Interview with Author Renee Reeves:
Hi Renee. 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.
Night Angel is an erotic contemporary romance about ex-con, now successful horse trainer, Nick Evanoff and abused Widow Morgan Fletcher. Nick and his brother own and run a Montana horse sanctuary for abused horses. Nick is very private and likes his peaceful existence. His ex-con label has made him wary of people and tired of their reactions.
Morgan has moved to Montana seeking seclusion and a fresh start. She wants nothing to do with men, but does not know that Nick, during a late-night ride, has seen her on his land and now wants her. Nick does not realize what horrors Morgan experienced during her marriage so Night Angel is about both of them learning to trust each other and heal from their pasts. I wanted to write about these two ‘tortured’ people because I think the progression of their romance, emotionally and sexually, is really beautiful and hope readers will find it so.
Night Angel has been reviewed by Night Owl Romance and has received their TOP PICK review award! 
- What can we expect from you in the future?
I am hoping to finish up two paranormals soon and I’ve been asked if I will do a book about Nick’s brother, Jake, so I am thinking hard about that.
- How do we find out about you and your books?
You can visit Black Velevet Seductions, my publisher’s site. I also have a spot on Authors Den, My Space and Facebook. I also Twitter a bit but I find that a bit boring. My husband hopes to start building me a website sometime this summer.
- How may readers contact you?
I can be reached through my email bettina142@juno.com, or any of the sites listed above.
- Do your fans' comments and letters influence you in any way?
Yes, sometimes. I’ve been lucky that all the feedback I’ve received from readers so far has been really good, but I also know that I can’t please everyone.
- Do you have a favorite comment or question from a reader?
I had one reader tell me that Night Angel made her “hopeful”, and I was really touched by that.
- Why did you decide to write romance novels?
I fell in love with romances as a young teenager after reading ‘A Rose In Winter’ by Kathleen Woodiwiss and that love never wavered. After reading countless romances I decided I wanted to try and write one. My mother bought me a word processor and I started writing whatever came to my mind. Of course I did not know what to do with any of those as far as getting them published so on the disk and in the desk drawer they went. Luckily I never gave up on that dream.
- How much of your personality and life experiences are in your writing?
I am a quiet, private type of person so some of that went into Nick and Morgan’s personalities. Of course my love of horses and other animals is what inspired the horse sanctuary. In fact Nick’s barn cat, Boo, is named after my beloved black and white cat, Boo Boo Bear, who died 3 years ago.
- Generally, how long does it take you to write a book?
Well, since Night Angel was the first book I was serious about trying to publish it took me an extra long time to finish it—about 2 years—only because I kept changing things and second-guessing myself. Plus I let everyday life get in the way.
- Do you have a set schedule for writing or do you just go with the flow?
I am a definite go-with-the-flow type. The mood has to strike me and that may be at 3 AM or middle of the afternoon. I don’t get much sleep and have always been a bit of an insomniac. I envy people that can fall asleep easily and stay asleep.
- What is your writing routine once you start a book?
I don’t have a routine. I write when I am in the mood, I make notes when they pop into my head; I change scenes constantly and hope something good comes out of it.
- What about your family, do they know not to bother you when you are writing - or are there constant interruptions?
There are constant interruptions during the day. The best time for me is the middle of the night or early morning.
- Where do your ideas come from?
Everywhere! I am constantly thinking of new storylines. Now whether or not I can make them work is another matter.
- What are your thoughts on love scenes in romance novels, do you find them difficult to write?
They can be difficult, not just because it’s a sex (love) scene but because I have to be aware of how I am writing both bodies positions and if that position is even possible. I also have to wonder what noise he/she would make at what time or how he/she would react to a certain touch, etc…and I have to be able to think of enough variations to keep it interesting for the reader. Too many sex scenes CAN and do get boring so it’s a delicate balance.
- What kind of research do you do?
Well, for Night Angel I changed the setting from SC to Montana and since I had never been to Montana I had to research travel guides, books, internet ads, movies, etc, to get a feel for it. My farrier (horse hoof trimmer) had just taken a trip out there so I asked him about it as well.
- Would you like to write a different genre than you do now, or sub-genre?
