks highly of DDP so in I went.

I have been working as an editor for another small press, Adventure Books of Seattle, and knew Exit could be published there but it would feel rather like vanity press to have my book published and promoted by a company I was embedded within so closely. Nevertheless, that might be an option for Left Luggage if no mainstream picks it up.

What advantage or disadvantage has this presented?

The main disadvantage of using DDP is the lack of resources for promotion. It isn’t vanity press and we receive royalties, but the author is expected to do virtually all the selling and submitting to competitions and award bodies.

Also, DDP bring the book out as an ebook for the first year. Yes, it is at Lulu, too, but too costly to be able to print in bulk and sell to bookshops at a profit. If sufficient ebooks are sold then DDP will bring it out as a trade paperback and then bulk copies can go to stores.

The advantage of being published by DDP is the esprit de corps of the writers and editors. We have a closed forum and exchange ideas for promotion and skills such as making video trailers and audio books of our novels.

Which aspects of the work you put into the book did you find most difficult?

I find promotion the most difficult.

I have always found selling something out of character for me. With a small press, the author has to inhabit forums, which can be fun but [is] time-consuming and even then only a handful will buy your books. I find it is humiliating being turned away by the buyers of the big chain bookstores. Some, like Borders, do take my books but they only sell at a price which undercuts my wholesale price. This is only sustainable as a promotion for the short term.

Which aspects of the work did you enjoy most?

The research, writing and editing is enormously pleasurable even though hard. It is artistically and intellectually satisfying to create new ideas and draw gasps from readers.

What sets the book apart from other things you have written?

I invent a novel method of communication using time, that I’ve not seen anywhere else. Aliens (spheres that may be artefacts) don’t invade Earth, they leave it after being here before humans happened. When the aliens leave they depart at a very slow speed. In other stories of mine and other writers, communication is usually by radio, aliens come to Earth, and their spaceships zoom away at vast speeds.

I tried to use less humour by not using quips and cutting hilarious situations. Nevertheless, readers say they find themselves laughing out loud in places. Doh.

In what way is it similar?

The protagonist is a feisty woman -- as she is in my Hot Air thriller (to be published later 2008 or 2009 by a Dutch Arts academy).

What will your next book be about?

Xaghra’s Revengeis a magic realism fantasy based on the mass abduction of the population of Gozo in 1551. Those poor souls cry out for revenge, and I’m giving them their chance.

What are your main concerns as a writer?

My main concern is that writing, even commercial non-fiction, doesn’t pay enough to stop my wife being unconvinced that standing at the window, staring, is work. I deal with it by selling my editing services. Apparently I have skills as a content editor/critiquer especially for beginners’ novels. I can see where 2D characters can become 3D, turn around dead-end plots, convert Tell to Show and for that I am paid.

The other main concern is that I am not famous. I neglected to be born into a publishing or published family, forgot to marry a millionaires, and have yet to carry out a plot to kidnap someone else who is famous.

The solution is to keep plugging away, continue to improve my writing and submit, submit, submit.

What are the biggest challenges that you face?

For the last six months my biggest challenge has been to persuade a wise mainstream publisher to accept my science fiction trilogy, Left Luggage, which has an original premise. I have a U.S. agent for it and he is correctly submitting my oeuvre to only three publishers at a time.

I might need that immortality before an acquisition editor sees the commercial and artistic merit in Left Luggage. There are a couple of small press I could go with, and I might do anyway, but although they are terrific –- the writers’ friends -- it would be the promotion costs that would be lacking, resulting in low volume sales. To deal with this I write short stories to get my name in magazines and ezines; I belong to the British Science Fiction Association critique group to gain experience and their skills. I write short novels for small press and grab the attention of famous authors to endorse them.

What would you say has been your most significant achievement as a writer?

I am most proud of not so much a writing publication but of pulling together a large group of writers into a support group.

We had been duped by a sham literary agent in 2006. Most had been convinced they were within weeks of securing a five-figure advance from a major publisher. A couple of us discovered that our publisher’s reports were identical and that the publisher had not received our books.

The debacle devastated many of the writers. Many became ill, or gave up writing altogether. One, who has since died, even moved continents on the news that his advance was about to be paid to him. I researched and brought most of the former clients of Hill & Hill Literary Agency into a forum where we used our multifarious talents to support each other, report on other agents and publishers and read each others' work. Many of us have achieved publication since. The forum, two years on, is still strong and there is a strong comradeship and warmth in there.

This article was first published by OhmyNews International.

Related books:

,,

[Interview] Linda Ballard

Romance novelist Linda Ballard lives in California in the United States.

Her books include Dreams of Forever, which was first published by Lavender Isis Press in March 2007, and Moments in Forever (Lulu, 2007).

Currently, Linda Ballard is working on the next three books in her "Forever" series of romance novels.

In this interview, she talks about her concerns as a writer.

How would you describe your writing?

100% Romance! I’m a romantic at heart, and I love the whole process of falling in love.

In real life we struggle with our hearts. The uncertainty and fear of when you first fall in love consumes us, unrequited love and the exquisite pain it produces, and the absolute joy when you discover that the man you pined over loves you just as much in return. However, in fiction, that fascinating process can be enhanced into levels of passion the average reader will never completely experienced in life. It is a fantasy of love, but based enough in reality that we can share the process and root for the lovers.

Who is your target audience?

Women between the ages 15 and 50, really, for all women in general.

When did you decide you wanted to be a writer?

I have been telling stories all my life, but dyslexia prevented me from realizing those stories on paper. It took years and my first computer before I was able to express my thoughts in an organized fashion. Unfortunately, it does take me twice as long to compose even to this day. Yet, the dream and my own determination to write was always there, even in childhood.

