Hello!   Today NYT-bestselling author Libba Bray is visiting the Pond on her Going Bovine tour, between stops to Teen Reads and YA Books Central.

Going Bovine is Libba’s fourth novel, following the successful A Great and Terrible Beauty, Rebel Angels, and The Sweet Far Thing.  This Texas-born minister’s daughter now lives with her husband in New York, where she plays in a band in addition to writing.

I had fun with this interview due to Libba’s sense of humor – I couldn’t bring myself to delete her answers to the questions I didn’t have time to send her. You may notice some similarities to a Duck Chat. I think Sandy’s done a great job of making them emblematic of the Pond, so I asked permission to use some of her questions. But on to the interview! (After all, you’re here for that, not my babbling.)

L: Based on your blog and involvement in the all-YA-author band TIGER BEAT, music is fairly important to you.  What songs do you associate with Going Bovine?  Does music help you write or do you need a quieter environment?

LB: I’m a stone-cold music freak. A music nerd. A musicaholic. I love everything about it. And yes, music really helps me write. I make an iPod playlist for every project, and part of the writing process for me is trying to figure out what songs set the mood for the book. I’ll add and delete songs as I go along and get a better sense of what’s what.

For Going Bovine, I picked songs for Cameron’s life before he’s diagnosed and songs for the journey/quest he takes after his diagnosis. So, in the beginning, there’s Add It Up/The Violent Femmes (the ultimate adolescent angst rant) and Pompeii AM Gotterdammerung/The Flaming Lips, which gives me a sense of existential loneliness, of trying to outrun your demons. Later on, there are funny-weird songs, like Mama Told Me Not to Come/Three Dog Night. There are thoughtful songs: Pink Moon/Nick Drake and Trouble/Ray LaMontagne. There are songs that impart a sense of impending doom, like Klaus Nomi’s version of Purcell’s The Cold Song.

The last song on the playlist is Joy/Apollo 100. Isn’t that where we’d all like to end up? (Not necessarily in a discofied version of Bach but Joy for sure.)

L: What is sure to distract you from sitting down and working/writing?

LB: Being at home. I really need to get out to another space so I won’t see the laundry, hear the phone, check the refrigerator for food distractions. If I write from home, I need the company of other writers to help me focus.

L: Do you feel there is an artistic and/or technical difference between Going Bovine and the Gemma Doyle trilogy, beyond the obvious difference in genre and tone?

LB: Hmmm. I think I’d probably be the least qualified person to answer that as the writer. That’s really more of a reader/critical question, and if I’m in that head space, I’m not in a creative head space, you know? What I will say is that there are more obvious allusions in Going Bovine—Don Quixote, Norse mythology, Greek mythology, Ovid. But yeah. I’ll have to let others answer that.

L: Your popular Gemma Doyle trilogy is a paranormal period piece.  Going Bovine is contemporary and satirical.  You’ve published short stories in different kinds of anthologies, from 21 Proms to Vacations from Hell.  Clearly you’re comfortable switching genres.  Is there one you find easiest to write? Hardest?  What themes do you feel unite your works?

LB: Wow. Great question. I do love to switch genres. My husband (literary agent, Barry Goldblatt) once asked all of his clients whose career path they admired and I said, “Johnny Depp.” I love that he can just disappear into characters as far-ranging as Ed Wood and Edward Scissorhands, Sweeney Todd and Captain Jack Sparrow. I want to play in a big sandbox with all the toys. J Humor is probably the easiest thing for me to write, but a particular voice in humor—sardonic, surreal, absurdist. The hardest thing for me is linear thought. I am total stream-of-consciousness, often to my detriment. I like to weave in lots of plot strands but considering that I can’t even take an organized trip to the grocery store, this is a challenge. Plot takes a lot of work. A LOT of work. Argh.

As for uniting themes, I’d say most of the characters I write about are outsiders in some way. They’re loners who long to belong, to be a part of the world, but who secretly suspect that they will not be able to. They are afraid of their own messy human vulnerability.

Any resemblance to the author is purely coincidental.

L:  What genres would you like to explore in the future?  Do you think you’ll write a non-YA title in the future?