Well, I am trying my hand at paranormals right now. We’ll have to see how that goes. I do know that Contemporary is a comfortable place for me. I’m not sure I could handle a historical.
- What does your husband think of your writing?
My husband is completely excited about it. He’s not into romance novels but he knows I love them.
- Do you ever ask him for advice?
On occasion I will read a scene to him and ask for his help. Or I will have him pretend to be a character and tell me what he would do, or how he would react, to a certain scenario.
- Please tell us about yourself (family, hobbies, education, etc.)
I was born in Stuttgart, Germany but moved to the states at a very young age and was raised by my single mother. As a child I was shy and reserved but I have always loved to read and would spend all of my free time (when not messing with horses or painting) at the library or book sales. My mother encouraged my reading habit and took me to each and every school book fair.
I am 32 years old and married now, no kids but numerous animals including cats, dogs, and horses. My mother is fighting cervical cancer right now so I am taking care of her fulltime and hoping/praying that she gets better and we can resume our normal activities of shopping and going out to lunch. I tried going to college to appease my grandfather but did not have the desire to finish. I then started working for a Paso Fino farm and helped them train and show their horses for several years. Now I guess I am opening a new chapter in my life and focusing on my writing.
- Fill in the blank favorites -
Dessert. Million Dollar Pie and Cherry Yum Yum
Season. Winter (because I can bundle up in coats and don’t have to worry about dieting)
Type of hero. The dark, tortured, brooding type
Type of heroine. Innocent (meaning not loads of experience), flawed, ‘wounded’. I also like the plumper heroines, it’s nice to see them get the hunky guy, especially if he’s crazy about her. She should not be the ‘too stupid to live’ type.
- What are some of your favorite things to do?
Read, watch movies, ride my horses, read….
- Do you have a favorite author?
Can’t pick just one, but a few are Linda Howard, Rosanne Bittner, Shannon McKenna, Karen Marie Moning, Sarah McCarty, J.R. Ward, and Anne Stuart.
-Favorite book?
Again, I can’t pick just one but a few are ‘After the Night’, ‘Dream Man’, and ‘Lady of the West’ by Howard, ‘Into the Fire’ by A. Stuart, ‘Ultimate Weapon’, ‘Behind Closed Doors’ and ‘Return To Me’ by Shannon McKenna, and also ‘Promises Prevail’ by S. McCarty. Oh, and ‘A Hunger Like No Other’ by Kresley Cole and ‘Lover Revealed’ and ‘Lover Awakened’ by Ward.
Plus many more!
- How long have you been writing - have you always wanted to be a writer?
I’ve been writing for years, but only recently sought to be published. Not always, I used to want to be an artist and spent many years in art school doing oil paintings but decided that just wasn’t my thing. Cleaning those paint brushes and constantly having a mess got old pretty quick.
- Which comes first, the story, the characters or the setting?
The storyline comes first for me, then the characters and then I use them to pick the setting.
- What is the hardest part of writing/the easiest for you?
The easiest part is thinking up a beginning and an end, the hardest is getting through the middle portion of the story and also picking a title.
- Are you in control of your characters or do they control you?
I think it’s a little of both. It’s also based on working up to each scene, so sometimes what I have planned out in my head gets changed around.
- Have you experienced writer's block---> If so, how did you work through it?
Many times and I just have to let it run its course. The cure for me is to take a break and read. Sometimes I will reread some of my favorite books just because I know they are good and will relax me.
- What is the most rewarding thing about being a writer?
So far it’s been hearing from the readers.
- Are there any words of encouragement for unpublished writers?
NEVER give up. I almost scrapped Night Angel several times, so I don’t care how long it takes you to write your book or how many rejection letters you receive (and you WILL get them!!) just never give up. If you feel that writing is what you were born to do then do it.
Thank you so much,
Renee Reeves
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!
Author Links:
MySpace Website Website Email
RaH Links:
Interview Review
Purchase Links:
Buy Renee's Books At Amazon
Buy Author's Books at Black Velvet Seductions
Buy Author's Books at Night Owl Romance
Buy Author's Books at All Romance Books
Buy Author's Books at Barnes and Noble
Buy Author's Books at Fictionwise
Buy Author's Books at Books-a-Million
