Posts Tagged ‘interviews’

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Vivi Andrews on Angels, Demons & Dressing Like an Elf

Moira Rogers | December 8th, 2010

Happy Holidays!

I admit, I often approach blogging with trepidation. I hate talking about myself.  I don’t think that’s much of a secret to anyone who knows me, but it makes being an author a bit uncomfortable at times.  When faced with the prospect of writing a serious blog post about myself, or my life, or basically anything where I feel pressured to be witty and/or insightful, I freeze up faster than a deer in the world’s largest set of headlights.

That’s why I love the Winter Wishes collection, where I’m lucky enough to be surrounded by my awesome friends, Vivi Andrews and Vivian Arend. No one wants to listen to me stutter incoherently while looking for the nearest virtual exit, but I can talk about Vivi Andrews or–even better–talk to Vivi Andrews.

So I sat down to ask my fellow paranormal romance author all of the most pressing questions about angels, demons and holiday decorations.

ANGELS VS DEMONS

Moira: If you had to challenge the devil to a contest of wits or skill, what would you pick? Fiddling? Chess? Word wars?  What is your secret evil talent?

Vivi: Movie trivia, baby.  I reign undefeated at Scene It.  The Devil is going down if he thinks he can take me on, Hollywood style.

Moira: Would you rather commune with the angels or party with the demons?

Vivi: I’m not much of a communer and I bet the parties in Hell are something to see.  I’d love to sneak into one just to observe the mayhem. Somehow I picture them as all the glamour and excesses of the French aristocracy – including the occasional beheading.

Moira: The devil is trying to tempt you with the most sinful food imaginable.  What is he offering you?

Vivi: Sinful, huh?  The most tempting to me would probably be Diet Coke (do not get between an addict and her diet coke) but sinful… Chocolate Caramel Fudge Brownies. Eleven-zillion-calories per ounce and worth every hour on the elliptical.

HOLIDAY CHEER

Moira: If you could put one book in every holiday present pile, what would it be?

Vivi: My first thought was How the Grinch Stole Christmas which took me on a whole Dr. Seuss thought-bender.  (Sneetches! Lorax! Horton!)  And if it’s in every holiday present pile Dr. Seuss is probably a tad more appropriate for younger audiences than say, Lady Chatterly’s Lover or Christopher Moore’s Stupidest Angel: A Heartwarming Tale of Christmas Terror.  So yeah, I’ll stick with the Grinch to avoid traumatizing the kiddies.

Moira: Holiday decorations: vital to life, or too much hassle?

Vivi: Oxygen. Beyond necessary – but only after November 20th.  Holiday decorations in September are a crime against humanity.  (However I do approve of randomly decorating in May just to mess with your neighbors’ minds. Especially if you’re blaring carols at the same time.)

Moira: Have you ever, or would you ever, dress up like an elf?  (Renaissance fairs and Tolkien costumes count.)

Vivi: I have not yet dressed up as an elf, but honestly there are very few things I wouldn’t dress up as. (I should not admit that online, that one is gonna come back to bite me.)  So yeah, I’d totally go all elfin.  And then go to the grocery store just to see what kind of reactions I would get.

Moira: Isn’t she awesome?  And since she was so kind as to answer my (admittedly quirky) questions, I suppose it’s only fair that I include the cover of her awesomely witty contribution to the Winter Wishes collection.

No Angel by Vivi AndrewsWhen Sasha’s boyfriend, Jay, is sucked through a fiery vortex to Hell, an angel reveals that Sasha’s been chosen as the Champion of Virtue in the battle for his immortal soul. As a perennial offender on Santa’s naughty list, Sasha can’t believe she’s anyone’s idea of a girl fighting on the side of the angels. But if she doesn’t save Jay, he’ll be stuck in Hell forever!

Jay—aka Jevroth—isn’t surprised to find himself back in Hell. His visa to visit the mortal plane expired three months ago, but to steal more time with Sasha he’s been ignoring his mother’s demands that he come home to spend time with his new stepfather: Lucifer.

Sasha has until dawn on the twenty-fifth of December to fight the Legions of Hell and rescue Jay, or be trapped there for eternity herself. But now she must decide if the lying son-of-a-demon is even worth saving…

The fun’s not over yet, though.  After I subjected Vivi to such rigorous journalistic interrogation, she felt the need to chase down Vivian Arend to give her the same treatment.  Vivian, of course, retaliated by trapping both halves of Moira Rogers in a room and shining a light on our faces until we answered all of her pressing questions. Don’t miss the wacky hijinks that ensued!

What question would you ask Vivi Andrews if you had her at your mercy?  Ask away in the comments, and I’ll badger her to answer.

—-
Bree is one half of the Moira Rogers writing team. Find them on twitter (@moirarogersbree & @donnajherren) or at their website or blog.

