Q:How long have you been writing?

In the late eighties I started writing longhand in a spiral notebook, playing with plot and characters to see if I could write a book.

Q:How long did it take you to publish?

I never planned to be an author. I went to college to become an RN. In my first year at Sam Houston I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. I was eighteen and this hit me out of left field. When I could no longer walk to class, I had to come home and deal with thiscrippling disease. Through many surgeries and hospital stays I became an avid Harlequin romance reader. I loved those happy endings. I took up art and painted for a while. When I could no longer do that, my family encouraged me to write a book. I thought they were insane, but I did try. I spend a lot of days writing in that notebook. Didn’t have a clue what I was doing, but I was busy. And I enjoyed it.

The book was rejected over and over, so I put it away and started another. By this time my husband had bought me a computer and I was off on this adventure of writing. I read how-to books and studied Harlequin romances over and over and over.

The Truth About Jane Doe sold to Super Romance on April 19, 1999. I’d say it took about ten years of sporadic writing to sell.

Q:How many manuscripts do you have hidden away/under the bed/in storage?

I have two partials.

Q: Do you have a writing schedule and if so, what is it?

In the mornings I read emails, do mailings or whatever. In the afternoon I write from 1-4:30 p.m. and from 7 to whatever time I can’t see anymore or my husband says it’s time to stop.

Q: Do you have a critique group? If yes, how many are in the group?

Not at this time. When Harlequin showed an interest in my second manuscript, I joined Brazos Writers in my hometown of College Station. They read the first three chapters and offered advice on what I needed to do to make the story stronger. That’s the only critique group I’ve ever joined. Those ladies, Pam Litton, Christi Hendricks and Naomi Giroux, were wonderful guiding me in the right direction.

Q: When developing an idea for a new story, which comes first – the plot or the title or the characters?

It’s usually a scene. In The Truth About Jane Doe, my first book, it was a baby left on someone’s doorstep. I developed the plot and then the characters. I basically still do it that way. A scene pops into my head and I go from there.

Q: How do you handle new story ideas that pop up when you’re in the middle of a project? (ex: notebook by the bed/ separate word file, etc?)

I still have a spiral notebook on my desk where I jot ideas or notes.

Q: Have you ever gotten to the middle of a project and got bored or lost your momentum? If so, how did you handle it?

I’ve gotten stuck a few times where I felt I was writing pure garbage. I stop. Take a break. Talk to a friend. My favorite is to sleep on it over night and think about where I’ve gone wrong, what’s causing the problem. A nap works, too. But some days I don’t have the luxury of time so I get my mind on something else and then go back to it. That has worked so far.

Q: Finish this sentence: If I could write anything I wanted and knew it would sell, it would be….

Oh, an epic like Lonesome Dove. I’d love to write a western saga.

Q: What is the best advice you ever received?

The best advice came from my husband. All those years ago when he was bugging me to write one of those books I was always reading, I told him I wouldn’t know where to start or what to write about. He said write what you like to read. Smart man. I did just that. And still do.

The next is don’t let the bad reviews get to you. It’s only one person’s opinion. And it doesn’t affect sales.

Q: What is the worst?

I haven’t received any bad advice. Everyone has been nice and helpful.

Q: What is your favorite part of the writing process?

When I receive the book and hold it in my hand. It’s still hard for me to believe I’m an author–I wrote this book. But it is the most uplifting feeling and my favorite part of the writing process.

Q: What is your least favorite?

Deadlines!!!

Q: Which came first for you – the editor or the agent?

The editor. Still don’t have an agent.

Q: How many contests did you enter before you sold? How many did you final in?

I never entered a contest before I sold. I’d heard of RWA, but I didn’t know anything about the organization and all that it offered. Sad. Sad!

Q: How do your promote your books?

Web site, bookmarks, Romance Sells. Sometimes an ad in RT or RWR.

Q: Free form - your chance to tell us anything you’d like - tidbits, advice, funny stories, pet peeves, hopes, dreams, etc.

My call story.

In January 1999 I had my 15th surgery, a total hip replacement. I spent 3 months in the hospital because it was very involved with bone grafts and a specially designed implant that would support my fragile bones. When I was ready to go home, I was at the end of my patience, my endurance and my strength. But it wasn’t over. The doctor said I now had to go to a wheelchair. I could no longer walk with my crutches because my joints would no longer support me. All I heard was WHEELCHAIR and FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE. I did not take this news well, but I came home with an electric scooter. I sank into deep depression and the pain from the surgery was still severe. I was there at the end and I knew I could no longer keep fighting this disease that was slowly destroying my body.

I’m a very religious person and as I realized I was giving up, I started to pray. After a lot of tears and several minutes, the phone rang. The last thing I wanted was to talk to anyone. My mother-in-law answered and took a message. When I saw Paula Eykelhof’s name, I was surprised. I had totally forgotten about my book with her. The last thing I needed that day was a rejection, but I needed something so I returned the call. I’ll always remember her words, "Congratulations, I just bought your book." That afternoon I was back at my computer. I hadn’t touched it in months. I haven’t left it since. I tell Paula she saved my life and in a way that’s very true. Writing gave me the incentive to keep fighting, to keep going. In a WHEELCHAIR. I go to conferences in it and I’ve adjusted rather well to the blasted thing.

Remember that story I wrote in longhand that was rejected so many times. Paula was one of the editors who had read it and while we were working on rewrites she asked about the manuscript. I was stunned she had remembered that awful book. The lady has a phenomenal memory. She said she remembered the plot and would like to see another proposal on the book. I wrote a new proposal and she bought it. The Christmas Cradle became my first book for the Harlequin American line.

