Terescia's thoughts and such.

So, it’s time for an interview with a first-time author, and who better to choose than my first-time writer friend, Heather Reed.

TERESCIA: You’re a soon-to-be published author, and I know that because you’re also my closest friend. I doubt I can be objective where my friend, business partner (WWR), and critique partner is concerned. Ah, well. We’ll pretend.

Anyway, I know you recently went through your first revisions for an editor. Was it as scary as you imagined it would be to make changes to your book based on someone else’s wishes?

HEATHER: Scary really doesn’t describe what it was like. At first, I looked at the revision letter and thought, “How am I going to change that?” But by the end of the revisions I couldn’t have been happier. All of the changes made the story stronger and I learned a lot about myself and my writing abilities.

Of course, it also helped that the editor I worked with at the time was really great. She answered all my questions and helped me work through whether or not some of the changes really needed to be made. All in all when the process was over I was pleased with the end result.

TERESCIA: Did you have trouble giving over control?

HEATHER: I won’t lie. Read the rest of this entry »

Ah, Dianne Castell, writer of Harlequin American and Kensington Brava books, and a truly lovely person! She was kind enough to let me pick her brain about writing, so please, if you enjoy the interview, let us know.

TERESCIA: I love to talk about writing. And there’s nothing like talking about writing and writing about writing to keep one from actually having to write, because writing is very hard work.

On that note, I’d like to ask what keeps you writing.

DIANNE: The stories. Most writers I know would write if they got paid or not. We have these stories running around in our heads and there’s no satisfaction until you tell it.

TERESCIA: What truly motivates you to write fiction?

DIANNE: Too much reality in the world already. Sometimes I think how can the world go on? Sooo, I write and read for fun. I need an escape once in a while. Turn off the news and stop reading the paper and pick up a fun book.

Read the rest of this entry »

I spent some time with Kate Walker recently, asking her lots of writerly questions for this interview. She was kind enough to answer each thoroughly, so don’t pass up this opportunity to learn from such a gifted and productive author. :-)

TERESCIA: You’ve written a book for writers called Kate Walker’s 12 Point Guide to Writing Romance. I haven’t read it but I know you know what you’re talking about because you’ve written over 40 books for Harlequin.

What led you to write this book? Did you see a need for this kind of book, or did you just have a need to write down some of the knowledge and experience you’ve gained as you’ve written all those books?

KATE: Well, Terescia, that total of books for Harlequin Presents is now over 45 – so I hope I do know what I’m talking about by now. :) In the 20+ years I’ve been published, I’ve talked to a lot of writers – and a lot more people who want to be writers. I’ve also held many workshops, done talks, spoken at conferences etc. And what I’ve learned is that there are some questions about writing romance that just keep coming back and back. Questions that get asked each time I do a workshop.

Read the rest of this entry »

Oh, I love Holly Jacobs! Her books are funny, and she’s someone anyone would love to know. You can’t help but like her.

She’s also a very organized writer, one whom I’ve been lucky enough to meet at a writer’s conference on more than one occasion.

I thought her writing tales would be great fodder for an interview, so she’s my first test subj–interviewee, I mean. Ahem.

Okay, here goes. Oh, and her answers are in italic at the end for the fast facts!

Read the rest of this entry »

So, I got up one day and decided I was going to begin posting some interviews with authors about their writing habits to my blog.

I immediately went to my list of author friends who might want to help me out by giving me an interview and dashed off an email.

That was the day before my surgery, so now, a month and a half later, I’m finally going to get them onto my blog.

I don’t know why, but I always like to start projects right before I can’t work on it. ;-) It’s a character flaw, I’m sure.