Who influenced you most?

Probably the work of Jane Austin. She has such a simple, but direct way of telling a story. I admire her very much.

What are your main concerns as a writer?

Without a doubt, it’s telling the story. As a writer, we have the rare privilege of taking our readers on a journey, one hopefully, they will enjoy and remember.

How have your personal experiences influenced your writing?

While I am writing I don’t realize how much of “me” or my life experience is being infused into the manuscript until I read back over it. Though I have a unique perspective on Hollywood through my own personal experience, I end up asking myself how I would feel under the circumstances I have created. Every question is basically answered by my own heart in a very human way.

Do you write everyday?

I am the most creative in the morning, so I am up about four. I will write five or six hours before I will take a break. Then I will come back later in the day to reread what I worked on earlier. As the manuscript expands, I jump from scene to scene, editing, rewriting, deleting until I get it right.

What is Dreams of Forever about?

Dreams of Forever is first of five in the "Forever" series. It is the story of movie star Daniel Hunter, who falls in love with his director, Rachel West while filming on location in Northern California.

In the first installment Daniel struggles with the notion that he just may be in love for the first time in his life. The 6’5” hunk has been adored by his fans, and can have any women he wants, but he’s never met anyone like Rachel. From their very first meeting he feels the grip of destiny.
He is certainly not alone, Rachel is well aware she is dealing with one of the most desired and sought after men in the world, but from the very first glance, she sees more than just his handsome face and muscular body. She seems to know that behind his beautiful blue eyes there is a gentle soul that captivates her heart.

How long did it take you to write the book?

I had been toying with the plot for a number of years, but it wasn’t until the last two before I got really serious about completing the manuscript.

Which aspects of the work you put into the book did you find most difficult?

I don’t like the bad guys, and there always has to be, at least, one to create the conflict. Actors find it to be more interesting to play evil characters, believing they are somehow more complicated. However, being bad is easy, in my opinion. You have no constraints on your evil quest.

I find the struggle to do the right thing in life far more interesting. This is something we all live with, deal with on a daily basis, and so therefore, we identify with the struggle in an honest manner. Bad is simple, the quest to do the right thing is tough.

Which did you enjoy most?

I enjoy the whole process of bringing the lovers together, from the first moment to the last. I look forward to the first kiss the most.

What sets the book apart from other things you have written?

It is the most human.

Dreams of Forever is a work of fiction, but it challenges our most basic flaws and strengths. We all struggle with the issue of faith when what we want the most seems at odds with what we believe. It addresses the common problem of how we can be our own worst enemy, and yet, still somehow rise above adversity, but most of all it deals with the conquest of personal fears. Most important, I wanted to test the boundaries of love and found there are no limits, there is nothing we would not do for love.

This article has also been featured on OhmyNews International.

Related article:

Interview with Linda Ballard, Romance at Heart Magazine.

Related books:

,,

[Interview] Skylar Sinclair

Skylar Sinclair is an award-winning graphic designer and erotic romance author.

Her works includes the eBooks, Rearing Heat (Siren-BookStrand, Inc., 2007), Impassioned Sea (Atlantic Bridge/Liquid Silver Books, 2007), Purr For Me (Phaze, 2007) and The Tome of Unnatural Desires (Tease Publishing LLC, 2007).

Her stories have also been featured in anthologies that include Babes in Toyland II (Aspen Mountain Press, 2007), Lust Bites: Volume Two (Total-e-bound, ____) and Coming Together Under Fire (Phaze, 2007).

In this interview, Skylar Sinclair talks about her work.*

How would you describe your writing?

It is almost a dead heat between fantasy and paranormal. With either, they are truly about make-believe to the point, these worlds and realms that are unlike anything one could dream up. These genres create unique places for the readers to loss themselves in, while getting to know wondrous characters and magical happenings.

Who is your target audience?

I would have to say anyone that finds erotica titillating and love alpha-type characters.

I also write a little on the side of dark and like to write endings that one might not expect. I try to pen very different and unique books.

What motivated you to start writing?

I am an avid reader of fantasy and paranormal, so it seemed to come naturally for me to write in that genre too. We live in the real world, and sometimes it is nice to be taken away from the daily grind, journeying to exotic and otherworldly places dreamed up by an author’s marvelous mind.

Who influenced you most?

When it comes to honing and refining my writing that would be Regan Taylor. From the start, she has been there to encourage, inspire and help me raise the bar on my writing style. I owe her much and appreciate what she has done for me daily.

How have your personal experiences influenced your writing?

Fun thing is, I write very little of myself and/or experiences in my books. I pull almost all plots, dialogues and motivation from newly discovered places each time I take up the proverbial pen to write a story.

What are your main concerns as a writer?

I want my stories/books to entertain and captivate the readers when they read my works. [I deal with this by] writing the best I can each and every time.

What are the biggest challenges that you face?

Waiting for a contract after spending a lot of time writing a story. Then you have to wait again for the reviews to come in. Once more to see how the book sells. Do the reader like it?

It all boils down to learning patience -- a lot of patience.

How do you deal with these challenges?

The best way to learn the lesson of patience is to forget about the finished book and start right away on another. Getting immersed into a new projects works wonders.

Do you write everyday?

Yes, I write daily.

I can write as much as 5,000 words a day to as little as 250. It depends on if my muse is talking and how creative I feel that day.

What is your latest book about?

My last story to be published was Christmas Ink, which also was a top placing story in a Christmas writing contest held at Stardust Press. I ended up contracting it with Mardi Gras publishing. It took me about a week to write then another week to edit.

Which aspects of the work that you put into the book did you find most difficult?

