Q&A with Allison Leigh, A Child Under His Tree

How did you come up with the relationship between Kelly and Dr. Caleb?

Kelly and Caleb’s high-school relationship was introduced several years ago in The Rancher’s Dance.  At the time, I can’t say that I intended to reunite them in their own story, but the more I thought about it, the stronger appeal it had. 

What is your favorite part about writing holiday books?

It’s fun to wrap holiday trappings around romances.  The “feel good” sense that people have that time of year is a sharp contrast for those in turmoil.

Do you have a signature Thanksgiving dish?

Oh, goodness.  My signature anything out of the kitchen tends to be a dessert.  So I would have to say it would be an early sampling of my Christmas Storybook Cookies, which are decorated sugar-cookie cut-outs.  I can’t take credit for the name of the cookies—that comes from a really ancient magazine (I’ve been making them since I was a teenager), but I like to think it’s fitting for me as a writer.  Ha!  I also almost always make my Fudge Drop cookies, too, which are a lot less work and equally loved by my family year-round. 

When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

Second grade.  Hands down.  But as I got older, I didn’t really think I could be a “real” writer until I actually sold my first book, Stay…. (This is NOT the advice I give aspiring writers, by the way.)

How long does it take you to write a book?

When I’m in the midst of one?  It seems to take forever.  Ha!  I don’t have the luxury of writing every single day, so that means I have to be diligent when planning my writing time.  I’m a terrible procrastinator and know that I work better under pressure. (Don’t know what that says about me psychologically, but there you have it.)  All that being said, it takes me anywhere from 15-20 very long writing days to finish a manuscript.  This is assuming that I have a fully fleshed-out synopsis first.

Where do you get your inspiration for Weaver, Wyoming?

As a girl, I lived for a few years in a small town in Wyoming.  It made an impression, to say the least.  I love small towns and I love open spaces.  Weaver is my mind’s perfect fantasy location.

How many books have you written? Do you have a favorite?

Fortune’s June Bride in 2015 was my 50th.  So that makes A Child Under His Tree my 52nd.  Hard to believe.  I can’t say that I have a true favorite, but obviously Stay… was pretty important as it was not only my first book, but my first book set in Weaver, Wyoming.  A lot of books have come as a result.

What book are you reading right now?  

Right now, I’m actually reading two:  a non-fiction book called None Braver by Michael Hirsh and a romantic suspense by Karen Robards called The Last Time I Saw Her.  Enjoying them both.

What are your current projects?

Currently, I’m finishing Wild West Fortune, which is one of the terrific Fortunes of Texas series of which I’ve been so fortunate to be a part.  Hard on the heels of that will be my next Double C title.  Both to be released in 2017.

What advice do you have for writers?

First off—if you write, you are a writer.  (Don’t take my path of not taking yourself seriously as a writer unless you’ve sold a book.)  But if you want to be a PUBLISHED writer…then write what you love.  And finish what you write.  You won’t ever get there if you don’t sit your rear in the chair and actually do the work.  I love writing.  I really do.  But doing the work?  That’s not always champagne and roses.  It’s hard.  It takes time.  It takes effort.  But when you write those last words of the manuscript and know you’ve given it your all?  It’s one of the best feelings in the world.

The Wishing World As A Movie by Todd Fahnestock

Thanks so much to What is This Book About for inviting me play with The Wishing World as a movie! With what can be done with CGI these days, The Wishing World is aching to be on the silver screen. It is a hugely visual book, and my kids and I have talked a lot about who would play whom. Here is what we came up with: 

Lorelei

Millie Bobby Brown from Stranger Things. No one delivers intensity like this girl, and Lorelei has to be intense. Any girl who is willing to chase her family across dimensions has to know how to “turn it up to Eleven.”

Fun Fact: Millie Bobby Brown’s character in Stranger Things is named Eleven. My son, had he been born a girl, would have been named Lorelei Eleven Fahnestock. 

Gruffy the Griffon

Dennis Haysbert from Mr. Peabody and Sherman. His is the voice I hear when Gruffy speaks in my head. Haysbert’s voice exudes strength and power. It also has a reassuring quality to it, all of which are completely Gruffy.

