Romance at Heart Magazine Author Interview: Leigh Ellwood

Interview with Leigh Ellwood:

Hi Leigh. 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.

Well, my latest book is actually my first release. TRUTH OR DARE is the first book in my Dareville series, and is one of the inaugural erotic romances from Phaze.com, a branch of Mundania Press. It is the story of a legendary rock musician named Brady Garriston who, after suffering a bad breakup and creative stagnancy, decides to start fresh in small town Dareville under an assumed name. He doesn’t anticipate meeting Ellie Shaw, the cousin of his ex-girlfriend, who winds up inspiring him in more ways than one. Together they make very beautiful music!

- What can we expect from you in the future?

I have submitted another romance, called MUSE, to a publisher in hopes of getting the call. MUSE is about a romance author struggling with writer’s block, who finds inspiration in her new, handsome neighbor. MUSE is actually a novel within a novel, as readers will get to see the author’s work in progress. I’m also working on the next Dareville story, DARE ME, which features Brady’s best friend, Cal, who also appears in TRUTH OR DARE.

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

You can read my weblog at Leigh Ellwood.blogspot.com, which also serves as my official website, or you can visit Phaze.com for information on TRUTH OR DARE.

- How may readers contact you?

You can send me e-mail at kspatwriter@yahoo.com or leave a comment on my blog.

- Why did you decide to write romance novels?

I love to read romance novels, and I have experience writing in other genres, mainly non-fiction, but in the past I had never given much thought to writing romance. Then a friend suggested I give it a try, just for kicks. I had a short piece that I had written a long time ago as a “fan fiction,” using characters from a favorite television show. I tried to change it around for an anthology submission, but as I wrote I found myself adding more to it, so much that the piece exceeded the word limit for the anthology. I decided then to go ahead and make the piece a short novel, and I finished right around the time Phaze first opened for submissions. Of course, that short piece became TRUTH OR DARE.

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

It varies for me. TRUTH OR DARE took about two months for the first draft, another two to polish. MUSE took even longer; it had started out as an historical romance, then I shelved it for months after being burned out by the story. When I picked it up again it took about three months to add the “novel within the novel” part, making the contemporary author’s writer’s block story the main plot. Overall, MUSE took about six months.

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

Not really. I tend to write around my husband’s schedule. When he is working or watching football, I get on the computer and go to it.

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

I do a lot of walking, and bicycling, for exercise. On occasion my husband and I will go to the local coffee shop and I’ll bring a book to read with my latte.

- Where do your ideas come from?

Dreams, songs, random thoughts in my head. I’m the type of person who can look out her window, see something, and think up a story right there.

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

I think it’s very important. Humor has helped me through many a trying situation, and I believe if we can’t learn to laugh at ourselves then we are in serious trouble. Consequently, I believe a good romance should make the reader feel good reading it, so humor should play an important part in that satisfaction.

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

I did at first, but when writing my first one (which took many drafts to polish), I just imagined what I’d like done to me and I recorded it. I haven’t had trouble since.

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

I would love to try a paranormal or a science fiction romance. So far I have only contemporaries under my belt

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

Dessert – Tiramisu
City – Atlanta, Georgia
Season – Autumn
Type of Hero – modest, lean build, kind face and beautiful smile
Type of Heroine – not too skinny, not too fat, witty and bold

- What are some of your favorite things to do?

As mentioned earlier, I walk and bike, I love to read, and I love to travel. I hope to have more time in the future to do all those things more often.

- Who are some of your favorite authors?

I love Mercedes Lackey, especially her early Valdemar novels. I also like Janet Evanovich and Alexander McCall Smith and Nicholas Sparks.

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

Though it’s not finished yet, I’d have to say DARE ME is my current favorite, because I’ve become rather attached to the hero, Cal Briscoe. He’s partly based on somebody I’ve met, and the character is so wild and fun-loving, somebody I wouldn’t mind having a tryst with myself! I hope other readers will feel that way, too, when it’s published.

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

TRUTH OR DARE was probably the easiest of the three. MUSE was the hardest, and DARE ME is the most fun so far.

Thank you again, 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 creation from your talented imagination!

Yours in good reading,
Rose!

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