The T-Spot Welcomes Heather Thurmeier!

October 3, 2012 By 3 Comments

Grab your beverage of choice (Mimosas for me, of course!), roll up to or flip open a screen and let some talented writers talk to you about their writing process.

This week: Heather Thurmeier is in the spotlight!

Heather is the author of Love and Lattes, Love on Landing and Love or Luxury, from the Meadow Ridge Romance Series. A full-time stay at home Mom to two kids and a King Charles pup named Indy, she’s married to her own personal romance hero who’s very supportive about her career as a romance author and happily turns a blind eye to her Hero Hotness Pinterest board. ;)  Writing, telling stories, creating characters—she’s found her passion in life. Everyday she lives her happily ever after. So let me get out of the way and cede the stage, stool and microphone to Heather:

1. Have you always written stories?

I’ve always wanted to write stories, but it took me a while to actually jump in and do it for the first time a few years ago.

2. When did you decide to write professionally?

In summer of 2009 I had an idea that I thought would make a great book. I decided then to try my hand at writing a novel. I’d always wanted to but I’d never had an idea for a story before. So when I came up with the idea, I didn’t have any more excuses not to try. I set the goal of just writing the book, but by chapter two, I knew I wouldn’t only write it, but I wouldn’t stop until I’d gotten it published. I feel in love with writing! The moment I wrote The End of that first manuscript, I wanted to write another and another. I knew this was my destined career. (Isn’t that just so cheesy? But totally true!)

3. What made you decide to go the route you chose (eg. traditional, e-pub, indie)?

Well, I’ve sort of picked a couple routes to take. I am epubbed with a couple of great publishers (Silver Publishing and Crimson Romance) and I’ve also self-published one title (with plans for more in the future). I really enjoy working with a publisher. They provide so much support and guidance with getting a book into the hands of readers. But there’s something really satisfying about self-publishing your own books the way you envisioned them and maintaining full control over every aspect. I figure my career is a long-term asset and I don’t want to put all my books in any one specific place. You never know where the industry is going to take us and having my books in multiple situations makes me feel like I can weather any way the industry may change in the future.

4. What is your writing process (hrs/day, days/wk)?

It really depends what part of the writing process I’m into. If I’m writing new words, then I set word count goals, both daily and weekly. I like having something to aim for that I know is attainable. And every time I hit the goal, I feel like I’ve accomplished something. When I’m in editing mode, then usually set an overall goal for when I hope to have it finished. As for time put in to writing each week, it depends on the week. On a good week, I’ll write Mon, Wed, and Fri from 9-2 while the kids are at school, plus whatever I can squeeze in on Tues and Thurs. But weeks like this one where we have vacations and then sick kids at home, I’m just barely squeezing in enough time to do this interview! {Tracey’s Note: This interview was conducted in June. :-) }

5. How do you write (crappy first draft then revise or revise as you go)? Why?

Can I pick both? I try to write fast because the words flow better when I write more often, but I hate leaving errors I find along the way. If it’s little things (typos, spelling, grammar, etc) I correct it along the way. But I do try not to read back too far from where I need to start new words each day. I find if I let myself edit more than that, then I fall into editing the whole thing instead of writing the rest of the book. Writing and editing are very different mindsets for me and it can be challenging to switch between the two thought process without getting totally sucked into either. I like being completely absorbed in my writing while I’m writing and then I like being completely focused on finding even the tiniest change to make in editing. I don’t enjoy having to flip between the two unless I really have to.

6. Do you get writer’s block? If so, how do you handle it?

I usually don’t or at least haven’t yet. Sometimes I won’t know exactly where to take the story next and once in a while I haven’t outlined that particular section of the book well enough to refer back to it, so I get a little stuck then. During those times, I usually do something active that forces my brain to stop thinking about my story. I’ll take the dog for a walk, go on the treadmill, or even start organizing and cleaning the house (yikes!). Once my brain is focused on the task at hand, the answer to my writing problem usually comes to me pretty quickly so I can get back to writing.

7. What’s your favorite part of the writing process?

I think it has to be editing. I love making little tweaks to my words or scenes to take them up a notch so that they really shine. Getting the original words down on the page can be a challenge, but once they are there, it’s easier to edit them and make them perfect.

8. If you could go back in time and tell your younger self one thing you have since learned about the business of writing, what would you tell them (you)?

Not to listen to that voice inside me who doubted my ability for so long. I think I was scared to dive into writing because I was afraid of being rejected and failing at something I knew I would love so much. I wish I’d taken the chance sooner. Of course, my fears came true and I did get rejected–many times!–but for the first time in my life, I didn’t let it make me quit. I don’t like to suck at things, so when I do, I tend not to do them anymore so that I can’t fail. Well I failed miserably at writing at first. Those first few rejection letters sucked balls, quite frankly. But it was only with those rejection letters that I realized just how much I wanted to be a published author. I wasn’t going to myself fail or walk away. My only choice was to listen, learn, and grow as a writer and keep trying. I’m glad I did.

Fun Topics:

9. Wine, liquor or beer? What’s your favorite of the spirit you chose?

Liquor. I really enjoy girly mixed drinks and I’ll never turn down a frozen strawberry margarita! My absolute favorite is a strawberry/lime margarita we make in our Margaritaville machine. So good! {Tracey’s Note: Thanks for the invite, Heather! I’ll be right over! ;-) }

10. What author(s) are on your automatic buy list?

I’m not sure I ever auto-buy anyone, but a few of my favs are Molly Harper, Dakota Cassidy, Jill Shalvis, Katie MacAlister, and HP Mallory.

11. What TV shows are you watching?

I love, love, LOVE reality TV. My favorites are The Amazing Race, Survivor, Big Brother, Bachelor/ette, and Top Chef. Non-reality shows I love are True Blood, The Walking Dead, Game of Thrones, The New Girl and Modern Family.

12. Who is your celebrity crush and why?

Oh, well, hmmm… How to choose? Am I supposed to be able to pick just one? Alexander Skarsgård and Joe Manganiello from True Blood are pretty awesome. I wouldn’t turn either one of them away on a cold night even if they are vampire and werewolf. Teeth, fur, it’s all good!

 

Thank you so much for the interview, Heather. I, too, love reality TV and am interested in checking out your new series based on it.  You can find more info at her website: http://heatherthurmeier.com. You can also connect with her on Facebook at HeatherThurmeierAuthor and on Twitter @hthurmeier. The second book in her Meadow Ridge Romance Series, Love on Landing, is available NOW!!!

Retail therapy in Paris isn’t the only way to cure Tali’s broken heart. En route, she meets her family’s new pilot, Gavin. When personalities clash at 30,000 feet, the chemistry between them is undeniable.

One night in bed isn’t enough to quell the fireworks between Tali and Gavin, and when tempers erupt, Tali’s ex-boyfriend is there to pick up the pieces. But she’s finally realized what she really wants in life… and it isn’t her ex or the life her father has planned back home.

Now all Tali wants is the man who loved her enough to tell her what she didn’t want to hear, but can she win his heart on the trip home and find Love on Landing?

Available at Amazon:

 

What’s your favorite part of the writing process? And what television are you watching this fall? Tell us what you think and make sure you check back next week to see the new content at the T-Spot.

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The T-Spot Welcomes Juliette Sobanet!

September 26, 2012 By 2 Comments

Grab your beverage of choice (Mimosas for me, of course!), roll up to or flip open a screen and let some talented writers talk to you about their writing process.

This week: Juliette Sobanet is in the spotlight!

Juliette is the author of Sleeping with Paris and Kissed in Paris. She writes sassy, fun women’s fiction with a French twist. When not writing, she’s daydreaming about France, eating chocolate, practicing yoga, dancing around the house, or hanging out with my wonderful husband and our two massive, cuddly cats. And Juliette just announced that her third novel, Dancing with Paris, sold to Montlake Romance in a four-book deal! Clearly, she’s doing lots right, so let me get out of the way and cede the stage, stool and microphone to Juliette:

1. Have you always written stories?

I’ve kept a journal since I was old enough to write, and I started writing stories when I was about 10 years old. I’ve always loved the release that writing provides and the rush of creating an entire story out of nothing, then seeing it come to life on the page.

