Romance at Heart Magazine Author Interview: Iris Ames

Interview with Iris Ames:

Hi Iris. Thank you for doing this interview for RAH. 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.

"Building Suspicions" is about a young woman who feels her life being taken over by her socialite mother and controlling fiance. She retreats to the farm her grandmother left her in upstate New York to think about what she really wants. There she rekindles her close friendship with a cousin she has missed, re-discovers a man she once loved as a girl and stumbles onto a murder that has the whole town scrambling for answers.

- What can we expect from you in the future?

I just finished another mystery adventure, called "Bearly Controlled Enthusiasm," about a zoo vet who uses his knowledge of animals and people to solve some mysterious happenings in the animal and human community.

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

My Website is www.irisames.com.

- How may readers contact you?

They can write to me at iris_ames@yahoo.com

- Why did you decide to write romance novels??? How much of your personality and life experiences are in your writing?

I cannot help put my irreverent, self-deprecating voice into my characters. I also set my books in places I a familiar with, because I think good background information grounds a book and makes it ring true.?? I didn't choose to write romance as such. This story was just inside my head and when it got out onto paper it was romance. And it was fun to write!

- Do you have a set schedule for writing or do you just go with the flow? What is your writing routine once you start a book?

I have a definite pattern. I get up early, walk 5 miles, then sit and write for several hours. By 3 pm I am fried and move on to other things for the day. I try to do this everyday, seven days a week. Because I am also an illustrator, some days I take a break from writing and draw instead!

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

They do bother me and I will stop if they need me for short breaks. But mostly they are independent now and know by late afternoon I will be available for their needs. As silly as this sounds, I often will go from writing to baking them cookies or cooking an elaborate Indian feast. It's a good way to wind down from writing. Gets me back to my home planet.

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

I hike. Sometimes on back, country roads and sometimes up mountain trails - about 30 miles a week. I have several girlfriends who I drag along. Otherwise I could never sit still long enough to write a thing. I also have a banged up aluminum canoe and will take it onto the river behind my house (with my husband) and go for a paddle.

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

I am moved by the thought of people over coming their insecurities and finding the heart of their strength - maybe because I struggle with this myself. All of my novels seem to come back to this - finding your true self and being brave enough to be that person. Once a story starts to unwind in my head it sort of takes on a life of its own. I don't even feel like I have complete control of it after a while. It almost writes itself.

- Where do your ideas come from?

I get ideas from thing that happen in the news, local history, life experiences or even dreams. There are so many stories out there yet to woven!

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

Yes, I love humor in literature or in anything. If we couldn't laugh at life's ironies we would be in a sad state of affairs!

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

I love to write love scenes. I am a romantic after all! My biggest problem is not making them too intimate for a general audience. How do you express intimate love without describing sex? Suggesting sex can often be even more erotic than describing it - so perhaps that is my goal - to find that perfect medium place. Sometimes I just write about the sex anyway - sex is intense and wonderful and really fun, hopefully my writing brings that across.

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

I am writing YA novels too. I like this genre a lot. The books still need to be well written, but they require a fast pace and often quick resolution. I like the challenge of this.

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

My sons are both in college (youngest graduated just this spring). We live in the country and have always enjoyed the things that go along with that lifestyle. We climb peaks, canoe rivers, ski and snowshoe. But I admit to come home afterward and be able to sit and write makes me feel truly blessed. I love this lifestyle. Every season has its beauty and activities, but I can always come home afterward and write. My favorite dessert? Anything with chocolate of course.

- Do you have a favorite author? Favorite book? Who are some of your other favorite authors to read??? Who, if anyone, has influenced your writing?

I admit that I am a fan of women authors. I love Margaret Atwood, Marge Piercy, Nancy Kress, Marian Zimmer Bradley, Nancy Farmer, Jane Smiley, Audrey Niffenegger. Julia Alvarez, Anya Seton etc. Not that there are no great males writers of course, but my favorite books are written by women.

Some of my favorite books are... The Mists of Avalon (Marian Zimmer Bradley), Time Travelers Wife (Audrey Niffenegger), The Handmaiden's Tale (Margaret Atwood), 1000 Acres (Jane Smiley), Time of the Butterflies (Julia Alvarez), Katherine (Anya Seton), 100 Years of Solitude (Gabriel Garcia Marquez), This Perfect Day (Ira Levin).

- Are there any words of encouragement for unpublished writers?

Keep writing, keep submitting. Surrender is not an option!

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!

Iris Ames Bio Interview Review Coming Soon
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