Lynne Connolly, Nicola Marsh and Judith Rochelle
Interview: Jun 20, 2008
Wildfire would like to welcome authors Lynne Connolly, Nicola Marsh, and Judith Rochelle.
Lynne Connolly
Julie: How long have you been writing? What inspired you to pick the pen up one day and create characters that capture the imagination?
Lynne: I've been writing all my life, ever since I was seven and my English teacher read a story out to us. It was Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. She stopped when she got the knight as far as the castle walls and then said that if we wanted to know what happened next, we'd have to write it for ourselves. So I did. My mother still has it somewhere—about three sides of carefully written story!
Julie: What is your writing process? Do you outline, fly by the seat of your pants, or a combination of both?
Lynne: I have to know where I am going, so I write a one sheet exposition that also acts as the synopsis. I outline the main plot points, which might change in the course of the story if it takes a new direction, but I won't write it until I'm sure it will work. I like to have the plot down so that I can concentrate on the characters.
Julie: How do you choose the setting for your next book?
Lynne: Very often, it chooses me! Something takes my fancy, or I get an idea out of nowhere. I'll see something and it will spark off an idea, which is why my motto is "I can use that"! They come from everywhere, so I tend to jot them down, take photographs, or generally keep them in mind.
Julie: How long does it take you to finish a book from start to submission?
Lynne: Two months is the shortest I ever took, for my first book, Yorkshire, but I'd been thinking about it for a long time. It's hard to say because I tend to think about a book a long time before I start writing it, so I can live with the characters a little and work through some of their dilemmas. Writing is the end part of the process
Julie: How much does reader reaction mean to you as an author?
Lynne: For the work I write for publication, everything. I think a book is a two-way process, and the reader has rights to impose her thoughts and ideas on mine. That's why a book is never the same to two readers, because they see different things and read in a different way. I love the process and I love to hear what readers think because until I do, I only have half the equation.
Julie: When you write, is atmosphere important? For example, do you use mood music or candles? Do you need complete quiet to concentrate?
Lynne: Not important at all. I can write anywhere in almost any circumstances. If I don't have a computer or notebook handy, I'll write in my head. I usually write in the living room, sitting on the sofa, with the TV on and the family coming in and out, but I manage.
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?
Lynne: Oh wow, so much! Clean the toilet, probably. Talk to my son's friend about his cycle, clean up cat sick (he does it when he feels spiteful) and scream at the TV when Manchester United are playing.
Julie: There are so many publishers out there, how do you decide who to submit your work to?
Lynne: Reliability, sales record and editing, and the quality of cover art, mostly. But after that, if I'm lucky enough to be accepted, it's how I get on with my editor and the house in general. I want a professional atmosphere with a good level of staffing.
Julie: Describe the space where you write.
Lynne: A sofa, littered with papers half the time, and I sit in the corner of it, with my laptop. My arthritis makes it hard for me to use a desktop, as sitting in that position is hard on the knees. I have my headphones handy, for when I don't want to be interrupted.
Julie: What do you do when you aren't writing? Any hobbies or special interests that you can tell us about?
Lynne: Doll's houses. Sigh. I'm nuts about them. I've found I share the passion with a few other writers, including Laura Kinsale, so it must be the lure of creating worlds. But making teeny tiny things for the houses is a good way of using the other half of my brain to the writing part.
Julie: Do you ever experience writer's block? If you do, how do you cope with it?
Lynne: I think it's a myth. There are times when writing is difficult, sure, but most writers have a reluctance to turn their dreams into reality by putting them down in print. I have two half finished books on my computer that weren't working, but I will probably finish them one day.
Julie: Are there any absolutely-must-have characteristics for your heroes or heroines?
Lynne: I can't see myself saying "never'. But on the whole, I like my characters to be open to the new experience, adventurous without being to stupid to live, reasonably intelligent, and interested in the world around them. And each other, of course! What my heroes and heroines can never have is closed minds and bigoted outlooks. I think that's the cause of most of the world's troubles, the inability to think for yourself and inflexibility of thought.
Julie: Dealing with writing deadlines can be a challenge. What do you do to cope with the stress?
Lynne: I try to make sure the work is ready on time!
Julie: Do you remember the first romance novel that you read?
Lynne: The Reluctant Widow by Georgette Heyer. I gobbled it up, loved it, and went back to find more. That's if you don't count Jane Eyre which I read when I was 13 and I've loved it ever since.
Julie: What's next for you?
