Erica Orloff - Best-Selling Author Of Multiple Novels Across Several Genres

Welcome to “Up Close & Personal.” For every interview I will be introducing a literary personality discussing her views and insights, as well as upcoming literary events around the world.

Today’s interview is with Erica Orloff. She is a best-selling author notably writing across several genres to an international market. She writes for the Red Dress Ink, MIRA imprints, and the Silhouette Nocturne series. She publishes under the pen name Tess Hudson. Her young adult books are written under the name Liza Conrad.

Her books have been noted in US Weekly magazine, Cosmopolitan, Women’s World and American Girl magazines, as well as countless newspapers and online sites. Her titles and topics range from Rock My World, for teens, to The Roofer, a dark mob saga set in Hell’s Kitchen. Ms. Orloff is especially noted for her romantic comedies. She enjoys writing for the 'action line' Bombshell, where she gets to write about heroines who save the day.

E.I. What were you like as a teenager? Please tell your readers more about Erica Orloff-- the woman behind the author?

Erica Orloff: I was actually a "brainiac." I skipped a grade of high school (didn't go for my senior year and instead went off to college). I was shy, and if you read my YA books, the heroine is often the outsider girl--just something about her is different.

E.I. You are well known in the writing community of multiple novels across several genres. And also writes under the pen name Tess Hudson and Lisa Conrad when you write Young Adult books. Could you share with your fans about your other pen names?

Erica Orloff: I write romantic comedies and paranormal romances as Erica Orloff. I use the Tess Hudson name for darker thrillers or books that have darker themes. And I write YA books as Liza Conrad, so that when I go to speak at schools, the kids will then look up those titles as opposed to wading through all the other ones.

E.I. You were already publishing romance novels for the adult market when you decided to add YA books to your writing. What inspired you to branch out? What about writing for teens appealed to you?

Erica Orloff: I adore writing YAs. I think I carry inside me that "outsider girl"--just a little bit of a loner, a little different. I think when I start writing in my teen voice, I find that spot inside. I originally branched out at the suggestion of an editor . . . and when I tried it, I found I was very comfortable in my teen voice.

E.I. Many writers describe themselves as "character" or "plot" writers. Which are you? What do you find to be the hardest part of writing?

Erica Orloff: I am most definitely a character writer. I actually find plotting the hardest part of writing. My characters are always very complicated, eccentric individuals, and I just know who they are inside and out. I like writing dialogue, too. But plotting my books takes a lot of discipline on my part.

E.I. Could you describe your path to publication--any stumble along the way? Is there anything about you that you would do differently, knowing what you do now?

Erica Orloff: I have a nauseating "first sale" story, I'm afraid. I wrote my first novel, Spanish Disco, and then stuck it in a drawer--the bottom drawer of my grandmother's antique hutch, to be specific. I was freelancing as a book editor and met an agent at a conference in L.A. but didn't mention it to him. About a year later, I ran into him again and finally told him about the book in the drawer. He said to send it to him--and called me a week later to say he laughed out loud. I signed with him and had a deal with Red Dress Ink in about three months. That was 20 books ago.

What would I do differently? I am not sure. I think I would have more diligently done P.R. when I started out--authors really have to promote themselves, and I was very "green" at that at first.

E.I. As a bestselling author, do typical writer insecurities fade away, do you feel more pressure, or are you able to separate all that from your own creative process?

Erica Orloff: I am feeling very insecure at the moment. I have two ambitious projects in the proposal stage--I do like flexing my creative muscles. So I definitely feel the pressure. And to be honest, the only time I feel "paralyzed" about writing is when that internal pressure is heating up--when I write and don't know, for sure, that I am in the zone or nailing it. Sometimes you just "know" what you have and sometimes you are feeling your way.

E.I. Everyone is eager to learn about your new book, “Blood Son,” published by Silhouette Nocturne in February of 2007. Can you give us a hint as to what it's about?

Erica Orloff: It is about a comparative religion professor hunting for her brother who went missing in Prague. As she searches for him, she meets a dhampir--a half-human, half-vampire--who may be able to help her. On a darker level, the book is about myths and truths through history about the nature of evil.

E.I. What challenges or obstacle did you encounter while writing and creating Elizabeth Martin and Josef Darecky? How did you overcome these challenges?

Erica Orloff: Elizabeth, I felt, was very much like me. Loyal to her family and intense, yet very "reasonable"--into philosophy. I tried to create a world or a situation in which a real person might actually and truly begin to believe that vampires exist. So what I did was explore serial killers. Why is it sociaty accepts that there are men who are born with a sociopathic coldness--who can kill for sport and are incapable of feeling no remorse--yet we have a hard time believing in vampires or other mythic evil creatures? Can men be born soulless? The challenge was to take that "thesis," if you will, and make it believable. That vampires are just as real as soulless men.

E.I. If you were allowed total control of a Hollywood version of “Blood Son” who would be in it? In your own opinion, who do you think should direct?

Erica Orloff: Wouldn't I love that? Well, I would cast Rufus Sewell as Josef, and Jennifer Connolly as Elizabeth. And to direct? David Funcher (who did Zodiac and Fight Club).

E.I. Let's talk about “The Poker Diaries” how did you come up with the title and idea?

Erica Orloff: I love to play poker, and I have been playing since I was a kid--I'm from a family of card players. So I decided to write about a girl who gambles--but she understands the rules. In other words, you never bet what you can't afford to lose. Lulu is a phenom--an unbelievably intuitive player. And I crafted a story in which a friend bets irresponsibly and loses an heirloom he simply cannot lose. And she has to win it back--and gets in way over her head. I know for myself, if a friend is in trouble, I will risk more than for myself.

E.I. What can we expect from your characters Lulu and Mark?

Erica Orloff: Lulu is a blend of her divorced parents. Her mother is an heiress--and raises her on Central Park West in a world of art and museums and society. And Lulu's father lives in Hell's Kitchen in a world of tough bars and tough men. Lulu, in effect, is New York. The city has culture--and it has a flavor of its boroughs and its history of grittiness. So Lulu is both streetsmart and able to blend in with the bluebloods. Mark is her "downtown" crush--a poker player with a tattoo and an earring, and an air of "tough guy" about him--but underneath it, he has a soft spot for Lulu.

E.I. How much of Lulu’s mom and Mr. Tough on crime’s life is planned out in your head? How do you know where you will go next with him or with any of your characters?

Erica Orloff: Very little is planned, which is a horrid way to work. That's where being a character writer comes into play. I throw them into situations and there is a spontaneity in terms of "what happens next."

E.I. You have a very colorful and extensive Web site about yourself and your books, which I'm sure encourages more young adult readers to write you with their thoughts. Do they express themselves to you differently?

Erica Orloff: I do hear from a lot of teen readers . . . and they are usually very enthusiastic. I also hear from a number of teen readers who want to be WRITERS and they have amazing questions asking for advice on becoming one. Occasionally, I hear from teens who are "outsiders"--and I think the books help them to feel less alone in some way.

E.I. Would you like to close the interview by providing any tips for aspiring writers?

Erica Orloff: My advice is always "carpe diem." I think the richer, more fulfilling your life is, the more you have to write about. Don't be afraid to try anything once, go outside your comfort zone, meet people you would never think of being friends with initially, go to interesting places, break out of any ruts. I think the more you have to draw on in yourself, inside yourself, the more experiences you have . . . that reality and richness will translate to the page. I've worked as a blackjack dealer in illegal backroom games, and have worked for years with war refugees as an ESL teacher . . . I've traveled and met amazing people from all walks of life. I've crammed as much living into every day I am given on earth . . . and I think that makes for powerful writing.

E.I. Ms. Orloff, So great for you to do the interview. Thank you so much.

