Romance at Heart Magazine Author Interview: Betty Jo Schuler

Interview with Betty Jo Schuler:

Hi Betty Jo. Thank you for doing this interview. I would like to welcome you to the Romance at Heart Interview and Author Grilling session. *bg* We are interested to find out as much about you as we possibly can, so lets get started...

- Please tell us about your latest book.

Winning Chance came out in April from Whiskey Creek Press. It’s a romantic comedy—a really “fun read” starring Chance Dawson and Lori Hayes. Lori never takes risks. If there’s a dark cloud in the sky, she carries an umbrella. But when someone…she doesn’t know who…enters her in a TV show contest where the grand prize is not one, but two, Corvettes, she nervously appears on the program. She sold her car to help start her business, and a Vette is her dream car. Alternate prize is a Dream Home, and Chance, who leaves nothing to chance, has a life plan, with a house as the next step, then a wife. His parents dumped him on his great-grandmother when he was small, and a friend’s dad taught him you need to plan for success.

There’s a catch to the contest; they have to convince the judges, who they learn are spying on them, that they’ve fallen in love and well into their Dream Date—a weekend on a tropical island—Lori and Chance discover they hope to win different things. Chance Dawson is a gorgeous hunk and Lori, who’s been stung before, doesn’t trust handsome men. The only thing hotter than the friction between these two is the spark of attraction that bursts into flames. There are a lot of laughs in store for the reader, and there’s another big surprise in store for the hero/heroine.

- How do we find out about you and your books?

You can visit any of my websites. My main website is at Betty Jo Writes.com where my romance novels and young adult books are displayed. I have another domain for my children’s books, and that one is Betty Jo Schuler.net. My books are also displayed on my pages at Books We Love and Author’s Den. I have them all over the place. LOL

- Why did you decide to write romance novels?

Romance, or love essentially, is what life’s all about, and romance novels are stories of hope and happiness that readers can relate to. I like weaving the tales of different people’s lives and the complexity of relationships. I am a people person. I love observing people and wondering what’s going on in their lives. Is the couple I see in a restaurant married? Are they wearing rings? How do they relate to one another? Have they been married long? Why are that man and child having breakfast alone? Is he a weekend father or does the mother like sleeping late? Or is she in the picture?

I am a hopeless romantic who loves sunsets and moonlight, roses and gardenias, weddings and babies…and what could be more enjoyable than reading and writing about them? Of course, real life enters into all stories, but romance novels have happy endings. I’m lucky enough to have a husband who’s still romantic after thirty-one years, but then, as they say, the third time’s a charm. I kept looking for love until I found it.

- How much of your personality and life experiences are in your writing?

A lot, but in small doses and subtle ways. I think it’s inevitable that these things come through, and I see that as what gives each writer his or her own voice. I have a master’s degree in education and taught school, and while none of my heroines have been teachers, in MALE WANTED, the heroine was getting her PhD, and was a school librarian, and in LOVE IN A SMALL TOWN, the hero is a college professor.

I think it’s the verbal expressions the characters use and anecdotes from personal experience that are reflected most. My husband has a sense of humor and a talent for making a play on words, and so do my heroes.

In WINNING CHANCE, Lori leaves the bathroom door open while putting on her makeup, and Chance knows it’s because she wants to be able to talk to him. I’m that way. I like writing children into my novels and in GRACIE’S HOLIDAY HERO, I see a lot of myself in GRACIE. Having four children, now grown, and also teaching young kids in school enables me to portray kids realistically.

- Do you have a set schedule for writing or do you just go with the flow?

I spend the morning and early afternoon at my PC most weekdays. I have more trouble staying away from writing than with doing it. I seldom write on weekends because my husband would rather I didn’t. If I have a deadline or am teaching one of the online classes I teach for Writer’s Digest or Barnes & Noble U, he’s understanding. I check my e-mail first thing every day.

- What about your family, do they know not to bother you when you are writing - or are there constant interruptions?

My kids are grown and my husband works, so I’m fortunate not to have that problem these days. When my children were little, I got up really early to write. Then, I went back to college, commuting for three years, and became a teacher, so I didn’t write for a long time. It was inevitable that I’d come back to it.