I don’t usually share so much about myself, but I wanted to let you know that dreams do come true. Sometimes a little different than we plan. Just NEVER give up. I have no credentials for writing these books except reading, reading, reading. With every book I’m still learning. Always A Mother will be my 20th book for Harlequin.

If I can do it, anyone can. God bless!

Q:How long have you been writing?

I joined RWA in 2002, but didn’t really get serious until I entered the Golden Heart the following year.

Q:How long did it take you to publish?

Just under four years.

Q:How many manuscripts do you have hidden away/under the bed/in storage?

OH. MY. GODS. was my fourth complete manuscript, so there are three others tucked away until the day Chick Lit resurrects or my historical voice returns or I
get tired of writing young adult (aka never).

Q: Do you have a writing schedule and if so, what is it?

That depends on how close I am to deadline. On an average day, I’ll get up, check email for an hour or so, and then head to Starbucks for 3-4 hours (I so cannot write at home). If deadline is looming, I might be at Starbucks for 6-8 hours. Yeah, they know me by name.

Q: Do you have a critique group? If yes, how many are in the group?

I have a few casual critique partners I can send stuff to when I need a quick read or a fresh pair of eyes. What I use more is my brainstorm buddy, West Houston’s own Sharie Kohler/Sophie Jordan. If I’m stuck or uncertain or just trying to work things out in my head, I’ll give her a rundown of the situation. Her fresh perspective almost always pinpoints a missing element or the right direction.

Q: When developing an idea for a new story, which comes first – the plot or the title or the characters?

It’s different for every story. For my debut novel, I came up with the working title (GROWING UP GODLY) and had to come up with a story to fit. For the sequel, e story built from the existing characters. Of the three YA proposals I’m currently working on right now, one began with a title, one with a character, and one with a plot premise.

Q: How do you handle new story ideas that pop up when you’re in the middle of a project? (ex: notebook by the bed/separate word file, etc?)

I live and die by the spiral-bound notebook–the pretty, smallish ones with flowers or frogs or candy hearts on the covers–and use a different one for each book. If I come up with an idea while working on a book–which always happens, by the way, and it’s always a way better and more interesting idea, too!–I jot down a few notes in a new notebook and move on until I’m done with the current project.

Q: Have you ever gotten to the middle of a project and got bored or lost your momentum? If so, how did you handle it?

Not bored, really, but I’ve definitely gotten stuck. That’s a danger with pantsing. Usually it’s at a point where I need a twist, a new conflict, or a scene dealing with the subplot. Once I figure out what’s missing, I can move on.

Q: Finish this sentence: If I could write anything I wanted and knew it would sell, it would be…

Exactly what I’m writing. I love writing young adult
and I love mythology, so putting the two together
is my perfect book.

Q: What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received in regards to your writing career?

Get the agent first. Without my agent I would never have sold my first book and I would have had a nervous breakdown long before I ever got to contract.

Q: What is the worst?

Anything that starts with "Never…" or "Always…." There is no such thing as an unbreakable rule–as long as you know the rule and why you’re breaking it, then everything is fair game.

Q: What is your favorite part of the writing process?

The beginning–where everything is still new and fresh and exciting–and the end–where it all comes together.

Q: What is your least favorite?

Everything in between

Q: Which came first for you – the editor or the agent?

The agent. I never submitted to editors because I wanted to keep the slate clean for my future agent.

Q: How many contests did you enter before you sold? How many did you final in?

Oh, thousands. I finaled in probably a dozen (including the Golden Heart). I won two (I think). I got one request … after I sold.

Q: How do your promote your books?

Since my main readership is teens, I put a lot of time and effort into MySpace–there are tons of librarians and booksellers on there, too. I’m part of a YA group author blog at BooksBoysBuzz.com and I have a pretty extensive website with bonus resources for students, teachers, librarians, and more.

Q: Free form - your chance to tell us anything you’d like - tidbits, advice, funny stories, pet peeves, hopes, dreams, etc.

While there is no formula for getting published, I firmly believe that anyone who keeps writing, keeps learning, and keeps growing as an author will wind up holding the umbrella in a thunderstorm–getting struck by lighting is only a matter of time.

Q:How long have you been writing?

Eight years.

Q:How long did it take you to publish?

8 years (although I actually sold in 2006, which would be 6 years, the book won’t be out until April 2008)

Q:How many manuscripts do you have hidden away/under the bed/in storage?

One

Q: Do you have a writing schedule and if so, what is it?

I always write on Fridays. That is the only for certain day I can plan on with my hectic schedule. Otherwise, I work it in when the opportunity arises. I don’t watch TV or have any other hobbies, so every moment I’m not raising my family or working at my teaching job or running "mom" errands, I’m at my computer, writing or editing. Most times that is Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and occasionally Sunday, if I’m lucky, for a couple of hours each time.

Q: Do you have a critique group?

If yes, how many are in the group? I have a fabulous critique group, the Midwives. There are currently five of us, although we just lost a member to a move. Q: If this is not the only critique group you’ve participated in, how many others did you have before finding the one that worked? I had a great group in Los Angeles before I moved to Houston, the Four F’s. They were wonderful and I missed them greatly when I had to leave. We still keep in touch and I visit now and again. Before that I was in another large group that was made up of hobbyists and those wanting to seriously publish. The group was far too large, though very supportive, so several of us with intentions of turning PRO left to form our own group (which eventually became the Four F’s.

Q: When developing an idea for a new story, which comes first – the plot or the title or the characters?

Usually it is the first scene. It will pop into my head before the characters become clear to me or even what the story is about. I’ll usually write a full chapter before I get an idea whether it is something I want to pursue or not. Often, in the writing of that chapter, a bit of the mystery will reveal itself and let me know whether I have something workable. That first chapter rarely makes it into the finished product, but it is a great way to explore the story and characters for interest.