Erica Orloff: Thanks so much for having me, E.I.!

To learn more about Erica Orloff, please visit her at:
www.ericaorloff.com/
www.ericaorloff.com/Books.htm
www.myspace.com/ericaorloff

Tanya Lee Stone - Author Of Teen, Young Adult Fiction, Picture Books, And Children's Nonfiction.

Welcome to “Up Close & Personal.” For every interview I will be introducing a literary personality discussing her views and insights, as well as upcoming literary events around the world.

Today’s interview is with Tanya Lee Stone, author of teen, young adult fiction, picture books, and children's nonfiction.

E.I. :Welcome, and thank you for stopping by Ms. Stone. Please tell us more about Tanya Lee Stone -- the woman behind the author.

TLS: Well, let's see, what would you like to know? I've been a bookie (one who is addicted to books) since I was a kid. My mother is a retired librarian and my father is also a writer. After college, I took a job as an editor, which I adored--and I did that for 13 years. That's when we moved away from a publishing hub and I decided to try my hand as a writer.

E. I. Would you please tell your fans a little about your writing background and what it took to sell your first book?

TLS: I was an English major at Oberlin College and wrote a lot of mediocre papers. I learned the skill of revision during those years, which was only reinforced during my editorial years. I always wrote for myself--journaling, etc.--but when I started writing toward publication my revision skills really became paramount to honing my writing skills. My first sale is not a typical story. As an editor, I had been developing ideas for books, and hiring writers to write them, for several years. When I had to leave my job for our move, I asked the my publisher if he might consider letting me try to write one of the books I had developed. Happily, he said yes, and they were happy with my efforts.

E. I. Was your first book written before, or after you landed the book deal? Did you or your agent approach a publisher, or vice versa?

TLS: We tackled this in the previous question, so I will add some bigger picture information. I did not have an agent for many years, and published many books with multiple publishers on my own. This was in part because of how I entered the business. But as time went on, my work changed and I began to write fiction and more creative nonfiction. That was when I decided I needed an agent to help me navigate my changing career.

E. I. Do you let anyone read your manuscript, before you send it to your editor?

TLS: Yes. I have two or three trusted readers. We read for each other when asked. I highly, highly, highly recommend writers have some kind of support system--whether it's a critique group, or just one or two trusted readers. And by trusted, I mean people who are able to read with a critical eye and give constructive criticism kindly.

E. I. Is research one of your favorite parts of writing your book? Share with us some of your favorite "discoveries" --- of any kind --- when you were researching for one of your books.

TLS: I must confess--I absolutely love research. It's taken me so many places--the inside of a harbor seal tank (alongside with the seals), behind the scenes at a snowboard factory, and my all-time favorite--conducting interviews with the fascinating people I'm profiling. Right now I'm working on a book for readers 10 and up about the Mercury 13 women, who began astronaut training in 1961 until the plug was pulled on their program. I've been interviewing many of the women, as well as some of the researchers involved with the program at the time. And I'm about to fly out to a conference where 7 of these ladies will be meeting with me. That book, Almost Astronauts, will be out in 2009.

E.I. Please tell us about your latest book A Bad Boy Can Be Good for a Girl and how did you come up with the title?

TLS: The title was the first thing that hit me. I was listening to a lecture and the speaker said two phrases within a minute of each other: "bad boys" and "good girls." Immediately, my brain put them together and I scrawled my title in my notebook, realizing I had a lot to say about what that title might mean. I started writing the book that afternoon.

E.I. What can we expect from your characters Josie, Nicolette and Aviva? How much of their life is planned out in your head? How do you know where you will go next with them or with any of your characters?

TLS: I'm not planning on revisiting those characters in another book at this time. But in A Bad Boy Can Be Good for a Girl, you can expect that each of these girls will follow their paths to satisfying conclusions, and come out the wiser in the end. But expect plenty of bumps, hard choices, and steamy scenes along the way.

E. I. Can you tell your fans a little about your writing schedule, editing and revision process, and novel development etc.? How long does it take you to write a story?

TLS: Every book is different for me. Some come out slowly, revealing themselves in bits and pieces. Others come quickly. Bad Boy was a fast one for me; I think I wrote the whole thing in about 9 months.

In terms of my writing schedule, I write every day for varying amounts of time, but always between the hours of 8 am and 3 pm. Then again late at night, if something strikes me.

E.I. What are your favorite books? What qualities in them appeal to you?

TLS: The Basil and Josephine Stories is a book I revisit time and time again, mainly for the beauty of the writing. F. Scott Fitzgerald strings words together like pearls. Childhood favorites included A Wrinkle in Time and A Phantom Tollbooth because of the limitless possibilities they implied. I read constantly, different books for different reasons.

E.I. What can fans look forward to from you in the coming months?

TLS: Well, I had a biography of Amelia Earhart come out in January 2007. The paperback of A Bad Boy Can Be Good for a Girl (with a new sexy cover) will be released on June 12, 2007--just around the corner! And in 2008, slated to come out are Elizabeth Leads the Way (about Elizabeth Cady Stanton) and a YA biography of Ella Fitzgerald.

E.I. Would you like to end your interview with a writing tip or advice for young aspiring writers?

TLS: Although it's cliche, it's important--read, read, read and write, write, write. There's no substitute! Also, don't think about product--meaning, publication--as you write. Think only of process, story, character. Worry about selling your work later. All that other stuff is too distracting to the creative process.

E.I. Ms. Stone, I appreciate your effort to fit me into your schedule. So great for you to do the interview. Thank you so much.

TLS: Thanks so much for having me, E.I.!

To learn more about Tanya Lee Stone, please visit her at:
http://www.tanyastone.com/
http://tanyaleestone.livejournal.com/
http://www.myspace.com/tanyaleestoneauthor

Linnea Sinclair: Award Winning Author of SF Romance

Welcome to “Up Close & Personal.” For every interview I will be introducing a literary personality discussing her views and insights, as well as upcoming literary events around the world.

Today’s interview is with Linnea Sinclair. She is an award winning SF Romance author, former news reporter and retired private detective. She lives with her husband in Naples Florida.

E. I. Welcome, and thank you for stopping by. Would you tell your readers what were you like as a teenager? Please tell us more about Linnea Sinclair -- the woman behind the author.

Linnea: As a teenager? Oh, Lord. I was short, blonde and wore glasses. I’m still short, blonde and wear glasses, just a lot older.

I loved school and was an avid reader. I guess I was a geek except the term wasn’t popular back then. I attended a very small private high school in New Jersey. There were 25 kids in my senior class. The focus of the school was academic excellence, which meant things like proms or cheerleading didn’t exist. And since it was a private school, my classmates weren’t my neighbors. My best friends lived in towns miles away. The local public high school ended their day at 2:30, if memory serves me. My school day ended at 4:00. I spent a lot of time with my nose in a book.

E. I. Could you describe your path to publication--any stumble along the way? Is there anything about you that you would do differently, knowing what you do now?

Linnea: I found my agent who then sold me to Bantam after I’d spent a few years in the small presses and e-publishing. At the time I decided to seriously pursue writing commercial genre fiction (specifically science fiction romance), the sub-genre of SFR wasn’t quite accepted. NY wasn’t buying what I was writing. I had too much tech to qualify for the futuristic market and too much romance to have SF look at my work. Three years later, however, authors like Susan Grant, Catherine Asaro, Patricia Waddell, Robin D Owens and S.L. Viehl—among others—were pushing on that envelope from the SF side and the romance side. Readers who grew up lusting after James T Kirk or Han Solo were demanding those kinds of stories in writing. My agent sold me in about three months, which I gather is damn near Warp Factor 10 in the literary world.

