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Wednesday 27 June 2007

The Wednesday interview



I had an idea to do a Wednesday interview with some great authors I know. Why Wednesday? I was born on a Wednesday and that seems as good a reason as any. When I spoke to fellow author Anny Cook yesterday I found out she was going to do a Monday interview – spooky. So we will tag team.

Next week I will have my first guinea pig, er, author. I belong to an elite writing group called the Frogspond. No, we are not green unless hung over and we are all too pure to drink (liar liar pants on fire). However there are a lot of good authors in the pond. So I thought I would give myself the first run at the questions to see if they were doable.
The Questions....

1. You have some sizzling sex scenes in your book. How hard is it to write sex and make it convincing?

Great sex is great imagination. We all know where the parts fit but without imagination it’s all mechanical and boring. You want the heroine to scream in wild, toe curling passion and for the hero to make love to her like she is the only reason he exists on the planet. So I sit in my pajamas and fluffy slippers at my keyboard and think hot thoughts. Yes, I will get out more.

2. Romance and the condom. How hard do you find to slip it in or on when the action is hot between characters?

This is a hard one – no pun intended. My editor - best in the world – keeps mentioning the use of condoms. I generally try to work them in by some strange, amusing way as sex should be fun. Until the couple is in a “committed” relationship they are generally used. However, like in real life mistakes happen.

3. Do you think romance just happens or do you make your characters work for it?

I think romance is the old eyes-across-a-crowded-room attraction. However I try to complicate my characters lives so a happy ever after ending has to be worked at as nothing good ever comes easy and maybe I just like to drive my characters insane.

4. What is it about your hero that makes him irresistible to women?

He is strong and smart and he knows what he wants. He understands that the heroine has hang ups but he is prepared to do anything to get her into his life. He is funny and sweet yet he will kick down the gates of hell to save the woman he loves. Bring me that man.

5. Do you think readers want to escape or do they want to identify with a character?

Escape is important but if you don’t believe the escape is possible you are not going to go along with the story. The heroines in my books are average woman who do average things until forced into a bizarre situation. I want a reader to think she could be the heroine or the heroine is her best friend.

6. What do you think is the most important thing to remember when writing romance?

Make it real and make it enjoyable as readers are smart and they will not be fobbed off by some half arsed attempt at writing.

7. What are you working on now?

I am working my arse off (if only that were possible) at the moment to finish a time travel book. I won’t say much about it as I got burned recently be a fellow author who nicked an idea of mine. Needless to say she is forever off the Christmas card list. However I will modestly say the book will be fabulous.
Go ahead: Live with abandon. Be outrageous at any age. What are you saving your best self for?

1 comments:

Anonymous said...

oh, man, how am I ever going to be able to follow that? Those are fabulous answers!