I find moving a story along, while keeping it believable and fresh is hard at times. Also, I find editing one of the least things I like about writing, but it has to be done.

Which did you enjoy most?

To be honest when I write those last few words that complete the story. There is nothing like finishing a book you put all your heart and soul into.

What sets the book apart from the other things you have written?

Each and every book I pen is different and unique unto itself. They all stand on their own merit and premise. Whether they are fantasy, paranormal or contemporary.

In what way is it similar?

They all have alpha-type characters that dominate the pages. And the sexual contents are always hot.

What will your next book be about?

The next book I have coming out is Dream Lord: The Tome of Unnatural Desires. It is a fantasy erotic tale that includes male/male, male/female/male and male/female scenes.

There are three other books in the series, Shadowed Passion and Fallen Angels.

What would you say has been your most significant achievement as a writer?

That my books sale and have been bestsellers, also.

But none of that would have been possible without the readers who support and buy my books. Without them, I would have no one to write for. Without them I am nothing.

*This conversation with Skylar Sinclair took place in February 2007.

Related books:

,,

[Interview] Marcia King-Gamble

Romance novelist, Marcia King-Gamble was born on the island of St. Vincent in the Caribbean. She studied in the United States where she has lived and worked for most of her life.

Her books include The Way He Moves (Harlequin, 2008), Shattered Images (Kimani Press, 2006) and A Taste of Paradise (Kimani Press, 2005).

In this email interview, Marcia King-Gamble talks about her writing.*

Who influenced you the most?

Excellent writers like Sandra Kitt as well as my encouraging agent.

How have your personal experiences influenced your writing?

Personal experiences always influences your writing style or even your mood. As writers we tend to observe people and reflect on the human condition.

What would you say are your main concerns as a writer?

Book distribution is always of concern for a writer. You want to ensure that your print-run is such it reaches the widest possible market.

A challenge for any writer is making sure you get that next contract. Writing is a business and sales are everything.

How do you deal with these challenges?

A writer has to keep sending proposals in. You need to keep coming up with fresh, unique ideas.

Do you write everyday?

I write every day regardless of what's going on in my life. The time spent depends on how tight a deadline I have. Some days all I do is write.

What is your latest book about?

My latest book is one I am currently working on. It will be published by Harlequin's Kimani Line and will take me approximately two months to write. It's a story of a woman burnt out on corporate America who inherits a house and decides to open a spa. The hero is the retired athlete, turned business man next door, with designs on her land.

If you are asking about my next book that will be published in May 2007 by Harlequin's Kimani line and it is titled, Down and out in Flamingo Beach. It's the third in the Flamingo Beach series.

What did you find most difficult when you were working on the book?

Research regarding setting to ensure authenticity is the most time consuming. Also making sure your hero and heroine work.

What did you enjoy most?

The writing process itself. There are times you know when you "got it." It's a wonderful feeling.

What sets the book apart from others you have written?

Setting. I have chosen the historical town of St. Augustine, Florida because it is rich in possibilities.

In what way is it similar?

A good romance always has a conflict which inevitably gets resolved.

What will your next book be about?

Sex on Flamingo Beach is the fourth and last of my Flamingo Beach Series. It's the story of Emilie who looks white but isn't and her relationship with the land developer hired to build a casino in the small town of Flamingo Beach.

What would you say has been your most significant achievement as a writer?

Being asked to be a part of a continuity series for Harlequin. This would be a breakout from the multicultural market.

How did you get there?

Hard work, marketing of self, and staying connected. I am very grateful for the opportunity.

When did you decide you wanted to be a writer?

I didn't. I fell into the opportunity. I was a reader for Harlequin/Silhouette for years.

How would you describe your writing?

The genre would be romance although I do do some mainstream women's fiction writing.

What motivated you to start writing in this genre?

I've always read in this genre. Romance is uplifting and a great escape if you have a stressful career.

Who is your target audience?

Anyone who enjoys and appreciates a good romance.

*This conversation with Marcia King-Gamble took place in February 2007.

Related books

,,

[Interview] Tarik Moore

Tarik H. Moore has a Bachelor of Science degree from Morgan State University in Baltimore, Maryland and works as an Information Technology consultant and a real estate investor.

The End Justifies the Means (In Third Person Publishing, 2006) is his first novel.

In this interview, Tarik Moore talks about his writing.

How many books have you written so far?

The End Justifies the Means is my first novel, and I’m a self-publish author under my own publishing company, “In Third Person Publishing”.

The End Justifies the Means released October 18, 2006. It’s a suspense novel based out of Camden, New Jersey. A city cited by many as one of the most poorer and dangerous cities in America for the past decade or so.

It took six weeks to write the original manuscript, but the next twenty-three months were dedicated to editing, graphical design work (i.e. website, book covers, promotional material, etc). You know all the intangible things that go into producing a book.

Which aspect of the work you put into the book did you find most difficult?

My biggest challenge was producing the book. There are a lot of predators claiming to be professional editors, proofreaders, graphical artist, etc who care nothing about your story and your message but only wish to take your money. But now I have a reliable team of editors and graphic artists who I trust and will continue to be staples in my writing career as long as I have stories to tell.

Which did you enjoy most?

The day I enjoyed most was the day my proof came to my door and I finally had my first official finished product in my hand. All the hard work and money I put into it finally had paid off.

What sets the book apart from other things you have written?

Before this novel I had only written a few poems, high school newspaper articles, but nothing as personal as this story. I had this story in me for years before it ultimately came out.

What will your next book be about?

I was going to write a novel/erotica called Cyber Sex but I’ve been forced to put that on the backburner because the story wasn’t ready to shoot out of me like The End Justifies the Means did. I started writing it but I didn’t feel the same passion I felt for my first novel.

