Interview by Kassia Krozser

Author Linda Francis Lee, a native Texan now calling New York City home, is the author of nine historical romances. Doves’s Way is Lee’s stunning new novel, an extraordinary tale of redeeming love.

Lee’s career truly began with the publication of Blue Waltz, which has been viewed as a breath-through novel. The Atlanta Journal/Constitution called it “an absolutely stunning story . . .

“I wanted to write a book about someone who steps into a world that is completely foreign to her. A stranger in a strange land.”

” Subversion: Tell us a bit about Dove’s Way.

Linda Francis Lee: Dove’s Way is the first book in the Hawthorne Brothers Trilogy. It is the story of the middle son, Matthew Hawthorne, who saves Finnea Winslet’s life on a train in Africa, linking them together in ways neither of them want, but can’t deny. This is brought home when Matthew and Finnea meet again in the very proper confines of Boston Society, where she wants to fit in, and he no longer can given the scandal that had sent him to Africa in the first place.

S: What inspired Dove’s Way?

LFL: I wanted to write a book about someone who steps into a world that is completely foreign to her. A stranger in a strange land. At the time, I was reading a great deal about Africa, and I was mesmerized by its harsh, unforgiving beauty. But rather than take an outsider to Africa, I got excited about taking a woman who had been born in Boston, but raised in the African Congo by her wanderlust father, and returning her to Boston. On the outside, she looks like she belongs. But in truth, she knows nothing about these people and their strict and proper ways. I wanted to bring the beauty and freeness of Africa to a rigid Boston society–and see what happened. As you might imagine, the transition is a bumpy one. To try to lessen the bumps, Finnea Winslet turns to Matthew Hawthorne, who had saved her life in Africa.

S: You’ve not only chosen an unusual time period, but an unusual backdrop for Dove’s Way — why Africa?

LFL: I loved the contrast of a Gilded Age Boston with the wildness of Africa. Crystal chandeliers and silvered mirrors standing in stark contrast to bodies of water to see a reflection and fire used for light.

S: As I read the book, I really enjoyed the way you didn’t play it safe. How does a character like Finnea Winslet come to life?

LFL: I think in most of my books my heroines aren’t born risk-takers. But life pushes them into corners and they amaze themselves by rising above adversity–not playing it safe and ultimately succeeding. I don’t believe any of us can get anywhere in life if we play it safe.

S: What challenges did the character of Matthew offer you?

LFL: Challenges? Hmmm. Perhaps it was walking that fine line that shows this blond-haired, blue-eyed golden man as a warrior. He couldn’t simply be a scarred man, he had to be a great man–but a man who never would have been great had he never been scarred. In Finnea’s eyes it is the scar that makes him worthy, because she had grown up in a world where scars were a mark of bravery.

S: Dove’s Way is the beginning of a trilogy. What’s next? Any hints for readers?

LFL: Swan’s Grace is next, with Nightingale’s Gate to follow. Swan’s Grace is the oldest brother’s story, Grayson, who is everything society wants in a man, handsome, powerful. And he falls in love with a woman who is a flamboyant cellist. It makes for a lot of fun and emotion.

“I’m not sure where the future will take me. I keep getting closer to present day, having started in the early 1800s. I’m not sure where I will end up!”

S: What are you working on now?

LFL: I’m working on Nightingale’s Gate. Lucas is the youngest son, and the true black sheep of the family. He is the wild one, and I’m having a great deal of fun writing him!

S: Why romance?

LFL: Because I would like to believe that we all can have happy endings, and that there is someone out there that is just perfect for each of us.

S: You’ve published historical romance — do you have a desire to branch out into other subgenres or genres? If so, which?

LFL: I’m not sure where the future will take me. I keep getting closer to present day, having started in the early 1800s. I’m not sure where I will end up!

S: What are your favorite themes or plots in romance novels? Do you find yourself exploring these favorites in your own work?

LFL: Finding the one person in the world who is perfect for another. A connecting of souls. I love the idea that life can be changed irrevocably in mere seconds. That one day answers seem impossible, then suddenly, out of seemingly nowhere, the answer is there. Clear and bright and wonderful.

S: When you’re brainstorming a new book, is it the characters or the plot that seems to be the catalyst?

LFL: It seems like it is always something different. As I mentioned earlier, it was the idea of taking a stranger to a strange land that was the catalyst for Dove’s Way. From there, it is deciding who the stranger is, and where is the strange land. Next, who is the perfect man for this woman. A slow gathering of pieces until I have a complete story.

S: What part of your writing career do you consider to be the most fulfilling? The most frustrating?

LFL: Most fulfilling? Losing myself in the story, forgetting the world beyond my window. Most frustrating? Backing myself into a corner in the plot and having to redo.

S: Any favorite books that you like to recommend to others?

LFL: There are so many books that I love. Anything by Judith McNaught or Nora Roberts. A book called The Secret History by Donna Tartt. A book that I haven’t read in years entitled The Boyfriend School by Sarah Bird. I just loved that book.

S: What are you reading right now?

LFL: Since I’m in the middle of the rough draft of Nightingale’s Gate, I’m not reading anything but nonfiction at the moment. I’m reading a lot of 19th Century catalogues, like Bloomingdale’s Illustrated.

S: Other interests or hobbies?

LFL: When I have the chance, I love to play golf.

S: Any final words for our readers?

LFL: If they are writers, I hope they all let go and dig deep to write books of their hearts. And if they are readers, I hope they find a world of wonderful characters who transport them to exciting places. When Linda isn’t writing, she is out exploring NYC, and whenever she and her husband Michael get the chance, they head for the golf course. Linda can be contacted at LfranLee@aol.com.

Interview by Kassia Krozser

Lori Foster published her first book in January of 1996. Her second book launched the Harlequin Temptation Blaze subseries. Since then, she’s published 15 books (with 26 sold), including two single titles and several novellas.

Lori also does frequent articles for Writer’s Digest, articles for the online writers’ colony, Painted Rock, and has a bi-monthly column in RWR interviewing romance editors. She regularly presents workshops to her local chapter and at various conferences, including RWA National. Though Lori loves writing, her first priority will always be her family. She and her husband have been together since high school, and her three sons, all humorous, handsome, and honorable fellows, are quickly following in their father’s footsteps.

Subversion: Your new Harlequin book (with the spiffy multi-word title) is In Too Deep. Can you tell us something about this story?

Lori Foster: Yeah, isn’t that cool that I’ve advanced from the one-worders? <G> They were fun while they lasted.

In Too Deep was one of those books that took me by surprise. It came to me full fleshed — meaning I didn’t have to ponder the plot too much because I knew when I started it exactly where it would go.

It was also one of the few books that the sr. editor “sat on” for awhile, undecided as to whether or not to buy, though my editor liked it a lot. <G> At any rate, I hope readers like it—that’s the important thing.

Here’s my reader letter in the front of the book:
Harry Lonnigan is a different type of hero for me. Writing him was a challenge in many ways, but not in the most important one. When it came to loving the heroine, Harry knew just what to do. After all, all heroes *do* have a few things in common. And Harry is one helluva guy!

S: In Too Deep has a slightly different tone than your previous work – more humor, more action. Were you trying something new with your writing?

LF: I can’t say that I was deliberately trying something new, except for the hero’s voice — which was a pain for a little down home yokel like me to figure out. I didn’t deliberately give it more humor or more action. But I think by trading up on the hero a bit, making him different, it made everything else different by comparison. Normally I write very ‘every-day’ type of guys. They talk like the men I know, live the way I expect the men I know to live. But Harry was of a different breed. Still with the same basic qualities: compassion, sexuality, responsibility, etc… But I think he’s the only divorced guy I’ve ever written — at least that I can remember, and I know he’s one of the few “trendy” dressers. <G> But I loved him.

