Romance at Heart Magazine Author Interview: Lady Blade

Interview with Lady Blade:

Hi Lady Blade. 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.

My latest book is called, “In the Arms of a Lost Love”.

Stacy Kenley has spent the last 15 years waiting for word about the love of her life, Dylan Phillips. It finally comes and she has no choice but to believe he's failed in his promise to return to her. She must bury him at long last and truly get on with her life...

Or at least she thought she did. A month after his funeral she starts to see him...standing in the rain on the corner...in her bathroom...in her bedroom...in her dreams. But is Dylan real? Or a ghost her fragile imagination has cooked up to hold onto the hope she's had all these years...

Will she be able to go all the way to the other end of the Universe to find out? How far will she go to once again find herself "In the Arms of a Lost Love..."

- What can we expect from you in the future?

I have two more coming from Extasy Books this year. “All in the Name of Love” and “Prophecy of Love”. Both are Contemporary Romances with a twist.

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

You can find all my works listed on my website. www.ladyblade.com

- How may readers contact you?

I love to hear from my readers. They can email me at blade@kcweb.net

- How many readers contact you?

~*Laughs*~ It just depends. I’ve been publishing since July 2003 so over the last year and a half I’d have to say I’ve heard from maybe 100 of my fans?

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

Sometimes. It depends on what they say. If they like me, then I know I’ve done something right. If they don’t, I write them back and want to know why. Though I can honestly say that’s only happened once and the guy was a nutcase…

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

Actually yeah, I do. I got an email from a ‘fan’ in New Zealand or somewhere like that wanting my autograph…totally out of the blue…*laughs*

- Why did you decide to write romance novels?

Well, I played Role Playing Games for a number of years when I was younger and enjoyed them, but there was always something missing in my mind. I have a grand time running about with my characters, shooting things, blowing things up and so on, but there was always an underlying wish to have something more to the story.

I guess that’s what really got me started; adding in that something more. Romance. I love angst and drama, the unexpected twists and turns that life can throw you at any given moment and I try to transfer a bit of that into my writing.

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

Quite a bit actually. I’ve been around, if you will, and held many positions and jobs over the years, the least of which was Military related. Some of that, at least at its most basic core, transfers into my writing. I’ve lived in 14 countries and 30 states over the years and I use quite a bit of that culture and diversity in my work.

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

~*Laughs*~ I was 13. I had a dream one night about Miami Vice and Don Johnson. The next morning I got up, sat down at my dad’s old monstrously green Royal Typewriter and pounded it out. It was HORRIBLE though and while I read it over and over for months after it was finished, I never submitted it anywhere. And I never will…*laughs* I found it the other day in a stack of stuff, read it again knowing what I know now, and it was horrendous.

But then again, I think any writer would tell you the same thing. I might someday, use the premise from that story, but I doubt I’ll ever use that one in particular…*grins*

My first actual submission, “Mansion of Slaves”, just hit me between the eyes one afternoon when I was driving home from work. I sat down at my computer and off we went. Three days later I typed in the last word. Two years later, I found it again, cleaned it up and subbed it to Renebooks…it’s gone from there…*laughs*

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

I just recently had this discussion on one of the many Yahoo Groups I belong too. I power write. That’s the only way I can describe it. A story will hit me between the eyes, usually the first line and off we go. Sometimes it’s days, sometimes a week, but usually I can start and finish one in less than that. It depends on the size and how deeply intone I am with the characters at the time.

Mansion of Slaves was done, unedited in three days. The bulk of The Hostage was complete in four days I think. Mistress was a little over four days because I got interrupted. In the Arms of a Lost Love took me seven because I was working part time. All in the Name of Love was originally written in two and a half days. When I went back and gave it a good cleaning and beef up it was about a week I think. And Prophecy of Love, my longest yet, has taken me a couple of months. But I haven’t been working on it straight just yet.

- What is your writing routine?

Story hits me between the eyes, I sit down and write until I’m finished. That’s the routine really. It’s hard for me, personally, to do it any other way. I really have to be in tune with the characters to get anywhere. Meaning I see what they see in my mind’s eye, read what they read, hear what they hear, feel what they feel and so on. If I can do that, if I can make that connection then the outside world gets put on hold until their story is told. And I mean that literally. I don’t eat, I don’t sleep, and about the only time I get out of my chair is when my body says “HEY, food, bathroom, must move now or we atrophy”…*laughs*

If I don’t’ make that connection however, then I try to work on something at least an hour a day, if not more, depending on what else is going on in my life at the time. But if I get on a spurt then there’s no telling what will come out of my keyboard onto the screen.

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

~*Laughs*~ See above.

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

Oh yes; especially after I growled at my cousin’s husband one morning after being up until 5am the night before writing. He made the mistake of waking me up about 9am and got growled at and then “the finger” in the air. After that morning, he just lets me sleep and wake up in my own time, unless there’s an emergency…*laughs*

My cousin on the other hand is a writer too, so she understands. She knows when the door to my room is closed, I’m working on something in my stable and just to leave me alone…*grins*

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

Usually read, watch a movie, go to the movies. Sometimes I do crafts and/or artwork. It just depends on my mood when I need the break.

