Marie Harte and Jane Beckenham

Wildfire would like to welcome authors Marie Harte and Jane Beckenham. Both authors have distinctive writing styles yet share many characteristics including advice for new authors.

Julie: How long have you been writing? What inspired you to pick the pen up one day and create characters that capture the imagination?

Marie: I've been writing creatively since I could first hold a pencil. But professionally, I've been writing for going on four years now. I used to write when the mood hit, and wanted so very badly to be a writer. But I didn't write. I just talked about it. Not sure what finally motivated me, but one day the light came on and I stopped yakking and started typing. And here I am.

Julie: What do you feel is the most important thing that a first-time author should know?

Marie: To never give up. Most first manuscripts should be trashed, bottom line. Very few authors sell their first work unedited, unchanged. The key is to keep writing, take rejection in stride and learn from it, but not dwell on the negative. Easier said than done. But when I look back on my first manuscript and compare it to what I've written today, there's no comparison as to which work is better…the one written today, of course.

Julie: What is your writing process? Do you outline, fly by the seat of your pants or a combination of both?

Marie:  A little of both, I think. I have a general idea of where I want the story to go. But after that first sentence, all bets are off on how they get there. Occasionally, if I'm having problems getting through a scene I'll sketch it out, but I normally just write. 

Julie: What genre do you want to try your hand at but haven't?

Marie: I love erotic romance, but I've had a couple ideas for some straight up fiction I plan to get to…someday. It's all a matter of time. Once my kids are all in school, I hope that'll free me to take on more projects.

Julie: What do you hope for your writing career in the next few years? Any goals that you have yet to obtain that you have set for yourself?

Julie: What books are currently on your nightstand?

Marie: I just finished Gena Showalter's Savor Me Slowly, an Alien Huntress novel, and Lynn Viehl's Evermore, a novel of the Darkyn. Both are continuations in a series, but I think you could read Savor Me Slowly and love it as much as I did. Viehl's book, while terrific, might be confusing to a first time reader. But I wholeheartedly recommend to start with her first book in the series. Awesome reads!!! 

Julie: Describe the space where you write.

Marie: I write at my desk in my study, or what the kids call their playroom. And since it does house all their toys, they may be right. My desk is large enough to house my computer, printer, shredder and a myriad of supplies. A picture of Clint Eastwood in his spaghetti western finest is on my bulletin board, and my bendable, six-inch, 20+ year old  Godzilla stands below my monitor demanding perfection. 

I also have my reference material and a TV on top of the nearby filing cabinet. But when I'm writing, everything must stay off and quiet. Thus I write at night when everyone's asleep.

Julie: Do you prefer writing series books over non series or does it matter?

Marie: It doesn't matter to me. But sometimes a stand-alone book will turn into a series because those pesky secondary characters become too intriguing. I conceived the Storm Lords as a series from the beginning. But my Firebreather books for Amber Quill were only supposed to be one book, now turning into three.

Julie: What's next for you?

Marie: I'm currently working on a futuristic romance, a return to the futuristic world I created a few years ago. Then I have a second book to follow the first I gave my agent, and a new book idea that won't let me go. I'm not sure if it's a romance or not, but I really love the concept. And sorry, I can't tell 'til it's done. 

Julie: Do you remember the first romance novel that you read?

Marie:  Sure do. I was twelve, precocious and bored, needing something new to read. So I "borrowed" my mom's copy of Johanna Lindsey's A Gentle Feuding and was hooked on romance from that moment on. 

Marie Harte is an avid reader who loves all things paranormal and futuristic. Reading romances since she was twelve, she fell in love with the warmth of first passion and knew writing was her calling. Twenty-plus years later, the Marine Corps, a foray through Information Technology, a husband and four kids, and her dream has finally come true.

Marie lives in Georgia with her family and loves hearing from readers.

Backlist:
Blackthorne's Light, New Concepts Publishing
Lurin's Surrender, New Concepts Publishing
The Thief of Mardu, New Concepts Publishing
Winner Takes All, New Concepts Publishing
Seriana Found, New Concepts Publishing
Storm Lords book 1: The Fire Within, New Concepts Publishing
Storm Lords book2:Below the Surface, New Concepts Publishing
Storm Lords book3:Gale Season, New Concepts Publishing
Storm Lords book4:Aftershocks, New Concepts Publishing
Deception's Calling, New Concepts Publishing
A Familiar Face, New Concepts Publishing
Darkson's Forfeit, Amber Quill Press
Firebreather, Amber Quill Press
A Royal Continuum, Amber Quill Press
Emergence, Amber Quill Press
Tied and True, Loose Id
Reaper's Reward, Loose Id
Mirror, Mirror, Loose Id
Saturnalia: The Lord of Misrule, Loose Id
A Scorching Seduction, Samhain Publishing
The Dragons' Demon, Samhain Publishing
Enjoying the Show, Samhain Publishing
Tempting Traditions, Whispers Publishing
 

Coming soon:
Satyr's Myst, Loose Id
Rachel's Totem, Samhain Publishing
I Dream of Dragons (The Dragons' Demon) print anthology, Samhain Publishing
Sins of Summer (A Scorching Seduction) print anthology, Samhain Publishing
 

Links:
Website
Blog

Jane Beckenham

Julie: How long have you been writing? What inspired you to pick the pen up one day and create characters that capture the imagination?