Q: How do you handle new story ideas that pop up when you’re in the middle of a project? (ex: notebook by the bed/separate word file, etc?)

I write that first chapter to get it out of my system, then set it aside. If it pokes at me enough, I’ll go back to it when I’m through with my current project. I’ve found that I need at least a year to percolate a project before it is ready for me to focus on it, so it’s a good idea to have something else going on in the meantime. That’s what happened with my second novel. While writing The Legacy, my first book, a secondary character I hadn’t even planned on showed up and tried to take over the story. I promised him if he behaved, he’d get his own book. That was my hero Wolf’s middle brother, Günter, and his story is told in The Promise, due out in May 2009.

Q: Have you ever gotten to the middle of a project and got bored or lost your momentum? If so, how did you handle it?

Sadly, yes. I’ve got several stories that are unfinished for various reasons–some due to lack of time to do the research, others due to lack of percolation. The Promise languished for over two years before I went back to it while I was working on some contemporary manuscripts, simply because it took a while to sell the first historical and I figured what was the point of writing a sequel if I was unable to sell the first? Luckily, I did sell The Legacy, and went back and finished The Promise. I have another work-inprogress now that, although I love it, I’m not able to work on it because I’m revising a manuscript that received a lot of interest but no bites. I’m convinced if I can make some changes, it will sell in the second round, but honestly, I’m about sick of the thing right now and would like to move on! LOL!

Q: Finish this sentence: If I could write anything I wanted and knew it would sell, it would be…

Another German-set historical! I loved that time period, and it would be nice to use all that lovely research stuffed into my file cabinets. Or, a novel set in Cromwell’s England. That would be cool. I love focusing on those moments of historical change and the impact they have on the average person who lived at the time. I also love writing my "what if?" paranormals. I’m convinced the one I’m working on now is some of my best work.

Q: What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received in regards to your writing career?

That was from Susan Squires. She told me not to be discouraged at my abysmal contest placements. I was receiving widely divergent scores on the same manuscripts–very high and very low in the same contest. I couldn’t figure out what to do, and assumed I was just a bad writer. She told me such scores are usually indicative of a strong "voice." Authors with strong voices eventually get published–readers either love or hate you, but those that love you will stick with you forever. Best advice I ever received, because it kept me from tempering my voice too much to try to fit into the bland midrange of scores contests often encourage.

Q: What is the worst?

That I "couldn’t" do certain things I wanted to, because the "rules" of romance writing didn’t allow it. Things like using a different font, or making my hero have unsavory qualities, or having the hero handcuff my heroine to her own bed, that sort of thing. When I broke free of the "can’t’s" and started asking "why not?" my voice really began to come through.

Q: What is your favorite part of the writing process?

When it’s over. LOL! No, I think it’s when I’m working on a really emotional scene, and I’m in the zone, and I’m writing dialogue that sings. Nothing beats that. Also when it’s over.

Q: What is your least favorite?

Research! I’m horribly lazy, yet a perfectionist, and I just hate doing research because I’m so anal about getting it right. It is one of the reasons I switched from historicals to contemporary paranormals. The research burden was getting me down, even though I enjoyed the historical period. I like to write fast, and it isn’t possible to do that when one has to look up practically everything. Since my period was German-set Reformation historicals, trust me, I had to look up everything. My contemporary books are usually about LA cops, however, and I find them fascinating, so the research I do for that is more than fun.

Q: Which came first for you – the editor or the agent?

The editor. I sold two years before I ever got an agent, and honestly, the agent wasn’t interested in my small press books. She really loves one of my paranormals and believes in it enough to hang in there with me while I work on the revisions.

Q: How many contests did you enter before you sold? How many did you final in?

I entered dozens of contests before I sold. I was a veritable contest diva. I finaled in half a dozen with my Golden Heart finalist, Dreamweaver, which never sold. I finaled in three more with my current paranormal, The Justice Seeker, the one many editors were interested in and came "this close" to selling. The Legacy finaled in one contest, The Promise none. Go figure.

Q: How do your promote your books?

Blog tours, contests, keeping a website, spreading the news about good reviews, giving ARCs to booksellers–the usual. I’m also hosting a book launch party at Read it Again & Again bookstore in Houston on Beechnut on April 18 from 6 - 8 pm which is open to the public. The owner has been fabulous about hand-selling my book to her customers. I’m giving a talk in Los Angeles on April 13 and having a booksigning after, and teaching an online class for RWA Elements in May. I belong to a number of Yahoo loops and I’m promoting the book where appropriate on those as well. Both my publisher and I have placed ads in readers magazines, too.

Q: Free form - your chance to tell us anything you’d like - tidbits, advice, funny stories, pet peeves, hopes, dreams, etc.

The Legacy has had such a long road to publication. When I first started in in 2000, I wasn’t concerned about market trends or anything like that. I had a damn good story to tell and set about telling it. It wasn’t until much later that I realized what a radical act it was to set a romance in an unusual place and time like Reformation era Germany (something else people told me I couldn’t do), and what a hard sell it was going to be. Contest judges, agents, and editors alike had such strong reactions to it, both for and against. So did early readers. Either people loved the book, or they hated it. I actually once had a contest judge tell me my heroine was "too stupid to live" (devastating me). Another nit-picked it to death because she claimed my hero would have had a beard because ALL men had beards during this time (even though I had many portraits and woodcuts contemporary to the time that showed the opposite). I used to joke that some contest judges hated my story so much, they’d give it really low scores then try to find out where I lived so they could burn my house down, too. (I was kidding–mostly.)

