Meet Screenwriter/Author Kim Headlee (and read about other output of the maze of twisty passages (all different) otherwise known as her brain.)

I always enjoy hosting Kim, talking with her about various topics (she's a computer whiz-bang) and reading her books. Kim is my guest this week. Entertaining as always!

I read SNOW IN JULY and reviewed it on Amazon

If you don't already know Kim, here's a bit about her:

I live on a farm in southwestern Virginia with my family, cats, goats, Great Pyrenees goat guards, and assorted wildlife. People & creatures come and go, but the cave and the 250-year-old house ruins -- the latter having been occupied as recently as the mid-20th century -- seem to be sticking around for a while yet.
I am a Seattle native (when I used to live in the Metro DC area, I loved telling people I was from "the other Washington") and a direct descendent of 20th century Russian nobility. My paternal grandmother was a childhood friend of the doomed Grand Duchess Anastasia, and the romantic yet tragic story of how Lydia escaped Communist Russia with the aid of her American husband will most certainly one day fuel one of my novels. Another novel in the queue will involve my husband's ancestor, the 7th-century proto-Viking king of the Swedish colony in Russia.
For the time being, however, I have plenty of work to do in creating my projected 8-book Arthurian series, The Dragon's Dove Chronicles.

Kim's latest is Science Fiction/Fantasy Time Travel Romance
KING ARTHUR'S SISTER IN WASHINGTON'S COURT
 (it has its own Twitter hash tag, #KASIWC)

Read about KASIWC and an excerpt of the screenplay:

Morgan le Fay, 6th-century Queen of Gore and the only major character not killed off by Mark Twain in A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court, vows revenge upon the Yankee Hank Morgan. She casts a spell to take her to 1879 Connecticut so she may waylay Sir Boss before he can travel back in time to destroy her world. But the spell misses by 300 miles and 200 years, landing her in the Washington, D.C., of 2079, replete with flying limousines, hovering office buildings, virtual-reality television, and sundry other technological marvels.

Whatever is a time-displaced queen of magic and minions to do? Why, rebuild her kingdom, of course—two kingdoms, in fact: as Campaign Boss for the reelection of American President Malory Beckham Hinton, and as owner of the London Knights world-champion baseball franchise.

 

Written as though by the old master himself, King Arthur’s Sister in Washington’s Court by Mark Twain as channeled by Kim Iverson Headlee offers laughs, love, and a candid look at American society, popular culture, politics, baseball...and the human heart.

 

BUY LINKS

Amazon Kindle:
US | UK | CA | AU | BR | DE | ES | FR | IN | IT | NL | JP | MX

EPUB format for:
Nook | iPad/iPhone | Kobo | Smashwords

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:
Bee Zee Books | BookBzz | BooksGoSocial | Goodreads |
Character interview of Queen Morgan on Love My Kindle

 

 

SCREENPLAY EXCERPT

Adapted from Chapter XI: The Queen in Search of a Baseball Club
King Arthur’s Sister in Washington’s Court
by Mark Twain
as channeled by Kim Iverson Headlee

INT. QUEEN MORGAN’S DC APARTMENT - DAY
(January, 2081)
Juxtaposition of shiny modern penthouse apartment in Rosslyn,
Virginia (featuring outstanding view across Potomac of
monuments, museums & Capitol) with trappings similar to those
inside Queen Morgan’s ancient castle. Queen Morgan packs for
relocation to London. Clarice works at her laptop. Luggage
everywhere, various types & sizes, in various stages of fill.
QUEEN MORGAN
It does so satisfy my soul to own
some Knights once again.

CLARICE
Care to share how much it cost?

QUEEN MORGAN
Evil wench! Have you not enough
work searching for another man I
might hire as general manager? The
team trustees hired the last one,
and I do not trust them to avoid
making another mistake. The MLB
will release the sale details soon
enough. Let us say it was a
mountain of treasure.

Queen Morgan holds up an exquisite form-flattering scarlet
gown, trimmed in black.

CLARICE
Knights’ colors; of course that one
must go with you.

Queen Morgan places gown in suitcase.