- Where do your ideas come from?

Oh you name it. I’ve had ideas come from my Role Playing Game days…I’ve had them come from TV Commercials. I’ll get them driving to work ((An hour and a half commute mind you, so I’ve got time to think)) or driving home at 1am. It just depends. I’ve taken to carrying a laptop and a mini-recorder with me just about everywhere I go, cause I never know when something is going to hit me.

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

Oh definitely. I mean, women have always had the ability to laugh at ourselves and our mistakes and if you can’t then you really need to sit down and evaluate your life and your choices. It’s important to laugh. Laughter eases your stress and makes your life fun again.

One of my favorite authors is Sandra Hill and just for the reason that she makes me laugh out loud, and sometimes at the oddest times. Her characters are a wonderful look at life and love and I think there should be at least a modicum of humor in anything that you do.

Otherwise what’s the point of living? I mean if you can’t laugh at yourself then why bother?

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

Not really. However, being that I write mostly contemporary, science fictions and romantic suspense, I don’t think they’re as heavily influenced in my work. When they do come up though, it’s not difficult for me to write them out.

- What kind of research do you do?

It depends on the book. For my science fictions, not a lot. Most of it’s made up anyway, so I have free reign…*laughs* For my contemporary stuff, it just depends on the characters. In a WIP I have right now about a female werewolf and an ex-special forces hero, I set the book in upstate New York, so I have had to call a Chamber of Commerce up there several times to get answers to the questions I had.

Most of the time I do my research on the net, like most writers. The Internet is a wonderful tool for us and gives us just about everything we need right at our finger tips, so I’m not above using the easy way out.

My new one, coming out, “All in the Name of Love” is set in and around Los Angeles. As I once lived there for about a year, I didn’t need to do a whole lot of research…*smiles* I knew the area already so I was set. I do have one, for Extasy’s new line that’ll be set in Japan and/or China, so I’ve got some research to do there, but normally it just depends on the book and the characters.

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

I don’t think so. I tried to work on a straight erotica and found it was just not my thing. I want my readers to enjoy my work for the story I give them. Sex is just a bonus in my mind but it shouldn’t be the main focus of the work.

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

I’m currently single, but I would hope that the man I meet and marry someday would appreciate and support me. Ok, that’s actually gonna have to be the way it is. I won’t marry someone that doesn’t appreciate the fact that I’m a writer and my craft is my passion. If he can’t then he’s not the man for me. Personally I think he’d enjoy the perks to it though because you know I’d have to try out the love scenes on him…*laughs*

- Do you ever ask him/her for advice?

It’s not the same thing, but my cousin and I plot together a lot. I run my story ideas by her, usually first, and I also let her read my work. She gives me good, honest feedback and I love her for it. She’s also my “manager”, so she gets to crack the proverbial whip at me if I get lazy…

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

Oy vay, that’s a long, extensive story. But you can see most of it on my website, www.ladyblade.com and read it there if you like…*laughs*

- Fill in the blank favorites - Dessert. City. Season. Type of hero. Type of heroine.

Dessert – anything chocolate

City – I can’t say. I’ve lived so many places, but if I have to pick one it would be Denver Colorado.

Season – Winter. I love the cold, hate the heat.

Type of Hero – Whoever’s going to love my Heroine at the time.

Type of Heroine – The next kick-butt, strong female to come out of my “Writer’s Lounge”

- What are some of your favorite things to do?

Read, Read, and read. Must keep up on the competition ya know. I’m also heavily into photography, have had several photos published by The International Library of Photography under my real name. And obviously, writing. I also love movies. I’ve been a movie buff since I was a child, when I saw Bambi at the age of 7. Been hooked ever since.

- Do you have a favorite author? Favorite book?

As I mentioned above, Sandra Hill. Anything by her is an Auto-Buy for me. I also like Selena Robins and sometimes I’m in the mood for a Jaci Burton or Morgan Hawke book. Just depends on what I’m into reading at the time.

I can’t say I have a favorite book, but I love Sandra’s “Viking” series of books. She hasn’t put one out in a while, but I’m hoping she will again soon.

- Who, if anyone, has influenced your writing?

That credit, alone, goes to my mother. She was the one that always believed that I had talent, even after the “Miami Vice/Don Johnson” Fiasco…*laughs*

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

Several actually. I’m a member of Charlotte Dillon’s RWC group and the RomVets. www.romvets.com. I’m joining RWA later on this year and hopefully EPIC after that. We’ll see.

- What do you think of critique groups in general?

I think they can be helpful, especially for up and coming writers. After a while though, one or two critique partners are good. In a one on one situation, your partner gets to know your style and can say, “Hey, you’re doing this again, or that…” and you won’t be offended as much as if a ‘perfect stranger’ were to say it.

Though the benefit of being part of a larger critique group though is you can and do get varying opinions on your work.

- Where do you see yourself in five years?

