Hi Irene!  I am thrilled to finally have a chance to chat with you, especially on behalf of Love Romances and More Reviews and our readers. I “discovered” you quite by accident. On one of those increasingly rare times when I picked up a book to read for pure entertainment it happened to be Shadow Over Bright Star. It was so good that even though it was supposed to be for my own relaxation I had to write a review for it and meet you. To say I’m hooked on your writing would be an understatement. You transport your readers to another time and place, tease the senses from knowing you smell the roses in Rachel’s garden in Shadows to hearing the clang of the mill in Shadow Over Bright Star and in each there the test of the true Gothic—that moment of hair standing up in the back of your neck. So let’s introduce our readers to the real Irene Pascoe! 

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

First of all, your request to interview me came out of the blue and took my breath away. I’m honored and flattered by your kind words about my work and thrilled to have this opportunity to visit with your readers. My first book The Velvet Shadows of Justin Wood was published by Zebra books in 1982. I wrote for three years, non-stop it seemed, before I was offered a contract. Yes, I’ve been in the business a long time. There have been a lot of highs and lows, but most of all I’ve met some wonderful people along the way and had some great adventures with other writers. 

In your bio it says you live near Seattle, Washington, I notice your books take place in the mountains and, in Shadows, Sacramento, California. What drew you to these locales?

I have family in the Sacramento area and I visit often. I love Old Town Sacramento. It was a joy to study the rich history of that locale. My husband and I love to travel and my novels are set in places we have visited; historically colorful places that I just had to use as backdrops for my stories. Virginia City, Nevada is one of my favorite historic places. I spent hours strolling through the cemetery. It was exciting when I put my heroine, Jessica, in that cemetery in Shadow Over Bright Star, though it was a sad stroll among the simple crosses for her. 

What inspired you to write in the first place?

I’ve always been an avid reader and have enjoyed a long-standing fascination with words. As a child, I would sit for hours creating characters and stories in my mind. It wasn’t until my sixteenth year that I began to put those stories down on paper. However, I didn’t actively follow my dream to write until after I married and my children were in school. Actually, my husband pushed me into my career. He said, “You’ve always wanted to write, so do it.” Bless him for giving me that nudge and for his steadfast support over the years.  

What drew you to writing Gothic romance?

I grew up reading Nancy Drew books. I loved the suspense and mystery. As I matured, I fell in love with the works of Victoria Holt, Mary Stuart, Daphne Du Maurier, and Phyllis Whitney. My list of favorite Gothic authors is long; my book shelves are lined with their novels. My all time favorite Gothic is Rebecca by Du Maurier. 

I am a huge fan of Gothic romance and you are absolutely incredible when it comes to writing them. You truly draw the reader into the story…when Tori stands at the top of the stairs in the party scene in Shadows I felt the person behind her and the hands pushing her down the stairs. The same with Jessica in Shadow Over Bright Star when she goes into the stamp room and knows someone is there with her. How do you get to that place in your writing to create that feeling of being there with the character?

As I write, my characters run through my brain like a movie and I am truly each one of them. I laugh, though, when I think back to my first attempt at fiction writing. I had presented chapter one of Velvet Shadows to a writing class for critique. The chapter was well received, with one exception. The instructor said, “Irene, you didn’t put any clothes on your characters.” That single comment made me acutely aware of every single detail, of becoming my characters.  

Are any of your characters, both male and female, based on anyone you know in real life?

No one in particular.  My heroes and heroine’s are composites of the emotionally strong, bright, hardworking, thoughtful and compassionate people who are in my life as well as those I’ve met over the years. 

I have to admit, Leanza from Shadows is one of those women I just cannot stand. Okay, she is fifteen but she has the cunning and devious nastiness of a more mature woman…I shudder to think of her as an adult! What was it like creating her?

Thankfully Leanza is the complete opposite of me, but it was fun being her for a while. I think most of us have her not-so-nice qualities lurking somewhere deep within us. I got to let all of those buried characteristics pour out of me and into her. Every character I create is with me forever. In my mind, Tori and Jared have whipped Leanza into shape and she now a compassionate and caring woman. 

On the other hand, Alexandra from the Curse of Belle Haven is truly the kind of person I would love to have for a friend.

What was it like creating her? Alexandra and I are a lot alike, so I thank you for the compliment. I felt peace and warmth in creating her character. I must admit, though, that in the face of danger, Alexandra’s bravery outshines my own.  

Leanza and Tori are so different from each other. What was it liking writing the two of them in one scene? Which is more fun, the devious female or the one you would like for your best friend?

 I love challenges just as I love trying to puzzle out people and what motivates them. The compassionate and caring Tori was easy to write. For Leanza, I had to reflect upon all the indulged spoiled brats I’ve ever seen. Sometimes Tori would shout in my head, “Please, please, Irene, can’t I strangle this brat?” Of course I ignored the pleas and I knew that Tori was not capable of such an evil act. The devious female sets my teeth on edge, but we know they are all around us in the real world, so I try to stay true to what is real. The devious Leanza is a mild character compared to Shana in my historical romance Kathleen. Shana is the epitome of evil and cunning.  

Your men are dark and mysterious. The kind part of you wants to bring home to meet the family and part of you wants to lock up in a secret room. Each is uniquely different, each with their own demons. Do you have any role models you use to create these intriguing men?

I wish I’d had a Mark or Derek or Brett in my life, though I don’t think my husband would care to hear that. As I create my dark and mysterious men, I go all the way back to their childhood, their environment, family problems, what brought them to this point in life where they are so guarded and suspicious. For me, their current burden is the defining element in shaping their character. It is an exciting process. 

