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Questions For The Author
 By HelenKay Dimon I was part of a booksigning and author panel yesterday with Fronnie Lewis and Charlene Sands. We are giving the same workshop at the RWA Conference in two weeks. This time, we spoke at the Los Angeles Romance Authors group (LARA) meeting. This was my second time speaking at one of LARA’s monthly get-togethers. It also was one of those days where I was reminded why I love writing and reading romance. The ladies of LARA are quite friendly and welcoming. They stay engaged and support speakers by buying our books, which is just fabulous. And that’s not even why I enjoyed the day so much. I had one of those gee, I’m really an author now moments. See, three different people came up to me and said that they had read YOUR MOUTH DRIVES ME CRAZY (Brava, July ‘07)- my first single title ever - and loved it. What a fabulous feeling. I’ve now been on both sides of this conversation. I remember being unpublished, meeting Jayne Ann Krentz and babbling incoherently. After all, what do you say to the woman who wrote one of the first romance novels you ever read and started you on the road to reading, and eventually writing, romance novels? Thank you kind of seems insufficient. So, naturally, I went with something like: “uh, b…duh…” Yeah, that’s all I got out. Because I’ve been the fangirl, because I’ve met authors and felt a bit tongue-tied, I do whatever I can to let people who tell me they like my books know how much I appreciate the comments. I really do. I’m not the most experienced author out there, but I’m willing to answer whatever questions I can when I speak at different meetings. So…I thought I’d open up the comments. If you have a question, ask it. If I know the answer, I’ll give you one. If not, I’ll make it up…no, no, no. I’ll be honest. Promise. 54 Responses to “Questions For The Author” |
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And for added fun, I’ll give away a copy of your choice of one title from my backlist to a person chosen at random from those commenting. I’ll post the winner’s name in the comments by Wednesday.
July 21st, 2008 at 6:26 am
I believe I have all your backlist, so don’t include me in the contest.
Can you write anywhere, or does it have to be in a controlled environment (an office setting)? How do you stay disciplined? And what’s your biggest struggle while writing?
July 21st, 2008 at 7:36 am
I can’t really think of any questions this early in the morning. Just wanted to say how much I enjoyed Right Here, Right Now. I’ll definitely be buying more of your books when I can.
July 21st, 2008 at 8:25 am
I don’t want to ask the standard “where do you come up with your ideas” but I would like to know how you stay on track. I start out with an outline and then the characters do what they want and change my plan. Normally this ends up as a better story, but sometimes leads to deadends and lost pages. Any advise?
I also would like to know when you were still practicing law full-time, how did you find time to write? I am a mother of two and work full-time, between football practice and cheer practice, my time is not my own until late at night and by then I don’t want to hear anymore voice be it real or imaginary.
BTW I love your books. I remember reading your first story in the antho with Lori Foster and Erin McCarthy and deciding that you had to be on my auto-buy list. Thanks for all of the wonderful hours of escape.
July 21st, 2008 at 9:26 am
Dont include me either as I have read and loved them all. _ I told my friend to pop over here as she hasnt read any.
July 21st, 2008 at 9:27 am
I wanted to tell you that I love Right here, Right Now. Thanks for the great post.
July 21st, 2008 at 9:34 am
Well, even online I tend not to be able to think of any questions. . . but there’s one that worked rather well once, so maybe I’ll try it here. What’s you’re favorite chocolate? ;)
Lois
July 21st, 2008 at 9:43 am
What is the one thing that has surprised you most about being a published author?
When is the best time of day for you to write. And how much do you write each day?
Thanks.
July 21st, 2008 at 10:02 am
My question would be: When you finish writing a book what’s the first thing you do?
July 21st, 2008 at 11:20 am
My question: Do you plot out your stories first or do you let the characters lead you?
July 21st, 2008 at 12:07 pm
I’m always curious to hear what authors inspire you, or what books are on your keeper shelf–just nosy, I guess
And how neat that you’ve seen these conversations from both sides now! Gives you a greater appreciation of it all, I’m sure :)
July 21st, 2008 at 12:15 pm
My question is: If any hero could come to life, who would you want it to be?