My next novel, The Sweetest Joy, is bursting out of me as we speak. I’ve had to literally force myself not to begin writing that novel until I’m finished promoting The End Justifies the Means.

The Sweetest Joy will be much darker than my first novel. It’s going to be a story about one man’s revenge and that’s all I’m going to tell you about it. It’s going to be bigger than The End Justifies the Means and people are loving The End Justifies the Means. I’m telling you now, the industry better be prepared to hand out some awards to T. H. Moore when The Sweetest Joy releases.

When did you decide you wanted to be a writer?

Being an only child I had and continue to have a vivid imagination and I began writing the stories that flooded my imagination when I was in high school.

I wrote for my high school newspaper and after that I began to write the first story that I thought would turn into my first novel. Unfortunetly, I lost it to a computer crash. It’s kind of ironic considering that my career is based on computers now but since then I never wrote another story with the intent of publishing it for others to read.

Ultimately, I was working on a project in England a few years ago and one weekend I went to see a movie and the story line was so bad that I came out of the movie saying, “I could have written a better story than that.” And then it clicked in my head. I’m going to write a novel and put my money where my mouth is. Six weeks later I finished my first manuscript, The End Justifies the Means.

How would you describe your writing?

The industry would categorize me in the African-American suspense novel genre or Hood Literature based on the story back drop of The End Justifies the Means but this is the only story I have to tell that has an urban setting.

To be fair, my stories will appeal to African-American audiences but they are equally intelligently written with a message communicated through them that doesn’t glorify promiscuity, drug dealing, and violence. I tell all my readers from my book signings, “This is not your stereotypical Hood Lit” -- and after they read it they understand what I mean.

My target audience are minorities (i.e. African-Americans and Latinos) mainly because the main characters in The End Justifies the Means are those ethnicities but my stories can be appreciated by any nationality.

The majority, not all, of the books I read are by African-American authors and I don’t think we have equal presence represented in the industry so that’s why I’ve chosen my audience. Maybe one day I’ll write a story specifically for “mainstream” contemporary literature but I’m not drawn to it. I’m drawn to what my people can appreciate first.

How have your personal experiences influenced your writing?

All of my stories come from me and my personal experiences. They aren’t autobiographical but I write about what I know and have experienced.

What are your main concerns as a writer?

I don’t want to be lumped into the, “Oh, he’s an African-American writer” category. I’m just a writer who happens to be African-American. I want people to appreciate my art and talent first before my ethnicity. That’s why I decided to go with the book cover I have. I didn’t want readers to be instantly turned away from my book solely because of my book cover.

Normally, authors in my genre have cover art with African-Americans on it but if someone has the mindset, “I don’t read black authors or Hood Books” -- they won’t even pick it up to see what its about. In order for a reader not to like my story they have to actually pick it up and read the back cover or the first few pages of the book and once they do that, it’s too late. I already got you hooked.

How did you deal with the challenges you faced in producing the book?

Mostly trial and error and I had a few people willing to mentor me along the way. It’s because of those people that I have the book we have before us today. But I can truly estimate that I’ve wasted approximately $4,000.00 on would be editors and the kind. But the good thing about it is that it helped me learn the industry more thoroughly. I’m not saying everyone needs to get took to publish a book successfully but I learned very valuable lessons during those two years of producing my novel.

What would you say has been your most significant achievement as a writer?

Well, there are two most significant achievements. One tangible, and another intangible.

I received a “New Writers Award” from a community organization based out of Camden, N. J.

The second was when the people who knew I was writing my novel finally read it and before they read it they initially thought I was just writing a book so I could say, “I wrote a novel” -- but when they completed it they realized that it was exceptional and they would have read it and enjoyed it even if they didn’t personally know the author.

How did you get there?

Hmmm, I guess I have to thank that terrible movie (which will remain nameless) that forced me to put my money where my mouth was. It gave me the much needed extra motivation to write again and publish my novel. But honestly, I’m not sure how to answer this question because it honestly wasn’t a conscious effort. I just did what I liked to do.

Do you write everyday?

I don’t write everyday, unless you count emails I write to my co-workers, family, friends, and fraternity brothers, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. (I know, I know…a shameless plug but it’s all good).

Related books

,,

[Interview] Beth Ciotta

Beth Ciotta writes romantic comedy with a twist of suspense and has published contemporary, historical, and paranormal romantic fiction.

Her books include Everybody Loves Evie (HQN Books, 2008); All About Evie (HQN Books, 2007) Romancing the West (Medallion Press, 2007); Lasso the Moon (Medallion Press, 2006); Seduced (Medallion Press, 2005) and Charmed (Medallion Press, 2004).

In an email interview which took place on March 5, 2007, Beth Ciotta spoke about her writing.

When did you decide you wanted to be a writer?

I’ve always loved a good story whether in book or movie form. Though I dabbled with writing in my youth, I pursued a career in entertainment and made my living as a performer for most of my adult life. In 1994, I read a book that ignited a new passion -- storytelling. That passion fueled a new career in publishing.

How would you describe your writing?

I write romantic comedy with a twist of suspense in three sub-genres: contemporary, historical, and paranormal. All of my tales have a romantically satisfying ending so they are classified as romantic fiction.

The majority of my readers are women ranging in age from 18-55, but I have heard from younger and older. I have also heard from several men who enjoy my books. I’ve learned not to assume. I write for anyone who enjoys a fast-paced romantic adventure.

What motivated you to start writing in this genre?

