Midnight Quills Interview Archives

Midnight Quills is excited to share our interviews. Most of these interviews are brief so you can read through quickly whenever the moment allows. These guests have shared their unique thoughts and experiences, providing a tiny glimpse into the world of writing, always of value. Enjoy!

JESSIE VERINO Interview date: 6/20/06

Jessie Verino, well on her way to becoming a popular author of the e-published world, doesn't write your ordinary story. With sexy characters who might find themselves in an alternate dimension, the computer screen will sizzle when one downloads her books. Jessie is more than active with her career, attending conferences and book-signings and participating in frequent online chats. Keep her on your book radar and visit her wonderful Web site, Jessie Verino. You can find her Blog on Jessie's Blog.

Books by Jessie:

MQ: Why romance? Do you wish to explore other genres?

JV: I write romance because I believe in the happy ending. And, I can explore other genres within romance - sci-fi, fantasy, paranormal, historical, mystery/suspense. Romance has it all.

MQ: How long have you been writing and did you take it seriously from the start or later on?

JV: I've been writing since I was about 8 years old. I started my first manuscript in high school, a story for HQ. Needless to say, it never got past the handwritten on notebook paper stage. Then life interfered, and I put the writing away for a very long time. For the past nine years, I've been serious writing toward publication.

MQ: What do you consider the most difficult aspect of pulling a story together?

JV: The details. I tend to forget them. Thank goodness for my critique partners and editors!

MQ: Is your writing time driven mostly by mood or discipline?

JV: It started out as mood driven. However, now it's definitely discipline. Not that I have a scheduled time every day, the day job and life still make that impossible, but I make myself write something every day whether I'm "in the mood" or not.

MQ: What sparks a story idea for you? Do you have the same mental process for each book?

JV: Anything and everything sparks story ideas for me, although a good portion of them seem to come from songs/song titles. The other day, I was listening to an interview with our new Poet Laureate, Donald Hall, on NPR, and he mentioned that he'd been ill; nothing serious, just a disturbance in the blood. I thought that was an odd way to phrase it, and the statement sent all kinds of story ideas through my mind.

MQ: Do you have a favorite book or manuscript?

JV: Way too many to list here. Of my manuscripts, my favorite is always the one I'm currently working on.

MQ: How did you celebrate getting your first publishing contract?

JV: Nothing earth shattering, I went to dinner at my favorite restaurant. Now, I did go a little wild on my first "release day". I refused to wash dishes!

MQ: What achievement are you most proud of? What achievement are you most humbled by?

JV: Probably not what you're expecting. The achievement I'm most proud of is my DandyLine win. It's a first line contest run by SMRW during their conference, and the winner is chosen by popular vote of conference attendees. It's very special to me. The readers humble me. They are gracious and kind and have welcomed me without reservation.

MQ: What do you like most about being an author? What do you like the least?

JV: Creating worlds for my characters to play in. I can't draw or paint to save my life, but I can use words to paint exotic landscapes and colorful places. Revisions have to be the worst - when you're going through them. But, afterward, when you see the story shine, it's worth it.

MQ: What advice did you receive that had a huge impact on your career?

JV: Finish. Prove to yourself that you can make it to "the end". That's more of a confidence builder than any critique, any encouragement from your family and friends, or any support from your writing buddies. The first one you finish may not ever be published, but it's the most important building block to your career.

MQ: Outside of writing, what are your interests? What do you do for relaxation?

JV: I read - a lot. I also play lots of computer games. I love to crochet in the winter, but haven't had the time for the past couple of years. In the summer months, I enjoy riding my motorcycle, a Suzuki Volusia, some white water rafting, and swimming. Friday nights are reserved for the Sci-Fi channel - about the only television I watch.

JV: One thing I'd like to share with everyone is my free online read entitled, The Key. It's serialized fiction based on the "choose your own adventure stories". I've written the first installment and placed a poll to decide what the heroine does next. About every three or four weeks, I'll add another installment, based on the poll results, with more options. Or if you're feeling adventurous, you can go to a special blog where you can write your own installment. Who knows? It might be included in the Web site version!

JV: Thanks for having me at Midnight Quills! I've enjoyed the interview.

MQ: Thank you, Jessie, for giving your time and sharing information about yourself. MQ loved having you and we look forward to hearing more from you in the future.

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CAROLYNN CAREY Interview date: 7/10/06

Carolynn Carey Carolynn Carey is one of thirteen founding members of Smoky Mountain Romance Writers, chapter 172 of Romance Writers of America. A very hard working member, she has served on the board in the past and is currently newsletter editor. Awarded the Leanne Ellis Service Award (ELLIE) in 2005, she continues to dedicate her services above and beyond the call to duty.

Carolynn is a longtime member of the Romance Writers of America and believes strongly in the value of the romance genre. She has written both contemporary romance and historical romance set in the Regency period in England. She invites you to visit her Web site at Carolynn Carey.

Recent successes are piling up for Carolynn and there's no doubt there will be more in the future. Full of humor, her books are sure to please the romantic in all of us.

Books by Carolynn:

Awards:

A Summer Sentence cover

MQ: As a founding member of SMRW, what were you thinking while you drove to that first meeting in a bookstore? Had you been writing romance all along or did you decide to start at that point?