2. When did you decide to write professionally?

When I was completing my Master’s degree in Paris, I had about a month at the end of my program to write my thesis. Every day I slept in, wrote for five to six hours in pajamas, showered, then hit the town each evening with my friends. I enjoyed the writing process so much (and the relaxed student lifestyle in France didn’t hurt either!) that I decided I needed to make it happen. I already had the idea for my first novel, Sleeping with Paris, swimming around in my head, so when I returned to the States, I read a few books on how to write a novel, then I dove right in.

3. What made you decide to go the route you chose (eg. traditional, e-pub, indie)?

When I completed Sleeping with Paris in the spring of 2010, I was solely focused on the traditional route. I signed with my agent, and we went on submission to New York that summer. Because of the trend away from chick-lit, we didn’t make a sale. I was determined to make this career happen, so that fall, I wrote my second novel, Kissed in Paris. In January of 2011, we went on submission with book #2, and even though we got really close, again, we didn’t sell. So, as I was working hard on my third novel last summer, I began paying attention to the rise in self-publishing and the explosion of e-books and e-readers, and after much deliberation, I decided to take the plunge. Sleeping with Paris  was released last October and Kissed in Paris was released in February. It has been an incredible journey, with the best part being my amazing, loyal readers! This experience has exceeded my every expectation, and I wouldn’t change a single thing. I’ve just finished the edits on my third novel and have sent it off to my agent, and I’m beginning a new Paris series this week! {Tracey’s Note: This interview was conducted in June. :-) }

4. What is your writing process (hrs/day, days/wk)?

Generally, I set a word or page count for myself each day, and I prioritize this over everything else. Now that I’m writing full-time, I’m shooting for 2,000-3,000 words per day. Of course some days are better than others, but I find that as long as I make writing my main priority, I’m a happier person, and the book gets done! Sometimes I go on writing/editing binges and write late into the evening and all through the weekend. When I emerge from the writing binge, I usually crash for a few days, then get back to it!

5. How do you write (crappy first draft then revise or revise as you go)? Why?

I outline my books before I begin writing, but then as the story unfolds, I always end up changing the course of events. I do prefer to revise as I go so that the book is clean and well-written along the way, but each book has been a different process for me. This third book that I just finished ended up getting an entire re-write over the last few months. But I learned so much through that process that I’m hoping the next few books will just fly right off my fingers!

6. Do you get writer’s block? If so, how do you handle it?

Luckily, I don’t get writer’s block. I always have ideas swirling around in my head, so the real issue is choosing which one to go with or what to write next! That being said, there are times when I get stuck in a scene and have to really think it through before I can finish it. It’s more of a temporary hitch than full-out writer’s block.

7. What’s your favorite part of the writing process?

I absolutely love the very beginning of a new book. That’s where I’m at right now – brainstorming, outlining, getting to know the characters. It’s here that anything goes, and I love the freedom of the fresh page.

8. If you could go back in time and tell your younger self one thing you have since learned about the business of writing, what would you tell them (you)?

Don’t be discouraged over rejections. Those rejections will make you work harder than you ever thought possible, and ultimately, that hard work will lead you to success.

Fun Topics:

9. Wine, liquor or beer? What’s your favorite of the spirit you chose?

Neither. I’m a wine gal. I love any kind of wine, and especially anything from France!

10. What author(s) are on your automatic buy list?

I love everything written by Darynda Jones, Sophie Moss, Kyra Davis, Emily Giffin, Cecelia Ahern, and Sophie Kinsella. There are so many more, but those are some of my top favorites!

11. What TV shows are you watching?

I’ve been watching the 30 Rock series from the beginning on Netflix, and I love it! Every episode is so ridiculous – it’s a great way to unwind at the end of the day.

12. Who is your celebrity crush and why?

Ever since high school, my best friend and I have had a thing for (ie: obsession with) Leonardo DiCaprio. He is such an amazing actor, and I’ve seen almost every movie he’s ever been in. My husband loves his movies too, so that works out pretty nicely for me!

What a great interview, Juliette. My hubby and I also watched 30 Rock on Netflix and loved it. We’re now caught up and excited for the current and final season. Have you tried Happy Endings? Great show, really funny. Give it a try and let me know what you think. You can find more info at her website: http://www.juliettesobanet.com/ or start a convo with her on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Juliette-Sobanet-Author-of-Sleeping-with-Paris/229741887075155) or on Twitter (https://twitter.com/#!/JulietteSobanet).

Keep an eye out for her third novel, Dancing with Paris. Until then, grab her backlist, Sleeping with Paris and Kissed in Paris, available NOW!!!

“You are in Paris, the City of Love. You must not be so controlled. Here, have another glass. I promise you, it will not hurt.”

When 29-year-old event planner Chloe Turner wakes up penniless and without a passport in the Plaza Athénée Hotel in Paris, she only has a few fleeting memories of Claude, the suave French man who convinced her to have that extra glass of wine before taking all of her possessions and slipping out the door. As the overly organized, go-to gal for her three drama queen younger sisters, her anxiety-ridden father, and her needy clients, Chloe is normally prepared for every disaster that comes her way. But with her wedding to her straight-laced, lawyer fiancé back in DC only days away and a French con-man on the loose with her engagement ring, this is one catastrophe she never could have planned for.

As Chloe tries to figure out a way home, she runs into an even bigger problem—the police are after her due to suspicious activity now tied to her bank account. Chloe’s only hope at retrieving her passport and clearing her name lies in the hands of a rugged, undercover agent named Julien who has a few secrets of his own. As Chloe follows this mysterious, and—although she doesn’t want to admit it—sexy French man on a wild chase through the sun-kissed countryside of France, she discovers a magical world she never knew existed and has to decide if the perfectly ordered life she’s built for herself back home is really what she wants after all.

What’s your favorite TV comedy? Are you a plotter, pantser or plantser? Tell us what you think and make sure you check back next week to see who’s hanging out at the T-Spot.

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The T-Spot Welcomes Cari Kamm!

September 12, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Grab your beverage of choice (Mimosas for me, of course!), roll up to or flip open a screen and let some talented writers talk to you about their writing process.

This week: Cari Kamm is in the spotlight!

Cari holds a Master of Science degree in clinical nutrition  from New York University and is the author of Fake Perfect Me. So let me get out of the way and cede the stage, stool and microphone to Cari:

1. Have you always written stories?

No. I’ve always been a storyteller or that person that loved to entertain and make my friends and family laugh. It’s a characteristic I take after my father. In my early twenties, I started keeping travel journals. I moved to New York City at the age of 22 to attend NYU for graduate school with a goal to take advantage of JFK International airport when I could and see the world. Growing up in a small town in West Virginia, I was eager to explore the world and wanted to document it all.

2. When did you decide to write professionally?

I was 28 and craving inspiration at a specific point in my life. Here I was in New York City living and loving everything, even a shadow. However, I felt something was missing in my life. So… I researched new hobby ideas from cooking (high burn risk), painting (too messy) and volunteer opportunities, and new career paths. I ended up taking a creative writing class with Mediabistro and it changed my life. During the class, I had no intention of writing a novel. I was more involved with the class because it challenged me, made me insecure, and sparked my spirit. The workshop assignments got me writing in class and at home. Sometimes, I would come home from a late dinner or having cocktails with friends and find myself writing until 3:00 AM. Eight months later, I had a manuscript. Eventually, that manuscript became my first novel – Fake Perfect Me.

3. What made you decide to go the route you chose (eg. traditional, e-pub, indie)?

For the first novel, I stuck with indie as it was more in tune with my goals at that time. For my second, I’m exploring everything. All publishing options have their benefits!