Lynne: I'm currently writing the first book of a new series, a contemporary paranormal romance. Set in the world I've created, but with an entirely new set of characters and situations. Very exciting! On the historical side, I'm hoping to get back to the very first series I ever wrote, the Richard and Rose series, to finally get to their ultimate happy ending. Or at least the place I always planned to get to before I paused the series, although it's possible I could pick it up again.
Julie: Do you have any other writing work?
Lynne: I contribute to a couple of very busy blogs: The Good, The Bad and The Unread, and UK Historical Authors. We like to give an idea of what it's like writing a historical romance on this side of the pond, and it includes Amanda Grange, Sarah Mallory, Joanna Maitland, and Nicola Cornick.
Lynne lives in the UK with her family, in a small town half way between Manchester and Liverpool. She travels to the US once a year to meet readers and editors, and to have fun, usually for the Romantic Times Convention. She has a muse, Jack, who helps her to write her books by sitting on the laptop keyboard and right-clicking at random. Her favourite writer mottos are EM Forster's "Only Connect" and her own more mundane "I can use that".
As well as writing, her other passion is for doll's houses. She has three large ones and any number of small cottages and room boxes.
She is the author of the Triple Countess series and the Secrets trilogy from Samhain. Her first published work was the Richard and Rose series, currently unavailable, but not for long! She also writes erotic paranormal romance and is the author of the Department 57 and Pure Wildfire series (yes, she enjoys writing series!)
Backlist:
Last Chance, My Love (Triple Countess, Book One), Samhain
Seductive Secrets, Samhain
A Chance To Dream (Triple Countess, Book Two), Samhain
Met By Chance (Triple Countess, Book Three) Samhain
Sunfire (Pure Wildfire Book one), Ellora's Cave
Icefire (Pure Wildfire Book Two), Ellora's Cave
Cats' Eyes (Dept 57), Loose-Id
Topaz Delirium (Dept 57), Loose-Id
Laura, Uncial Books
Noblesse Oblige , Champagne Books
Vanessa, Awe-Struck Books
Coming soon:
Alluring Secrets (Secrets trilogy, book two), Samhain
Tempting Secrets (Secrets Trilogy book three), Samhain
Moonfire (Pure Wildfire Book Three), Ellora's Cave
Thunderfire (Pure Wildfire Book Four), Ellora's Cave
Liquid Crystal (Dept 57), Loose-Id
Links:
Website
Blog: The Good, The Bad and The Unread
UK Historical Authors
Mavens of the Pen
MySpace
Nicola Marsh
Julie: How long have you been writing? What inspired you to pick the pen up one day and create characters that capture the imagination?
Nicola: I was working full time as a physiotherapist and tired of saying 'I'm going to write a book one day' so I decided to do something about it. I Googled 'romance writers in Melbourne', found a group of like-minded ladies in late 2001 and off I went. Around that time I saw an article on speed dating in a magazine at work and thought 'wow, great theme for a book'. I wrote it and was lucky enough to have Harlequin Mills and Boon publish The Tycoon's Dating Deal as part of their Romance series in 2004.
Julie: Describe a typical writing day.
Nicola: For me, a typical writing day starts after I drop kinder kid off in the morning, then come home with baby and check emails/update blog/do promo stuff for an hour max.
Julie: What is your writing process? Do you outline, fly by the seat of your pants, or a combination of both?
Nicola: With my writing process, I usually start with a glimmer of an idea. From there I develop the plot, flesh out the characters, and like to have a vague idea of where I'm going with key scenes.
Yeah, I'm a plotter though tend to be more of a pantser these days too…
Julie: How much does reader reaction mean to you as an author?
Nicola: I love hearing from readers! I still have to pinch myself sometimes that people are curled up with a copy of my book somewhere around the world, then take the time to let me know how much they enjoyed it. It's such a buzz getting great reviews from readers!
Julie: When you write, is atmosphere important? For example, do you use mood music or candles? Do you need complete quiet to concentrate?
Nicola: When I write, I'm pretty much 'in the zone' so atmosphere doesn't matter. Last year, after the birth of my second child, I was sitting outside our local supermarket, rocking the pram with my foot, sipping on a chocolate milkshake and typing a sex scene on my Alphasmart. Not particularly inspiring surroundings but hey, when my time's limited, I'll write anywhere!
In my office at home, I prefer quiet. I've tried music but it just doesn't work for me, I find it distracting.
Julie: Describe the space where you write.
Nicola: Hmm…large desk (usually covered in paperwork no matter how hard I try to keep it clean!), an inspirational wooden block I bought at Kuala Lumpur airport before I even started writing, a one-eyed teddy bear (I'm supposed to be making him an eye patch for my pirate-crazy kinder kid), 2 tubs of Play-do, countless pens and Post-It notes, a stack of magazines…you get the idea! It's covered with stuff, loads of stuff!