For me, I write with my moods. When I’m chipper, the tone of the book is more chipper. This was, of course, a problem back when I had to send in a proposal and then wait to see if it was bought. There can be a significant time lapse between conceiving a story and getting the okay to write it. There were times when my mood had changed and I had to work at getting back into the story. But—and this is a big “but” —I never ever start a story that I’m not just dying to write. So getting back into it isn’t an impossibility. If I loved the characters last month, I’ll still love them this month. And now, thank goodness, I don’t have to do that blasted proposal stage! Shew. <G>

S: What else can we expect to see from you this year?

LF: Oh gosh, lots and lots of stuff. In March I have a Duets, Say Yes, that was actually rejected by my 1st editor in Canada for a Love & Laughter, but bought by my present editor there now for Duets. It was sort of squeaked into my hectic schedule, but since it was already written, it wasn’t a big problem for me.

“…after reading some romances — which I didn’t start doing until late — I was hooked and wanted to read more of the type of stories I enjoyed. I found myself rewriting some in my head, wishing the author had done this or that… so I picked up a pen and wrote one…”

I’ve always loved the story, so I hope readers like it too! It’s a role reversal theme. The guy is “holding out” for marriage, because he believes in a special twist on an old adage: Why buy the bull if you can get the beef for free? He’s afraid if he gives in to her demands, she won’t marry him. But of course, he’s not above making it really, really hard for her — and himself. Then in June, July, August and September, I’ll be presenting a Temptation brother series called “The Buckhorn Brothers” — Buckhorn being the town they live in. Personally, I wanted to title the town Paragon, but it got nixed. <G> I don’t think I’ve ever had so much fun writing books in my life. The brothers are very special, very unique, and very, very sexy. Lordy, are they sexy!

Harlequin has been generous with this series, giving me breakout font for my name (bigger than the titles, which is rare with Harlequin/Silhouette) and lots of support. This is the series I discussed with my editor while visiting her in Canada. We were sitting in her cabin on the lake, my whole family and my editor, and I’m pitching stories.<G> It felt *very* different from sending in a proposal.

Luckily, my editor liked my pitch and I got my first 5 book contract (In Too Deep and the 4 brothers) and I felt like I’d made my first big step career-wise.

Then in November I have book 3 of a Harlequin Continuity, the Maitland Maternity series, and my book will be titled Married To The Boss. It’s a marriage of convenience story. But the heroine has a few sensual demands she makes before agreeing to the deal. Also in November I have a novella in the St. Martin’s Christmas Anthology, All I Want For Christmas. Nine books total for 2000 — and I’m tired! <G>

S: You’ve described yourself as an “ordinary” writer – what does this mean to you?

LF: It means I’m the same as any other woman. I worry about the same things and fret over my children (I’m the worst mother-hen there ever was!) and I make enormous mistakes and cry over dumb commercials and understand when someone is hurt and laugh when someone gets good news. It means I love going out to lunch with the ladies and sharing a dirty joke, I have the same insecurities as anyone else and I absolutely hate confrontations but will force myself to them when necessary.

I hear about all these writers with college degrees or specialized fields and I cringe. I finished up high school and had no desire to do any further education. I only wanted to get married and start a family. :-/ I’m not an expert on anything, most certainly not the English language, and I possess no special writing skills. I’m a happy homemaker, not a woman with an “outside” job.

For writers not yet published, I remember what it feels like to get that rejection, then another and another and another. I wrote 10 manuscripts before selling. Most of them are in a drawer and they’ll likely stay there. But I’ll never ever forget what it’s like to be working toward getting published, to be struggling against what often seems like insurmountable odds. Being ordinary means I still live by a budget and I still sit at my desk in my PJs until noon, and I eat constantly because writing makes me hungry. (My favorite writing foods are chocolate Pop Tarts or Goldfish or Tid Bits cheese crackers.)

My office is no more sacred than anyone else’s, but it’s probably a lot sloppier. I live in organized chaos. If any of my 3 sons want or need something, they know it’s more than okay to interrupt. I write well with interruptions, which is a good thing around here. My boys are older now, but that only means they have bigger needs — a ride to practice, help with algebra, that sort of thing. And since the two younger ones are in sports (my oldest is in a local college now) I spend a lot of time watching them compete. They do track and cross country and wrestling — wrestling is the big one. They’re very good and it’s so exciting, but also time consuming. But hey, I’m a mother first and foremost. Always. And I WANT to watch, to be there. You’d have to knock me out to keep me away. <GGG> I love writing, but I love to spend time with my boys more.

I also do at least 2 loads of laundry a day — can any woman get around the laundry? — and plant flowers every spring, and – when the boys can force me into it — I exercise.

“As soon as my editor told me the theme of the book, I knew the other authors would put the women in lingerie. I just had to be different, ya know?”

My husband is great and he helps out so much. He never acts like he’s doing me a favor if he cooks dinner or cleans the house. If I’m busy, he does it. If he’s busy, I do it. Neither of us has much spare time. But he’s just so very proud to be able to tell people I’m a published author. So you see – I live like anyone else, especially anyone else with kids. I’m as ordinary as they come. S: Why did you start writing?

LF: Because after reading some romances — which I didn’t start doing until late — I was hooked and wanted to read more of the type of stories I enjoyed. I found myself rewriting some in my head, wishing the author had done this or that… so I picked up a pen and wrote one. God, is it awful! But then, that’s what you’d expect from 320 handwritten pages. I wrote while babysitting two other children, with my youngest still not in school, and my middle son only in kindergarten. (he’s now in 8th grade) For quite a few years I wrote that way, for my own entertainment.

Then my father found out I was writing (strictly by accident. I was a major “closet” writer) and his wife found an ad for a local romance conference in the newspaper. I went, and from there decided I was just maybe talented enough to sell my work.

And after that, the real work began! Oy.

S: Why romance? Are you interested in writing in other genres? If so, which?

LF: I write romance because it’s what interests me most. I love stories about relationships, and romance seems to be the only genre really centered around that.

And yes, as a big Dr. Seuss fan, I dream of some day doing a children’s book. And perhaps a really grisly murder mystery, but with an element of romance. <G> And I believe with all my heart that I could write a bone tingling horror story. Someday I’m sure I will.

S: Since you didn’t “train” as a writer, how did you learn the craft?

LF: By writing. And writing some more. Reading the types of books I wanted to write — hot, sexy, character driven, fast-paced… I’ve never read a “how to” book and I’m not sure I could get through one anyway. I can’t see me ever taking a writing course because I’d end up doodling. I doodle a lot. All the time if I’m sitting still. I have a very short attention span and I get the fidgits real quick when someone expects me to sit quietly in a chair.

I LOVE giving workshops, but I’m not good at attending them. Though if the presenter is especially entertaining, I love it.

If you want to learn to write, write. A lot. Ask for advice and be open to hearing it. Do NOT be defensive.

Learn all the rules, then forget them. <G> And submit your work. I’m always amazed to hear about writers who want to be published, but are so afraid of getting rejected, they don’t submit what they have.

Hey, you WILL get rejected. It’s a tough reality. But you’ll learn so much from each one. And if you’re not taking that first step, you’ll never get to take the last one, which is signing the contract.

S: What advice do you have for aspiring authors who don’t feel they have the background or tools to write?