4. What is your writing process (hrs/day, days/wk)?

Everyday. Anytime. From my computer to writing on a cocktail napkin.

5. How do you write (crappy first draft then revise or revise as you go)? Why?

I sketch out an outline breaking down Act I, II & III and write up descriptions of the characters I have in mind. Then, I just write. I don’t look back. I don’t reread. I would say it’s a crappy first draft and then I spend months on revising – editing – revising – editing.

6. Do you get writer’s block? If so, how do you handle it?

I’ve never considered myself to suffer from writer’s block. I just have to be in the mood. I’m usually in the mood when the timing is inappropriate such as being with others at dinner, during a movie, cooking etc. I love being surrounded by music, strangers, voices… simply just life. My boyfriend, family and friends have come to understand my texting during these times is really me sending notes to myself and me just having one of my moments whether it’s for a novel, blog, or something that inspired me and I want to remember.

7. What’s your favorite part of the writing process?

Creating the outline of the story I have in mind. Then several months down the road realizing where the characters actually took me while reading the story they created.

8. If you could go back in time and tell your younger self one thing you have since learned about the business of writing, what would you tell them (you)?

You grow more from criticism than you do from compliments.

Fun Topics:

9. Wine, liquor or beer? What’s your favorite of the spirit you chose?

Depending on my mood, the weather, and  food… I love wine. Red, white, rose and sparkling.  My one and only spirit of choice is Ketel One served with soda water and two limes.

10. What author(s) are on your automatic buy list?

Sophie Kinsella, Sarah Pekkanen, Emily Giffin, Mark Nepo, Paulo Coelho, Pema Chodron

11. What TV shows are you watching?

SMASH (I’m addicted!), REVENGE  & Law & Order!  Can’t live without these!

12. Who is your celebrity crush and why?

Actor Simon Baker as Patrick Jane in The Mentalist. He’s the bad boy gone good who has own version of reality. Plus, I appreciate a man who makes sipping tea quite sexy.

Thank you for your great answers, Cari. I, too, am in love with Simon Baker. The messy, blond curls, the suits, the man on a mission… (sigh). You can find more info at her website, carikamm.com, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CariKamm.Author and on Twitter at  https://twitter.com/#!/CariKamm.  She’ll soon be releasing details about her second novel. Check out her first novel, Fake Perfect Me, available NOW!!!

 

Isabella seems to have it all—the former Southern belle with big dreams is the head of her own skin care company and is the self-proclaimed queen of all things beautiful in New York City. Then her world comes crashing down, and she is stripped of everything she loves—her man, the Italian litigator “Saint” Santo; the loss of her company; and the death of her beloved dog, Potato. With her penchant for bingeing and purging, how can she turn her life around when she still feels the need to maintain her “perfect” façade?

If you’re a writer, what’s your favorite part of the writing process? And are you as goo-goo over Simon Baker as we are? Tell us what you think and make sure you check back next week to see who’s hanging out at the T-Spot.

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The T-Spot Welcomes Margo Candela!

September 5, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Grab your beverage of choice (Mimosas for me, of course!), roll up to or flip open a screen and let some talented writers talk to you about their writing process.

This week: Margo Candela is in the spotlight!

Margo Candela is the author of The Brenda Diaries (SugarMissile, Oct. ’11) Good-bye To All That (Touchstone, July ’10), More Than This (Touchstone, Aug ’08), Life Over Easy (Kensington, Oct ’07), Underneath It All (Kensington, Jan ’07) and the short story and essay collection, Life Observed (June ’11). SweetSpots, her contemporary romance e-series, debuted on February 27, 2012 with Just Like That followed by No Need to Ask in April. More Than This was a Target stores Breakout Book and an American Association of Publishers national book club selection at Borders Books. Good-bye To All That was the only novel picked by Los Angeles Magazine for its 2010 Best of L.A. list.  Leave a comment and you’ll be entered in a drawing to win a free copy of No Need to Ask and Just Like That. Now, here’s Margo:

1. Have you always written stories?

I was (and still am to a certain degree) a horrible speller, but my favorite grade school homework assignment was writing sentences based on the week’s vocabulary list. When I got a little older I bought myself a second hand typewriter and I’d spend afternoons typing up pamphlets and jokey stories, but I considered it more of a fun pastime instead of something I could see myself doing as a grownup.

2. When did you decide to write professionally?

I was on the staff of my community college newspaper and fell in love with writing. After I graduated with a journalism degree, I wrote for all sorts of websites and a few magazines and started writing fiction after I had my son.

Despite having been writing for more than a few years it’s still a challenge especially now that my focus is on writing fiction. To make sure I’m as productive as possible, I set goals for myself and stick to deadlines because it’s really easy not to write.

3. What made you decide to go the route you chose (eg. traditional, e-pub, indie)?

I was very lucky to have worked with a wonderful editor on all four of my traditionally published novels. She gave me some good advice during a very stressful time for the both of us when it was obvious the publishing house she was then with was making a major shift in its focus.  We talked about a few of my ideas and, while she loved them, she told me that I’d have better luck going it the e-pub/indie route.

She gave me the last little push I needed to take the plunge and e-publish. While it’s a lot more work, I’m very excited to be steering my writing career but would never say I’d never work with a traditional or indie publisher.

4. What is your writing process (hrs/day, days/wk)?

I get most of my writing done during the week and, when I’m on a deadline, I’ll carve out a few hours on the weekend. I’ve learned to make the most out of the hours I do have. Instead of forcing myself to sit at my desk for eight hours, I focus on getting as much done as I can in two or three. It’s just a matter of tuning things out (family, life, hunger) and reminding myself how great it feels to get that much closer to my goal of finishing my novel.

5. How do you write (crappy first draft then revise or revise as you go)? Why?

I don’t start a new novel without first writing a chapter by chapter outline. Then I write the first draft, set it aside for at least a few days, go in and revise. When I’ve taken it as far as I can, I send it off for edits and then, when I get it back, I give it a last polish. It’s a process, but working off an outline, setting deadlines and, most importantly, being able to summarize the story in a couple of sentences makes it much more manageable.

6. Do you get writer’s block? If so, how do you handle it?

I’ve had a few serious bouts of writer’s block where I went weeks without making any progress on projects. When this happens, my family eats very well as I channel all that frustration into cooking and baking. I make sure to do other things like read for fun, duck out to the movies, anything but sit at my desk and hate not writing.

7. What’s your favorite part of the writing process?

Finishing! There’s no greater relief when I reach the end and I can coast on that feeling for a few days before I remind myself I have to start all over again with a new novel.

Because I work in drafts, I give myself a “vacation” from the manuscript, revise it again and then when I’m sure it’s done, I pass it on to my editor or a reader. I then get another break while it’s being edited/read and by the time it shows up on my doorstep again, I’m actually glad to see it. The last revise, which is more of a polish, is my second favorite part of writing.

8. If you could go back in time and tell your younger self one thing you have since learned about the business of writing, what would you tell them (you)?

Writing and publishing, especially nowadays, is all about how quickly an author can release the next book. I’ve learned that it’s okay to take the time to devote to writing, revising and polishing a manuscript. I’ve also learned to ask for not only advice, but help. Writing is a solitary endeavor and sometimes the best solution to a plot issue or even boredom is to reach out to friends and family for a little support.

Fun Topics:

9. Wine, liquor or beer? What’s your favorite of the spirit you chose?

I don’t drink, but I do have a thing for ice. My favorite is nugget ice, the kind you get in hospitals and old-school diners.

10. What author(s) are on your automatic buy list?

I read a lot of non-fiction and magazines when I’m writing but I’m always excited when Anne Tyler comes out with a new novel. I’ve been reading her since my teens and she’s written some of my favorite books.

11. What TV shows are you watching?

I’m a big fan of Mad Men, The Amazing Race, Frontline and certain TLC reality shows I’m too embarrassed to admit to.