CC: I honestly don't remember what I was thinking on the way to that first meeting of SMRW. Considering my sense of direction (or lack thereof), I was probably hoping I could find the bookstore without getting lost. LOL

I had been writing romance long before that night. My first effort was a contemporary, but I quickly switched to writing historicals set in the Regency period, where my real love lay at that time. I sent a partial of my first Regency to a publisher. They called, asking for the whole manuscript, and then kept it for over a year before rejecting it. In that year, I'd written a sequel and entered it in the Romance Writers of America's Golden Heart contest (my first Regency to final in that contest). By the time SMRW was formed, I had written five or six Regencies, had signed with an agency (which no longer exists), and had been to a couple of national conferences. However, I was still not as knowledgeable about the industry as I should have been. The camaraderie and professionalism of the people I met in SMRW kept me going when I might have given up at some point.

MQ: How long have you been writing and did you take it seriously from the start or later on?

CC: Because I've always loved to read, I've always longed to write. Unfortunately, I was under the impression that writing would come easy. It didn't. It still doesn't. But I've always taken it seriously, even when I would go for years between efforts.

MQ: How did you get started editing the newsletter for SMRW?

CC: Quite simply, I decided to run for the office when the previous editor stepped down. I had the experience of producing newsletters on my day job, so it seemed like a natural step for me to take on another newsletter. (What was I thinking?) But it's been a rewarding experience because I've learned a lot and enjoyed it too.

MQ: What drew you to the romance genre? Do you wish to explore other genres or subcategories within romance?

CC: I took many literature courses when I was in college, studying Hawthorne, Melville, Byron, and so forth, along with some of the modern literary writers, but even in college, I liked to lose myself in a good romance novel. I especially grew to love Georgette Heyer, which eventually led to my writing Regencies. Now I enjoy writing contemporaries. At this point, I'm not interested in writing for other genres although I enjoy reading them occasionally.

MQ: Is your writing time driven mostly by mood or discipline?

CC: My writing time is driven more by mood than discipline, but without an occasional dose of discipline, I'd never get anything finished. I don't subscribe to the notion that a writer MUST write every day. I can think of nothing that would lead to burnout for me more quickly than forcing myself to write every day. However, there comes a time when I must make myself open the computer file containing my current project and force myself to write a sentence, even if it's a lousy sentence. That's often all it takes for me to get back in the mood again. So maybe it's true, what they say: Mood follows action.

Falling for Dallas cover

MQ: Was your first published book or the second the most exciting?

CC: I'd have to say that both were equally exciting because I'd almost decided the second one was never going to sell when the call finally came.

MQ: What has surprised you the most in your writing career about yourself and about the writing field?

CC: The ups and downs. In 1991 when I first finaled in the Golden Heart contest, I was convinced that my manuscript would sell. It didn't. In 1993, I was less certain my finalist manuscript would succeed, so I wasn't quite so surprised when it didn't. In 1996, when my third Regency finaled but didn't sell, I reached the conclusion that my style of Regency wasn't what publishers were looking for. Now, ten years later, that manuscript will be a debut book in the new Cerridwen Cotillion line of traditional Regencies, which will be launched later this year. I've learned to enjoy the successes and not obsess about the failures because the writing field is totally unpredictable and governed by influences that are beyond the individual writer's control. You may write a wonderful book that will never be published because of factors you can't control, but that doesn't reflect on your abilities.

MQ: What achievement are you most proud of? What achievement are you most humbled by?

CC: In relation to my writing for publication, I am most proud of the fact that I never gave up. I am most humbled by the fact that I finally succeeded.

MQ: What do you like most about being an author? What do you like the least?

CC: Being a published author is fun. I love the feeling that comes from knowing others are reading my work and enjoying it. I also like the validation that comes with holding my published book in my hand. What do I like the least? So far, nothing, because everything is new and exciting. Down the road a bit, I suspect that self promotion will become a bit of a drag, but thankfully I haven't reached that point yet.

MQ: Outside of writing, what are your interests? What do you do for relaxation?

CC: Outside of writing, I would have to say my interests revolve around my family--my husband, our daughter, my 95-year-old mother who is a joy to be around, and my extended family. I love reading, of course, and always have a book started, and I have my day job that keeps me busy.

MQ: Thank you, Carolynn, for a glimpse into the author's world. MQ will be watching for your books on the shelves!

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ROBYN DEHART Interview date: 10/18/06

Robyn DeHart always knew she wanted to be a writer and that endeavor has come to fruition with three books in print and more on the way. She's a recent transplant to the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains in Tennessee from her native Texas, big sky country that calls her home when she gets a chance. Robyn loves to hear from her readers so please email her at Robyn DeHart. You can learn more about Robyn through Jaunty Quills, a joint blog with other authors, and get the latest news at her Web site Robyn DeHart. Robyn also participates on the Avon Authors bulletin board.

Books by Robyn through Avon - Historical Romance:

Ladies' Amateur Sleuth Society - a series of 4 books: Courting Claudia

MQ: What sparked the idea for your Ladies' Amateur Sleuth Society series?

RdH: Well, originally the idea was just for the first book in the series - a woman who fancied Sherlock Holmes. I had tried and tried to get the idea to work, tried to find the story within and nothing was working. This was before I wrote Courting Claudia. So I shelved the idea and began writing Claudia's book. I noticed something about this time, the growing popularity of series within historicals. But I really wanted to make the Sherlock idea work because I just loved it. So I just focused my brainstorming on that and the Ladies' Amateur Sleuth Society series was born. I don't ever dream story ideas or get full ideas just popping into my head. I'm more of an idea manufacturer. It's all very intentional for me which I realize might seem less magical and creative, but I love brainstorming and somehow it works for me.