One night on a whim I picked up a novel by Johanna Lindsey. I devoured the book in a few hours and when I got to the end I thought, “I want to do this. I want to write stories that will make people feel the way I feel right now. Happy and hopeful.” The next day I started writing my first manuscript and I haven’t looked back.

Who would you say has influenced you the most?

Tough question. There are a lot of dynamic people in my life who influence me and inspire me. I’ll name those who have been most influential in my writing. Julie Garwood, Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Cynthia Valero, and Robert B. Parker.

How have your personal experiences influenced the direction of your writing?

My entertainment background plays into most of my stories. In addition to performing on stage, I’ve also performed in several interactive venues, improvisational gigs that exposed me to a lot of one-on-one with the public. Amazing the things people will say to a costumed character.

I’ve lived a rich life and my world is populated with colorful and passionate people. I definitely draw on that.

What are the biggest challenges that you face?

I’ve been writing two full-length novels per year for the past three years. Currently I’m writing for two different publishers. This means juggling overlapping deadlines for proposals, completed manuscripts, revisions, line edits, copy edits, and promotion. Meeting all of those deadlines on time, being able to hop from book to another, in one or another phase, sometimes within the same week has proven a huge challenge.

Remembering to relax and refresh is a challenge as well. After all, you have to live life to write about it.

How do you deal with these challenges?

My motto, one of them anyway, is “Just do it.” I know that sounds simple, but sometimes I’m so overwhelmed and crunched for time that’s the only mindset that gets me through. Don’t overanalyze and freeze. Prioritize then attack.

What are your main concerns as a writer?

Capturing the reader’s imagination and entertaining them throughout, creating compelling, believable characters, and getting the details right.

Do you write everyday?

I’m not what I would call a fast writer so I need to write everyday, or close to it, in order to make my deadlines. I work part-time at my local library and still occasionally perform, so the hours that I devote to writing vary. On days that I work, I write an average of three hours. On my ‘days off’ I write anywhere from ten to fourteen hours.

How long did it take you to write All About Evie?

All About Evie features a divorced and forcibly retired 41-year-old showbiz veteran who rediscovers passion and purpose when she unwittingly teams up with reformed grifter and a government operative in their mission to expose nefarious scams.

This story, loosely based on some of my own experiences in the entertainment industry, took me about five months to write and hit the shelves in May 2007. It’s the first book in a connected trilogy published by HQN (Harlequin).

Which aspects of the work that you put into the book did you find most difficult?

The revisions. I had a very specific view of the heroine and her journey. My editor’s vision differed slightly. I had heart palpitations when I read the revision letter. She was right though, all across the board. In the end, her suggestions made the story stronger and more suited to the targeted genre.

Which did you enjoy most?

Blending my own entertainment industry experiences with Evie’s and living vicariously through her as she navigated the smoke and mirrors world of con-artists. Researching scams and grifters was fascinating and enlightening. Let’s just say I am no longer as trusting as I used to be.

What sets the book apart from the others you have written?

The majority of this book (and the upcoming connected books) is in first person. That’s new for me and I have to say I enjoyed the process enormously.

In what way is it similar?

Style and voice. The unique blend of angst and humor is consistent with my previous releases.

What would you say has been your most significant achievement as a writer?

Getting my work published. Also, acquiring a reputable agent. Believe it or not, the latter proved more difficult. Given the fierce competition and all the amazing writers struggling to find homes for their work, I consider myself very fortunate.

How did you get there?

The short answer: Dedication and perseverance.

The longer response: When I first started writing, I had passion but no real knowledge of the craft. Hungry to learn, I attended writers’ conferences and workshops, joined local and national writers’ organizations, and read several how-to books. I networked -- a balance of give and take -- and benefited from the support and guidance of fellow writers. I read and wrote avidly. I submitted my work again and again and weathered multiple rejections. I honed my craft and never gave up.

Even though I am now published, I’m still hungry to learn. I still practice all of the above in an effort to grow as a writer. Just like stories in first draft, I consider myself a work in progress.

Related books

,,

[Interview] Jeanette McCarthy

Jeanette McCarthy lives in the village of Newbold Verdon and works for a solicitor in the small town of Ashby de la Zouch in Leicestershire.

An extract from her first novel, Abandoned (Lulu, 2008), can be read on the Leicester Review of Books.

In this interview, McCarthy talks about her foray into self-publishing.

When did you start writing?

I have been writing for as long as I can remember. As a kid I used to read girls comics like Bunty (showing my age now, I suppose) and re-write the stories in them, changing them to suit myself. Soon after that I started making my own stories up. As I recall, they usually involved ponies!

Once, running for the school bus I got run over by a car. The very first thing I did (after picking myself up and checking for anything broken) was get out my jotter and write it all down. I was totally unhurt, but by the time I got into school after being checked out, all the kids who had been on the bus had spread the story that I was dead, and that there was blood and body parts all over the street. There were children in tears, teachers frantic, it was brilliant!

I tore up my factual story and wrote the horror tale everyone wanted to read. Taught me a lesson, that did.

How would you describe your writing?

My writing is very character driven, as I believe readers have to engage with a character before they can care what happens to them. Although my present novel is effectively a chase, I like to add subplots and asides that show my characters in a slightly different light.

I don’t really have a target audience, as I tend to write across different genres. I have tried my hand at romance, sci-fi and horror, as well as crime, and I am presently working on a novel based on historical fact.

Who influenced you most?

I am a huge fan of crime novels, particularly American writers such as Michael Connelly, Harlan Coben and Joseph Wambaugh. I love the moody, sombre feel to these novels, the way humour and tragedy are intertwined, and the way the characters feel absolutely real.

How have your personal experiences influenced your writing?

