Romance at Heart Magazine Author Interview: Cheyenne McCray

Interview with Cheyenne McCray:

Hi Cheyenne. Thank you for doing this interview. I am glad we finally found the time to get this done. 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.

Forbidden Magic is due to hit stores the beginning of December.

D’Anu witch Silver Ashcroft knows she walks a perilous line by practicing gray magic. But it’s the only way to protect herself from the evil that surrounds her. After the horrors she has witnessed, Silver thinks she is ready for anything…until the most intensely arousing being she has ever encountered swiftly—and sensuously—proves her wrong.

Hawk is a Tuatha D’Danann warrior—powerful beings descended from the Fae. And for him duty has always come before pleasure. Then, clad only in moonlight, Silver Ashcroft welcomes him to her city of San Francisco and makes his blood sing with a passion beyond compare. But the terrifying reality of his mission lurks in every shadow.

Only the strongest will survive the upcoming battle, and the forces of darkness are more powerful than ever. Now, warrior and witch must trust in their hearts above all else—for to claim victory, they must first claim each other.

- What can we expect from you in the future?

Seduced by Magic, The sequel to Forbidden Magic, will be released with St. Martin’s Press in 2006.

I also have two contemporary suspense erotic romances contracted with St. Martin’s Press.

In addition I’m co-authoring the Return to Wonderland series with Mackenzie McKade. The second and third books in that series should be out in 2006.

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

Check out my website at CheyenneMcCray.Com . I have a blog at Cheyenne's Blog and a message board at The Cheyenne McCray Forum

- How may readers contact you?

My e-mail address is chey@cheyennemccray.com. I love to hear from readers!

- How many readers contact you?

It’s hard to say. I get e-mail and snail mail notes regularly, especially after the release of a new book.

- Why did you decide to write romance novels?

I actually started out writing Young Adult novels, which I still write under a pseudonym. While I was writing YA novels, I found that I wanted to explore adult relationships and I was enjoying reading adult romances. I especially enjoyed the ones with a lot of sensuality in them.

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

I think there’s a part of me in every book, or a part of who I was in the past. Sometimes what I put into my heroines is what I would like to be.

- When did you first think about writing and what prompted you to submit your first ms?

It goes back to the time I was in kindergarten and wrote my first poem. Once I started reading, I couldn’t get enough, and I just knew I wanted to write. I wanted to create worlds that readers would get lost in, just like I got lost in the books that I read.

- Generally, how long does it take you to write a book?

It depends on the book, but normally about 10 weeks for a 100K word novel.

- What is your writing routine?

I get the kids off to school by 8:30 and then I usually settle into write from about 9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. while they’re at school.

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

I seem to do better with a schedule. Summers are hard because the boys are home (I have three sons) and I don’t have a regular routine plus there are a lot of interruptions.

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

I have to put up signs (Do not disturb unless there’s blood or fire involved) and lock my office door if I don’t want to be interrupted.

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

I am *SO* not good at relaxing. I’m a workaholic. I swear my fingertips are glued to the computer while I write, handle e-mail, etc.

- What truly motivates you in general? In your writing?

The *need* to write is what motivates me in writing. There’s just so much that wants to come out, that needs to come out.

In general, I’ve always been a highly motivated person. I work hard to do my best I can at everything I tackle.

- Where do your ideas come from?

I take naps. Some of my best story ideas have come from lying down and allowing myself to slip into that point where I’m in that place between being awake and being asleep. I also get ideas from so many other places.

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

Love scenes are my favorite thing to write. I find it easy to write them because the characters drive the type of scene I’m writing. They tell me what they’re going to do.

These were such good questions, I could just keep going! Thanks so much for having me at Romance at Heart.

Thank you very much Cheyenne 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 delightful creation in December from your talented imagination and St. Martin's Press!

Yours in good reading,
Rose!

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