MQ: Which of the four heroines do you gravitate to the most and why?

RdH: Hmmmm…I'd have to go with Willow. She has such a deep burden of responsibility, self-imposed, of course and she's so intent on doing everything the right and appropriate way. She also has a tendency to be bossy because as she sees it, she's thought everything through and her advice is golden. I have all of these qualities to some degree. Family is extremely important to her, which I certainly feel as well. That being said there is a bit of me in all of my heroines: Amelia's loyalty, Meg's tenacity, Willow's responsibility, and Charlotte's dreams.

MQ: The setting of Deliciously Wicked in a chocolate factory is rather unusual and wonderful. You talk about researching chocolate on the Jaunty Quills blog, but how did chocolate factories become an interest to begin with?

RdH: I'm not sure where the idea originated. I think it was from doing research elsewhere for another book and I came across the fact that confectionaries were really growing during this period and were quite forward thinking in their way of doing business and dealing with their employees. All of that was interesting to me on a historical level and then there was the chocolate thing which is just a natural partner for romance. Chocolate wasn't then as we know it now so there are no scenes with her licking melted chocolate from his fingertips. While that might have been sexy, I wanted to stay true to the facts.

MQ: Do you write historical romance because you were hooked by a Kathleen Woodiwiss novel or some other reason? Do you entertain thoughts of writing contemporary in the future?

RdH: I was one of those kids who always wanted to be a writer. I wrote angst-ridden poems and short stories and for a while I thought I might want to write young-adult novels, but I never could settle on anything. Then late in my senior year in high school, I picked up one of my mother's romance novels, which happened to be Woodiwiss' A Rose in Winter and something just clicked. I knew instantly that this was what I was supposed to do. Historicals are my first love and they are my current genre of choice, but at the end of the day I write romance and the historical aspect is just part of the story. So I can't promise I won't write a contemporary or paranormal or any other type of romance. For me it's just all about the couple and the relationship, the rest of the stuff is just sewn into the fabric of their individual story.

MQ: Many authors mention being asked by editors to write outside their normal niche. Has this happened to you?

RdH: I can't really say. I haven't been asked to write or not write anything in particular. My historicals tend to be outside the norm to some degree. I don't always write characters of the aristocracy and some of my books never see the inside of a ballroom. This isn't really an intentional thing on my part, just sort of where my ideas end up. I like everyday, average people. Women who aren't fall-on-the-floor beautiful and men who work for their money; I like my characters to have lives outside of the story, goals other than finding a mate or producing an heir, interests that take them outside of the expected. I guess I'm quirky that way. But I've never had an editor tell me I couldn't write what I wanted to write. They haven't always let me get away with things (like my virgin hero *sign*) but in the end I trust their judgment and so far haven't felt as if I'm being asked not to be myself.

A Study in Scandal

MQ: Tell us a little about the writing process for you. Reading your posts in Jaunty Quills, you appear to be structured. Do you use an outline, edit during the first draft, etc? How long did it take to iron out your procedure?

RdH: I am very structured. I'm fairly analytic in every aspect of my life, so it just bleeds over into my writing. I did, however, write my first book by the seat of my pants and it was terrible. There were parts of the process that were exciting and fun and freeing, but frankly I think that was ignorance more than anything. When I was done with that book I ended up with a convoluted mess of episodic scenes and a really weak romance. I decided right then and there that layering in the romance during revisions is not the way to write strong, sigh-inducing love stories. So I learned how to plot. But I plot from the inside out. It's all about the internal stuff for me. The external stuff is last and extra and often missing or in chunks in the first draft. I'm known for calling my critique partner in a panic screaming, "It has no external plot! How do I write an entire book with no external plot?" This is the stuff that gets layered in, but my romance is solid and it is what everything else in the story is built upon. So most of my prewriting exists of character work and really nailing down their GMC's, their character arcs and the developing relationship. The rest, as they say, is just details.

MQ: Do you read fiction while you are writing?

RdH: I do, but I don't tend to read historicals while I'm at the rough draft stage. So I read contemporaries. I do read a lot of non-fiction though as well.

MQ: If you imagine the writing career as Incan terraces one must climb, what were some of the plateaus for you that you took a moment to relish before turning to the next hill? Points where you felt you were going to succeed, you were finally "getting it"?

RdH: This is an interesting question. The plotting/relationship thing I mentioned in the earlier question was probably plateau number one. It took me a while to work through all of this. I tried a million different ways to get to know my characters. I found character interviews frustrating because I'm one of those people who stress out if I don't have an answer for a question. So I'd get to those stupid questions about the hero's car or the heroine's favorite subject and I would just freeze.

But more than that, I think I've had three turning points in my writing career. The first came while I was at a chapter meeting and Julie Kenner was speaking. She mentioned something that was so profound to me and I'm not even sure it was part of her actual workshop, more of a random thing she tossed out there in relation to a question or something. She said, "Writing is an intensely personal journey." Up until this I think I was blissfully ignoring this very important (and probably obvious) fact. And it's a fact that's especially true for those of us who write romance. Romance novels are all about emotion - that's why romance readers read romance, to feel the emotions, to fall in love again. By not acknowledging that my writing should be personal, I was cheating, preventing myself from feeling anything that might be uncomfortable and therefore stripping my characters of any emotional depth. I can't say that once I recognized this that the emotions just poured into my writing, it was a little slower than that. More of a process and I still have a tendency to try to cheat, but I almost always fix those moments before the book goes to print.