LF: Get cracking. Learn whatever you need to know. Trust in your story telling ability. And always protect your voice. Learning to get the writing down is the easy part. Keeping your voice in tact through it all is the real challenge!

S: How do you prioritize between family, friends, writing, and Lori?

“Being the only female in a household dripping with testosterone gives one a certain edge, I guess.”

LF: Well, family — as in kids and hubby — come first for me. Luckily for me, hubby puts me first. <G> Kids are more than willing to make it an even balance by helping out where they can. We all chip in together and everything gets done. Next in my priorities is me. And a big part of me is writing. It’s disgusting when I’m watching a movie I enjoy and find myself lost because I began to plot. I hate when that happens. But I make time for myself when I can, to do the things I like to do. Usually, that’s write. :-/ Often, it’s soaking in the tub and reading.

You know how I prioritize? By keeping myself open. I face each day with good intentions and the knowledge that nothing is set in stone. If my kids need me, or one of my friends needs to talk, or a relative has a problem, I’m there for them, regardless that I’m at a high point in the story and it’s going great!

But I can also tells friends who just want to chat that I’m busy writing. And I can tell my kids that I need some peace and quiet to get an important scene taken care of, and they respect that. For the most part, I manage just fine. I beat deadlines by several months on the theory that what can go wrong will and it’s better to turn something in early than ever have it late. I have to stay ahead of the game.

What’s happened because of that is I end up with so many books in the schedule!

I deal with the priorities as they come up day to day. Sometimes minute to minute. But overall, I’m a mother first. Always.

S: You’re one of the most visible authors on the Internet – interacting with both readers and authors. How do you work this into your daily routine? Why is this interaction important?

LF: I’m just so darned opinionated, you know? I have to tell everyone what I think. Shameful of me, I know.

But since we’ve already established that I’m no different than anyone else, I assume I’m there for the same reasons everyone else is — camaraderie, friendship, peers… No one understands the writing biz like other writers and the easiest way to interact with other writers is on the net. As to how I fit it in, I have no idea! I just do what I do when I do it.

I like to check out the internet and emails in the morning with my coffee while I’m first waking up. Maybe that’s the key.

Also, the way I write is very intense. I can write 8 or 10 pages in about an hour or less. Then I need a break. My brain crunches or something and I can’t think straight to go on to the next scene, so I check email for ten minutes. It’s a treat after writing. And when I’m done, I get back to my story until I need the next break.

S: One of the things that most impresses me about your work is the way you balance vulnerable heroines (i.e., Little Miss Innocent?) with highly sensual storylines. Is this intentional or do the stories just work out that way?

LF: I can’t say as I intentionally do anything. I just write, and what happens happens. But in my heart I believe all women are vulnerable. We all have insecurities and we’re all too aware of our flaws. So I can’t imagine creating a heroine without some vulnerabilities. Whatever they might be. And if she didn’t have any, I wouldn’t like her much. <G>

The sexual stuff… well it’s my belief that any good romance, and we’re talking the blow-your-mind once in a lifetime love of your life, will be accompanied by great sex. If the sex isn’t great… I dunno. To me, they go part and parcel with each other. A man loves a woman, he’ll want to know what pleases her. A woman loves a man, she’ll be open enough with him for him to find what pleases her. And vice versa.

And hey, if the sex isn’t really, really hot, why would we want to read about it?? <ggg>

For me, a “tepid” romance is of no interest at all.

S: In the recent lingerie-themed Sinful anthology, you took the story in a slightly different direction than the other authors. Is pushing the envelope something that comes naturally to you?

LF: Okay, I lied. I do *some* things deliberately. And my story in Sinful is a perfect example. As soon as my editor told me the theme of the book, I knew the other authors would put the women in lingerie. I just had to be different, ya know? Not that the other stories aren’t fabulous! I’m sure they are. But I like cranking things in a off skew direction. It’s my warped sensibilities. Many of my stories are done that way. I take what most people see, and twist it.

S: Do you ever submit a story to an editor and think “there’s no way she’ll go for this” (Chase Winston’s story)? How do your editors react to your ideas?

LF: I’m a firm believer in cutting corners where I can. And I’m not shy anymore (honest to gosh I used to be!) so I always ask an editor first. I remember I called Cindy Hwang and said:

“Can I make Chase kinky?” She paused and said, “Kinky how?”
“Oh, just a little bondage. Ropes, dominance, that kind of thing.”
“Oh sure, go ahead.”

There you see? No big deal. <G> Then when she got the book she called me and said, “Hey, you could have taken it a little farther even if you’d wanted to.”

Cindy is wonderful to work with. I just adore her.

And in answer to your question, no, I don’t think I go too far. There’ve been words I’ve half expected to have cut. But they haven’t been. Oh, in Taken a scene was cut as going over the line! I was astounded. Couldn’t believe it. I thought for sure they’d love it. I bet the readers would have. <GGG> I guess I just always like it enough to assume everyone else will too, including my editors.

S: At least one of your proposed books went too far for your editors. How do you handle that? Will you write the story anyway (or just keep hoping pressure from readers will sway the editor)?

LF: Yeah, they refused one. And it’s a helluva book! Really good. Maybe my best. How do I handle it? It really ticks me off. Seriously. I want to publish that damn book!

Yes, I’ll write the story, but no, it won’t ever see light of day at Harlequin. My editor loved it, but the higher ups didn’t, so that’s that. I’ll get it published somewhere some day.

Then you all can tell me if I was right or not!

S: You electronically published one of your books last year? Is this a consideration for future titles?

LF: The book I published was an older favorite that HQ wouldn’t touch because of the setting in part of the book.

As to others… I have a few in mind that I might submit to an epub if I can ever find the time to devote to it. My next year and a half is just incredibly busy. Too much so. I’m scheduled so tightly, I had to turn down doing one of the new “Big Blaze” books from Harlequin. They’ll be starting…I think in 2001. But I’m booked up. I need to clear up my calendar a bit so I can take a break with no contracts looming.

NOT that I’m complaining, mind you. I love having the work, and each book is a book I want to do, so… I just need to not schedule myself so far in advance. I’ve already got 2001 filled. That’s a lot to be looking at you when you’re trying to get the books done one at a time.

S: Your stories capture the male psyche very well. Is it the constant immersion in the (male) culture or a preference for writing from that perspective?

LF: I have no idea. My husband is a huge influence on the heroes I write. And my sons. I know the way I think men should be, based on my husband, so that’s how I make them, only with different looks, different jobs, bigger-than-life conflicts. My husband and I married very early, so the only conflicts we’ve faced are budgets and interfering family and the usual things that come with two large combined external families and 22 years of marriage. Being the only female in a household dripping with testosterone gives one a certain edge, I guess. <G>

And yeah, I love the male point of view. The differences that I see women complaining about so much are the qualities that I think are most fascinating with men. I LOVE the differences.

S: Assuming you actually have free time left over for reading, what do you enjoy? Any favorites to recommend?

LF: Oh, you betcha! Top of my list is Linda Howard.(Dream Man, The Cutting Edge, and the Mackenzies are my favorites!) I’m sure I’m her biggest fan and I absolutely can not wait for Chase Mackenzie’s story. :::sigh::::

Also Stella Cameron (True Bliss is a fave!) , Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Johanna Lindsey (the Mallorys! yum), Julie Garwood (Honor’s Spendor, Lion’s Lady, The Bride…), Patricia Ryan (In Hot Pursuit, All of Me), Pamela Burford (In The Dark) … I know I’m forgetting some. I have a link on my web page of my favorite books, updated often, if anyone is interested. It’s in my personal pages: http://www.eclectics.com/lorifoster

S: Other hobbies, interests, dream vacation?