Julie: Are there any absolutely-must-have characteristics for your heroes or heroines?
Nicola: I like my heroines to be strong, independent, modern women who know what they want out of life and aren't afraid to go out there and get it.
For my heroes, I love a sense of humour. It's all important to keep a smile on my heroine's face. I also think there's nothing sexier than a powerful guy with an underlying vulnerability, that special 'awww' factor.
Julie: What do you feel is the most important thing that a first-time author should know?
Nicola: That once you sell, it's only the beginning. There is so much more to publishing than you could ever imagine so keep your ears open and learn from authors around you. Join loops. Promo your book. But most of all, don't forget what got you to this point in the first place: writing. So keep doing what you love and keep selling.
Julie: What advice do you have for aspiring writers ?
Nicola: Writers never stop learning. The more you write, the more your voice will develop, the easier it becomes. So write. And write. Then write some more.
Hone your skill, your craft. Develop it. Play with it. See what fits and what doesn't but most of all stay true to yourself. Write what you love.
Julie: What's next for you?
Nicola: I'm currently working on my next Harlequin Modern Heat, Making Waves with the Magnate (working title.) It features Lana Walker, who was a secondary character in my upcoming Oct 08 release The Boss's Bedroom Agenda. In that story, Lana is a geek, a workaholic curator at Melbourne Museum, in the shadow of her sassy cousin Beth, the heroine.
In Making Waves with the Magnate, Lana comes into her own after moving to Sydney, joining a gym, winning a makeover and a cruise…and having a fling with the very sexy Zac…
Release-wise, I have a Harlequin Modern Heat, Hot Nights with a Playboy out now in the UK: a beautiful Whitsunday island, best friends becoming lovers and heat, loads of heat! Next month, I have a Harlequin Romance, The Desert Prince's Proposal hitting the shelves in the US & UK. Pure fantasy all the way!
Nicola Marsh worked as a physiotherapist for thirteen years before she tired of saying "I'm going to write a book one day" and actually did it. She started writing late 2001 and found once she started she couldn't stop!
She currently writes for Harlequin Mills and Boon Romance and Modern Heat/Presents series, has published 17 books and sold over a million copies worldwide.
When she's not writing she's busy raising her little heroes, sharing fine food with family and friends, and her favourite, curling up with a good book!
Backlist:
Hot Night with a Playboy, Harlequin Modern Heat
Mistress to the Tycoon, Harlequin Presents Extra
Executive Mother-To-Be, Harlequin Romance
Purchased for Pleasure, Harlequin Presents Extra
Princess Australia, Harlequin Romance
Two-Week Mistress, Harlequin Modern Heat
Big-Shot Bachelor, Harlequin Modern Heat
Inherited: Baby, Harlequin Romance
Found: His Family, Silhouette Romance
Wife and Mother Wanted, Harlequin Romance
Impossibly Pregnant, Harlequin Romance
Contract to Marry, Harlequin Romance
Hired By Mr Right, Harlequin Romance
The Wedding Contract, Harlequin Romance
The Tycoon's Dating Deal, Harlequin Romance
Coming soon:
The Desert Prince's Proposal, Harlequin Romance
The Boss's Bedroom Agenda, Harlequin Modern Heat
Links:
Website
Judith Rochelle
Julie: What influenced you to get published? How long did it take for your first book to get published?
Judith: First I just wanted to see if I could finish a book. I sat and stared at three chapters of the first one until the screen blurred. Then I threw them away, started in a whole new direction, and I was off to the races. But once you finish that book, something inside you drives you to see if a publisher will buy it. I'm an avid reader and I thought, well, why can't I be one of the books in my library, too?
Julie: What is your writing process? Do you outline, fly by the seat of your pants, or a combination of both?
Judith: When I get an idea for a book I jot down one page of ideas so I won't forget what I'm thinking about. And I name my characters. I'm obsessed with getting the right names for each person. After that I fly by the seat of my pants. I know where I want to start. And where I want to end, but it's usually my characters that talk to me and tell me how to get there.
Julie: The editing process is so critical. In your opinion, what are the most important aspects of the editor/author relationship?
Judith: That she believes in your writing and her editing is to improve the book, not simply to wield her editor's pen. I am so very fortunate that all the editors I work with are terrific. They also are great at spotting typos, which I am not. I think a typo-filled book is distracting to the reader and reflects badly on everyone.
Julie: What's next for you?
