This week Anna DeStefano tells us the story behind The Firefighter's Secret Baby, the most exciting book in her Atlanta Heroes Series.  So take a minute to get a glimpse of what went on between the sheets of this dynamic book.

BYS: What went Between the Sheets of this book?  Either what was happening in your life when you wrote it, or what was happening with the book as you wrote it.

ADS: The Firefighter's Secret Baby was my most exciting Atlanta Heroes challenge yet--I got to pull together secondary characters from my three earlier novels and FINALLY begin telling the stories of the hunky Montgomery brothers. "Firemen are so yummy," my editor said. "When are you going to write about the firemen?"

Well, I decided a secret baby was what all firemen needed. And a heroine who's on the run from the mob under federal protection, too (In Plain Site anyone???). And a strong, protective family of heroes who aren't going to let their brother and new niece face danger alone.

Let's just say, more story than I expected evolved from that, "Wouldn't it be cool if..." question from my editor. And I couldn't be more thrilled with the result. Enjoy the wild ride, everyone!

BYS: Where did you find the idea to write this novel?

ADS: I've wanted to write about firemen for years. The fire and rescue brothers that you meet in The Firefighter's Secret Baby have had smaller roles in previous Atlanta Heroes stories--you can find them all on Amazon still: Because of a Boy, To Protect the Child, and To Save a Family. But I wanted a story idea that would be an unusual twist to the tradition "fireman" story.

Turned out, giving a hero a secret baby born during a trauma, a love interest he can only save by giving up control and following her into her dangerous "protective" world was the ticket. Both Randy Montgomery and Sam Gianfranco must learn how to trust. Life taught them at very young ages that the last thing they could believe in was true love. Only, without their love for each other, they'll never survive long enough to protect their daughter... Now THAT's my idea of a fireman story ;o)

BYS: How long did it take to develop your characters for this book?

ADS: Three years. Four books into my own series at Superromance. Oh, and a lifetime of looking for the unexpected beneath every heroic news story I read or watched. People sacrificing their comfort and safety and possibly their lives so that others can thrive--I want to write books like this for the rest of my life...

BYS: Are you a visual writer?   Do you see scenes and characters in your head?   Or do you hear the characters voices?

ADS: LOL! I hear the characters first. Their journeys talk to me all they time--showing me where I want to begin a character's story and how he or she is going to change as I write.

The plot comes secondary--which is kind of comical, considering that I've specialized in writing suspense both in my classic harlequin novels and my paranormal romantic thrillers. The plot is what comes as flashes, either while I'm dreaming or showering or running or wherever the next twist decides to bombard my day. And while I'm writing. I LOVE going into a scene knowing how I want my characters to be changed by their circumstances and dilemmas and choices, then having the scene's action unfold while I type. That's the BEST part of writing fiction for a living--being surprised yourself by what happens!

BYS: What are your thoughts on First Person verses Third Person?  Which is your preference?

ADS: I currently prefer to write and read in third person. When first person is done extremely well, I find I get lost in character the same as I do with third, though. I just don't have the knack for writing it yet when I'm creating story. And I'm pretty tough to please as a reader. Believe it or not, I find most first person stories I encounter more intrusive than the more narrative technique of third person. It takes a master at the skill to win me over--and then it's magic.

One day, I want to add first person to my tool belt as a writer. I have some stories that need it to be told right. It's always good to have something new to learn, right?

BYS: How is your family affected by your writing career?

ADS: My husband is a wonderful resource for me. He's a voracious reader--anywhere from 3-5 novels a week is his average. So he's great to bounce plot and pacing off of. He's been my first editor from the very first Harlequin I wrote, and he's loving my mainstream paranormals, now that I get to kick my ideas up a notch. He's got good instincts and always seems to know how to help me get the most out of every story. AND he's my number one cheerleader and fan ;o) I travel a lot to teach and promote, and that's tough on an active family like mine, but he's up for the challenge every time. I guess you could say he's my ideal hero!

BYS: What keeps you going and motivated when life throws you a curveball?

ADS: Life's been pretty cantankerous the last few years. But when I hit the rough spots, my family and fans and writing community keep me going. This job breeds a lot of long, lonely nights of writing, but there's always a positive voice out there for me to connect to. The emails and social media contacts I receive are daily surprises and reminders that what I do for a living touches lives. I'm a lucky lady that my family helps make that kind of dream come true. I'll never take this opportunity for granted, just because things get a little curvey! You have to keep things positive to keep going. That's my goal every morning as I dive back into my next book.

BYS: Do you have time to read now?  What authors do you read?

ADS: I make the time to read. As a writing craft teacher and an author, I'd say every writer needs to. Other artists' visions of story and character will feed your own and motivate you to want to touch readers in the same way. Plus, we all (at least all the writers I know) came to this job because we first found escape in the power of the written word.

When I need my energy revved up or need to relax, I need my go-to writers: Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Linda Howard, Lisa Gardner, Elizabeth Lowell, and Christine Feehan, to name a few. I live for their new releases and keep their backlists for re-reading. When I find a voice I fall in love with, I can't help but go back to the worlds they've created over and over again. I'm hooked.

BYS: Who or what influenced you to write and what inspires your imagination?

ADS: Early reading and a love of movies and make believe as a child were my first inspirations. Life also feeds me--just watching it evolve around me, and watching the daily conflicts of others beyond my world on the local and national news. Watching my favorite TV programs a season at a time on DVD also is a favorite, too: West Wing and Life and The Unit and (don't laugh) Dallas and Gossip Girl have been recent inspirations.

Talking with other writers also jazzes up my imagination. One of my favorite things to do when I teach half-day and one-day workshops is to challenge students to brainstorm story. Listening to their ideas evolve never ceases to inspire me to go back and make what I'm working on shine, too.

Being with other artists is like a health food diet for writers. I crave museums and art galleries and craft shows. We go up to our favorite little towns in the mountains all the time to see what their local artists have dreamed up next. I've collected series of works from many of them over the years--so I have a piece of these wonderful people with me all the time, often late at night when I'm trying to make sense of my own next creation.

BYS: What are you working on now?

ADS: I'm deep into my next "Legacy" novel--the paranormal romantic thriller series I'm writing for Dorchester publishing. Secret Legacy is due on shelves in November, and I'm just finishing up the kick-ass ending.

Then I'm moving into new proposals for both Harlequin and Dorchester. So, it'll be a spring and summer of great new stories and characters for me. I can't wait! Look for news in my blog and facebook and twitter updates!

BYS: Anything special that you want to tell your readers about yourself?

ADS: I love hearing from my readers. To keep things interesting for everyone, I make sure there's always something fun going on at my blog: look for frequent updates and fun contests (for Amazon gift certificates) and more. This April, don't miss for my Treasure Trove of Coach Purses over at Brenda Novak's auction for Diabetes Research. And there will be TONS more good stuff coming my fans' way...

Let me know what you like, what you want more of, and most of all how I can bring you even better stories!!!

I can't wait to hear from you ;o)

© 2010 Interview by BetweenYourSheets.com

---

< Prev		Next >