The second came from listening to a workshop tape from a national conference. The speaker, Shelly Thacker, said, "Take your time." She went on to remind that it's not a race, we're all on our own journey and for some they remarkably (and annoyingly, I might add :) ) sell their first books, others of us, it takes a bit more time. Just as our courtships with our husbands are individual, so will our writing journey be. There is a lot of pressure built into the RWA structure to push, push, push people to submit and meet with editors/agents, and sometimes you're just not ready, the book's not ready. I submitted my first novel way too early and because I garnered a bit of interest from it, I got senior-fever way too soon, meaning I was ready to sell before I was really ready to sell so the wait was painful. Sometimes it feels as if making that first sell will be the culmination of dreams coming true and it is to a degree, but I'll be honest, and I'm not trying to be the annoying published person, but it is much harder on this side than I ever anticipated. And I was pretty prepared. I still get caught up in the craziness and forget that it's the journey that matters, not the destination. So no matter where you are in your career or where your critique partner is, take a deep breath and find something about your moment to enjoy, to be proud of.

And the final and I believe the most important came from a workshop with Stephanie Bond. If you've heard me speak, then you've probably heard me say this because I often include it in my workshops because it was so huge for me. "Good writing is not accidental."; Think about that. So often in a career that is full of air-fairy creativity, we ignore our responsibility for our own writing. For most of us writing is difficult and books don't come delivered to us in dreams or all figured out. We say things like, "Well, my characters insisted that…" or "It's the editor's job to correct my punctuation." No. It doesn't work that way. Maybe you hear your characters in your head, but the fact is they aren't really real and they're not telling you their story, you're making it up. This statement from Stephanie knocked me over the head and made me sit up and realize that it's only me. I'm the only one who can make my writing shine, make my characters seem real and believable, make my prose smooth, write tightly and vividly and make sure that my grammar is up to par. Only me. Putting my big girl panties on and taking the initiative to be the best writer I could be was empowering and at times overwhelming. It's much easier to pretend that our writing is divinely orchestrated, but I think it's been a good 2000 years since that's actually happened.

Deliciously Wicked

MQ: Your Web site is great. Did you wait until you were published or launch yourself on the internet sooner? What promotional aspects do you enjoy the most?

RdH: I had a Web site for years before I was published. I learned how to write HTML and tried to make a name for myself. I had lots of writing related resources linked and only one page about me and my own writing. When I sold I made the decision that I wanted to pull that site down and hire someone to do a professional one for me. One piece of advice that a well-known published author gave me was to put up a site that is so great people will think they already know you or at least wonder why they haven't heard of you just yet. The Web site I was doing was already taking quite a bit of time and I needed that time for my writing. So I hired Barb and she's done a fantastic job for me.

As far as other promo: I don't know that I'm all that great at promotion. What I tend to do is have a presence online, which means being active on the AvonAuthors.com bulletin board and my joint blog. I also enjoy giving workshops at chapter meetings and conferences; teaching has always been a part of my master plan for my career. I tend to only do booksignings with a group of authors. I do order bookmarks for every book, but I'm not sure they do any good. I'm fortunate in that my publisher buys an ad in RT for all of their books so I do get a visual there. That's really it. I'm working on other options right now for promoting to more booksellers, but I don't have any firm plans at the moment.

MQ: What about writing do you find most difficult?

RdH: This really changes from book to book. I used to say revisions, because the first drafts were always my fun part. But lately the first drafts have been increasingly more difficult. Every book is so different though. What works for one might not work for another. Writing does not come easy for me, all of it can be a struggle and some books are like trying to squeeze blood from an onion. I will say this, the worst part is the business, it's emotionally draining and stressful, but it requires less actual work than the writing part.

MQ: Which status presented more pressure for you: unpublished or published?

RdH: Definitely published. I thought the "almost there" stage was the most difficult thing I'd ever face as a writer, but that's just because I had no perspective. When you're in your own muck you lose sight of everything else. Making that first sell takes time and it's difficult, I haven't forgotten that - it took me 7 years to make my first sell. But it's nothing compared to the stresses and pressures of the published side. Before you sell, it's all about your ability to write well; to create believable characters and have the ever elusive sparkling voice. After you sell, it's less about that and more about your numbers. That's not to say that you can let your writing skills slack, on the contrary, you still want to strive to write better and better with each book. But those abilities are sort of just assumed and the numbers game takes center stage.

MQ: How did it feel to walk into a bookstore and see Courting Claudia on a shelf? What felt more exciting: signing the contract or the reality of the actual book?

RdH: The whole process of making my first sale was really surreal. The most exciting part of the whole thing was getting my cover for the first time. Well, and the check, that was obviously nice. :) I don't remember crying or screaming, I just was shaking and in utter disbelief when I got the call. It was just really strange. I remember thinking…hmmmm, I knew this would happen, but here it is. I saw the book for the first time in Wal-mart and my husband was so excited, more than I was, I think. I don't think it hit me until I got my box of author's copies. Then I broke down and cried. It was like I finally realized it was real, that all my hard work had paid off.

MQ: Thank you, Robyn, for giving so much insight into the writing process and the world of being published. MQ looks forward to the next books in the detective series and other future books sure to come.

Return to Midnight Quills.

