Romance at Heart Magazine Author Interview: C.J. Barry

Interview with C.J. Barry:

Hello, C.J and welcome to the grilling session of Romance at Heart. We are a well meaning bunch here, and we are always hungry to hear about the wonderful authors in the romance world. You have a series of wonderful out of this world romances, UN-rivaled when it comes to action/adventure romance. We really want to hear more so lets go, ok?

- Please tell us about your latest book.

Unearthed is a cross between Star Wars and Indiana Jones with lots of action, adventure, humor and romance.

Life on Earth was just getting interesting for Tess MacKenzie. She’d postponed her singing career to support the family business and after eight long years, she finally earned her chance to shine. Her band was hot, her songs were rocking and Tess was on her way to becoming a star. Things were definitely looking up.

That is until Cohl Travers, alien extraordinaire, swoops out of the night sky and snatches her off her planet. When he says he desperately needs her voice for a dangerous cosmic mission and the fate of two planets hangs on her song, she figures one of them is in for some serious therapy. Tess soon finds herself up to her neck in smelly bad guys, a robot with a superiority complex, an ancient Amulet that could end her singing career permanently and a man who can burn her from the inside out.

Cohl Travers thought he was free and clear of his destiny to become the next ruler of his planet. But when the warring Trakas abduct his father and hold him hostage for the Amulet, Cohl is dragged back to a fate he does not want with a woman he cannot ignore. Together, they might defeat the Trakas – but what is Cohl supposed to do about the feelings that Tess has unearthed in him?

- What can we expect from you in the future?

All futuristics, all the time. LOL They are my passion and I will keep writing them as long as the publishers are willing to buy them. Unearthed is the first book in a four-book series followed by Unraveled, Unleashed and Unmasked. Its not necessary to read them in order but some of the characters appear in each other’s books.

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

The best way is to check my website atcjbarry.com. I update it almost daily. You can also read about my books through my publishers,Dorchester Publishing and www.newconceptspublishing.com.

- How may readers contact you?

email@cjbarry.com Reader email is simply the best and I answer every one.

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

All my characters have parts of them that I can identify with. So I guess that they do have bits and pieces of my personality. Maybe even the villains. As for life experiences, probably not so much since most of mine are in space. However, Tess’s singing background came from my family. There are snippets of my life in each one, maybe a memory or an incident.

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

About a year. The writing part doesn’t take me very long but getting the story nice and tight like I want it does.

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

When I’m working on the first draft, I shoot for 20 pages a week. That doesn’t always happen but at least it keeps me pushing forward. I work from a rough outline that changes constantly, much to my dismay. After first draft, I take a short break and then dive into revisions. The entire process is pretty fluid.

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

Absolutely. Its how we get through life. It keeps us balanced. If you can’t laugh at the crazy things that happen, then it’s a long haul through the years.

- What kind of research do you do?

As much as possible. I really love research and history in particular. History is more amazing than fiction.

- Please tell us about yourself (family, hobbies, education, etc.)

I have a wonderful husband and two children ages 9 and 11. My hobbies include gardening and entertaining friends and family. My day job is as an Information Technology Manager—I run the computer department for a plastics manufacturer in Central New York. I get to see some new technologies and cool gadgets as they emerge. I have a degree in Computer Science and know several programming languages. I develop software applications, support a large ERP system and handle tech support for our servers and pcs. Does that sound exciting or what?

- Are you a member of any author groups - RWA, critique groups, etc.?

I am the Vice President of the Central New York Romance writers and a member of RWA. I belong to a terrific local critique group. I am a member of the Fantasy, Futuristic & Paranormal chapter, the PASIC chapter and PAN.

- How long have you been writing - have you always wanted to be a writer?

I started writing novels on June 8, 1998. I remember the exact day I made the commitment. I’m not sure I always wanted to be a writer but I do know that I’ve always had stories flowing through my head. Most of them would play like movies and as a result, my books tend to read like movies and I am a visual writer.

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

I have written four to date and sold them all. I’ve been really fortunate.
My schedule is:

UNCHAINED – futuristic ~ single-title ~ www.conceptspublishing.com ~ available now
UNEARTHED – futuristic ~ book #1 ~ Dorchester Publishing ~ available now
UNRAVELED – futuristic ~ book #2 ~ Dorchester Publishing ~ available Sept 30, 2003
UNLEASHED – futuristic ~ book #3 ~ Dorchester Publishing ~ available 2004
UNMASKED – futuristic ~ book #4 ~ Dorchester Publishing ~ available 2005

- Among your own books, have you a favorite book? Favorite hero or heroine?

That’s like asking which one of my children I like best. LOL Each book has its own personality and I’m proud of in different ways. I guess they are like children in that sense and of course, I love them all.

- What book for you has been the easiest to write? The hardest? The most fun?

Unearthed was both the easiest and the most fun. However, it also needed the most revisions. Unraveled was the hardest emotionally. Unleashed, my current WIP, is going to be hard too but it probably just feels that way because I’m still in the trenches.

- What is the hardest part of writing/the easiest?

The easiest part is the action/adventure stuff. I could write that all day. The hard part is the human side—the emotional risk. Sometimes I take it very personally and wind up crying at my computer. It just takes a lot out of me.

- Are you in control of your characters or do they control you?

Some days I win and some days they win. LOL I do try to control them but eventually I realize that they need to be who they are and the book needs to be what its supposed to be, whether or not I agree. But somehow in the end, it works out okay.

- Any words of encouragement for unpublished writers?

Never give up, never surrender. Oh and invest in an extensive wine cellar!

Thank you very much C.J., for taking the time with us and answering our questions. I really appreciate this interruption to busy schedule. Good Luck, and we will be looking forward to the next delightful creation in the "Un-Earthly Love" series! lol!

Yours in good reading,
Rose!

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