LF: Hobbies — art, such as painting, chalk, pencil, watercolor.
Water skiing, swimming, sunning, boating…
Dream Vacations — anywhere near water where it’s warm, preferably with a sandy beach. Heaven!

Interview by Kassia Krozser
When she learned she was to be electronically published, Karen Wiesner vowed to learn everything she could about the field. Now, she’s taken the information and created a book for electronically published authors — and those who want to be.

Karen is the bestselling author of three ongoing romance series published by Hard Shell Word Factory, a short
story in the Mistletoe Marriages Anthology currently available from DiskUsPublishing. She also does
monthly Inkspot column titled Electronic Publishing Q & A .

Subversion: What made you decide to write this book?

Karen Wiesner: Soon after I became published, I had dozens of authors (published and unpublished) writing to me, asking me if I thought e-publishing was legitimate, for any tips I had, advice about the various e-publishers out there. I wrote some articles about e-publishing and started directing people to those (they’re currently up at Eclectics.com). The idea for a guide similar to the annual Writers Market was always there, just a kernel of an idea and a part of me was afraid to explore it. I was already too busy and something like this would be extremely time-consuming, especially when I had to figure it in yearly. But I knew I had to do it. Eventually someone would and I thought I could do it just as well.

S: How often do you plan to update the book?

KW: Yearly. Every July, it’ll come out. I don’t know if it’ll be standard, but I do plan to put together an addendum to be included with the promotional disk early 2000. This will include new e-publishers (just names and URLs), probably a short chapter about changes to things I said in the first edition, as well as some of the “new” things happening in the industry.

S: How will updates be approached?

KW: I plan to add sections as the need arises, take out others that I don’t feel are necessary. The solid chapters, I’ll re-write to include the newest information and I do plan to bring other experts in on various chapters. I’m also going to cut some of the publisher questions because I think that was part of the reason some publishers were holding off until the last minute. Those interviews were very intensive. Hopefully each publisher will respond for the update and answer the interviews so the guide can be more complete.

S: Looking back, what information would you like to include in future versions of this book?

KW: I think what I included at that time was exactly what was needed. But this industry is changing, progressing, emerging in so many ways and so rapidly that new things will open up with each update and require its own place in the guide.

S: What was the most difficult aspect of pulling a “definitive guide to electronic publishing” together?

KW: As I said before, getting the contributors (including publishers) to send in their part in a timely manner. But they’re so busy with their own work, I really can’t blame them. They were all wonderful and so incredibly helpful. I would like the process of putting the guide together to be more efficient, but I think I have to accept that it’ll take at least 3 to 4 months to complete and that the process will be rather sporadic.

S: What was the criteria for publishers included in the book?

KW: Many people have said “Well, you should include so-and-so. They’re really good.” But my criteria will stay the same: only royalty-paying, non-subsidy electronic publishers will be included. No upfront fees, no fees of any kind to the authors. I did include a small press publisher in the first edition but only because they planned to release an electronic book.

S: What was the inspiration for the “bonus chapter”?

KW: Something I’ve noticed is widespread in this medium is the lack of information on 1) how an e-author should promote, 2) the fact that traditional methods of promotion simply don’t work for an electronic author, especially one who’s never been published in another other medium. New e-authors are looking for a resource to tell them how to promote and, if this medium is to flourish, it must be through the efforts of all the authors and publishers.

S: What features in the book would you consider most useful for first-time authors? For previously published authors?

KW: Hard question because I do believe all sections in the book are extremely useful for both first-time and published authors. First-time authors will need to know what e-publishing is, so that section will be good for that. They need to know enough that they can persuade an audience to try e-books and then they can sell their own books. So the Myths & Facts section is really useful for doing that. They need to learn how to promote, as I said before. Previously published authors, if traditional, will need to know how to promote an e-book since it’s a whole different thing. I think, in this medium, that strength in numbers will come from how many books an author has out there available, so for that reason I do think most authors-especially those who write fast–should think about branching out with other e-publishers, so the publisher section will be very useful for them.

S: Any plans to issue the book in hardcopy format?

KW: Yes, my contract states that once the guide has sold 200 disk/download copies, it’ll go into hardcopy format.

S: You were very open about your journey to electronic publishing in the opening chapters of the book. What made you decide to go with a personal approach?

KW: I don’t know about most people, but I can’t stand dry textbooks. The kind where you have to keep rubbing your eyes, putting eyedrops in (or toothpicks!) to keep yourself awake and interesting. I wrote the book the way I would have told someone about this medium face to face. As for how personal I was, I believe an author should know what they’re getting into, good, bad and everything in-between. So I stated my experience and the experience of other authors I know.

S: How did the authors and publishers you approached for interviews and information receive the concept of a well-written guide to electronic publishing? Did they offer any suggestions for content?

KW: Sure, I got a lot of advice. Since I’m certainly not the ultimate expert in this field, I considered each suggestion as received. The authors and publishers were thrilled with this idea from the very first. They knew it was an idea just waiting to be fulfilled. Many of them stated they thought I was the best person to do this because I’ve managed to create a presence in this medium. Authors and publishers alike know me.

S: You’ve included a “disadvantages” chapter in the book. Looking back, what improvements do you see in this area?

KW: Actually, I just went over it recently and re-wrote it because I’m giving a speech about electronic publishing soon. The only disadvantage that stood out was still the financial aspect of it. A lot has changed in public awareness, perception and acceptance since the guide came out. Very good news indeed! : )

S: You are primarily a fiction writer. What changes did you have to make to your style in moving to non-fiction?

KW: Funny that you ask this. There is a striking difference not only between writing fiction and nonfiction but in writing nonfiction articles and books. I’d written articles about e-publishing long before I wrote the guide. I had to go back over those articles and put them in “book” form as I updated them. I don’t know how to describe this change I had to make in the styles, but I do think that I “break all the rules” for both genres. And that’s OK. It works for me and almost everyone who’s ever written to me about the guide has mentioned how much they enjoyed my writing style.

Visit Karen’s web pages at http://www.eclectics.com/karenwiesner and http://members.aol.com/kswiesner/epub.html .

Whether we like it or not, romance readers are stereotyped. Despite being well-acquainted with the image, we at Subversion have yet to meet a single reader who fits the popular image of a romance reader (okay, maybe there are a few out there who nibble on chocolate while reading …).

However, we can cite countless examples of readers who don’t fit the stereotype — we call them Subversives. Read on to learn more about our favorite Subversives.

Name: Marilyn Grall
Profession: Author/medical transcriptionist/wife and mom
Residence: Oklahoma
Age group: 46 years young

How long have you been reading romance?
For over 30 years.


What was the first romance you read and how did that trigger your interest in the genre?
The first romance is ever read was Mara, Daughter of the Nile, when I was about 12. After that, I discovered Victoria Holt and read her all through high school, then I discovered Kathleen Woodiwiss’s The Flame and The Flower in about 1984, and I was truly hooked on romance!

How many romances do you read/month?
Hmmm…that depends on so many things. I’m not a fast reader, so I’d have to say 3-4. I read both paper and electronic formats, and I enjoy them all.

Favorite books/authors?
In contemporaries, my favorite has to be Nora Roberts. I think she’s a real jewel in the genre. I most especially like her romantic suspense and J. D. Robb titles. There are many others, too, but her name comes to mind first. In historicals, I like really sexy, steamy stories, so my favorites are Bertrice Small, Susan Johnson, Thea Devine and Virgina Henley. I’ve also read every book by Georgina Gentry. I just love her Indian love stories. I’ve added some e-authors to my “must buy” list, too, including J. C. Wilder, Elizabeth Mayne, Desiree Lindsey and Marion Marshall.

