Are you ready to Duck Chat again?

Today we’re talking to Harlequin Historical author Stacey Kayne. She’s one of those authors who started her writing career later than most, but once she sat down and went to town on her first book, things have definitely been looking up.  Stacey has just submitted her last two books to complete her current series, and now she’s ready for something new.

Stacey lives in the San Joaquin Valley of Central California in a small farming community named Chowchilla.  Some of you will remember the Chowchilla School Bus Kidnapping back in the ’70s. Well, now folks in that little town have someone to be proud of, and they do support Stacey 100%.  I drove to Chowchilla last year for a signing she was doing with Deb Salonen, another author with ties to California’s Central Valley.  Citizen after citizen, friend after friend came out that day to say hello to Stacey, to buy her stories, and just be supportive if they already had all of her books.  It was a terrific thing to see, and it reminded me why I love being from a small Valley town myself.

Married to her high school sweetheart for twenty years, Stacey has two teenage boys who keep her quite busy along, along with her writing and occasional help on the ranch.  She’s always been a daydreamer, and it was when she decided to go back to college five years ago that she figured out what to do with all that woolgathering.  After some stops and starts and stumbles along the way, her first book, Bride of Shadow Canyon, was published in 2007, followed by The Gunslinger’s Untamed Bride last year, and this year she wraps up the series with a novella in the Stetsons, Spring and Wedding Rings anthology in June. Her Wild series also comes full circle this year with the release of Mountain Wild in July. Mustang Wild and Maverick Wild, about cowboy twin brothers, began the series in 2007 and 2008, respectively.

Now a new chapter is about to begin in Stacey’s writing life, so let’s chat!

Duck Chat:  Westerns had a hard time on the market a few years ago. Did that ever discourage you in your writing while all that was going on?

Stacey Kayne:  Absolutely. It didn’t discourage my overall writing, but my faith in the western market, for sure. A senior editor at Pocket Books tried to buy Mustang Wild in 2003, with a second editor backing the book as well—I got an email the day they were taking it to marketing and all looked rosy—very exciting day. But marketing wouldn’t take on an unknown western author. That was a major blow and I figured if I couldn’t get a sale with two senior editors in my corner, what kind of shot did I have? You can’t fight the market. I hung up my spurs, filed away five westerns and began writing contemporaries for the next two and a half years. When I sold Mustang Wild my agent was just about to embark on romantic suspense submissions. But once I sold that first western, I sold all the westerns I’d written—have since sold eight westerns. I was able to come home to the genre I love the most. It was a rough wait, but I never stopped writing and completing manuscripts. And who knows, those RS manuscripts might make it to publication yet…when I have more time to devote to them.

DC:  If you could retire any interview question and never, ever have it asked again, what would it be? Feel free to answer it.
SK:  LOL! I’ve pasted an answer from an older interview—can you guess the question? *g*
“Uhm…..when I’m not writing? I don’t understand the question 🙂 I used to enjoy painting, sewing and running a skill saw–before I started writing my mom and I used to peddle our crafty creations at craft shows–wood work, toll painting and such. These days writing takes up all the time in between being a wife and mom. I’m not sure if keeping up with active teenage sons is a hobby, but it can sure be a blast, and is where I like to be when I’m not staring at the computer screen.”

DC:  What are your long-term goals in your writing career?
SK:  To become ultra rich and super famous! :::stop laughing::: Seriously, my long-term goal is keep publishing books my readers will enjoy. I started writing my first book with one goal in mind—employment. I needed a job, and I wanted that job to include hours of my favorite pastime—daydreaming. This is truly my dream job!

DC:  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?
SK:  Absolutely. All my chapters start with dialogue, the bones of my writing, and then I brush in the scenery and make them move. I go where they tell me. Until they start talking, I have nothing but a vague impression of where I’d like the story to go—doesn’t always end up where I think it’s heading.