LB: I’d like to explore everything: Mystery, romance, horror, Haiku performance art in Pig Latin. Screenwriting. Playwriting. Everything. I really love writing YA. There is one adult novella I’ve been kicking around for about ten years. I hope to finish it before the next ten years are up. And at some point, I really would like to write another play. I love theatre.

L: Do you ever argue with your characters while you’re writing? Who usually wins?

LB: Oh yeah. And they flip me the bird and say, “Screw you. We’re doing it this way. And you know what? It’s going to take even longer to write this book because of it! Ha!”

L: If you could retire any question and never, ever have it asked again, what would it be? Feel free to answer it.

LB: Q: Where do your ideas come from?

A: I stole them from the last person who asked. And then I lay him/her in a shallow grave deep in the forest where no human ever goes. But that was a long time ago, and I’m in need of new ideas. By the way, did you tell anyone you were meeting me here today?

L: I’ve heard writers often say their stories take them in surprising directions, or dialogue flows from some unknown place. Is it the same with you? Do your characters surprise you sometimes?

LB: Oh, absolutely. The whole process surprises me. I’m always amazed by people who seem to be The Book Whisperers and who can prove to their books that they are the Alpha Writer who will be obeyed. For me, writing a book is more like a relationship between two strong-willed people. You each have illusions about the other, about how this thing is going to go, and at some point, you’re going to have those illusions challenged: One day, your loved one tells you he’s quit his job so the two of you can take an RV across America. And you think, “Are you insane? Wait, I didn’t sign up for this. This was supposed to involve a Craftsman bungalow and children who learn Chinese as a second language. Let’s stick to the plan.”

And he says, “Yes, but I don’t think you really want that. And neither do I. I think there’s something profound waiting for us out there.” He pats the side of the RV, and you feel slightly panicked. “Let me get this straight: You want me to abandon the plan we had and take a crazy, who-know-where ride in THAT? It says ‘Love Machine’ on the side in bubble letters, for Christ’s sakes! And who is that person in the clown suit? He scares me. We’ll probably need shots.” And your loved one offers you his hand and says, “Trust me.”

The temptation is to cut and run. To refuse his open hand and say, “No. We are not doing this,” and try to change the person into an accountant with a steady paycheck who works well on paper. But if I resist that temptation, if I allow the person to be who he is, if I have some trust and take the ride, he’ll probably show me who I really am, too.

I just try to be really open, to remove the blocks as they come up—and they do come up. They say that there should be conflict in your writing. I also think there should be conflict between you and the book. That you should feel a little scared by the book you’re writing. Otherwise, it’s probably not worth a damn.

L: I love the title Going Bovine.  Was it your title, Random House’s marketing department, or some other source?  Were any other titles considered?

LB: That one’s all mine. It’s funny with titles. It seems like they either spring from your head fully formed or you kill yourself trying to come up with them. That one sprang fully formed. Thank you, universe.

L: What has been your favorite book cover from all of your releases and why?

LB: Going Bovine. Trish Parcell Watts, who has done all of my covers, is fabulous, and I think she outdid herself with this one. I mean, she found an anxious-looking cow! How inspired is that? I think it does a terrific job of describing the book with minimal fanfare. Trish is so talented. I’m lucky to know her.

L: How about your least favorite cover?  What would you change to make it more palatable?

LB: My least favorite cover was the first cover concept for Rebel Angels. That first concept was a little slicker and magazine spread-ish, and I felt that it didn’t really fit the book. (Authors don’t get cover approval, by the way.) But we all sort of came to the conclusion that the cover wasn’t exactly right and that it needed to look stylistically like a companion to the first book. After much thought and consideration, Random House decided to go with the cover you see now, which was more in fitting with the tone of A Great and Terrible Beauty. Like I said, I think Trish does great work.

L: What’s it like to be part of the New York Young Adult literary scene?  It seems like there are a number of close relationships between the authors as well as a variety of events designed to get local teens reading.

LB: You make me sound like I lead a very glamorous life. The truth is, there’s a lot of laundry and early morning soccer matches and wondering what exciting things can be done to dinner.