July 21st, 2008 at 12:25 pm
Stacy - Thank you for getting all of my books. I love that! As for the questions… I’m a person who can only write when sitting in certain places - the patio outside my back door, the sectional in my family room or the desk (or awesome new couch) in my den/office. Now, it’s not as if I can write at all of these places all the time. Nope. Some days I can only write outside. It’s strange. I used to fight it, but now I just go with it.
How do I stay disciplined…ummm, what makes you think I am?
It’s strange but when I worked full-time as a lawyer, I had no trouble writing books on the side. Now that I have more time, I waste more time. I’ve finally come up with a system where I set out small goals. For example, I finished a book on July 15th. Between that deadline and August 1st, I have a writing-related project I’m doing, am working on a proposal, and will attend the RWA Conference. They’re concrete goals and plans in a set time. Having those artificial deadlines works for me. Also, the actual deadlines work too. My next book is due on November 15th. It will be done and in on November 15th even if I’m dumb enough to wait until October 15th to start it.
My biggest struggle - putting my butt in the chair, turning off the internet and getting started writing each day. I’m fine once I start. It’s the GETTING started that’s hard for me. My other struggle is with the copyedit/final edit stages. See, once I write and revise a book, it’s out of my head. I have a terrible time reading through it again for the print process.
July 21st, 2008 at 12:40 pm
Cheryl - Thank you!! I’m so happy to know you enjoyed it.
Patty - Thank you for enjoying my first novella and following me thereafter. I can;t tell you how appreciative I am for that.
As for staying on track, I actually let the book wander and then revise and edit it later. I don’t plot out before I sit down. I once heard Jayne Ann Krentz speak and she said that she can’t do outlines because if she does it’s as if she’s already written the book in her mind. I’m the same way. I’m a person who works best by starting with a general idea. I sit down and write with that general idea in mind. I refine every single day. I actual revise all of the pages up until the point where I stopped the day before, then I move forward and write new stuff. This works until I get to the halfway point, then I make myself start revising each day from there. By the time I’m done with the book, it’s been written and rewritten. The process is cumbersome, but it helps to the put the story in my head and to work out all inconsistencies, pick up loose ends and develop character arcs. You have to do what works for you. The hard part is finding out what the process is. My advice would be to write, deviate from the outline if that’s where the story takes you and then revise.
The time factor…isn’t that one fun? I’m a person who writes better and faster while in the middle of chaos. I actually got more done when I worked full-time as a lawyer. Go figure. I think the answer is that I couldn’t waste any time because I barely had any.
This might sound preachy, and I don’t mean it to, but… I do have a general theory that women are so busy being everything to everyone that we forget about our own dreams and needs. I’m thinking being successful in juggling all of this is about making your dreams and aspirations a priority. It’s okay for you to take an hour for yourself to work on your dream of writing. The family can adjust and someone else can pick up some slack. After all, if someone told you that you had to write in order for your kids to get something they need, you’d move stuff around to make sure you wrote for THEM. It shouldn’t be any different just because you want to right for you. Cut yourself some slack. Leave the cleaning go for an extra day and concentrate on doing something for you. Writing is for you.
July 21st, 2008 at 12:53 pm
Rebekah - Thank you!! I’m thrilled to hear that.
Lois - Here’s my secret…I actually prefer salt to sugar. Put french fries or chips in front of me and they’re gone. I like chocolate but can say no to it. Now, don’t get me wrong. I do enjoy a chocolate cupcake with vanilla frosting now and then. But, really, I’d say no to chocolate in favor of a big ‘ole plate of frech fries any day. They are my ultimate weakness.
Sandra - What surprised me the most is that the insecurities never fade. I thought I would get THE CALL, the sun would shine and I’d feel more comfortable about where I fit in. Instead, you get published and then get to worry about selling books, reviews and staying published. The concerns are different, but they don’t go away and for some reason I thought they would. I’m not complaining. I feel very lucky to be published and have a book contract, but the fear of not being published again is always present.
