Welcome, Kate, to Love Romances and More. We are looking forward to talking with you about your work, and getting to know you better. 

How long have you been writing? 

I have been telling stories ever since I can remember, even before I could hold a pencil and write! Over the years, I’ve tried time and again to write novels, but it was only in April of 2005 that I finished my first complete manuscript…and I sat on it until September. Once I submitted it, I was off and running, though, and it hasn’t slowed down at all.   

Did you always want to be a writer? 

No. I always knew I was a writer. It didn’t matter if I ever published or not. I was just full of stories that I couldn’t hold inside. Even now, as I walk down the street, I process the world around me in terms of narrative – which is both good and bad as sometimes it makes me a little scatter-brained!      

What inspired you to write a trio of romance stories set in Paris 1901? 

You know, I’m not actually sure. I think the phrase “Paris, 1901” popped into my head one day, and suddenly, I found myself spiraling into a huge jag of inspiration where the stories were simply unfolding themselves and revealing themselves to me.    

Could you tell the readers how much research was needed to make the setting feel so right? 

Well, part of the research was easy, as I have lived in Paris before and visit there frequently (in fact, I just got back from an extended visit to my favorite city in the world!). For the actual historical research, I spent a few weeks digging through library books and scanning the web for the right facts and images. Finding images is really important, especially antique photographs, advertisements, etc. Those images take you there like nothing else can. When I edit, I also go back and add in more details, as sometimes, when I read a section, I realize it needs some explanation of why things were a certain way.  

You’ve obviously done a lot of research for the historical background; but do you enjoy that part of writing?  

I absolutely love research. Part of writing for me is about growing as a person, and part of growing as a person is continuing to explore and learn. I also find the process of actually uncovering the right information incredibly exciting – like your own mystery novel!  

Do you plan on writing more books in this era, or are you moving forward or back in time? 

I think after Dance of Desire, I’ll be leaving 1901 behind. I have several ideas in the works, some historical and some contemporary but with a historical bent. Needless to say, they all have to do with Paris! 

Could you tell us a little about your publishing history? 

My publishing history is surprisingly short but incredibly busy! I actually submitted my first manuscript, The Siren’s Bloom (Ocean’s Mist Press), last September – September 30, to be exact. I received my acceptance on October 1. Since that moment, I’ve been working non-stop on my writing. In addition to The Siren’s Bloom, I also have with Siren Publishing Portrait of Desire, Duet of Desire and Dance of Desire (coming this winter). I have also published a short story with 4 Girls Publishing called Carta di Paradiso. I now have an agent and am finalizing my next manuscript to submit to him – a contemporary suspense/mystery set in Paris!     

What does your typical writing day look like? 

My writing day actually starts at about 6:30 a.m. when I get up to take my two pups for a walk. I spend my walk alternately daydreaming about my stories and trying to keep them from eating various things off the street! While I’m at work, I write on my lunch hour, and sometimes add in a 15-minute break for writing for fun. When I get home, there’s another dog walk, more daydreaming, and then finally another hour or two of writing at the end of the day. When I get into bed, I usually read which helps both put me to sleep and research for my books. The key for me is word count – I set and have to meet a particular word count for every day. 

Do you ever have a problem writing sex and love scenes? 

Not really. If I am having trouble with a sex scene, it’s a signal to me that something else in the story isn’t working. When the characters are in tune and the plot is moving in the right direction, then the scenes come to me in a flash of poetry, and I’m not really aware of actually writing them as much as I’m aware of experiencing the flow, rhythm and music of language.     

Did you find writing such erotic and sensual love scenes hard or have you found your perfect genre? 

The funny thing is, I resisted writing romance and erotica for a really long time. Then, my friend Cindy basically challenged me to get into it, and once I did, I found I couldn’t stop. Needless to say, I have definitely found my perfect genre.       

What do you feel is the most important thing a writer can do to ensure readers will look for their next book? 

I think a writer has to look to connect with the reader in several different ways. You have to create characters that readers can both relate to but also are challenged by. You have to ask questions about life and love that go beyond the plot of this story so that people can carry those questions and reflect on the answers in their everyday lives. Finally, I think you have to have a rocking good plot that shows readers you can twist a tale for them and keep them guessing.   

