  Romance/Love
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I thought for this week that it would be fun to do an interview with one of my all time favorite romance authors. I've been reading her books as fast as they were published since 1980-something and have every single one, each a bit dog-eared and tattered from repeated readings!
So with high hopes and a bit of teasing from my other half who figured that a best selling author would not actually see emails sent to her web email address, I sent off an email requesting an email interview. Not only did she answer my email in less than 24 hours, she agreed most graciously to respond to interview questions and within the last minute time frame for this newsletter! What a lady!
I am fyndorian and I am so pleased to bring you this week's Romance/Love Newsletter! |
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So, I should now like to introduce you to Ms Bertrice Small. *She is the author of 43 novels, of which 36 are Historical Romance. Her novels include THE KADIN (pronounced Kah-deen), and the beloved series "The O'Malley Saga" and "Skye's Legacy". A New York Times bestselling author, she has also appeared on other best-seller lists including Publishers Weekly, USA Today, and the L.A. Times. She is the recipient of numerous awards including Career Achievement for Historical Romance; Best Historical Romance; Outstanding Historical Romance Series; Career Achievement for Historical Fantasy; a Golden Leaf from the New Jersey Romance Writers chapter of Romance Writers of America; as Author of the Year (2006) and Big Apple Award from the New York City Romance Writers chapter of RWA, and several Reviewers Choice awards from Romantic Times. She has a "Silver Pen" from Affair De Coeur, and an Honorable Mention from The West Coast Review of Books. In 2004 Bertrice Small was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award by ROMANTIC TIMES magazine for her contributions to the Historical Romance genre.*(preceding info used with permission)
(my thanks to the various writers on wdc and elsewhere who offered up some of the following interview questions.)
1. How long have you been writing and when did you decide to 'be a writer?'
How long have I been writing? Since I was a little kid. I used to make up stories to tell my cousins and friends. But professionally I'll be in print 30 years this coming February. I don't think anyone really decides to be a writer. It just happens. I think the transformation seriously started for me when I was in my early 20s. My definition of a writer would be a storyteller, an entertainer.
2. How many rejection notices did you get before your first novel was published?
This is the one question I hate answering because I have to tell the truth, and the truth is I have never gotten a rejection letter to date. My first novel sold to the first publisher it was offered to, but just so you don't think it was all easy for me, the editor got into a fight with the publisher 7 months later, and he fired her, and canceled the contracts on the 3 books she was working on, one of which was mine. But my then agent just sold it to another publisher, Avon Books, and as they say, the rest is history.
3. Many of your readers have an absolute favorite heroine and/or book. (Mine being Janet Leslie and then the entire Skye O'Malley Series.) Do you have a favorite book/ heroine?
No, I don't have a favorite heroine or book. That's like asking a mother who her favorite child is. I like all my heroines, but I am most
grateful to Janet Leslie and Skye O'Malley for my long career. I do have
favorite hero however, Francis Stewart-Hepburn, the earl of Bothwell, and
I'll admit to being partial to Adam de Marisco.
4. Your settings and descriptions leap off the page. Have you been to England/Scotland/Ireland (for example) to do research or is it done elsewhere?
I've traveled, yes, in Europe, and England. But I also have a large library I've collected over the years, and I do all my own research.
Anything can be researched, but I find books a more reliable source than the internet where history is concerned. The amount of mis-information
disseminated by the internet is scary. I also use my local library system. Libraries are wonder resources. Here in NY State we have a cooperative library system. If my library here doesn't have what I want they will find it in some library in NY State and get it for me.
5. When you 'curl up with a good book,' who is it written by and why that particular author?
I rarely have time to read for pleasure with my current schedule. However my favorite authors are authors mostly of the 1950s, 60s and 70s. Anya Seton, Sergeanne Golon, Jan Westcott, Jean Plaidy. Authors a little more current would include Barbara Bretton, Roberta Gellis, Shirlee Busbee, Sherilyn Kenyon, Cheyenne MacCrae, and the divine Nora Roberts.
