Here are more answers to questions never really asked at the Brava Authors Blog, but they were proposed, so I answer:

Question: I’d love to know which authors other authors MUST read.

Answer: Yeah, me too. Anyone know?? Really, though, I’m thinking this differs depending on what you’re writing, but maybe not. Now, in making a list there is a huge risk in missing someone or some piece of work. So, view this as a sampling.

I think everyone should read Kazuo Ishiguro (author of Remains of the Day). He’s as close to brilliant in terms of storytelling ability and subtle, spare writing as I can think of. For romance that manages to be funny and entertaining, yet provides a lesson in well-done craft, I love Jennifer Crusie and Lani Diane Rich. For romantic suspense I enjoy a whole host of favorites, so I’m not even sure where to start. For mystery I like early Michael Connelly (but stop when you get to Concrete Blonde). I thoroughly enjoyed Stephen King’s On Writing. I think Tod Goldberg’s story Simplify in his short story collection of the same name is incredible - but don’t tell him because there will be no living with him. In terms of all-time favs, I love Jayne Ann Krentz, Julie Garwood and Susan Elizabeth Phillips. New favorites include , Pamela Clare, JR Ward, Stephanie Bond, Gennita Low and Meg Cabot (yeah, I’m late to that particular party, I know). On top of that there are specific books I have read and re-read, such as Nora Roberts’ Eastern Shore trilogy, Lori Foster’s Too Much Temptation/Never Too Much, Alison Kent’s SG-5 series and others. And, of course, I devour most of the Brava releases with a zeal you might find scary.

Question: Do you seek out reviews, how much do negative reviews affect you and do you pay much attention to reader reviews left on sites like Amazon?

Answer: I seek out all mentions of myself - anywhere, anytime. Google is a wonderful thing. This is less about having a giant ego and more about fearing that no one is actually talking about me or my books at all. The latter seems like a very bad thing to me.

Negative reviews affect me for that day, then I imagine hitting the reviewer repeatedly with my car. But, I swear, that’s a visual imagine only and not something I would actually do. Or, I email my cp and whine to her and she assures me the reviewer is an idiot. That works almost as well as the visualization. I don’t pay much attention at all to Amazon and B&N reviews. Part of the problem is that I once received a very fine review for a novella that didn’t exist. Come on now. Even Nora’s not that good. One must write the novella before anyone can declare it brilliant.

Now, I will say that anonymous reviews on B&N and Amazon make me want to smack someone. I think those should be banned. I further think that people who write them with an agenda - revenge, hurt an author’s sale, etc - should be unmasked and publicly humiliated. But, that’s me. Can you tell some loser wrote a series of bad reviews about VIVA LAS BAD BOYS! on B&N and pretended to be different people? Yeah, it set off the B&N fraud alert and the B&N folks emailed me. I’ve asked that the person’s identity be revealed (you know, so I can “out” the person here), but B&N is ignoring that request for now.

Question: What I have wondered for a long time is how does a female author really know how a male thinks and feels? Do you ever ask a male if for his opinion of what you have written?

Answer: Just from living in the world. I have a dad and two older brothers. I’ve lived with my hubby for more than 10 years now. Some things are universal. And, not to be offensive, but sometimes their thought processes just aren’t that complex. In general, I find most men to be more sensitive, honorable and decent than we think at first look. It’s just not as out there on the surface as it is with some women. And, have I mentioned I was a divorce lawyer for 12 years? Yeah, you get a good bit of insight into men, their thinking and their problem-solving abilities when you deal with them on a confidential basis, seeing them at their most emotional and worst behaved.

Question:How long did it take you to get published? Do you have any advice for aspiring authors?

Answer: I wrote for a few years, some months being much more “into it” than others. In October 2003, I decided I either had to commit and try to make writing a career or accept that writing would be something I did for myself as a hobby. I wanted the career. In May 2005, after a non-stop writing/practicing push, I got THE CALL from Kate Duffy at Brava. So, after the commitment, it took 18 months. And, I was lucky. For some people the time is more like 18 years.

