Romance at Heart Magazine Author Interview: P. C. Cast

Interview with P. C. Cast:

Hi P. C.. 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

Divine by Choice is the much anticipated sequel to Divine by Mistake. In it my heroine, Shannon Parker, is pulled from the mythical world of Partholon back to present day Oklahoma by her centaur husband’s human mirror. Shannon has to battle to return to Partholon, but first must overcome an ancient evil that has been resurrected and has followed her to this world. She also must try not to lose her heart to a man who was born to love her.

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

P.C. Cast.net

- How may readers contact you?

phyl@pccast.net

- How many readers/fans contact you?

Lots! I love to hear from my readers.

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

Absolutely! My Luna fans (called the Lunatics) helped me brainstorm for GODDESS OF THE ROSE, my retelling of Beauty and the Beast. And I thanked them in the acknowledgements page of that book. On my Amazon plog I’ve asked for ideas for my new Goddess Summoning Book contract with Berkley, and I definitely listened to their recommendations/desires.

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

I love it when readers really get that my work is about empowering women and tell me that I make them proud to be strong, independent women.

- Why did you decide to write romance novels?

I love romance, but I don’t ever think I’m writing a “romance novel.” In my mind I always write sci-fi or fantasy – I just add sex to it! (Because I don’t think life’s as interesting without sex and romance!)

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

I get this question a lot. In everything I write there is some reflection of me, even if it’s as simple as my current favorite martini or glass or wine, or that my heroine wears a great pair of boots (that I just happen to own). Some heroines aren’t much like me, or at least not the “me” of today. An example is CC from GODDESS OF THE SEA. She’s a lot more like me twenty years ago, and even then I was probably more irreverent than CC. Then you have a heroine like Brighid, the centaur Huntress in BRIGHID’S QUEST. I gave her issues with her mother that are very similar to issues I’ve had with my mom/step-mom. And people who know me only a little recognize that I am very much like Shannon Parker from GODDESS/DIVINE BY MISTAKE and DIVINE BY CHOICE.

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

I wrote my first book in 1st Grade. It was called BLUBBY THE BLUE WHALE and featured a flying sea creature. It didn’t get published…

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

Go with the flow?? Not with deadlines. It’s a job, not a vacation. Too many people romanticize it, but the truth is that writing is damn hard work.

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

I plow slowly thought the first 250 pages or so, and feel like I’ll never finish and that I’m writing utter crap. Then around page 250 it all of a sudden clicks. Everything falls into place and I can’t stay away from my keyboard. Then is when I produce 15 – 25 pages per day. Until then, though, it’s like sloughing through mud.

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

I’m a single parent and my daughter is in college – she’s also the co-author of THE HOUSE OF NIGHT, our YA series for St. Martins (the first book, MARKED, will be released spring 07). So my daughter completely understands about deadlines and writing schedules – she has them, too! My parents and siblings are supportive and proud. My Scottie dogs...they’re a different story...

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

Red Wine

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

Yep. As with sex, life just isn’t as interesting without it.

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

I’d like to write horror.

- Fill in the blank favorites -

Dessert – dark chocolate truffles
City – Abroad – Rome or Venice, Stateside – Tulsa
Type of hero – flawed but honorable and must respect women,br> Type of heroine – witty, independent, confident

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

I’m a member of: RWA, PASIC, OK-RWA, FF&P Chapter of RWA. I’ve never belonged to a critique group.

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

I just finished writing my twelfth novel and all of them have either been published or are contracted to be published. (Except for the book I wrote in 1st Grade.)

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

I absolutely do buy them (I run out all the time), but I try not to read them unless they’re part of a series, and I have remind myself what happened in previous books. I’m too hard on my writing and always see things I’d like to change.

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

My favorite book is (this is really hard) probably DIVINE BY CHOICE.
Favorite heroine – Shannon Parker.
Favorite hero – the centaur ClanFintan.

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

I think the easiest book for me to write was DIVINE BY CHOICE, which may be why it’s my favorite.
The hardest was GODDESS OF LOVE (my June 07 Goddess Summoning Book). This one was hard because my editor gave me the idea for the book, and I wrote it when I had actually originally planned a different Goddess Summoning Book. So it took me off guard.
The most fun was GODDESS OF THE ROSE because I loved retelling Beauty and the Beast.

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

Once I create them they completely control me.

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

I don’t believe in it. I believe in hard work and pushing through the tough part. In my opinion anything else is unprofessional.

- Are there any words of encouragement for unpublished writers?

Write the book you most want to read and then rewrite it over and over and over. Then do your research about agents and editors, and don’t give up. Being successfully published is a lot of tenacity and luck mixed with a little bit of talent.

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!

Ms Cast's Website Berkley/Jove Interview Review
Buy P. C. Cast's Books At Amazon