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Welcome, Ms. Bentley, to Love Romances and to
our interview. The readers and I, look forward to this talk about your
book, and getting to know you on a more personal level.
Thank you. I’m glad for the chance to visit
with you and readers.
Let us
start off by telling you a little about this debuting author, Jacki
Bentley, with a wonderful quote and a short blurb from her book, ANGEL AND
THE FLYING WARHORSES.
“Ms.
Bentley wrote an imaginative futuristic that truly transcends the heavens.
She bathes her wordplay with innovative descriptions that breathe life and
vitality in the characters. Giving them likeability, flesh and blood. Ms.
Bentley is an author on the rise!”
A part of her gift of healing is Angeni Traek's ability to communicate
telepathically with animals. Until the night she fought to save the life
of Alliance Officer, Garek Sahnjun, she had never heard the thoughts of a
man before, and she was not prepared for the effect the mind link with
another human would have upon her.
Neither was Garek, but although he managed to break the bond between
himself and the healer once, when their paths cross again and he must
battle the warlords to save them both, he isn't at all certain he'll be
able to walk away from Angeni again.
Wow, that is a nice quote
up there in italics. My head swells as we speak. Just kidding.
Ms. Bentley, if you
would be so kind as to tell the readers a little about yourself, and what
you do when you are not busy writing?
Hmm. I love the
outdoors, animals and gardening. I managed a boarding stable for horses
for several years, which allowed me to stay home with daughter and son,
ride my horse and write.
Could you tell the
readers how you came up with the futuristic premise for ANGEL AND THE
FLYING WARHORSES?
Angel was my first manuscript. I wrote the early drafts, ah-hem,
several years ago. I enjoyed anthropology and science in college. I
think the premise came from that and then out of my research--from asking
myself “what if” questions on space travel and possible future
innovations. I wanted to imagine a travel method that saved fuel, but was
a little different from the accepted worm hole jump theory--because I
think those suckers’ll smash ya. Some of my favorite fiction as a young
person were sci-fi books like The Time Machine, The Planet of the Apes,
Gulliver’s Travels. I can’t say I truly enjoyed 1984, but it had an
earth-shaking impact on me. Also, I enjoy the positive future world view
of Star Trek a lot. I had such a crush on Mr. Spock. And of course, I
loved ST Voyager where the woman got to be the captain and the Native
American second in command.
Ms. Bentley, who is
your greatest inspiration?
Authors come to
mind. Jayne Ann Krentz. I love all her work, but especially her
futuristic romances. I could read a million of them. New author, Robin
D. Owens is also great with the wonderful futuristic worlds and other
dimensions and great characters--even her cats, houses and space ships
become sympathetic secondary characters to me. And when innovative new
authors like Chris Feehan come along, it can recharge every writer’s
creativity, I think.
Also I owe my mom
and grandmother for inspiring me; they have always loved to tell a good
story.
Do you have a
favorite scene from ANGEL AND THE FLYING WARHORSES?
My favorite was the
chase scene where Angeni has to pilot an old space craft in a pinch. The
hero, Garek, is concerned, but trusts her ability and judgment
completely. He doesn’t try to do it for her. I like the hero and heroine
to show me they can work together and make it as a couple after the book
ends. I want the reader to enjoy the relationship all the way. That
makes emotional conflict tricky because I don’t want the hero and heroine
at each other’s throats.
What was the hardest scene to develop in ANGEL AND THE FLYING
WARHORSES?
Oddly enough the
same scene. I knew what I wanted to convey. I knew it was a turning
point for them, but it took seeing an old Volkswagen “beetle” broken down
and smoking along the road to give me the idea germ for a quant, out-dated
flying craft.
Do you have a special formulation or technique when you write?
I might be more
efficient if I did. I’m what they call a seat of the pantser. I have
this new theory that it’s like algebra for my best friend back in high
school; she did all of it in her head. I had to carefully go step by
step. With writing, a lot of the plot gets worked out in my head. Also,
I’ve read that artists--painters are drawn to the fresh white page.
That’s so true of me. If I have too much worked out already, I feel I’m
done. I need the stories to come to me, to ruminate a little. I write
scenes out of order whenever I think of them.
I do make a short
pseudo outline I place at the top of my fist chapter with some basic ideas
of where I want the story to go, secondary character names, everyone’s
hair color and eye color, ‘cause I forget.
Ms. Bentley, what is
the nicest thing another author has said about you?
I was fortunate enough to bid on and win a critique reading from Rita
award winning author, Robin D. Owens in a fund-raising auction. She was
so encouraging. I was thrilled. She said Angel was an intriguing story
premise. When I first started writing, I had some vague idea of thanking
all the great authors whose books I’d loved by writing something they
could like--and to give readers the kind of enjoyment I get from books.
So when authors say they like my work, I’m amazed.
Could you describe
to the readers what it felt like when ANGEL AND THE FLYING WARHORSES
was accepted for publication?
Bless New Concepts Publishing, they love Sci-fi romance. It was a bit
shocking to get the offer, actually. I’d gotten so many rejections that a
part of me had given up on ever getting a book contract and come to terms
with writing just because I love it. I really enjoyed reading,
“hereinafter known as the author” in the contract wording.
They say everyone has a
dream, what is yours?
