Romance at Heart Magazine Author Interview: Ginger Simpson

Interview With Ginger Simpson:

Hi Ginger and welcome! The Interview session is where we dig for all the interesting answers to all the nosey questions we love to ask our favourite authors. We love to hear what you have done, and what you are doing, so if you don't mind...here come the questions!

- Please tell us about your latest book.

**Prairie Peace is my latest and FIRST book. It's a historical romance set in the 1860s and, of course, since I am in love with novels about American Indians and the old west, I had to add a handsome Sioux brave as one of my heros. I'm very pleased with it as a first effort and my reviews so far have been great. I have Cindy Vallar, my valued editor to thank for all her contributions to make it what it is.

- What can we expect from you in the future?

**I have a second with Wings, this one a time-travel romance entitled, Sisters in Time. I learned a lot from my first attempt so I think this one is much more polished. I love the story line, and here again, I have incorporated something to do with the old west. Without giving away any secrets, I'll just say it's about two women--one in the 1860s and one in 2002. They are both victims of an unfortunate accident and end up switching souls, ending up in each other's body and time period. I hope everyone will want to read it.

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

**I have my own web sitegingersimpson.com> where I keep readers up-dated on what's going on. I also just started a monthly newsletter at http://www.authorsden.com and I already have a whooping four people signed up.

- How may readers contact you?

**They can always visit my web site and contact me from there. My email address is posted.

- How many readers contact you?

**can honestly say that I have received several emails from people who have read Prairie Peace and tell me they just couldn't put it down until they were done. That's something every author loves to here.

- Do your fans' comments and letters influence you in any way?

**I really haven't had enough to say, but I do ask everyone who reads the book to let me know their feelings so I can incorporate improvements in future publications.

- Do you have a favorite comment or question from a reader?

**It's not from a reader, but I had it on my email signature line before I changed it to all my author info..."Life is an attitude...have a good one." I definitely try too...

- Why did you decide to write romance novels?

**I've been an avid reader of historical romance for years. I've pretty much read everything with the word "savage" in it. I just decided I wanted to give it a try.

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

**I don't think Prairie Peace or Sister's in Time relate to any life experiences except the time period about which I love to read. I recently signed a contract with Publish America, despite the fact that they are on the "Peditator and Editor" warning list. They are publishing my humorous novel, "Life is a Bowl of Toilets and I Clean Them," next year. That book is all about me and life experiences.

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

**I just sat down at a borrowed laptop one day and started telling myself a story. I just kept going because I couldn't wait to see what was going to happen next. I submitted it just to see if, by chance, I might suceed in getting published.

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

**It took me one year to complete Prairie Peace and the editing took almost that much longer.

- What is your writing routine?

**I just recently retired after 24 years at a university. I did that so I can devote more time to writing. It was hard to balance writing and working full-time.

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

**I flow whenever I am feeling creative. If the words won't come, I don't push it because it wouldn't be my best effort.

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

**Up until recently there has only been my husband, and he's a workaholic. While he spent time outside, I wrote. Now, we've moved in with my son and his family (three children). Ask me again in a few months and I'll let you know how it's going. *laughing*

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

**Sleep

- Where do your ideas come from?

**I have no idea. They just come. I've wondered about that myself.

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

**Of course. Life has to have humor. That's how I've gotten through the most trying times in my life. If you can't find something to laugh about, then you really have problems.

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

**I DO! I guess it's because I've never felt very sensual because of my weight. It's hard to write about touching and caressing...I keep thinking about my rolls and cellulite. *lol*

- What kind of research do you do?

**I used a lot of reference books about the Sioux Indians to make sure my facts were accurate. Of course, since I'm sure I was an Indian in another life, I already knew quite a bit.

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

**No, I love what I'm writing!

- What does your husband/wife think of your writing?

**My husband is my biggest fan. He keeps a stash of my business cards in his wallet and has even walked up to complete strangers and asked them if they like to read romance. Everyone from his dentist, to his eye doctor and his medical doctor and all their staff have my cards, plus he just sold 12 books at work. I have a hard time promoting myself, so it's nice to have him do it for me.

- Do you ever ask him/her for advice?

**Never! My husband is the king of "left-handed" compliments. When we were dating, he told me he usually didn't date women with thighs as big as mine. This was in the middle of a conversation that had nothing to do with thighs or size. I always have to analyze what he says to make sure it's what he really means. He's a love though...just not tactful!

- Who are some of your favorite authors?

**Suddenly my favorite authors have become people about whom I've just learned. Tricia McGill, Catherine Snodgrass, Sherry Wille...all e published and fabulous writers. There are tons more, but it would take too much room to list them all.

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

**belong to Rio Reviewers and review romance for two different sites...Romance Studio and Timeless Tales. I review under an alias.

- What do you think of critique groups in general?

**I don't put much store in them because everyone has an opinion. Part of my job at the university was assisting in writing publications to encourage admissions. I found when you circulate drafts for suggestions, people tend to change the writing style to their own and not really change the content or meaning. I want my books to be my work.

- Where do you see yourself in five years?

**Hopefully published by a big publisher so when I go into stores, I can see my books on the shelves along with the other great authors.

- Any words of encouragement for unpublished writers?

Keep on writing.
Enter contests because you get great feedback, and subscribe to author's or potential authors listservs even if all you do is lurk. You learn a lot.

- What question would you love to answer that I didn't ask?

**Boy, I can't think of anything you didn't ask me!

Ginger, Thank you so much for taking the time to give us this delightful interview, to go along with the review of Prairie Peace. You do realize that now we shall be looking for much more from you as well??
Thanks Again, Ginger.

Yours in good reading,
Rose!

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