Hi Carolyn! It seems like we’ve been talking about this interview forever. After reading several of your books I think fate intervened so the reviews and interview would happen now because each one of them is a perfect selection for summer reading.  

Now, one of the first things our readers want to know about you—how long have you been writing?  

I have been making up stories since I can remember.  My sisters were always teasing me when I was young because I spent hours talking to myself, making up tales, changing stories I had read to have an ending I liked better.  I started putting my ideas on paper around the age of eight, and haven’t looked back.  Once I get that far off look in my eyes, you might as well give up trying to get my attention until I have the scene on paper…or computer.  

You also write in a variety of historical time periods. Is there any one favorite? 

I love writing about times when chivalry was not only the ‘thing’, but also an expected way of life.  Lately I have tried my hand at contemp romances, and although I like it, I think my heart will always be in the past.  No particular time really stands out more than any other; I just love the idea of a man and woman relying on each other rather than being rescued by a call on the cell phone. 

Which do you do first? Write the story, research the time period or do they go hand in hand? 

Most of the time I have a story idea in my head, and then ponder when in time that might be a realistic event.  Once I have settled on a time frame, I research to find out what of interest was happening and weave it around my story. 

How do you decide which period you want to write in? 

With ESCAPE TO LOVE, I knew my main character had to be in an asylum.  Having her placed there in modern day would never have worked, so I knew the time had to be a time of mistrust and unrest.  I chose the era of Cromwell in English history, when the country was torn between their king and change.

With UNFORGETTABLE LOVE, I found myself fascinated with Elizabeth I, and decided to weave my story around her.  I think the one I enjoyed researching the most was DEADLY ATTRACTION, because it was both a learning and enlightening experience finding out about poisons, the history of Lincoln’s assassination, and post civil war unrest.  I swear I am on some FBI watch list because I looked up so many poisons.  If my hubby ever kicks the bucket under odd circumstances, they will likely be knocking on my door wanting answers, and searching for valerian. HEHE.

Do you write more than one book at a time or do you focus on just one?  

There are at least a dozen characters clamoring for attention at any given time in my head.  Although I try hard to focus on one book at a time, I am usually only able to make it through the first half before ‘the voices’ start making it impossible to ignore their cries.  This can be a bone of contention between my muse and myself.   She is rather pigheaded, and refuses to work on anything beyond what she is focused on.  Several times I have had to send her on a slow boat to China for a few weeks just to get an unrelated scene out of my head.  Then I go back to the story I was working on as if the new scene never took me away in the first place. 

Now, the books! 

I’d like to talk about KIDNAPPED LOVE, your first book; you introduce readers to Catalina McKay. I have to admit through the first half of the book I wanted to tell her to just grow up. She came across as petulant, spoiled and someone I wouldn’t much want to know. Okay, so getting kidnapped on her wedding night probably wasn’t the best thing that ever happened to her—but she sure did complain a lot. At first you left me wondering what was endearing about this heroine…and then she got it. Her wake up call brought about a tremendous change in character and I suddenly saw just how much you put into her character development. Cat turned into a really likeable character, someone I’d like to know. She really goes through a major metamorphosis. Did that come naturally or did you have to reason out how you were going to bring out her change?  

We are one and the same Cat and I.  I was like any spoiled writer, convinced my work needed no editing, or change…image why I didn’t get published in the beginning.  Through Catalina I grew in both my writing and understanding of how to develop both my characters and my style.  Both of us become likable in the end.  I was very proud of the way she ‘morphed’ from a childish brat to charming young woman.  Most of her temper tantrums were not planned.  That was my muse, who gets her way no matter what. 

In UNFORGETTABLE LOVE you tackle a story line we don’t see many of compared to other time periods. You have some excellent twists and turns in there and while I personally have a series of questions, I hesitate to ask because I don’t want to give away any of those really good plot lines. Without giving up any plot twists, what prompted you to write in that time period? Please share anything about this story line that won’t give away any secrets.  

Oddly, I thought UNFORGETTABLE LOVE started out more like a soap opera than romance…you know amnesia victim stumbles through life trying to put together the missing link…yet ultimately, the characters developed their own personalities, and before I knew it, the soap thing was derailed.  I also love history, and thought Elizabeth I an interesting person to weave into the tale.  My favorite character was the old hag.  I still see her sightless eyes in the back of my mind, and can almost smell the rancid stench of her hovel…or is that the dinner I am burning? 

ESCAPE TO LOVE is one of those stories that you have to stop and take a moment to sigh in contentment every few pages as you read it. Michael is just such a toe curler! I wouldn’t mind him finding me in the woods. Is he based on anyone you know in real life? 

Although the names have been changed to protect the innocent Michael and my husband John are one and the same:  stubborn beyond belief, unrelenting and dogged in something they believe in, charming, breathtakingly handsome, loyal to the end, and most of all the man to spend the rest of your life with.  Sorry he doesn’t have any brothers. 

Celine was also very appealing. Of all your female characters she is perhaps the most endearing of all in her vulnerability. What was it like for you writing her? 