12. Who is your celebrity crush and why?

I’ll see just about anything Leonardo DiCaprio is in. My kid and husband are well aware of my crush and tease me about it, but they can’t knock him as just a pretty face. The man can act.

Thank you for your great answers, Margo. I love your solution for writer’s block. Sitting at the desk staring at a blank screen unable to produce words is the most frustrating thing ever. You can find more info at her website: margocandela.com and  her blog, My Brain. My Blog. While she’s working on her next novel and finishing up the screenplay adaptation of her novel, Life Over Easy you can check out her Sweet Spots, No Need to Ask and Just Like That, available NOW!!!  Remember, leave a comment and you’ll be entered in a drawing to win a free copy of No Need to Ask and Just Like That.

No Need to Ask: When recently divorced Ethan Marshall gives aspiring decorator Jillian Winters carte blanche as well has his credit card to turn his new and very empty loft into a home, she finds herself falling in love with it and the man she’s creating it for.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Just Like That: Leslie Quinn might have been dumped by her longtime boyfriend, but she still has her determination to make it as a top stylist at an exclusive Manhattan department store. Leslie takes a last minute assignment and meets a mysterious client who just might hold the key to her success at work and also to her heart.

 

 

 

 

 

If you’re a writer, are you a plotter or pantser? We’ve just had our first Leo sighting; who’s your celebrity crush? Tell us what you think and make sure you check back next week to see who’s hanging out at the T-Spot.

Filed Under: Interviews Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The T-Spot Welcomes Heidi Hall!

August 29, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Grab your beverage of choice (Mimosas for me, of course!), roll up to or flip open a screen and let some talented writers talk to you about their writing process.

This week: Heidi Hall is in the spotlight!

Heidi is the author of An Unexpected Obsession, A Dose of Reality, Witch Way, A Coven by Christmas, Love Spells (coming soon), Flirting With Death, and the rest of the upcoming Assassins Anonymous series. She makes her home in the Valley of the Sun with her husband and two pampered pets. She likes books… and shoes… and outrageously expensive purses… and Chanel sunglasses …and anything sparkly… or fluffy! Seriously, she’s a girl after my own heart! So let me get out of the way and cede the stage, stool and microphone to Heidi:

1. Have you always written stories?

I’ve always written them in my head. I was an only child until my Sophomore year in high school, so I needed a vivid imagination to entertain myself. Plus, I’ve been told I’m a phenomenal liar. *wink* Um, I mean storyteller!

2. When did you decide to write professionally?

I still don’t consider myself a professional writer. Even after six books, I learn something new everyday. Also, I continue to keep my “day” job in advertising – I think it helps me keep the creative juices flowing even if it cuts into the amount of time I actually have to write. Oh yeah, the health insurance doesn’t suck, either.

3. What made you decide to go the route you chose (eg. traditional, e-pub, indie)?

Several years ago I actually wrote full time, produced a few full-length novels – and was too chicken s#!+ to ever do anything with them. Then, inspiration struck (we’ll get into the juicy details behind that “inspiration” in just a bit), and I wrote An Unexpected Obsession. I was (and still am) very proud of that book. For the first time, I wasn’t afraid of putting my baby out there for the world to see. Dutifully, I started researching where to buy the latest copy of the Writer’s Market for the cheapest price… as I had every year for nearly a decade… and while surfing the internet stumbled upon a little writer’s forum called Kindleboards, and within it, The Writer’s Cafe. Changed my thinking. Changed my life as I read the stories of other authors foregoing the traditional publisher and agent merry-go-round, and instead putting their work out there on their own. Now, I’m an indie self-publisher and loving it. I have complete control over my product. I can price reasonably to generate interest. I can fix those pesky mistakes readers find even after a dozen people have looked over the manuscript in minutes and have a clean copy up within a day. I wouldn’t turn down a movie deal, but the pot would have to be pretty sweet for me to ever sign with a publisher – although, I would love to see my books on the shelves of a brick and mortar store at some point in the future.

4. What is your writing process (hrs/day, days/wk)?

I’m most inspired at night, outside on my patio when the world is dark and quiet. I’ve been known to start writing after ten p.m. and not stop until the we hours of the morning. Yes, I’m perpetually sleep deprived. But… my muse is fairly consistent in when she’s most active, so I’ll stick with it. She hasn’t let me down yet.

5. How do you write (crappy first draft then revise or revise as you go)? Why?

I revise as I go, but as I get deep into the story I only go back a few chapters before continuing with what comes next. When I finally write “The End” I will start from the beginning and tweak and edit as I read it all the way through. Rinse and repeat, send to editor, make those changes, send to betas, make those tweaks, and then do it all once again. The editing process is the most time consuming – and the most frustrating – because it seems as if no matter how many eyes are on it, you never catch everything.

6. Do you get writer’s block? If so, how do you handle it?

I wouldn’t call it writer’s block in my case. More like procrastination and laziness! Sometimes I’m just not in the mood to write. Sometimes it’s more important to eat peanut M&Ms and play Mahjongg on my Fire. Or read. Or, watch movies. Or play with the cats (and my new puppy). Or, clean the house, do the laundry, etc. Yup, I’m very familiar with procrastination and laziness. I have to force myself back into the routine of writing – grab my laptop, sit my butt outside and get going on a new idea. Once I’m back into the swing of writing, no problem. It’s the discipline to make myself do it that I seem to lack on occasion. I swear, tonight I will write at least two chapters. I mean, my puppy’s not that cute, right?

7. What’s your favorite part of the writing process?

Oooh, that’s a hard one. I like the initial excitement when the first words go onto the page. It’s like the slow ride to the highest peak of a roller coaster – so much anticipation! And then there’s the twists and turns along the way that surprise even me as they come about, or the piece of dialog that comes from nowhere and makes me laugh out loud. I love those moments. But if I’m being honest, the best part is when it’s all done and you see your cover and people are actually buying it and leaving reviews – reviews have become my greatest inspiration to write more.

8. If you could go back in time and tell your younger self one thing you have since learned about the business of writing, what would you tell them (you)?

Hire an editor! You’re already a copywriter/editor? Doesn’t matter! It is impossible to fully edit your own stuff! You know what you’re expecting to see and you’re going to miss something! Get it close, but make sure many, many eyes are laid on those pages before you thrust it upon the buying public. You’ll thank yourself for it in the end – and so will your readers!

Fun Topics:

9. Wine, liquor or beer? What’s your favorite of the spirit you chose?

I like bourbon/whiskey and favor Laphroaig. Never straight. Icy cold with a splash of Diet Pepsi or Ginger Ale and a twist of lime. It also gives me a smooth buzz… unlike saki! Saki makes me mean. My hubby has banned it from my drinking repertoire. But bourbon? Yum! Now I’m thirsty.

10. What author(s) are on your automatic buy list?

I don’t really have an auto buy list anymore. I like to try new authors too much to waste my money on one best seller that costs me seven times what an indie does. But I’ll admit I usually give in when it comes to Janet Evanovich and Stuart Woods.

11. What TV shows are you watching?

I love Dexter! And True Blood (although the first season is the best by far). I like Revenge and Missing and Psych, too. And I am a sucker for reality shows like The Bachelor/ette, Ice loves Coco (I see them sometimes at the grocery store by my house when they’re visiting AZ), Khloe & Lamar, etc. I watch too much TV! It’s rotting my brain!