QUEEN MORGAN
I shall miss you, Clarice. Yet you
shall oversee my DC office well.
I have seen it.

CLARICE
I’ll look out for the President for
you, I promise.

QUEEN MORGAN
I appreciate that. President Malory
has become as a sister to me...

Queen Morgan holds up another dress, a sexy little black one.

CLARICE
Please tell me about him.

QUEEN MORGAN
Excuse me?

CLARICE
I think about someone now and then,
too-- David, the man who didn’t
return from the mission to extract
your brother. He never knew how I
felt about him.

QUEEN MORGAN
The monk you mentioned the day we
met... I am sorry. My lover’s name
is-- was Sir Accolon.

Queen Morgan paces, drawing the dress through her fingers.

QUEEN MORGAN (CONT’D)
Sir Launcelot and Sir Gawaine-- and
King Arthur-- were the only knights
ever to best him in single combat.
Accolon was big and strong, yet as
a lover he was as tender as any
virgin maid could ever wish. His
intellect rivaled mine, as did his
eagerness to help right the wrongs
Arthur inflicted upon me.

Queen Morgan presses dress over her heart and keeps pacing.

QUEEN MORGAN (CONT’D)
Accolon’s hair was as glossy-black
as a raven's wing, and he kept it
short-cropped in the old Roman style.
It had a most endearing curl. His
eyes were a fathomless shade of
blue...

She halts in front of her monitor, tuned to a video montage
of SANDY CARTER, 40s, a baseball player/scout/coach/manager.

QUEEN MORGAN (CONT’D)
Lord God and all His angels in
Heaven! Who is that? And if you say
Accolon, I shall blast you into
next week.

CLARICE
And make it stick. Yes, ma’am.
(facing monitor)
Alexander Leroy “Sandy” Carter,
second baseman and 2057 World
Series MVP for the Yankees. He
retired his glove in '65 and spent
the next several years as a Yankee
scout and coach. The Red Sox hired
him as a triple-A manager in '72.

Clarice directs full attention toward Queen Morgan.

CLARICE (CONT’D)
He’s managing their big club now.

QUEEN MORGAN
If this man is so valuable, why did
Ira Desmorel let him go, and to
none other than the Yankees’ most
ancient and hated of rivals? Or was
the move Mr. Carter’s idea?

Video clip shows Sandy getting into a dugout brawl with a
fellow YANKEE COACH. Clip rolls, showing more fights,
including boardrooms and bars, during dialog.

CLARICE
His points are valid. He just
doesn’t bother to curb his temper.

QUEEN MORGAN
So it was with Accolon...
(appreciative whistle)
Even today Alexander Carter has a--
how do you say it in this century?
Nice abs?

CLARICE
(grins)
Those, too.

QUEEN MORGAN
But he is not available.

CLARICE
For the right price, Queen Morgan,
anyone is.

QUEEN MORGAN
Of course. That never changes.

Queen Morgan twitches her hand to don the sexy black dress.
She touches a computer key to open a chat window, and she
strikes a sultry pose. Connection opens to show Sandy in his
Boston Red Sox office.

SANDY (V.O.)
Carter. May I help--

QUEEN MORGAN
Me? Why, yes, Mr. Carter. Indeed
you may. In ever so many ways.  

Contact Kim:

 

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Visit Diana here

 

 

 

 
 

Meet Christy Effinger and Read About her Haunting Paranormal New Adult Novel, SAY NOTHING OF WHAT YOU SEE

Christy Effinger is my guest...she's also an author at The Wild Rose Press. Read about Christy, her writing process, what makes her happy and take a peek at SAY NOTHING OF WHAT YOU SEE. Christy’s poetry, fiction, and essays have appeared in various print and online publications. She lives near Indianapolis.

About SAY NOTHING OF WHAT YOU SEE:

When her aunt steps off a grain elevator into the emptiness of a prairie evening, Mira Piper loses her one protector. Chloe, her flighty mother, impulsively drags her daughter to Bramblewood, an isolated spiritualist retreat in northern Michigan, run by the enigmatic Dr. Virgil Simon.  