How much I write depends on how close I am to deadline. I’m clearly a person who thrives on deadlines. When I am just starting a book, I don’t get many pages written during the day. I just can’t move on until I get those first two chapters just about right. Once that happens, I write much faster. In general, I set daily goals like, “write the next chapter, even if it’s just in draft.” That works for me better than setting page goals each day. I write until I meet my goal. If my goal is to write 25 pages that day or 8, I write until I get there.
When I was a lawyer, I wrote at night and on weekends. Now that I write full-time, the idea is to write during the day in the 9-4 or 10-5 time range when I have some time before more deadline. In the three weeks before deadline, I write into the evening. Problem is my mind still works better writing at night. I get more done from 9pm-1am than any other time. I’m trying to change that since my family deserves my evening time and my days are open, but it’s been tough. My hubby is very supportive, so that helps.
July 21st, 2008 at 1:02 pm
Maureen - I nap.
Really, it’s as if my mind stops working as soon as the book is done. Rather than try to go right into a new project, I clean up the house, watched movies I’ve Tivo’d, send out books to contest winners, read an old favorite, look through Amazon for new books I missed while under deadline stress. I try to give myself one week without any writing and then another where I work on non-book writing projects (working on a proposal or new idea I want to try). After that, I start on the next book. I’ve found that if I let those two weeks grow into a longer period, I have a hard time getting back into the writing routine. If I don’t take those two weeks off, my mind gets mushy. For me it’s a balance of taking a short break and not getting too disconnected.
Kimmy L - I’m definitely not a plotter. I started each book with an idea - usually the first chapter - and start writing. As I write, the book and characters get into my head and the book unfolds in my mind. That’s why I do so much revising as I write.
July 21st, 2008 at 1:12 pm
Fedora - I read everything from true crime to mysteries to romance to…well, anything. I ahve author adn book favs in each. I would say that mMy biggest inspiration came from Jayne Ann Krentz, Linda Lael Miller and Julie Garwood. I had never read a romance until I read one by each of these women. I loved the books, grew to love the genre and then decide to write. I owe each of these ladies a great deal. Their stories drew me in and my whole life changed.
Some of my romance novel favs and keepers (because the shelf is too big to list them all): Duncan’s Bride and the MacKenzie series by Linda Howard, Kiss an Angel by SUsan Elizabeth Phillips, JR Ward’s Brotherhood series, any historical by Julie Garwood, anything by Jayne Ann Krentz/Amanda Quick (except the Arcane Society books), the Eastern Shore series by Nora Roberts, Too Much Temptation and Never Enough by Lori Foster, MaryJanice Davidson’s Alaskan royalty series and numerous works by Erin McCarthy, Jenny Crusie, Marta Acosta, Lani Diane Rich and others.
Colleen - This might be cheating, but I’d pick Kane from YOUR MOUTH DRIVES ME CRAZY. He reminds me of my hubby in many ways.
July 21st, 2008 at 2:13 pm
Hi HelenKay!
I don’t need to be entered in the contest either - I already have all of your books!
I’m wondering if you ever miss practicing law? Also, is your family supportive of your writing? Do they read your books? If I read the sort of books that I love to read, my very modest, very religious mother would be mortified - sadly, I’d probably use a psuedonym and not tell her. I always love to hear of authors whose families are wildly supportive.
July 21st, 2008 at 2:14 pm
Ooops - I meant to say “If I “wrote” the sort of books that I read” - duh me.
July 21st, 2008 at 3:34 pm
How do you spend any ‘down’ time you have?
I loved YMDMC!
July 21st, 2008 at 3:45 pm
Did you get Jayne Ann Krentz to sign one of her books for you?
July 21st, 2008 at 3:47 pm
Do you have any pets? And what one thing would surpries us about you?
July 21st, 2008 at 3:48 pm
Do you have any pets? And what one thing would surprise us about you?
July 21st, 2008 at 3:49 pm
Oh darn it all. Sorry - I tried to fix a typo and they both posted :oops:
July 21st, 2008 at 3:55 pm
sounds fun. does your family read your books. i got hard as nails, cant wait to read it
July 21st, 2008 at 4:13 pm
Have you ever been pressured to abandon a story/genre because the publisher felt the story wouldn’t sell?