Judith: I have just completed the second book in the Phoenix Agency series for The Lotus Circle, about five men who partner in a private covert security agency, and the women they eventually partner with, all of whom have a specific psychic ability. Now I'm making notes on the third. I will also start work in another week on the sequel to Redemption for the Wild Rose Press, then try to finish two other manuscripts I started but had to put aside for other projects. I have several novellas and books coming out in 2008 from both The Wild Rose Press, Ellora's Cave, and The Lotus Circle.
Julie: Any advice for aspiring authors?
Judith: Never, ever give up. Find a good critique group. Learn the basic rules of self-editing. And love your writing.
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?
Judith: Clean out the litter boxes for our three cats. It doesn't get more basic than that!
Julie: Do you ever experience writer's block? If you do, how do you cope with it?
Judith: Rarely. I'm very lucky. But when I do, I put aside whatever I'm working on and go to something else. Or sometimes I'll just drag my husband out of the house for a long lunch with several margaritas! LOL!
Julie: What do you do when you aren't writing? Any hobbies or special interests that you can tell us about?
Judith: I read, read, read. Play some golf. And watch football six months out of the year. I'm an obsessed football nut.
Julie: Out of all of the characters that you've written, who is your favorite and why?
Judith: Joe, in Once Upon a Wedding. Because he looked and acted exactly the way I wanted him to. And had all the qualities I wanted to give him. I can still see him in my mind's eye, hear his voice, and think what a really terrific person he is to put aside the dominance of his alpha personality to make a dream come true for the heroine. I loved writing that story.
Julie: What books are currently on your nightstand?
Judith: One Good Man by Cindy Spencer Pape and Lacey Thorn; Tempt Me Tonight by Toni Blake. Protect and Defend by Vince Flynn. Moving Target by Lora Leigh.
Julie: Do you remember the first romance novel that you read?
Judith: Seventeenth Summer, when I was in high school. Can't even remember the author, Maureen somebody, but it was about teenage love and the scene with their first kiss has never left my mind. Closer to the present? Cry No More by Linda Howard. It totally changed the way I write.
I always wanted adventure and change in my life, and I certainly got it. I grew up in Maine, a beautiful place to live, then lived in the Midwest and Florida. Now I make my home in the Hill Country of Texas, truly God's chosen place on earth and the scene of most of my stories. My husband, David, is a sixth generation Texan, tracing his roots here back to the time when Texas was a Republic.
I've had a lot of firsts in my life—first female sports report on The Michigan Daily at the University of Michigan; first woman to own a rock and roll agency in Detroit, the home of Motown; first woman president of the Pasco (Florida) Economic Development Council.
I graduated from the University of Michigan and went on to have at least four careers—writing for weekly newspapers, managing rock and roll bands, owning a string of shoe stores, and finally working in fundraising, public affairs, and community relations. But writing fiction was always my dream, which I was able to realize when we retired.
My wonderful husband, David, encourages me and supports me in my dream. Our children, all grown and on their own, are my biggest fans.
I am a member of Romance Writers of America, and San Antonio Romance Authors, Diamond State Romance Authors, and Passionate Ink chapter of RWA.
Backlist:
One Hot Texas Night, The Wild Rose Press
Love with a Proper Rancher, The Wild Rose Press
Cutter's Law, The Wild Rose Press
Redemption, The Wild Rose Press
Coming Home (as Emily Brevard), The Wild Rose Press
The Cactus Are Lowing (as Emily Brevard), The Wild Rose Press
Shadow of the Hawk, The Wild Rose Press
Give It To Me,(as Desiree Holt), The Wild Rose Press
Cupid's Shaft,(as Desiree Holt) Ellora's Cave
Once Upon a Wedding,(as Desiree Holt) Ellora's Cave
Where Danger Hides,(as Desiree Holt) Ellora's Cave
Night Heat,(as Desiree Holt) Ellora's Cave
Double Entry,)as Desiree Holt) Ellora's Cave
Always On My Mind, The Lotus Circle
Coming soon:
On The Run, The Wild Rose Press
Night Ride (as Desiree Holt), The Wild Rose Press
Journey to the Pearl,(as Desiree Holt) Ellora's Cave
Emerald Green,(as Desiree Holt) Ellora's Cave
Diamond Lady, (as Desiree Holt) Ellora's Cave
Line of Sight, (as Desiree Holt) Ellora's Cave
Visions of Darkness. The Lotus Circle
Links:
Judith Rochelle Website
Desiree Holt Website
Emily Brevard Website
If you would like to request an interview, please send a query to info@allromanceebooks.com Until next time!
Julie Cummings
Wildfire Interview Coordinator
All Romance eBooks
