A SHORT-BREAK & MOCKTAILS WITH
THE ROMANTIC MUSE (TRM)
AP Castell: Hmm, smell that fresh country air.
Jennie
Jones: Thanks for organising this AP. It’s really countrified out here,
isn’t it?
AP Castell: My pleasure. Yep, though I must admit, I underestimated just how
far this place was from the nearest town.
Jennie
Jones: It was a long drive but I packed a few chocolate bars, and
have my bottle of bubbly ready to put in the fridge! Happy!
Carolyn
Wren: I packed a few dozen chocolate bars because I’m hopeless at
reading my GPS. Surprisingly, I only got
lost 3 times. It’s a personal record.
AP Castell: Three times, not bad. My chocolate stash was in the boot of
the car. I could have used some after swerving to miss a wallaby. Just about
gave me a heart attack. It looks like everyone else found the bungalow
without incident?
Whitney K-E: I wouldn’t
say without incident. Did I mention I am hopeless with directions? And
coffee?! I couldn’t find anywhere that
sold a good coffee.
AP Castell: Gotta hate that. You know, I’m feeling a little guilty sitting out
here on this deck catching rays, while the rest of the world is hard at it. *sighs
contentedly*
Jennie
Jones: Em – nope, AP. I don’t feel guilty at all.
Whitney K-E: Hehe, I
agree with Jennie.
Carolyn
Wren: My poor little fingers are worn down to the bone with editing, I
refuse to feel guilty today… hand over a chocolate.
AP Castell: Here catch. Good thing we all brought multiple boxes. *pops
chocolate in her mouth & leans back in deckchair* You girls are right, I shouldn’t feel guilty, we
all needed this break. The year is flying by, so much has happened in the last
six months. *grabs another chocolate*
It was only this January that, Whitney was holidaying in
Ireland and by the end of February, What Happens in
Ireland, was contracted to, Secret Cravings
Publishing.
Two dreams fulfilled in such a short time. That has got to feel pretty awesome
Whitney?
Whitney K-E: Sure does! I miss Ireland so much. Think about it every
day which keeps the Muse busy writing and editing the rest of the series. Maybe on our next vacation, I can
drag you three to Killarney?
Jennie
Jones: Count me in!
AP Castell: Yes, please. Ireland is definitely on my, Bucket List. Do you
recall what inspired the original idea for your story, Whitney?
Whitney K-E: I was planning my trip to Ireland with my best friend
and sister. And from there grew my novels. J I had a two year long wait before I
could go to Ireland. And I spent the entire time dreaming about it and writing
my novels.
AP Castell: I’d be dreaming too.
Then there was the release of, The
Scientist, Carolyn’s second book early in the new year. And if that
wasn’t enough good news, Jennie calmly announces she’s an Escape Artist! I took
this literally, thinking you had been taking magic lessons on the side and keeping
it from your TRM buddies.
Sorry, couldn’t resist a little teasing, Jennie. Who can blame
me? You sing, dance and act. So the magic idea is plausible. *winks*
Seriously though, The House on Burra
Burra Lane, was published this June with Harlequin (Australia) Escape Publishing. The
transition to author happened in a whirlwind. In hindsight is there anything
you would have done differently to arrive at this point?
Jennie
Jones: Heck, I don’t know. No. Yes – well, sort of, maybe (Whitney,
could you pass my bottle of bubbly please?).
Actually, AP, yes! I think my stars were aligned but I also recognised
that they’d only be in my sky for so long and that I needed to grasp the
opportunity and launch myself into the unknown. That meant I had to do some hard graft if I
wanted to slide down a rainbow. I’d been writing (in beginning mode) for nearly
two years and for me, the learning curve was hard to grasp. Writing fiction
didn’t come easily - but I didn’t give up (through tears or smiles). I like to
think I took up the challenge for myself and that’s the reason why I got
published. It’s not just about writing for yourself, it’s about putting
yourself wholeheartedly into the open market of competitions and feedback,
which is a scary scenario. (Whitney, pass that bottle again, would you?)
Whitney K-E: Bubbly? I
don’t see any bubbly. But I do see a bottle of Bushmills. Hehe, shots anyone?
Or a hot totty?
AP Castell: I’ll have a shot, since the champers has grown legs.
So what’s
your favourite quote/line from, The House On Burra
Burra Lane, Jennie? After a couple of glasses of champagne let’s see if
you can still recite it off the top of your head. *g*
Jennie
Jones: This is the start of my second glass – and stop counting would
you, AP? My fave line is ‘I want to hold her hand and walk up the hill
at the back of town with her. I want to show her the wildflowers and tell her
I’ll buy the whole damned field if she’ll only listen.’