Pip the Toucan

Alan Tudyk from Zootopia, Wreck it Ralph and my favorite series of all time, Firefly. I’ve been a huge Tudyk fan forever, and I think he would bring the perfect element to Pip. Tudyk can make anything sound interesting, which is essential for a character who says everything twice.

Squeak the Mouse

Kristin Bell from Frozen. So if there’s ever a movie based on any of my stories, it has to have Kristin Bell in it because she’s just plain awesome. Did you see the clip from the Ellen DeGeneres show with Kristin and the sloth? If not, you have to YouTube it. She is overwhelmingly endearing and insanely talented.

Sir Real

Xolo Maridueña from Parenthood. As I was searching for pictures for this blog, I stumbled across Maridueña and he immediately struck me as Sir Real. He has the perfect look for it.

Theron

Gaten Matarazzo from Stranger Things. Every single child actor in Stranger Things is amazing, but my wife and I both agreed that Matarazzo would make a fantastic Theron. And he’s got the perfect crazy curly hair!

Ripple, Princess of the Eternal Sea

Raffey Cassidy from Tomorrowland. Oh my gosh. My kids and I fell in love with Athena from Tomorrowland from the very first scene. Cassidy has the accent and the bearing of the Princess of the Eternal Sea. Give her blue skin and eyes and she is Ripple. Even if The Wishing World never gets made into a movie, I would die happy if I could hear Raffey Cassidy do some of Ripple’s dialogue from the book.

The Ink King

Jack Gleeson from A Game of Thrones. Is there anyone that can inspire loathing better than the boy who played Joffrey Baratheon? Gleeson has the ability to evoke sympathy and revulsion in the viewer, both of which are essential for a great Ink King.  

So that’s our cast of main characters! Enjoy the story. I’ll see you all in Veloran.

10 Things You Might Not Know About For the Love of Meat by Jenny Jaeckel

1. Somewhere in Granada, Spain, there really is a man in a shop with a large puppet that looks like him. Or at least there was twenty-one years ago when I was there travelling, and happened to stop in and see them. That random memory inspired one of the stories, “The Kid”.

2. “The Teteriv” was inspired by a strange, medieval-type dream that included a chance encounter and attraction between two servants of nobles.

3. “Mémé” was also inspired by a dream, also in a very different time and place. The most striking things about the dream, other than the setting, were the brother-sister relationship and the scene of the dog attack.

4. There is just one story based on a real person, the title story, based on my maternal grandmother. My grandma was very open-minded and accepted the many aspects of my mother’s “alternative lifestyle,” except for the one thing that dismayed her deeply, that we were vegetarian.

5. The characters in “The Two” and “Mémé” are related, but separated by several generations. I explore this connection, and much of the family story in my upcoming novel, House of Rougeaux.

6. Father Sebastian (“so young he still had acne”), a minor character in “Wander the Desert” which takes place in Mexico in the 1930’s, shows up “ancient” in the background of another story, “Up on a Mountain,” 40 years later in California.

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7. Rebecca in “The Kid” leaves Spain to go see her grandmother in Los Angeles, who is secretly the grandmother in the title story “For the Love of Meat”.

8. Certain scenes from “Up on a Mountain” were inspired by childhood memories growing up on communes in Berkeley and north of the Bay Area.

9. Most of the characters in “Stumble and Fall” were imagined by splicing together a variety of ideas based on numerous real people and places into a completely fictional story.

10. “The Incident” was inspired in part by a visit to a monastic Buddhist community in the south of France.

Q&A with Rachel Lee, Conard County Marine

Where did you gather inspiration for Conard City?

Conard County had been rolling around in the back of my mind for some time until it emerged as the setting for Exile’s End.  Before I knew it, I was setting a second book there (Cherokee Thunder).  Interestingly, my editor called as soon as she’d finished reading the first book and asked if there would be a second.  I told her I was already working on it, and that I thought of these as my Conard County books.  And there it was.

Nothing in particular inspired it.  The town itself, Conard City, is based on a conglomeration of small towns where I’ve lived.

How do you think the setting affects the story?

The setting has a huge effect on the story.  Given that it is limited to one county with a low population, I can’t do just any kind of story believably.  It constrains me in some ways, but those constraints can be useful creatively.  It also allows me to have continuing characters which both my readers and I enjoy.

Is anything in your new release based on real life experiences or purely all imagination?