The stumbles were getting caught up in the lack of professionalism in certain aspects of the small press/e-book world. Non-payment of staff—such as editors and artists—was as common as non-payment of royalties to authors. There were and still are several excellent e-book and small press houses out there (and I was blessed to have one of my small press publishers be thoroughly professional and a pleasure to write for). But there were also a lot of rip-offs.

What I’d do differently would be to have more faith in my writing from the get-go and not be so quick to sell my writerly soul to just any e-book or small press house “promising” publication. It’s hard to concentrate on your next book when you have to spend half your time hunting down your “publisher”, trying to get paid.

E. I. Many writers describe themselves as "character" or "plot" writers. Which are you? What do you find to be the hardest part of writing?

Linnea: Character writer, definitely. Although all my stories start in my head with a “what if”, the what if is clearly tied to and generated by the characters.

The hardest part of writing for me is deciding which POV to use per scene/chapter (when I write tight third, which is most of my books). That’s obviously not an issue with GABRIEL’S GHOST (2006 RITA award winner) which is first person POV, and won’t be an issue with the sequel, CHASIDAH’S CHOICE (2008 from Bantam). But in my other books it’s a constant consideration and it’s not usual for me to write a chapter from one character’s POV only to rip it out and rewrite it from another’s POV. I work from the adage of “writing from the POV of the character who has the most to lose/most at risk” but sometimes that’s a toss up.

E. I. In your opinion, how important is it for a writer to have a writing degree?

Linnea: A writing degree? As in Creative Writing or English Lit? One of my degrees is in journalism and while that taught me to adhere to deadlines (and to write first draft) I don’t see it’s essential. To be a published author you do need an excellent command of the language in which you’re going to write and the grammar for same. But I don’t know if having done your thesis on F. Scott Fitzgerald will necessarily open more doors for you to become a published author in commercial genre fiction.

I think you do need to be an observer of human nature, you do have to have a natural ability to hear and recreate dialogue, you do need to have the ability to sense the “cadence” of a paragraph in the same way a musician would. But I don’t think a BA in World Literature is a requirement.

E. I. Let's talk about your latest book “Games of Command ” how did you come up with the title and idea?

Linnea: GAMES OF COMMAND is a compilation, redaction, rewrite and general hodge-podge of three novels I had planned to produce through a small press/e-book publishing house that closed its doors. The first book-COMMAND PERFORMANCE—was published. The second in what I termed “The Alliance Command Series” was partly written. The third was somewhat plotted. Actually, all grew from about 300,000 words of emails of “adventures” sent to a dear friend several years ago, strictly for shits-n-giggles. I never intended for Sass and the admiral’s story to be public. But when my then-publisher asked if I had anything else, I unearthed those emails and the response was extremely positive (much to my surprise).

Title. Bantam didn’t want to reissue COMMAND PERFORMANCE and they didn’t want the Command series. So when I mushed—at their request—two and a half books into one, the title was really up for grabs. I just tossed out GAMES OF COMMAND as a working title. I never meant for it to stick and initially, neither my agent nor my editor liked the title. But when I said, give me something better—no one could. So it stuck.

E. I. What can we expect from your characters Captain Tasha “Sass” Sebastian, Admiral Branden Kel-Paten, Dr. Eden Fynn and rebel Jace Serafino?

Linnea: I write space opera romance. I don’t think that’s an actual publishing term but to me it’s what I write. So what you can expect from Sass, Branden, Eden and Jace (and the furzels) in GAMES OF COMMAND is a rollicking good time with fast ships, fast action, nasty evil alien energy sources, some cool telepathic critters, lots of snarky dialogue and a decent handful of “oh shit!” moments.

The book has a Saturday Afternoon at the Movies feel to it. If you like Star Wars, Star Trek, the Indiana Jones sagas and Firefly, it would be your cup of tea (providing the romance aspect doesn’t give you the ickies).

E. I. How much of ‘Captain Tasha Sebastian life is planned out in your head? How do you know where you will go next with her or with any of your characters?

Linnea: Sass is different from the rest of my characters because I’ve been writing her for a very long time. Like, twenty years or more. She was my stock character in the stories I’ve written—strictly for my own fun—since the 1980s. So I know her as well as I know myself. She’s “starred” in lots of adventures and scenarios I’ve penned that have nothing to do with GAMES OF COMMAND. She was the original heroine of FINDERS KEEPERS.

As to where I go next with any of my characters, partially that’s up to my agent and my contract with Bantam. But as to what proposals I submit, that depends on what character(s) scream the loudest to have their stories told.

E. I. If you were allowed total control of a Hollywood version of Games of Command who would be in it? In your own opinion, who do you think should direct?

Linnea: Director would definitely be George Lucas ::genuflect, genuflect:: I’m sure that’s no surprise to anyone who’s read my books. Casting it? That’s tougher because I’m not a television watcher, rarely go to movies (unless they’re Lucas, Speilberg or 007) and don’t read People magazine or the like. Sass could be (a younger) Linda Hamilton or Cameron Diaz or Charlene Theron. Or the woman who plays Starbuck in the current Battlestar Galactica. Doc Eden could be that lovely plus-sized fashion model, Emme, I think her name is. Jace Serafino…actually when I had my investigative agency years back I had an investigator working for me who was definitely a stud-muffin and his personality was VERY Serafino-like. But Cote Reynolds isn’t famous so other than myself, my husband and Cote’s wife (and I performed the wedding ceremony for Cote and Karen)… that doesn’t mean a thing.

Kel-Paten is a tough one. I’m not, as I said, an avid TV-viewer or People magazine afficianada. I did love old movies so if I say that he’d have the aloofness and elegance of Gregory Peck, many people would be puzzled. Maybe a younger Tom Selleck without the mustache? Not quite sure.

Tank the furzel is easy. He’s my Maine Coon cat, Daiquiri.

E. I. What can fans look forward to from you in the coming months?

Linnea: The Down Home Zombie Blues is the next book on the launchpad, with a November 2007 release. This is a combo police procedural-sci fi-romance, if you will. It’s like Men In Black meets Hill Street Blues plus a romance angle. It’s also my first book so far NOT set in another star system or galaxy but right here. Florida, in fact.

Here’s the back cover blurb for ZOMBIE:

Bahia Vista homicide detective Theo Petrakos thought he’d seen it all. Then a mummified corpse and a room full of futuristic hardware sends Guardian Force commander Jorie Mikkalah into his life. Before the night’s through, he’s become her unofficial partner—and official prisoner—in a race to save the Earth. And that’s only the start of his troubles.

Jorie’s mission is to stop a deadly infestation of bio-mechanical organisms from using Earth as its breeding ground. If she succeeds, she could save a world and win a captaincy. But she’ll need Theo’s help, even if their unlikely partnership does threaten to set off an intergalactic incident.

Because if she fails, she’ll lose not just a planet and a promotion, but a man who’s become far more important than she cares to admit.

It’s a fun, kicky and at times scary read. I’ve had a blast writing it and researching it. The law enforcement officers who’ve allowed me to poke around in their heads (and hearts) have been immeasurably helpful. I’ve always had an enormous respect for cops—I’m a retired private detective—but working personally with Sergeant Steven Huskisson, Detective Scott Peterson and retired police officer Joel Reyes, among others, has been a terrific experience for me as a writer. I think the most fun was getting to ask these guys: “And what would you do if you were kidnapped by an outer-space alien babe?” and watch their reactions. It was great!

The other neat thing about the book is that Traveling Ed Teja, a friend and noted blues guitarist, penned several songs for the book. The lyrics will be included in the novel because the male protagonist, Theo Petrakos, plays guitar as a hobby. I’d love if there was some way to tie in a CD with the book, but at this point, I don’t have anything saying I can do that.