But I never stopped believing this was a good book. I didn’t always believe it would sell, but I knew, years after I’d written it, when I could pick it up and read it with some objectivity and found myself laughing and crying in all the right places, this was a story that deserved a chance to be published. I’m so happy now that the time has come to see my baby on the shelves of bookstores everywhere. When I look back to how far I’ve come, and where I am today, and where I might be in the future, I never dreamed the kind of journey it would take me on, what I’d learn, or the friends I’d make along the way. I made my dream come true. If I never publish another book, I’ll always be content with that.

Q:How long have you been writing?

I’ve been seriously writing and trying to publish since about 2003.

Q:How long did it take you to publish?

About a year and a half.

Q:How many manuscripts do you have hidden away/ under the bed/in storage?

Only my orphaned Bombshell, Intended Victim. Silhouette asked me to make significant structural changes to it (break it into 2 books), so I did, but the line folded before either book could be released. I may go back and rework the original as a single title, but that’s really a backburner project for me.

Q: Do you have a writing schedule and if so, what is it?

I currently have a full-time job, which means my focus is not on the writing right now. I’m trying to be gentle with myself and not expect myself to write when I’m exhausted or already overbooked with activities. Some writers can do that, and more power to them, but I’m simply not capable. I have only so much mental energy, and I’m practicing now doing one thing at a time (as in, only washing dishes instead of washing dishes and thinking about the plot, or washing dishes and fretting over edits). I’m not under contract, so I can write as I choose to, which is very freeing.

Q: Do you have a critique group? If yes, how many are in the group?

The three lovely writers I work with are always supportive and interested in each others’ work, and I owe them a great deal.

Q: If this is not the only critique group you’ve participated in, how many others did you have before finding the one that worked?

I had a previous group (also a foursome) when I first got started writing romance.

Q: When developing an idea for a new story, which comes first – the plot or the title or the characters?

A feeling, actually. I get a feeling that wants to come onto the page, and then the protagonist follows as an answer to the question, Who would feel that feeling?. In order to carry that feeling, the protagonist has to have a reason for doing so, so there’s usually a scene in there somewhere spelling out who the protagonist is emotionally and where she’s come from. Then, I write that scene, and see what comes out on the page. My busy brain likes structure, so it’ll start building a framework of plot around the protagonist after that, starting, of course, with the dark moment — what’s at stake.

Q: How do you handle new story ideas that pop up when you’re in the middle of a project? (ex: notebook by the bed/separate word file, etc?)

I write down whatever notes or thoughts I have in a separate Word file. Each idea has its own file, which can get pretty big. Everything in the file is fodder and much will end up discarded, but capturing each idea honors it.

Q: Have you ever gotten to the middle of a project and got bored or lost your momentum? If so, how did you handle it?

Sure, I’ve gotten bored in the middle of a project. For me, getting bored signals one of two situations: There’s not enough conflict or enough at stake that’s driving to the dark moment and climax, or (more likely) I just don’t want to write at that moment. What I’ve learned, however, is that it’s okay not to want to write. I used to break out the two-by-four and beat myself over not getting out enough pages — there’s a deadline, or perhaps the overall project seems intimidating — or over not having the desire to do the work. But not wanting to do the work is usually a sign of my not being "present" — I want to be doing something else when this task, the writing, is front of me right now. That’s a state of mind that can only be changed through, for me, meditation or practicing mindfulness. (Am I good at practicing when I feel this way? Let’s just say I’m getting better at it, but very slowly….)

So once I start peeling back the layers of "lost momentum," I see there are a couple of practical things I can do, such as reviewing the story for "what’s at stake," and sitting for a time in meditation. Q: Finish this sentence: If I could write anything I wanted and knew it would sell, it would be…. The next book. I don’t have a "book of the heart" as some writers do. I do have stories I know that I’m not ready to put on the page yet, but I’m patient and can wait until it’s time.

Q: What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received in regards to your writing career?

"If you want to write a book, you’ve already written it." This was said by a roaming writer whose name escapes me, but she was teaching a class in how to write a book in six weeks or less. The idea was that the basic book is inside, ready to come onto the page, but the author often isn’t ready to write it for one reason or another. She also said there’s no such thing as writer’s block, and that the only reasons for lack of creativity are grief and fear. Writer’s block, she said, was simply a self-deception when what we really want to say is, "I’m afraid." Both of these tidbits have been very helpful to me.

Q: What is the worst?

Take out all these "the’s". Write shorter sentences. Don’t use adverbs. No, that’s writing advice. As far as writing career advice, I tend to take what I like and leave (and therefore forget) the rest. Everyone’s journey is different.

Q: What is your favorite part of the writing process?

Exploring the protagonist’s journey, not in a Chris Vogler sort of way, but in an emotional, "what’s the worst that can happen to this character" kind of way. I love identifying the stakes for the character, finding her motivation that heightens those stakes, and then taking away what she most wants. Bwahahahahaha.

Q: What is you least favorite?

The moment after I send the manuscript to the editor. I just know there’s something I’ve forgotten to fix….

Q: Which came first for you – the editor or the agent?

The editor came first. I met her when I won the BAWL Conference contest and have worked with her since.

Q: How many contests did you enter before you sold? How many did you final in?

Entered two, finaled in one.

Q: How do your promote your books?

With resentment. I dislike keeping up a web site (anyone else’s web site, great! Mine? Yuck!) and am not particularly sociable, so I find it very difficult to promote myself. So when I get a chance to do something like participate in the Romantic Times book bags sponsored by my agency last year, I jump on it. That was a minimal labor kind of deal and the bags looked great.

Q: Free form - your chance to tell us anything you’d like - tidbits, advice, funny stories, pet peeves, hopes, dreams, etc.

Phew! I think I’ve said plenty! Thank you!

Our PAN Spotlight for this month is Linda Jacobs/Christine Carroll

Q: How long have you been writing?

