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Author Interviews Featured Authors

An Interview with Katie MacAlister

Posted on March 3, 2021
Author Katie MacAlister

What’s the strangest thing you have ever had to research for a book?

It’s nothing I actually researched for a book, but it’s something that I did and later used in a young adult book. When I was a young thing going to the University of Washington, I worked for the Burke Museum on campus (kind of a natural history/local history museum) in the bird department. My job was to clean the bird skeletons that the zoology department brought in, and once the bones were picked clean by the dermestid beetles (that ate the flesh), I’d clean the carcass, dry them, and then label each bone with a number. It was a fascinating job, although I really did not like the mammal people with all their dead mammals. Birds I could handle…not so much with the mammals. Especially the day one of the giraffes died of natural causes at the local zoo, and they donated her body to the department…

How do you create chemistry between characters in your books?

I try to pair up people who have an instant dual attraction/aggravation because I believe a bit of irritation adds spice to an otherwise too happy relationship. So I just make sure there are things that will make the characters mesh, and other things that will cause a bit of chaos.

Which do you create first, your plot or your characters? 

Usually, I have a plot idea, or at least a setting and basic story idea, and then work out what sort of characters would be in the most conflict in that situation. There are a few times when I’m writing in series about existing secondary characters, where I build a setting around them that will do the same thing–drive them bonkers. 

Out of the protagonists you’ve written about so far, which one do you feel you relate to the most?

That’s asking a lot from someone who has written more than sixty books! There are elements of me in most of the heroines, everything from my clumsiness, to facial blindness, plus-size nature, and fine appreciation of a sexy vampire. So really, I relate to all of them in one way or another.

What are some trends you’re seeing in romance that you’re excited about? 

I’m seeing more media embrace romances, things like mobile games and mainstream streaming platforms, which opens the romance genre up to whole new audiences who don’t realize they are consuming the happily ever after of a romance. Since I love paranormals, I’m delighted to see that they continue to be strong despite most traditional publishers pooh-poohing them. And finally, I love that more people are mixing genres, and breaking out of the normal “rules” to genres. That’s not to say I’m going to be writing a secret baby alien vampire dinosaur book, but hey, at least now if I wanted to, I know I could probably find an audience for it. 

What’s next for you? Are you working on a new project? If so, can you give us a teaser and/or an expected release date? 

Last year during the quarantine, I decided to write a serialized book for my dragon series, with chapters released each month for my newsletter readers. This was an odd interim book, one that fell between two existing books (the end of one series and start of another), and which readers had been wanting for years.

At the end of the year, I gathered up all the material, more than doubled it with content that evidently I’d left out, and tossed it over to my (now former) Penguin editor. This book–Dragonblight–should be out April 20.

Right now I’m working on another Dark Ones book…except it isn’t, really. It’s kind of a vampire book. Mostly. Somewhat. 🙂

I’m hoping to have it done in the next month or so, with a release this summer.

Author Interviews Featured Authors

An Interview with Annie Murray

Posted on March 3, 2021
An Interview with Annie Murray

What’s the strangest thing you have ever had to research for a book?

There have been so many things over the years – I remember going and buying a dead rabbit so that I could be sure of describing skinning it properly. (The butcher obviously thought I was pretty weird.) I’m not sure you would say a lot of the research is weird but it’s often very specific and technical. I had to research very carefully into the working of narrowboats in the old days to be able to write two books about it. Because Birmingham has been a city with such a variety of industries there are many things I wish I could research more easily – so many of them disappeared long ago.

When you develop characters do you already know who they are before you begin writing or do you let them develop as you go?

I definitely let them develop. At the beginning I have some idea who they are but things do change as I go through the story. It’s really only once I get to the end of a first draft that I start to get a much fuller sense of who they are and can go back and  edit, really working with them. Story and character are very closely bound together.

What do you know now that you wish you’d known at the beginning of your writing/publishing journey?