GINGER HANSON Interview Date: 12/01/06

Ginger Hanson writes Historical Romance. She has two published books at this time: TENNESSEE WALTZ and RANSOM'S BRIDE. Ginger volunteers her time reading and judging manuscripts for contests. She is an excellent teacher and also gives online writing classes. Ginger is a member of Romance Writers of America (RWA), RWA Outreach as secretary and Alabama Writers' Forum. For more information about Ginger, check out her Web site at Ginger Hanson.

MQ: Why romance?

GH: I stumbled into the romance genre by accident after a friend read one of my manuscripts and said, "You should write a romance." This was many years ago, before RWA was very large, before there were so many writers' groups and a writers' conference on every corner. I think she said that because my story was a love story with a happy ending! Seemed a good fit when I started reading the books.

MQ: Do you wish to explore other genres?

GH: Been there, done that! I have several unpublished children's books "easy to middle grade", fiction and nonfiction as well as two unpublished young adult romance novels. Not to mention a historical set in 60 A.D. Roman Britain. Truth is, I excel in unpublished fiction.

MQ: How long have you been writing and did you take it seriously from the start or later on?

GH: I wrote my first short story, "The Magic Tea Tray," when I was eight years old. I feel very fortunate that I attended a British school where reading and writing were emphasized in the early grades. My dad was in the U.S. Navy and we were stationed on the island of Malta, and my brothers and I attended the Royal British Naval school. I still have the little blue notebook they gave us for English class and the original copy of "The Magic Tea Tray." Since I began writing short stories so early, I think learning how to print must have inspired me.

I've always taken writing seriously. I began submitting short stories to Seventeen when I was a teenager. In my 20s, I switched to Redbook and I only stopped bothering these high power markets because I started writing novels. I also studied journalism in high school and college because I wanted to be a news reporter. I even considered joining the U.S. Navy because 1) I look good in navy blue and 2) I could have gotten an ROTC scholarship for a journalism degree. Marriage intervened and I got sidetracked.

I ended up using my journalism background to write news articles, publicity pieces, and magazines articles. This training segued naturally into newsletter writing for various volunteer organizations which eventually led to a stint as the editor/writer of an aviation business newsletter.

MQ: What do you consider the most difficult aspect of pulling a story together?

GH: The most difficult aspect of pulling a story together for me is character growth. I am a plot driven writer which is why I have so much trouble writing romance. Yeah, I know, an odd admission for a romance writer. But it's true. "Growing the characters" is difficult for me and I study that aspect of writing all the time. My husband says I should have written men's adventure books because men don't want all that touchy-feely stuff that women enjoy.

I try to strengthen any writing weakness I have. For example, dialogue wasn't easy for me before I wrote Tennessee Waltz. I read books on dialogue, took workshops and really concentrated on that aspect of my writing. Now I'm comfortable writing dialogue. In the manuscript I just finished, I've been working on character and romantic growth. I based this learning method on years of studying piano. Whenever there was a passage I didn't play well, my instructor would make me pull it out, play it until I mastered it, then reinsert it into the piece. It wasn't a big jump to transfer this concept to my writing.

MQ: Is your writing driven mostly by mood or discipline?

GH: My writing time has become very haphazard lately. I have been battling Dry Eye Syndrome since last summer. My writing used to be fairly disciplined, but now I have to monitor the amount of time I spend at the computer. I didn't realize I'd become so addicted to using the computer until this happened. I shop online, I bank online, I do a lot of research online and of course, there is e-mail. Trimming back my use of the computer has meant changing my life style. For those of you who have yet to experience this problem, blink, blink, blink, and blink again while you're at the computer or reading!

MQ: What sparks a story idea for you? Do you have the same mental process for each book?

GH: A random thought, an empty plastic bag by the side of the road, a snippet of over heard conversation, a sentence in a history book, lots of things spark my imagination and give me ideas for stories. Whether or not that spark is enough to hang a whole book on is another story. Each book travels its own path, I'm constantly studying the craft of writing, character growth, theme, story structure. Every time I start a new book I bring new skills to the drawing board which I'm sure affects my mental process. Overall, I tend to write an outline of where I want to go with the story and something about the main characters. Then I try to answer certain questions about the story, such as its theme, or what message I'm trying to convey, where the characters are when it starts and where I want them to be at the end. I love outlines because it means I seldom face a blank page. There is always at least a sentence waiting for me as I write.

MQ: Do you have a favorite book or manuscript?

GH: Of mine? That is difficult to answer because each of my books and manuscripts is a work of heart and soul. I like Tennessee Waltz because of the action and historical events I used in it, but I love Ransom's Bride because the story explores the problem of people falling in love with an ideal rather than a true person. While my agent was shopping my next historical which sad to say hasn't found a home yet, I returned to a contemporary story I'd been working on before I got "the call." It seems I got into the contemporary mode for now because I finished that one and started a story about a woman who fosters a dog whose owner is in Iraq.

MQ: How did you celebrate getting your first publishing contract?

GH: My husband and I went out to dinner after I quit hopping around the house screaming "I got a two book contract!"

MQ: What achievement are you most proud of? What achievement are you most humbled by?