Favorite storyline?
It’s not PC anymore, but I do like captivity stories with alpha males and feisty heroines. Sometimes I think my favorite books were written in the early 80s, before we all got so concerned about political correctness in romance. My second NCP title, In Search of Amanda is a captivity story, and it is truly the book of my heart, a storyline that had been running around in my head since I saw the Roots miniseries in the late 70s.

Favorite scene?
That would have to be in Elizabeth Lowell’s Untamed, when the hero cries and says something like “We have lost our heart.” That one still gets to me, and I read that book several years ago. Sigh. That was one great scene!

Other genres read?
Some mystery and medical thrillers, and, of course, research books, but mainly I read and love romance.

When do you find time to read?
Usually in the late evening, when things quiet down here at home.

What one book would you give to someone who you’re trying to get to read romance?
That’s a tough one because I’ve never tried to convert anyone. In my experience, those who don’t read romance tend to denounce it, so I just don’t have much in common with them, or time for their negative opinions. If asked, though, I’d recommend any of Nora Roberts’ single title romantic suspense books. For historicals, I’d recommend Marion Marshall’s western historical romances, in e-book format, from New Concepts. They’re wonderful love stories and so realistic you can taste the dust.

Other than reading, any other romance-related activities?
I’m a founding member of EPIC (Electronically Published Internet Connection), which has many romance writers in its memberhsip, and belong to several e-mail romance reader listservs.

Have you ever converted a non-(romance) believer?
No, and I doubt I ever will. One of the things that disturbs me about modern romance is the emerging need I see to be all things to all people. I understand they’re trying to grow the market, but I really don’t want romance to become mainstream. Romance has incredible emotional depth, happy endings, and allows vicarious enjoyment of literally any time, place or reality. Now, with electronic novels available, too, there are more wonderful books than ever to choose from. Anyone who chooses not to read romance is losing out, big time. And if they chose to believe the denouncers, I feel sorry for them. How sad it would be to not enjoy romance!

Hobbies/Other interests?
My main other interest is getting electronic novels on disk into bookstores. To that end, I’m part of a year long E-book Tour sponsored by Hastings Entertainment Superstores. We’ve done more than a dozen of these ebooksignings now, and the public response has been wonderful!

Interview by Kassia Krozser

Susan Krinard, trained as a visual artist, turned to writing when a friend – after reading a short story that Susan had written – suggested that she try her hand at romance novels. The rest, as they say, is history. Susan sold her first book, Prince of Wolves, to Bantam. Since that time, Susan’s books have made their way onto several bestseller lists and the author continues to break ground as she explores the worlds of werewolves, vampires, and ghosts – typical Susan Krinard characters.

A native Californian, Susan lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband, Serge Mailloux, a dog and two cats.

Subversion: The new one is Touch of the Wolf. Can you tell us a little more about this book?

Susan Krinard: I’ve always loved writing about my race of loups-garous, or werewolves, and I’ve had an idea for some time that I wanted to create an entire werewolf “family tree,” stretching back into history. I also wanted to try a series, so I decided to set the first of this loosely based “trilogy” in Victorian England, with the remaining two books set in America in the late 1800’s.

Touch of the Wolf is the story of Braden Forster, earl of Greyburn, who has inherited his grandfather’s Cause of saving the werewolf race from extinction. Braden has devoted his entire life to the Cause, at the expense of his own happiness and the chance for love. But when his long-lost cousin Cassidy Holt arrives on his doorstep from America, his whole world, and all his assumptions, are shaken apart. Suddenly he finds that he has a heart after all, and that love may be the one threat to the Cause that he can’t fight.

“I’ve had an idea for some time that I wanted to create an entire werewolf “family tree,” stretching back into history.”

S: Touch of the Wolf is the first in a trilogy. Where will you take readers next?

SK: To New Mexico Territory in 1878. The second book, Passion of the Wolf, is Braden’s sister’s story. Her name is Rowena, and she does not want to be a werewolf. She’s fought that all her life, and has even fled England to escape an arranged marriage to another werewolf. But she doesn’t bargain on being kidnapped by a reckless rogue of hombre-lobo (Spanish for werewolf) and whisked away into the desert, where she’s going to learn a few lessons about passion and being true to herself.

S: How does this story relate to the other loup-garou titles you’ve written?

SK: The characters in this new trilogy are the ancestors of the loup-garou characters in Prince of Wolves and Prince of Shadows. Eventually, as I said above, I hope to have a whole family tree stretching into the past.

S: Which title is preferable: werewolf or loup-garou? Are there other names for this being?

SK: I use the two words interchangeably. “Werewolf” gives some readers a certain picture of a slavering, evil, cursed half-beast, which my shapeshifters are anything but! “Loup-garou” is more elegant, but as I said, I use either word. I also used “hombre lobo” in my next book, since it’s set in New Mexico.

S: You’ve set this story in England during the Victorian era – why did you choose this particular background for the book?

SK: I’ve always been fascinated by history, and felt the Victorian era hadn’t yet been overused in Romance. The more I read about the period, the more interested I became: I could show the strictures of Victorian society and how thoroughly they conflict with the earthy, “animal” passions of my werewolves. It seemed an idea setup.

S: How does one go about researching werewolves? What’s the most interesting bit of information/lore you’ve discovered?

SK: Actually, I never did really research werewolves per se. I made up my own. My werewolves aren’t cursed, can’t pass their blood onto another through a bite, can’t be killed only with silver bullets, don’t change only under a full moon. They are a separate race of beings. All my research, therefore, focused more on real wolves than on mythical werewolves. I wanted to give my shapeshifters “real wolf” qualities.

“I’ve always been fascinated with the idea of the ‘outsider’ in society, the one who doesn’t fit in, for whatever reason. A werewolf is going to have problems in our society, and so is a vampire. That’s what interests me.”

S: What is it about werewolves, vampires, ghosts – standard Susan Krinard heroes – that appeals to you? How did this trend toward “other” heroes develop?

SK: I’ve always read SF/fantasy, so it was an easy jump to write romance with some of these elements. In fact, it’s necessary for me to write something “different,” something in which I can totally escape reality. When life was painful, I escaped into books, and now I escape into my own writing and hope that it will please others as well.

I’ve always been fascinated with the idea of the “outsider” in society, the one who doesn’t fit in, for whatever reason. A werewolf is going to have problems in our society, and so is a vampire. That’s what interests me.

S: How do you create heroines who are the perfect match for your out-of-the-ordinary heroes?

SK: Every hero and heroine is different in each book; I do that on purpose. I usually start out with one or the other and develop a partner who will complement and contrast with the first character, and really challenge that character in ways that will create dynamic conflict. My heroines have to be strong and not easily frightened. They can adapt to the circumstances they confront.

S: How do your stories develop – characters first, story, scenes?

SK: Idea first–werewolf, vampire, etc. Then setting–contemporary or historical, etc. THEN I do characters. The plot idea develops to some degree concurrently with the characters, as my character will determine the plot and conflict. Once I have a basic idea and have done lots of research, I write an overall synopsis, and gradually add detail to it until I have an entire 30-50 page outline.

S: You have a background in visual arts. How do you use these skills in your writing?