LINDA: When I was a kid, I’d hit a ball against the wall and tell myself stories. Later I taught myself to type (still don’t use the proper qwerty technique) and wrote novels on my Dad’s old Royal typewriter. I started learning to write for publication about fifteen years ago, got serious in 2000.

Q: How long did it take you reach publication?

LINDA: Once I got serious, about 4 years ago

Q: How many manuscripts do you have away under the bed/in storage/etc?

LINDA: One! I decided I loved all my stories too much to leave them behind, so I worked and rewrote and got them all published. Now I’m moving on to new ideas.

Q: Do you have a writing schedule, and if so, what is it?

LINDA: I wish! I like to work out in the morning, so I usually write in the afternoons or evenings. I’m good at editing while watching TV, but not at first draft work.

Q: Do you have a critique group and if so how many are in it?

LINDA: I had a great critique group out of the Rice University novel writing program. They still meet, but since I left Houston, I don’t get a regular schedule with them anymore. I do send them big chunks of work to go over and I read theirs via email.

Q: If this isn’t the only critique group you’ve been with, how many others were there before you found the one that worked?

LINDA: They were the only one, except when I studied with Rita Gallagher the other students did critque at Rita’s urging. Pat Rosen, Jes Trapp, and Susie Nickson come to mind.

Q: When developing a new story which comes first the plot, the title or the characters?

LINDA: I’m very plot and place driven. I’ve written about real events in my Yellowstone Series like the fires of 1988 (Summer of Fire, 2005, Medallion Press), the super volcano (Rain of Fire, 2006, Medallion Press) and things that happened in the park before 1900 (Lake of Fire, 2007, Medallion Press.) My contemporary single title romances started with the San Francisco Bay area and the Napa Valley. Once I have the place/events, I go next to who’s going to experience these things - like Sylvia Chatsworth, who’s in my new release, The Senator’s Daughter - she’s a bit of a bad girl, hounded by the paparazzi - will she make good with the love of Assistant District Attorney Lyle Thomas?

Q: How do you handle new story ideas that pop up when you’re in the middle of a wip?

LINDA: I’ve got a folder on my computer called”Story Ideas.” What’s in there varies from a single page of plot/place to a couple that have up to fifty pages of narrative and character sketches. They’re not in proposal form because I haven’t figured out where I’m going with them. So many stories, so little time.

Q: Have you ever lost your momentum in the middle of a project? If so, how did you handle it?

LINDA: I’ve usually got two books going at once so I might switch and work on the other, or if I get stuck on forward momentum, I’ll go back and read what comes before and polish it a little. Then things tend to move again.

Q: Finish this sentence: If I could write anything I wanted and knew it would sell it would be:

LINDA: A dream come true, because knowing what wouldsell would be quite a gift. Then I’d probably start having seminars in Vegas and charging a lot to teach people what sells… wait… no! You mean Robert McKee’s already doing that?

Q: What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received in your career?

LINDA: Don’t give up your day job. Until you can - my husband and I retired.

Q:What is the worst?

LINDA: Write what you know. It’s perfectly possible to not only research and interview people and write about their experiences like any good journalist, but to use our writer’s imaginations to create entire worlds that existed first in our minds and then on paper.

Q: What is your favorite part of the writing process?

LINDA: I write the whole book except for the final ten or so pages. Then I read and edit it all, knowing all the while in my head how the ending is going to look, like seeing it on a movie screen. Then I sit down and write it - when I finish the last page I’m always sobbing like Joan Wilder in Romancing the Stone. Then I jump up, give a referee’s touchdown signal and shriek for joy, sort of like celebrating in the end zone.

Q: What is your least favorite?

LINDA: The sagging middle.

Q: Which came first—the editor or the agent?

LINDA: I’ve had two agents and they both came before a sale.

Q: How many contests did you enter before you sold? How many did you final in?

LINDA: I may have entered two or three contests - some of my books are a little mainstream for many romance contests - I got third place in one contest. For me, contests had nothing to do with making my first sale.

Q: How do you promote your books?

LINDA: I’ve got a website for both my writing names, Linda Jacobs and Christine Carroll - they’re linked. I advertise on Yellowstone travel sites online for those books and on romance sites for Christine. For the Yellowstone supervolcano book, I was on about twenty radio shows including one nationally syndicated in Canada and Air America nationwide. I wish I could say the radio shows boosted my sales but I never saw any change at Amazon or B&N on the days I was on. I do some signings when I travel - my favorite venue is of
course Yellowstone, where folks grab all three of my books and ask to have their pic taken with me.

Q: Free form—share your thoughts, tidbits, etc:

LINDA: My pet peeve is archetypal cocktail party brain surgeon who’s going to dash off a bestselling novel in six months - the one where you have to resist saying, “I’m thinking of taking six months and taking up brain surgery.” Wait, you mean you don’t have to resist saying it?

Thank you for your time and candor, Linda! Be sure to check out Linda’s latest, written as Christine Carroll: The Senator’s Daughter.

Our PAN Spotlight for this month is Michele Dunaway. Thank you Michele for your contribution!

Q: How long have you been writing?

Michele: 8 years

Q: How long did it take you to publish?

Michele: I joined RWA in 1998 and sold as a result of an editor appointment at the 1999 convention.

Q: How many manuscripts do you have hidden away/under the bed/in storage?:

Michele: a few

Q: Do you have a writing schedule and if so, what is it?:

Michele: No. I write whenever I get a chance. On deadline that’s all I’ll do.

Q: Do you have a critique group? If yes, how many are in the group?

Michele: No. I plot and write every book alone. I did have one for the first 3 books, but that was ages ago.

Q: When developing an idea for a new story, which comes first – the plot or the title or the characters?