Jane:  We bought our first computer in 1998 and I am very keen on decorating. I was in a decorating chat room and got to know a lady from SC and she was a writer. I had thought about writing before, but never tried. She encouraged me. I sent her my first 30 pages that next day and her comment was…"Are you sure you haven't written before." Well that was it. I was off and writing.

Julie: What is your writing process? Do you outline, fly by the seat of your pants or a combination of both?

Jane:  Oh, I'm a combination of both…much to my chagrin. I want to be more organized and structured and do try, but mostly I end up writing a brief sentence per chapter and then I'm away. However, I do character interviews and absolutely adore doing them, finding out about their past, etc. Just love it. Hubby says it's because I'm nosey.

Julie: How much does reader reaction mean to you as an author?

Jane: Oh that's very important. Otherwise no one will buy my books. 

Julie: What do you hope for your writing career in the next few years? Any goals that you have yet to obtain that you have set for yourself?

Jane:   I'm very goal orientated and set myself goals every year. This year is to sell four books, I've already sold two this January, so that's a good start. I want to grow as writer, learn to plot better, but one of my heart's desire is to write for HM&B. I have a requested full historical in London now, and my fingers are crossed. (Come on Kim, phone me! LOL)

I work hard at promo and it's an imperative part of the writing life, so that's big on the agenda this year, but in honesty I've not planned it yet. Note to self. Get butt into gear!

Julie: Most people envision an author's life as being really glamorous. What's the most unglamorous thing that you've done in the past week?

Jane: Not had time to shower and was writing most of the day in my PJs! Also believe me getting up at 4 am to write isn't glamorous, especially if you've only gone to bed at 11pm

Julie: There are so many publishers out there, how do you decide who to submit your work to?

Jane:  In lots of ways I think it's word of mouth from authors you trust and respect. Plus of course there's the big boys and they aren't the big boys in publishing if they haven't passed the test of time. A writer needs to read/study the market, see where they fit. In my case I write several genres and have several goals for those books. I love the small publishers, because you can learn a lot in an environment that is somewhat less stressful than that of a big publishing house. A writer needs to check out what books the publisher is promoting. Do you see yourself there, fit there, are you similar or quite different. That said, there's nothing wrong with being different from what they're doing. Their submission guidelines will give you an idea.

Julie: Are there any absolutely-must-have characteristics for your heroes or heroines?

Jane: Strength of character and determination. Loyalty. Honesty. Trust. Without trust…even if it is not there until the end, because of some calamity, etc, trust is crucial. How can you love without trust? You can't. 

Julie: What do you feel is the most important thing that a first-time author should know?

Jane: Don't give up. It's a hard life. Persistence and patience is paramount. And love what you do.

Julie: Dealing with writing deadlines can be a challenge. What do you do to cope with the stress?

Jane: For me I've started to meditate occasionally and that is great for stress. But I often will sit and play with my dog Bingo and he is so joyful, you can't help but relax. But if there is work to be done, you can't whine, you just have to do it. Get up earlier, work later. If you want to write, you have to do what you have to do, to get there.

Julie: What's next for you?

Jane: Two new contracts this January, mean lots of work ahead. Editing, promo etc, plus always ongoing promo for current releases. Plus I have three works in progress, an historical, a contemporary and an erotica novella. So it's a big year ahead. Plus I hope to write another time travel/romance again set in Jamaica. And Cade Harper's brother is screaming out to me to get his story on paper. So yep, it's going to be a busy time ahead.

Author Jane Beckenham found literature at a young age. In books she discovered dreams and hope, stories that inspired in her a love of romance, and travel. Years later, after a blind date, Jane found her own true love and married him eleven months later.

Life has been a series of 'dreams' for Jane. Dreaming of learning to walk again after spending years in hospital. Dreaming of raising a family and subsequently flying to Russia to bring home her two adopted daughters. And of course, dreaming of writing.

With her family growing up, life is a round of playing mum's taxi service, all the while wondering what her hero and heroine are up to behind her back! Writing is Jane's addiction—and it sure beats housework.

Backlist:
He's the One, Linden Bay Romance
Hiring Cupid, Linden Bay Romance
Woman of Valor, Treble Heart Books
Always A Bridesmaid, Treble Heart Books
Be My Valentine, Treble Heart Books                   

Coming soon:
The Sheikh's Proposal, Red Rose Publishing
No Sex Necessary, Red Rose Publishing                                 

Links:
Website
Jane's Newsletter
MySpace
Email

Until next time!

Julie Cummings
Wildfire Interview Coordinator
All Romance eBooks