AP Castell: Aw, lovely, very romantic. Ethan is so gorgeous, poor tortured soul. *accepts
shot-glass from Whitney * Thanks. *downs it*
Carolyn, you’re
looking very relaxed over there in the hammock. We’re not keeping you awake are
we?
Jennie
Jones: It’s okay, AP – she’s editing in her head. She’ll come right out
of it when necessary (she can multi-task like no woman I know).
AP Castell: Ha! So true.
Carolyn
Wren: Hmm? What? Oh sorry, I was visualising Simon Winters wet, with a
very small towel wrapped around his waist…
AP Castell: Oh, my God!
Carolyn
Wren: Can someone pick AP off of
the floor, please?
AP Castell: Has it suddenly gotten hotter out here or what? *fans face with empty
chocolate box*Ahem. Yeah, well it would be safer if you were asleep, if you’re going to randomly drop one
liners like that!
Actually talking
of hot, this month (1st August) saw the release of, The Widower’s Child. Book five in The Protector Series.
This comes less than twelve months after you won, RWA’s Emerald Award for, The Hostage. It was shortly after, that you secured a
contract with, Secret Cravings Publishing for
the entire seven book series. That’s an amazing achievement, Carolyn. (Clearly
a workaholic as well as a chocaholic.)
With a book released every two months; you’re working to an
incredibly tight schedule. What has surprised you the most about the whole
process?
Carolyn
Wren: My ability to do it! This is a dream, but not a pensive -stare
into the distance with stars in my eyes- dream.
It’s a head down, fingers working, brain spinning, 3D roller coast ride
sort of a dream. And, of course, I’m
loving every minute of it. When I started
this, when I entered the Emerald, I didn’t even know how to set a margin. Fast forward twelve months and I’m pretty
good at separating my POV to avoid the dreaded head hopping, clearing out those
nasty over repeated words, structuring my chapters…you know, all the stuff a
real writer does.
AP Castell: Aha, and what advice would you give new writers just beginning
their journey?
Carolyn
Wren: Write, write, write. It doesn’t matter if you think what you’re
writing is dreadful, and should never be read by anyone. Keep going.
If necessary, walk away and come back to the story later. You might find one idea, one chapter, or even
a single line that feels ‘right.’ Take that line and run with it. Don’t write for a publisher, or for an
editor, not initially anyway. Write
because you love it, and worry about all the other stuff later.
AP Castell: Great advice. *struggles with the plastic wrapper on a new box of
chocolates* What’s everyone working on at present?
Jennie
Jones: I’m trying to catch up with Carolyn Wren! And I can’t even think
straight when I see what Whitney K-E is coming up with next.
Whitney K-E: I’m working on Deceive Me in Ireland, book two in my Irish series. And a warning
ladies. Jack was gorgeous, loveable and well... irresistible. But his brother
William is an utter heartthrob. :P
Jennie
Jones:: Like I said, Whitney – don’t leave me out of your next Ireland
trip.
Carolyn
Wren: I’ve read some of Deceive Me in Ireland, trust me, William
is gorgeous I’m hoping Jennie is working on a certain
book containing a character called Ella because I’m dying to read the rest of
it! Don’t think you escape, AP, there are a number of your WIP I want to read too.
AP Castell: *pretends a great interest in choosing a chocolate*
Carolyn
Wren: What am I working on?
Hmm let’s see. I just
did pre edits on Protectors book 6 coming out in October, and my Christmas
Ghost story Ghosts Of Grace Cottage,
coming out in December. I am planning pre edits for Protectors book 7, also
released in December, polishing my full length paranormal story called Empathy, and my modern day fairy story Tail of Winthrope Hall (not a typo) and
my mammoth 3 book vampire series called The
Stolen Ones that I wrote for a friend for her birthday (just for fun.) In my spare time, I’m sleeping.
AP Castell: You mean plotting scenes starring half naked men.
I’ve put my
fantasy, Dawn of the Sorcerer aside for the moment to concentrate on, a
contemporary about a couple who are complete opposites in just about every way.
It’s a fun story to write, though there is a more serious plot underlining the
quirky side. The other day I went back and read the first chapter, surprisingly
I really enjoyed it. *g*
Are you ever tempted to read over previous chapters of your
WIP? If so,
how do you prevent yourself from tweaking/editing?
Jennie
Jones: Oh that’s hard for me. I love to edit as I go, but have learned to
find a better medium that allows my creative self to just write regardless of
content – just get it down on paper. (Then I sneak back and edit.)