I would certainly have been very surprised to learn that I would still be carrying on my writing career 30 years later!  I suppose it might have been nice to know but on the other hand, it’s good for life to be surprising as well.

If you had to write yourself as a heroine, what kind of heroine would you be? What would you be named?

Definitely not someone floating about in a silk dress.  I’d like to be a traveler, adventurer type – a bit ‘Annie Get Your Gun’ or one of those Victorian explorers like Mary Kingsley who went to Cameroon and was whacking crocodiles with an oar to keep them out of her boat. Only she was real, obviously and I’m certainly not brave enough for that sort of reality!

What would you say is your most interesting writing quirk? 

Honestly I’m not sure I have one. I obviously need to become more interesting!

What’s next for you? Are you working on a new project? If so, can you give us a teaser and/or an expected release date? 

I have a new book coming out in paperback in April called Black Country Orphan. And just now I’m working on two more stories set around the much loved Cadburys chocolate factory in World War two. I have written about it before and this time I have chosen a new set of characters. The first book, Chocolate Girls is to be re-issued in December with a brand new cover – and I think Secrets of the Chocolate Girls may appear in April 2022… 

Author Interviews Featured Authors

An interview with Karen Ellis

Posted on March 3, 2021
An Interview with Karen Ellis

What’s the strangest thing you have ever had to research for a book?

Hard to say, considering that many of my books have been crime novels.  I’ve done things like learned how to pick locks online (yes, you can learn anything on YouTube!) and gone to a shooting range to learn how to shoot a gun (oddly, I’m pretty good at it).  Maybe the strangest moment was when I found myself on the dark web, which felt like walking down a dark alley all alone in the middle of the night.  I actually got scared and got out asap.

When you develop characters do you already know who they are before you begin writing or do you let them develop as you go?

Both.  Sometimes I start off with a strong sense of a character, but other times the character jumps out at me nearly whole just before I start to write.  Writing a scene always leads to surprises, which is why it’s so important to keep an open mind.  It’s not unusual for the best ideas, and characters, to come out of nowhere.

How do you find new inspiration when you’re feeling stuck? 

Takes long walks is great for my imagination.  I love to roam around and see what hits me and just let my mind wander. I find that to be a great idea incubator.

What’s the worst writing or publishing advice you’ve ever been given?

The worst publishing advice I was ever given was not to re-issue four of my novels when Penguin put them out of print.  Eventually I listened to my gut, reissued them independently, and made some of the greatest sales of my life as a published author including having the top selling ebook in the UK for about five years.  That experience was a real lesson in listening to oneself.

Is there a character you’ve written that feels closest to your own personality? 

Ah, tricky question. Ultimately all my characters spring right out of my mind so they all reflect me in one way or another.

What’s next for you? Are you working on a new project? If so, can you give us a teaser and/or an expected release date? 

I recently finished a new psychological suspense novel about what happens when a “lost and forgotten” filmmaker and her husband, a Hollywood television mogul, relocate to New York.  My agent is shopping it around right now–fingers crossed.  Meantime I’m stewing on next projects.  Stay tuned.

Author Interviews Featured Authors

An Interview with Joy Callaway

Posted on February 10, 2021

What do you need in your writing space to help you stay focused and inspired?

Ha! Honestly, not much! I have two small children, so my writing space is almost always riddled with toys and clutter. I just need my notes (I roughly plot my books) and maybe a coffee. 🙂 

You’re known for completely immersing your audiences in the time period of your novels. How do you create such a well-drawn backdrop for a time you’ve never experienced?

I LOVE research. It’s actually difficult for me to get out of research and start writing sometimes! In the case of The Fifth Avenue Artists Society, I read Gilded Age newspapers to get a feel for what was going on during the time of my story, poured over old photos and maps, read letters from the real life Virginia (my main character in the novel), dug up fashion plates donated to The Met by Virginia’s sister, Alevia (all of the dresses in the book are dresses actually worn by the sisters), and listened to era-appropriate music. 

