Interview with Author Terri DuLong:
Hi Terri. 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.
SPINNING FORWARD is women’s fiction. My main character, Sydney Webster, finds herself relocating to a small island off the west coast of Florida at age 52. Following her husband’s sudden death, she also finds herself financially unstable. Living with her best friend, Ali, who owns the B&B on Cedar Key, discovering that her hobby of knitting and spinning will contribute to her livelihood, meeting a new love interest and the kindness and concern of the small community all combine to spin Sydney forward in her life, which enables her to find her true identity.
- What can we expect from you in the future?
Book 2 in the Cedar Key series will be released by Kensington, November 2010. This novel will feature Sydney's daughter, Monica, as the main character. Monica is a new bride of six months, married to Adam who is a teacher at the Cedar Key school; Adam’s 8-year-old daughter from a previous marriage has come to live with them permanently. My story deals with the problems and complications of being thrust into the role of a full-time step-mom and also father’s rights in relation to divorce and custody. Knitting continues to be a theme in this story. Sydney is considering putting the yarn shop up for sale and it becomes Monica’s dream to keep the shop in the family and purchase it herself.
Also being released by Kensington, November 2010 will be my Christmas novella in the anthology headlined by Fern Michaels. The setting is again Cedar Key and the main character in this story is Josie Sullivan, a young single mother trying to raise her 11-year-old daughter on her own with a tight income. The month before Christmas finds Josie making some tough choices but also discovering exactly what she needs to do in order to make life better for both her and her daughter.
- How do we find out about you and your books?
At my author website www.TerriDuLong.com
- Q. How may readers contact you?
Via my e-mail address at Terri@TerriDuLong.com
- How many readers / fans contact you?
Actually, I have been surprised by the wonderful e-mails already pouring in from readers and fans, since the book isn’t being released until Oct. 27. But these readers either won an ARC from one of my contests or they have read about my release on various venues. I really enjoy hearing from fans and readers. I love knowing what they thought of my story, learning a little bit about them and where they’re from and also maybe what they hope might happen in future Cedar Key books.
Sometimes it may take me awhile, but I will always answer e-mail from fans and readers. I value the fact that they took the time to contact me and this means a lot to me as an author.
- How much of your personality and life experiences are in your writing?
I would say probably a fair amount. Many of my characters are a composite of various women in my family and also female patients that I had over the years when I worked as an RN. My life experiences do factor into my stories. Not always something that I personally experienced, but many times my writing is based on a topic or issue that captured my interest.
- When did you first think about writing and what prompted you to submit your first manuscript?
I have been writing all of my life but didn’t get serious about it until I was at a place in my life that enabled me to have the time to attend writer’s conferences and learn more about the industry. Writing has always been my passion. After becoming an RN when I was in my early thirties, I took a creative writing course at college and received supportive encouragement from my professor, but it would still be another 10 years before I felt ready to submit a manuscript to a very small press. This story dealt with the mental facility north of Boston where I had done my psychiatric training as a student nurse. It was fiction based on fact and I wove a love story, both present and past, into the manuscript. It was accepted by the small press, but unfortunately they went out of business about a year later, and I was back to square one. It would be another seven years before the manuscript for SPINNING FORWARD was submitted to Kensington, and I got the call offering me a two-book contract in February 2008, followed by another call this past May offering the contract for the Christmas novella.
- Generally, how long does it take you to write a book?
Once I actually sit down to begin writing, I normally have a completed first draft finished within two or three months. But . . . I have done a lot of work prior to this. With the Cedar Key books, I already have and know my setting, but usually this would be the first thing that I consider. Next are my characters. I think about them constantly in my head. Who they are, what their problems and conflicts are, what might happen, what has to happen, etc. So by the time I actually sit down to compose my story on the computer, I have a very good idea where I’m going. I know what I want the focus of my book to be, and I have my road map. Getting there is the fun because I never know which detours my characters might take along the way.
- Do you have a set schedule for writing or do you just go with the flow?
It depends. Normally I have a set schedule, which is writing from about 10 in the morning, breaking an hour for lunch and then writing another three or four hours. However, life certainly intervenes, and I have to always be flexible enough to deal with this. This is why I always give myself a lot of time when I’m on deadline. I’m a planner and organizer and I think that helps a lot with adhering to my writing schedule.
- What about your family, do they know not to bother you when you are writing—or are there constant interruptions?