Chloe plans to train as a medium but it's Mira who discovers she can communicate with the dead. When her mother abandons her, Mira discovers a darker aspect to Bramblewood: the seemingly kind doctor has a sinister side and a strange control over his students.  

Then one winter's day Troy Farrington arrives, to fulfill his mother's dying wish and deliver her letter to the doctor. But calamity strikes and he finds himself a captive, tended by a sympathetic Mira. Haunted by her dead aunt and desperate to escape Bramblewood, Mira makes a devil's deal with Dr. Simon. But fulfillment comes with a steep cost...betrayal.

 

 

Excerpt:

“You are absolutely stunning, Mira.” 

 

I stole another glance in the mirror. The material was a rich, shimmery gold that fell from my shoulders in folds of liquid light. It looked like something a Greek goddess might wear. Oh, how I wished the girls from Amberville High School could see me in this dress!  

“When you came here,” said Dr. Simon, “I had a vision of you like this. I looked at the girl before me, but I saw the woman you are now.”  

“Thank you,” I murmured, gesturing toward the piles of clothes on my bed. “You’ve been so generous. I know you’ve spent a good deal of money on me—”  

“Money means nothing,” he interrupted abruptly. “I have more than I could ever spend, more than I know what to do with. Don’t consider the cost.”  

His tone was brusque, and I wondered if I had offended him.

But the next moment Dr. Simon smiled. “I think of you as my charity case. You were like a doll thrown out in the garbage. I simply rescued you from the trash, cleaned you up, and dressed you in something decent. But the beauty was present all along.” He touched my cheek. “Here.” Then he touched my forehead. “Here.” Then he touched my chest. “And here.”  

I knew he was referring to my heart, but even so, his hand on my chest made my face warm with discomfort.  

“You blush so easily,” he laughed. “You’ll never be able hide anything, Mira, with such a transparent face.”  

“That’s all right,” I said, taking a small step back. “I don’t have anything to hide.”

 

* * * * * * * *

 

ABOUT CHRISTY

 

 

You, the Author

If you have 2 hours free time tonight, what would you rather do? Why?          

          Open up a bottle of wine with my husband by the fire.     

 What kind of books do you love to read? Why?          

          I enjoy reading a wide range of books, from literary classics and poetry to commercial fiction and narrative nonfiction. 

What type of music do you enjoy relaxing to?      

     Depending on my mood, I might listen to Loreena McKennitt, Florence + the Machine, or downtempo electronica.

What is your stress buster?     

     You mean besides wine? Just kidding. I try to exercise several times a week, but what really helps me chill out is a nice long walk outside. Oh, and a bubble bath.

What makes you happy?    

     Lots of things. My husband and my daughter. Writing. A breezy summer day. Coffee. A good book. Friends. Crossing something off my to-do list. Wine.       

 Your Writing

When did you write your first book? How long did it take you to write it?      

     I wrote Say Nothing of What You See several years ago while my husband was in grad school. At night he would go to MBA classes or do homework and I would write. It took me a year to write the book and another six months to revise. Back then I was teaching English fulltime at a community college, so progress was slow.

How did you feel when you received your first contract? What did you do? Any celebratory dinner, dance, event, etc to commemorate the occasion?  

      Signing my first publishing contract was surreal. I had worked so hard for so long and faced so much rejection that it was a relief to know my book would finally be in print. Unfortunately I couldn’t drink a glass of champagne to celebrate because I was pregnant at the time! But don’t worry, I got my champagne when the book was released. 

Where and when do you write? Tell us about your favorite work place and time. Any special reason?  

     I write whenever I can during the day, which means when my baby is asleep or playing contentedly nearby. I write in my home office or in the living room.  

What books can you recommend to aspiring writers to improve on style, character development, plot, structure, dialogue, etc? 

     My favorite book on creative writing is Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott. I highly recommend it to any aspiring writer.  

What is your advice to aspiring writers? 

Dream, work, believe. Be kind to yourself and to other writers. Most of us are doing the best we can, and all of us have faced repeated rejection. It’s a hard road, but the journey is easier with friends.    

 

Your Books

Do you outline your books or wing it?  Describe your process.  

