1. What are you working on?
As usual, I’m working on two books
right now. What started out as women’s fiction has become a contemporary
romance. (Sometimes your characters tell you where they want to go. It’s
usually best to follow.) Flight of
Fancie is about a woman whose never left her Mississippi home. But after her fiancée, a local
doctor, abruptly calls off their wedding, Fancie Hollensby decides it’s time to
make some changes and takes flight, heading for New Hampshire. The other book titled The Real Thing is about the stress Janelle
DuMonde’s (aka Jane Devereaux’s) career as an author of spicy romance novels
puts on her twenty-plus year marriage when her husband begins to feel like a
prop for her stories.
2. How does your work differ from others in the
genre?
I think every story is unique to its
author. My women’s fiction novels tend to incorporate an element or sub-plot of
romance. My romance novels tend to delve deeply into the emotions and psychological
workings of my heroines. (I used to work as a psychotherapist, so I can’t help
myself.) The story is never just about the romance. I’m not sure if that would be
considered a good difference or not, but I’m happy with the results and my
readers seem to like it.
3. Why do you write what you write?
When I write women’s fiction, I love
digging deeply into my character’s heart and soul as well as into her head. I
enjoy stories in which strong women can risk being vulnerable and still come
through with flying colors. And romance? Well, what can I say? I’m a romantic
at heart. Romance is fun. I enjoy writing the attraction and battles that go on
in a romantic relationship. And I enjoy getting into the male perspective and
the hero’s head. Mostly I write to entertain.
4. How does your writing process work?
To say I have process makes it sound
as if I’m organized. That would be a lie. Sometimes I get what sounds like a
great title bouncing around in my head. I play with that until I come up with
the story behind the title. Other times, I get that ‘what if’ question that
spins out into a story. ‘What if a born and bred Southern girl moved to New England?’ And then there are the times when a
character introduces herself or himself and I listen for their story. No
process. It may sound like an ADD way of writing—“Oh, look. Something shiny. I’ll
follow it.” It’s the only way I know.
(I've invited a few authors and, as soon as they respond, I'll post their blog links for you. So, check back.)
Linda