But yes, there is a wonderful NYC YA scene. Maybe it’s that YA has been so marginalized by the adult writing community and many factions of the mainstream press (Really, if I read one more story that starts off with something along the lines of, “Well, I don’t usually bother reading that crappy, emo YA…” I will scream. Why is that okay? Why is it okay to denigrate an entire area of literature—and be wrong about it? But I digress.) but the young adult writing community tends to be pretty supportive of one another. We attend each other’s events. We publicize each other’s events and retweet those good reviews. I feel quite lucky to be part of such a great group of human beings, not to mention great writers.

David Levithan really should get a lot of credit for fostering these close relationships in the New York community. He’s the one who organized YA Author Drink Night once a month. And this year, he started the NYC Teen Festival, which was a success and will start up again next year. Sometimes, we writers get together to work; sometimes we get together to hang out and eat guacamole and watch movies and kvetch.

L: Which of your narrators do you empathize most with?  Who from your non-POV characters?

LB: Whomever I’m writing at the time. J

With my non-POV characters, I can relate to some of Gonzo’s little phobias and to Dulcie’s free-spirited delight in simple things and the Gorgon’s attempt to accept what is and Mrs. Nighwing’s desire to do the right thing. I’m glad I got to spend a fair amount of time with all of them.

L: Question about novel

LB: Answer about novel.

L: Question about novel

LB: Witty and profound answer about novel.

L: Question about novel

LB: Slightly contentious answer about novel with a smart, rhetorical question at the end.

L: What advice would you give to your younger self?

LB: Wear sunscreen. Also, seat belts. And don’t quit piano lessons.

L: 10 seconds on your blog (or a viewing of your book trailer) reveals a wild sense of humor.  What were your biggest comedic influences?  Do you ever worry about jokes falling flat or do you just blurt them out before you have time to overthink it?

LB: Sadly, I often blurt things out before I have a chance to think about them. It might explain my limited social pool.

My biggest comedic influence, hands down, was Monty Python. That just shaped my whole world. Also, National Lampoon magazine (especially the writing of Doug Kenney and P.J. O’Rourke), Saturday Night Live, The Carol Burnett Show, Douglas Adams, Kurt Vonnegut, Tom Robbins, Woody Allen, my parents, Mel Brooks, bands like The Tubes, movies like Harold & Maude, Spinal Tap, and The Graduate, drag queens, The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

Really, it explains so much about me. Like the uncomfortable laughter at my dinner parties.

L: If you were a book, what would your blurb be?

LB: “Libba Bray, the novel, is a wild, rollicking ride of odd quirks, strange delights, and quiet insights with an edgy punk beat you can dance to. But beneath the book’s gimlet-eyed quips and Absurdist humor lies a surprisingly tender heart concerned with the fragile beauty of trying to be fully human in an often inhumane world.”

L: What would be your “voice’s” tagline?

LB: It’s always the ministers’ daughters you have to watch out for.

L: If you had never become an author, what do you think you would be doing right now?

LB: I’d be a bitter alcoholic. Or dead.

Lightning Round:

- dark or milk chocolate? Milk
- smooth or chunky peanut butter? – Chunky
- heels or flats?  Converse. So, flats.
- coffee or tea? Both
- summer or winter? Both
- mountains or beach? Beach
- mustard or mayonnaise? Mustard. (Mayo. Eww.)
- flowers or candy? Candy flowers.
- pockets or purse? Pockets.
- Pepsi or Coke? Coke.
- ebook or print? PRINT!

And just because:

1. What is your favorite word? Redemption. Also, wow. I say “wow” a lot, I realize.
2. What is your least favorite word? I’m a writer. I don’t have any least favorite words.
3. What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally? Everything. And music twice.
4. What turns you off creatively, spiritually or emotionally? Mediocrity. And my own tendency toward artistic self-flagellation.
5. What sound or noise do you love? My son’s laughter
6. What sound or noise do you hate? Vomiting.
7. What is your favorite curse word? Motherfucker. (I’m smiling just typing it.)
8. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? Musician or humanitarian aid worker.
9. What profession would you not like to do?  Submarine commander (claustrophobia)
10. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? Great to see you again.

Thanks for visiting the Pond, Libba!

KristieJ is at Petticoats & Pistols Today.