July 21st, 2008 at 4:30 pm
Laurie -I actually don’t miss practicing law. I was a family law attorney with an expertise in contested child custody work. It was 12 years of emotionally draining work. I don’t regret being a lawyer. I love the people at my firm. They are dedicated, smart, principled, caring and focused - exactly who you would want on your side in these tough situations. But being intimately involved in the worst part of people’s lives is just not something I miss.
On an interesting note, my law firm totally supported me being published. They even threw me a book party and ordered 100 copies of VIVA to giveaway. I never had to think about using a pseudonym thanks to their support.
My family is very supportive. My mom reads my books. My dad doesn’t, which is totally understandable. He does tell everyone about my books and reads Romantic Times to look for my name - how cool is that? My husband has always supported my writing. He’s the one who told me years ago that I needed to decide if I wanted to write for a living or as a hobby. It was a good kick in the pants. He is not a big fiction reader, but he has read YOUR MOUTH DRIVES ME CRAZY.
Estella - Thank you! I love YMDMC too.
I love to read and watch movies. Now that I live in San Diego, I love to be outside and enjoy the perfect weather. And, really, I can dawdle around the house for hours. I’m not something who gets bored. Almost never, actually. I can always find something to do.
July 21st, 2008 at 4:42 pm
Emma - I did! I got her to sign a Jayne Castle book that had just come out. I, of course, had not planned ahead enough to bring her book PERFECT PARTNERS, the first romance I ever read, but that’s okay. I’ve heard her speak a bunch of times at RWA and always walk away with something helpful.
catslady - I have three pets - a cocker/retriever mix dog and two cats. All three are rescue animals. My cats each were born with one eye. They aren’t related. Just so happened our vet, a year apart, had these little one-eyed kitties in his office from rescue organizations and asked us to consider adoption. The youngest kitty was a pound and a half with one eye and a pushed in nose akin to cleft palate. The vet didn’t think he’d live. Yeah, the little dude is now 8 pounds and runs around the house snorting like a bulldog.
What would surprise you…hmmmm…. I once rode on a train from Moscow to Leningrad with a bunch of drunked British Parliament members. It was 1988 and the then Sovet Union was just opening up. The beverage served on the train was - you guessed it, vodka. I stayed sober just to watch the fun. Ever seen a 70 year-old drunk-off-his-butt British aristocrat try to crawl onto the top of a bunk bed and nearly throw himself out of the window of a moving train? Yeah, that’s something to see.
kim - Thank you!! I think you won HARD AS NAILS previously - congrats!
July 21st, 2008 at 4:48 pm
If you get totally “stuck” when you are writing, do you do anything in particular to jumpstart your brain? Go for a walk? Soak in the tub? Clean house? Listen to music?
July 21st, 2008 at 4:49 pm
Jane - I haven’t. I’ve been lucky. I write contemporary romance for Kensington Brava. Kate Duffy, my editor, is very trusting with her authors. She’s never told me not to write something. She has asked that I continue the same style for Brava that I have now - romance-focused with some humor - but that was a plan we both agreed on. To the extent I write something else in the future, it likely wouldn’t be for Brava since I want my brand (hate the word) there to be for a certain type of book.
My editor does have me revise. I think that’s normal. But I’ve never gotten a “you can’t write that” response. The one thing that did happen was that the original third story I wrote for VIVA LAS BAD BOYS is not the one that is in the published book. I turned in the other story and my editor liked it but thought the tone was all wrong. In other words, it didn’t match with the other two. I threw out that third novella and wrote a new one that worked better. That’s the closest I’ve come to what you’re talking about, but my editor was right. ‘Tho I did curse her at the time… :shock:
July 21st, 2008 at 4:51 pm
Hi HelenKay,
Do you have a scene in your mind that you haven’t been able to fit into one of your stories yet?
July 21st, 2008 at 4:52 pm
Cheryl - If I get stuck, I go back to the beginning of the book and start revising. The hope is that something will kick in and I’ll start writing new stuff. I’m not someone who can walk away and do something else. For me, it’s too easy to keep doing something else, so I sit there and revise until I can write. Lucky for me, that’s always worked.