SK: I am very visual in my writing and in how I conceive things. I see my book as a movie and will use terms like “off-screen” to describe what’s going on. I see the action in my head as if it were on film. Sometimes I’ll find myself grimacing while I’m “playing” the villain, or looking snooty (at no one) when I’m writing an arrogant character.

S: Why did you choose to write in the romance genre?

SK: I sort of “fell” into it. I’d read a lot of SF/fantasy, but not a great deal of romance except for Georgette Heyer and Regencies. I wrote a fan story based on the TV show “Beauty and the Beast,” and a published friend read it and thought I really had a flair for romance. So I read a few books and began writing Prince of Wolves. I didn’t really know what I was doing, but somehow I had a natural feel for romance, because I’d always looked for strong relationships in my SF/fantasy reading. I sold POW within two years of completing it.

S: What type of books do you enjoy reading? Any favorites to recommend?

SK: My favorite romance author is Laura Kinsale, who doesn’t write nearly fast enough for me! I also adore Mary Balogh, and Elizabeth Thornton. I read mysteries and continue to enjoy SF/fantasy. I can’t recommend Lois McMaster Bujold highly enough; she has wonderful characters and most recently a very romantic book in A Civil Campaign. Her first book, Shards of Honor, is one of the most romantic SF novels around. I’d also recommend Sharon Lee and Steve Miller for wonderful romantic SF (they’re now published in a small-press omnibus called PARTNERS IN NECESSITY), and Catherine Asaro.

S: In addition to reading, what hobbies do you enjoy? Favorite movies, music, food?

SK: Old movies . . . I love old movies of almost every sort, especially romance and adventure. My favorite movie of the past few years was THE MASK OF ZORRO with Antonio Banderas, who somewhat influenced my hero in the next book, Tomas Alejandro Randall. I love getting out into nature, hiking, birdwatching; I am a great maker of chocolate desserts! I listen mainly to “new age” music by artists such as Raphael and Suzanne Ciani; I also love traditional classical music. I also adore animals, particularly dogs and wolves.

Fans of paranormal romance frequently lament the decreasing numbers of titles being published in their favorite subgenre. It seems that an author of these books felt the same way. ImaJinn Books, a new publisher of New Age, or “Other Worldly” Romance will launch in October, 1999 with three titles which provide a representative sample of the types of books they will publish. Their launch month books are: A Love Through All Tim e by Jean Nash; Cupid: The Amorous Arrow by J.M. Jeffries; and Dreamsinger by J.A. Ferguson. Future releases include titles from favorite authors like Nancy Gideon.

ImaJinn (pronounced Imagine) Books was founded by Linda Kichline (a.k.a. Carin Rafferty), who wrote the witch and warlock trilogy Touch of Night, Touch of Magic, and Touch of Lightning for Topaz Books. An avid reader of New Age romance herself, Linda was disappointed to see the market for these books dwindling, and the mail she received from her readers indicated they were just as disappointed. Linda decided to start ImaJinn Books and specialize in this area of romance fiction to fulfill both her and her readers’ wishes for more New Age romance. When asked how she came up with the name ImaJinn, Linda said she wanted a name that was magical and would reflect the type of books she wanted to publish. If you break down the word ImaJinn, you come up with “I’m a Jinn.” She says genies are about as magical as you can get.

After their launch month, ImaJinn plans to publish one to two New-Age romances every other month (October, December, February, April, June, and August). If reader demand is high, they will increase publication to one to two books a month. The books will be fast-paced, action-packed romances involving ghosts, psychics and/or psychic phenomena, witches, vampires, werewolves, angels, reincarnation, futuristic in space or on other planets, futuristic on earth, time travel to the past, present and future, and any other type of story that would fall into the New Age category. They will also publish some exciting New Age fiction that has a strong romantic story line but is not a traditional romance. The sensual ratings of their books will range from sweet to very sensual, and the story tone will range from light-hearted to very dark. Story length will run between 50,000–100,000 words.

ImaJinn books will be trade paperback size with the average cost will running between $6.50 and $9.95. Books will be sold by mail order and over the Internet via the Imajinn website at www.imajinnbooks.com. Books should also be available through major distributors, although Linda suggests that, in the early days of the publisher, readers may have to ask their book store to order the books from the distributor or directly from ImaJinn. Readers who wish to receive notices of ImaJinn’s upcoming releases should contact the publisher by e-mail, mail or phone.

Authors who wish to submit a manuscript to ImaJinn Books should request a tip sheet or submit a query letter and a five-page, double-spaced synopsis. All requests, including queries, may be made by e-mail or by mail. If contacting by mail, use the following address:

Linda Kichline
ImaJinn Books
PO Box 162
Hickory Corners, MI 49060-0162
E-mail: imajinn@worldnett.att.net
Phone: (877) 625-3592

Whether we like it or not, romance readers are stereotyped. Despite being well-acquainted with the image, we at Subversionhave yet to meet a single reader who fits the popular image of a romance reader (okay, maybe there are a few out there who nibble on chocolate while reading …). However, we can cite countless examples of readers who don’t fit the stereotype — we call them Subversives. Read on to learn more about our favorite Subversives.

Name: Kathy Boswell
Profession: Homemaker to a husband and three children and part time medical transcriptionist
Residence: Beaufort, South Carolina
Age group: 40ish

How long have you been reading romance?
I’ve been reading romance since I was 12. I cut my teeth on Barbara Cartland and then graduated up to Kathleen Woodiwiss, Rosemary Rodgers and Shirlee Busbee in the 1970’s.

Do you, or someone you know, qualify as a Subversive. If so, please e-mail Subversion and let us know.

What was the first romance you read and how did that trigger your interest in the genre?
The first ‘real’ romance that I read was The Flame and The Flower by Kathleen Woodiwiss and I thought ‘WOW, this is my kind of reading!’ I still have that copy of that book too. It’s tattered and torn but I hang on to it for sentimental reasons, I guess.

How many romances do you read/month?
I can polish off a Harlequin/Silhouette in a day and a single title romance in two days so generally I read anywhere from 3 to 5 books a week. It’s just according to how much my kids leave me alone. LOL

Favorite books/authors?
I guess my favorite genre is time travel/paranormal/ghost, those books with a twist. I have too many favorite authors to list just one or two.

Favorite storyline?
I love stories where there’s a bit of a mystery that has to be solved.

Favorite scene?
My favorite scene is where the hero/heroine realize they are soul mates and can’t live without each other.

Other genres read?
I love to read mystery and some science fiction.

When do you find time to read?
I am lucky because I only have a part time job so I can read some during the day. I take a book with me everywhere and I’m a very fast reader.

What one book would you give to someone who you’re trying to get to read romance?
I know this isn’t classified as romance (though I beg to differ) but I would say The Starry Child by Lynn Hanna. You know how some books just give you goose bumps. This book did that for me. My dear friend Mary Hyatt who lives in California even sent me an autographed copy of this book. Lynn signed it in Gaelic for me!

Other than reading, any other romance-related activities?
Well, I am dabbling in writing a contemporary romance but it’s slow going. I also love to collect autographed romance books, back lists of my favorite authors (you should see the books in my house) and email and chat with authors!

I also write reviews of books that I read and enjoy for a good friend of mine who has a web page called Romance and Friends. I do this because it’s a lot fun for me. She also talked me into doing an interview for July. I interviewed Amy J. Fetzer because she lives here in Beaufort.

Have you ever converted a non-(romance) believer?
Yes, you won’t believe it but I’ve gotten my brother to read and enjoy romance. He returned the favor by talking me into trying Science Fiction!