Then in 2008, watch for CHASIDAH’S CHOICE, the sequel to GABRIEL’S GHOST.

E. I. Would you like to end your interview with a writing tip or advice for young aspiring writers?

Linnea: Remember that writing commercial genre fiction is an art, a craft and a business. It’s what I call the ACB’s of Writing. Neglect any one of the three, and your writing career will suffer. You have to be in touch with your muse-that’s the art part of it. The part the sings to you, the entices you with ideas and snippets of scenes you can visualize. The craft is knowing grammar, punctuation, spelling and word choice, but it’s also knowing correct manuscript format and how to write a query letter. The business is knowing your market, what publishers or agents would most likely read your work and, once you’re sold, it’s the business of promoting your book. Learn the ACBs and you’ll be ahead of most other writers around you.

To learn more about KL Going, please visit her at:
www.linneasinclair.com/

Interview With Bestselling Author Jon Clinch - His Debut Novel FINN Springs From Mark Twain's Classic Story

Welcome to “Up Close & Personal.” For every interview I will be introducing a literary personality discussing his views and insights, as well as upcoming literary events around the world.

Today’s interview is with Jon Clinch, he is the best-selling author of FINN.

E.I. Welcome, Mr. Clinch and thank you for stopping by. Would you please tell your fans what were you like as a teenager? And tell us more about Jon Clinch -- the man behind the author?

Jon Clinch: I was pretty geeky. If my wife had met me in junior high or high school, she'd have never married me. I grew up in the sixties, and
instead of listening to the Beatles and Motown I was digging Johnny Cash.

E.I. :What is your response to the public perception about your creative
insight with your book?

Jon Clinch: I'm hugely gratified to see that folks everywhere—readers and critics alike—have recognized FINN as a serious and honorable work of art, not some facile spinoff that takes cheap advantage of a classic.

E.I. Please tell your fans about your debut novel ‘FINN’ and what we
can expect from your characters.

Jon Clinch: FINN is the secret history of Huck Finn's father, one of the most brutal and notorious figures in American literature. It's not a prequel or sequel to HUCKLEBERRY FINN, though; It's more a companion, an underlayment that fits meticulously into and around some questions that Mark Twain left unanswered in the original novel. Including "How did Pap Finn die?" and "Who was Huck Finn's mother?"

E. I. What was your biggest challenge in writing ‘FINN’? What are its
tougher aspects?

Jon Clinch: The biggest challenge was to work at a level that fulfilled the promise of the idea. It would have been very easy to write a book that did not live up to the depth and seriousness of my premise.

E.I. What changes took place after you published FINN?

Jon Clinch: The book—and the work required to support it—have utterly taken over my life. Being the novelist who wrote FINN is my new full-time job.

E.I. What surprised you most during the publishing process?

Jon Clinch: That the team at Random House believed so deeply in this book.

E.I. Some authors after spending so much time creating their characters
find that they become an extension to their life. Is that how you feel about FINN and the rest of the characters? Do you now think of them as part of your family?

Jon Clinch: I love Finn himself beyond all reason, despite his viciousness and appalling cruelty. I could write more about him in a heartbeat.

E.I. How much of FINN’S life is planned out in your head? How do you
know where you will go next with him or with any of your characters?

Jon Clinch: Thanks to Mark Twain, there's nothing left to plan. The poor guy's dead, big-time.

E.I. Would you tell your fans a little about your editing and revision
process, novel development? How long does it take you to write FINN including doing all your research?

Jon Clinch: I'm a careful, meticulous, detail-obsessed first-drafter. My first pass isn't easy, but there isn't much left to do once it's complete. FINN took five and a half months of eight- or ten-hour days, on top of my normal work.

Jon Clinch: If you were allowed total control of a Hollywood version of "FINN," Who would be in the starring roles? And who would direct?

Jon Clinch: One name only: Tom Waits as Bliss, the blind bootlegger.

E.I. Would you call yourself a plotter?

Jon Clinch: No. I'm a heavy-duty polisher.

E.I. Did you let anyone read your manuscript, before you send it to
your editor and agent?

Jon Clinch: My wife and my daughter, always and only.

E.I. Readers and fans often like to get behind an author's writing routine. Would you like to share with them your typical writing day schedule?

Jon Clinch: From six to ten AM and six to ten or eleven pm on weekdays, and more or less all day long on weekends.

E.I. Was there anyone who really influenced you to become a writer?

Jon Clinch: Other writers whose work I admire. Faulkner, Melville, O'Connor, Helprin, McCarthy, James. And oh yeah, Twain.

E.I. What would you tell those authors considering applying to an M.F.A. program? In your opinion how important is it for a writer to have a writing degree?

Jon Clinch: I don't have one but that doesn't mean it wouldn't have been nice.

E.I. What can fans look forward to from you in the coming months? What's next for you?

Jon Clinch: Book two is under way...

E. I. Thank you so much for contributing to my blog. It has been a pleasure for me to get to know you, and your work a little better. Would you like to end your interview with a writing tip or advice for young aspiring writers?

Jon Clinch: Read great books. And don't quit.

E.I. Mr. Clinch, So great for you to do the interview. Thank you so much.

Jon Clinch: I thank you very much!

To learn more about Jon Clinch, please visit him at:
horsehaircouch.blogspot.com/
www.randomhouse.com/rhpg/finn/
http://www.myspace.com/jonclinch
Photo (Color) By Michael O'Neill, Kulpsville, PA.
Photo (B&W) By Michael Teccino

KL Going - Author Of Popular Young Adult Fiction

Welcome to “Up Close & Personal.” For every interview I will be introducing a literary personality discussing her views and insights, as well as upcoming literary events around the world.

Today’s interview is with KL Going, author of popular young adult fiction.

E. I. Welcome, and thank you for stopping by. Please tell your readers more about KL Going -- the woman behind the author.

KL: First of all, thanks for asking me to do this interview. I'm always thrilled to have a chance to meet readers. As for describing myself -- that's always hard to do. I'd say I'm a person who loves a good story, whether I'm writing it, reading it, or watching it on the big screen. I love music and my tastes are very broad -- everything from rock to gospel to punk. I love little coffee shops where you can sit and drink chai tea on rainy afternoons. My primary goal at the moment is take a kick-a** vacation somewhere. Anywhere. I also want to save the world, but I'm realistic enough to know that I should aim for the vacation. Ha.

E. I. Ms. Going, could you tell your fans about your path to publication,
any sprints or stumbles?

KL: I wrote my first novel in high school, which was great except I didn't know anything about editing or submitting, so I didn't do anything with
the book. Then I wrote my next novel throughout my college years, only I lost it. (Long, depressing story) I taught adult literacy for a while, and then through a fluke connection I got a job at a literary agency. That's when I finally started to take my writing seriously. I wrote a young adult novel while working there, but it still took me a LONG time to work up the courage to show it to anyone. That novel never did sell, but it came close and gave me the encouragement I needed to write my next novel Fat Kid Rules the World, which got published and was named a Michael Printz honor book.

E. I. What encouragement helped you along your writing career?

KL: When I submitted my first attempt at a YA novel, my boss was so
encouraging and the editors we sent it to gave great responses. One of
them even considered buying it for a long while. This gave me the confidence to write something new. I have a pretty thin skin, so I don't know if I could have take the criticism had all those initial responses been negative.

E. I. What were your challenges in bringing SAINT IGGY to life?

KL: Saint Iggy was a complex book. I needed to strike a balance between wisdom and naievete with Iggy's voice and sometimes that was difficult. I also tend to find plot difficult in voice driven novels. I had Iggy's voice so
clearly in my brain, but the plot took a lot of hammering out.