July 21st, 2008 at 4:57 pm
Susan - Yes!!! I actually carry around a small notebook at all times. I jot the ideas down rather than risk losing them. About half of the books I’ve written started from some random note or thought I wrote down at an earlier time. I’d be lost without those scenes that pop into my head and refuse to go away until I memorialize them in a notebook. I also collect articles with things I find interesting - a drug, a situation, an illness, a place or whatever - just in case I want to use them in a book later.
July 21st, 2008 at 6:23 pm
Hi HelenKay!
So, have you ever gotten the “oh. you write romance patronizing remark? And how do you address those type people?
July 21st, 2008 at 7:38 pm
Hi HelenKay,
What is your most favorite thing to do for yourself?
July 21st, 2008 at 7:45 pm
Hi HelenKay,
Do your characters ever talk to you?
July 21st, 2008 at 9:28 pm
yes , ty. are u setting more novels in Hawaii. hot cover
July 21st, 2008 at 10:21 pm
HelenKay, I just wanted to say thank you SO much for taking the time to answer everyone’s really good questions–I’m really loving reading all your answers! So far you’ve mainly published contemporary stuff–do you have any desire to write a different time period? And is there another country you’d either love to visit for the first time or go back to visit again?
July 22nd, 2008 at 12:25 am
Hi HelenKay~
What do you consider to be your greatest strength? Any weaknesses?
Have a great day!!
July 22nd, 2008 at 12:33 am
hi and welcome;
have you ever included a part of yourself in one of your characters in one of your books?
July 22nd, 2008 at 1:45 am
Angie-la - When I do, it’s combined with the patronizing “oh, you poor deluded thing” look. Drives me nuts. Apparently some people think I’m scribbling on a tablet in my closet or something. But the question that drives me nuts is this: “Can people actually buy your books somewhere?” Such an odd question. My hubby thinks the person is really asking if my view of being published means that I photocopied my manuscript and am trying to sell it on the street corner.
Dina - I love getting facials. I always vow to get them monthly but really only manage it about three times per year. Still, it’s such a relaxing thing to do.
Joyce - They do in the sense that I hear dialog in my head. I run through it and write it down. Many times I’ll get it down in bare bones and then go back and fix it to make sense. I’m always afraid if I don’t type fast, I’ll lose it.
July 22nd, 2008 at 1:55 am
kh - I do! First, YOUR MOUTH DRIVES ME CRAZY is being reissued in mass market (the smaller and less expensive size books) in March ‘09. The story is the same, but the cover is new. The second Hawaii-based book comes out in April ‘09. It’s called IT’S HOTTER IN HAWAII and follows two people as they try to solve the mystery surrounding a helicopter crash. In the third Hawaii-based book, Josh (the DEA agent from YOUR MOUTH DRIVES ME CRAZY) is the hero. That one will be out in late 2009. I hope to write one more after that, but I’m not sure yet.
Fedora - You’re welcome! I have great respect for people who know history well enough to write historicals and those who have such worldbuilding vision to write urban fantasy and paranormal, but I’m a contemporary romance girl. It’s what I like to write (and prefer reading), and I have a hard timeenvisioning writing in another time period. I do enjoy romantic suspense, mysteries and chick lit, so it’s possible I’ll branch ou and try a contemporary one (or more) of those…
I love traveling. We used to do a great deal of it. We do less now for some reason. London has been my favorite city since I was 12. I would go back in a second. I’ve also been to Japan three times and adore visiting there. I haven’t been to Australia yet and hope to get there soon.
July 22nd, 2008 at 1:35 pm
Lori - Oh, I have more weaknesses than I can count. I tend to put off things to the last minute. I can be more negative about things than I should be. I can go on and on… I think my greatest strength is empathy. It was one of those things that helped me in my previous career as a divorce lawyer. I could connect with people and understand where they were coming from but keep enough of a distance to be able to tell them what they needed to hear and not just want they wanted to hear.
Robyn - Absolutely! There are pieces of me, pieces of people I know, pieces of people I’ve read about. Every character is fictional, but I take all that I know and hear and try to put that into books. I think that’s one of the great things about being a writer. You spend a gfreat deal of time collecting inforation without even realizing you’re doing it.