GH: In writing, I'm most proud of having won Authorlink's New Author 2001 Best in Show contest. Best in Show meant that my submission was judged not only in its category, but against eleven other categories ranging from mystery to screenwriting. Plus, the final judge was a male editor who wasn't even connected to the romance industry. It was a most surprising win. And I loved returning to a favorite conference to be given my award at a luncheon in front of my husband and writer friends. The $600 cash awards and paid for (travel, registration, room, food!) conference were pretty nice perks, too! It made me feel as if I'd arrived…

What has made me most humble is how my writing affects others. My first experience was when a woman wrote to thank me for keeping her connected to the military community via a newsletter I wrote and edited for Army Community Services. Her husband had been deployed to a war zone. A few years ago, I wrote a column for the local paper about a wonderful woman who'd spent decades making our community better. She was a quiet, behind the scenes worker and after I described many of the ways she'd enhanced our area, I asked people in the community to thank her the next time they saw her. The article galvanized folks and the mayor ended up proclaiming a special day for her and there was a town wide reception honoring her. I also wrote an article about an FAA award for aircraft mechanics who have worked in that field for fifty years. That article inspired a company to nominate three local men for the award, which they received. In fact, they were the first three people to receive the award in Alabama.

MQ: What do you like most about being an author? What do you like the least?

GH: What I like the most is writing a story that has been tugging at my imagination for a long time. What I like the least is waiting for an editor in New York to offer me a contract!

MQ: What advice did you receive that had a huge impact on your career?

GH: 1) To write in the creative mode and edit after you've written, but to edit ruthlessly. Be able to cut anything that doesn't enhance the story. 2) If a reader/critique partner doesn't understand something, look at it again. It's the writer's job to take the reader by the hand and lead her into your fictional world. It's not the writer's job to confuse readers or frustrate them. Sometimes all it takes is using a pronoun correctly, or adding a word or two. Clarity is important. 3) Words are free. There are always more of them in the dictionary! That means, don't think you have to hang onto every word you write down.

MQ: Outside of writing, what are your interests? What do you do for relaxation?

GH: Many of my interests seem to center on writing/reading! I volunteer with the library and work the front desk for a few hours one afternoon a week where I solicit and dispense opinions about books as if I knew something about them. I'm the past President and Treasurer of the Friends of the Library, now serving as Publicity Chair and I also work our semi-annual book sales. At home, I sew a little, read a little (not as much with dry eye syndrome), putz around the yard a little (weeds 1,000,000-Ginger 12), watch movies, try not to cook too often, or clean house too much (although I think of many good scenes when I'm vacuuming.)

My husband and I have been involved with revising the FAA Instrument Handbook this year. He's the "subject matter expert" and I'm the writing expert. We start on the Pilot's Handbook in January.

I started studying Taoist Tai Chi over a year ago, supposedly for exercise and relaxation. It was frustrating when I first started so it didn't relax me much. Tai Chi is not something you learn in a beginner's class! But I've accepted that Tai Chi is a lifestyle one can study but not necessarily master completely. Hmmm, that sounds like writing!

MQ: Thank you, Ginger, for sharing your experiences with us. MQ will be watching for more of your work to hit the bookstores!

JENNIFER ESTEP Interview Date: 3/15/07

Jennifer Estep By day, Jennifer Estep is an award-winning features writer and page designer. She has a bachelor's degree in English and journalism, and a master's degree in professional communications. She works for a daily newspaper.

By night, Jennifer is an author, prowling the streets of her imagination in search of her next super idea. She's a member of Romance Writers of America, Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, Inc. and several other writing groups.

Karma Girl is her first book. It will be published in May by Berkley Books. The sequel, Hot Mama, will be released in November by Berkley.

Check out Jennifer Estep's Web site, a very fun interactive site.

Purchase information: Karma Girl on Amazon.com Karma Girl

MQ: Reading the first chapter, Karma Girl has the drama of a comic and a touch of the graphic novel. Did this style develop as you began writing or did you immediately know this was your style?

JE: I've always loved anything related to comics - the books, movies, TV shows, cartoons. I love the idea of having superpowers, wearing a snazzy costume, and saving the world. As a kid, I always wanted to be Wonder Woman. (I still do, actually.)

I knew I wanted to write something set in a comic book-based world with lots of superheroes and villains. And I wanted it to be big and bright and larger-than-life, just the way many comics are. Honestly, I just started out with my concept and tried to make it as fun and tongue-in-cheek and entertaining as I could.

MQ: Tell us a little about the heroine, Carmen Cole. As her dreams are dashed, her life seems headed in a new direction. She's quite plucky.

JE: Plucky is an understatement. Carmen is one of those people who always manages to make it through any situation, even if she's just hanging on by her fingernails. As the book opens, Carmen finds her fiancé cheating on her with her best friend - on their wedding day. Not only that, she discovers that the two are her town's resident superhero and ubervillain.

Their betrayals hurt her terribly, and Carmen decides to hurt them right back by exposing their secret identities. She's an investigative reporter for a local newspaper, and it's easy for her to do this. And she doesn't stop there. She goes on a crusade to unmask every hero and villain who crosses her path - with some tragic results.

Anger drives Carmen through a lot of the book, but so does her desire to right past wrongs done to her and that she's done to others. So yeah, she's plucky. :)

MQ: When did the concept of Karma Girl, the superheroes and ubervillains, come into your head?

JE: Honestly, from watching all the recent comic book movies and TV shows like Spider-Man, Smallville, X-Men, etc. I always wondered, especially in regards to Superman and Smallville, why Lois Lane, Lana Lang, and Lex Luthor never figured out that Clark Kent has superpowers. That he's really Superman. C'mon. What kind of disguise is a pair of glasses anyway? Can these people not see?

The same thing goes for Mary Jane Watson not realizing that Peter Parker is Spider-Man, or Commissioner Gordon not figuring out that Bruce Wayne is really Batman. Of course, in some story lines, they do figure it out, or the hero tells his friends who he really is. But one of the main ideas behind comics is that the heroes and villains have secret identities, no matter how obvious they might be.