E. I. What was your initial inspiration for creating this book?

KL: The first line of the book where Iggy explains about getting kicked out of school came to me whole, and from there I wanted to see what else this kid would say. I found Iggy to be very compelling, so he was actually the
inspiration for all that followed.


E. I. If you have total control of a Hollywood version of SAINT IGGY who
would be in it and who do you wish to direct it?

KL: Honestly, I would want the film to be an artsy indie film. I wouldn't want any name actors or big-shot directors. Saint Iggy is very visual --
there's a scene where Iggy stands in a circle of color that's being reflected on the street from a church window, and that's the type of thing I'd love to see someone do something very beautiful and creative with. It's also a story that contrasts a lot of harsh realities with what's very beautiful in the world. I'd love to see some first time film maker capture something unique.

E. I. What kind of response has SAINT IGGY generated from your teen fans?

KL: Teen fans have been very supportive of this book. I have been surprised at how often they say that they feel like they are just like Iggy. Iggy has a pretty tough life, so that's sad in a lot of ways, but I am glad I could
write a book that reaches out to people.

E. I. Your writing shows tremendous range in subject matter, and style.
Would you describe yourself as a confident writer, always ready to face the next new challenge? Or do you have to psyche yourself up to try different venues?

KL: Confident is not usually a word I'd use to describe myself, however, I do
tend to dive into projects others would probably shy away from. I definitely have not taken the "marketing 101" path with my publishing career. I write books for both teens and younger kids, I don't have a consistent "brand", and all my books are very different. All of these things are against the mainstream view of how you should become a bestseller, but I feel like I need to write what I feel driven to write.
So confident, no... but determined, yes.

E. I. What can your fans look forward to next?

KL: I have a middle grade novel (ages eight and up) called The Garden of Eve coming out this October. It's a spooky, magical realism sort of story. I'm also working on a new teen novel slated for 2008 and this one is a fun exploration of glam. I also have a story in Pete Hautman's anthology Full House which is due out this fall. This is an anthology of poker stories for teens.

E. I. Thank you for contributing to my blog. It has been a pleasure for
me to get to know you, and your work a little better. Would you like to end
your interview with a writing tip or advice for young aspiring writers?

KL: This is my best advice: live your life as fully as possible. When you're driven towards succeeding in a given field, it's easy to let that goal
dictate all of your decisions, but for writers, how you live your life --
the breadth and depth of your experiences -- will determine how extensive your palette is when it comes time to create. So go out and experience everything you can.

To learn more about KL Going, please visit her at:
http://www.klgoing.com/

M.J. ROSE - International Best-Selling Author Of Psychological Suspense, Mystery, Adventure, & Erotica Novels

Welcome to “Up Close & Personal.” For every interview I will be introducing a literary personality discussing her views and insights, as well as upcoming literary events around the world.

Today’s interview is with International Best-selling Author M.J. Rose. She is arguably one of the world’s most successful, dynamic ‘genre bending’ author. She is known not only for her unique blend of thriller erotica, but also as a pioneer in electronic publishing. She has published eight novels: Lip Service, In Fidelity, Flesh Tones, Sheet Music, The Halo Effect, The Delilah Complex, The Venus Fix and Lying in Bed. Plus she has co-authored two non-fiction books: How to Publish and Promote Online and Buzz your Book. In the course of her successful career she managed to rewrite the book on self-publishing.

Her novels mix psychological suspense, mystery, adventure, and erotica. What sets her apart is that she works the twisting plotline and surprise ending in her thrillers with the same mastery as the ‘big boys’, but her devoted readers contend that gets an extra jolt from the erotic element. .

In 1998 several publishers rejected MJ Rose’s novel, Lip Service. Several editors loved it, but did not have the vision to market the author’s unconventional style. Frustrated, but undaunted, MJ Rose was confident there was a viable market for her fresh approach. So breaking new publishing ground, she reached directly to the erotica readers, whose presence on the Internet was well established, by setting up a site where they could download her books for a fee of $9.95. The online response was as she predicted; Ms. Rose sold over 2500 copies in paper format.

Lip Service became the first self-published novel chosen by the Doubleday Book Club. It was also the first electronic book to be published by a mainstream New York publishing house. She has been called the ‘poster girl’ of electronic publishing by Time Magazine, and has been profiled in Forbes, The New York Time, Newsweek, New York Magazine and Business Magazine.
MJ has contributed to several publication such as Wired.com, Oprah Magazine, Poets & Writers, Pages, Salon and other popular magazines. She has been featured in dozens of newspapers all over the world. Also she has appeared on half a dozen television show’s: The Today Show, Fox News, The Jim Lehrer News Hour, The Diane Rheims Show, and CNN.

During the 80’s she worked in advertising as the Creative Director of Rosenfeild Sirowitz and Lawson.

Clearly it can be said that MJ Rose has left her mark on the publishing world. Her books have been published in more than nine countries. They have been praised by The Chicago Tribune, Cosmo, January Magazine, and The BookReporter to name a few. It is also clear the she is only mid-stride in what will certainly be a long courtship with erotica readers.

M.J. Rose graduated from Syracuse University. She lives in Connecticut with Doug Scofield, and Winka their dog.


E. I. Please tell us more about M. J. Rose - - the woman behind the author?

M.J. It’s not that interesting, all the good stuff happens in the books.
But if you must know you can find it at mjrose.com or in a nutshell the key words to my life: Books, NYC, art, reading, movies, Paris, husband musician, dogs, shoes, mojitos, shoes, advertising, everything in my closet is black, Buzz, Balls & Hype, Backstory, ITW.
http://mjroseblog.typepad.com/buzz_balls_hype/http://www.mjroseblog.typepad.com/backstory/
http://www.thrillerwriters.org/index.php
http://www.mjrose.com

E. I. Do you express your inner self in your writing, or do the personas you create exist only in your imagination?

M.J. Both. But you’d have to know me better than I know myself to find me in my work.

E. I. What is your response to the public perception that writers’ creative insight and energy is frequently the product of personal conflict?

M.J. I don’t know about the public or other writers. I only know that I don’t write out of personal conflict. I like telling stories. I like figuring out why people are the way they are. If I wasn’t a novelist I’d be a therapist. When I was a kid, I got in trouble for always telling stories. Or lying as my mother called it. Writing fiction is getting paid to tell lies about the truth.

E. I. What was the inspiration for your series “Dr. Morgan Snow-Butterfield Institute tales?”

M.J. Dr Sex Will See You Now

I sat in the therapist's waiting room, magazine in hand, nervously turning pages but not reading a word. I had just come up with a great excuse to leave when the door opened and Dr. M. welcomed me and invited me into her office, the inner sanctum where we were going to discuss the one thing I didn't want to admit I needed to talk about with a professional: s-e-x.

Like most New York City therapist's offices that I'd seen -- and I'd seen a few -- this one had the ubiquitous leather couch, big comfy armchair for the doctor to sit in, a whole wall of books and some innocuous artwork. Nothing that announced that her specialty was sex therapy.

I took my place, sitting on the couch. Dr. M lowered herself into her chair. This was my first good look at her. And if you have any preconceived idea of what a sex therapist looks like, she didn't fit it. In her early sixties, with silver gray hair, she wore gray slacks, a white turtleneck sweater set and a strand of Barbara Bush pearls.

"It's nice to meet you," Dr. M began, "Can you tell me a little more than you said on the phone about why you're here?"

At some point in our lives, many of us find ourselves in a romantic relationship that doesn't work as well as it should at every level, yet something pulls at us to stay and try harder.

For me what wasn't working was the sexual component.

At first, I hadn't wanted to admit anything was seriously wrong in the relationship that time wouldn't fix. Then once I had no choice but to admit it needed help, I resisted the idea of examining my sex life under a microscope. The question I kept asking myself was: If I have to work this hard at sex, am I turning sex into work?