I once told my hubby
I’d be happy to have just a couple of readers. He said, “As long as they
don’t come to our lawn dressed as your sci-fi characters.” I thought that
sounded pretty cool to me. Seriously, it’s a dream come true to get
emails from readers and good reviews. And when Angel made the
FictionWise.com’s Best Selling and Highest Rated ebook list in April 2006,
that was a total bonus I didn’t even dream of.
How much background
research went into ANGEL AND THE FLYING WARHORSES?
A lot. I was a bit
too obsessive about it, I think. Writers I know love the research
part--getting to go to the library, getting to buy research books and
magazines and read them and make notes. In fact, I had to cut a lot out
of the finished product. One of my critique partners said, “stop
lecturing me”. So the research that showed like that had to go. My
genius editor, Jeri cut even more.
Ms. Bentley, do you have any special interests or causes you would like to
share with the readers?
From my book, you
can tell I love animals, they’re so important in my life. I admire anyone
in the animal rescue effort--cats, racing dogs and racing horses, etc.
It’s funny, one day my husband said he had a nightmare dream that I began
a rescue farm for goats. Why goats, and not horses or dogs, I don’t
know. I told him it might not be a nightmare but a subliminal
suggestion. With three horses, two dogs and one cat now, we can barely
afford to feed them, but maybe when we get the kids through college and we
can better afford the costs, I’ll do some rescue work myself.
I’m also a member of
the Nature Conservancy. It’s a cooperative group that buys endangered
natural habitats all over the U.S. and the world. They seem sensible and
practical in their approach.
Ms. Bentley, what are your views in regards to sex in the romance field
today?
Extra good
question. I’ve asked myself that one lately, now that folks I know are
reading my story. I think of book as a private thing, written for the
reader to make it their own, so I have no problem with the expression of
such a wonderful aspect of being in love in any way the author feels
comfortable and the readers like. It’s part of the romance genre.
I used to work in
interior landscaping--caring for plants in hotels and restaurants before I
started writing. I would see romance novels on the hotel bedside tables
of women at womens’ business conferences. I’ve seen ladies reading
romance in hospital waiting rooms. The experts say romance is over 60% of
all fiction sales. What a great service to provide.
I have a wide range
of love scene taste myself: I love Caroline Zane’s Brubaker
series--Silhouette Romances that pretty much close the bedroom door. I
also like to read romance where the door is left wide open, so I guess
it’s natural I write pretty sensual love scenes. New Concepts defines my
book as at about the level of most romances on the market.
You give the
characters in ANGEL AND THE FLYING WARHORSES a realistic and
personal feel to them. Did you model anyone from the book after someone
you know personally?
That’s great to
hear. No, not consciously. I do tend to observe and study people though,
their personalities, expressions and mannerisms, etc.
My characters may be
drawn from classic personality types too. As a kid, I remember reading a
great Victoria Holt book where two guys wanted the heroine. One, the bad
boy, took a snake bite for the heroine and died. I want to write that
kind of male, but not quite kill him off.
Ms. Bentley, will
you try your hand at other genres?
I can’t imagine not
writing happy ever after romance. I love a smart lady tames alpha male
story. I might be able to write mystery. I’m reading a Rita Mae
Brown right now. She’s so good.
I’ve written other
romance subgenres though. I have six unsold manuscripts in my computer.
They’re all romance set in contemporary time with paranormal elements,
like Extra Sensory Perception. And science elements, I always seem to put
a touch of that in.
Also, I have plans
for other books in the same future world as Angel and the Flying
Warhorses. Even my mom called and said I had to write about one of
the characters she loved. That was great fun to hear. Of course I want
to write about my damaged alpha guys, Hane and Mac.
Would you like to
tell the readers about any new or upcoming releases, Ms. Bentley?
I have a weird
little tongue in cheek vampire novella under consideration at New Concepts
for their ten year anniversary anthology. I hope to have news on that
soon. And I have one of my ESP romances almost polished and proofed
enough to go out.
How can your fans reach you, Ms. Bentley?
I really enjoy
hearing from readers at my email address
Jackibentley@hotmail.com
They’re welcome to
visit at my Web site and watch for contests, which I find I enjoy doing.
I mailed out a T-shirt and some bookmarks to a winner today.
Ms. Bentley, do you have any advice for aspiring authors?
Never give up. I
went through a time of thinking, “there are so many good authors; they
don’t need me”. I know it’s hard to do, but keep writing while you wait
to hear from the publishers. You’ll be glad you did when you sell your
first book.
If you can afford
only one or two “how to” books on writing craft, check out Writing a
Romance Novel for Dummies, by Harlequin editor, Leslie Wainger. And
Lukeman’s The First Five Pages is great information I never knew before a
couple years ago. I also enjoyed Stephen King’s On Writing. His books
scare me to death, but this non-fiction book is a lot of fun for a
writer-type to read.
I would
like to thank you, Ms. Bentley, for sharing your talent and time with the
readers of Love Romances. I truly enjoyed reading ANGEL AND THE FLYING
WARHORSES and hope to read more from you soon!
You’re very welcome.
I’m so glad you enjoyed my book. Having readers like my book makes all
the hard work so worth it.
ANGEL AND THE FLYING WARHORSES
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