How do you celebrate finishing a novel?

I was just talking with my husband about this the other day! We are horrible at celebrating milestones and need to get better about acknowledging these accomplishments. Often, I type The End and the next day start researching or dreaming about my next project. When I release a book, I like to have a big party, though (obviously in the era before covid). The Fifth Avenue Artists Society’s launch party was at a Gilded Age home and I tried to recreate the artists society atmosphere for guests–artist friends painted, played music, etc. It was such fun!

What do you think is vital in creating chemistry between your characters, whether they be friends or lovers? How do you create connections?

Chemistry comes when you start to see your characters as real, well-rounded people, not just caricatures. It helps that my characters are either real people or based on real people. We are all complex, with flaws and gifts and desires and struggles, and it’s our connection with the people we do life with that sort of take us by the hand and help us make it through. None of us are an island. We can’t accomplish much alone. When I’m first plotting a story, I’m always thinking about my main character’s wants and needs and hardships and from there, I almost always consider who she’ll interact with, who she’ll need to ultimately realize what she’s seeking. Chemistry is about mutual impact. The characters in my main character’s sphere have to affect her life and she has to affect theirs. 

What are your favorite children’s stories?

The Little House by Virginia Lee Burton

Hattie and Hudson by Chris Van Dusen

Can I Get There by Candlelight by Jean Doty 

Black Beauty by Anna Sewell

What’s next for you? Are you working on a new project? If so, can you give us a teaser and/or an expected release date? 

I’m always working on something! I have two finished novels–one historical, one a contemporary small town story. 🙂 My agent and I are working on both of these and I’ll let you all know when I have news.

Author Interviews Featured Authors

An interview with Lexi Blake

Posted on February 10, 2021

What do you need in your writing space to help you stay focused and inspired?

I need Spotify because I’ve always got to have something on in the background. I also have tons of sticky notes all over. And I’ve got a notebook to write ideas down in. Other than that I need a cup of coffee and a sleepy pup or two and I’m ready to work. 

You’ve written 80 books in the last 10 years. 80! How is that even possible? More specifically, how do you come up with so many great ideas, and what does your process look like?

I had at least nine of those books ready before I ever started publishing so that makes it sound more impressive than it really is. But I do tend to write at least four full-length books and two novellas a year. I work six days away from roughly 8 to 4 or so. I go into a book with a general idea of how it’s going to go and then let the story and the characters take it from there. I will plot but only loosely. If I get stuck that’s when my assistant and editor and all-around girl Friday Chloe Vale gets a call. We’ll talk it out and I’ll move on. 

How do you celebrate finishing a novel?

Usually by taking a day or two off and getting to sit and watch some movies with my dogs cuddled up on a couch. Sometimes we’ll go out to dinner but that’s usually a release day indulgence. 

Out of the protagonists you’ve written about so far, which one do you feel you relate to the most?

That’s hard. I think I relate to all of them in some way–even the bad guys–or I wouldn’t write them. I think there’s a lot of me in Zoey from Thieves. I also took heavily from my own life as an author with Serena from The Men with the Golden Cuffs. She’s got many of my quirks. There’s a lot of me on those pages. I find the writing process very cathartic. It’s my therapy. 

What’s something you are really good at that few people know about?

I’m actually really good with accents. When I was younger I did a lot of theater work and I always learned dialects quickly. So I’ve got a couple of great accents. I think that shows in my dialogue. I like to study how people from different places talk and have my characters reflect that. 

What’s next for you? Are you working on a new project? If so, can you give us a teaser and/or an expected release date? 

I’ve got several fun projects coming up. Right now I’m working on a Thieves book. It’s called The Rebel Queen and is kind of a reboot for that whole series. In June, I’ve got the next Sanctum Nights book coming out. It’s called Treasured and it’s going to be a fun play on Romancing the Stone with a kick ass heroine in the Michael Douglas role. I’ve also got another Butterfly Bayou book coming out in August. It’s going to be a fun year!