Writing for me has often been a cathartic experience. I have found that writing about sad or unpleasant events helps me deal with them. My parents died when I was a child, and their loss affected me so deeply that for many years afterwards I failed to fully come to terms with it. Nowadays, I would have received counselling, but of course that was unheard of then, and all I had to fall back on was pen and paper.

I am aware that in many of my stories my characters have to deal with sudden traumatic events and the struggle to carry on, and I know this all comes from my past.

When did decide you wanted to be a published writer?

I had been writing stories, mainly for my own enjoyment, for a long time, and in 2002 I won a short story competition run by the David St John Thomas Charitable Trust. This small success gave me enough confidence to believe that people might want to read my stories, and I decided to think about publishing. Of course, thinking about it and actually becoming a published author are two very different things.

Do you write everyday?

I do try to write every day, but it doesn’t always work. We all have busy lives, and of course there are those times when you find yourself in front of the empty screen with no idea what to say.

I don’t have a set time when I sit down to write. Quite often I will log on to the internet, visit a couple of writer’s circle websites, then hopefully get back to writing. Sometimes I can get on a roll and write a thousand or so words. Other times, I’m lucky if I write ten.

However, one thing I do every day without fail is take my three border collies for a long run, and it’s during those times that ideas tend to float into my head, or problems manage to unknot themselves. I have actually dedicated my present book to my dogs, for that very reason.

How many books have you written so far?

My book Abandoned was published in May 2008 through Lulu.com.

Abandoned is the story of Mike Dole, an ex-soldier struggling to come to terms with the horrors of his past. Mike’s girlfriend Tess, a timid shop assistant, is afraid of him, but when she finally plucks up the courage to dump him, it sends him into freefall. He kidnaps her and abandons her on a remote island to die.

Detective Cal Fisher is the Leicester detective investigating Tess’s disappearance. Cal has his own problems, and is inclined to write Tess off as a runaway. Meanwhile, Tess struggles to survive. Close to starvation, she digs deep inside herself and somehow finds the inner strength to carry on.

And as Cal delves deeper into Mike’s life, the terrible realisation dawns that the hunt is no longer just for a missing woman. Now he’s hunting a serial killer

My previous book, The Dragon’s Promise is under revision, and hopefully will be published soon. This is a tragic-comic romance which segues between a Scottish island and the city of Los Angeles.

How long did it take you to write Abandoned?

The idea for Abandoned was born a few years ago during a walk in the Inverpolly nature reserve. This is a landscape as remote and spectacular as any to be found in Britain, and it was while pausing by the side of a still loch that I began to wonder what it would be like to live here, a long way from civilisation, and whether the beauty of the landscape would be enough to sustain me.

So I began work on the story of Tess and her battle for survival. I was determined to show Tess growing from a feeble, terrified victim into a strong and determined survivor.

Sadly, on my return to England, work and other everyday pressures got in the way, and the project was put to one side.

On my next trip north, I was browsing in the general store when I came across The Collins ‘Little Gem’ Guide to SAS Survival Training. After I’d stopped laughing, I bought the book, and what a fund of information it turned out to be. I was galvanised into resurrecting the story of Tess, and I began to find out for myself what it would be like to try and survive in the wild places.

This set me back, as jeans and a thin rainjacket are poor preparation for the often savage climate of the Highlands. And I found out by uncomfortable experiment that training shoes last all of three minutes before they are soaked through in the boggy Scottish ground, leaving your feet frozen blocks. Maybe I was expecting too much of my little shop girl.

And Mike, the bad guy, didn’t seem real. Once again, I put the idea to one side and got to work on other things.

It was the next Christmas when the idea reared its ugly head again.

There is a saying in the Highlands: if you don’t like the weather, wait ten minutes.

On Boxing day I was walking with my dogs on Achnahaird beach, dressed only in a jumper and jeans.

Thinking about the vagaries of this fascinating climate, it occurred to me that Tess just needed to be lucky with the weather, and that spawned the further notion that others might not have been so lucky. The story was back on rails, and now Detective Fisher invented himself, and began to nag at me to increase his part.

The story rattled on happily, but there was still a problem with Mike. Why was he doing this to Tess? What was driving him? I decided to do some research into what happens to our soldiers when they return home from battle, and that’s when the novel took a different turn.

I was both surprised and saddened to find that many ex-service personnel get little help for the psychological trauma they bring back with them. These are people who deserve better. After reading some heart-rending stories, I began to understand the forces that might be driving poor Mike. He finally crystallised into a real person, and the rest of the story effectively wrote itself.

How did you chose a publisher for the book?

Some months ago, I posted an excerpt from my novel on the My Writers Circle web forum, asking for friendly criticism.

Following on from the comments I got, I happened to mention that I was stuck with my characters, and wasn’t sure where to take them. Others replied to say they had the same trouble; one mentioned that his characters had been stuck in a minibus for six months, another wondered what it must be like for our poor characters, temporarily abandoned while their writers floundered round for ideas…

Well, the idea just sprung into life there and then. What if there was a place, a limbo where characters went when their authors abandoned them? I envisaged an enormous Grand Central Station, filled with everything from starship captains to southern belles. I quickly hammered out a story and posted it, and writers from all corners of the globe picked up the baton and wrote their own stories based in “the Station”. After a time it became clear that the idea had taken on a life of its own, and another writer, Citabria, volunteered to put the stories together in a book and publish it on Lulu .

The book is called Station Shorts, and all proceeds from its sale goes to Amnesty International.

Having seen how easy it seemed to be to self-publish, I decided to have a go with my own novel Abandoned.

What are your main concerns as a writer?

The most important thing for me is that people believe in my characters and care about what happens to them. The only way I can make sure of this is to believe in them myself.