For advice I’d say a few things: read widely both inside and outside the genre in which you want to write; be professional; set goals; write, write, write; if you’re going to have someone review your work, make sure the person knows what she is doing and is someone you can trust; listen to advice but be prepared to ignore some of it; do what works for you; remember that editors DO know what they’re doing and your book might not be so great after all; learn to take criticism; take advantage of legitimate opportunities; inform yourself as to the genre; believe and work hard; and, remember if it were so damn easy then everyone would be doing it. Also, and this is the tough one, understand that there is no birthright to being a published author (just as there is no birthright to keep being published…unfortunately). Some people shouldn’t be and won’t be. Some people shouldn’t be and are. And, really, there’s nothing you can do about the latter group so suck it up, keep your mouth shut, write and submit. Someone else’s career is not yours. Your career is yours and you have to want it, sacrifice for it and be smart about it.

Question: Do you think it is worthwhile to have an agent?

Answer: Have you seen these book contracts? I’m a lawyer and my eyes cross by page 37. There are provisions in there that will make you chuckle. How about the one that says who holds the rights to the dolls for VIVA LAS BAD BOYS!? Really? Let’s just say that if the lawyer drafting the contract on behalf of the publishing house is doing his or her job, the contract ain’t gonna favor the author. Get your own representation, but make sure the person knows what the hell they’re doing. My guy does. Many I’ve heard about - and names you hear all the time - don’t.

Also, you’ll hear that new authors and category (Harlequin/Silhouette) authors don’t need agents. I can’t speak for category since I don’t write it and haven’t seen a contract. All I can say is that I got an agent for my third book deal - the one that was my first single title deal. For me, it was a peace of mind issue. I trusted my editor, but I wanted to have someone on my team in case Brava decided to drop me or whatever. Second, I wanted to write and not negotiate. I didn’t want my relationship with my editor to be all business. I wanted it to be about writing.

And, the last question(s) for the day - these are unrelated but were posed by the same person, so I’ll answer both now:

Question: Do you plan to write only romances or do you have an interest in other genres?

Answer: Why? What have you heard about my future career prospects in romance? You can tell me. Please tell me…

Actually, I read across many genres. I don’t know if I could write in other genres, but I don’t rule it out. Right now I am very happy in romance and have many more ideas I want to turn into books…if Brava will let me. I do have a few ideas for suspense novels - because I’m a huge fan of the mystery/suspense genre - but those are future possibilities. So, yeah, you’re all stuck with me in romance for now.

Question: Do you ever take real life situations and fictionalize them for your books?

Answer: Is this your subtle way of asking if I’ve ever handcuffed my husband to the ceiling like poor Whit in my first novella… Email me. ::ahem::

I do take bits and pieces of life, but by the time I’m done with those bits and pieces, they don’t resemble anything that’s ever really happened. The blackout in VIVA LAS BAD BOYS! did happen while I was there. I have the photos on my Photo Page to prove it. Also, I’ve spent a great deal of time in Hawaii (thanks to the fact my in-laws live there and husband grew up there), so that much of the background info on Hawaii in my upcoming release YOUR MOUTH DRIVES ME CRAZY is based on things I’ve seen and know. I recently finished a single author anthology follow-up to the novella in WHEN GOOD THINGS HAPPEN TO BAD BOYS which takes place in a house that’s being renovated. The house is based on an actual house in Dupont Circle in Washington, DC. And, the single title I am about to start takes place at a high adventure hiking spa in Southern Utah. A few years ago, my friend Suzanne and I went to a spa that fits that exact description, so I will put some of what I know into that as well.

Still not answering the handcuffs question…

This entry was posted on Wednesday, March 7th, 2007 at 9:30 pm and is filed under About Me, About My Books, About Writing. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.