Romance at Heart Magazine Author Interview: Joan M. Fox aka Blaise Kilgallen

Interview with Joan M. Fox aka Blaise Kilgallen:

Hi Joan. Thank you for doing this interview. 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

I had two books released recently within days of each other. Both are Regencies -- however, one is “sweet” and the other one is “hot.”

“A Sweeter Revenge,” was released from Wings ePress on September 1st. Here is a short blurb: What do you do when the object of your affection deserts you without a word? Why find a way to get back at him five years later, of course! But do you want revenge or will he find a way to mend your broken heart?

“A Reckless Folly” was released by Liquid Silver Books on August 29th. Not yet wishing to succumb to his aging grandmother’s wishes to marry and sire another heir for Pennyworth’s earldom, Clarance “Rance” Burgoyne lives his life as a footloose, wealthy bachelor. Patience Hartford, a young widow, purchases a permanent residence in London from the proceeds of her husband’s will and decides to acquire a more experienced lover. Rance is ready for a short-lived fling, and so is Patience. But Fate sometimes turns the tables on those who begin a “reckless affair.”

- What can we expect from you in the future?

I have a short novella coming from Liquid Silver Book’s Zodiac anthology in late November (featuring Sagittarius.) The story is titled, “Taking A Chance,” and has a “western, time travel” plot.

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

My website is: blaisekilgallen.com and you can email at two addresses: blaisekilgallen@earthlink.net or joanmfox@earthlink.net.

- Why did you decide to write romance novels?

I loved reading them, so I decided if I’m going to write fiction, I would write romances--historical or contemporary. I would also like to stretch into Romantic Suspense plots, more time travel, and a really scary, dark Gothic Romance! Maybe a vampire plot!

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

I don’t know how many life experiences touch on my stories because I tend to write books from the past, but I’m sure that my own personality filtered into most of the heroine’s attitudes, thoughts, and feelings about life and love.

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

Soon after I got my first computer. I had done writing of other types before -- advertising, direct mail, publicity and public relations blurbs. You’re looking at the early 1990’s. I thought to try my hand at fiction, and since I read mostly romances, I believed I could “knock one of those books out in a very short time.” Oh--how wrong I was! I was rejected all over the place by the New York publishers. I finally found a new publisher who decided to take me on.

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

It depends. My first published book took about 5-6 years! The second one took about a year, I guess. My first “romantica,” took me about a month. It was 50,000 words shorter than the other two, and the story rolled off my fingertips.

- Where do your ideas come from?

I don’t have any problem coming up with ideas. Sometimes, it’s a newspaper article. Sometimes it’s just a “cliché” or a phrase, like “The Plumber’s Helper” book. The problem then, is writing the book around the title.

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

Now that I’m writing more “explicit” books under the name Blaise Kilgallen, I have to write a number of love scenes into my stories. I enjoy writing them. However, I try very hard to make them a little bit different, or at least, give them a new setting, etc. Coming up with an intriguing “spot” to make love is sometimes the difficult part.

- What kind of research do you do?

Not much in my historicals because I’ve read so many of them, that I’m pretty well versed in the Regency Period in England. Contemporaries may need a little more…job related or different locations. I can usually pull up what I need from the Internet -- or I kinda “wing it,” and make up my own town, settings, etc.

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

Yes, as I mentioned above. I want to try my wings with a number of sub-genres. I think, however, I will always be writing a romance within them.

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

As this point in time, whatever I’ve written has been published or been contracted -- nine novels: The Reluctant Duke and Tame My Heart, both of which are now out of print and are making the rounds to strictly e-publishers. Never Let Me Go and A Sweeter Revenge are both “sweet type” Regencies. My “romantica” novels already published are: Wild Knights, The Plumber’s Helper, Carnal Pleasures, A Reckless Affair -- which will soon be followed by “Taking A Chance.”

I also have a contemporary/fantasy under consideration by another e-publisher, so that makes 10 novels I’ve finished writing.

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

I guess Antonio de las Torres Thorndyke, the half-English, half Spanish hero in The Reluctant Duke will always be my favorite. He’s yummy!

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

Wild Knights was the easiest to write. I based the physical characterization of my hero on Evan Marriott who was the first hunk in the Reality TV Show, “Joe Millionaire.” I felt in love with him during those couple of months and wrote him into my story with a different background, etc. What a hottie!

Never Let Me Go was a lot of fun to write because there were so many characters jumping around in that plot. The heroine was rather bumptious and very voluptuous. The hero was mature, a bit staid and shorter then her. I threw in an older couple for a secondary romance, and added childish, mischievous female twins, plus dogs and cats, a secondary “suitor” and of course, a “vile” villain! It was so much fun giving him his comeuppance!

Taking A Chance was the hardest because I had to fit the novella into 15,000 words -- and believe me, I’m very longwinded in my stories. I like to describe things. I guess because I was first and foremost a fine artist. I see pictures in my mind and want my readers to see what I see.

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

I think we work that out together.

- Have you experienced writer's block---> If so, how did you work through it?

Yep! Step away from the book and start writing another one. I have about 7-8 half finished novels on my hard drive…but I will get to them one of these days! By then I’ll have learned a lot more about writing and can look at those plots, where I got stuck, with a fresh eye/mind and probably forge ahead.

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

Sitting back, seeing your editor’s final edit come to fruition, and saying, “Yeah. That came out pretty well.”

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

Probably going nuts! No…probably doing more watercolors. Although I try to paint at least once a week. I do sell my paintings. However, I don’t promote them or myself.

What I would really like is to begin doing some Covers for epublishers. Since I am basically an artist, I love working with graphics. I’m trying to put together a portfolio of sample covers within a variety of genres.

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

I’m just glad I got to the end of this list of questions without having a nervous breakdown.

Thanks, Rose, for interviewing me. And stay well…
Blaise Kilgallen aka Joan M. Fox

Thank you very much Joan 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, and very hot imagination!

Yours in good reading,
Rose!

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