Michele: The title to me is irrelevant. I just slap something on it for the contract. Once the book is sold and the editor and marketing get involved, the title comes to life then. So I don’t worry about that. The characters usually come first for me and then I develop the plot around them. Those are the items core to the story.

Q: How do you handle new story ideas that pop up when you’re in the middle of a project? (ex: notebook by the bed/separate word file/ etc?)

Michele: I keep a notebook, but usually I just make some chicken scratches. I try to keep the WIP at the forefront or I won’t want to work on it–the new thing always sounds much more exciting.

Q: Have you ever gotten to the middle of a project and got bored or lost your momentum? If so, how did you handle it?

Michele: I hate the middle of every book I write. That’s the part where it’s like being in the dentist chair getting my teeth drilled–I don’t want to be there. So I’ve learned to write in thirds. I write the first third, go back and revise. The next third, go back and revise only that, and then the last third, and then revise the whole thing.

Q: Finish this sentence: If I could write anything I wanted and knew it would sell, it would be….

Michele: single title suspense in the guise of Mary Higgins Clark or those juicy 80s Sydney Sheldon books like Master of the Game

Q: What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received in regards to your writing career?

Michele: Listen to your own voice. Too many cooks can spoil the broth so really, the only person who can tell your story is you.

Q: What is the worst?

Michele: I have to admit, I haven’t read too many books on writing. The minute I do, I want to try everything. I think writers can get bogged down with the mechanics of getting the story on paper. To me, just tell the story and then figure out what needs to be fixed on it.

Q: What is your favorite part of the writing process?

Michele: The creation of the work. I love writing and telling stories. Some just get started and never go anywhere, but I still have to put those words down

Q: What is you least favorite?

Michele: Revisions

Q: Which came first for you – the editor or the agent?

Michele: The editor. I got my agent after I’d already sold 14 on my own.

Q: How many contests did you enter before you sold? How many did you final in?

Michele: Let me be an inspiration for all those who don’t final. I placed 26th in a 3 - way tie out of 30. Do that math, that means pretty much dead last in the ONLY contest I ever entered. I didn’t get discouraged, fixed the book, pitched it, and made my first sale. And yes, it was that simple. I thank God for how lucky I was.

Q: How do your promote your books?

Michele: I try to get a lot of press. I don’t do many book signings anymore. I do the occasional Romance Sells ad. But I’ve never done magnets or those giveaway items.

Q: Free form - your chance to tell us anything you’d like - tidbits, advice, funny stories, pet peeves, hopes, dreams, etc:

Michele: I love the West Houston chapter. I never really lived in Houston but joined when my (now ex) husband moved there before me as part of our family relocation. I was to follow in May 2001, but ended up staying in Missouri and filing for divorce. But the chapter has it so together and I love all the people and the links so I stayed. I hope to get down there a lot more, especially since the ex is in Alabama now!

Our PAN Spotlight for this month is Shane Bolks/Shana Galen..

Q:How long have you been writing?

Shane: I started writing for publication in January 2000. Growing up, I always enjoyed writing. I think the first story I wrote was when I was eight. It was in My Book About Me, and it was Star Wars fan fiction. I wrote my sister’s story in her book, too!

Q:How long did it take you to publish?

Shane: I sold my first book a little over 4 years after I began writing for publication.

Q:How many manuscripts do you have hidden away/under the bed/in storage?:

Shane: I have 2 full-length manuscripts that have never been published and probably half a dozen proposals.

Q: Do you have a writing schedule and if so, what is it?:

Shane: I used to, but my life is in transition right now. I try to write after work and on weekends. I’m a fast writer, so it works.

Q: Do you have a critique group? If yes, how many are in the group?

Shane: Yes, there are 3 of us.

Q: If this is not the only critique group you’ve participated in, how many others did you have before finding the one that worked?:

Shane: I was in one before this.

Q: When developing an idea for a new story, which comes first – the plot or the title or the characters?

Shane: I think it’s a mix of plot and character. The plot kind of informs the character and vice -versa. Once, I did come up with the title first: Jedis, Wookies, and Other Men I’ve Dated. That became The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly Men I’ve Dated.

Q: How do you handle new story ideas that pop up when you’re in the middle of a project? (ex: notebook by the bed/separate word file/ etc?)

Shane: I have a separate word file labeled Ideas. I write a brief description of the idea and file it away.

Q: Have you ever gotten to the middle of a project and got bored or lost your momentum? If so, how did you handle it?

Shane: Not really because I write pretty fast, and I’m driven. I don’t allow myself to get bored or lose momentum. Usually when I lose momentum it’s because the story idea isn’t good. I don’t usually get more than 10-15 pages into one of those books before I have trouble. Then I shelve the book. I haven’t yet gone back to one of those.

Q: Finish this sentence: If I could write anything I wanted and knew it would sell, it would be….

Shane: A love story between a Jew in a concentration camp and a non-Jew set in WWII. You know how romantic concentration camps can be.

Q: What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received in regards to your writing career?

Shane: Don’t take it personally.

Q: What is the worst?

Shane: Write what you know.

Q: What is your favorite part of the writing process?

Shane: Beginning a new book.

Q: What is you least favorite?

Shane: Chapters 6-9 and revisions

Q: Which came first for you – the editor or the agent?

Shane: The agent.

Q: How many contests did you enter before you sold? How many did you final in?

Shane: I probably entered 10. I think I finaled in 3 or 4. I finaled in the Golden Heart. That was the big one.

Q: How do your promote your books?

Shane: Website, e -newsletter, bookmarks, Romance Sells, promo to booksellers, reader contests, my blog www.jauntyquills.com.

Q: Free form - your chance to tell us anything you’d like - tidbits, advice, funny stories, pet peeves, hopes, dreams, etc:

Shane: Well, my pet peeve is when people find out I’m an author because they always want to tell me about the idea they have for a book. Usually they want advice on how to get this yet-to-be-written book published, but invariably they dream of writing a (write more continued from page 11) cookbook or a book that falls in some other market I know nothing about.

