Q&A with Megan Ryder

Name one thing you won’t leave home without.

I never leave home without my ipad mini. I can write on that, take notes on it, and read on it. If I’m stuck in traffic, in a doctor’s office, waiting somewhere, I have something to do. I am not the most patient person but with my ipad, I can occupy myself for hours. I can actually leave my phone at home and be fine but if I leave my ipad, I get twitchy. 

What are some books that you enjoyed recently?

I adored Silver Silence by Nalini Singh. She is one of my go-to authors and I re-read her constantly.

I am in the middle of binge reading the Chicagoland vampire series by Chloe Neill and am loving them.

I just read an ARC of Jamie Beck’s new book Before I Knew, coming out in August. So good and emotional.

And I just read an ARC of Jamie K Schmidt’s Stud coming in July. Sexy and fun, but I loved the characters too.

What do you like to do when you aren't writing?

What are your favorite types of stories to read?

While I enjoy contemporary romance, my guilty pleasure and my go-to reading is paranormal romance and urban fantasy. I can’t get enough of those genres. I have so many authors that I love including Nalini Singh, Ilona Andrews, Chloe Neill (a recent find), Patricia Briggs. Honestly, I could go on and on.

Tell us all about your main characters—who are they? What makes them tick? Most importantly, what one thing would they need to have with them if stranded on a desert isle? ;)

Brigid is a type-A lawyer, determined to make partner at her law firm as soon as possible. The problem is – is it her dream or her parents’ dream? Brigid comes from a high-achieving family. She defines herself as the “boring piece of cheese in the center of a sandwich of brilliance” and she feels constantly inadequate. So she feels this constant need to prove herself to everyone around her. Grady is the one person she doesn’t have to do that with; he loves her for who she is, can see who she really is and accepts her. But she can’t accept him because he is not the type of person her family would expect. He’s not on her plan.

Grady is a contractor who rebuilt his father’s business after his father almost lost it due to an illness. He and his older brother, the groom Matthew, were very close until their parents divorced when Grady was young, with Grady staying with his father. He didn’t see Matthew or his mother again until Matthew reconnected when they were older. His mother had been focused on her status and appearances so when he met Brigid, he thought she was just his mother. He soon learned she wasn’t but her constant choices make him fear that he will always be second in her life, something he just can’t accept. But he keeps trying to get Brigid to pull her head out of her law books and see the world around her and the possibilities, especially him.

Since they’re both so different, Brigid would want her cell phone and a signal on a deserted island because she needs to stay connected at all times. What if the office needs her? Grady, on the other hand, is perfectly fine with a six-pack of beer and his tools to build something, shelter or something to mess around with. He’s not fussy.

Where did the inspiration for this book come from?

This book is part two in a series about a matchmaking bride and the bridesmaids who she is determined to bring together with the ones who got away. It came from thinking about weddings and thinking about blissfully happy brides and how often they want everyone around them to be as happy as they are. I also love reunion stories so I started thinking about wedding romances, bridesmaids and what would it be like to be in a wedding and have the bride decide to play matchmaker. Now, it’s pretty hard to have a full romance in a week but, if you have a bride determined to bring her friends all back together and match them again, well, then you have a series. Trying to write three books all over the same week was a bit of a challenge though. Trying to make each story unique and not repetitive. But each bridesmaid was a strong character and tough in their own right, so I think they’ll keep people reading.

How long have you been writing, and what (or who) inspired you to start?

I have been writing for more years than I can remember. I always write stories when I was a kid, usually about horses or dogs, then fan fiction when I was older, and then romance in college. I didn’t get serious until the late nineties when I joined Romance Writers of America and my local chapter, which was a God-send, because I met people like me and learned all about writing. I value my friendships that I’ve made as a writer and how I’ve grown as a person through those friendships. What I love about being a writer is the what-if aspect. I’ll hear a news story – any kind – and start spinning a tale off of it. Imagine if this happened, or what if this happened? Many of those ideas don’t go anywhere but sometimes, that little kernel blossoms into something else and you can’t get it out of your mind.

What do you like best about being a writer? What is the most challenging part?

The best thing about being a writer is all of the great ideas out there. I love thinking of new ideas, the fodder for stories, and the possibilities that exist. I also love the people I’ve met as a writer, both other writers and readers. Seriously, romance readers and writers are the best people in the world. They are so welcoming and positive and supportive. Many of my closest friends I met through writing and I love it.

What do you do when you are not writing?

I love to knit, so that takes up a lot of time, however, I recently got a puppy, a rescue cocker spaniel. He was six months old when we got him and not training (not even potty trained) so that has been a challenge. So, much of my free time has been taken up training him and trying to convince him that outside is for potty, not inside. But he’s a sweet dog and I love him.