My children are grown and gone so it’s just my husband and me. I do have a writing studio that we had built, and it’s detached from our house, yet attached by a screened lanai. I don’t answer the phone when I’m writing. Either my husband gets it or it goes to the message recorder. Close friends know when I’m writing and on deadline, so they tend to wait for me to get in touch. I have to say I’m fortunate that the only interruptions I might have are my two dogs or cats, and I always welcome that, because at that point I probably need a break.
- What do you do to relax and recharge your batteries?
I read . . . a lot. I do this almost every evening as I’m not a television person. I also knit, because I always find this relaxing. Traveling to Europe always recharges my batteries, especially France. But I have to say that just living on the beautiful island of Cedar Key, surrounded by water and Mother Nature, is my primary way to relax. I take the dogs and we walk around the downtown area, and I always come home refreshed and restored. I’m a Pisces so being near the water has always increased my energy.
- Do you feel humor is important in women’s fiction and why?
For me, it is important. I feel some of the issues are difficult but I believe in always having a “balance” in life. Therefore, by injecting a bit of humor here and there it tends to lighten up a story providing a better balance. I’m an extremely positive person, and my glass is always half full—so I think even in my writing, by adding some humor it adds a more uplifting emotion to the overall conflict.
- What are your thoughts on love scenes in romance novels? Do you find them difficult to write?
If they’re appropriate to the story, then I feel to make the story more complete the love scene must be there. However, for me, I don’t think it’s necessary to write something extremely graphic. We have the genre of erotica for that. I used to find the love scenes uncomfortable to write but I don’t anymore. Probably because I tend to focus more on the appropriateness of the scene and how it will push the relationship forward. I also think that different ages of the main character will determine how a particular love scene will be written.
- Please tell us about yourself (family, hobbies, education, etc.)
I’m originally from the Boston area. We moved to Florida in 1987, when my husband was transferred with the airlines. I have three grown children and seven grandchildren. I have a degree as a legal secretary, and then I returned to college at age 30 to get my degree as a registered nurse. For hobbies, knitting and reading top the list. ‘'m not sure we could call Facebook a “hobby,” but I enjoy the down time of going there to interact with other people and play some of the games there when I need to chill out.
- Please fill in the blank 5 favorites:
Dessert: Creme Brulee
City: Paris, France
Season: Spring
Type of hero: A man with sensitivity, confidence and compassion
Type of heroine: A woman who is willing to grow and change with a zest for a life
- Who are some of your other favorite authors to read?
I enjoy a wide variety of authors, but right now I’m very much enjoying Elin Hilderbrand and Kristin Higgins. Over the years I’ve enjoyed Anita Shreve, Sue Miller, Luanne Rice, Elizabeth Berg, Eileen Goudge and Barbara Taylor Bradford.
- Are you a member of any author groups—Romance Writers of America, critique groups, etc.?
I’m a member of RWA, Florida Writers Association and the new chapter of RWA for Women’s Fiction.
- Where do you see yourself in five years?
Hopefully being an accomplished women’s fiction author with a nice following of readers.
- Among your own books, have you a favorite book? Favorite hero or heroine?
Another tough question, because I have so many favorite books. The two that still stand out for me is A Woman of Substance by Barbara Taylor Bradford and The Shellseekers by Rosamonde Pilcher. The heroines were women that I admire. Faced with difficult circumstances they managed to rise above it, find their destiny and become very strong and independent women.
- What is the hardest part of writing/the easiest for you?
The easiest for me is just sitting down and getting the story out. Probably the hardest is going back to do revisions that are necessary to make the story even better.
- Are you in control of your characters or do they control you?
A little bit of both . . . initially, I’m in control and then without me even realizing it they begin to let me know what they want and how we need to get there.
- Have you experienced writer’s block? If so, how did you work through it?
Very seldom but when I do have a block, I get away from the writing. I let it sit for awhile and become involved in more knitting which allows my mind to wander. When I return to the writing, I always find that needed break now allows me to see my story more clearly.
- What is the most rewarding thing about being a writer?
So far it’s been my readers. Complete strangers contacting me to let me know how much they could relate to my story or how much they enjoyed it.
- Are there any words of encouragement for unpublished writers?
To never, ever give up! Keep writing! If you’re looking to be published then keep sending out those queries, learning more about the industry and the craft of writing but always write. My motto is “Believe in yourself and make great things happen.”
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:
Terri's Website Email Bio
Other links coming soon...
RaH Links:
Review Review
Purchase Links:
Buy Terri's Books At Amazon
Buy Author's Books at BARNES &NOBLE
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