Meet The Authors-part 5

Romance is an ever changing genre.  In the past, Romance, at least in my eyes, were light fluffy love stories.  The hero was rich:  a doctor, a lawyer, and yep there were a few Chiefs and a Sultan or two.  Now we have sub-genres in Romance.  Fantasy, Sci-fiction, Para-normals, Suspense, Thrillers, comedic, contemporary, historicals, and a few I've probably missed.  Today's romances are written by men and women.  It's a fascinating evolution.

Today, I am talking to two authors at different ends of the spectrum in contemporary romance.  One writes comedic romance.  Her story is a light and funny romp.  The other writes para-normal romance, full of dark undercurrents

May I introduce Sarah L. Castleberry, Beauty And The Geek and Terri Molina, Dark Obsession.

First, let's talk to Sarah.  Sarah tell us a little about you.

As some of you may already know, I'm a working mom, with sweet twin girls who are 5.  My day job is structural engineering, which is night and day from the creative side of my brain. And I can assure you that none of the geeks I work with are as hot as Zach, my hero. That's why it's fantasy, after all. lol

When did you decide you wanted to write?

January 2005. 
I've always made up stories in my head, even writing some paragraphs down.  Then, one day, it just clicked -- "I could really write a whole book!"  My mom, for my birthday April 2005, gave me 2 writing craft books out of the blue -- we'd never talked about it, ever, but she knew how much I liked to read.  It was like a confirmation of my choice, a sign.

It was much harder than I ever thought it would be, and so much more rewarding!  The past two and a half years have flown.

Why did you choose the style or the sub-genre?

My very first ms was an attempt at Romantic Suspense... but it ended with the villain holding a gun to the heroine's head and confessing all -- while, of course, she was wearing a wire tap that caught the whole thing...
Yeah, I decided contemporary romance might be more my speed. lol
I really found my voice with my last book.  Who knew it included comedy?

Your main character, Morgan, on the surface, is not a typical heroine but a bit of a blonde bimbo. Why did you choose such a character as your heroine?

I got the idea from the TV show Beauty and the Geek. The depth of these women's stupidity was shocking! They had a challenge to take a computer out of its box, hook it up, and burn an iTunes song to CD -- and only a couple could actually do it.

The plot was right there in front of me!  A beauty needs to learn computers, the geek needs a date.  Voila.  And the great part about the show is that every single woman comes away with an appreciation for other human beings and a realization that she can be more than just her looks.

Hopefully, that will be Morgan. :)

What's your favorite line of your own chapter?

This one drew the most response in Chapter 1:
"One minute left and a suit covered in coffee and smudged handprints.  She would show up late looking like she'd had a wild fling with Juan Valdez."

That one made me crack up too, as did several others. 
When do you find time to write?

I'm a night owl. 9-12 at night (or 9-1am, or 9-2am), after the kids are in bed.
 
How did you find the contest?

I saw it announced at RWA Nationals this year in Dallas -- looked like a great opportunity to get in front of editors.  How many people hope they're trolling the entries right now??? ;)

What are your plans for after the contest?

Get back to writing -- I obviously have a one-track mind and can't concentrate on my story with Gather going on.  I might do some revising, send it out to agents, then start a new book!  And come back to Gather to earn points for free stuff.

What do you do when you're not writing?

Other than working and the kids -- watch reality TV (obviously) and read.

What are your goals as a writer?

To be published by a NY publishing house and *stay* published -- making a career of it.

Can you tell us something about yourself that we might find interesting?

A little random here... I had an awesome experience playing in the band through college (yet even more exposure to geeks!) with the University of Texas Longhorn Band... My husband and I will be parked on the couch tomorrow for the Texas-OU game.

Some park on the couch to watch the game and you two to watch the band, lol!  Thanks for taking the time to work with me on this Sarah.

Sylvia -- thank you so much! I don't know how you're finding time to do all of this! :)
Thanks,  for all your time! :)

Lol, a piece at a time, just like everyone else, sandwiched between moments of stress!

Next we move on to a well known name on Gather, Terri Molina.

Terri Molina:  A mix of Mexican and Honduran, Terri was born and raised in a small Texas town along the Gulf of Mexico with her six brothers and sisters. Orphaned at the age of twelve and separated from her siblings, Terri understood college was not an option. At the age of eighteen, she left her home and spent the next six years as a pseudo- nomad, living in various areas of the United States from Southern Illinois to Yonkers, New York. After returning to Texas she met and married a petty officer in the US Coast Guard, who gave her back the nomadic life. At the age of forty she finally decided on a career and began work on her first novel, a romantic suspense, which went on submission last year (but the sad details of that are a long story). She is an active member of Romance Writers of America and served one year as president of the Northwest Houston Chapter before moving to Arizona with her husband and four children.
To learn more, visit her website at TerriMolina.com
 

When did you decide you wanted to write?
I don't think anyone really decides to write...you just do.  But, I guess about 12 years ago I decided I finally wanted to share my work with the public.  It was after my aunt and uncle died (within a couple of hours of each other on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day)..my first novel was actually a dedication to them.  I just sat at the computer every night for two months and wrote the first draft of my novel, then put it away and spent the next two months writing the first draft of my second novel.  I never dreamed I'd ever complete them...but I did.  Crazy, huh?