Can you tell us about your upcoming book?

After Something Borrowed, book 3 will be out – Something New. That will be Anna and Wyatt’s story.  Anna and Wyatt had a real volatile history, with Wyatt as the football star and Anna the wanna-be movie-star. Unfortunately, Wyatt had a career ending knee injury and couldn’t achieve his dreams while Anna went on for hers, leaving Wyatt behind. A lot of simmering resentment remains between them, along with guilt. Anna comes off as a real bitch in these books but she might surprise everyone in her story. I loved writing her book and hope readers like her as much as I did. 
 

Q&A with Gayle Callen

If you had to title your own life what would it be and why?

“Lucky in Love.” I met my husband a year before we started dating, but once we dated, we married within six months. And I knew that first month that I was in love with him. So any time someone uses love at first sight in a romance novel, I think it could be true, because it happened to me. And we’ve been married 35 years, so it can work!

What is your favorite place to visit? 

It may sound cliché for a historical romance author, but I love England. I’ve visited three times now, and every time I see a different part of the country, I fall in love all over again. Last time, I visited my daughter who was studying for her semester abroad in London. The two of us rented a car and drove north—on the left side of the road!—all the way to Yorkshire. The countryside changes so much, from thatched roofs and abundant gardens, to bleak moors that roll to the horizon. Incredible!

Favorite writing place. 

Even though I’ve written most of my books from a small office on the lower level of my house, my favorite place to write is on my patio. I spent all last summer working outside 4-6 hours every day. My yard is mostly trees, but I have an umbrella to sit beneath when the sun is overhead. I planted begonias and impatiens, which do well in the shade. I put up my feet up, my laptop on a lap desk, and I write, listening to the sound of the bees, the birds, and distant lawn mowers. My neighbor has several bird feeders that spill seeds onto the ground, so sometimes birds, squirrels, bunnies, and chipmunks are all cavorting in the grass together, like my own private show. It’s so peaceful!

What are 5 things you must have with you when you write?

Ooh, interesting question. I don’t think I’m superstitious about anything in particular, but there are some constants when I’m writing a book. A laptop is number one—a desktop computer can’t easily be moved, so I’ve used a laptop for years so I can set it aside to research, spread out my index cards, etc. And I want to be able to take it with me, too! Next, I always have ice water in a big insulated mug. I have index cards, because that’s how I keep track of all my scenes. I use a purple pen to write on them. And lastly, markers, because I highlight a corner of each index card to keep track of all my plotlines when I lay the cards out: purple for the heroine’s emotional growth, blue for the hero, pink for the romance plot, then green/orange/red for the various plotlines in the book. Yes, I love to organize and plot things out.

Can you tell us a little about your book?

I was so excited to write LOVE WITH A SCOTTISH OUTLAW, mainly because I finally found a story to fit a plot I’d always wanted to write: amnesia. I opened the book with the heroine, Catriona, waking up in the Scottish Highlands, her head bleeding, not knowing who she is. It was such fun to write! The hero Duncan is the chief of an outlawed clan—and he knows exactly who she is, the daughter of his enemy. While Catriona thinks he is being kind enough to house her while she discovers who she is, Duncan is really holding her captive. And of course, the sparks fly!

Q&A with Eva Moore

If you had to title your own life, what would it be, and why?

This honestly made me laugh. “And Then She Moved” would be the title of my autobiography. I married an ambitious man, and we have moved 12 times in the last 15 years, and that doesn’t include the college years. I’ve had three children: one in Illinois, one in California, and one in Singapore. While all that travel and relocating takes effort, it has brought amazing people and experiences into my life. I wouldn’t trade them for the world. And hey, I can write anywhere, right?

Have you ever come up with content on vacation?

All the time. With all of that moving and traveling, we have seen amazing places and things. I always travel with a small journal to take notes of sights, sounds, and scents because inevitably my characters end up there some day. Each book in the Girls’ Night Out series is set in a place I’ve either lived or visited. “Someone Special” is in the San Francisco Bay Area, and I wrote it the year we moved here from Chicago. I was essentially a tourist in my new hometown. “Second Chances” is set in Yolo County, CA and is based on the organic farm my veggies come from and a festival I attended. “Three Strikes” is set in Bali, where my husband surprised me with the best birthday trip ever during our Singapore years. “Forever Nights” takes place in Las Vegas, because I was so inspired by RT 2016 and my meeting with Cherry Adair that it all just fell into place.

Are any of your characters based on people in your real life?

My characters always have a healthy dose of me in them, but they are also made up of borrowed traits from people I love. While my best friend from college was reading “Three Strikes”, she called me at 3 am from the other side of the world to ask, “Am I Stella? Because I am TOTALLY Stella!”

How did you come up with the concept and the characters for the story?