12. Who is your celebrity crush and why?

Okay, this is the juicy (and embarrassing) part… I am completely infatuated with Robert Pattinson! That jaw line, the wild hair and stormy eyes. Those red, red lips. The British accent! Oh baby, come to mama! I hated the Twilight books – even though I read all of them. But when the movie came out I couldn’t stop thinking about RPatz. My husband even referred to him as my boyfriend. I have a life-sized cutout of him in my family room (I keep it by the patio doors to scare away would-be intruders *wink, wink*) He was also the inspiration behind An Unexpected Obsession. I found myself yelling things at the screen like, “Take your clothes off and DO IT, already!” So I wrote my personal fantasy about meeting the man, not the character. It was a great release personally to have a character do all the things to him I’d imagined doing myself ;-) . I wouldn’t kick Adam Levine or Josh Duhamel out of my bed, either – they’re definitely on my “list.” {Tracey’s Note: This was written before the scandal that erupted in late July. Maybe Heidi will let us know what she thinks? :-) }

Thank you so much for the interview, Heidi. I love how your muse tells you she’s a night owl and you “obey” even though it leaves you sleep deprived. :-) You can find more info at her website: writergurl1.blogspot.com. The second book in her Assassins Anonymous series is in the works, but in the meantime please check out Step One – Flirting with Death, available NOW!!!

Is there a twelve-step program for recovering assassins?

Kayla McKenna is a covert assassin—and she likes it. After her father was murdered by terrorists, she was consumed by the need for retribution. But landing her dream job as a CIA assassin turns out to be merely a stepping stone in her plot to avenge the heartaches of the past… and present. One botched mission earns Kayla a burn notice, a bullet hole and a one-way ticket back to suburbia. Banished to her childhood stomping grounds with a meddling, shopping-addicted mother intent on grandkids, three overprotective cop brothers, a sexy criminal who can’t decide whether he wants to shoot her or date her, and a new boyfriend even her family loves, Kayla may finally get the chance to find out what really matters in life.

That is, if living a “normal” life doesn’t kill her first.

With a delicious combination of mystery, suspense, romance, edgy chick-lit, and a dash of paranormal, the first installment of the new Assassins Anonymous series is a wickedly fun treat.

What’s your favorite part of the writing process? And what do you think about RPatz and his sucky summer? Tell us what you think and make sure you check back next week to see who’s hanging out at the T-Spot.

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The T-Spot Welcomes Jenny Gardiner!

August 22, 2012 By 10 Comments

Grab your beverage of choice (Mimosas for me, of course!), roll up to or flip open a screen and let some talented writers talk to you about their writing process.

This week: Jenny Gardiner is in the spotlight!

Jenny is the author of numerous fiction and non-fiction stories, including “Winging It: A Memoir of Caring for a Vengeful Parrot Who’s Determined to Kill Me.” She loves to cook, brakes for farmer’s markets and is a huge advocate of the Buy Local movement. So let me get out of the way and cede the stage, stool and microphone to Jenny:

 

1. Have you always written stories?

Actually I studied to be a journalist so I was all about not making up things! When I started writing fiction it was such a refreshing change from having to fact-check everything and be accurate about details–obviously even with fiction you do have to keep certain things accurate, but to be able to just make things up and it’s ok was a really liberating experience. That said I think I always have had an overly dramatic imagination, so writing it down seemed a natural extension of that!

2. When did you decide to write professionally?

As I mentioned, I used to write professionally in a more confining way. Then I stopped the paying gig to raise my kids. Back in the early part of this century (that sounds weird, doesn’t it?) I needed to start working again and earn money and I delusionally thought I could do this by becoming a writer. Ha! But it was a great incentive to get me doing something creative and interesting and hey, eventually it led to actual income, so all good!

3. What made you decide to go the route you chose (eg. traditional, e-pub, indie)?

I’d done traditional publishing and wanted to have faith in it but as the economy took a huge downturn I saw the industry take a bigger downturn and their reaction was to basically hunker down and never take chances on writers, instead giving more money to their guaranteed sellers. The industry turned its back on so many writers, it was demoralizing. The great thing about it was when Amazon turned the industry on its head and gave so many authors a chance to not only find their audience but actually earn a living wage (and then some!) doing that. At the end of the day I wanted to believe in the New York publishing system but the fact is, it was never set up for the benefit of authors, rather it was set up to benefit the houses themselves, and the distributors, the brick and mortar stores. Without writers they’d never have anything, but authors were at the bottom of their trickle-down theory and rare was it that any author could earn an actual living doing it their way. It’s unfortunate but ultimately it’s been a bad business model based on the way things were done a century ago, and things have sorta changed since then, right?!

4. What is your writing process (hrs/day, days/wk)?

Ugh, that’s a sensitive question right now. LOL. I’ve had SO much going on with my family and my kids schedules that writing has taken a back and it’s getting me anxious, as I realllly need to get my butt down and start writing again on a very regular basis. But when I do start writing I tend to just go full-throttle and write and write and write. Which is what I’m hoping I get back to now that my youngest graduated.

5. How do you write (crappy first draft then revise or revise as you go)? Why?

I revise as I go. I’m sort of like a cattle dog circling back to corral my keep, so I write and read and rework it and write and read. It might take longer to do it this way but when I type “the end” I have a pretty finished product. I guess I do it this way because I’m anal when it comes to what I’m writing. LOL. Perhaps it’s rooted in the journalistic background, and writing shorter pieces because of that, so it’s more natural to write that way when you’re writing 1500 word pieces.

6. Do you get writer’s block? If so, how do you handle it?

I had a year or two in which a LOT of stressful things happened and it sort of sucked my creativity dry. I just couldn’t expend energy in both directions (so naturally I wasted it in high stress mode rather than channeling it into writing, darn it!) I also find that the focus on marketing and publicity truly suck my writing away, so I’m moving away from bothering with that at all. I don’t think it really works much anyhow, so I’d rather focus on output.

7. What’s your favorite part of the writing process?

I love getting into the story and gaining steam and watching a skeleton notion start to take shape and gather flesh.

8. If you could go back in time and tell your younger self one thing you have since learned about the business of writing, what would you tell them (you)?

Don’t waste your time on marketing and publicity! (and maybe I’d say “Hey, in a few years Amazon will enable you to earn money as an author so just write those stories that editor rejected for some stupid fickle reason and eventually you’ll find your audience).

Fun Topics:

9. Wine, liquor or beer? What’s your favorite of the spirit you chose?

Champagne first. ;-) Red wine, for sure. Always love a cosmo, too!

10. What author(s) are on your automatic buy list?

That’s a good question. I think I sort of stopped automatically going back to an author after being frustrated too often wasting money on a follow-up book that just hadn’t met expectations. Now I always do the free sample chapters of books to be sure I want to buy it, and the interesting thing is I’m finding I’m buying way more books that way. Just not the ones that I think aren’t up to snuff.

11. What TV shows are you watching?

We LOVE So You Think You Can Dance, Mad Men, New Girl, Modern Family. I miss all the fabulous shows on HBO because we don’t subscribe to it. I figure I don’t have time for them anyhow. I like to watch Bachelorette just to mock it though I recently found myself actually enjoying parts of it (when they had the Muppets on it). I’m sure that was a freak accident!

12. Who is your celebrity crush and why?

Ooooh, will have to ponder that a bit. I don’t know if I have one! Though I wouldn’t turn George Clooney down…Even Matt Damon seems to get more handsome/sexy the older he gets. Girl crush? Hoda Kotb. She’s the co-host of the later in the morning Today Show. She’s so smart and funny and clever and rocks the best wardrobe ever. And that’s a job I used to always want!

I love that, Jenny. No one has ever given me their girl crush before. Mine is Zoe Saldana. Love her and think she’s gorgeous. {Tracey’s Note: Jenny, if we ever meet in person, I’ll tell you my Columbiana story. ;-) } You can find more info at her website: www.jennygardiner.net. Please check out Jenny’s latest, Slim to None, available NOW!!!

Abbie Jennings is Manhattan’s top food critic until her expanding waistline makes staying incognito at restaurants impossible. Her cover blown on Page Six of the New York Post, her editor has no choice but to bench her–and suggest she use the time of to bench-press her way back to anonymity. Abbie’s life has been built around her career, and therefore around celebrating food. Forced to drop the pounds if she wants her primo gig back, Abbie must peel back the layers of her past and confront the fears that have led to her current life.