My advice is not to get too wrapped up in this industry. I think writers are obsessive-types. At least I am. Prioritize writing, but don’t forget about family and friends and relaxing. Life is too short to devote yourself to a business that won’t ever devote itself to you.

Our PAN Spotlight for this month is Linda Barrett.

Q: How long have you been writing?

Linda: Does the two-page hand-written story from 4th grade count? My friend and I each wrote one page and mailed it to Children’s Digest I think. My first rejection.

Q: How long did it take you to publish?

Linda: Four-and-a-half years from the time I got serious. There’s a big difference between writing for your own pleasure and writing for publication. The first is a lot more fun. The second might pay a bill or two.

Q: How many manuscripts do you have hidden away/under the bed/in storage?:

Linda: Four contemporary romances and one young adult which, to this day, I absolutely treasure. I know I’ve put the essence of that story into many of my published books.

Q: Do you have a writing schedule and if so, what is it?:

Linda: Currently I write full days on Friday, Saturday and/ or Sunday. I guess I’m a weekend writer. My goal is to complete a chapter per weekend which I usually accomplish. Monday through Thursday evenings are spent doing auxiliary writing activities such as designing a bookmark or trying to figure out MySpace!

Q: Do you have a critique group? If yes, how many are in the group?

Linda: I critique with my editor.

Q: When developing an idea for a new story, which comes first – the plot or the title or the characters?

Linda: Usually it’s the characters. For example, in HOUSEFUL OF STRANGERS, I couldn’t get 15 year-old Dani out of my mind for many weeks before I wrote one word of the synopsis. I didn’t know her name would be Dani. I just pictured this kid riding the NY subways, a runaway. Sometimes, however, a situation or question pops into my head that requires attention. Is there really only one soul-mate for each person? (a romance driven question if I ever heard one!) Find the answer in THE SOLDIER AND THE ROSE. And then again, there’s setting. My Pilgrim Cove series began with the beach. So the answer is: all of the above.

Q: How do you handle new story ideas that pop up when you’re in the middle of a project? (ex: notebook by the bed/separate word file/ etc?)

Linda: There are notebooks or pads of paper in every room and in my purse. I have a folder labeled New Ideas for Stories and that folder is on top of a table in my office. Of course, by the time I get to Idea One, a few others have cropped up, but they’re all in the folder.

Q: Have you ever gotten to the middle of a project and got bored or lost your momentum? If so, how did you handle it?

Linda: Although I haven’t gotten bored, I might get stuck fighting a sagging middle. To help with that, I usually go backwards in the story I’ve written so far and try to find the place where the root of the problem actually started. Then I try to change the action to reveal more complex motivation or character. (Sounds so easy - ha!)

Q: Finish this sentence: If I could write anything I wanted and knew it would sell, it would be….

Linda: Exactly the kind of story I’m writing now. The one truth I’ve learned in the last seven years of being published is that a writer must write to please herself. My canvas is the family unit. A contemporary story with family dynamics is what I’m interested in exploring, so that is what I write.

Q: What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received in regards to your writing career?

Linda: See question directly above.

Q: What is the worst?

Linda: Try to sell the mss. that are under the bed. No! No! No! There is a reason they are under the bed.

Q: What is your favorite part of the writing process?

Linda: Writing "The End." Hands down favorite part. I also love solving knotty problems that crop up - the kind that prevents me from going further with the story until I solve them. Sometimes, they’re not even craft problems, but stuff like, should I use Boston or make up a city? What are the pro’s and con’s? I have to know the answer before I can proceed.

Q: What is you least favorite?

Linda: The moment before I open the document my editor sends me after reading my initial manuscript - the document titled "Revision Letter." It’s ridiculous, but that’s the moment I still feel like I’m in 4th grade.

Q: Which came first for you – the editor or the agent?

Linda: I’m unagented, so by default, the editor came first.

Q: How many contests did you enter before you sold? How many did you final in?

Linda: Maybe five or six. I never finaled in any - definitely not a contest queen. The first book I sold, however, scored in the top 25% in the Golden Heart that year. I thought that was pretty good and consistent with the rankings in the chapter contests.

Q: How do your promote your books?

Linda: Frankly, I don’t do enough. My biggest efforts are through my website and getting my books into the hands of actual booksellers. I think that’s important because those people deal with real live customers and can hand-sell your books. I also try to participate in the eHarlequin threads.

Q: Free form - your chance to tell us anything you’d like - tidbits, advice, funny stories, pet peeves, hopes, dreams, etc:

Linda: I never miss an opportunity to give advice - just ask my kids. So here’s the most important lesson I’ve learned on the road to this career, and I offer it to you free of charge: Remain true to yourself.

It’s easy to get sucked into the whirlwind of this business which changes every five minutes. There’s an extraordinary amount to learn, to keep up with, and it simply takes time. You’re a sane person. Don’t let the business drive you crazy.

It’s tempting to compare yourself to other writers and come up short, to criticize others in order to make yourself feel superior. Insecurity is pervasive among writers - accept it and move on.

It’s also tempting to chase trends, to end with each wind that blows and try to be where the action is. Readers can tell the difference between the work of a trend chaser and a sincere believer of the sub-genre.

It’s easy for the writing to take over your life 24/7. It’s easy to lose perspective or lose the big picture. If writing subsumes you, what happens to: Family. Friends. Day job. Community. What’s it all about, Alfie? What’s it all about for you?

Remain true to yourself.

I wish each of you the very best on your own rocky roads to publication and beyond.

Our PAN Spotlight for this month is Gerry Bartlett.