When I began the Girls’ Night Out Series, I wanted my heroes and heroines to find love, obviously, but I also wanted to celebrate female friendships. I would be lost without my girlfriends. By the time I got to Jamie’s story in book 4, I had a pretty good idea who she was. She’s the girlfriend who tells you what you need to hear, even if it’s not what you want to hear. She’s also an empath, so she feels things more deeply than most. I knew she was going to fall for a guy who absolutely did NOT want to share his feelings with anyone. To get motivated, I joined Cherry Adair’s Finish The Damn Book Contest. She graciously spent a half an hour with me in a darkened Las Vegas Starbucks helping me talk through my plot and subplot and conflict and EVERY LAST THING! It was amazing. The energy I took away from that meeting spun into Forever Nights. When it actually ended up winning the contest, I was floored. Literally. I sat on the floor of my bedroom trying to breathe with my cell phone clutched in my hand. Life has been a whirlwind ever since.

What do you like to do when you aren't writing?

When I am not writing, my three darling daughters keep me running! I am a former third grade teacher who is now a stay-at-home mom. They are all off school for summer break, and my days are full of swim lessons, play dates, and marathons of MasterChef Junior and Great British Bakeoff. If I have any spare time (hah), I am reading either the tattered old school romance in my purse or one of my many impulsive additions to my digital TBR. I also spend far too much time on Facebook with the ladies in the Old School Romance Book Club.

Do you have any advice to give to aspiring writers?

Don’t quit. Keep writing, and keep moving forward. I had a few false starts, including a historical romance set in Venice that ran into history issues (Darn you, Napoleon) and a contemporary about an elementary school teacher (a real stretch for me) that fizzled near the end. I turned to writing again when I was home with a three year old and an infant. I was slowly going insane not speaking to other adults, and I was too tired to escape into a book by the end of the night. Solution: start talking to characters in my head. They eventually got so mouthy, I had to put pen to paper just to shut them up. I wrote “Someone Special” over the course of a year, one morning a week at Peet’s coffee shop, while my oldest was in preschool and the then baby was with a sitter. I haven’t looked back. I highly recommend joining the RWA just to have access to their online classes and local chapters. I have learned so much in the last 5 years, and my writing has changed so much. If I were still beating my head against the plot wall in that historical disaster, none of my girls would’ve seen the light of day. Instead, I let it go and moved on, and now I have published four books. In four months.

Is there anything that you would like to say to your readers and fans?

You all are fantastic. Your enthusiasm is such an amazing gift, and I am delighted to be a part of Romancelandia. I am one of you. When I find a book I love, I gush and share it everywhere and stalk the author on Facebook just to say, “Thanks for breaking my heart and putting it back together again!” The fact that people I don’t know are leaving reviews for my books is still a bit surreal, but every time someone tells me how much they loved it, I just light up inside. And then I funnel that joy into the next one…

Can you tell us about your upcoming book?

I am working on a Christmas novella featuring two secondary characters from “Someone Special”, Seth and Brandy, in an “It’s A Wonderful Life” adaptation. The novella also sets up my next series, which centers on Seth’s cousins in a next-generation Fixer Upper spin-off set in the crazy Silicon Valley real estate market. I can’t wait to share it with you.

Q&A with Vicki Lewis Thompson, In The Cowboy's Arms

What is your favorite part about writing In the Cowboy’s Arms? 

Hollywood newcomer Matt Forrest is falsely accused of behaving dishonorably. I loved writing the scenes where his foster family stands behind him because they all know he would never do such a thing. Warms my heart.

Is there anyone who you based Matt and Geena off of, or who you drew your inspiration from? 

Matt is a little like my son, who’s the nicest guy in the world, and he sometimes blunders into a dicey situation because he sees the best in everyone.

When did you first realize that you wanted to be writer? 

I’ve been writing since I was eight, but I didn’t realize I could make money at it until I was in my thirties.

What is your favorite thing about writing contemporary romance? 

I get to play with modern-day slang! It’s tricky because some words stick and others fade. The word “cool” is one of the few that’s survived over several generations.

How many books have you written? Is there one that you would consider your favorite? 

About 150. That would be like picking a favorite child! But if I had to choose a recent one, it would be CLAIMED!, the third book in my Sons of Chance series. I heart Jack Chance.

What future projects are you working on? 

More cowboy stories! I love writing them.

Do you have any advice for new writers? 

Don’t be intimidated by the success of others. Everyone starts at zero so leap into the current and swim like hell. It’s not an easy way to make a living, but it’s incredibly rewarding.

Q&A with Cathy Gillen Thacker, Wanted Texas Daddy

What was your favorite part about writing WANTED: TEXAS DADDY?  

I loved having a pregnant heroine, and doting daddy-to-be.