You know, people used to ask me that question all the time, and I never had an answer. But now, I’d like to see myself on the NY Times…but then again we all would right? So I guess the answer to this now would be, happy.

In five years I’d like to still be as happy as I am today. I’m happy doing what I do, and that’s all we can really ask for out of this thing we call life, right?

- How long have you been writing - have you always wanted to be a writer?

Oh yeah. I wrote my first at 13, as I said, and then all the corny stuff you typical write – “The School Jock with a secret crush on the geeky girl” type of story or something like that. Though I did put my writing on hold while I was in the Military and for a few years afterward, I’ve finally gotten back to it and I’m having the time of my life. I’m hoping I can keep it going, though I do have my insecure days like any “eccentric Author” does…*laughs*

From my earliest memories I was writing though. So I’d have to say, yes, I’ve always wanted to be a writer and I’m very thankful that Ebooks have come along now to let me fulfill that dream.

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

I’ve written to many to count…*laughs* But I’ve published, since July 2003, four with two more contracted to Extasy to come this year. I’ve got at least four in the works right now and should be finishing them off here in the next six months or so.

- After you've written your book and it's been published, do you ever buy it and read it?

~*Laughs*~ Yeah, I do. I’m guilty and of course I always find something in it I could have done differently…*snickers* But I think that’s the ‘curse’ of just about every writer out there. It’s a guilty pleasure and I’m looking forward to the day that I can actually hold one of my works in my hand, in paperback and say “SEE, I DID IT!” ~*Laughs*~ Then of course I’d go and read it and say, “Hey, wait a minute, that should have been ‘this’…”

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

All of them are my favorite. Of what I have out right now though, I’d have to say Devon and Adrian qualify as my favorite H/H pair. They go through so much and still manage to come out on top in the end…*laughs*

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

The easiest were all three of my BDSM works. Mansion of Slaves, The Hostage and Mistress: An Awakening of the Soul. The hardest has been Prophecy of Love. But the most fun is one I’m working on now. It’s untitled still, but the cast of characters are a hoot and all of varying personalities. This will be my first serious effort at Comedy, so I’m hoping it works…*crossing fingers*

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

Usually for me, the first line of the book. If I can see that, or hear it in my head, then I know the rest of the story will follow. The characters, story and setting will reveal themselves as I go along. I tend to build the setting around the characters though, so if I can get that first ‘peek’ at the book then I know, I’m off and running and won’t stop until it’s finished.

- What are the elements of a great romance for you?

Two people that really love each other. That’s all you really ever need. At least in my opinion. If you have two people that sincerely love one another then you can get through anything life throws at you.

- What is the hardest part of writing/the easiest?

There really isn’t a clear cut answer here. Sometimes it’s the plot, sometimes the characters, sometimes the setting. It really just depends. If I’m comfortable with all three then the story just flows and it becomes easy. If I’m not, then I tend to struggle with it and put it aside until it becomes easy again, or the Muse kicks me in the butt and says, “Hey, wouldn’t this work for this?”

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

Oh no, I’m just the typist here…*laughs* I let the characters tell me what’s going on and I just tell their story. I tried plotting, and working out character backgrounds and all that, but it never worked for me. So as I’ve said before, I just sit down and let the story tell itself. Besides, I like to be just as surprised as the readers. If I’ve done my job right, then it usually works and I get comments like “Wow, I did not see that one coming…” laughs*

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

I have. I went through about six months last year where I couldn’t write a thing. I tried, and pushed my Muse away I think…*grins* After that I just relaxed about it and he came back to try again. I found that if I try too hard, he doesn’t like me any more and won’t let me into the “Writer’s Lounge” in my head to get a peek at my character’s lives. If I just relax then he’s more forthcoming…

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

Having fun. If I’m having fun in the story, then I know that my readers will. If I’m not, if the writing has become a chore, then I know my readers will sense that and not enjoy my work.

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

Working with my photography or on my work rotation. I work a seasonal job for the Government, which is great because I get about six months out of the year to write, but it’s bad in some aspects because I loose six months out of the year to write…*laughs*

- Any words of encouragement for unpublished writers?

What ever you do, don’t give up! Everyone says that I know, but it’s true. It doesn’t matter if you never publish a thing in your lifetime, just as long as you have enjoyed the stories you’ve told that’ll show to your readers. If one rejects you, try again at another. If enough reject you, find a critique group or partner and figure out why they are rejecting you then work on your weak points. Keep your strengths strong but also learn from your mistakes. Don’t be offended just because one person doesn’t like your work. There will be five down the line that will like you and you’ve found your audience.

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

Well, considering I answered them all when you only asked me to answer 8 or 10 of them I think we pretty much covered them don’t you? ~*laughs*~

Yes, I think you are right there, Lady Blade, but then I am just a chatty wench who can ask a lot of questions! Thank you very much, for taking the time with us and answering our questions. I really appreciate this interruption to busy schedule. Good Luck, and we will be looking forward to the next delightful creations, “All in the Name of Love” and “Prophecy of Love", from your talented imagination!

Yours in good reading,
Rose!

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