Meredith D.'s Comments
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May 18, 2008 | rating: 8.6 | comments: 67
Meredith D. May 19, 2008, 1:30pm EDT
Thanks for the review, Kathryn! I'm so glad you enjoyed the book. And thanks to everyone else who has commented! I'm deep in the writing of another historical, and it's marvelous encouragement to open up my browser and find your good wishes waiting for me. :)
Apr 23, 2008 | rating: 10 | comments: 11
Meredith D. May 13, 2008, 6:00pm EDT
Jerrica -- seven weeks, wow! That's impressive. And I know what you mean about travel being inspiring -- particularly when the destination is London. One of my favorite spots there is the Dennis Severs House. Have you been? It's a recreation of domestic spaces throughout the centuries, with a story attached -- rather like a giant doll house for adults. Very cool.

Starr -- yep, I'm the same way; I can't write with music on (I can't "hear" the words in my head if there's anything playing). And your new title rocks! I liked "Trust Me" as well, but this one is intriguing. Why invite someone to lie to you? It's a great lure for the curious shelf-browser at the bookstore.

And yes, there will be more books! Pocket is releasing the next two in summer 2009. Obviously I'm thrilled. :)
Apr 23, 2008 | rating: 10 | comments: 11
Meredith D. May 1, 2008, 10:57pm EDT
Hi, all! Thanks for the feedback and conversation. :)

Wendy, I agree, solitude is very important, and so is daydreaming -- something we as a society tend to undervalue!

Wanda, I hope you enjoy reading The Duke of Shadows!

Stefania, I'm glad you liked the article. :)

Aislin, if you've got muses in the plural, then I'm jealous -- I think I've only got one! ;)

Ashley, one of my friends swears by "free writing" when she's stuck on a book. Have you tried it? Google the phrase and you'll find tons of tutorials. I've found it useful too.

Evangeline, I had not made that connection but I think you have totally nailed the main source for my playlist. I was a huge fan of the first season of Roswell when it aired on television, and found it very romantic. Are you a fan?
Mar 31, 2008 | rating: 9.4 | comments: 63
Meredith D. Apr 1, 2008, 4:03pm EDT
Kathryn is awesome; I can't wait to read her own historical romance -- 1880s Wyoming; who can resist that setting?

Judi, yep, I'll be at the RWAs this summer. It would be great to finally meet!
Mar 31, 2008 | rating: 9.4 | comments: 63
Meredith D. Mar 31, 2008, 8:20pm EDT
Thanks for the interview, Kathryn! I really enjoyed "talking" to you, and very much appreciate everyone's kind words. :)

Meredith
Jan 31, 2008 | rating: 9.9 | comments: 75
Meredith D. Feb 1, 2008, 10:30am EST
Very exciting! Congrats!
Oct 29, 2007 | rating: 10 | comments: 76
Meredith D. Jan 6, 2008, 8:03pm EST
Raymond, I've just now seen your question! Of course I'll sign it. :)
Nov 8, 2007 | rating: 9.9 | comments: 61
Meredith D. Nov 8, 2007, 3:18pm EST
Gorgeous!
Oct 31, 2007 | rating: 10 | comments: 121
Meredith D. Nov 1, 2007, 5:14pm EDT
Thank you, everyone! And a special thanks to Kristen, who coordinated this, and to Elsie, who took time out on her BIRTHDAY to host the chat!

Happy birthday, Elsie!
Oct 31, 2007 | rating: 10 | comments: 121
Meredith D. Nov 1, 2007, 5:03pm EDT
Cultural! Although I have been known to routinely crash the archaeologists' parties. :)
Oct 31, 2007 | rating: 10 | comments: 121
Meredith D. Nov 1, 2007, 5:01pm EDT
"Anthropology? I might have to give you a buzz if my agent thinks one of the proposals I sent (with an anthropologist) is worth pursuing."

Absolutely -- I look forward to hearing from you about it!
Oct 31, 2007 | rating: 10 | comments: 121
Meredith D. Nov 1, 2007, 5:01pm EDT
And thank you, everyone, for coming over here to chat with me! I had a ball. Your good wishes and encouragement and support are incredibly appreciated.