What was challenging about writing this book?  

I covered the entire pregnancy, from the first mention of having a child together, to bringing baby home from the hospital.  A lot of ground to cover in 55,000 words!

How would you describe the relationship between Sage and Nick?  

Committed.  They started out as great friends, became lovers and then finally husband and wife.

How did you come up with their names? Do they mean anything specific?  

Nick is a guy’s guy, so I wanted him to have a name that was both masculine and accessible.  Sage is a popular girl’s name in the southwest—probably because the plant is both hardy and evergreen and beautifully blooming.  Sage really blossoms in response to Nick’s love and attention.

When did you first realize that you wanted to be writer?  

I started dreaming up stories when I was eleven-adding details to the story was how I put myself to sleep most nights.  I got serious about putting words to page when my children were toddlers.

If you didn’t write, what would you do for work? 

Teach.

What else do you love to do besides writing?  

Spend time with family.  Garden, read, listen to music, watch TV and movies to feed my voracious appetite for ‘story’.

What is the biggest misconception about your genre?  

That the books are silly, pointless, or easily created.  A great love story stays with the reader long after the last page is read.  Creating a memorable story is a lot of work!

What future projects are you working on?  

I just started a new six book series about the heroes and heroines of fictional Laramie County.

Do you have any advice for new writers?  

Finish the book.  Taking the story from beginning all the way to the end teaches a writer more about craft, than anything else.  Then, while trying to sell the first book, start another, and finish that, too!

Politics in Fiction by Christopher David Rosales

When I consider whether or not to include politics in fiction, I think of two things. One, I’m reminded of when an instructor of mine once said, “If we’re not here to judge, what are we here to do?” In other words, how can we shape the world before we make the judgments that shape ourselves? Still, I believe that a writer is tasked with the skill of marrying oneself to multiple and conflicting ideas, emotions, and motivations. A writer is tasked to see all sides. A writer is tasked to be an actor, but this actor must play every role on the stage. That’s good training for life, for empathy, and it’s good training for judicious criticism, discernment, and discretion.

To say that my first novel is not political would be to tell a lie. In Silence the Bird, Silence the Keeper, an American family is faced with an America in which the threat of harm is so unbearable they decide to emmigrate illegally out of the United States. When an area is bad, we don’t want to be there, we don’t want our family there, and I don’t understand what about that instinct is inhuman or irresponsible. At the time I was writing Silence the Bird, Silence the Keeper, I was reading about the rapes and murders in Juarez, the shootings and hangings in Tijuana, and the desaparecidos in South America. I was watching films about Latin America like Sin Nombre and Manda Bala. I couldn’t help but think about violence and corruption here, in the states, which has always been something I’ve been fascinated with particularly because I grew up in L.A. in the 90s. Because of violence and corruption, there are microcosmic instances of migration here. I saw it in the neighborhood of Compton as that demographic changed before and after the gang-wars.

Secondly, because of the setting being so close to Southern California, I knew that I’d be interacting particularly with a Latin/o American dynamic. That’s the culture I grew up around. That’s the origin of most immigrants I knew. So, while I made a strong effort to keep race and ethnicity nebulous in the book, because I don’t see poverty and immigration as an easily reducible issue, the setting naturally dictated communication with Latin American culture. This meant, to me, harkening back to what I remember about my youth.  A strong communal oral tradition and a penchant for playful chisme (gossip), certain interest in superstition and the magic of prayer, and a literary tradition of the (talk about genre bending) magical realists, Rulfo, Marquez, etc. I wanted to bring the American exoticisation of those Latin American settings home to L.A. to show it was once a colony. It’s as rich a setting as any for the kind of intrigue, romance, and tragedy the novel explores.

Should I put politics in my fiction? Sometimes no, but sometimes yes.

I’m compelled to examine certain questions that I believe I, specifically, ethically and morally, cannot avoid. Sometimes those questions are political. Others can have other questions. For this novel, these questions are mine. These kinds of determinations are part of one’s voice. One of my writing instructors once said, “Write toward your weirdness.” My work is not a filter of me the way a microphone is a filter, filtering what goes in. That’s impossible. I watch, read, listen and talk about everything I get my hands, eyes, ears and language on. My work is more a filter of me the way a gold-pan is a filter, revealing what I think most needs appraisal.

Christopher David Rosales' first novel, Silence the Bird, Silence the Keeper (Mixer Publishing, 2015) won the McNamara Creative Arts Grant. Previously he won the Center of the American West's award for fiction three years in a row. He is a PhD candidate at University of Denver and has taught university level creative writing for 10 years.. Rosales' second novel, Gods on the Lam releases in June, 2017 from Perpetual Motion Machine Publishing and Word is Bone, his third novel, is forthcoming 2018 from Broken River Books.