DC:  Do your characters surprise you sometimes?
SK:  I am a total pantster, so my characters continually surprise me. I’m currently plotting a new western series for next year and my starting characters are no where near the kind of characters I’d initially thought I’d use to kick off this series—they’re entwined in completely different social and political issues than I’d assumed would be propelling their issues with life and each other. I tried to force a hero archetype and profession—it didn’t work. For weeks I had nothing, until I finally admitted defeat and said “Fine! Whoever you are, just talk to me!!!” And he did. He’s an angry one. The hero I thought would lead the series is still in the book, but his story will come later. I’m writing them simultaneously, actually. I do love writing a series!

DC:  I know the characters in your next release gave you a really hard time while writing their story. Were they just cranky or what?
SK:  My heroine is Mad Mag—cranky could be an appropriate term. It wasn’t so much the book that was difficult with this one—it was finding the right start. I write in a jig-saw puzzle sort of fashion. With The Gunslinger’s Untamed Bride, I wrote it backwards. Wrote the last chapter first and had to figure out how I’d get my characters to that proposal scene. The first scene I wrote in Maverick Wild was when the stepmother falls into the river near the end and Chance has to decide whether or not to save her. When I SEE a scene, I write it. Well, with Mountain Wild I had nearly a finished book—but with no beginning. I started in the middle. I must have written ten different beginnings before I found the one that really sang to me. My critique partners liked all of them and were sure I’d lost my mind—it was a near thing!

DC:  What’s sure to distract you from sitting down and working/writing?
SK:  What doesn’t distract me! I live on a ranch with my hubby and two teenage sons—we’ve just finished a major remodel on our house…well, almost finished. That was rough. I have to be tough with myself—restricting phone and internet while my boys are in school. I’ve spent many hours in my truck with my laptop to get the uninterrupted isolation I need to really get lost in my mind and my characters. I now have a new office with a LOCK on the door!

DC:  You’ve had some great covers for your books so far. Was it just luck or did you have to bribe someone to get all that sexiness tossed your way?
SK:  I’ve been blessed by the cover gods. My publisher was great about taking suggestions I’d sent in for the Wild books. Gunslinger was all them, and I was thrilled with their vision for that book. I’m anxious see what they come up with for Mountain Wild. Like Mustang Wild, the title of Mountain Wild refers to my heroine’s character and I’m hoping to have my mountain woman on the cover, but I have no idea if they will go with my vision or one of their own.

DC:  How do you feel your male or female characters have evolved over the course of the two series you’ve written? Do you think you write them differently now than you did when you started out?
SK:  I don’t think I write them differently—I think each character brings a new level of action and emotion to the page that fits them and their scenario the best, creating a unique blend for each book. I’ve always been a very character-driven writer. I choose an era and a state and study the activity and major events going on in the region for that time period and then wait for my characters to take shape amid those elements. I think writing a series has some benefits because with the next book in each series, you’ve spent more time with those characters, their traits and personalities become more defined.

DC:  Is there a genre you won’t ever delve into?
SK:  I don’t have any aspirations outside of western romance and romantic suspense.

DC:  I know you’ve been thinking about Romantic Suspense. Anything on that front you can share with us?
SK:  Not really. In the past two years there hasn’t been time. Really depends on contracts, timing and the market.

DC:  What advice would you give to your younger self?
SK:  Oh, my gosh—Listen to your high school English teacher and pursue writing!!! How I wish I would have had even the slightest inkling that I wanted to be a writer while still in my twenties, when westerns were booming. Unfortunately, I was clueless. I knew I was meant to do something other than a nine-to-five job—every day at work my mantra was, “I’m meant to be doing something else.” I just didn’t know what “something else” was. The writing bug didn’t bite me until I went back to college—on my thirtieth birthday, actually. It was my American History night classes that kicked my imagination into high gear. Having a computer for the first time, I decided to write out my daydreams—and it was like lightening struck. Within the year I’d finished two books and signed with an agent and made the choice to forgo teaching and pursue writing as though applying for a job. Definitely wish I would have had that burst of inspiration in the ‘90s!

DC:  Your next book, Mountain Wild, is out in July. Can we get a little sneak peek?
SK:  Passions unleashed and love gone wild… In the midst of a range war, Garret Daines is dead-set on keeping his ranch from greedy local cattle barons. An attempt on his life during a winter storm lands him in the healing hands of a mountain recluse. He can hardly believe the youthful beauty he discovers hidden beneath her mountain woman attire or the passion unleashed by her tender touch.

