Beth Cornelison talks about her releases, Duty to Protect and Under Fire.

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.

I have two books coming out in the next week or so. I'll try to answer these questions a bit about both. DUTY TO PROTECT was the first book I sold that I didn't have a whole manuscript for when I signed the contract. That's an exciting/scary feeling! I wrote DUTY TO PROTECT during the spring of 2007. I remember racing to get the manuscript finished before my family left on vacation. I didn't want a few chapters left undone for several days while I lost the momentum of the story.

UNDER FIRE was a book my agent challenged me to write. I'd been writing category length books for a while, targeting only Silhouette Intimate Moments, and she all but dared me to write a single title. Everything about UNDER FIRE was bigger for me. Besides the obvious longer word length and bigger scope of the single title, for me it meant more research, longer time to write (a whole year!), more secondary characters and plots, more grit, more action, more sweat and angst for me… but I'm so pleased with the result. UNDER FIRE is a story I'm so proud of, and I can't wait to share it with readers!

When did you decide to sit down and write your first novel and what led up to the publication of your first book?
I've been creating stories since I was a kid. I hand wrote my first novel when I was about 13. I was quite proud of it at the time, but looking back I can see it was TERRIBLE! But the love of story telling never faded and after college, when I moved with my husband to Louisiana, I was out of work (in public relations) and started writing novels again in my spare time. The ideas came flooding out! I honed my skills through critique groups and contests and writers conferences and lots of practice…and many manuscripts, contest awards and submissions later (about ten years) I finally sold my first book!

Where did you find the idea to write this novel?
As I was writing DANGER AT HER DOOR, my August 2007 Silhouette Romantic Suspense, Ginny, the heroine's best friend became a force to be reckoned with. Her personality grabbed my and wouldn't let go. I had to write DUTY TO PROTECT for her. I thought about who her perfect match would be, who would challenge her most and also light her fire... and discovered I already knew him! Riley Sinclair, a hunky firefighter, had been a secondary character in my first Silhouette release. I considered Ginny's job, Riley's job, what I knew of their histories... and the ideas took off from there!

As far as UNDER FIRE goes, smokejumpers have fascinated me for years, and I knew I had to write a hero or heroine who was a smokejumper. Smokejumpers have one of the most dangerous and thankless jobs, yet I wanted to hike the danger up another notch. I created the terrorist scenario and my hero, Jackson McKay, all based on what would work best to give my smokejumper story more thrills and emotional upheaval.

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

Since Ginny and Riley (DUTY TO PROTECT) had each appeared in previous books, it didn't take long to develop them for this book. However, as I wrote, they revealed more secrets to me and I fine tuned what I knew about them. It was an ongoing process until I wrote "the end".

As I mentioned earlier, I've wanted to write about a smokejumper for a long time, so Lauren Michaels (UNDER FIRE) had a job from the beginning. Once I started plotting the book, both she and Jackson came together rather quickly. I wanted them to be opposites in every way, yet so attracted to each other they couldn't stand it!

Why this story at this time?
Well, frankly because I wanted to tell Ginny's story (DUTY TO PROTECT) as soon after she was introduced in DANGER AT HER DOOR as possible so readers would remember her. Her voice was so loud and clear in m my head, I didn't want to push her aside until I got everything she was telling me down on paper. She proved a much more complex character than I imagined when I started writing her book!

I think summer (smokejumping season) is the perfect time for UNDER FIRE! The topics are timely, and the story is HOT! (In more ways than one!)

Take us through a typical writing day and your creative process.
I sit down to my computer in the morning as soon as my son is out the door to school. In the summer it is more a matter of when I drag myself out of bed. I'm fresher and more creative in the morning and so I'll write until lunch time. In the afternoon, if I'm on a tight deadline I may hit the computer again, but typically I start chores and errands and use that time to mull over my characters and where I want to take the story the next day. I write whatever scene is calling to me the loudest. I frequently write scenes out of order. It may seem jumbled, but it works for me!

Are you a visual writer? Do you see scenes and characters in your head? Or do you hear the characters voices?
Very visual! My scenes play out like little movies in my head as I write. My characters get frustrated with my poor (slow) typing ability because they talk to me faster than I can type most days. I hear their voice, their inflection, see every nuance of their facial expressions and body language in my mind. The action plays out like a Hollywood film in my head. I'm often frustrated I can't find the exact word to capture the minute detail and exact nuances I want to convey.

What is your re-writing and editing process? Do you let anyone read your work in progress before it goes to your editor?
I generally rewrite as I write, so that by the time I finish the last chapter, the book is basically done. I'll often have at least one outside reader give it a look for things I missed. Then it is off to get my editors input…

What is your opinion of critique groups? Do you find them helpful?
I think critique groups are beneficial if you can get hooked up with people who are honestly interested in helping you grow as a writer. I've heard of too many critique groups that had jealousy and hurt feeling come into play. I benefited a great deal from my earliest critique groups, but now I just have one or two people I send my work to when I'm looking for input. Finding a good critique partner is like finding gold! But being part of a unhealthy critique environment can be murder to an aspiring authors motivation and creativity.

Do you have time to read now? What authors do you read?
I don't have nearly as much time to read as I'd like. When I do find time I read other authors in the Silhouette Romantic Suspense line, Linda Howard, Susan Wiggs, Allison Brennan, and Karen Robards. I'm part of a book club and with them I've been introduced to Jeffery Deaver, Lisa Unger, Lisa Scottoline, and Harlan Coben among others. There is no shortage of books I want to read if I had time!

What are you working on now?
I'm currently writing the book that will follow DUTY TO PROTECT. In DUTY TO PROTECT, Ginny is protecting a client named Annie Compton from Annie's abusive husband. After the hell Annie went through in DUTY TO PROTECT, I knew she'd earned her own HEA! My editors agreed and so Annie's book was born. It should be released in late spring or early summer 2009.

What advice do you have for aspiring writers? And how did you keep your spirits up until the first book was published?
My advice to new writers is simple but so true. NEVER GIVE UP! It is a frustrating business and rejections and jealous, petty people will try to knock you down. Don't let them keep you down. Persistence is the key to publishing.

I kept my spirits up by focusing on the positive feedback I got from trusted friends and critique partners. I didn't quit because I couldn't quit. Writing is part of who I am and what makes me complete. I have to write stories or the voices in my head would drive me nuts!!

Anything special that you want to tell your readers about yourself?
Well…hmm. I love animals, especially cats, and readers will find a cat in every one of my books in some form or another.

© 2007 Interview by BetweenYourSheets.com

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