Wendy has a Contest a going on!

We will an excerpt up tonight from Sarah McCarty‘s next book Tucker’s Claim (along with a contest, cuz Harlequin rawks) and a contest post (cuz lots of authors rawk) or 2 (cuz Avon Inspire rawks as well), if I don’t toss my computer out the window (We won’t say how many times the computer timed out putting this up and an excerpt in draft… moving back to the laptop.).  Otherwise it will be later in the day after I talk some other duck into formating it (coughwendygetshomecough).

Yes they only put up with me for the books, I know this.

Like a lot of readers I have a tendency to “collect” authors. Being a huge fan of the Harlequin Historical line, it should be no surprise then that I have several lengthy backlists sitting in my TBR pile. One of those authors is Jillian Hart, and it was during a conversation with Sybil a while back that she mentioned how much she enjoyed her HH titles. That was enough for me. I pulled out my copy of The Horseman and fell desperately, hopelessly in love. As part of TGTBTU’s month-long spotlight on Harlequin Historicals, Ms. Hart agreed to sit down to an interview. Enjoy!

Wendy the Super Librarian: Like a lot of writers, you mention in your bio that you “scribbled stories in your spare time.” When did you get “serious” about your writing, and look towards publication as a goal? How long did it take from when you got “serious” to your first sale?

Jillian Hart: I think it took me about five years after I made the serious decision to work towards publication. Although I do think it was all that scribbling over the years that made a difference when I decided to get serious. I was very fortunate to land at Harlequin Historicals. I am deeply grateful to the editors who bought me and who taught me so much about writing. Those editors and the line hold a dear place in my heart.

WtSL: You have a deep and impressive backlist, with your McKaslin Clan series being a big cornerstone. When you wrote that first book, did you imagine the series would take on a life of its own? Did you plan it that way, or was it a happy accident?

JH: When I wrote that first book, I had no idea that the heroine’s sisters, and, later, cousins would became the McKaslin Clan. I loved writing that book, some books are just closer to your heart than others, and I wanted to go back and revisit that family. When I submitted the proposal for the sisters’s books, Joan Marlow Golan, who is now the executive editor of Steeple Hill books, named the series The McKaslin Clan. I would not have the same backlist and writing opportunities without Joan’s support and guidance, along with my own wonderful editor and the line’s supportive senior editor. I am very grateful to all three of them. So, nope, I had no idea what I was getting in to when I wrote the first McKaslin story, but it was (as you say perfectly) a happy accident.

WtSL: I think you wrote one of the quintessential beta heroes in Dillon Hennessey (The Horseman). That being said, I remember wanting Nick Gray in High Plains Wife to grovel to the point where his knees were bloody stumps! You obviously have no problem creating divergently different characters! Can you tell us a little bit about your process for creating your characters?

JH: My process for creating characters is very simple. I don’t create them as much as I let them come to me. Sounds a little weird, doesn’t it? I mostly start with a kernel or truth – just one that is powerful or defining, let it simmer, add to it, and let it simmer some more. It often takes a couple of these kernels before I begin to truly feel a character and hear their distinctive voice. For Dillon’s character, I liked the idea of a strong, good man who was shy. After letting this mull, I realized a man like that might be gifted with horses; he might work with his heart and not with force and treat others that way too. I let that simmer. And so on. I guess I try to find what makes the character unique and an individual, regardless of type or role, and do my best to get him on the page. And thanks for your kind words.

WtSL: I was blown away by your publication schedule for the rest of 2008 (5 books and an anthology story)! Is this the busiest writing year on record for you or did everything just fall into place for 2008?

JH: It was definitely my busiest writing year at Harlequin on record! Yikes. I’m grateful to my editors for being so enthusiastic in their scheduling, and I had the best time of my writing career. I put in quite a few long work days, but I got to meet some characters I fell in love with and stories I was transported to. Not surprisingly, I’ve taken a few months off completely, and have just started back to work. My 2009 year is much lighter!

WtSL: I have to ask, because Sybil and I are such big fans of your Harlequin Historical writing. Lately you’ve been very busy writing for Harlequin’s inspirational Love Inspired line. Any plans to return to HH?