When “Mad Mag” pulls the handsome rancher from the snow, she has no idea he’ll be the man to thaw her wounded heart. But Maggie is hiding a mess of secrets in her mountain sanctuary, none of which she’s willing to share. Murderous cattlemen threaten their fragile bond and Maggie has to face the fears of her past or risk losing her hope for the future. Garret will defend his wild woman at any cost, but can he convince her their love is worth the risk?

Here’s a snippet near the middle of the book—Maggie finds Garret in the barn, having been jumped by eight rustlers—he had ‘em whooped, until they got the drop on him by shooting his dog:

She cut away the spiral of rope along his arm. The bone at his shoulder appeared to be poking up beneath his shirt. His arm rolled from the top of the gate as the rope fell away. He grunted as she eased the limp limb against his side.
Using her body to hold him up, she pressed firmly against him as she cut the rope holding his right arm. His swollen lips pressed against her neck.
“You smell like heaven,” he breathed against her skin.
“You look like hell,” she said, hoping his frisky move meant he wasn’t hurting as badly as he appeared.
His other arm fell forward and his weight knocked her back. She landed on her butt, her arms banded around his chest. It took all her strength to ease him to the side before she fell on top of him. He groaned and hooked his right arm around her, holding her against him.
“We gotta stop meetin’ like this, Magpie,” he said in a weak voice. “You lookin’ pretty as springtime. Me on death’s door.”
She eased back. Fresh tears hazed her vision at the full sight of him. She’d never seen such a battered face. The bones in his left shoulder pitched up, creating a rise beneath his shirt.
“You are not on death’s door.”
“Am too,” he insisted. “Better strip me nekkid and have your way with me. Do it quick.”
“Garret!”
His swollen lips twitched in what could have been a grin. “Worked last time.” He shifted, attempting to sit up, but only managed a deep moan before settling back on the dirt and straw. “Just lay here with me,” he said in a pant. “I’ll get up in a minute. You sure Boots is all right?”
“Yes. And you shouldn’t try to move. Your shoulder is broke. God only knows what the rest of you looks like.”
“Shhh,” he whispered. “I’m tryin’ to impress my girl.”
He’d suffered far too many blows to the head. “I’m not your girl.”
He peered up at her through the swollen slit of one eye. “You will be.”
Maggie tensed, the confidence behind those three words sending a combination of fear and longing shooting through her.

I also have a June Release, an Anthology with Jillian Hart and Judith Stacey, Stetsons, Spring and Wedding Rings – my story, Courted By the Cowboy, is a continuation of my Bride series, featuring Kyle Darby, a US Marshal who assisted Juniper in Gunslinger.

DC:  If you had never become an author, what do you think you would be doing right now?
SK:  I’d still be lost, unfulfilled and wondering what I should be doing with my life.

DC:  What’s on the horizon for Stacey Kayne?
SK:  Only time will tell—fatter books would be nice!!

Lightning Round:
– dark or milk chocolate? Dark
– smooth or chunky peanut butter? Chunky
– heels or flats? Boots!
– coffee or tea? Tea…cannot stand coffee
– summer or winter? Winter—love my sweaters
– mountains or beach? Oh man, I love them equally
– mustard or mayonnaise? Ten years ago I’d say Mayo *g*—now, Mustard
– flowers or candy? GODIVA!
– pockets or purse? Pockets. Closest I get to a purse is a backpack.
– Pepsi or Coke? PEPSI!
– ebook or print? Print

And a few more fun quickies:
1. What is your favorite word?   I don’t think I have one.
2. What is your least favorite word?   “Whatever” (I have teenage boys)
3. What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally?   Landscape/scenery
4. What turns you off creatively, spiritually or emotionally?   Self-doubt
5. What sound or noise do you love?   Laughter
6. What sound or noise do you hate?    Alarm clocks
7. What is your favorite curse word?   Shit
8. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?    Forest Ranger
9. What profession would you not like to do?   Public speaker of anything
10. What would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?    “Good job.”

DC: Thanks so much, Stacey! Visit Stacey at her website, Petticoats and Pistols, and Writers at Play.