Interview with Katie MacAlister:
Hellol Katie, and welcome to Romance at Heart and the Grilling of the Author session! lol I hope you are readiy to dish up some tasty morsels for us, as we are ever wanting to know what is going on in the author's lives...
- Please tell us about your latest book.
My latest book is A Girl's Guide to Vampires, which came out in November 2003. It's the first in a loosely connected series, and my first paranormal, so I'm very excited to see it out.
- What can we expect from you in the future?
Oodles of books! I have seven books coming out next year, and my 2005 schedule is starting to fill up. Because I write so many different types of books-contemporary, historical, paranormal, and young adult romances, as well as paranormal thrillers-I tend to have a number of books out each year. I'm not complaining, but it does keep me busy!
- How do we find out about you and your books?
I have excerpts and details up on my website at www.katiemacalister.com I welcome comments from readers, as well as limericks, dishy guy photos, and kilt jokes. J
- How may readers contact you?
Readers can reach me at Katie MacAlister or via snail mail at:
Katie MacAlister
c/o Three Seas Literary Agency
PO Box 8571
Madison, WI 53708.
- How many readers contact you?
It depends on whether or not a book has just hit the shelves. Normally I get a few e-mails a day, but it goes up to double digits when a new book is out. I love hearing from readers, and make sure I answer each letter, although sometimes I'm a bit slow in answering.
- Do your fans' comments and letters influence you in any way?
They don't influence the way I write, although I do listen to what my readers say they enjoy, and I am susceptible to writing a book if readers plead for a character to have his or her story told. J
- Do you have a favorite comment or question from a reader?
I think the comments I cherish the most are the ones from readers who tell me I've made them laugh out loud. As someone who appreciates the value of humor-and how hard it can be to tickle a person's funny bone-it means a lot to me to know my books are giving people enjoyment.
- Why did you decide to write romance novels?
I fell in love with the genre because the books are so satisfying. Who doesn't want to be in love? The power of love is an amazing thing, and I don't think we can have too much of it in our lives. Even my non-romances have romantic elements in it simply because I think it's such an important part of life.
- How much of your personality and life experiences are in your writing?
That depends on the book. There have been a couple of books with a bit more of me in them than others, but I think even the characters I deliberately write to be different than me end up having some sort of a connection, even if it's fairly negligible.
- When did you first think about writing and what prompted you to submit your first ms?
I wrote my first novel as a direct result of finishing my first non-fiction book. I wanted to write something fun, and decided I'd write a novel. I had no idea what I was doing, but having been a life-long reader, managed to pull together a book that pleased a small press. After that taste of literary success, I started writing seriously, devoting my time to writing romance.
- Generally, how long does it take you to write a book?
I'm a pretty quick writer. It takes me anywhere from four to six weeks to write a 100,000 word novel. Some take less time, others take a little longer, but generally it takes me a month to six weeks to get one done.
- What is your writing routine?
I'm a morning person, so I end up writing in the morning, and am usually finished by one or two in the afternoon. When I'm on deadline (which is almost always), I write six or seven days a week until the book is done, then I go into recovery for a month or so. I love that time. I get to loll around and read like mad. J
- Do you have a set schedule for writing or do you just go with the flow ?
When I'm on deadline I have a set goal I have to reach each day before I can stop writing and play around, answer e-mail, etc. Usually that goal is 3,000 words a day (about twelve pages), so it's not too hard for me to get it done by lunchtime.
- What about your family, do they know not to bother you when you are writing - or are there constant interruptions?
I seldom write when my husband is home because he is a distraction, even when he's trying not to be. But for those times I do have to write, I just slap the old headphones on, pop a CD into the computer, and drown out the sound of the TV.
- What do you do to relax and recharge your batteries?
Read, drool over Colin Firth, watch Buffy and Angel DVDs, and occasionally get out to have lunch with my friends. Just not having to write is usually enough relaxation that I don't have to do much else to have fun.
- Do you feel humour is important in women's fiction and why?
I'm very big on humor, since I write romantic comedies. I'm one of those people who thinks it's important to laugh, and I tend to see humor in situations that some people might not. For that reason, I enjoy reading and writing books with humor in them.
- What are your thoughts on love scenes in romance novels, do you find them difficult to write?
I did find it difficult for my first book, but after that, I was a love-scene-writin' fiend. The number and intensity of love scenes per book really depends on the characters. They drive the book, so I tend to let them have their heads with regards to love scenes. Um. Pun not intended. J
- What kind of research do you do?
I'm a research junky, so I tend to do more research than I really need. I use lots of primary sources for the historicals, and dally around online looking for info needed on the contemporary books.
- Would you like to write a different genre than you do now, or sub-genre?
I write historical, contemporary, paranormal, and YA romances, historical mysteries, and paranormal thrillers-I don't think there's much left that I haven't written!
The one type of book that I'd love to write, but know I never will is a dark, brooding book with a dark, brooding hero.
- What does your husband/wife think of your writing?
My husband is very supportive, and always pleased when I have a success to share. He does a lot to promote me to the people at work, and also does his part to clue people in to the real world of authors.