JH: I actually have never technically left Harlequin Historical, although it looks like it since I haven’t had a book out in ages. I worked myself into burn-out. Not good. I know! I didn’t see it coming and then it was like hitting a wall. There were no words left. I was devastated. My editors were wonderful. They amended my contract giving me time to recover and contracted me for shorter anthology stories, which were meant not to be too taxing. I was able to write contemporary stories, which was a great relief. I was still writing, so I knew the historical words would come back. It was just a matter of resting that part of my writing muscle. When I was asked to write for the new Love Inspired historical line, I couldn’t say no. The editors, knowing of my burn-out, were exceedingly patient and generous when I went past my deadline, but the words were coming, so that was at least good. I feel like I’m through the worst, but I’m keeping my historical schedule very light for the next few years. I have two more anthologies coming out for HH, one scheduled for next spring and one undetermined. Both will be Brooks brothers stories. After I finish my current contract, we’ll see what the future holds. I will always want to write for HH. Like I said, the line is dear to me.

WtSL: Given that you’ve written contemporary inspirational stories, and historical romances, how excited were you when Harlequin announced plans for their Love Inspired Historical line?

JH: Very. I had been hoping for a line like that ever since Love Inspired was launched over ten years ago. I had several stories that felt too sweet for HH that I had never written, but wanted to. It was a perfect fit for those stories.

WtSL: Tell us a little bit about the books readers can expect from Jillian Hart this summer.

JH: I have the continuation of the series 3 McKaslin Clan out in June and August. Her Wedding Wish is Danielle’s story, and Her Perfect Man is Rebecca’s. I loved writing those stories for different reasons. It was a challenge to write Danielle’s story because of her husband’s disabilities and the sadness of a man not being able to remember his wife and his children. Her Perfect Man was fun, taking me back to a time when I worked at a summer day camp when I was a college student. High Country Bride is a July release from Love Inspired Historicals, and I totally fell in love with the hero, Aidan. The sample chapters will be up on my website soon if you want to take a peek.

Thanks for taking the time to interview me.

WtSL: Thank you Jillian!

Shiloh: Okay, so after doing uh… I think four guest blogs, a Dear Reader letter, and I dunno how many other things trying to promote Through the Veil, I’ve run out of ideas on what to talk about.

Then I had a brilliant idea slightly different idea-instead of talking about the book, or letting people ask me about the book… I’d let people talk to one of the characters in the book.

Kalen Brenner

He’s a soldier forced to lead an army in a war they can’t possibly win. Their one hope lies with a woman who doesn’t even know he exists.

If he can’t get through to her, he doesn’t have a chance in hell of winning this war.

Getting through to her turns out to be the easy part. Keeping her alive is going to be a little harder.

So there’s Kalen in a nutshell. But I came up with some questions—

Kalen: The hell you did. You went and cheated. Can’t even think of a damn question to ask me?

Shiloh: (Long suffering sigh.) Fine. I didn’t come up with the questions-I asked some people who’d read the book already.

Kalen: I don’t see why you want to ask me questions anyway. You created me. Don’t you already know what’s in my head?

Shiloh: (narrowing eyes and tapping foot) You know, considering that I created you, you could show me a little more respect than this. You run roughshod over what I want to do with the book—

Kalen: (smirking) Well, it is MY story.

Shiloh: (quietly) Jerk.

Kalen: Laughter

Shiloh: Can we get on with this?

Kalen: I’m all ears, madam.

Shiloh: Okay, easy questions first…boxers or briefs?

Kalen: (grins) I could tell you. But then Lee would kill you. Then me.

Shiloh: (Rolling eyes) I know the answer to that, anyway. He goes commando but that’s because he’s usually in too big a hurry to mess with anything not utterly necessary.

Kalen: If you already knew the answer—

Shiloh: Can we get on with this? Okay, so tell me, do you remember much of life before the war?

The smile on his face dies. He looks sad, tired as he sits up straighter and rubs his hands over his face. I’m almost sorry I asked.