Why did you choose the style or the sub-genre?
Style? There's a style? ;-)
Actually, the first novel I tried to write (I never completed it) was a family saga (explained above) A couple of years after "training" myself to write I decided to try my hand at writing a suspense.  I took an incident from my life and expanded it with What If....the romance part of it just kind of happened. My second book, which is Dark Obsession, happened the same way.  (Chalk it up to a lonely childhood-therapy anyone?)

What's your favorite line of your own chapter?
Hmm....I guess the one in chapter one where Ray thinks "Great, thanks to too much bourbon and Bruce Willis, I'm talking to dead people."

When do you find time to write?
I don't...it finds me.  I'm a stay at home mom, my kids are all in school so I have the whole day to myself.  But, my inspiration usually hits late at night or when I'm in the shower.  Go figure.

How did you find the contest?
I was stumbling around Karen Fox's website and saw it posted.  I actually entered two weeks before the start (in July) because I was totally confused about what month it was (I'd been having a very busy and stressful 18 months)....and I was on vacation.  Luckily the Gather staff didn't think I was completely loony and allowed me to pull it until the real start date.

What are your plans for after the contest?
Play "catch up". Which means (hopefully) completing my current manuscript...which isn't a romance and the hardest thing I've ever had to write.  Plus, I have a few manuscripts I'm supposed to be editing for friends.  I'm also looking for a new agent, but the end of the year isn't the best time to do that.

What do you do when you're not writing?
Taking care of my family. Reading. Trying to keep up with my friends all over the US. Oh and playing Karaoke Revolution with my kids....the American Idol edition...it's a hoot!

What are your goals as a writer?
Hmm....I'm not really a goal making person.  But, I guess if I had to make one it would be to write what I most enjoy reading and not worry if it's ever going to get published.  Is that a goal?

I know you are an active member of RWA, what are some of the things you have done with RWA?

I joined RWA in 2004 (after an agent I queried wrote on her rejection letter "RWA is in Houston-JOIN") and figured, even though I'm basically a shy person, I needed to jump right in if I wanted to be published like the rest of them.  I went to my first National conference in Dallas that year and was instantly recruited to work the Lit signing.  The following year, Angie Platt grabbed me in Reno and it was a given that I work again in Atlanta.  I served a year as president of the NW Houston chapter before our family moved to Az.  I'm still a member of the Houston chapter as well as the one here in Phoenix (and I've already been asked to serve on the board here....I think I liked it better when I was shy.) Haha

Is that where you found your critique group?

Yes, in Houston.  I was a member of two groups actually.  Both long standing members asked me if I'd like to complete their small groups.  I still critique off and on with them via email.  I was recently asked to join some ladies here in Az, but I haven't decided yet.  I really don't like having too many people read my work because of that "too many cooks in the kitchen" thing...it can get very confusing and you just can't please everyone.  And, especially because I don't always write to a formula.

You are a very straightforward person, some would say blunt, especially when it comes to critiques. 

Straightforward? I guess at times I am...but those who actually know me would find that statement extremely amusing. Lol

A person who may be shy or reserved in person, isn't necessarily the same when it's them and the computer.  There is a certain...insulation that makes it easier to say what we think or feel.   Epecially when we critique. 

So, what is your motive when critiquing another's work?

My motives are to make sure that the writer I'm critiquing be the best they can be.  I don't intend to be harsh but I can definitely understand how it can be taken that way (especially depending on how much coffee I've had-or didn't have when I wrote the crit.) hehe.

Your motives or purpose is different if you are reading a story here on Gather as opposed to when somone asks you to read their article?

Yes, being in this contest also requires I read entries.   If I enjoy a work but feel it could use some *tweaking* then I'll send the writer a personal email.  Unless I like the story and see great promise in the work, I don't bother contacting the writer.

I don't offer my opinions or feedback on someone's work unless I am asked and I will not give dishonest feedback when the whole purpose is to learn.  I've been doing this a while, I've been cut to the bone by harsh critiques.  I [was] even told (by another writer) that I'd never get published and I would never say that to anyone.  So when I offer my suggestions (which is all they are) I do so with the intention of helping that person see what they're doing *wrong* so their manuscript gets ahead of the slush pile.

Is it hard for you to receive critiques of your work, especially if you don't agree with them? How do you handle that?

Of course.  It's hard for anyone to receive critiques on a work you spilled blood for.

I don't take them personally unless they're delivered as a personal attack...in which case, I'll vent to a friend or two and wait for them to "talk me down" from my anger.  But a critique, whether delivered by me or you or anyone on this site is just an opinion offered to help.  I listen to all the feedback I'm given on my work...I don't necessarily follow it unless it's said more than once (i.e.; the pov issue...which I knew about when I posted, but it's only an issue with writers.) ;-)  But, the bottom line is, the book belongs to the author who wrote it and only he/she knows what story they want to tell.

Thank you Terri for spending time with me, especially answering a few questions suprise questions that I am sure made you uncomfortable.

Thank you for this honor, Sylvia. =)

There you have it folks, two different writers with two sexy heroes and not your typical heroines. 

Sarah Castelberry, Beauty And The Geek

http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?articleId=281474977126649

Terri Molina, Dark Obsession

http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?articleId=281474977126635

Be sure to check out the other articles in the series.