But wasn't it work just dealing with the problem on my own? Wasn't I obsessing over it, nervous about it and feeling like I was hiding some dirty little secret.

Okay. You want to know. I don't blame you. What was the issue I couldn't deal with? It's only fair that I come out with it. So despite my feeling that I am undressing in public, here goes.

Ten years ago, in between my ex-husband and my current live-in boyfriend, I entered into a dating situation with T, a talented man who I found attractive and interesting. But despite everything we had in common. T was addicted to porn and it was either watch a triple x-rated videos with him or nothing was going to happen.

Now, I'm no prude, but I couldn't respond to what T found erotic.

So first, T tried to cut back while I tired to be more open minded. But neither of us moved closer to a middle ground.

Finally, instead of just breaking up with him I asked him if we could go to therapy together. When he said he didn't want to, I decided to go alone.

According to several sex therapists I've now talked to, it is very common that the person who takes the step to go into therapy is not actually the one who can benefit from it the most. But one partner in therapy is still better than no one in therapy.

I'd been in garden-variety therapy three times previously but sex had never been an issue for me.

Now much to my surprise, I found I was embarrassed to talk about it. So much so that I lied in order to get recommendations for a sex therapist concocting a story that I needed to meet one because I was doing research for a novel in which the main character was sex therapist.

I kept up the charade with Dr. M for quite a few sessions. Instead of talking about T or myself, I made up a fictional character who was a sex therapist caught between wanting to help the police and at the same time honoring her commitment to her client's confidentiality.

Was I working on that book?

No. I hadn't even thought about doing a book like that. It was pure fiction to get me onto the couch.

Dr. M was no fool and used my fictional idea to get me to talk about the problems I was there to discuss.

"How do you feel when you are writing sex scenes? Are they based on what has happened to you or do you write about what you wished would happen to you? Do you write about sex that frightens you?"

Every question led to my coming up with more ideas about the imaginary book. And eventually Dr. M somehow helped me -- through all that fictional conversation -- to accept that it was ok if I never enjoyed watching porn and that T was never going to give up his addiction without getting help which he had no interest in pursing.

But equally important, as it turned out, was the character of Dr. Morgan Snow who came to life in Dr. M's office.

A thirty something sex therapist - Dr. Snow is much more interested helping her patients than herself. Caught up in a world where she sees everything from the abused to the depraved, from couples grappling with sexual boredom to twisted sociopaths with dark, erotic fetishes.

I didn't write THE HALO EFFECT right away. In fact it took 8 years before I was ready to work on it- and then in 2002 I started on the first in what has now become a series.

And yes, I broke up with T. Luckily, since I'd only been with him for a relatively short time, I didn't have a long mourning period after I broke it off. Much more important was what I learned about the process itself and how it changed my attitude towards sex therapy.

If sex in a relationship isn't working going to a trained psychologist is making an good faith effort to learn about yourself and your partner: what your needs are, what you expect, what you can live with and what you can live without, what you want to give to someone else and what you don't.

And that working on sex does not mean you are turning sex in to work.

In her last book, Against Love, Laura Kipnis, says that there is a lot about how our society is so work oriented and so "fix it" oriented that we are doing damage to our sexual selves.

But I'm not sure she's right. A careful and sensitive therapist can help you look at this dance that humans do in a way that makes it more lovely without taking anything away from it's magical, life affirming potential.

My experience with Dr. M. didn't cheapen sex nor did sex therapy prove to be a quick superficial fix. I didn't take a pill and wake up the next day all better. It was instead, like most therapy is, a process. Sometimes complicated, some revelatory, sometimes breakthrough.

Before I went to the therapist, I was a little lost.

Dr. M. was the one with the map and the compass. During our time together she never gave me directions, but she showed me those tools and taught me how to use them.

The more we try to keep sex in the dark, the more secret we make it and the more likely we are to do damage to ourselves. As with many other things in life that we choose to hide under the covers, the worry itself can become a bigger problem than the issue.

And that's something I try to keep sight of as I write these psychological suspense novels featuring Dr. Morgan Snow's stories.

E. I. What are your favorite books? What qualities in them appeal to you?

M. J. Too many to list. But here are a few. The list goes on for about ten pages. And the same thing appeals to me about all of them. The perfection of the fictive dream. The way the author has pulled me in and with a combination of great writing, wonderful storytelling, unforgettable characters, keeps me captive.

Possession: A Romance - A.S. Byatt
Damage - Josephine Hart
When Nietzsche Wept - Irvin Yalom
Perfume: The Story of a Muderer - Patrick Susskind
Rebecca - Daphne Du Maurier
Diana of the Crossways - George Meredith
The Lockwood Concern - John O'Hara
The Fountainhead - Ayn Rand
The Great Gatsby- F. Scott Fitzgerald

E. I. How do you choose which chapter or pages to read from your book when you do a book signing appearances?

M.J. I don’t read. I talk about the book.

E. I. For those just discovering your work, could you briefly summarize your back list, highlighting as you see fit?

M.J. Lip Service (1999), In Fidelity (2001), Flesh Tones (2002), Sheet Music (2003) & Lying in Bed (2006). All stand alones.

The Halo Effect (2004), The Delilah Complex (2005), The Venus Fix (2006) - the three books in the Butterfield Institute Series

My work is psychological suspense that winds up in the thriller category for lack of any other category where it might fit better. There are varying degrees of erotica in the books. With Lip Service and Lying in Bed being the most erotic of them all and my new book - THE REINCARNATIONIST coming out in Sept 07 being a new stand alone.

Plese link the new titlte to http://www.reincarnationist.org

E. I. When you look back on your enormously successful career, is there anything you would have done differently? If so, what and why?

M.J. Change anything? Nothing major. I’ve been very lucky. I’ve gotten to write everything I’ve wanted to write and gotten every one of those books published. Every author wants to be a bestseller – but what I’m proudest of is in a world where less and less people read every day, I’ve managed to survive as novelist for almost ten years.

E. I. Ms. Rose, thank you so much for contributing to my blog. It has been a pleasure for me to get to know you, and your work a little better. Would you like to close the interview with any advice you have for beginning novelists?

M.J. Here’s my always answer to that – it’s a quote by Franz Kafka

"You do not need to leave your room. Remain sitting at your table and listen. Do not even listen, simply wait. Do not even wait, be quite still and solitary. The world will freely offer itself to you to be unmasked, it has no choice, it will roll in ecstasy at your feet."
--Franz Kafka

Simone Elkeles - Author of Teen, Young Adult, Teen Novels

Welcome to “Up Close & Personal.” For every interview I will be introducing a literary personality discussing her views and insights, as well as upcoming literary events around the world.

Today’s YA interview is with Simone Elkeles, author of three popular young adult teen novels. Her book How to Ruin a Summer Vacation made the nominee list for YALSA's Teen Top Teen 2007.

E.I. :Hello, Ms. Elkeles, Thank you for dropping by. Please tell your fans about your latest book Leaving Paradise and how did you come up with the title?

Simone Elkeles: Leaving Paradise is about a boy (Caleb Becker) who is being released from a juvenile detention center after being incarcerated for the past year for a hit-and-run drunk driving accident. He's coming home as a senior in high school and has to face his parents, the kids at school, and the girl who he went to jail for hitting. Maggie Armstrong is the girl who was hit by the car, and in alternating chapters we see how both Caleb and Maggie are both victims because of the accident.

I can't take credit for the title. I titled the book Caleb Becker is Back and my publisher changed it to Leaving Paradise. Which one do YOU like better?

E. I. What can we expect from your characters?

Simone Elkeles: Although my previous book (How to Ruin a Summer Vacation) was more of a comedy, this one has more angst and emotion in it. Maggie and Caleb, I hope, resemble real teens. I try to make all my characters as real as possible.