Who thinks Jenny needs to give a speech about new models of publishing? {Tracey raises her hand.} Who is your celebrity girl crush? Tell us what you think and make sure you check back next week to see who’s hanging out at the T-Spot.

Filed Under: Interviews Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The T-Spot Welcomes Lucie Simone!

August 1, 2012 By 2 Comments

Grab your beverage of choice (Mimosas for me, of course!), roll up to or flip open a screen and let some talented writers talk to you about their writing process.

This week: Lucie Simone is in the spotlight!

Lucie is “a single girl living, working and dating in Hollywood.” She  has a degree in journalism and in television production and loves penning tales of “modern girls making a go at life and love in the big city.” Check out her stories and you’ll see Lucie is just “a nice girl who sometimes likes to be naughty.” So let me get out of the way and cede the stage, stool and microphone to Lucie:

1. Have you always written stories?

I’ve been telling stories since before I could even write my name. Apparently, I used to regale my family with wild tales of my three-year-old self’s adventures with my cats. Once I’d mastered cursive handwriting, there was no stopping me. But seriously, yes, I’ve always written. From short stories and (horrid) poetry in high school to screenplays in college to novels today.

2. When did you decide to write professionally?

In 2003, after graduating with a Master of Fine Arts in Television Production, I was unable to find a job in my field. So, I started writing about my own frustration with being over-educated and underemployed. After six long years, those scribblings turned into my debut novel, Hollywood Ending.

3. What made you decide to go the route you chose (eg. traditional, e-pub, indie)?

After finishing and polishing Hollywood Ending, I dutifully sent it out to loads of agents. One by one, they all rejected it, telling me that while I clearly wrote well, they couldn’t sell my book because, according to traditional publishing, Chick Lit was dead. After a year of hearing this, and knowing in my heart that Chick Lit was not dead and that my book did have an audience, I formed my own small press, Simon & Fig, and published it myself.

4. What is your writing process (hrs/day, days/wk)?

I write in stolen moments. Usually, in two hour bursts at a time. I generally write a chapter every 2 weeks, unless crazy life stuff gets in the way. With a goal of 2 chapters a month, you’ve got a finished book in a year. I wasn’t always this disciplined, however. While writing Hollywood Ending, I would go for months without working on it, sometimes abandoning it in favor of starting other stories. Finishing that book was a journey. I’m happy to say that I’ve since changed my ways!

5. How do you write (crappy first draft then revise or revise as you go)? Why?

My first novel was written on the fly, with nary a care for plot or structure. And when it was finished, it was a mess. It took me months and months to get it into shape. After that experience, I decided that I needed to have more than an idea before beginning to work on a book. Now, there’s a lot of “writing” going on before I even turn on the computer. I plot out the story, scene by scene. Prepare character studies. I even put together a scrapbook with pictures of my characters, their clothing, homes, and even the cars they drive ripped from magazines. That way, when I actually take a keyboard to begin writing, I already know everything from start to finish. So, by the time I start typing, the story just flows. And I give each chapter three passes. The first is the rough draft. The second is the stage where I add in the different layers and textures for each scene, making it more visceral. And the third pass is where I catch holes and typos. Then, after the entire book is finished, the whole thing gets three more passes.

6. Do you get writer’s block? If so, how do you handle it?

Unfortunately, yes. I sometimes suffer writer’s block. But I have found the cure! I am also a yoga teacher, and I’ve discovered that the practice of yoga is great for banishing both writer’s butt and writer’s block. I even teach a workshop called Yoga for Writers, and have started a blog of the same name to help bring the benefits of yoga to writers of every shape, size and level of fitness. you can check it out at www.yogaforwriters.wordpress.com.

7. What’s your favorite part of the writing process?

I love discovering new plot twists, new characters, new storylines when I’m writing. Even though I now plot everything out, there are still a lot of surprises that happen in the throes of writing a scene. For example, in my upcoming novel, Picture Perfect, a fabulous new character just showed up one day while I was working on a scene. I hadn’t planned on him at all, and there he was waiting for me. Turns out, he’s a hoot and I love whenever he enters a scene. Usually, it’s just as unexpectedly.

8. If you could go back in time and tell your younger self one thing you have since learned about the business of writing, what would you tell them (you)?

Be patient. Writing is a journey of self-discovery, and that doesn’t happen overnight. You have to keep writing, keep studying, keep reading. The more you do, the better you get. And eventually, you’ll find your voice and your audience.

Fun Topics:

9. Wine, liquor or beer? What’s your favorite of the spirit you chose?

Champagne! [Tracey's note: Me, too.  Mimosas!  Hellooo!]  I love fizzy, sparkling white wines, especially with some cranberry juice. I also enjoy a good martini now and then, but for me, there’s nothing better than a bit of the bubbly!

10. What author(s) are on your automatic buy list?

Marian Keyes is my absolute favorite author and I snap up her books like they hold the keys to life’s greatest mysteries. I also adore Liza Palmer and J.Courtney Sullivan, and a new favorite of mine is Dina Silver, whose debut novel, One Pink Line, swept me off my feet. She has definitely made it to my automatic buy list. I don’t even have to know what the story is about. I know it will be amazing.

11. What TV shows are you watching?

Presently, I am obsessed with Downton Abbey. Cannot get enough of it! I also love The Good Wife and am looking forward to Drop Dead Diva’s return this summer. I really love legal dramas with strong female leads and lots of scandal!

12. Who is your celebrity crush and why?

Johnny Depp all the way. I’ve been in love with him for over twenty years. Not only is he terribly handsome, he’s also extremely talented. What I love most about him is how he completely commits to a character, no matter how wacky (Willy Wonka) or wicked (Sweeney Todd). He’ll always have my heart.

So sweet, Lucie. :-) Thank you for your wonderful answers. You can find more info at her website: luciesimone.com and simonandfig.com. Please check out Lucie’s latest, Hollywood Ending, available NOW!!!

Hollywood Ending is a romantic comedy about life in Hollywood for the not-so-rich-and-famous. Trina Stewart is desperate to find a proper Hollywood job and finally quit teaching ESL, but after ten years in Tinsel Town, things are looking grim. That is, until she sets her sights on sexy new neighbor, Matiu Wulf, a New Zealander of Maori origin who is only in Los Angeles to get some scene design experience to beef up his resume, and then he’s headed back home to Auckland. He manages to thwart Trina’s advances, but when she falls under the spell of a toothy-grinned thespian, he’s desperate to win back her heart. But when Hollywood gets in the way, these two soon discover that life in Tinsel Town isn’t all red carpets, after parties and celebrity gossip. In fact, Hollywood can be a downright bitch!

 

How many of you believe that a little physical exercise can cure writer’s block? It’s a recurring theme here at the T-Spot. And who’s your celebrity crush? Are you jonesin’ for Johnny? Tell us what you think and make sure you check back next week to see who’s hanging out at the T-Spot.

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The T-Spot Welcomes Tracie Banister!

June 27, 2012 By Leave a Comment

                       

Grab your beverage of choice (Mimosas for me, of course!), roll up to or flip open a screen and let some talented writers talk to you about their writing process.

This week: Tracie Banister is in the spotlight!

An avid reader and writer, Tracie Banister has been scribbling stories since she was a child, most of them featuring feisty heroines with complicated love lives like her favorite fictional  protagonist Scarlett O’Hara.  Her Hollywood-themed Chick Lit novel, “Blame It on the Fame,” was released in January, 2012.  She blogs about books and other fun stuff at http://traciebanister.blogspot.com/ and her Twitter handle is @traciebanister.  So let me get out of the way and cede the stage, stool and microphone to Tracie:

1. Have you always written stories?

Always.  I spent most of my childhood and teen years sitting in front of a typewriter.  I wrote two plays in elementary school that were performed on stage (one was a holiday play that was set in pioneer times – think Little House on the Prairie, and the other was a riff on a Charlie’s Angels episode.)  In junior high, I cranked out multi-part stories that I would share with my friends each morning before class.  I got into writing essays and literary analyses in high school (I received an award nomination for one of the latter) and I started my first novel in my early twenties. 

