The Wednesday Interview

This week’s brilliant author is Judith Rochelle. Her great new book called Always on My Mind is available at The Lotus Circle now. Next week the ever-fascinating Anita Birt drops in to talk about her fantastic new book, Isabelle’s Diary.

Always on my Mind – The Blurb

When Faith Wilding and Mark Halloran discovered as teenagers they could communicate telepathically, little did they know the effect it would have ion their lives. They out their romance on hold while Faith built her career as a political thriller novelist and Mark fulfilled his commitment as a member of the elite Delta force. But when his mission is blown and he’s captured by terrorists, Faith is his only contact with the outside world and his only hope for rescue. But will she be able to decipher his clue, find the help she needs and rescue him in time?

The Interview

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

Sometimes easy, sometimes not so easy. I try to put myself into the scene itself and take on the personality of the heroine, feel what she feels, think what she thinks, imagine the hero is touching me the way he’s touching her. Otherwise you can end up ti Part A goes into Part B. For me it’s the romance, tho, which makes it a lot easier, because sex and romance are like ham and eggs – you can’t have one without the other. If I’m really struggling, I pull out the old standby – a favorite CD, a satin sleep shirt and a glass of chilled wine. And I have a special candle I burn! The important thing I try to keep remembering is that when someone reads this, I want THEM to feel like they’re the heroine in the book and not just reading an instruction manual.

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

Having not had to worry about birth control since I had my fourth child I have to keep kicking myself to remember condom, condom, condom. So yes, it’s a conscious effort on my part to remember to slip that latex battle jacket on and find ways to do it that doesn’t interrupt the mood. One of my daughters, who has a weird sense of humor, made a sign for me to stick on my computer that says “Don’t forget the rubber boots.” It is definitely a distraction, but a lot better than all the possible alternatives, I guess.

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

I think the essence of it is there when they meet, something that zings and draws them together. But romance, like everything in life, is only as good as you make it. If the characters are falling into a romantic relationship, I want them to work for it, to realize how important it is to make it mean something, and that selfish love isn’t love at all.

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

My heroes are all a little rough around the edges, even the smooth ones, because I think total band box perfection is a turnoff (that’s just me). They are all alpha males but with a tender side that only opens up for the woman they love. They are demanding in bed yet their overriding desire is to please their partner. And their eyes! I always give them expressive eyes. So what woman doesn’t want a man who worships her yet makes love in a demanding way, who pleasures her yet teaches her the satisfaction of pleasuring him, who can wring her out in bed for ten hours, then greet her in the morning with her favorite coffee and a single rose. Who holds her when she cries and smacks her butt when she needs to be tough (figuratively, of course). And of course, to whom she is the most important person in his life. My favorite hero is the one in ONCE UPON A WEDDING who was willing to do something even though it went against everything he felt, to make his fiancé happy because she needed it so badly. And it turned out sow ell for both of them.

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

I think both. I read to escape, always have, and I write books that I consider escapist. But at the same time, I want the woman in the world I’m escaping to, to be me!

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

The emotion. Otherwise it’s just a physical activity – that old Part A goes into Part B thing again. The emotion has to be there. The way she feels when he caresses the inside of her wrist or just something simple as buying her a favorite book. For him, her desire to satisfy his needs because it satisfies her. And always keeping his favorite beer in the refrigerator or his favorite whiskey in the bar. Sometimes, tho, as they say, be careful what you ask for. My husband always complained that his first wife would never watch football with him or talk about it. So I bought a book called, How to Watch A Football Game, caught the fever, and now I’m the world’s most obsessed football nut. LOL! He has to do all the cooking on the weekends because I’m glued to the TV. But again, that’s romance, isn’t it? Doing something for the other person just because you love them so much? And because it makes their heart swell with feeling. That’s what I strive for in my books.

7. What are you working on now?

Most important is VISIONS OF DARKNESS, the second book in the five-book series I started with ALWAYS ON MY MIND. A sequel to REDEMPTION, which will end up being a series, also. Plotting the book that will come after VISIONS. And a western called SHADOW OF THE HAW. And if course I always have an EC Quickie bubbling on the back burner.

**Click on the cover and buy the book**

Last week’s brilliant author - Jacqueline Roth and Access Denied

So, did you see what Anny did to the blog serial on www.annycook.blogspot.com? Poor bloody Emmeline. Kelly will no doubt torture her further on Thursday on www.kkirch,blogspot.com. Looking for VampSmut? Well who isn't? Check out Dakota Rebel’s blog – http://vampsmut.blogspot.com/

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