- Fill in the blank favorites - Dessert. City. Season. Type of hero. Type of heroine.
Dessert: Any form of chocolate
City: London
Season: Summer
Type of hero: alpha (the more alpha, the better)
Type of heroine: intelligent and gutsy
- What are some of your favorite things to do?
I don’t have many hobbies that aren’t book related, but I do like to embroider, watch movies with my husband and hounds, and visit with my friends.
- Do you have a favorite author?
Christine Feehan, Roberta Gellis, Christine Dodd, Carla Kelly, Amanda Quick, Agatha Christie, Jim Butcher, Laurell K. Hamilton, Elizabeth Peters, and Arthur Conan Doyle.
- Who, if anyone, has influenced your writing? p
I read from a very early age, so honestly, probably everyone influenced me by making me such a die hard reader. It was because I loved books so much that I wanted to tell my own stories, but no one person has really influenced me.
- Are you a member of any author groups - RWA, critique groups, etc.?
I’m a member of the RWA, and Novelists, Inc. I don’t have a critique group, but have a critique partner whom I adore.
- What do you think of critique groups in general?
I think critique partners can be very helpful in seeing something that you’re too close to see yourself. Critique groups can also be good, although I couldn’t work in a committee-like environment. I know others do, and quite successfully, so I think the important point is to find out what works best with you, and go with that.
- Where do you see yourself in five years?
Hopefully still sane, given my deadlines.
That’s a hard one to answer! The best answer I can give is that I hope my career will have grown accordingly, and I’ll be able to cut back on the number of books I write each year so I can enjoy time with my family.
- How long have you been writing - have you always wanted to be a writer?
I didn’t start writing until 1999. I never had the urge to be a writer until that time—before that I was just a voracious reader.
- How many books have you written, how many have been published?
I just finished my eighteenth novel. My November 2003 release, A Girl’s Guide to Vampires, is my seventh published novel; I have seven scheduled for release in 2004, and probably six or seven in 2005. All told I’ve sold twenty-four books in the last two and half years, so I still have a lot more to write.
- After you've written your book and it's been published, do you ever buy it and read it?
I usually order one copy from B&N.com just so I know when the book is shipping (sometimes they ship before street date). My publishers send me enough author copies that I don’t need to buy them, so that’s usually the only one I purchase. Some books I skim through to make sure changes on the galleys were made, others I just tuck away in my bookshelf.
- Among your own books, have you a favorite book? Favorite hero or heroine?
My favorite book changes as I write new ones, but right now my favorite is the upcoming (March 2003) Sex and the Single Vampire. I wrote the heroine Christian just for me, but I’m willing to share him with readers.
- What book for you has been the easiest to write? The hardest? The most fun?
Hands down, the paranormals are the easiest, fastest, and most fun to write. I think it’s because I’m creating a whole new world, rather than working within a setting of reality as is necessary with the contemporaries and historicals. The historicals are always more difficult to write because I not only have to be aware of language and anachronisms, but also because the characters have to act in a believable manner for the time period, and I can’t slip in modern sensibilities.
- Which comes first, the story, the characters or the setting?
Usually I get an idea of a setting, and the characters come after that. Some stories start with the characters, and the setting and plot follow. I write character-driven stories, so the plot is always generated last, since the characters determine what the plot will be.
- What are the elements of a great romance for you?
The hardest part of writing anything for me is always the first draft. I detest writing a first draft. I love to edit, however, and usually can’t wait to get at a first draft I’ve let “ferment” for a bit. Editing is a piece of cake, but writing that first draft…gah!
- What is the hardest part of writing/the easiest?
I am very much a puppet to my characters. Oh, I start out telling them I’m in charge, and explaining my plans for them, but somewhere along the line they take over and refuse to heed my advice. They like to shock me by disclosing something I had no idea they had/did/wanted. I more or less am just there to type the story they tell me. I live in fear of the day they figure out how to type for themselves. J
- Have you experienced writer's block---> If so, how did you work through it?
I very seldom ever have writer’s block, but when I do, it usually means I haven’t thought enough about the scene I’m trying to write. Once I do that, the block goes away and I’m a happy camper again.
- What is the most rewarding thing about being a writer?
The knowledge that people are receiving pleasure reading the stories I have to tell keeps me going when I think I’m never going to write another book. I love to get letters from readers, and their response to my books is what has me putting my behind in the chair every day. I’m not one of those people who writes because she has to—I write because I like sharing stories.
- If you weren't writing, what would you be doing?
Oooh, another hard question. I’d probably be so desperate for books that I’d end up working at a bookstore or library…and then spend all my time reading. J
- Any words of encouragement for unpublished writers?
Don’t give up! The more you write, the easier it gets, and you can’t possibly sell a book if you don’t keep writing.
It also helps to remember that not everyone is the right person for your writing, so don’t let rejections get you down. Just suck it up, eat chocolate, and move on to the next book.
Thank you again, Katie. I really appreciate you taking the time from your busy schedule to do this for us. Good Luck with A Girl's Guide To Vampires, and we will be looking forward to Sex And The Single Vampire in March.
Yours in good reading,
Rose!
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