Hobbies/Other interests?
Trying new seafood recipes. I do live on the coast (grin). I am also having fun writing a young adult science fiction time travel book for my son. He says there aren’t enough good books like that for him to read. It will probably never be published but I’m having fun writing it and he’s having fun reading and critiquing it for me. My three children love books and reading as much as I do. They each have bookcases in their rooms that are groaning under the weight of all their books.

Interview by Kassia Krozser

Alison Kent is known to her fans as the creator of steamy heroes and even steamier romances. Her latest Harlequin Temptation furthers that image as Alison tells the story of a woman and the four (yep, four) men who love her.

In real life, Alison is newly wed to her own romance hero, is the mother of three, and lives in a suburb of Houston. She’s been writing for ten years with her first book, written under the name Michaila Callan, published in 1993. In addition to her Alison Kent titles, she’s also writing for the new Zebra Bouquet line as Michaila Callan.

Read our review of Four Men & A Lady

Subversion: The new title from Alison Kent is Four Men & A Lady. Can you tell us
more about this book?

Alison Kent: Four Men & A Lady is the second of three books by the three authors Harlequin chose to write reunion stories celebrating Temptation’s 15th Anniversary.

S: What was the inspiration for Four Men & A Lady?

AK: A combination of things. First of all, a 1981 movie called Four Friends and starring Craig Wasson, Jodi Thelen & Michael Huddleston. One of those obscure movies that I’ve never heard another person mention, but struck a chord with me all those years ago. Secondly, a newspaper article about a group of friends in high school who called themselves “The Deck”. (And you just thought I was original!) When my editor called and asked me to write one of the 15th anniversary reunion stories, the two ideas melded into one and voila! The rest, I hope, is history!

“I love men. What can I say? I value the friendships I have with men and am fascinated in the way the male psyche works.”

S: Are there any sequels or follow-up stories planned for the other men?

AK: Not at the moment, though every piece of fan mail I’ve received has asked for that very thing! We’ll see!

S: Heidi Malone is a complex heroine – how did she come about?

AK: The character of Georgia in the movie Four Friends had very complicated relationships with the men in her life. The book is nothing like the movie, but I did draw on the richness of those interpersonal relationships. I knew for each of my four men to feel about Heidi as strongly as they did, she would have to be a complex woman deserving of their loyalties. (Funny, but I have a secondary female character named Georgia–and she wasn’t even named after the movie character, but was instead fashioned after the character of Renee on Ally McBeal! My subconscious must’ve been at work!).

S: This title has a slightly different “feel” than your other books – wasthis intentional?

AK: Yes and no. The very first scene I wrote for this book was the flashback in chapter one. I knew then that I needed to connect with each character’s past in order to bring him to the present. Writing the flashbacks–and flashbacks where the characters are teens, at that–truly grounded me in the story. I think that grounding gave the characters their unique personalities and fueled my editor’s instincts to go with the title and cover treatment.

S: So, Alison, tell us how you sold your first book.

AK: My first book to Temptation was sold on national television. CBS 48 Hours did a segment in the fall of 1995 called “Isn’t It Romantic?” featuring the entire romance genre. One segment was slated to be a new author making her first sale. That was me, selling my first Temptation Call Me! There’s a part of the segment where I’m talking to the senior editor at Temptation. Well, the news magazine did a good job of splicing, because in the middle of that conversation I turned to the crew and said, “Did y’all set this up?” Up until the call from the editor, I’d been playing along. I truly had no idea I was going to sell.

S: What are you working on now? Can you tell us more about it?

AK: I just finished my second book for Zebra Bouquet. Love In Bloom (by Michaila Callan) will be out next June. My first Bouquet, Love Me Tender, is on the shelves now along with Four Men & A Lady. Yes, I have multiple personalities!

S: How do you develop your stories – which comes first, the characters or the plot?

AK: Characters always. I am totally plot impaired. I love relationship stories the same way I love relationship movies. I love to explore the entire human experience. Usually I’ll come up with a “what if” and assign characters to play their parts before I ever work out the actual logistics of the action. I can’t even fathom the action until I have the players in place. Backwards, but it works for me.

S: You create wonderful heroes. What makes an Alison Kent hero, like BenTannen, special?

AK: I love men. What can I say? I value the friendships I have with men and am fascinated in the way the male psyche works. I also have a hero, to whom I am married, who is a student of human nature. He knows people and has given me great insight into the male mind. I take the best qualities from the men I know and admire, the universal qualities that appeal to all women, add big hands and tight jeans and there ya have it!

S: When writing a book, what is the key ingredient that you try to give readers?

AK: Emotional Involvement. If a reader doesn’t care, she’s not going to read. And that defeats the purpose of all that work!

“Romance because I am an inveterate people watcher. And male / female interactions are SO entertaining! If you don’t believe me, watch. At a gym. A mall. Wherever. So much fun!”

S: Can you tell us more about your writing background? Why romance?

AK: Romance because it feels my need for exploring relationships. Romance because I can write fulfilling stories without having to know the difference between the functions of the FBI and the CIA! Romance because I am an inveterate people watcher. And male / female interactions are SO entertaining! If you don’t believe me, watch. At a gym. A mall. Wherever. So much fun!

S: You write category romance. Why? Have you considered other subgenres or genres?

AK: Yes and no. I’ll always write romance. I love romance. But I might explore longer formats. I think that’s a natural growth process of any writer, wanting to test her own boundaries.

S: What is the best part of your job? The worst?

AK: The worst is the writing. Slaving to make that sentence work. The best part is the writing. Getting that sentence to grab the reader. It’s a terrible love / hate relationship!

S: How have your life experiences influenced your writing?

AK: All my stories focus on the importance of family. Of children in a family. Of a family’s friends. That does come out of my own experiences, going through hard times and always having the support of loved ones.

S: What are your favorite storylines? Which plotline would you love to explore?

AK: I’m not sure I have a favorite. I love the fireworks of new romance and rekindkling the sparks of reunited lovers. I love quiet times (Runaway Bride) and I love adventure (Six Days, Seven Nights). I love strong women and the men who deserve them.

S: What are you reading now? Any favorites to recommend?

AK: I’ve just started Tess Gerritsen’s Gravity Wowza! And I could not put down The Cowboy and The Vampire by Clark Hays and Kathleen McFall. I’m anxious to read ‘Tis because I adored Angela’s AshesS. I’m much more of an eclectic reader than writer.

S: Any exciting hobbies or news in your life?

AK: I have no life. I have a full time job, 3 permanent teenagers, 2 part-time teenagers, a dog, a husband . . . I’m lucky to have time to write! My only true hobby has to be movies. I’m a junkie and don’t get out to the theater as often as I want.

S: The desert island question: assuming that fresh water is plentiful and that bananas are chock full o’ protein, what item(s) would be
essential until you could be rescued?

AK: Well, books, of course! And chocolate. Not milk chocolate. Or dark chocolate. But Godiva’s fruit creams and liquid centers. I am particular in my decadence!

Whether we like it or not, romance readers are stereotyped. Despite being well-acquainted with the image, we at Subversion have yet to meet a single reader who fits the popular image of a romance reader (okay, maybe there are a few out there who nibble on chocolate while reading …).

However, we can cite countless examples of readers who don’t fit the stereotype — we call them Subversives. Read on to learn more about our favorite Subversives.

