FAQ
Why
did you decide to write romance novels?
Upon returning to California in the 1990s, I rediscovered a romantic
suspense story my grandmother had written in the 1940s but never
published. The pages she'd created her story on were yellow with
age, so I decided to retype it to preserve her work for my family.
One thing led to another and I found myself writing a story of my own.
How did you get started writing?
I wrote a lot on my own at first, but those stories didn't sell.
Then in 1998, I discovered Romance Writers of America (RWA), one of the
few national writing groups that embraces non-published writers.
Through RWA, I discovered my characters and dialogue were good, but my
stories lacked plot. Yikes! No wonder no one bought them.
RWA hosts terrific conferences across the country throughout the year
with craft classes and editor meetings. I met the senior editor for
Superromance at one such conference and started submitting stories to
her. On March 2, 2002, she bought Michael's Father!
Where do you get ideas?
I started with a scene and characters that intrigue me in some
way. Usually these images hit me when I least expect it, not when I
really want them to! Anyway, I start wondering about what led the
characters to this point. As I work with the story, it changes, so it
may not resemble the original idea when I'm finished. For example, I
first wrote Michael's Father because of an image I had of a beautiful but
sad blonde melting in the heat on a downtown park bench. Cori was a
woman down on her luck and in need of a job. In my first
draft, she became the housekeeper for a winery family with a strong
matriarch (think Falcon Crest). Blake was the prodigal son.
Three rewrites later, their roles were nearly reversed, although the book
still starts with Cori facing a tremendous decision.
How much of what you write really happened to you or someone you
know?
Very little. Have you ever listened to stories about some distant
(or not so distant) relative, fascinated by something odd they did,
but no one can explain why they did it? In order for a story to hang
together, the reader has to understand why someone does something.
Do you have a day job? If so, why?
I'm employed as a marketing researcher by day. It's a job that
involves a lot of thought, tough hours and travel, but I love the
challenge it offers. It takes about six months to write a book and
the payout comes roughly at six-month intervals over two or more
years. Not exactly a regular paycheck at this point, but perhaps
someday...
If I tell you this great story idea, are you interested?
I have a better idea. Why don't you give it a whirl? The
trouble with writers is they have more ideas than they have time to write.
Okay, you sold me. How do I start?
Your local college might have a creative writing course. If you
have an interest in romance writing, check out
rwanational.org and
eharlequin.com. There are many great tip sheets on those sites, plus
both have communities you can join either locally or online. Best of
luck with it.
Wait a minute, I don't have time to write. I can barely
keep up with my life now.
Wow, do I hear you! I juggle a full-time job, a husband, three kids,
and a writing career. Whatever your dream is, you deserve to achieve
it. Still, dreams don't just drop in your lap - well, at least for
most of us. Someday turns into never unless you set aside a little
time each day to make your dream a reality. How badly do you want
it? Bad enough to get up a little earlier each day? Only you can make the call.
|