That’s a very hard question to answer.  Some emotional realities are clearly part of my life experience.  Actual events, such as amnesia, are not. It is part of my job as a writer to vividly imagine myself in someone else’s experience.  I need to be there, to imagine it until I feel it... and I’m sometimes quite surprised by what I discover or learn.  The thing is, no matter how vivid and true my imagination is (and many have written to tell me that they’re astonished that I understand so well) I never forget that however well-realized a character is, it will not be everyone’s experience.  We are all very different but in many ways all the same.  It’s an interesting conundrum that never fails to intrigue me.

How long on average does it take you to write a book?

That depends on the book and other demands on my time.  Some books are more difficult.  Sometimes life needs attending as it does for everyone.  I write seven days a week when I can, but I can’t always.  So I will not say how long it takes.  It takes however long it needs.

What is the biggest misconception about your genre?

That it’s pure fluff.  That it’s mind candy.  Or that it’s just an excuse for titillation.  Many of us romance authors deal with very real human problems and situations.  In fact, as I’ve said before, I think of my books as a novel with a romance.
To those who scorn the genre, I suggest you look at music.  How many songs are there about love?  

Did you hide any secrets in your books?

Not that I’m aware of, unless my subconscious played a game on me.

Any tips to get through the dreaded writer’s block?

Write.  Just write anything.  Two words often lead to ten, and ten into a paragraph.  It doesn’t have to be work on your book or story.  But write.  Soon the words will find you again.

How do you relax?

I am a great Cricket fan.  I especially love One Day Internationals and Twenty-20s.  But one of the things I enjoy is the huge international participation.  I have favorite teams all over the world, and favorite players, too.  Cricket has also brought me friends from around the world. Merely mention a team or a player’s name and you can converse with people from almost anywhere.

What is your favorite book and why?

J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings trilogy.  Tolkien had the greatest story-telling voice I’ve ever read.  His words carry you along.  Dive in anywhere to read a passage and you may emerge hours later.  He’s hypnotic, his prose lyrical, and those books will simply sweep you away.

What is your current end-of-summer read? 

A stack of books is waiting for me.   I venture across many genres, and I read a lot of non-fiction for ideas and information.  My favorite romance authors are there, of course (I won’t name them for fear of overlooking someone I adore) and I finished the most recent Jack Reacher novel a few weeks ago.  At the moment I’m studying Practical Homicide Investigation.  

Q&A with Carol Marinelli, The Sheikh’s Baby Scandal

Where did you gather inspiration for Zazinia?

I could just see it in my mind’s eye. I like desert settings and have written a few of them but each desert and palace appears differently to me. I wanted Zazinia to have an ancient and traditional feel, in contrast to the modern and glittering Dubai, where the book is also set.

How do you think the setting affects the story?

The setting is vital. The Sheikh’s Baby Scandal takes place in London, Dubai and Zazinia. The location changes reveal more facets of both characters personalities. Kedah is a very rich playboy but all that has to change when he returns to Zazinia and he reveals a more formal side. Felicia is a very independent heroine. Instead of being taken out of her comfort zone in Zazinia, she comes into her stride. I really liked that about her.

Is anything in your new release based on real life experiences or purely all imagination?

My imagination is so vivid that I sometimes feel as if it’s real life but no, it’s all imagination. I am sadly lacking in royal sheikhs 

How long on average does it take you to write a book?

It is very variable. I tend to work on two stories at the same time. Both are usually at different stages and I dip in and out of each. Near the end of writing a story though, I can only focus on one and so it gets my full attention then, until it’s complete. Generally, at that point, I get a new idea for a story and start to write it, while going back to the other story I left sitting. On average I think I work on a story for 3-4 months.

What is the biggest misconception about your genre?

That they’re all the same. It would make my job a whole lot easier if they were  The wonderful thing about the romance genre is that there is something for everyone to enjoy—from sweeter romances to very sexy. Mine are the latter. 

Did you hide any secrets in your books?

No, I have heard some writers do but my muse is to disorganized for that.

Any tips to get through the dreaded writer’s block? 

Everyone handles it differently and what works through one rough patch might not work for the next. Going for a walk certainly helps me. I forget to, of course, or I tell myself I’m too busy and too behind to justify taking a couple of hours to walk. But I should remember, because it helps me a lot. I listen to a podcast or some music and then for the last half hour or so I take out my headphones and start to think about my plot.

