Romance at Heart Magazine Author Interview: Kate Loveday

Interview with Kate Loveday:

Hi Kate. 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.

Inheritance is a contemporary romance/mystery, the story of Cassie Taylor, a young Sydney girl who inherits Yallandoo, a cattle station in the tropical far north of Australia. Looking to generate extra income in a time of drought she decides to build tourist cabins in the beautiful rainforest on the property. This brings unexpected opposition, from someone who will stop at nothing to foil her plans.

When her cabins are burnt and she receives threatening letters, Cassie is fearful that everything she holds dear will be destroyed.

But who could be responsible? Could it be someone among the staff who run the station? Or the men working on the cabins? Or Mark, the dashing neighbour who woos her and wins her love? And is he really interested in her - or Yallandoo? And why is the aboriginal heritage on the property of such interest to Stella, the gallery owner who has set her sights on Mark?

It seems the only person she can trust is Rosie, her life-long friend, who faces her own dilemmas. The two young women must undergo many ordeals before achieving success and happiness.

- What can we expect from you in the future?

I am currently working on an historical book set in the 1870's., provisionally titled 'Red Gold'.

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

You can find out all about me and my books on my web site at www.kateloveday.com

- How may readers contact you?

Readers can contact me at my email address lovedaykate@yahoo.com. The address is also on my website.

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

I love to receive feedback from my fans. It is great to hear if they enjoyed reading my story and equally I would be pleased to hear if there was anything they did not enjoy. I can always learn for the future!

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

Yes. One of my characters in Inheritance is a nasty piece of work, willing to do anything for a dollar, and he comes to a particularly horrible end. I loved to hear one reader say, "I'm glad that slimy guy got his just desserts."

- Why did you decide to write romance novels?

I don't know that I made a conscious decision to write romance; I set out to write a story and the romance just appeared in it!

- How would you describe the genre in which you do most of your writing?

As romance with other issues as well as the resolution of the conflict between the hero and heroine.

- What motivated you to start writing in this genre?

I don't like to read a story without some romance in it, and so I don't think I would ever be able to write one. After all, the need for love is one of our most basic instincts.

- What are your main concerns as a writer?

I just want to write a good story that people enjoy, with characters and situations that captivate the reader. If I can manage to touch the heart in some way then I will be more than happy.

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

Very much.

- What would you say are the biggest challenges that you face?

Forcing myself to overlook other things that require my attention, leaving them until later and concentrating on the job of writing.

- How do you deal with these challenges?

I am still trying to learn to let go and do what I want – write!

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

I think I always wanted to write but I let life get in the way. Raising a family and helping in a family business never seemed to leave enough time. Once I had completed my first ms it became a compulsion to find a publisher.

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

About five or six months for the first draft, then as many months as it takes to polish it to a stage where I am happy with it.

- What is your writing routine once you start a book?

I start as early as possible in the day and then keep going until I run out of time.

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

I read, listen to music, walk in the bushland near my home, sit and look out over the nearby river, or take a day off and go somewhere pleasant for a drive and a meal with my husband Peter.

- Where do your ideas come from?

They can come from anywhere, a news item, an article, a location. I am a 'people watcher' and I think 'what if?'

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

I think a love scene adds an extra dimension to a book if it is a natural flow-on in the story. I don't find them difficult but they do require careful attention to detail and I find I do much rewriting of the scene to get it just right.

- What kind of research do you do?

I do lots of research whenever necessary, both on the internet and in reference books. I want all the details to be correct.

- What does your husband think of your writing?

My husband Peter is very supportive of my writing.

- Do you ever ask him/her for advice?

I will ask him for constructive criticism if I am not sure about a passage.

- Fill in the blank favorites –

Dessert - ice cream
City - Sydney, Australia
Season - Autumn (Fall)
Type of hero - Strong but sensitive and compassionate, with a sense of humour
Type of heroine - Emotionally strong, able to fight against adversity, feminine, caring

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

Penny Vincenzi, Kate Tremayne, Cathy Kelly, Tamara McKinley, Judy Nunn, Anita Burgh, Nora Roberts, Patricia Shaw, Lynda La Plante.

- Who, if anyone, has influenced your writing?

Probably all of the above.

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

Romance Writers of Australia. Mid North Coast Writers Association. Scribblers group of Taree.

- What do you think of critique groups in general?

Very helpful.

- Where do you see yourself in five years?

Still writing and hopefully with several more books published.

- What will your next book be about?

'Red Gold' is about Kitty Morland, a young lady living in England in 1873, whose pleasant world is shattered when her father loses all his money due to an unscrupulous swindle. Unable to cope with a future of poverty, he takes his own life, leaving his wife Bella, son Robert and Kitty to fend for themselves.

In a moment of weakness Kitty steals from her employer, something to which she believes she has a moral right. Desperate to avoid gaol - or worse - she and her mother flee to Australia, hoping to join Robert, who is already there. But it seems that the consequences of her actions will follow her.

On board the ship carrying her to the other side of the world Kitty meets three men who will influence her future – Jan van Mayen, a South African diamond merchant, Rufe Cavanagh, a dashing Colonial, and William Barron, an English aristocrat.

When they reach Sydney, nothing goes as Kitty expects, and she ends up bypassing a chance at love and happiness with Rufe. A loveless marriage to William takes her and Bella to the timber cutting area of Bulahdelah, home to the giant cedar trees, known as 'red gold'.

But just when she seems safe, her past catches up with her.

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

Mostly the setting, an idea, and then the characters.

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

They control me.

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

Yes. I walk away from it, literally; take the dog for a walk or do something unrelated to writing.

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

Having someone tell me they loved my story.

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

Feeling miserable!

- Are there any words of encouragement for unpublished writers?

Keep writing and never stop believing in yourself.

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!

Kate Loveday Review Coming Soon
Kate Loveday's MySpace Buy Kate's Books At Amazon

Buy Inheritance at Wings ePress