I wondered what would happen if there was someone out there, a reporter, who dedicated her life to exposing these secret identities - and succeeded. Now that would be the kind of comic I'd like to read.

So, I took the idea a little farther. What would motivate this reporter to expose superheroes? Why, what better way than to have her fiancé, the person she loved most, turn out to be a superhero - one who was cheating on her? That idea, that light-bulb moment, was the beginning of Karma Girl and the world of Bigtime.

Since I was going to do a different take on the secret identity story, I decided to twist around everything else and sort of lovingly spoof the world of comics. I like fun, breezy books. What could be better than writing my own larger-than-life comic book? As a result, Karma Girl turned out very tongue-in-cheek and campy, sort of like the old Batman TV show with Adam West (which I also loved as a kid).

MQ: Do you write fast and furious every spare minute you can find or go slower?

JE: I write in spurts. If I have an idea, I'll think about it for a couple of weeks, think about the characters, the story, the major turning points, etc. Then, I'll do a really, really rough draft of the story, maybe 50,000 words, in about two or three weeks. I just sit down and write it, no matter how bad it is, just to see if the story will work for a full-blown novel.

If I think I have something usable, I'll let it sit for a few weeks, before going back to it and reading through. I think about the scenes and characters and what needs to be fleshed out. Then, I start revising and editing. When I'm finished with the second, longer draft, I'll let that sit for a few weeks, before going back through and reading and revising some more. It usually takes me about four drafts before I'm satisfied with a book.

I don't write every day, but I do something book-related every day, like update my Web site, and answer reader e-mails, blog, mail out bookmarks to various reader groups, etc.

MQ: Time is a huge factor for all writers. How long did it take to write Karma Girl and then how long to win the two-book contract?

JE: I originally wrote Karma Girl in third person, but decided to change it to first person. That's the type of writing I really do best. I just love the intimacy of the first-person voice. When I made the change to first-person is when Karma Girl really started to sing to me. After that, things went a lot quicker. Overall, I'd say it took me about nine months to write/edit Karma Girl.

Then, it was time to find an agent. That took about six months, and I really lucked out and got a great agent. She sold Karma Girl and Hot Mama to Berkley about three months after I signed with her.

So, from beginning to end, it took about 18 months.

MQ: How did you celebrate gaining a publishing contract?

JE: I was at work when my agent called with the news. I got all the details from her, then hung up the phone. I went outside to my car, got in, and just let myself whoop and holler and scream for a few minutes. Then, I got out and went back to work.

I didn't really do anything special, didn't go out to dinner or treat myself to champagne. But I had a big smile on my face the rest of the week. I still do.

MQ: How has journalism helped you? How has the different writing style hindered you, if at all?

JE: I've got a bachelor's degree in English and journalism, and a master's degree in professional communications. I've worked and done freelance writing for newspapers, magazines, and Web sites. Currently, I design feature pages for a daily newspaper.

When you write for a newspaper audience, you're essentially writing on a grade-school level. That's what they tell you to do - to make your stories simple but interesting. You also have to be able to take complex topics, like taxes and government budgets, and explain them in simple terms. I think the journalistic style has helped make my writing very smooth, flowing, and easy-to-read, all of which are pluses, especially when it comes to fiction.

Sometimes it can be a struggle to make a book long enough, because most newspaper stories are fairly short, but I don't have so much trouble with that anymore. My comic book world is so complex that I can't get in all the heroes and random encounters that I want to.

Being a journalist really, really helps when it comes time to promote your book. Because you already know how the media works. You know how to write press releases according to Associated Press style. You know how to pitch stories to reporters and to make things as easy as possible by sending them all the information they need. You also don't get quite as many butterflies when it comes time to be interviewed, as another, less media-savvy author might get.

MQ: Do you have any advice to impart to fellow writers that helped you?

JE: Never give up, and write what you love. It took me about seven years from the time I started writing my very first book until I got my first contract. But I kept on writing books and learning and getting better, and it finally happened for me. It'll happen for you, too.

When I say write what you love, I mean write the story you want to tell, something that you'd want to read. If you don't like vampire books, don't try to write one just because they're popular right now. You won't enjoy it, and it will show in your writing.

When I started Karma Girl, I didn't know if it would sell. I didn't think that it would because it was just so different. It wasn't strictly romance or chick-lit or fantasy. And it was about comic book-type characters, which is typically thought of as a genre that only guys like to read. But it did sell because it was so different and because I really had a blast writing it. So, don't follow trends - be a trend-setter yourself.

And don't let rejections bother you too much. You're going to get rejected at some point. If it's a form letter, put it in a file and move on. If it's more personalized, think about what the agent/editor said and see if her advice is legit. If it is, use it to make your work better and stronger.

MQ: What surprised you about becoming a published author that you weren't expecting?

JE: How much more work it is than being unpublished! Seriously. In addition to just writing, you have to do revisions and copy edits for your editor. Then, it's time to do promotion. Creating a media list, sending out bookmarks, setting up book signings, doing interviews, updating your Web site, doing a newsletter, doing contests, answering e-mails. It all takes up a lot of time.

You can't just sit down and write anymore. You have to get the word out about your books, and do what you can to promote and sell them - in addition to trying to find time to write the next one. It's a lot of work, but I really do love it.

MQ: What's in the works after Karma Girl and Hot Mama? Your Web site explains you have two more Bigtime books. Do you want to do more in that series or start something new or both?