I always have an outline in mind, but I’ve learned to be flexible. Sometimes a character might take the story in a direction I hadn’t anticipated.  

Some writers edit excessively as they write; others wait until a novel is finished to do the bulk of editing.  How about you?

I fall into the first category. That’s why it takes me so long to complete the “first draft,” which is actually several drafts by the time I reach the end.  

E-books, print, or both?  Any preferences?  Why? 

Both. A Kindle is great for traveling and for downloading old classics in the public domain that are available for free, but I still prefer the tactile experience of reading a print book.  

Please tell us your experiences with social media.  What are your favorite and least favorite parts of it?

On the one hand, I enjoy connecting with writers and readers online. On the other hand, social media can suck up a lot of time. It’s hard to juggle an online presence with writing and of course “real life.” I do enjoy Twitter, Tumblr, and Pinterest, although I’m not as active as I should be. I’m not a huge Facebook fan, but an author page is pretty much expected these days.     

What else have you written already? 

I wrote the requisite “practice novel” that is collecting dust in the closet. I’ve also written short stories, poems, and essays. Some of these pieces have been published in print and online.  

What do you keep on your desk? 

Aside from the usual mundane office supplies, there’s a photo I find inspirational. It’s a picture of a dark stone room lit by a cluster of candles on the floor. The candlelight illuminates a mysterious doorway. For me, it’s a metaphor for writing. When I sit down at my desk, I walk through that door.    

What books are on your nightstand or by your chair? 

Smolder on a Slow Burn by Lynda J. Cox (from The Wild Rose Press). A bit of trivia: Lynda and I went to grad school together, and I discovered TWRP when she had her first novel published there.  

What’s your favorite film of all time?   

My favorite film is Casablanca. It has romance, drama, heartbreak, and heroism, set during dangerous times in the coolest bar to ever exist on screen. And it has so many terrific lines.

 

 

Purchase SAY NOTHING OF WHAT YOU SEE:

The Wild Rose Press

Amazon

B&N.com

 

Contact Christy:

 

 

Website

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Twitter

Goodreads

 

Google+

Pinterest

 

 

 

 

 

 

#8 on Amazon's Fantasy List! In honor of Lincoln's birthday today, my paranormal romance A NECESSARY END is FREE for Kindle

In honor of Lincoln's birthday today, my paranormal romance A NECESSARY END is FREE for Kindle today. http://amzn.to/1ETs1PL

When actor John Wilkes Booth, under the guise of seeking spiritual advice, visits the President's medium to gather information about Lincoln's habits in order to kidnap him, a malevolent spirit begins to haunt and torment him, driving him to the brink of insanity. A mysterious coin also appears out of nowhere, and returns every time Booth tries to discard it. Each return of the bloodthirsty Roman coin brings increasingly terrifying events and eerie hauntings.

In the midst of these strange visitations, Booth falls in love with Alice Grey, a beautiful actress who's hired by the government to spy on him. She’s torn between her love for Booth and her duty to protect the President from assassination.

THE JEWELS OF WARWICK on sale for .99 to celebrate February's birthstone

Amethyst is February's birthstone. The Jewels of Warwick is on Kindle for .99 in honor of the heroine, Amethyst Plantagenet. http://amzn.to/1zWxUKE

When It's Cold Out, Read a Sizzling Romance...by Sydney St. Claire

Caution: Content is "R" Rated.

Sydney's latest red-hot romance from The Wild Rose Press is SNOW & HER HUNTSMAN from the Once Upon a Dream series.

Sydney St. Claire is the pseudonym of Susan Edwards, author of 14 Historical Native American/Western/Paranormal romances and the author of the popular “White” Series.

Sydney loves writing and sharing stories of love, happiness and dreams come true with her readers. She credits her mother for her writing success.  Encouraged to read as a child, she always preferred happy endings which meant romances were her favorite genre.  Sydney takes her readers into the world of erotica romance where her characters come together in explosive passion as they solve life’s problems and find true love along with the best sex our hero and heroine have ever experienced.