2. When did you decide to write professionally?
I always toyed with the idea, but I didn’t have the guts to declare, ”I want to be published!” until about 8 years ago.  It’s been full-steam ahead ever since! 
3. What made you decide to go the route you chose (eg. traditional, e-pub, indie)?

I spent years trying to go the traditional route.  I was repped by a top NYC literary agent on my first novel, but publishers weren’t willing to take a chance on a new writer of humorous women’s fiction (this was about the time that Chick Lit was declared “dead.”)  I didn’t give up.  I submitted queries on books two and three to agents and editors and got nothing but the highest praise from them, but they all said they couldn’t sell my work because there was no market for Chick Lit anymore.  I was actually told on several occasions to switch genres because I was wasting my talent on Chick Lit.  Fortunately, by this time, the digital revolution had hit the publishing world and I was able to skip the middle men, publish BLAME IT ON THE FAME myself, and get the book into readers’ hands.  I can now state with confidence that there is indeed an audience for Chick Lit and these readers are more than happy to embrace new writers.

4. What is your writing process (hrs/day, days/wk)?

I’m a morning person.  That is when I am at my best creatively, so I work for a few hours after breakfast, take a break for lunch and some exercise, then work several more hours in the afternoon.  I wrap up my work day by 4:30.  I never write in the evening because my brain just isn’t functional after dinner.  Also, I’m a Monday-Friday writer.  If I work at all on the weekends, it’s to do promo stuff (interviews, blog posts, etc.)

5. How do you write (crappy first draft then revise or revise as you go)?
I am a very slow and methodical writer who edits as I go.  I have been known to angst over a paragraph for hours.  Until it’s right, I cannot move on.  I envy those writers who are able to write in a stream-of-consciousness fashion, churning out chapters at a time.  That’s just not me.  The good news is that my first draft is pretty much my final draft.  I will go back through and do a very thorough job of proofreading for errors, but I’ve never had to totally rewrite anything.
6. Do you get writer’s block?  If so, how do you handle it?
I wouldn’t say that I’ve ever experienced true writer’s block where I found myself unable to write at all.  I do get stuck sometimes when things don’t come out as perfectly on the page as they are in my head.  When that happens, I will just leave that troublesome scene/chapter and do something else (even if it’s just writing an e-mail to a friend, that will usually be enough to distract me so that my mind will stop fretting and be able to solve the writing problem.)  I, also, find the answers to a lot of writing puzzles when I’m on the treadmill or in the shower.  Don’t ask me why, but it works!
7. What’s your favorite part of the writing process?
I love writing character profiles before I begin work on a new project.  I do that by hand on a yellow legal pad.  I will write pages and pages of notes about my characters, including physical description, career, friends, family, romantic histories, education, life goals, personality traits, etc.  Half of that stuff will never end up in the book, but it informs how I write the characters and helps me to understand them and their motivations. 
8. If you could go back in time and tell your younger self one thing you have since learned about the business of writing, what would you tell them (you)?
Don’t take rejection personally.  90% of the time it has absolutely nothing to do with your work. 

Fun Topics:
9. Wine, liquor or beer?  What’s your favorite of the spirit you chose?

I’m incredibly dull because I’m a teetotaler.  I do have a serious addiction to Diet Caffeine Free Coke, though!

10. What author(s) are on your automatic buy list?
Lauren Willig, Gail Carriger, Sophie Kinsella, Darynda Jones, Elizabeth Peters – Yes, I am very eclectic in my reading tastes!
11. What TV shows are you watching?
I watch a lot of TV (I think it’s good research for a writer), so it would take me forever to list everything on my viewing schedule.  So, I’ll just give you my top ten in no particular order:  Dancing With the Stars, Game of Thrones, True Blood, Once Upon a Time, Bones, Top Chef, The Big Bang Theory, Castle, Hart of Dixie, and Parks and Recreation.
12. Who is your celebrity crush and why?

Just one?  I have a whole harem of celebrity crushes!  Okay, I’m going to narrow it down to two who I think are sexy because they’re so incredibly talented – Robert Downey, Jr. and Johnny Depp.

Thank you, Tracie, for your wonderful answers. We have so much in common, it’s scary, not to mention the name thing. Have we reached out to one another through the time-space continuum? No? Hmmm…
Please check out Tracie’s latest:

Blame It on the Fame- Available Now!!  Amazon

A power-trippin’ bitch, a has-been, a skanky ex-model, a press-shy indie queen, and a British stage actress no one knows – that’s how the Best Actress hopefuls in this year’s too-close-to-call Oscar race cattily describe each other. Which of them will win the much-coveted gold statue and what price will they be forced to pay as they travel the red carpeted-path to Hollywood glory? Amidst all the press-schmoozing and angsting over which designer gown to wear, these Oscar contenders feud, commiserate, and face a succession of personal crises – scandalous secrets come to light, marriages implode, accidents land two nominees in the hospital while another receives news that could derail her career, all culminating on Tinsel Town’s biggest night when anything can happen, and does.

What do you think of Tracie’s top 10 tv shows? Who’s your celebrity crush?  your favorite part of the writing process?  Tell us what you think and make sure you check back next week to see who’s hanging out at the T-Spot.
Filed Under: Interviews Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The T-Spot Welcomes Lisa Scott!

June 20, 2012 By Leave a Comment

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Grab your beverage of choice (Mimosas for me, of course!), roll up to or flip open a screen and let some talented writers talk to you about their writing process.

This week: Lisa Scott is in the spotlight!

Lisa Scott writes contemporary romantic comedy with a little sass! A former TV news anchor who now enjoys making up stories for a living instead of sticking to the facts, she lives in upstate NY and also works as a voice actor.  She loves chocolate, hates sushi, and spends much of her time gardening.  (But truth be told, she can’t keep an indoor plant alive to save her life.  You don’t want to know how many orchids have perished at her hands.) So let me get out of the way and cede the stage, stool and microphone to Lisa:

1. Have you always written stories?

Since my very first creative writing assignment in second grade when I penned a few paragraphs about a group of clever elves. I’ve always known I wanted to be a writer someday.  Someday is now!

2. When did you decide to write professionally?

I pursed a career in TV news right out of college, but knew I’d try to write fiction professionally one day.  Once my kids got older, I started writing with the intent of publication in 2007.  Losing my job in 2008 increased the pressure a bit. :)
3. What made you decide to go the route you chose (eg. traditional, e-pub, indie)?

I was all set to go total indie last year, but several things happened at once: a final query I’d sent out resulted in me signing with an agent for my middle grade work; a romance novel I had loaded and ready to go on amazon got a full request from a publisher.

While I was waiting word on those manuscripts, I decided to write a collection of romantic short stories.  (I’d written dozens for several magazines the past few years.) That’s how the Flirts! collections were born.  Readers love the way the stories connect and characters pop up in other stories. So far, I’ve published Flirts!, Beach Flirts!, Holiday Flirts!, Fairy Tale Flirts!, and Wedding Flirts! came out May 23. Each collection has five sweet, funny romantic shorts, 9,000-12,000 words in length.

On the traditional end, my first romance novel, No Foolin, will be released by Bell Bridge Books in Nov. 2012.  My debut middle grade novel, Tomboy Beauty Queen, will be released by HarperCollins in Winter 2014.

4. What is your writing process (hrs/day, days/wk)?

I also work as a voice actor, so I have to balance writing with that work.  Some days I write more than others, usually when the kids are in school or in bed.  It’s nice to take a break from writing to do voice work and vice versa.  Ideally, I like to squeeze in 10,000 words a week.