Could you tell us about your current projects and upcoming releases? 

My next release will be Dance of Desire, the final book of La Belle Epoque trilogy. It’s about a clumsy ballet dancer, a confused hero, an evil ballet mistress…and add in a healthy dose of mistaken identity, misconceptions, blackmail, betrayal and lust for good measure. You’ll see some of your favorite characters for Portrait of Desire and Duet of Desire come back and take center stage! 

I am currently in my mad-editing phase with my next manuscript – the title is still to be determined. It is the story of a young professor of ancient religions and occultism who finds herself in Paris, confronted with a 3,500 year-old mystery that has suddenly drawn her into the deadly puzzle of a cult of a “deathless priestess,” a figure who calls himself The Alchemist, two enigmatic and dangerous men who desire her, and a race to find the meaning of an ancient formula for immortality. 

As a reader/reviewer I fell for Marc le Marquis de Drammond in Duet of Desire. Is he or any of your heroes based on somebody you admire?  

I wish! Marc is simply a figment of my (overactive) imagination. I try to push the limits with my heroes, to see how far I can take them into dangerous territory without turning them into brutes or monsters. I like my heroes to flirt with obsession, possessiveness, pride, etc., yet be redeemed by the goodness of their purpose and the truth of their hearts.  

What do you enjoy the most and least about writing? 

I most enjoy the actual process of writing the first draft. It’s almost a meditative experience for me where the words flow out from someplace deep inside with very little interference from my conscious mind. 

What I like least about writing is the nitty-gritty editing. I like editing when it’s about improving a character or strengthening the plot, but the little things, like language inconsistencies, proof-reading, etc. just really bum me out! 

Do you usually outline your stories, or are you a “go with the flow” writer? 

That really depends on the story. For some, I write out a synopsis and go from there. With others, I play along with the mystery and let the plot tell me where it’s going, so I discover what’s happening next just as the reader would. In all cases, though, my stories always take my by surprise and twist themselves, with the twists usually announcing themselves to me while I’m walking my dogs. I also have a couple of girlfriends that are writers as well, and we powwow to help each other with critiques and plot-twisting.   

Are you like most authors, an avid reader? If so, what type of books do you enjoy the most? 

I have to confess that I actually don’t read a lot of fiction any more. I’ve become a huge fan of true crime and non-fiction on a wide range of subjects. I think the change happened for me when I started to write fiction and after spending all day writing and thinking about it, I wanted to escape and change gears. 

Who are your favorite authors? 

My all-time favorite authors are kind of a strange mixed bag of modern and contemporary. I love Jane Austen and Charlotte Bronte, but I also adore P.G. Wodehouse and E.F. Benson for their English comedy of manners in the 1920’s and 1930’s. Reading them is like comfort food, it always leaves you feeling good. I also love Agatha Christie, Robert Van Gulik and his Jude Dee mysteries from the 1960’s, John Dickson Carr, and Terry Pratchett (his early Discworld novels had me laughing out loud sometimes!).  

Do you find your characters begin to take on a life of their own as the story unfolds? 

My original conception of a character doesn’t usually change as I write the story. Sometimes, they surprise me with their reaction to an event or another character, but usually, I know them inside and out. Now, the plot…the plot is a beast that is almost always out of my control! My plots are evil things that like to take me for a roller coaster ride, challenging me both as a writer and as a reader. 

Have you ever had writer’s block and if so how did you conquer it? 

I like to say that if you hit a wall with your writing, it’s God’s way of telling you to take a left turn with your plot. So, whenever I get blocked, I put the manuscript aside and write something else for fun, or I cook, or I walk the dogs a whole lot more!   

Have you any advice for aspiring authors?  

Writing is a hobby. Being an author is a business. You have to take your commitment to your writing seriously and manage your writing process, your submissions process, editing, promoting, etc. like a professional. Most of all, have faith in your star. 

Thank you, Kate, for spending time with us at Love Romances and More.  

Visit Kate’s online home at http://www.kateseptember.com/home.html