Alas…she is me.  Vulnerable to the end.  It has taken me a long time to stop letting people walk on me.  Together Celine and I grew up.  I wrote ESCAPE TO LOVE over the course of a month, while working three jobs, raising three children and pregnant with a fourth, and with my husband going to school full time to be a nurse.  I don’t believe I slept more than an hour a night that month.  I just couldn’t get Celine out of my head.  She woke me in the middle of the night, kept me up late, and had me talking to myself at work.  She was my first character to have real depth, and I am grateful she helped me develop my craft.  

I love the mystery and plot behind DEADLY ATTRACTION. Without giving away the mystery, going only with the Lincoln assassination, where did the idea come from? 

I wanted to do a period piece centering around the civil war…and also had a great dream about poisons, murder, and a tangled web of lies.  I wrote and rewrote DEADLY ATTRACTION too many times to count before I realized meshing the two stories together was the only way to make it work.  My best friend got so tired of the plot changing, she threatened to hire a guy named Guido to take me out in some dark alley.  Of course I insisted I had nothing to do with it…it was the muse I tell you! 

Was this an easy pitch to your publisher?  

Pitching is not my forte.  The whole carpol tunnel thing…  I always get so darned nervous when I query, and send out synopsizes. To mention nothing of the nail biting, and ulcers.  The responses I got ranged from interesting to ridiculous.  I even had a few rather colorful no thank yous.  I also had many positive responses, and wonderful compliments.   In the end four publishers wanted to take it on, and I was thrilled.  

Tell me about Heath Falstaff—he’s amazing. Smart, compassionate and full of integrity. Oh yes, and a hunk and a half <G>. Is he based on anyone you know personally? 

(looking to make sure hubby isn’t around)  Coast clear.  Benjamin Bratt, the actor.  Yummo!  He could hold me prisoner in a jail cell any time.   I must admit that the compassion, integrity, and smarts are my sweet hubby, but the looks are pure Ben. ( hubby is dashing and to die for with dark red hair, beard and mustache)

What would you do if Heath stepped out of the book and into your living room? 

I’d be waiting with flowers in my hair, a basket of treats, and open arms.  Sorry dear. 

So, Bryce and Tory, they are strong secondary characters. Will this perhaps turn into a trilogy and your readers be treated to their stories? (Yes would be a good answer!) 

Never say never…that’s my motto… right now I am working on a contemp murder mystery THE RATTLESNAKE MASTER, and have two partials tucked away for a rainy day, and the ideas for two others in my head.  But you never know, That Colin could be interference between Tory and Bryce…hum? 

Now this question may seem a bit off the wall, but I am curious, have you ever suffered from "writer’s block"?  If so, what did you do to get out if it?  

What a silly question.  Me?  Never.  Yeah and the Queen is having tea at my mansion today.  I get writer’s block all too often.  I never stress over it though.   There are so many voices in my head, I never lack for an idea in one form or another.  They just don’t always belong to the story I am working on at the moment.  So I send muse packing (Lord knows she needs a tan), and spend time working on a scene from some odd ball thing, get it out of my system, and go back to the story I was working on.  If that fails, there are always great period movies to get me back on track.  Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights, The Count of Monty Cristo.  I love them.  Dear hubby just rolls his eyes, and sneaks upstairs to watch a home remolding show. 

Are you working on anything right now? Can you tell us a teaser about these projects?  

THE RATTLESNAKE MASTER is a murder mystery set in rural Mississippi.  When sheriff Maggie Callahan attains her fifteen minutes of fame after killing the most wanted man in America, she never dreams it will propel her into the spotlight of a serial killer determined to drag her into his web of murder, deceit and lies… 

Okay, imagination time…or maybe a prelude of what is to come.  You got the call; one of your series is going to be a mini-series of television movies.  Which one do you pick and who gets the parts? 

Hands down DEADLY ATTRACTION.  I love all my stories, and have a strange and oddly real bond with my characters.   Got to admit, Mirinda Caldwell and Heath Falstaff are my favorites.  They are both strong, and focused, and driven.  Besides, I loved some of the minor characters in DA.  It would be great to see them on screen. Spit and double spit!  As to the actors…that can get more complicated.  Of course Ben Bratt as Heath…and perhaps Ashley Judd as Mirinda…but they are both a bit mature for the roles.  Drats. 

Do you read for relaxation? Who do you turn to? 

Every time my muse stomps her foot and storms off for a tantrum, I curl up with a book.  I read whatever currently intrigues me.  If I am working on a contemp murder mystery, I read that genre.   But my heart is in historical romance, so I tend to steer back to them.  I have found some wonderful new authors and am enjoying an interest in all kinds of writing…except vampires.  That is just not my thing. 

Do you have anything to add? 

Corny, I know, but don’t give up.  I read once Stephen King was rejected 60 times for Carrie.  I figure if he can be persistent, so can I.  And get with a group of both published and unpublished writers.   The perspective is the most valuable thing any want-to-be will ever gain.  I sent out ESCAPE TO LOVE more times than I can count.  It came back every time with ‘thanks but no thanks.’   After joining a writer’s group, I was told to change the pov.  I sent the revised version out and had offers from six publishers within two months.  Go figure! 

Thanks so much for inviting me in, and letting me spill my guts.  Carol