- What do you do to relax and recharge your batteries?

We moved to Florida 14 months ago, and I love to take early morning walks and rides in our golf cart. I go to water aerobics twice a week and go shopping or have lunch with friends. We live in a “golf cart community” and there are so many beautiful courses, I’m going to take lessons in September. I’m not athletic, so we’ll see how that goes.

- Do you feel humor is important in women's fiction and why?

Yes, definitely. Humor is an important part of life. It lightens the trials we encounter and makes our lives brighter. Most importantly, since we identify with the characters we write or read about, it makes them come alive on the pages. We all need to be able to laugh at our own mistakes and have fun with one another. All of my books have some humor in them.

- What are your thoughts on love scenes in romance novels, do you find them difficult to write?

Love scenes are an integral part of romance and they flow naturally if you truly know your characters. So, no, I don’t find them difficult; my hero/heroine are falling in love and they know when they’re ready for each phase, from that first kiss to the time they really “make love.”

- What kind of research do you do?

Since I write contemporary, I don’t need to do a lot of research, but I do what needs to be done. I usually choose locations I’m familiar with, but it’s important to get details right. I like to know some small details that lend an authentic flavor. And sometimes, I need to look up things like the architecture in Victorian houses, the progression of a disease, or laws on zoning (GRACIE’S HOLIDAY HERO; Writer’s Exchange).

- Would you like to write a different genre than you do now, or sub-genre?

I’ve written children’s books, young adult, and even some non-fiction—a diet book years ago, and recently, two anti-bullying books with illustrations. (DiskUs Publishing) So, I’ve pretty much tried them all. I might enjoy writing a cozy mystery.

- Fill in the blank favorites -

Dessert - Banana Cream Pie
City - Orlando
Season - Summer
Type of hero - Sexy with a sense of humor
Type of heroine - Independent and smart but feminine

- Do you have a favorite author and/or a favorite book?

I love Carole Matthews’ books! She’s an English author who writes romance novels with a different twist. A MINOR INDISCRETION is one of my favorites. You might say her books are chick lit with slightly older heroines who take romantic risks. LET’S MEET ON PLATFORM 8 is another good one.

- How many books have you written, how many have been published?

I’ve had 19 books published, and I’ve written at least six that haven’t been. I’m still shopping two young adult books. The others were my early attempts at writing romance and some children’s books. I’ve been an EPPIES finalist 3 times—once in children’s/YA, once in anthology (YA stories all written by me), and once in contemporary romance. I was also a CAPA finalist once. My biggest achievement is in the next answer.

- What would you say has been your most significant achievement as a writer?

I’m thrilled to say that LOVE IN A SMALL TOWN (Hard Shell Word Factory) was one of three fiction books nominated for Best Book of Indiana, written in 2006. The winner was named at a ceremony at Indiana State Library on July 19. Even thought I wasn’t the winner, I feel it’s a big honor and I’m very proud.

- How did you get there?

Years of writing and rewriting, determination, and persistence have made me a better writer. Part of the reason I’ve taught writing classes is that I think when you critique others’ work, you learn to write better yourself. A year ago, I read about this competition in the Indianapolis Star newspaper and I wrote then for the details and asked to be notified when to enter this year. I had to send five paperback copies and wait, and it was well worth it. My book will be one that will also go onto Washington, DC, for the National ceremony. I assume the state winner’s book will be entered in the competition there, but all three books will go.

- Which comes first, the story, the characters or the setting?

Characters! The characters are the story. Their motivations and goals are what the story is all about, and their personalities determine the way they deal with resolving problems and attaining success. The main goal in romance stories is bringing two people together, in love.

Thank you very much for taking the time with us and answering our questions. I really appreciate this interruption to your busy schedule. Good Luck, and we will be looking forward to the next delightful creation from your talented imagination!

Yours in good reading,
Rose!

Betty Jo Schuler Her other Website Betty Jo's MySpace Find her on Books We Love And at Author's Den Email Betty Jo Her Publisher Page
Buy Winning Chance At Whiskey Creek
Buy Books at Whiskey Creek Press