Sydney’s office is quite crowded with three dogs at her feet and five cats to keep her company while she writes. Three cats always insist on beds on her desk, barely leaving enough room for her monitor and keyboard. Life gets fun when all five insist on supervising…

When not writing, she enjoys crafts of all sorts including quilting, sewing, cross-stitch and knitting. She and her husband of 30 + years are avid gardeners. He takes care of the veggies, and Susan is in charge of the ‘pretties’. Her medicine wheel garden is in a contact state of war: flowers vs. weeds. Sadly, right now the weeds are wining…

While writing, she listens to a wide variety of music. Her current favorites are Blackmore’s Night and David Lanz.

About SNOW & HER HUNTSMAN:

Rylee Kincaid’s business is about to go under. Lucky for her, she’s found an investor. Ready to sign papers, she learns her knight in shining armor is Hunter Finnegan, the man who once gave her multiple orgasms that crushed her young, tender heart. Her world comes crashing down as it becomes clear the rich businessman intends a hostile takeover and to cast her out. Then he agrees to discuss a new deal, but only if Rylee will play Snow to his Huntsman at a BDSM fairy tale event.

Hunter has never forgotten the weekend of kinky sex he shared with Rylee in college. Unfortunately, he had to let her go to keep peace in his family. Now he’s back to claim the only woman he’s ever loved. He’ll stop at nothing to make the black-haired, fair-skinned beauty hear the truth of what happened so long ago, even if he has to tie her up. And that’s exactly what he does. But as the Huntsman reawakens the submissive in Snow, Hunter isn’t so sure he can do the same to Rylee’s heart.

 

 

See the trailer

Excerpt  (PG13)

Rylee couldn’t believe what she’d done. She’d totally lost control, something she’d never done with another man but Hunter. Sex between her and her husband had never come close to the heat level between her and Hunter. Her hands dropped from his shoulders to his chest. Palms flat, she wasn’t sure if she wanted to push him away or bunch her fingers in his shirt and draw him even closer. God, what must he think of her? One kiss, and she’d gone up in flames, like a desperate and hungry woman.

Which was true. But to show it and behave in such a manner horrified her. “I…” She didn’t know what to say.

Hunter stepped away, she assumed to give her time to adjust her clothing. He picked up the invitation from the gray carpet. “My limo will pick you up at two on Thursday.”

“Thursday?” Damn, her mind and body felt as though she were swimming through a thick gel.

Handing her the invite, along with a large envelope he snagged off his desk, he held her gaze. “I’ll see you at Pleasure Manor. Your costumes will be delivered to your office this afternoon.”

He tapped the envelope. “Instructions and rules. I suggest you go get your bloodwork done this afternoon. You’ll need to bring the results with you.” Hunter handed her the briefcase and her purse and hustled her to the door.

Rylee blinked in confusion. Damn the man for being in complete control while she was a quivering mass of need. Her orgasm hadn’t eased her ache for this man. But she hated being manipulated, and he was a master. He’d lured her in with hopes and dreams of saving her business and probably used Glorie to make her mad enough that she’d confront him. Now, he’d had the nerve to use her own body against her. “Dammit, Hunter, I never said—”

Hunter halted her with the single lift of his brow. “Your body spoke for you.” He lowered his head and kissed her hard, swallowing her protests. “Thursday. And don’t bother wearing panties.”

Purchase SNOW & HER HUNTSMAN:

Wild Rose    KINDLE           Nook         KOBO             IBOOKS

About Sydney:

If you have 2 free hours tonight, what would you do? Why?
As it happens, I have a craft group that I host every Friday so tonight is fun night. I’ll be knitting a cowl/hat for a friend’s birthday and finishing up a crochet hook holder for another friend.  If it wasn’t craft night, I might be working on a cross stitch birth sampler for my granddaughter who is due any day now. She’ll beat me but I’m getting close to being done!  Then there is Panda Pop or Magic Puzzles on my IPad or continue my read of JD Robb’s Death books. I’m on #27 or 27 right now.
 

What kind of books do you love to read? Why?

I love to read series. If a character or world draws me in, I don’t want to say goodbye so quickly so a series will draw me in. One of my favorite outside of romance is LE Modesitt's Imager Series. I also love the Harry Potters, many, many of Nora Roberts and Christine Feehan’s series.
 