E. I. Some authors after spending so much time creating their character they become an extension to their life. Is that how you feel about Caleb Baker and Maggie Armstrong, do you now think of them as part of your family?

Simone Elkeles: If I say yes does that make me weird? (my friends would agree) When I'm writing, I think of my characters as real people in a movie setting. They have real feelings and emotions that I have to believe as I'm writing. I created them, so they are a part of me. Sometimes I agree with what they do, and sometimes I want to scream at them for going in a different direction then I wanted them to. I know it sounds weird, but if you write you know what I mean.

E. I. How much of Calebs life is planned out in your head? How do you know where you will go next with her or with any of your characters?

Simone Elkeles: I don't go off of an outline. Some authors know every little detail (and write it down beforehand) about their character's lives and know what's going to happen in every scene before it happens. I'm like Stephen King (without the millions), I just sit down and start typing. I have no idea what's going to happen next, it just comes to me as I'm typing it out. Actually, when I sold Leaving Paradise - I sold it off of writing only three chapters and a synopsis of the book which is like a book report - it had a different ending (I won't give it away here, though) and as I was writing it, Caleb's story just didn't fit with the ending. So the ending my editor was expecting wasn't the ending that ended up in the book.

E. I. Do you have any fascinating experiences while writing your book, or while researching for your novel?

Simone Elkeles: Since Caleb was in a juvenile jail for the past year, I visited a juvenile detention center in Illinois. I spent the day in the facility among kids that were 12-17 years old. I even got locked in a cell, which is actually different than the one I portrayed in my book. In reality, nobody in the jail I was in had roommates. But I needed Caleb to interact with his roommates in jail so I made it up. That's what's great about writing fiction...you can change stuff to fit your story!

E. I. How long does it take you to write a book? And how do you go about your research for your new novel?

Simone Elkeles: Ooh, that dreaded word RESEARCH. I hate research. (although I think most authors like it, it reminds me too much of school) For my first book, How to Ruin a Summer Vacation, I'd been to Israel so many times I didn't have to do research. For Leaving Paradise, I had to go to juvenile jail which was actually really fascinating.

If I'm under deadline, I can finish a book in three or four months and I look like a complete zombie afterward because I've missed so much sleep. If I'm not on a deadline I can write a book in six months.

E. I. Why have you chosen to write in the genre in which you write?

Simone Elkeles: I started writing adult novels, but found that when I switched to writing teen books it just "clicked". I loved my teen years and have a really fun-loving, young personality. Writing teen characters comes really naturally to me.

E. I. What can fans look forward from you in the coming months? Do you have something new coming up? If so, please share it with us.

Simone Elkeles: have a new book coming out in June, 2007 called How to Ruin my Teenage Life. It's the sequel to How to Ruin a Summer Vacation and has the hilarious character Amy Nelson getting herself into a bunch of crazy situations like the previous book. It's a romantic comedy.

E. I. What would you like to say to writers who are reading this interview and wondering if they can keep creating, if they are good enough, if their voices and visions matter enough to share?

Simone Elkeles: It's really not the ones who are most talented who become successful. It's the ones who don't give up. Keep writing and you'll get better at it with each try. Be original and creative! And never listen to anyone who tells you that you can't do it!

E. I. Many writers describe themselves as "character" or "plot" writers. Which are you? And what do you find to be the hardest part of writing?

Simone Elkeles: I'm definitely a character writer. I care about my characters and try to make them go through tons of obstacles before they can "see the light" and become better people or change to where their insecurities are gone or they understand themselves better. I hope I also put plot in there, too, along the way. Let's see...the hardest part of writing for me is getting my butt in the chair every day and writing. It's SO easy to procrastinate!

E. I. Ms. Elkeles, thank you so much for contributing to my blog. It has been a pleasure for me to get to know you, and your work a little better. Would you like to close the interview by telling your readers any writing tips for the young aspiring writers?

Simone Elkeles: Writing tips: If you write ONE page a day (double-spaced, 12 point Times New Roman), you'll have an entire book done in one year. One page is nothing, so what are you waiting for?

E.I. Thanks again for dropping by and Good luck with your next novel.

Simone Elkeles: Thanks for letting me do this interview, it was great fun!

To learn more about Simone Elkeles, please visit her at:
http://www.simoneelkeles.com/

Sarah Reinke - Award Winning Author of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Romance

Welcome to “Up Close & Personal.” For every interview I will be introducing a literary personality discussing her views and insights, as well as upcoming literary events around the world.

Today’s interview is with Ms. Sarah Reinke. She is an award winning author of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Romance novels.

E. I. Thank you for stopping by and please tell us about your latest book An Unexpected Engagement and how did you come up with the title?

Sarah Reinke: "An Unexpected Engagement" is a historical romance available now in mass-market paperback from Medallion Press. It's set in the year 1748, a time when romance was irrelevant and adventure was thoroughly unladylike. Charlotte Engle is anything but your average, conventional socialite in Georgian, England. A political activist and author, she also packs a pistol and stands her ground, even when being robbed by a band of notorious highwaymen. The only person she feels powerless against is her mother, who is equally as strong-willed. While Charlotte is determined to marry out of love, her mother is equally determined to arrange a marriage with a suitable, wealthy husband for her.

The title, "An Unexpected Engagement" is a play on words, taken from one of the pivotal and more comical scenes in the book. Charlotte's mother has indeed arranged a marriage for her to a man Charlotte would as soon strangle as wed. The engagement is announced at a grand social function, when Charlotte is helpless to refuse or protest. She finds rescue, however, in the form of Kenley Fairfax, a young nobleman with a sordid past for whom she's taken a fancy -- and who her mother cannot stand. Kenley announces publicly that Charlotte cannot enter into any arranged marriage, because she's already agreed to marry him. This comes as news to everyone -- especially Charlotte.

E.I. What can we expect from your characters?

Sarah Reinke: I try not to rehash the same characters over and over again from book to book. Too many authors I know do that -- suffer from the "cookie-cutter character" syndrome, so to speak. I also try to avoid "stock characters," or ones that feel like cardboard-cut-outs of characters from another story or book. (Like "insert stereotypical villain here.")

In "An Unexpected Engagement," I try to present characters that are both fun, realistic and sympathetic to readers all at the same time, each with his or her own personal motivations, each with his or her own personality. There's a strong thread of humor woven throughout the book, and through many of the characters. That's probably as close as my characters get to me; a sarcastic or humorous edge to things is my personality creeping in. Otherwise, they tend to "write themselves." I start off with a basic ideas and backstory in mind for them, and let them grow and develop as they will as the story progresses.

E.I. Some authors after spending so much time creating their character they become an extension to their life. Is that how you feel about Charlotte Engle, Lord James Houghton and Kenley Fairfax? Do you now think of them as part of your family?

Sarah Reinke: I become very attached to my characters while writing, so much so that I often go through a period of a sort of mourning when I'm finished with my manuscript. I think that's because, as a writer, creating a book-length work is a major investment of time, energy and emotions. We do come to feel that our characters are separate from us, acting on their own -- and sometimes in ways we've never planned or imagined! There's definitely a sense of loss when the work is completed, at least for me, because I have put so much into it. I wouldn't want readers to see something in which I didn't feel attached to my characters. After all, if I didn't fall in love with them in the course of the story, how can I expect someone else to?

E.I. How much of Charlotte Engle life is planned out in your head? How do you know where you will go next with her or with any of your characters?