Kalen: No. Not usually. There was a time when I was a kid when things weren’t always life or death. When I could just think and it would activate the thought-sense trigger on the prep-unit and I had a snack ready in a few seconds. I can remember Mom singing to me-her dancing with Dad. But then the raids came more often. He died. And…

(Kalen closes his eyes)

And everything just collapsed. He died and it was like it all went straight to hell. Maybe things had already been hell and he just kept me from seeing it. I don’t know.

Shiloh: I’m sorry.

Kalen: Me, too.

Shiloh: About Lee-when did you know she wasn’t…well…normal?

Kalen: (manages a wry smile) I don’t know if I know what normal is. But I knew there was something weird about her from day one. She was just a kid—appeared out of nowhere. Saved my life. Then she was gone.

Shiloh: Once you figured it out, did you ever think about leaving your world, trying to get through the veil and join her in her world?

Kalen: (those eyes of his flash like lightning-burning hot) This is her world. But go there? Someplace safe? Someplace where things seem a little less dangerous? (he shrugs) No. For one, I couldn’t. I don’t have that ability. For another—I’m needed here. I couldn’t leave these people.

(he leans forward, his black hair falling over one shoulder, a bitter smile curling his lips) I know what you want to ask. And it doesn’t matter that staying here means I would end up dead. That’s changed now, but even if it hadn’t, it wouldn’t change things. I love Lee—she’s my life. But what kind of man would I be if I walked away from people who need me? People who are willing to die to protect their world? If I walk away from them—I don’t deserve them. I wouldn’t deserve her.

Shiloh: (smiling—somehow, I knew he’d answer like that) I’ve had a couple of questions about Morne. Don’t suppose you want to tell us anything…?

Kalen: (scowling) Exactly what should I tell you? He knows how to handle himself in battle. He’s handy to have around when people have their heads busted or a bone smashed.

(Then he smirks) He sure is pretty, though. Or at least the women think so.

Shiloh: Ever so tired of everything that you just want to chuck it all and just stay in bed?

Kalen: Almost every day.

Shiloh: When did you lose your innocence?

Kalen: (he starts to laugh)

Shiloh: (narrowing eyes, trying not to blush) Wrong innocence, pal. And I know the answer to that one…give me a hard time here and I’ll let Lee know the answer, too.

Kalen: (makes attempt to hide his smirk with his hand) Hey, don’t blame me. You’re the one who asked.

Shiloh: Men! Come on, Kalen. I’m talking about the war. When did your innocence die?

Kalen: When my dad died. (Shrugs) You lose a parent, it kills something inside you. Mom died not too long after—Raviners got her. I saw it. There is no innocence after you see that.

Shiloh: I’m bringing up bad memories.

Kalen: The memories are there, no matter what. Not asking doesn’t change it. Besides… (he starts to smile and it’s the first real smile I’ve seen from him today) now I’ve got a chance to make some of my own memories—ones that don’t involve strategy, planning, stockpiling food or defending the front line. I’ve got a chance at a life now.

Do you have a question for Kalen or Shiloh? Now is your chance to ask!

Thanks to the following folks for helping put Kalen in the hot seat

Jordan Summers
Lora Leigh
Anne
Jambrea

Shiloh is holding a scavenger hunt and you can find the info here. She’s offering up some great prizes:

• One $50 GC to Barnes & Noble

• One $15 GC to Barnes & Noble

• One $10 GC to Mybookstoreandmore.com

And we will have another nifty contest on Friday @ TGTBTU. Comments in this thread will be entered (put noenter@gmail.com if you don’t want to be). And don’t forget to read ShannonC’s review of Through the Veil here.

I was introduced to Kathryn Shay back in 2002 when I was assigned to review Practice Makes Perfect. After finishing the story with a contented sigh, I e-mailed the editor I was writing reviews for at the time and asked her, “Where has Kathryn Shay been all my life?” To which she replied, “Oh Wendy! You must read her America’s Bravest series!” What resulted was one of my more serious author gloms, and Shay is now not only my favorite SuperRomance author, but one of my favorite romance authors. Period. As part of TGTBTU’s continued spotlight on Harlequin SuperRomance this month, Shay graciously agreed to sit down for an interview. Enjoy!