JE: I love writing the Bigtime series. I've finished the third book, Jinx, and I'm working on the fourth book right now. It's called Nightingale. And I have ideas for a couple more Bigtime books after that.

I'm also working on a paranormal, chick-lit spy series about a book-loving Druid who's forced to become a spy and infiltrate a ring of magical terrorists. It's very fun and very zany, just like the Bigtime books. In addition to being a comics fan, I also love spy books and movies, like the James Bond series. So, this is a way for me to write my kind of spy story.

And finally, I have an idea for a gritty, urban fantasy about an assassin who gets revenge on the woman who murdered her family. That's farther on down the road, though, maybe next year. Right now, I want to focus on getting the Bigtime series off the ground and making a name for myself.

MQ: Sounds like a lot of fun and adventure is what readers can expect from your books. MQ looks forward to those plans coming to fruition and for the release of Karma Girl in May. Thanks for sharing with us.

KELLEY ARMSTRONG Interview Date: 8/4/07

Kelley Armstrong Kelley Armstrong started out with a degree in psychology and then moved on to computer programming before becoming a full-time writer. Her fans are thrilled she made the switch. Kelley is the author of an action packed and fun paranormal series, Women of the Otherworld. She also has a new straight up human series, Nadia Stafford, ex-cop turned hitman. Yes, we mean 'man' here. Nadia runs with the big dogs. Kelley is a resident of Ontario, Canada, making a home there with her husband and three children. For more information about her and on both series, visit Kelley's Web site.

No Humans Involved Purchase Info: No Humans Involved on Amazon.com

MQ: Did you always want to write about witches and other non-human characters?

KA: I've had paranormal or fantastical elements in my stories since I first started writing (in childhood). As I got older and more serious about my writing, I was encouraged to be more mainstream/realistic, so I did go through a period of writing nothing supernatural or fantastical, but eventually got stubborn and returned to that.

MQ: Do you try to adhere to common beliefs or notions regarding non-humans, spell castings, super abilities and other paranormal activities?

KA: I don't make a conscious effort to stick to the most common beliefs, unless they're the absolute core beliefs (eg. I wouldn't create a werewolf who didn't do any kind of shape-shifting). Instead, I choose elements that best fit the story I'm telling and the world I'm building. For example, my werewolves can be killed without silver bullets and my vampires can walk in the daylight because that worked better for me.

MQ: When did ex-cop, hit woman, Nadia Stafford enter the picture for you as an author? Did you jump on the idea or let it germinate over time?

KA: While I love to write paranormal, my reading these days slants more toward mainstream thrillers. So when I considered the idea of trying something different, for the sake of variety, that's the genre I naturally thought of. But having read so much of it, I knew I'd have a challenge being original. That's when I decided on a hitwoman. While I'm far from the first author to use a hitman protagonist in a thriller, it's not too common and it let me explore some concepts of justice and ethics that interested me.

Exit Strategy Purchase Info: Exit Strategy on Amazon.com

MQ: How hard is it to juggle two very different series - paranormal and non-paranormal?

KA: Before I was published, I rarely wrote two stories of the same genre back to back. I was constantly switching and exploring, so doing that now, with two different series, actually comes more naturally than writing nonstop paranormal! When I switch to the mainstream thriller, it's a nice change of pace, and it's just as nice when I switch back.

MQ: A comical irreverent style is present in your books. Was this your voice to begin with or did it come about gradually?

KA: Hard to say, because it's hard to look back on my old work and judge it objectively. If I look at what I wrote in high school, it was horror with a generous dose of tongue-in-cheek humour, so I suspect that's always been my voice. If someone told me to write completely seriously, I think I'd be in trouble!

MQ: Have you found that men enjoy reading your female focused series?

KA: The biggest challenge for a female focused series is getting guys to pick it up in the first place! Having covers with sexy women on the front doesn't help. One might think this would appeal to guys, but in the book cover world, it screams "romance." In the UK, my covers don't have the women and look more like fantasy novels, and I get far more letters from male readers in the UK than North America. Coincidence? Maybe. But once they get past the covers and female narrator, men seem to enjoy them…or so they tell me!

MQ: Is there any main character that stood out as harder to bring to life than the others? Any favorites?

KA: My first narrator--the werewolf, Elena--is my easiest to write because I've done her the most. The hardest to bring to life was my ghost, Eve, because she's the least like me, so it took some work to get into her mindset. Once there, though, I had a blast!

MQ: What has been something you discovered about yourself from writing fiction novels?

KA: Honestly, I've been writing for so long that I don't remember a time I wasn't writing, so I can't look back on any self-discovery and say it came from writing.

MQ: How did you celebrate selling the very first novel?

KA: I bought a laser printer. Geeky, I know, but I had a string of cheap inkjets that mangled pages and jammed constantly, and I always said if I ever made any money, I'd buy a laser printer. That's what I did. Then I took my family to brunch to celebrate a little more traditionally!

MQ: What do you enjoy the most about being an author? The least?

KA: I love being paid to stay home and write stories. Can't beat that. As for the least, I have to say, I'm not nearly as crazy about the business aspects of writing. The more popular my books get, the more time I have to spend on the non-writing parts--from accounting to promotion--though I'm starting to ease away from that with the help of an assistant.

MQ: Thank you, Kelley, for taking the time to share a part of your writing word with us. MQ looks forward to seeing more books on the shelves and digging in to the newer series with hitwoman, Nadia.