Keena Kincaid shares how hard writing ENTHRALLED was for her and just exactly what was happening in her life between the sheets of this manuscript.

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?

KK: While drafting and revising ENTHRALLED, my day job was falling apart due to the economy and resulting client budget cuts. We had lay offs and everyone who remained worked twice as hard to pick up the slack. More budget cuts followed, as did more layoffs.

That feeling of events spinning out of control despite what you do to set them to rights comes through in the novel.

Like most of their peers in the medieval era, neither William nor Ami (short for Amilia) have much say in their fate. When they try to change the course of their own lives, the fallout turns deadly and the repercussions just might bring down the English throne.

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

KK: ENTHRALLED is the sequel to TIES THAT BIND, with both books sharing the same characters and external plot. Midway through writing TIES, I realized that the external conflict--Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine's attempt to murder her husband, Henry II, and rule as regent through her eldest son--was not going to be wrapped up in the book. However, TIES had two very strong secondary characters that easily made the leap to hero and heroine.

And I was half in love with William already, so any excuse to write his story was good for me. Also, while William and Ami continue the fight against Eleanor's treachery, readers learn what happens with Aedan and Tess as they begin their marriage.

BYS: Why this story at this time?

KK: This is the third story in the Druid of Duncarnoch series. And though I hadn't planned to write a series, once I began the second book, this one was the natural follow-up.

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

KK: I'm both a visual and an auditory writer. I often dream the pivotal scene in the book, and that starts the writing process. But during the drafting and editing process, I often "hear" conversations with my characters, and they have a tendency to show up and spill secrets while I'm taking a bath. Thankfully, those conversations aren't visual. LOL!

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

KK: I prefer third person, but one of my favorite series is written in first person. Like anything else, a good story is a good story is a good story.

BYS: What is your opinion of critique groups? Do you find them helpful?

KK: I think critique groups are vital, especially to the beginning writer who is working to master craft and find her voice. And though I'm published, I find feedback from critique partners invaluable for identifying weak spots in my story. However, the wrong critique group is worse than no group at all, so my advice here is to be selective in your choice of critique partners.

BYS: What is your re-writing and editing process?

KK: Messy. I write in layers. I never know until midway through the first draft what my story is about. My best writing often comes during the third or fourth stage of revisions when I finally manage to tie all those loose ends together.

BYS: Were you an avid reader as a child? What did you like to read?

KK: Yes, I was--and still am--an avid, but eclectic reader. I enjoy most anything, i.e. biographies, scholarly research, fantasy, and of course, romance. I've been reading a lot of contemporary romantic suspense lately.

BYS: What are you working on now?

KK: I'm working on an historical story that I've dubbed the Yorkshire Gothic. It's not set in Yorkshire, but it's becoming more Gothic with each word I write. My hero lives under a curse and has vowed never to sire children, who would carry the curse into the next generation. When he must marry to protect his friend's sister to keep her lands from falling to the enemy, he realizes he wants a full life. However, when he begins searching for a way to undo the curse, he uncovers a family secret that could strip him of everything--status, land and most of all, Matilda.

BYS: What advice do you have for aspiring writers? And how did you keep your spirits up until the first book was published?

KK: Getting published is always a mix of talent, persistence and luck. You're born with the first, and the last is beyond your control. So, my advice is to focus on what you can: learn the craft, work persistently at being the best writer you can be, and then put yourself out there so fortune can find you.

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