Romance at Heart Magazine Author Interview: Peter Brandt

Interview with Peter Brandt:

Hi Peter. 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.

It’s a romantic comedy about a first time author who writes such a compelling book about an orphaned prince that a Texas hick things the story is about him and travels across the continent to claim his birthright as the Crown Prince of Canada.

- What can we expect from you in the future?

Comedy. I have written other books, sci-fi, action adventure but my real passion and what I seem to be good at is writing comedy, stories that are a little outrageous and characters that are put in extreme positions and need to work out it out.

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

www.lindenbayromance.com or my own website www.peterabrandt.com. There are blurbs and an excerpt on both sites. I even have 3 short stories on my website that fans can read for free.

- Why did you decide to write romance novels?

I love comedy but I am a romantic at heart, so I was able to combine both into a funny romantic story.

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

Everything I write about has a lot of me in it. I love life and I don’t take myself too seriously, which makes writing comedy that much more fun. Some of the things that happen to my characters have happened to me. This makes it that much more believable.

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

I have always wanted to write but found every excuse to not do it. I think like many people I was scared. When I became acquainted with and then got to know Lois Gresh, a successful science fiction author, I decided I needed to go for it.

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

“The Secrets of Harden Long” is my first published book and it took me three days. I participated in the Muskoka Writer’s Marathon, where a group of writer’s put themselves in a room for 72 hours and write a novel. It took me about three to four weeks afterward to rewrite it and then a few months later I decided to submit it to Linden Bay Romance.

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

Set schedule. When I’m writing a novel I spend all my time doing it. If I don’t I began to lose touch with the characters.

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

I have rest days, prep days and writing days. When I am writing a novel I will spend every night and every weekend writing until I get it done, with one or maybe two days a week set aside to do other things that life requires us to do.

On my prep days I get stuff together and do all the things (housework, marketing, research) to ensure that on my writing days I don’t have interruptions.

On my rest days I visit friends and stay away from writing totally. This lets me energize my brain. I find I’m like an addict. If I am away from writing for too long I begin to have withdrawal symptoms.

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

They know not to bother me but life is life. There are always interruptions, but I try to clean up as many of those before I actually sit to write.

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

Hang out with my wife and kids. We love to go out from breakfast on the weekends. We plan special days to get together. Next weekend all 5 kids and their significant others will be joining my wife and I in Niagara Falls for breakfast and then the indoor water park.

- What truly motivates you in general? In your writing?

I have wanted to become a published author all my life. Now that I am an author, I am marketing myself to get people to read my book.

I am a professional technical writer as well and I’ve made a nice career out of writing things that people read.

- Where do your ideas come from?

Everywhere. My brain is constantly mulling over stories and I find humor in everything, including sex. This makes writing for romantic comedies easier.

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

Yes very important because life is a mix of emotions. We laugh we cry, we get mad, we feel sad. A good story has all of it, just like real life. I just happen to like to focus more on the funny side of life.

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

No, not difficult. It’s actually quite easy for me, but I would love for my books to be readable by all ages. So, for now, I ‘m happy to be writing for adults only.

- What kind of research do you do?

I want my story locations to be real. Readers know if where you are writing is real or not and I think it is a distraction for the reader if it’s not. But I also believe you need to write a story that is enjoyable and sticking to the facts can sometimes be boring. Some license is necessary to make it fun.

- What does your wife think of your writing?

She is 100% behind me and pushes me to get back at it when I get down and start to let it slide. She is also my best marketer, letting everyone know that I’m a writer.

- Do you ever ask her for advice?

No, not very often. It’s kind of funny, I can take criticism from a lot of people, but not from her. I can now talk to her about ideas, but when she gets into specifics, I shy away.

- Do you have a favorite author? Favorite book?

Stephen King’s book “On Writing”. This book helped me get over my fear of writing. I highly recommend it to authors starting out, not because it teaches you how to write, but more because it teaches you what frame of mind you need to be in to write.

- Who, if anyone, has influenced your writing?

Stephen King. I have found that the way he writes is very much the same way I like to write.

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

The New Tecumseh Writers Guild, soon to be The Writer’s Union of Canada.

- What do you think of critique groups in general?

I personally don’t like them and I’ll tell you why. If I get critiqued I want someone who is a professional to tell me what I need to do, not someone struggling to write like me. Also, I do not feel qualified to tell anyone else if their writing works or doesn’t. Writing is an individual sport. What works for me may not work for them. Plus, I am a crappy editor. They sure don’t need advice from me!

- Where do you see yourself in five years?

Working exclusively as an author at home. I see one of my books as a movie. At the Toronto Film Festival last week I went to the first “Pitch Expo” in Toronto. Sixteen movie executives from Canadian and United States studios allowed us participants to pitch our ideas for film and television. Two companies wanted a copy of my book, one wanted a screenplay which I am working on and the rest were going to pitch my book at their next meetings. It only takes one.

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

My first book was written at the age of ten. It was a story about a monkey that creates havoc at school. I love the feel of my fingers dancing on the keyboard and prefer to get a story down on paper as quick as I can. This has taken years of writing to perfect.

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

So far in 3 years I have 6 books written, with one published.

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

With all the proofing and editing of the manuscript I am pretty well burnt out after if finally gets published. But when I do read it, I am amazed and proud that it was written by me. I do have a poster of my cover hanging in my house.

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

In my new book “The Secrets of Harden Long,” Charles Carlson the Third or Cooter Carlson to his friends is an endearing character. He is well meaning, a little unorthodox in his approach to life but unfortunately things just don’t seem to go his way. I can relate to that premise.

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

Always the story. I have a concept of what I want to have happen from beginning to end. After that when I start to write, twists and turns come up and I go with them until the story is done.

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

Nope. My characters develop as I write. They control me.

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

Severe writers block. I wrote 15,000 words and then I hit a brick wall. I realized afterwards it was fear, not a lack of ideas. I read Stephen King’s “On Writing” and realized that how I was writing is much the same way he writes. Once the fear was removed, I wrote the rest of the novel in three weeks.

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

Telling a story that brings out the emotion of the readers. Laughing, crying, joy, sadness, a story that people can come away from feeling better for having read it.

- Are there any words of encouragement for unpublished writers?

Be confident. Learn how to write at a professional workshops. Brian Henry teaches great ones in the Toronto area. Then, once you’re done, start writing. Finish it and then send it to a professional and find out what you did right and what you did wrong. “The Success Principles” a book by Jack Canfield, the author of the Chicken Soup for the Souls books tells us that you should get write into what you want to do with your life and learn as you go. “Ready, Fire and then Aim“ is what he teaches and I totally agree. Learn from your mistakes. There are plenty of people around that can show you what you missed and show you how to aim better for the next one.

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!

Peter's Website Interview Review Coming Soon
Buy Author's Books at Linden Bay Romances
Buy Secrets of Harden Long Books at Linden Bay