Truly, entering this contest was one of the best and most transformative decisions I've ever made. I hope that once Shadow's Kiss comes out, you will all enjoy reading it!
Oct 31, 2007 | rating: 10 | comments: 121
Meredith D. Nov 1, 2007, 4:58pm EDT
Lois Duncan was THE BOMB, no? And as for Christopher Pike -- I still remember how scandalized my mother was when she picked up "Remember Me" and saw exactly what I was reading!

"My question is regarding your PhD. What are you doing for your doctorate and when will that be complete? This contest was an amazing social experiment in and of itself! LOL."

I'm in anthropology. I think I'm quite lucky in that regard, as the discipline, by its very nature, accords great respect and import to popular narratives. As for when it will be complete -- ack, the question every grad student dreads! No, but seriously -- the average time in my program to degree is eight years, I believe. But some do get out in six. Since I'm in my fourth year, that means I'm more than halfway through!
Oct 31, 2007 | rating: 10 | comments: 121
Meredith D. Nov 1, 2007, 4:54pm EDT
"Will you be letting us know when your book is published so that we can get to read it and say we knew you when? This is very exciting to me and I know a lot of us on Gather too."

Oh yeah, I think it's safe to say you'll be hearing from me when the book comes out. ;)

By the way, Elsie, thank you for hosting this -- I'm having so much fun!
Oct 31, 2007 | rating: 10 | comments: 121
Meredith D. Nov 1, 2007, 4:53pm EDT
"And did you have an agent prior?"

Nope. I did query about the book, but people didn't seem to be enthusiastic about the Indian setting in the first half of the novel (after which the scene moves to England). Hopefully readers will disagree!
Oct 31, 2007 | rating: 10 | comments: 121
Meredith D. Nov 1, 2007, 4:52pm EDT
Sheila, no, this is the first contest I've ever entered. It's still incredible to me that I won. It's just -- incredible.

"How much time have you actually spent in India? Do you live there part of the time?"

No, I'm in Chicago all year round. :) But I've spent long periods there in the past, usually when studying languages (Hindi and Urdu). The longest period I spent was six months, in New Delhi; but I was also in Jodhpur for five months while on a college study abroad program, and get this -- we got to live in a 15th century fort! It's called Mehrangarh Fort; you should google it, the place is stunning!
Oct 31, 2007 | rating: 10 | comments: 121
Meredith D. Nov 1, 2007, 4:49pm EDT
Hi, Kristen! "What else inspires you? Have you (or will you) ever attempted another subgenre, other than historical romance?"

Historical romances were what made me into a romance fan at the tender age of 13. I stumbled onto a Judith McNaught book and was instantly enthralled -- historical fiction that focused on everyday lives and had a female lead? SOLD!

And I do love writing historicals. I also love reading contemporary paranormals -- product of a childhood spent devouring Christopher Pike and Lois Duncan, no doubt -- and I could see myself writing in that subgenre in between historicals.

But historicals are so much fun, don't you think? I mean, you get to buy popular history books and, ideally, visit museums and libraries in foreign countries all in the name of "research!" How can you beat that????
Oct 31, 2007 | rating: 10 | comments: 121
Meredith D. Nov 1, 2007, 4:46pm EDT
"You mentioned you went out and purchased a romance to read ...what's the title?"

It was the new Anne Stuart -- "Ice Storm." I also picked up "Lord of the Fading Lands," by CL Wilson. Contemporary espionage romance + fantasy romance = perfect Wednesday night in. ;)
Oct 31, 2007 | rating: 10 | comments: 121
Meredith D. Nov 1, 2007, 4:44pm EDT
"Who are your favorite authors, and which one influenced you (and your writing) the most?"

Favorite authors: Judith Ivory, Laura Kinsale, Loretta Chase, Anne Stuart, Linnea Sinclair, Meljean Brook. As you can see, I sort of range wildly from historical to contemporary to paranormal and back.

I would love, LOVE to say that I was influenced by Ivory and Kinsale, but that would be hubris defined. I do aspire to one day match the sheer poetry of their prose, but that's a goal I'm still working toward.
Oct 31, 2007 | rating: 10 | comments: 121
Meredith D. Nov 1, 2007, 4:43pm EDT
"Is there a handsome, dashing Indian gentleman in your life ?"

LOL -- I've got a couple of friends who fit this description, sure!
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