July 22nd, 2008 at 7:23 pm
:mrgreen:
i love how you have had quite differnt careers
July 22nd, 2008 at 9:07 pm
What place would you like to visit so that you could use it as a setting for one of your books?
July 22nd, 2008 at 9:44 pm
HelenKay - whoops, looks like I’m a bit late- so glad you had a lot of fun at the signing! I only skimmed all those comments :X - but that’s so nice of your old firm! That’s so great :eek:
Hmmm… I always think of random questions so - do you like sweets/desserts? What’s your favorite dessert or ice cream?
July 22nd, 2008 at 9:50 pm
Wow! A lot of good questions! I do have one that I think no one else has aked. What are the items you have close by when you are writing that inspire you?
Please enter me in your contest! Would love to win a book from your backlist! Woohoo!
July 22nd, 2008 at 11:10 pm
Tasha - Yeah, divorce lawyer to romance writer was an interesting jump. I don’t regret it one bit.
Linda - My husband always tells me I need to set a book in Paris so we can write off a trip there. In the US, I’d love to go to Alaska. Outside of the US, Australia is my #1 want-to-go-to spot. I need to come up with plots that can only take place in those locales. I don’t really like it when a book has a great setting and the author never uses it, so I need the perfect plot for those locations.
limecello - I definitely prefer salts to sweets, but I have an absolute weakness for a great cupcake. And if you can find me red velvet cupcake, yeah, I’m all yours…
Melis - Right by me I usually have a bottle of water and cup of tea. Not very exciting, I know. The rest is on my computer. See, I write books in one file in Word. I open a second window with a file containing background info in case I need to doublecheck something. My most visual image comes from photos. I also serach the internet (on model sites and elsewhere) for shots of what my characters look like to me. I keep those in a file as well. What I should do is cut the photos out of magazines, but I do the internet search for some reason. Other than that, it’s just me and the keyboard.
July 23rd, 2008 at 11:57 pm
Wow! That is really interesting HelenKay! I don’t write books but I do reviews. The items I have near by that inspire me when I write are pop, like ginger ale, sprite, and water. Also, a crunchy snack mix like trail mixes, chex mix, fruit mixes, etc. help some with inspiration when stuck on a word. I like the crunching action! It somehow stirs up thoughts! Ha,ha!
Then, I use my computer thesaurus or my thesaurus book if the words on the screen aren’t to my liking. Also, I save a lot of words I find fascinating in articles, books, magazines and keep near my computer. I get stumped a lot on what word to use that is different or unique. I find that there are so many words that you can use to describe a handsome man or a pretty woman. I like to vary my words and use something unusual, out of the norm.
Also, other things that motivate me to write are soft jazz music, comfortable surroundings, and frequent breaks. I find lots of times when writing at night, my thoughts come to me quicker and I am more creative with my terminology.
That is really interesting how you save photos of people to create your characters from. One thing you might think of buying are those books of hair styles at the salon. My beauty salon has all these books of gorgeous women and men with beautiful hair cuts. It is a great collection of photos of people all in one book that you could easily keep nearby you! I have seen some with celebrities in them too!
Have a great week! Pierogi fest is coming up at the end of July in Whiting, Indiana. I can’t wait! Are you going to any fairs or festivals this summer?
July 24th, 2008 at 12:27 am
Melis - The beauty salon idea is a good one. Thank you!
I will be at the RWA Conference next week. That is my last one this year. I’m still trying to decide which to attend next year.
July 24th, 2008 at 12:33 am
Sorry for the late posting of a winner. I meant to post earlier today but had a kitchen issue that took up most of my afternoon. All is well now.
And the winner is… Sandra M (#7) - Congratulations!!!
Email me with your address and I’ll get the book out to you.
July 24th, 2008 at 12:20 pm
Congrats Sandra!!! :grin:
July 24th, 2008 at 12:31 pm
wtg sandra m
July 25th, 2008 at 11:59 am
Congratulations, Sandra!
July 27th, 2008 at 12:55 am
Woohoo Sandra! A big congrats on winning!