What type of music do you enjoy relaxing to?

Mostly new age and celtic. Favs right now are Blackmore’s Night and David Lanz piano pieces. I also get on Neil Diamond kicks and just run through his music. Some others of my eclectic range include Walela, Joanna Shenendoah, Jaya Lakshmi, Enya, Gregorian Chants and lots of Native American artists like Steven & Gordon and Andrew Vazquez.
 

What is your stress buster?

My animals. Although at times they add to the stress!  I have 6 cats and 3 dogs. I also use crafts and reading or playing games on the i-pad. And nothing beats watching marathons: Midsomer Mysteries, Pride & Prejudice, or Castle and Blue Bloods with my mom who lives with me.
 

What is your favorite food? What food do you seek when you're sad, sort of a comfort food?

Popcorn or chips for snacks to nibble while reading. Pasta of any kind, grilled cheese sandwhiches and tomato soup.  Beef Jerky is good too.
 

Describe yourself in one word.

Compassionate.
 

If a fairy grants you one wish and one wish only, what would it be? Why?

Health, for me, my family and my friends, because that is what is important to me.

What’s your biggest regret in life?

I’m not sure I have any real regrets. There are things I’ve done that I wish I hadn’t but the past is also what has made me who I am today. Sometimes I wish I’d gone to college, and still wish maybe I could get a degree in Health & Wellness but at my age, the cost is not worth it and if I got a job at this point, I couldn’t write. Sometimes I wish I had more children (then I’d have a bunch of grandchildren by now.) 

What is the most adventurous thing you’ve ever done?

I always considered it brave of me to go off to RWA conferences alone. I always wanted to run back to my hubby and make him go with me as I was not much of a traveler or flierl

What makes you happy/sad/disappointed/frustrated/hopeful/angry? (Pick one)

Friends and family make me happy but at times, they also make me sad/disappointed/frustrated and angry!

What are your wildest dreams/fantasies/kinks/quirks?

I’ll go with dreams. Go on a cruise, Alaska to see Northern Lights and bald eagles and Hawaii.  As much as I love writing historical romances and Native American, I’m not sure I want to give up my comfort for those worlds.

Your Writing

When did you write your first book? How long did it take you to write it?

I started in the early 80’s. Took me four years to finish my first book, four to edit and perfect, and other to sell, and one more to see it in print. Nine years total.

Did you encounter any obstacles in writing? What are they? How did you overcome them?

I wrote with a young family so I often had to put it away. I wrote for several months, then off for several months. Now, my animals are my distraction as they insist on surrounding me. I have 3 cats on my desk as I type this and 2 dogs at my feet.

How did you feel when you receive your first contract? What did you do? Any celebratory dinner, dance, event, etc to commemorate the occasion?

I was shocked and thrilled. Don’t remember that we did anything special. My husband made my cover into a desktop image as a surprise (think back to early computers in 1995 and it wasn’t as easy as now)

Any writing peeves, things you wish you could improve on, things you do with exceptional talent?

I think I am good at writing a series, and I’m great with characters, especially villains. Love to write bad guys. I’m terrible about grammar. My pet peeve is my laptop which gives me fits and it’s not that old….

What kind of books do you love/hate to write? Why?

I love what I’m writing now, Erotica & Historical and want to do more contemporaries. As I write what I like, there isn’t anything I hate.  As I currently have 3 series going, I’d say I love to write series.

What do you think about editing?

Hate it!  I like to create. Rewriting is okay as I’m layering and improving what I’ve written but I am not good at editing.

Where and when do you write? Tell us about your favorite work place and time. Any special reason?

I write in my office which is the family room and even have a fireplace if burning is allowed that day. I’ve taken over the entire room. I love my desk furniture. White executive desk with corner unit behind me and several additional pieces with hutches around that corner unit. The desk is big enough for my keyboard and 3-4 cats, though sometimes, my keyboard is pushed too close to the edge. Sometimes I think I’m too soft hearted as I could use that room for me! I have no door so am rather stuck!

