Featured Book Trailer from COS Productions
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 S.J. talks about her release, Bedeviling Dulcie.
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 guess a lot of myself and my hopes went into Bedeviling Dulcie. I’d like to say it’s a coincidence the Dulcie is tall, heavy, and a redhead, like me, but I’m not sure I can. I’d like a man like Jackson to, metaphorically, sweep me off my feet. He loves Dulcie. Not despite or because of her weight, he just loves her as a whole person. This was something I was facing and trying to sort out in my own life, still am, in all honestly. But I think everyone faces these insecurities and doubts about themselves.
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 writing since I was 12. I love to read and write. And even that young I was reading romance novels. I met the co-owner of my publishing company, The Dark Castle Lords, online through various chat groups. She encouraged me to submit a story to her and I started writing Bedeviling Dulcie. The moment I had the first three chapters done, I emailed them off to her and she loved what I had so far. A few months later I was done and she loved the entire story. On February 15, 2007, I became a published author, my dream come true.
Where did you find the idea to write this novel?
The Dark Castle Lords is sort of a specialty publisher. In each book, there needs to be a castle or manner house, and while they will publish contemporary, fantasy, and sci-fi, they prefer historical – Medieval, Renaissance, Regency, Victorian, etc. This was one of my first goes in these eras but I figured what the heck. Also, as I stated in question one, I am a bit of Dulcie. Tall, redhead, heavy, and nice until pushed too far, haha.
How long did it take to develop your characters for this book?
Dulcie was miraculously easy. So was Jackson – he’s the kind of man I would like to find, an intelligent, sexy man with a wonderful heart. Dulcie’s best friend Caressa was a conglomeration of many of my friends, most of whom have something in common. They are small, thin, beautiful, and have men follow them, haha. I wanted Dulcie to have wonderful parents who would do anything for their daughter. She had to have brothers who would rough up the mockers and the potential husbands alike in an effort to protect her. And Dulcie’s older sister and based a tiny bit on my little sister. They are good friends as well as sisters.
Why this story at this time?
The time was right. It flowed pretty easily – well, for me anyway. (Ask my publisher, I take forever to write a story, haha.)
Take us through a typical writing day and your creative process.
I, unfortunately, have a day job. When I finally get home, I immediately pull out my laptop, set it on my lap, and wait for the words to come. Sometimes they don’t and I have to accept that. When they do, I may only get a few sentences done, I may get pages and pages done. I try to immerse myself in the story, picture it like a movie in my mind and convert the “film” into words on the screen. On weekends, I get a little meaner with myself and if I don’t get a few pages done I get terribly annoyed with myself.
Are you a visual writer? Do you see scenes and characters in your head? Or do you hear the characters voices?
Both, absolutely. The stories turn into movies in my head. I can hear and see everything. Heck, I’ve even been caught by family members acting out a particularly stubborn scene.
What are your thoughts on First Person verses Third Person? Which is your preference?
I prefer third person. I have tried first person but it is too foreign to me. First person isn’t comfortable for me and I applaud writers who can do it well.
What is your re-writing and editing process? Do you let anyone read your work in progress before it goes to your editor?
I have a tendency to get stuck as I write. When that happens, assuming I down slam my laptop shut and walk away from it for a few hours, I go back and re-read what I have already written. I try to get a new feel for my story. If I find a passage I’m not happy with, I fiddle with that section until I am. If I find any really horrible and obvious spelling or grammatical errors, I fix them. As for letting others read it, I don’t feel comfortable letting people read a WIP. I like for my wonderful editor Jean go through it with her fine tooth comb. When it’s finally done, then I let people read it. Not my family, though. I don’t want to try to answer the question, “Where did you learn about that?”
What is your opinion of critique groups? Do you find them helpful?
I don’t really do critique groups. One of my fellow writers, Veronica Towers, will listen to me whine about what is going on in a story and she will try to give me suggestions on how to fix it or ask me questions until I work through the problem.
How is your family affected by your writing career?
They are proud of me but it doesn’t really affect them. As long as I am happy writing, they are happy for me.
What keeps you going and motivated when life throws you a curveball?
Nothing, really. I lost my grandfather last October. It was a terrible loss even though we knew the call could come at any time. Grandpop was the patriarch of the family and letting him go was one of the most painful things to happen to me in a very long time. I didn’t get any writing done for a while. I had other things on which to concentrate. When I finally got back to writing I decided I would dedicate my first book to him because it was my only way to officially honor him. One day, I will go to Ireland and I will sit and think about Grandpop and it will hurt but I will be happy he is no longer in pain.
Were you an avid reader as a child? What did you like to read?
I loved to read. My love of books started with Where the Wild Things Are and The Hungry Caterpillar. When I was a preteen, I started reading romances. I loved to read romances and still do.
Do you have time to read now? What authors do you read?
I read constantly! Some of my favorite writers are Teresa Medeiros, Kate Hill, Jet Mykles, Sherrilynn Kenyon, Karen Marie Moning, Veronica Towers…. The list really does go on forever.
Who or what influenced you to write and what inspires your imagination?
Teachers when I was a child and my parents. My mom still tells people of how I wouldn’t do any work on a paper then the night before it was due, knock out five pages and get a B on it.
How important is self promotion in today’s publishing market and what do you do to promote your books?
Self promotion is VERY important. You have to toot your own horn because there isn’t always someone there to do it for you. I have a website – www.sjronayne.com, a yahoo group – SJRonayne_Romance, a myspace page…. I buy advertising, I request reviews, I post excerpts.
What are you working on now?
I am currently working on the sequel to Bedeviling Dulcie. It is called Courting Caressa.
What advice do you have for aspiring writers? And how did you keep your spirits up until the first book was published?
I tell them to keep writing, keep trying. Just because one publisher didn’t like doesn’t mean all publishers won’t like it. I cried when I got rejected but I told myself that if this was what I really wanted to do, I had to keep going.
Anything special that you want to tell your readers about yourself?
I’m really just a normal person. I try to be nice, try to be a good person, but everyone has their limits and every now and then I fail to be either nice or good. I’m just an everyday person with a love for books.
© Interview by BetweenYourSheets.com |
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