In Abandoned, the character of Detective Cal Fisher did not really exist until I had written almost half the book. Up until that point he was a minor player, but as his part was about to expand, I started to give him messy problems to deal with in his personal life, and as the story progressed, I wrote a diary from his point of view. I find this a good way to get inside a character’s head. By the time I had finished the novel, I was having dreams about some of them!

What are the biggest challenges that you face?

The biggest challenge up till now has been to get published, and now that I have self-published, the challenge is to find readers.

The downside of self-publishing is that you have to do all the marketing yourself, and sometimes there just aren’t enough hours in the day, or you just don’t feel like it. I’ve also found it quite difficult to ‘blow my own trumpet’!

Lulu is a very helpful site, but the onus is on the writer to upload the text of their book, make sure it’s properly formatted, and check for errors. They can provide you with a selection of covers for your book, or you can upload your own, and up to this point, it costs nothing. They will help you all the way, but it is not easy!

Fortunately I have a husband who is a designer and web builder, which was a big help.

When you were working on the book, what did you find most difficult?

I found the police side of the novel quite challenging, as although I read a lot of crime fiction, I had no idea what the procedure would be if someone was reported missing, or how different forces would interact with each other over the search for a criminal.

I also had no idea whether the army would co-operate with the police when it came to one of their own soldiers.

Thankfully I had help from a couple of kind police officers, who were very obliging and were able to put me right. They also filled me in on ‘local’ systems. The novel is partly based in my home town of Leicester, and it is clear that all forces have their own way of doing things. I would recommend anyone writing this type of book to contact their local force. They really are helpful.

I also had help from an ex-squaddie, who not only helped with details, but who also had some hysterically funny anecdotes.

Which aspects of the work did you enjoy most?

In the novel, Tess, a shop assistant, is abandoned on a remote Scottish island with nothing but the clothes she is wearing, a knife, and a “survival tin”. This is a little tobacco tin stuffed full of matches, fishing line, and assorted other items designed to help you stay alive. I bought one of these tins, and on my next foray to Scotland, went out to the sea in my jeans, sweater and training shoes, to see if I could ‘survive’.

Although to this day I have not been able to light a fire with a flint striker, I did manage to light one using the matches, dead leaves and twigs. And I discovered first hand how satisfying that is. There’s nothing like first-hand knowledge to help you write with conviction. Tess is such an ineffectual character, that I had to make sure she could survive. That was a lot of fun.

What sets Abandoned apart from other things you've written?

This is my first crime/thriller novel, and in fact, the first story of that type that I have done. But what really makes it different is the way the stories of the three main characters intertwine, and the profound effect each has on each other. It is easily the most complex story I have attempted, and this is due in part to the way it was written.

I am not a disciplined writer; I don’t start at chapter one and go straight through. In fact, a lot of the story is made up as I go along, which makes it very enjoyable for me. There’s nothing better than suddenly having an idea that opens up a whole new avenue of story.

In what way is it similar?

One of the major themes of Abandoned is that we are all capable of far more than we believe we are. I think most people are too inclined to say ‘Oh, I couldn’t possibly do that’, rather than simply have a go. If they did, they would surprise themselves. This is a theme that tends to run through much of my work.

What will your next book be about?

I am presently working on two projects. The first is a sequel to Abandoned, and again features Leicester detective Cal Fisher and his team.

The second is very different, and links the 19th century eradication of the Scottish population during the Highland clearances with the simultaneous decimation of the American Indian peoples. Although based on fact, this will be an action novel.

What would you say has been your most significant achievement as a writer?

Someone recently wrote to tell me that they had stayed up until 3 a.m. to finish my book. As far as I’m concerned, that is the best thing anyone could say to me.

[Interview_1] Gail McFarland

Gail McFarland attended Cleveland State University, where she was a psychology major with a minor in special education.

Her books include Summer Wind (Arabesque, 1997); The Best for Last (Arabesque, 1998); When Love Calls (Arabesque, 1999) and Lady Killer (Lulu.com, 2000).

An extract from from her latest novel, Dream Runner (Genesis Press, 2008) is available here.

In this interview, Gail McFarland talks about her concerns as a writer.

How would you describe your writing?

I write novel-length contemporary African-American romantic fiction.

My target audience are people who enjoy a well-crafted, intimately written story.

Because I am at heart, a reader, I knew there were others like me: readers who enjoy the flexibility, grace, and grandeur of language -- and live for a good story.

When did you decide you wanted to be a writer?

Long story, but the short version is: I have a cousin who literally hated reading, but was devouring romance novels at the rate of 6-8 books per week. Curious about the source of her newfound delight, I picked one up and nearly gagged.

I couldn’t identify with the heroines and certainly found the heroes lacking. The settings did nothing for me. I wanted to see myself, my friends, and the people I love reflected in the books I read. I wanted my characters smart, sexy, efficient, and believable. So, I began working on my first romantic novel in late 1994.

How did you go about it?

In 1990, I pulled out my typewriter and began writing “confessions,” very short romantic stories for magazines. Those short stories were a major education. I started out with good ideas and a better than average vocabulary, but writing the “confessions” taught me pacing, character development, stylized language, and so much more.

Learning more made me want to achieve more, and when I came across those early Donna Hill and Rochelle Alers novels, I knew there was a place for me and the books I longed to see. So, I trashed my electric typewriter, bought a word processor, and went to work on my first novel.

It took two years, a computer upgrade, and several rewrites for Summer Wind, my first novel, to become a reality and find a home. But, it did find Arabesque, a burgeoning audience for multiethnic romance, and a new outlet for my storytelling passions.

Who influenced you most?

Well… I have to start with my mother. She actively encouraged my love of reading and storytelling from a very early age.