In the evenings I take my computer into my mom’s room and do marketing or writing if needed while watching TV.

How do you write? Do your characters come to you first or the plot or the world of the story? How do you go on from there? Maybe you can give us an example with one of your books.

Because I tend to write series, I always have the characters first and usually even know their conflicts. My first White series book, I had my original H/H. For the second book, I decided to do their children. It was fun saying “hey, you guys now have 4 kids”. When I wrote White Wolf, it was easy to flesh out his siblings so when it came time for the next book, I had a character all ready to go with conflicts and even obstacles.

The Once Upon a Dom series started with one couple but as they are in a party/event setting, it’s fun to pull in another character so when I move on, I already have a foundation. The last book, Snow & Her Huntsman, the characters were new but not the setting. Same for the book I’m doing now (Beauty Submits to her Dom)

What books can you recommend to aspiring writers to improve on style, character development, plot, structure, dialogue, etc?

First, I’d say just writing. Read what you  want to write to get a feel, and write. Join a critique group and RWA as you’ll learn a ton. It’s been so long, and things have changed so much, I’m not sure anymore. I learned a lot from “How to write a romance & get it published” as it was the only book on that subject way back then. The Writers Digest Book Club books are great as is the internet and online classes.

What is your must-have book for writing?

I love the First Draft in 30 Days and Book in a Month workbook.

What is your advice to aspiring writers?

Write what you know, want to know, and love. Keep at it. Keep learning. Be patient and be willing to put in your time. Writing is like any other career, there is a learning curve and there are no shortcuts. Be passionate, be stubborn, be determined and be willing to learn, change and do whatever it takes (baring harming others) to make your dream come true.
 

Your Books
 

What genre(s) do you write? Why do you write the stories that you write?

I write in both Erotica as Sydney St. Claire and Historical Romances as Susan Edwards. I always loved reading Native American and Western romances so it was natural for me to follow that path. I start the erotica’s after doing some work for hire purely for money and found I was good at those. I have a historical/paranormal/Native American series I love as they are just fun to write.

Among those that you’ve written, which is your favorite book and why?

White Wolf, as Susan Edwards was a lot of fun as Jessie is a lot like I was at that age. As Sydney, I think my favorite is Lucy in Red & Her Big Bad Dom as she is spunky, like Jessie in White Wolf.

Where do you get your ideas? Do you jot them down in a notebook, in case you forgot?

Most of my ideas come from the characters and their personality and conflicts. I do write down ideas but seldom go to that file for ideas. They just come.

Have you ever wanted to write your book in one direction but your characters are moving it in another direction? What did you do in such a situation?

Yes, this happens in most of my books. I just give in and let the story write itself.

Any new projects, work in progress?

I’ve got 3 more Once Upon a Dom books to write this year and I’m hoping to write book 3 in my SpiritWalker series, Winter’s Heart as well. I also have a contemporary series I want to get going on.

Some writers edit excessively as they write; others wait until a novel is finished to do the bulk of editing.  How about you? 

I have to edit as I go. I liken writing to taffy pulling. If I go to far ahead with things not right, I start to sag and weaken. I then have to go back, edit and shore the book up then I can go for a while until again having to go back.

 

How much research was involved in writing your book?  How did you go about it? 

All my books have involved a lot of research. In the early ears of my Native Americans, I relied on libraries and used books. Now there is the internet. For the erotica, the internet. Boy, you can find out a lot there!  Maybe more than you’d ever want to know….

 

What else have you written already? 

I’ve written 3 books as Sydney St. Claire (Once Upon a Dom series), and 14 as Susan Edwards (12 White series, 2 SpiritWalker series).

Contact Sydney:

Email

Websites:  http://sydneystclaire.com

                  http://susanedwards.com

Twitter

Facebook

Blog

Goodreads

Pinterest 

 

A Rafflecopter Giveaway 

 

CELEBRATING THE RELEASE OF SNOW WITH A NEW CONTEST

Tote Bag  --  Fairytales Your Mother Never Read You

Nice large roomy bag

Also included: 4 GB Flash Drive, Key Ring Light, Notepad & Pen, Mug

And assorted other goodies