6. We have a wide range of authors here at Writing.com encompassing everything from the neophyte author to the often published. Can you offer some insight on writing from your experienced point of view?
Be accurate, neat, and on time. Listen to all the industry gossip, but
don't believe 99% of it, and don't take any of it seriously. Write what you write best, and not "for the Market" which can change in the twitch of a whisker. Be cooperative. Listen to what your editor says. If you don't agree don't go ballistic. Explain why you don't agree. Don't be a diva.
7. When you begin a new book or series, where do your get your inspiration from?
I've been very fortunate to date. The ideas come.
8. Are you an 'outline the book' before you begin writer? Or does it 'write itself?' When you are writing, How do you know when the story's finished and ready to go?
I'm not an outliner. I simply sit down and write the book. However to
help out the Sales staff at my various publishers I give them setting, time and place, and a rough idea of what will happen, but the truth is that rough idea is very sketchy because even I don't know what's going to happen until I write it. This is particularly true of my fantasy series, "The World of Hetar". I have to say the folks at HQN have been very nice about that. And it's instinct that tells me when the book is coming to an end and to start wrapping up all the loose ends.
9. How do you handle reviews of your work (good and bad)?"
Of course I love good reviews. Who doesn't? Good reviews make an author feel all warm and fuzzy. You like me! You really like me! As for bad reviews they are usually written by people who don't quite "get it" for whatever reason. Your first instinct is, of course, to want to change their minds. After all this is your "child" they're dissing. You just have to accept it, move past it, and get on with your life. But negativity can be hurtful even to an old pro such as myself.
10. Do you have any stories of uncommon (or overzealous) fans?"
No stalkers among my fans to date. I have wonderful readers. They
gather at my web site's message board at www.BertriceSmall.com but if you
visit don't expect it to be all about the wonderfulness of me. It isn't.
My website is a gathering place for my fans, and we - yes, I do get involved- discuss all sorts of stuff. But if you're looking for a funny tale of a reader, many years ago before the 'net I got a letter from a lady in Georgia who scolded me for writing sexy books. And then asked when the next one was coming out!
11. The best part of writing....when you are beginning the book or when you are finishing it?
The best part of writing the book is writing the book! I love it all.
12. How much of yourself do you put into your characters? Are any of them based on you or folks you know?
I rarely base a character on anyone I know. Actually I've only done it
once. I'm the author. Not the character. But probably where my heroines
are most like me is in my values of loyalty to family.
13. Do you think your books have changed how people look at romance novels? Does you ever feel constrained by the formulas that sometimes seem to infect romance writing?
I've never written to anyone's "formula". I made my name writing
Historical Romance novels that are strong on accurate history, and sexy.
I've been in print since February 1978. There was no romance genre then.
Have I changed mines on how people view romance novels? It's too big a
genre with at least a dozen or more sub genres for me to even consider an
answer to that question. What I do hope is that after reading my work for
the first time the reader wants to read everything I write, and will try
some other authors who write historicals like Roberta Gellis, Janelle Taylor and Shirlee Busbee.
14. Do you find that the genre has changed over the years? Or perhaps the audience?
The genre has absolutely changed, and it's expanded tremendously with
new subgenres being "discovered" regularly. It used to be just catagory and historicals. Paranormal is very hot right now. 10 years ago no one would have bought a book about vampires, or vampire slayers. Romance keeps re-inventing itself which guarantees it a very long life in the world of popular commercial fiction.
15. If you weren't writing, what would you be doing?
Running some kind of business. I'm not the retiring type.
16. Any other thoughts you'd like to offer?
Thanks for asking, but I think I've said it all or almost all. I do
appreciate the opportunity for the interview. God bless from your most
faithful author..........................................................
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I've put together a questionnaire to garner additional feedback as to what sorts of information/articles that you might like to see and to get some idea if ideas that i have for future issues are on track for what some folks might like to see.
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If you have time to fill it out, I would be most appreciative *smile*
and.....
I've decided to offer readers the opportunity to take part in a contest!
Winners will be featured in the December 14th Romance newsletter!!!
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Romance/Love: November 14, 2007 Issue [#2062]
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