Wendy the Super Librarian: Certainly your first few novels were well-received and regarded, but I think it was the arrival of your America’s Bravest series for SuperRomance that really put your name out there for many romance readers. At the time, writing about firefighters wasn’t exactly old hat, and female firefighters? Talk about different! How did you hit upon the idea for this series?

Kathryn Shay: I decided to write about firefighters because I’ve always respected and admired them. They wake up every morning knowing they’re potentially going to put their lives in danger, knowing they may not make it home that night. (Truthfully, I don’t know how their spouses live with that, although I’ve tried to investigate it in my novels.) But I knew very little about their daily lives, their thought processes, their hopes and goals. As you might guess, SuperRomance loved the idea, and wanted a trilogy instead of the two books I proposed. This turned into a total of five firefighter books (so far!) for them.

To expound a bit, I was able to find out about these brave men and women mostly through primary research. I met with them at the fire houses, ate lunches and dinners with them, talked to them until the late hours of the night and heard remarkable stories: how it feels finding a dead victim; how the wear and tear of the job is hard on their families; how devastated they all were during 9/11; how not one of them considers himself or herself a hero. I also got to ride the trucks to fires, stabbings, EMS calls and flooded basements. Though it all, my respect and admiration for them deepened immensely.

WtSL: Your background is in teaching, which I think shines through in many of your stories. How has your work with adolescents shaped your writing?

KS: Definitely. I’ve written several books with heroes or heroines in the teaching profession. My favorite SuperRomance is Cop Of The Year, where the heroine is the kind of teacher I was. Some of the incidents in the book happened to me. But more so, I think my job helped me to really know adolescents, which serves me well when I create teenagers in any books. My lastest Super, Be My Babies, has a great teen in it and I think you can see how much love I have for that age group. By the way, I can always tell when someone writes a book and doesn’t have first hand experience with adolescents. You gotta know those kids to write about them!

WtSL: Like many writers, you went through your fair share of rejections before you sold your first book to SuperRomance. Did you intentionally set out to target that line or was it happenstance?

KS: No, I intentionally set out to get published by anybody! Though it only lasted three years, enduring all those rejections was tough. You have to understand, too, that I was in unusual circumstances. I was older, married with two kids and had a job I loved. My life was great-and then I went and wrote a book. The process of getting published took over our lives and I began to wonder why on earth I had started this. My family was supportive and, when I sold my first book, they were elated. But the process itself was excruciating for a forty year old with a near-perfect life.

Readers should know I received about 60 rejections from publishing houses and agents until a now-retired editor from Super pulled my first successful manuscript out of the slush pile.

WtSL: You have since branched out into contemporary single titles, but have routinely returned to SuperRomance. What makes you keep coming back to the line? What do you enjoy about writing for them?

KS: I love SuperRomance and always have. I feel like I grew up there as a writer. First they give me freedom to write what I want, though I did hear my editor say once in a while, “You want to do what?”

Second, I think the line is varied, allowing readers many different types of stories. I write primarily family drama with lots of emotion, but I’ve also done some romantic suspense for them. And finally, my editors have been wonderful there. I became good friends with Zilla Soriano, now retired, and I love my new editor, Wanda Ottewell, who became senior editor shortly after I was assigned to her.

WtSL: I’m a librarian, so I have to ask – what do you like to read? Any favorite authors?

KS: Absolutely! Nora Roberts, Linda Howard and Susan Elizabeth Philips. I also enjoy John Irving, Margaret Atwood and Jodi Picoult.

WtSL: The latest book in your single title O’Neil series is out this month. Can you tell us a little bit about it, and do you have any HSR titles currently in the works?

KS: Taking The Heat is about widower Liam O’Neil who lost his wife three years ago to cancer and is ready to date again. He meets Sophie Tyler, rough and tumble female firefighter from the FDNY, and is attracted to her. But his sons are still suffering over the loss of their mother and Liam feels he can’t risk getting involved with someone in a dangerous profession. Too bad, though, because they can’t help themselves and sparks fly, emotionally, physically and on the line.

I have two Supers in the works which will be out in January and August of 2009. The first is completed, tentatively titled A Twist Of Fate. It’s the story of a woman who has a car accident and wakes up without her memory. There are two men in her life, the one she dates and her best friend. But as the story unfolds, it becomes unclear who she’s really in love with.