Then, there were my very talented teachers, who picked up where my mother left off.

If I had to name influential writers, my list would contain the names of everyone from noted to little-known novelists, historians, actors, politicians, and even a few poets. I would have a list far too long for this interview.

How have your personal experiences influenced your writing?

From time to time, I find that my characters begin to sound like me and those around me, though they have yet to take on an entire personality.

More likely, I will see or hear something that triggers my imagination. As an only child, I have learned how to respond to situations by simply being observant -- and that observation frequently colors my characters and their situations.

What are your main concerns as a writer?

A primary concern for me, is telling a good solid story, and telling it with skill.

Like many authors, my first novel did face some rejection -- much of it based on the fact that I was telling a multiethnic story.

Now that my work has found an audience, I want it to be worthy of readers. So, I am committed to putting my best efforts on paper.

What are the biggest challenges that you face?

Discipline, general laziness, and maintaining focus are major challenges for me.

One of the easiest ways to deal with my discipline and focus challenges is to write outside my home, so I usually pack up my laptop and notes and write at the public library or a nearby coffeehouse -- no phones, no gossiping friends, and no TV -- just me and my manuscript.

The laziness? I’m still working on that.

Do you write everyday?

Actually, I don’t.

I tend to be a bit of an emotional writer, so I follow my heart and my urges when I write. I am fortunate enough to have a flexible schedule that allows me to write when I feel the urge. There are weeks when I don’t write at all, and then I’ll have a month when I put in 6-8 hours a day.

When you do write, how does each session start?

Usually with me chasing a cat away from my keyboard!

It has become my habit to organize all of my story notes, outlines, and drafts in large white binders. So, I begin by pulling out my binder and reviewing my outline to refresh myself as to what I’ve done and where I need to go, in terms of story progress. This is where I try to “fill in the blanks”, ask myself questions, note the answers, and see the story the way my characters will live it.

If I’ve done my homework, my outline is my map, and allows me to write freely within the framework I’ve set for myself.

My goal for each session is a full chapter, usually a minimum of about twelve and a maximum of twenty pages for me. Sometimes, if I am in love with the story and/or the characters, my imagination is charged and I will write more.

My sessions generally end when I get tired. Because I have a bad habit of getting caught up in revisions, I try not to check anything beyond obvious spelling and grammar errors until the end of my sessions. That’s when I get to sit back and (hopefully) enjoy my story and its progress.

How many books have you written so far?

Summer Wind (Arabesque, 1997), The Best for Last (Arabesque, 1998), Bouquet (with Roberta Gayle and Anna Laurence, BET/Arabesque, 1998), When Love Calls (BET/Arabesque, 1999), Lady Killer (Lulu Books, 2000), All for Love (Lulu Books, 2008), and Dream Runner (Genesis Press/Indigo, 2008).

What is your latest novel about?

Dream Runner is the story of a woman who has spent a lifetime dreaming of taking Olympic gold. To achieve this goal, she has willingly sacrificed love and family, but always comes up short and still clutching her dream.

Dream Runner is also the story of a man who has run his way to the top of his sport, only to be sidelined by injury without realizing his dream. Neither of them has any clue that the separate roads they’re running will meet and where that path will take them.

How long did it take you to write Dream Runner?

The first three chapters were actually written in two days. The research and the rest of the writing took about six months.

Dream Runner is published by Genesis Press/Indigo and the book is brand new, having been released this month (May, 2008).

Which aspects of the work you put into the book did you find most difficult?

Editing and rewriting are my personal challenges.

After spending months with characters and their challenges, plots and their twists and turns, the last thing I usually want to do with a story is write, “The End,” on the final page. And that’s what I get to do, until you come to editing, where every word and concept is dissected. Editing is where I often find myself defending circumstances and situations, and every minute of that research I put in becomes invaluable.

Sometimes, odd little things (like subject/verb agreement) get past a writer. Over time, I have learned that having to look at the edits often forces me to write “tighter” and ultimately better. The story is often improved because editors are relentless… no, fortunately, they’re just really good at ferreting out the things the writer overlooked, forgot, or simply didn’t know.

I deal with the rigors of editing by putting in the work it takes to improve my story and keep it fresh and relevant -- even when I’m reading/reviewing it for the tenth time.

Which aspects of the work did you enjoy most?

The research is always interesting and fulfilling for me. Simply taking the time to cruise the internet is relaxing and sparks my imagination.

What sets the novel apart from other things you've written?

While Dream Runner is infused with the intimacy and humor that I hope marks everything I have ever written or will write, it is different from what I have written so far because it is the first time I’ve had the opportunity to fuse my love of romance with my passion for health, fitness, and sports.

Dream Runner is also different because it is the first time I’ve written a character with a physical challenge.

How did you choose a publisher for the book?

I took a very careful look at the writers currently working with this publisher, and found that their work was very similar to mine.

Genesis Press has had success with the romance genre and proven supportive of their authors. The authors writing for the Indigo imprint are also a pretty impressive group.

In my experience, the Genesis Press/Indigo publisher and editors have been remarkably easy to work with, and I have enjoyed the experience.

What will your next book be about?

I am currently researching infertility as part of a sequel to Dream Runner. Marlea and AJ are definitely on my character list, as are Rissa and Dench… you’ll have to read the book to find out who they are.

What would you say has been your most significant achievement as a writer?

That’s a hard question, and I am not sure whether I should start with the pleasure I took from signing a book for my 12th grade English teacher (she gave me an ‘A+’ on the book!), or getting consistently great reviews for my work. But I definitely have to say that having your work read and appreciated is a huge bonus and certainly a remarkable achievement for any writer.