How do you relax?

By walking (as above), reading or writing. Sometimes writing can be stressful, but when the writing is flowing and I’m lost in the story it’s a very relaxing space to be in. I also love talking on the phone. I spend hours on it.

What is your favorite book and why?

Bryce Courtenay’s, April Fool’s Day. It is a true story about the life of his deceased son. There are so many life-lessons within it and it is beautifully written. The book touches on many issues and Bryce did not paint himself with a perfect brush. It is honest and sad, wonderful and warm and it still makes me cry.

What is your current end-of-summer read?  

I am extremely behind with my reading and am just about to dive into my TBR pile. At the top is Sarah Morgan’s Sunset in Central Park and I can’t wait to get started! 

Q&A with Tiffany Reisz, Her Halloween Treat

How did you come up with the relationship between Joey and Chris?

I have a lovely Twitter friend who used to live in Hawaii and she’s in love with actor Chris Evans especially when he’s wearing a beard. She posts a lot of sexy Chris Evans pictures and gifs and in one picture he’s wearing flannel and looking like your ultimate HGTV sexy handyman fantasy. It wasn’t too hard to come up with the sort of woman who’d fall for a guy like that.

What is your favorite part about writing for Men at Work?

Hard to say because I had so much fun writing every single book. I think the most fun I had was with the supporting characters. In HER HALLOWEEN TREAT, Joey’s best friend is a co-worker named Kira who keeps her encouraged and entertained. In HER NAUGHTY HOLIDAY, I had a blast writing Erick’s snarky 17-year-old daughter who is playing matchmaker for her boss and her dad. And in ONE HOT DECEMBER the heroine’s neighbor is Mrs. Scheinberg, a feisty 88-year-old woman who can’t stop giving my heroine and hero very good advice. Writing the funny best friend or wacky neighbor never stops being fun. 

Your Harlequin Blaze novels seem to be either around Halloween or Christmas, which one is your favorite?

The entire trilogy is set around the holidays. In HER HALLOWEEN TREAT it’s Halloween. In HER NAUGHTY HOLIDAY it’s Thanksgiving. And in ONE HOT DECEMBER it’s Hanukkah and Christmas. Christmas is my favorite holiday because it’s when all my family gets together. I’m a vegetarian so Thanksgiving is kind of wasted on me. And Halloween is great but when you have as many fillings as I do, you tend to avoid candy.  

What was the first book that made you cry?

I picked up a copy of THROUGH A GLASS DARKLY by Karleen Koen when I was on vacation with my parents in Virginia when I was, oh, 14 or 15, I think. I probably got the book because it had a pretty cover and was very long, and I liked to read big books since I thought that impressed people. I devoured the book in just a few days and remember weeping onto the pages when Roger dies. That was the first historical romance I’d ever read and loved and Roger was the first bisexual character I think I’d ever encountered in fiction. I adored the book and still have that giant purple hardcover at my parents’ house. 

How long do you spend researching before beginning a book?

I didn’t do any research for the Men at Work books. My father has been a contractor/handyman type all his life so I knew a lot about the work the guys do. I usually research as I write. Too many writers use intensive research to put off the actual writing. Write and research simultaneously and then you can pinpoint exactly what you need to research and save yourself time and trouble. 

How do you select the names of your characters?

Names are hard. You want to get them just right and I’ve been known to “Find and Replace” on a draft when a name just isn’t working. I’ll try several out until I find one that works. 

If you didn’t write, what would you do for work?

I’d probably die. But before I was a writer, I worked in a bunch of bookstores. I could easily go back to working in a bookstore tomorrow. 

Do you believe in writer’s block?

I’ll quote Steve Martin here—“ Writer's block is a fancy term made up by whiners so they can have an excuse to drink alcohol.”

What is your favorite thing about fall? 

How happy it makes my husband. That and long-sleeved shirts. I’m a big fan of long-sleeved shirts. 

Are you excited for Halloween? If so, do you have a favorite scary story?  

I’m excited for Halloween decorating. In fact, I already did it. Favorite scary story? Probably “The Haunted House” from the original SCARY STORIES TO TELL IN THE DARK. I was in a school play version of that story. I had one line and that line was just a scream. I do a very good scream.