Romance at Heart Magazine Author Interview: Dawn Rachel Carrington

Interview with Dawn Rachel Carrington:

Hi Dawn. Thank you for Updating this interview and getting us up to speed with what is happening in your life. I would like to welcome you again to the Romance at Heart Interview and Author Grilling session. *bg* We are interested to find out as much about you that is brand new as we possibly can, so lets get started...

- Please tell us about your latest book.

On October 20th, Forbidden Publications will release the e-book version of With Love from Sam . This is my award-winning novel which was released in hardback last year.

On October 31st, Ellora's Cave< will release the White Hot Holidays anthologies, and my holiday quickie, Long Hard Winter, is included. It’s about an ancient wizard with a chip on his shoulder and a lady who is on a mission to save him from self-destruction.

In November of this year, Forbidden Publications will release a different kind of story I’ve written entitled, “Not Her Mr. Right.” This is a straight contemporary romance with a full-figured heroine and bike-riding hero who has to convince her he’s the man for her.

On December 5, 2006, Samhain Publishing will release “Burning Reflections” which is a romantic suspense novel about a high-powered attorney who garners the attention of an obsessive colleague. Surviving a vicious attack, she knows only one person can protect her…her ex-husband.

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

Readers can go to my website at www.dawnrachel.com or my blog at www.rachelcarrington.blogspot.com. I try to keep both of them updated frequently. I also blog every Saturday at www.moongladeeliteauthors.com as I’m a member of this wonderful group of authors.

- How may readers contact you?

My e-mail address is: rachelcarrington@moongladeeliteauthors.com

- Who are some of your other favorite authors to read?

I have so many, but here’s a short list: Christine Feehan, Cathryn Fox, Michelle Rowen, Jan Springer, Liddy Midnight, Deb Curwen, and Karen Marie Moning. I’m constantly on the lookout for new authors to read. There’s nothing quite like discovering a brand new gem!

- Who, if anyone, has influenced your writing?

Mostly, my writing has been influenced by my friends. I have been very fortunate to be blessed with people who believe in my writing and believe in me. I’ve also recently joined Moonglade Elite Authors which was started by M.L. Benton who is also my Webmistress. She has been very influential in helping promote me, worrying about my health and whether or not I’m taking care of myself, and encouraging me to not worry about the small stuff. And the other five authors who are also members of MEA: Jan Springer, Liddy Midnight, Cathryn Fox, Ann Cory, and Emery LaRue. We’ve all become a small family, and it’s great to have that extra support.

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

I’ve written well over seventy-five books, about forty of which have been published, although some of those are out of print now.

- After you've written your book and it's been published, do you ever buy it and/or read it?

No, not usually. I will sometimes flip through to certain scenes to make sure I’m not being repetitive on my new work.

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

The characters. I can take a heroine who is a trained assassin and build a complete story around what she does. To me, it’s harder to create a setting first because then I have to mold the characters to shape the story. My brain just doesn’t work that way, unfortunately!

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

I’ve always been an ambitious person, and I think the desire to succeed, to achieve every dream, whether that’s realistic or not, is what motivates me to keep trying. I’ve never been the type of person to need someone or something in particular to motivate me. I find motivation in every day life, especially when the troubles hit.

As far as in my writing, it goes back to that desire to succeed and to give my readers the best book they can buy. I have a lot of people now telling me they can’t wait to read my next book or they’re anxiously waiting to see what I’m writing next. That is motivational. To know someone truly likes what you do is powerful.

- What is the most rewarding thing about being a writer?

Knowing that I can create stories which can transport a reader away to another world, take them away from their worries for even an hour is my reward. I love hearing from my readers that they couldn’t put the book down. That tells me I’ve done my job.

- If you weren't writing, what would you be doing?

I probably would have gone on to law school. I spent eighteen years as a paralegal, and I enjoy most every facet of the law. I love to learn, and in the legal field, you’re constantly learning.

- Are there any words of encouragement for unpublished writers?

This is another question I get asked a lot, but I never tire of answering it because I remember all too well what it’s like to be an unpublished author. You’re struggling to understand the market, the rejections and the envy of everyone else’s success.

The best advice I can give is move at your own pace. Don’t compare how fast you write or how you write to anyone else. Just focus on writing the best novel you can. And don’t try to fit in with a genre you don’t like. Just because paranormal romances sell well doesn’t mean you have to force yourself to write one if that’s not what you like. You should know your limitations as well as your abilities. Enhance what you have and make the best of it!

Also, I know unpublished authors have been told “Don’t give up,” and it’s true. However, no one seems to tell aspiring authors how not to give up, especially after that umpteenth rejection. You have to get to a place where your belief in your talent is stronger than the naysayers. If you don’t reach that peak, it will come through in your writing. Be positive, be faithful to your writing and most of all, be aggressive. One rejection doesn’t make you a lousy writer any more than fifteen do. As I just read on one of my writing boards, keep the rejection letters to prove to the IRS that you are, indeed, a writer. But keep the spirit of a writer burning inside of you at all times. Always, always, always, think of yourself as a writer and eventually, the world will see it too.

Thanks for the great questions, Rose!

Thank you for the answers, Dawn, and thanks very much for taking the time for us. I really appreciate this interruption to your busy schedule. Good Luck, and we will be looking forward to the next delightful creations from your talented imagination! Please keep us informed as to what is coming next.

Yours in good reading,
Rose!

Dawn Rachel's Website Dawn's Author/Blog Group
Buy (Dawn) Rachel's Books At Amazon
Buy Rachel's Books at Ellora's Cave
Rachel's Books at Forbidden Publications Coming Soon
Rachel's Books at Samhain Publishing Coming Soon
Buy Rachel's Books at Loose-Id