Sarah Reinke: I try to narrow down the specifics of a character's backstory, their chronology, the general details of their personality, all before I ever begin writing. This gives me a basic handle on them, a sort of springboard from which I can further develop them. As the book unfolds, I find that they often tend to write themselves, as I mentioned above. By that, I mean they take those basic building blocks I've given them, and run with them, often times in directions that are completely opposite of my original intentions. As an author, you just get a sort of sixth sense, a gut feeling, when something will or won't work, both with characterization and plot, and you learn to trust those instincts. At least I do, particularly when it comes to my characters, and that's why I like to let them grow and develop on their own.

E.I. Do you have any fascinating experiences while writing your book, or while researching for your novel?

Sarah Reinke: I enjoy learning new things with each writing project I undertake. With "An Unexpected Engagement," it was familiarizing myself with the Georgian period in English history, which precedes the Regency period -- which is far more well-known among romance fiction readers. 1748 was a very dynamic year; England was poised on the cusp of a major industrial revolution, as well as the American Revolution overseas. They were still the dominant force in the world as far as politics, but it was a tenuous grasp at best, and they were constantly at war, or on the brink of war, with other countries like Spain and England.

A lot of what we know today of that time period has been romanticized or portrayed through rose-colored glasses in movies and books. Debt was an enormous problem facing the English gentry during that time period, while drunkenness was a huge concern among the poor. This was the era of debtors' prison, highwaymen, the Gin Revolution. People tended to have poor hygiene; disease spread rapidly and medicine was dictated more by superstition than any factual or scientific foundations.

Researching the book was a real eye-opener for me, amazing because so many of the vices people struggled with are exactly the same sorts that folks today often face. It was easy for me to sympathize with what they had to go through, and fascinating to learn about all of the different events that went on to shape and effect our own country's sense of history.

E.I. How long does it take you to write a book? And how do you go about your research for your new novel?

Sarah Reinke: As far as research -- I usually begin with the basics for a particular time period. Common names, maps, food, clothes, hairstyles, mannerisms, cultural influences, etc. I put together binders where I keep all of this information organized, so that while I'm writing, I can flip easily through it to find things I need when and as I need them. While I'm writing, I'll often find that I need to know more specific things about different areas -- for example wedding traditions in Georgian England -- so I will do more detailed and comprehensive research in these areas. The internet is an invaluable tool for me.

As far as how long it takes me to write a novel -- that depends on several things. First off, what deadlines am I under? If I have made a commitment to have it finished by such-and-such a date, then I work hard, and dedicate more time more often to seeing that deadline met. As a mother of a toddler now, I don't have as much free time as I once did for my writing, and that's something to juggle into the mix and consider, too. I would say on the average, from starting the first draft to going through for a self-edit round, I can complete a novel-length work in no more than three months. It used to be much quicker for me, but then again, my life was less complicated, LOL.

E.I. Why have you chosen to write in the genre in which you write?

Sarah Reinke: LOL - have I chosen one yet? I actually write in a wide variety of genres, but in many ways, they're all inter-related. I cut my teeth, so to speak, writing fantasy fiction, and my world-building experience there introduced me to historical fiction, because I try to base my fantasy cultures and societies on actual historical ones. Historical fiction introduced me to romance, and I've been able to parlay that into writing paranormal romance fiction most recently. In July, 2007, the first in a new vampire series will be released from Kensington Books' Zebra imprint -- "Dark Thirst" -- and I'm really excited about it. It combines a lot of the supernatural and imaginary elements key to a good fantasy, along with the more love-driven plots of romance novels.

E.I. What can fans look forward from you in the coming months? Do you have something new coming up? If so, please share it with us.

Sarah Reinke: "Dark Thirst" is my big upcoming release. It's the story of Brandon Noble, a young vampire who longs to be human. He's part of an ancient clan called the Brethren who live secret, secluded lives among the rolling acres of Kentucky's Bluegrass horse farms. When he shuns the ritual of the first kill, he earns the Brethren's lasting wrath. When he runs away from Kentucky and falls in love with Angelina Jones, a human -- which is forbidden among the Brethren -- his fate is sealed. Can he protect Angelina from his enemies, and his own dark thirsts?

The most fascinating aspect of Brandon, to me, is that he is deaf and mute. He relies almost exclusively on handwritten notes or American Sign Language to communicate, and in addition to that, as a writer, I had to rely on his physical reactions to things, descriptions of his expressions and gestures, to convey his thoughts and feelings. It was a wonderful character examination, and Brandon is an amazing character to have watched develop. I've had the story idea in mind for many years, and the secondary characters have all gone through major changes since their original incarnations -- but not Brandon. He was always deaf, from the moment I first thought of him. That he sees being a vampire as his true handicap is one of the most fascinating and poignant things about him.

E.I. What would you like to say to writers who are reading this interview and wondering if they can keep creating, if they are good enough, if their voices and visions matter enough to share?

Sarah Reinke: Sometimes it feels like this business is designed to cut you down over and over, with relentless determination. It's so easy to grow frustrated and discouraged -- and it's okay to feel that way. But don't let it crush your spirit or your dreams. Learn what you can from rejection; find ways to make something positive out of the experience. Forget the rest and keep moving forward, one foot in front of the other. Don't be afraid to set high goals for yourself, and to hold yourself to those standards. Surround yourself with people who support your ambitions, and find friends and mentors from those authors with whom you share similar goals and objectives. I wouldn't be where I am today without a lot of help from authors more successful than myself helping me get my foot in the door -- seize those opportunities unabashedly and go for it. Don't be afraid to hear the word "no," because you might be surprised one day with a "yes." I think writing is a 50/50 mix of talent and luck, so work on improving your writing skills and talent, and wait for luck to happen. It will -- if you keep trying. No one ever caught their big break by never sending out a query, or putting their neck on the line.

E.I. Many writers describe themselves as "character" or "plot" writers. Which are you? And what do you find to be the hardest part of writing?

Sarah Reinke: I'm definitely character-driven. While I enjoy the technical aspects of storytelling, too, such as research, to me, the greatest enjoyment comes from imagining different characters and breathing life into them through my words.

The hardest part of writing? Hm. Anymore, it's simply doing it. It's difficult when life grows complicated, and you have all different sorts of demands and obligations pulling you this way and that. It's easy to get distracted and sidetracked, so it's important to make time whenever possible, even if it's not every day, to sit down and dedicate yourself to the craft, to getting words out there, and writing. I try to set goals for myself each week when I have a new project underway, and stick to them. I've recently started using my blog (www.sarareinke.blogspot.com) to record my progress on a new manuscript, and feeling that I have that sort of accountability, even if only to cyberspace, helps keep me going.

E.I. Would you like to close the interview by telling your readers any writing tips for the young aspiring writers?

Sarah Reinke: I've been writing since I was at least four years old. Short stories, poems, plays, novels -- you name it. I was writing it from grammar school clear through college. I've explored a wide variety of genres over the years, won a lot of awards for my writing, and had a blast the whole time. If you love to write, you just have to write. You can't avoid it, no matter how hard you try. It's in you, irresistable. So go for it. It could take you years to make a go of it, or it could happen in the blink of an eye. I've met a young author named Stephen Chambers who signed a three-book deal with Tor when he was still in high school. And look at the kid who wrote "Eragon." You never know when luck is going to turn your way, so in the meantime, just keep writing. Keep learning how to improve. Practice honing your skills so that you develop your own unique voice, your own narrative style, your own way as a storyteller that sets you apart from everyone else out there. And no matter what, if it's what you want -- if it's what is in your heart -- then don't give up, no matter what, because you can make it. I'm living proof -- and so is every single author on the shelves at your local bookstore.

E. I. So great for you to do the interview. Thank you so much.

Sarah Reinke: Thanks so much for having me, E.I.!

To learn more about Sarah Reinke, please visit her at:
www.sarareinke.com/
www.tiralainn.com/