Name: Falcon
Profession: Sales & Marketing Executive
Residence: Southern California
Age group: 40-50
How long have you been reading romance: 29 years

What was the first romance you read and how did that trigger your interest in the genre?
In my pre-teens, it was The Mills & Boon line and Barbara Cartland. Of course at that time, I didn’t know that was their technical classification. I like to read almost anything and these books were entertaining and great love stories besides. But what really started me on the path of serious romance reading was when I picked up a Kathleen Woodiwiss book in the early 80’s, when I finally figured out that HEA (Happily Ever After) is one element that separates romances from other books – that got me hooked on the genre for good.

Do you, or someone you know, qualify as a Subversive. If so, please e-mail Subversion and let us know.

How many romances do you read/month?
How should I answer this? OK here goes – there are two factors that determine the number of romances I read per month. One – for the past 2 years, I have been on a “historical, especially medieval” only binge, which means I don’t read nor buy any other type of classification: No contemps, Suspense, Time travel, etc … I also only like to focus on England and Europe when it comes to setting – so no Americana either. This narrows the field significantly as you can imagine.

Two – I’m a very fast reader, I can finish a 300-400 page book in about 2 hours or so. In addition, I only buy new books, no UBS hunting here. I guess the bottom line is around 15 books per month. Sorry it took this long to arrive at this answer but I wanted to preface it with an explanation of my very selective process.

Favorite books/authors?
Quite a few really, let’s see…..Old favorites – Robyn Carr, Julie Garwood, Penelope Williamson, Judith McNaught, to name a few. New Favorites include – Jo Beverley, Denee Cody, Elizabeth Elliott, Julianna Garnett, Rexanne Becnel. I am finding though that by narrowing my choice of reading selection, I am discovering a new bunch of talented authors who are mostly mid-list, whose writing is fresh and it’s so exciting to anticipate what they come up with next.

Favorite storyline?
Hands down – medieval. Arranged marriages, bride stealing, conquest, damsel in distress, these are my favorites.

Favorite scene?
I love the hunt that leads to the “love scene” and the development that happens afterwards. I like to think more than I like to feel and I think love scenes are hard to write, that mental stimulation is much more engaging for me than the emotional pull.

Quote?
“There are battles ahead, love. When those battles are won, we can talk more freely of what is to be. Tell me there is love, she whispered. Aye, he breathed. Till the end of time.” – The Blue Falcon, Robyn Carr 1981

Other genres read?
Yes – I have tried and read all kinds: Sci-fi, Fantasy, Mystery, Fiction, Non Fiction, Business, Self Help and Finance.

When do you possibly find time to read?
I have a routine, every Friday night when everyone in my family is doing their own thing, I lock myself in my bedroom and read. Once I start a book, I don’t stop until it’s finished. I also read a lot when I fly which is about 40-50% of the time (business).

What one book would you give to someone who you’re trying to get to read romance?
That would depend on the person’s preference and interest but if he/she is a historical nut like myself, It’s a toss up between The Blue Falcon (Robyn Carr) and Keeper of the Dream (Penelope Williamson).

Other than reading, any other romance-related activities?
Yes – for the past 2 years now, I have hosted the Celebrate Romance! gathering as their Mistress of Ceremony. I have also attended one RT Convention and belong to 4 or 5 lists focused on romance books.

Have you ever converted a non-(romance) believer?
Some, most of my family and friends read a lot so conversion is quite easy.

Hobbies/Other interests:
For my professional trade, I do a lot of public speaking in industry related gathering (telecommunications). I love to travel — especially overseas, Europe in particular. And I love to shop. LOL

Alice Duncan packed up her bags, dogs, and computer, and moved to Roswell, New Mexico to concentrate on writing full-time. And while Roswell offers a writer many advantages – solitude, a relatively inexpensive lifestyle, UFOs – it’s missing a component that Alice considers critical: ethnic food.

Read our review of Bittersweet Summer

After all, the fastest way to convince Alice to talk about her life and work is to bribe her with … oh, Indian food.

Writing full-time means that Alice must be prolific, which suits her perfectly. But, as she notes, “I write fast and I’m not Nora Roberts, and nobody would buy five Alice Duncan books in a year.” So, in addition to writing under her own name, Alice also publishes romances as Rachel Wilson and Emma Craig. Conveniently, Rachel and Emma share the same wry sense of humor and light style as Alice, mainly because she doesn’t do “a lot of angst.”

When she did her first public reading, the audience was rolling in the aisles. “I thought, ‘what is it? My voice?’”

Instead, she concentrates on what she does best: comedy. When she did her first public reading, the audience was rolling in the aisles. “I thought, ‘what is it? My voice?’ It’s something that happens naturally, so I go with it.” Humor is especially helpful when the story calls for elements that Alice doesn’t particularly enjoy. For example, her new title, Bittersweet Summer (w/a Rachel Wilson), features a ghost. Since Alice isn’t particularly a fan of paranormal romance, she determined that the only way that she “could get around the ghost story was to make it funny.”

The humor carries over to her characters as well. While there may serious threads running through her stories, the fun is always evident. She admits that she can’t torture her heroes – too much – even when she wants to. The closest she’s ever come to a character with heavy baggage is Noah Partridge in Enchanted Christmas (w/a Emma Craig) who suffers from post-traumatic stress syndrome. Likewise, characters in her books are rarely poor because she knows from personal experience that “it’s not romantic.”

These days, Alice also answers to the name Jon Sharpe. She recently contracted to write for the Trailsman series, following an established character on his continuing adventures. The move to a new genre is a natural progression for Alice as she’s already written a few westerns, only as she notes, “they’re called romances.” There have been a few bumps in the switch to the new genre. For example, she “completely overlooked some of the male fantasy aspects of these things.” She now knows that the hero kills every man he meets but only “when he has to” and that women always initiate sexual contact with the hero (he, of course, always obliges).

And the pseudonym? Apparently publishers of westerns don’t want the reading public to know that (gasp!) “women write these books.” When she recently read a letter from a male author in the Romance Writers’ Report who complained that he couldn’t “get published as a man,” Alice thought, “I can’t published as a woman in westerns, so I know how he feels.” She does feel that the romance world is more likely to accept a male author who publishes under his own name than the western world would accept a female author.

Prior to becoming a writer, Alice supported herself and her children by working as a secretary – a job she describes as “hellacious”. She also performed as a folk dancer which was a “terrible living but it was a lot of fun. I had a really good time.” Her dancing also provided a window into other cultures. Dancing introduced her to people from Bosnia (before it was on the world’s map) and Romania. She’s still slightly amazed as she recalls a common goal of many of the immigrants: “they wanted to establish a church because they’d never been allowed to worship. And I thought gee, I take it so much for granted that I don’t even bother. And they had no more idea of how to start a church than I did how to build a rocket.”

Alice notes, “I thought, hey, that’s my kind of book. I wanted to be Georgette Heyer.”

And when she made the decision to try her lifelong goal of writing, Alice kept quiet about her work. Writing romance was not, initially, her goal. She avoided the genre because romance had “those covers” until a friend forced her to read one. It was at that point that she made the connection between Georgette Heyer and romance novels. And, Alice notes, “I thought, hey, that’s my kind of book. I wanted to be Georgette Heyer.”

Her admittedly obsessive-compulsive nature served her well as she continued honing her craft and submitting to publishers. Writing for a variety of publishers expanded her oeuvre, and she notes that her upcoming release Winter Wonderland is her first contemporary romance. Because Alice had written only historicals in the past, this new style “scared the bejeezus” out of her. Once she moved beyond her nervousness, she found the experience fun, conceding that she might try writing more lighthearted contemporary romance in the future.

But for now, Alice’s dance card is filled with caring for her beloved dogs, living in Roswell, and fulfilling her dream of writing full-time.