Whitney K-E: Nope. The first draft is spat out in whole for
me. I don’t make any changes until I edit. I’m one of those writers who writes
in the moment. No going back until the dirty draft is complete!
Carolyn
Wren: I write, then I edit. I
can’t do both at once. When I finish the
entire story, then I go back, find the weak bits, and try to fix them.
AP Castell: What about a new story idea?
In my case, inspiration for a story begins with a clear
picture of the hero and heroines physical appearance. This includes accents,
injuries/afflictions, habits etc. attributed to each character. The plot is revealed
in a similar way, the characters communicating their motivations and goals
through their actions. How do your stories/characters come to be?
Whitney K-E: Hmm. I
started with an ending for What Happens in Ireland, a beginning for Deceive me
in Ireland and Back to Ireland begins in the middle of Deceive me in Ireland
hehe. My heroines are somewhat a part of me, exhibiting some of my personality
traits, yet blown out of context. And my heroes...*takes a moment to wipe drool
from mouth* they are self-made men hehe. They create themselves.
Carolyn
Wren: I need a prologue, an
epilogue and a love scene. My characters
often don’t have names or any physical traits in the beginning, but they need a
strong connection. I think that’s why I
go for the love scene first. Not
necessarily an erotic love scene. It
could be just a kiss, or a simple touch on the arm, or a look across a room…or
a hostage tied up in a room and the covert operative watching him in the
darkness, wondering how she will get him out. Once I feel that spark between my hero and
heroine, then I create the story around them.
Jennie
Jones: I start with a scene that
pops into my mind. The characters appear in that scene/scenario and I take it
from there.
AP Castell: While writing your story did you ever reach a point where you
questioned whether the obstacles/challenges you set your hero &/or heroine were
too great for them to overcome? (Was their HEA ever in jeopardy?)
Whitney K-E: No. I had
trouble with conflict to begin with. But it’s something I’ve overcome. I’m a
plotter these days and it helps to avoid writerly pitfalls.
Jennie
Jones: Yes! And no. My problem to
begin with was not giving the characters enough to overcome. The HEA was never
in jeopardy but how to get them from start to HEA was definitely in jeopardy
Carolyn
Wren: Nope. I love putting my
heroes and heroines as much in jeopardy as physically possible. The advantage of Romantic Suspense is being
able to throw everything at your characters and forcing them to get out of
trouble. If I put them into a pit with
fire breathing dragons, I have to think of a way to rescue them, no wimping out.
AP Castell: Talk about getting all deep and meaningful. *g* It’s getting late and I’m
feeling cold now that the sun is setting. Why don’t we head indoors, light the
fire and make a round of mocktails?
Jennie
Jones: Mocktails? (Whitney, I haven’t finished that whole
bottle of bubbly yet, have I?)
Whitney K-E: Again Jennie, what bubbly hehe. :P
Jennie
Jones: You’re teasing – right?
Carolyn
Wren: Mocktails for
Carolyn! I don’t drink alcohol due to an
allergy I inherited from my dad, (gee, thanks dad), so Jennie can have the rest
of my bubbly.
AP Castell: Oh, you know what would be fun?
If you each read an excerpt from the book you’re giving away in, TRM
Triple E-Book pack.
Twenty minutes later the
girls are all lounging around the fireplace with their drink of choice within
reach.
To read excerpt click the link below
To read excerpt click the link below
To read excerpt click the link below
AP Castell: That was fantastic, what a marvellous day it’s been. We’ll have
to do this again at the end of the year.
Carolyn
Wren: We need to do this a lot.
Jennie
Jones: Oh no, is it over?
Whitney K-E: Christmas in Ireland? hehe.
AP Castell: Absolutely Whitney, we’ll all be there.
Jennie
Jones: Next time, I’m bringing two bottles of bubbly.
AP Castell: I think a toast is in order. Everyone charge your glass.
Jennie
Jones: If you’re not going to drink that champers, Carolyn – I’ll have
it.
AP Castell: “To, The Romantic Muse and another
six months of success. Cheers!”
Whitney K-E: To TRM! *swigs from bottle with an
indistinguishable elegance*
Carolyn
Wren: *hands over the champagne to Jennie and picks up her mocktail* To
the Romantic Muse!
A SHORT-BREAK AND MOCKTAILS COMPETITION
For a chance to win, TRM Triple E-Book Pack, comprising of; The House On Burra Burra Lane, What Happens In Ireland and The Hostage (available in either; e-pub, pdf or html format).
Simply answer the question below correctly to go into the draw.
Q. In what country do, TRM plan to spend Christmas?
Good luck, everyone!