5. How do you write (crappy first draft then revise or revise as you go)?

I write a crappy first draft and then go back and revise, otherwise I’d tinker with each sentence too much and never finish.  However, I need to perfect the first few pages, so that when I’m stuck writing the middle convinced it’s my worst work yet, I can go back and re-read the beginning and remind myself it doesn’t actually suck.

6. Do you get writer’s block?  If so, how do you handle it?

Oh yes, usually when I’m juggling too many projects.  Taking a walk really helps me break through and come up with new ideas, or solve the problem I’ve been toiling with.

7. What’s your favorite part of the writing process?

Once the first draft is done, I love polishing it up.  I usually have a lot of place markers, like (write something funny here!) Tracey’s note: I do that, too! :-) So that’s when I get to spend half an hour pondering a few sentences that hopefully shine in the final manuscript.

8. If you could go back in time and tell your younger self one thing you have since learned about the
business of writing, what would you tell them (you)?

Don’t take the rejection so personally.  Not everybody is going to love what you’ve written. It doesn’t mean your writing isn’t good. If you believe in it and think it’s good, keep at it.

Fun Topics:
9. Wine, liquor or beer?  What’s your favorite of the spirit you chose?

I’m a lightweight and hardly ever drink.  But when I do, it’s not Dos Equis.  Or any beer.  It’s probably a fun fruity drink that matches my outfit. :)

10. What author(s) are on your automatic buy list?

Jill Mansell. Diana Gabaldon. Deborah Smith.

11. What TV shows are you watching?

My daughter and I love Cupcake Wars.  I’m hanging in there with Glee, but not enjoying it as much as I once did.  I love Raising Hope and New Girl.  And you’ll catch me watching the occasional spooky ghost hunter show or Ancient Aliens on the History Channel.

12. Who is your celebrity crush and why?

I’m not really one to flip through People and ogle man candy, but if I weren’t married, George Clooney would be welcome to stop by.  Besides the handsome factor, I’d like to see how much of a prankster he really is.

Thank you, Lisa, for your great answers.  You can find more info at her website: readlisascott.com.  Please check out Lisa’s latest:
Wedding Flirts! 5 Romantic Short Stories, available NOW!!!

Product Details

These are sweet, funny, sassy shorts that stand alone, but also link together and tie up in a fab happy ending.  Also available: Flirts!, Beach Flirts!, Holiday Flirts! and Fairy Tale Flirts!  Readers have been enjoying these stories on lunch breaks and during kids practices.

 

 

 

 

 

How many of you believe that a little physical exercise can cure writer’s block? It’s a recurring theme here at the T-Spot. And if you’re not watching Cupcake Wars, you need to tune into the Food Network immediately. It’s fun, entertaining and you’ll be running to your nearest cupcake bakery.

Tell us what you think and make sure you check back next week to see who’s hanging out at the T-Spot.

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The T-Spot Welcomes Lauren Clark!

May 23, 2012 By 2 Comments

                     

Grab your beverage of choice (Mimosas for me, of course!), roll up to or flip open a screen and let some talented writers talk to you about their writing process.

This week: Lauren Clark is in the spotlight!

Lauren Clark writes contemporary novels set in the Deep South.  Her stories are sprinkled with sunshine, suspense, and secrets. A former TV news anchor, Lauren adores flavored coffee, local book stores, and anywhere she can stick her toes in the sand. Her big loves are her family, paying it forward, and true-blue friends. So let me get out of the way and cede the stage, stool and microphone to Lauren:

1. Have you always written stories?

Not always, but I’ve always LOVED stories! I grew up reading everything I could and spending countless hours in the local library, as my parents were very strict with TV time (none in the summer!). My children (both boys) prefer that I tell them stories at night…mostly about dragons, ninjas, and samurai warriors  :)

2. When did you decide to write professionally?
I began the process nine or ten years ago. I’d written a terrible novel and hired a freelance editor to help work through the editing process. She taught me so much (although that first story will NEVER be published). She also helped with my second story. It took the third novel attempt to really figure out the process. I learn new things and try to improve my skills with every novel that I write!
3. What made you decide to go the route you chose (eg. traditional, e-pub, indie)?

I had some interest from a few agents for Stay Tuned, but no offers for representation. Later, a small publisher approached me about taking on the novel, but they were so new that they didn’t have a marketing or distribution plan together. After discussing it with a friend of mine who is a writer and a lawyer, we decided it was best if I self-published.

4. What is your writing process (hrs/day, days/wk)?

I do my best work in the morning and usually have to leave the house to get any serious writing done. When I’m getting my first draft of a book down, I usually spend 2-4 hours at the local library in a study room. I have to shut off my cell phone, I don’t have access to the internet, and there’s no one ringing the front doorbell! No interruptions means I get twice as much work done. :)   When I am writing my first draft or revising, I generally work five days a week. My kids complain if I do too much on the weekends!

5. How do you write (crappy first draft then revise or revise as you go)?

Outline, which consists of at least a sentence or two for every chapter. Then, crappy first draft. Next, I have a few close friends and my mom read the manuscript. After that, I work with my editor/publicist on any trouble spots, talk through ideas, and then I tackle the revisions. The revisions generally take about two rounds.

6. Do you get writer’s block?  If so, how do you handle it?

Not so far. I panic about not having enough time to get through my list of story ‘ideas.’ I have a file on my laptop that I add to every so often when something strikes me as unusual or interesting.

7. What’s your favorite part of the writing process?

I think it’s getting down that first draft, when everything is new and exciting and the possibilities seem endless! Even with an outline, characters can sometimes surprise you and the plot can twist and turn in unexpected ways.

8. If you could go back in time and tell your younger self one thing you have since learned about the

business of writing, what would you tell them (you)?

Start now! I wish I’d gone to school for my MFA (instead of my MA in journalism) and gotten serious about the business of writing novels much sooner. It takes a lot of tenacity–you have to WANT to get 85,000 words down–there are so many other exciting distractions, but no one can do the work for you!

Fun Topics:
9. Wine, liquor or beer?  What’s your favorite of the spirit you chose?

Wine. I love Steele Wines’ Writer’s Block Syrah

10. What author(s) are on your automatic buy list?

Sophie Kinsella, Emily Giffin, Jodi Picoult

11. What TV shows are you watching?

Love Hart of Dixie, The Big Bang Theory, Revenge, and Criminal Minds.

11. Who is your celebrity crush and why?

I do adore Daniel Craig … he was a great James Bond, but I thought he did a wonderful job as Mikael Blomkvist in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. He’s smart, sexy, and talented.

Thank you, Lauren, for your wonderful answers.  This is not the first time Big Bang Theory has shown up as a favorite show.  You can find more info at her website: www.laurenclarkbooks.com.  Please check out Lauren’s latest:
Dancing Naked in Dixie, available NOW!!!
Travel writer Julia Sullivan lives life in fast-forward. She jet sets to Europe and the Caribbean with barely a moment to blink or sleep. But too many mishaps and missed deadlines have Julia on the verge of being fired.

With a stern warning, and unemployment looming, she’s offered one last chance to rescue her career. Julia embarks on an unlikely journey to the ‘Heart of Dixie’—Eufaula, Alabama—home to magnificent mansions, sweet tea, and the annual Pilgrimage.

Julia arrives, soon charmed by the lovely city and her handsome host, but her stay is marred by a shocking discovery. Can Julia’s story save her career, Eufaula, and the annual Pilgrimage?

Get Dixie:

Dancing Naked in Dixie for Kindle

Dancing Naked in Paperback

Dancing Naked for Nook

Lauren Clark Books Website

Twitter Lauren Clark

Facebook Lauren Clark

If you could go back in time and tell your younger self one thing you have since learned about writing, what would you tell them (you)? Do you believe in writer’s block? Tell us what you think and make sure you check back next week to see who’s hanging out at the T-Spot.
Filed Under: Interviews, Uncategorized Tagged With: , , , , , , ,
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