Here is Gerry… In her own words…..

Q: How long have you been writing?

Gerry: Since 1980

Q: How long did it take you to publish?

Gerry: Sold my first book in 1998

Q: How many manuscripts do you have hidden away/
under the bed/in storage?:

Gerry: At least five

Q: Do you have a writing schedule and if so, what is
it?:

Gerry: Unfortunately not. I have to be in the mood to write, but sometimes drag myself to the computer anyway. Once there, I can sit for hours because I get into the story.

Q: Do you have a critique group? If yes, how many are in the group?

Gerry: Yes. I couldn’t have done this without my beloved team. It has changed over the years. I started out with Nina Bangs and Kimberly Raye. Donna Maloy joined soon afterwards. Many others have come and gone. Kim lives in Bulverde outside of San Antonio now so we do some critiquing by email but the rest of us hang in there with lunch and dinner meetings but not weekly like we did for years. We started in 1990 when none of us were published. So basically just three of us meet now.

Q: If this is not the only critique group you’ve participated in, how many others did you have before finding the one that worked?:

Gerry: This is it, but as I said it has changed over the years. It is very important that personalities and writing styles and priorities are compatible. Some of our members couldn’t take the criticism. Some didn’t write romance and some just lost heart and couldn’t wait for the length of time it takes to make it in this business. Only the strong survive.

Q: When developing an idea for a new story, which comes first– the plot or the title or the characters?

Gerry: I’ve been known to dream plots. The idea for the Real Vampires series came from nagging Nina Bangs. She wanted me to try my hand at paranormal because the historical market was soft. I said I’d have to do it my way and came up with the central character. Kim Raye (actually Groff) brilliantly suggested the title and plus size concept and I was off and running.

Q: How do you handle new story ideas that pop up when you’re in the middle of a project? (ex: notebook by the bed/separate word file/ etc?)

Gerry: I’m very disorganized and usually just add new ideas right into the book. I do have notebooks everywhere and slips of paper. File folders are useless around me, though I did clean out my office recently. Which lasted about five minutes.

Q: Have you ever gotten to the middle of a project

and got bored or lost your momentum? If so, how did you handle it? Gerry:I have lots of unfinished projects, but those were pre-contract. Now I try not to do anything that I don’t have a contract for. What a luxury! I highly recommend it and realize it’s a dream come true. Some day I’d like to go back to some of those and actually I steal ideas from them and incorporate tidbits into the work I’m doing now. Problem with writing under contract is that if you’re bored or out of steam, tough. You’ve got to suck it up and find your muse or fake it.

Q: Finish this sentence: If I could write anything I wanted and knew it would sell, it would be….

Gerry: I feel like I’m doing that now. I love Gloriana and I’m getting great fan mail almost every day from women who can relate to her and her figure issues even though she’s a vampire. What fun!

Q: What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received in regards to your writing career?

Gerry: To stick with it. To never give up. I’ve almost quit many times. And my buddy Nina is always pushing me to try harder, not to be content with a cliché but to try for an original line or situation. She really makes me stretch and that makes me a better writer. I love her!

Q: What is the worst?

Gerry: To write every day whether I feel like it or not. Sorry, but some of us just aren’t built that way. I have to fill the well or my creativity just isn’t there. So I play some days. Then when I do sit down to write I can do it with enthusiasm and for hours on end.

Q:What is your favorite part of the writing process?

Gerry: I love the interaction between characters, the dialogue and banter. And, yes, sometimes I do crack myself up. Hopefully, what I think is funny or sexy is also funny or sexy to the reader too. I can never be completely objective about what I write because I am so totally invested in the characters, especially when writing first person like I’m doing now.

Q:What is you least favorite?

Gerry: Sitting down to write in the first place. I’m a real procrastinator.

Q:Which came first for you – the editor or the agent?

Gerry: I sold three books before getting an agent and it sure wasn’t for lack of trying. Signing with an agent is hard, but I’m convinced it was a case of the right project at the right time with this book. Everything finally fell into place with REAL VAMPIRES HAVE CURVES. I had listened to Julie Kenner talk about her agent at a West Houston meeting, realized my new idea was similar to what she wrote and shot off an email to her agent, Kim Whalen at Trident Media Group. The rest is history and the beginning of what I hope is a long and fruitful partnership.

Q: How many contests did you enter before you sold? How many did you final in?

Gerry: I entered at least five, not sure exactly. I won the Golden Triangle in the Historical Romance category, finaled in the Golden Heart with the same book and got some decent scores in others. I sold that historical to Dorchester. It was my third sale.

Q:How do your promote your books?

Gerry: I have a web site, a My Space page and use Amazon Connect. I also had flyers printed, write for the Houston Bay Area RWA chapter newsletter and the articles are reprinted all over the world. I have flyers I hand out at my antique shop in Galveston, have spoken to several groups, including this one, and done a few signings. I also gave away Vampire Viagra (gourmet jelly beans in pill bottles) at RWA nationals to Librarians and booksellers and signed at the Literacy autographing.

Q: Free form - your chance to tell us anything you’d like - tidbits, advice, funny stories, pet peeves, hopes, dreams, etc:

Gerry: Don’t we all have the same dream? New York Times, baby! Right up there with Nora, Sandra, and all the other fabulous ladies RWA has fostered over the years. And, I’ll be honest here, I never would have sold book one without RWA. I met my critique group at a chapter meeting (Bay Area, sorry, W.Hou) and I have learned so much technique, craft and marketing I wouldn’t know where to start listing it all. Stay connected by attending chapter meetings. Otherwise, this business is just too lonely to stick with. And you’ll end up one of those dropouts that no one will ever hear of. The three in my critique group who started in 1990 have now sold a total of over 70 books! How’s that for inspiration!