Of all your male characters (and I won’t tell your husband!) which of them would you love most to meet? Matthew from the Curse of Belle Haven, Drew from Dark Tides, Zane or Morgan from Shadows, Mark from Lord of High Cliff Manor or Derek or Brett from Shadow Over Bright Star?

 Okay, now this is like asking a mother to choose her favorite child. I love them all! I wish I could meet them all! But since I must choose, the one that I reflect upon a little more than the others is Mark from Lord of High Cliff Manor. He is dark and brooding, but he is also caring and so compassionate with the children, and there is humor between him and Jennifer. Also, this story is set in the Puget Sound area where I live, Mark’s environment is my environment. He and Jennifer lived with me for a long time before I finally sold their story. I really got to know them. 

When you were writing these books did you feel like any of the characters were living with you are you wrote the story?

They all lived with me, from day one to forever. In my mind they are very real people and I often wonder how they are doing. Are they happy and continue in good health? How many children did they have? 

I notice in all but Shadows you write in the first person. From a reviewer’s standpoint, writing in the first person well is a talent few authors are truly able to achieve. You do so flawlessly and it adds to make the reader feel like part of the story. Why did you choose to write from that point of view?

I think you get more of the mystery, the feel of the dark Gothic tone in the first person point of view.  

Was it difficult?

No. First person point of view seemed to come naturally to me. I love the rhythm and flow it offers, kind of a poetic lilt. 

Do you feel yourself being more a part of the story when you write in the first person?

Absolutely, the heroine always tells my story and I am her! 

What inspired you to switch to third person in Shadows?

For a while it appeared the first person view point had fallen out of favor and I didn’t want to fall into what some might call the old-fashioned writing style. But I also wanted to see if I could pull off a story in another view point. When I discovered that I could, I then tried multiple view point with my Kathleen historical romance. That was a splendid challenge. First person will always be my favorite point of view. 

Ok, imagination time…or maybe a prelude of what is to come.  You got the call, one of the movie channels has called to tell you they want to make one of your books into a movie. Which one do you pick and why?

I would choose The Curse of Belle Haven. The beautiful Charleston setting is perfect and there are historical elements in Belle Haven that are familiar to most of us. There are also lots of mysterious, spooky things going on in the cemetery, secret passages in the mansion, and intriguing characters. 

You can also choose anyone you want to play the leading parts. Who do you pick and why?

To me, Keanu Reeves is a dark and mysterious-looking man. I also sense that he is compassionate and caring. I would choose him to play Matthew. Reese Witherspoon is so beautiful and versatile and seems to be a really nice person. She would be the perfect Alexandra. 

My favorite cover of yours is from the Curse of Belle Haven. How much of Irene do we see in that cover?

Wings-press encourages author input on their covers and their artists are so talented and accommodating. Artist Richard Stroud asked what I would like to see on this cover. I presented him with a list of my preferences and he created a cover that brought a huge smile to my face.  

Which is your favorite?

Shadow Over Bright Star. The look of the girl is so close to what I imaged Jessica. Plus, the cemetery is in the background. I love old cemeteries. 

What is next on Irene Pascoe’s writing horizon? (Translation: When can us Pascoe-a-holics get our next fix?)

From time to time I burn out on writing and take some time away. I am just finishing up one of those timeout periods. Over the past few months I have been indulging in my love of computers and have been studying graphics and animation. Soon I will be back to Ravenswood, the Gothic I’m well into writing. This story is first person view point. The setting is the outskirts of Philadelphia at the beginning of the Civil War. 

Can you give us a sneak peak?

Well, imagine you are a young woman, born and raised in Ireland, your mother Irish, your father American. Both parents are deceased, father recently. The only family you have left is your cousin Ian, his wife and two small children who live in America. On a visit to Ireland, Ian asked if you would be guardian to his children should anything happen to him and his wife. The heroine, Tarin, agrees, thinking that surely nothing will happen to both parents. But Ian, who became a Union officer, dies at the first Battle of Bull Run. Shortly afterward his wife and her sister perish in a mysterious carriage accident. Suddenly Tarin is on her way to Philadelphia and the small children who are now her wards. She knows nothing about being a mother! And how does she cope with the little boy who is suffering emotionally over the loss of his parents? She must also deal with the dark and mysterious Richard Sebring, who was Ian’s best friend, business partner in their ship building business, and godfather to the children. Not only is Tarin the guardian to the little ones he loves and is currently caring for, she has also inherited a percentage of the business! Her percentage combined with the children’s interest, she will oversee, affords her the upper hand in the company. There is another handsome man, the very outgoing Damien. He and Tarin share the love of piano (her father was a concert pianist and she taught in his academy in Belfast). The piano playing is a negative for Richard; this is one of demons. He is away from Ravenswood a lot. Where does he go? Tarin wonders. Several attempts are made on her life. Who would profit most by her death? Richard! He would gain control of the business and the children he loves. As Tarin unravels the mystery of who is trying to eliminate her, she also learns the truth about the carriage accident. The vehicle was run off the road, the women were murdered. 

Any final advice to aspiring authors?

One of the hardest things about writing is the rejection. Criticism comes at us from all directions. Learn to look at it from a constructive point of view. For many years I belonged to a top-notch critique group. We read our work aloud in group and we didn’t pull any punches. We praised and we shredded lines and passages. That was hard for each one of us to take; but we knew that if we wanted to improve our skills, we must listen, we must learn from our mistakes. Without that wonderful group of talented writers, I would never have become published. Let me tell you, there were plenty of days that I went home from group devastated because my chapter had been shredded. After I’d dried my tears, I analyzed the comments and suggestions and jumped right into the rewrite. Do not let rejection stop you from pursuing your goal!  

Do you have anything to add?

Yes, another huge thank you for your praise of my work, for being a fan, and for allowing me this time with your readers. Bless you all. 

Thank you some fabulous reading and your time today.