Right now, I’m writing After The Fall, the story of an architect who’s responsible for the collapse of part of a building, and goes to the small town of Carson City to spend time with her college roommate and his family who loves her. There she meets a contractor who, quite frankly, wants to run her out of town.

My editor and I are also planning a trilogy for 2010, but you’ll have to wait to hear about that one!

WtSL: Wow! Lots of exciting stuff in the works! Thanks so much for joining us Kathryn!

If His Kiss Is Wicked by Jo Goodman
We shall talk more about If His Kiss Is Wicked cuz I lurved it. And I can see many a person holding it to their heart too, as well as many not liking it.

In fact I am thinking of doing some ‘discussion’ type posts for a few books but I digress …

This post is to say Mz Goodman, of the really slow internets, is being kind enough to subject her person to another interview with us. As with all Q&A’s it will be open for comments and questions but Jo Goodman is one of the last few people (along with my parents) who still have dial up at home.

So I thought why not ask you first what you would like to know? And include it in the batch of questions I send over to her. Heck I have a few interviews coming up I may ask you to jump in with some Q’s.

You are welcome to post your questions here or email me at redwyne @ redwyne . com (no spaces). Do keep in mind I may not use all questions and can’t say if I do they will be answered.

previous guest day can be found here…

GUEST AUTHOR:

Lisa Kleypas’s

You Question….

She’ll Answer

Why don’t you ever update your website?

I’m trying to get better about that. Really, I am. But I have two very good reasons, and their ages are 11 and 6. I know that sounds like a convenient excuse, but here’s how I look at it . . . someday they’ll get old enough to rebel and leave the house and go out into the world armed only with whatever I’ve managed to teach them . . . so anytime I have an hour to spare, I can either:

A. Write more

B. Exercise

C. Catch up on bills

D. Clean the trash pit known as my office

E. Spend time with the children.

F. Pay attention to husband

G. Update website

E usually wins. I hardly ever do B or D, and C only when something is about to be turned off. I do A when I’m under a tight deadline, and I do F when my husband and I have a moment alone. Or should I say, “we” do F. Heh heh. And after F, I just never make it to G.

Which of your heroes would you choose for yourself?

That is a difficult question. I love them all. I will always have a special place in my heart for Derek Craven, the hero of “Dreaming Of You,” because he opened the door for me to write more non-aristocratic heroes. Probably the best husband material is Zachary Bronson from “Where Dreams Begin,” and the best guys for a wild and wicked night would either be St. Vincent from Devil in Winter, or Nick Gentry from “Worth Any Price.”

Why don’t you have your first four NAL books reprinted someday?

They’re so different from the books that I’m doing now . . . remember, I started in the days of the bodice-rippers, and I was also too young to approach the subject of relationships with any kind of sophistication. I don’t regret writing those books, because I did my best at the time, and they were steps along the way to where I’ve gotten now. But I would feel terrible if anyone paid her hard-earned money for a book and was disappointed.

Who are your favorite authors?

I try to read a huge variety of books in many genres, not only because I enjoy that, but it also teaches me about writing. But in romance, aside from my brilliant friends the Squawk Radio chicks, I love SEP, JR Ward, Laura Kinsale, the two Judiths (Ivory and McNaught), the two Karens (Hawkins and Moning) and JD Robb.

What’s next?

Mine Till Midnight is my next historical romance, out in October 2007. The tone of it is hard to describe, because it’s dark and sexy but it also has a lot of humor and charm, if I do say so myself.

It features Cam Rohan, the Gypsy character who appears in Devil in Winter- I brought him with me when I came to St Martins *g*. I originally planned my historical books with St Martins to be a continuation of the Wallflower series, but after finishing Cam’s book, I realized it had to be the first of a connected-but-new series.

It has its own kind of energy and quirkiness. Cam falls in love with the oldest sister of the Hathaway family, a group of eccentric siblings.(The brother is an alcoholic, one of the sisters is a kleptomaniac, another is an invalid, and so forth.) It was a lot of fun to see Cam trying to deal with this bunch of crazies!

Not tis your turn… ask anything… well I don’t know about ANYTHING… but hey it is worth a shot