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Posted in Authors, Carina Press | 1 Comment »

Shannon Stacey interviews Executive Editor Angela James

Shannon_Stacey | June 30th, 2010

Shannon Stacey is the author of eleven published works, nine of which were edited by the comma-killing, wandering body part-snagging, action tag-loving Angela James. Shannon’s current Carina Press release, Exclusively Yours, is their ninth book together and has a lot fewer commas now than it did when Shannon wrote it.

1. If I could go back in time and rewrite any one of the classics, I’d give Gone With The Wind a happily ever-after-ending. (And have Ashley Wilkes get murdered in the first act, causing Melanie to develop an opium addiction that would make her a great deal more interesting and…oh wait. Back to you.) If you could go back in time and edit any one of the classics, which would be it be and why?

Um, none of them, because I’m an editor not an author and me trying to rewrite anything would be tragic! And I’m afraid your follow-up question can’t be which books I’d go back and re-edit, because I’ll have to plead the Fifth. I’d like to hear more about your plan for Gone With the Wind, though. You could do for Gone With the Wind what that author did for Pride and Prejudice. Something having to do with zombies. And maybe some shifters and vampires thrown in. We could make millions! Let’s chat. I’ll have my people call your people.

2. How important is an author’s social media profile to you? If you’re on the fence about acquiring a manuscript, can an author who’s successfully using social media tip you toward buying? Conversely, if an author’s “behaving badly” in public via social media, will it tip you against buying? (No, that’s not three questions. The second two are subquestions.)

I should never have assigned this interview to you, cheater.

I do look at authors’ social media proficiency: blog, Twitter, Facebook, website and look to see what they’re doing to build their brand. A really strong, positive author brand can tip me in favor of an author because it says to me they’re willing to put in the time and effort to their business.

And I have rejected authors who have publicly behaved unprofessionally online via their social media profiles. Publishing is a business where authors, editors and publishers work (or should work) intimately with one another, and where we need to depend on each other for professional courtesy and patience. If an author has already shown publicly they don’t mind letting loose in an unprofessional way, rather than being smart about managing their brand, then that’s one sign that a comfortable working relationship may be difficult.

3. Have you ever harbored a secret desire to write a novel yourself?

I don’t think it’s a secret desire. I grew up reading and I think for many people, a natural extension of having a love of books is having a desire to be able to write one. People have often asked me if/when I’m going to write a book, but the truth is, I don’t seem to have been blessed with the fiction novel gene. It’s actually one of the things I love about books, the awe I feel at the worlds and characters other people have created, wondering how they DO that and do it so well. So I probably won’t be writing a fiction novel anytime soon.

Now, non-fiction, that’s another story…

4. What’s your secret for working from home? Does self-discipline come naturally to you, or do you have a routine that helps, such as work clothes on work days or a specific place in the house you work?

I’ve been working from home long enough that I’ve learned to be disciplined about my time. I wouldn’t be in the position I am today if I’d spent all my time working from home goofing off instead!  I have a job and I have duties, I have people who are depending on me to get that done. If I’m not disciplined, they don’t get done and people will notice and then I won’t have a job (motivation!) So I don’t have any choice but to be disciplined. Added to that, I think having discipline shows respect for what you do, and for the people who depend on you, and I have a tremendous amount of respect for my peers, my co-workers, my authors and my freelance contractors so I try not to let them down.

During the week, I work during the day (from about 8a-4:30p) while my daughter is at daycare and husband is at work. Because my brother has moved in with us and taken over the room that was my “office” I work either in the living room or dining room. I don’t turn on the TV during the day (because I’m at work) and I don’t feel as though I also need to be doing housework just because I’m at home. Because really, I’m at work (sense a trend in my mantra, here?) Like a normal office job, I allow myself a day every so often to do something out of the ordinary, like go out to lunch, but otherwise, I’m at work.

The hardest part for me is actually separating from work, because working from home, you never truly leave work. So even though my main workday is during the day/week, I also work in the evenings and on the weekends. I often have to force myself to stop.

I guess the main trick is not to think of it, or allow other people to think of it, as you being at home, but to keep reminding them you’re at work, and that they shouldn’t expect things of you that they wouldn’t expect of anyone else at work. If they can’t do the laundry at work, you shouldn’t be expected to either!

5. If you weren’t married and could date any Star Wars or Star Trek character, who would it be and why? (And no, you cannot cheat and substitute Firefly. Or Doctor Who. Or Battlestar Galactica.)

You cheated in question #2 so I have a free pass. Despite my love for the shows you mentioned, I would date Angel from Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

(Note from Shan: Angel? Ew. Spike, baby. It was all Spike.)

(Note from Angela: Yeah, you’re also the one who roots for Juan Pablo Montoya as your favorite Nascar driver. I rest my case.

(Note from Angela part 2: –though I do admit that Spike would be my second choice)

Bonus question: If a writer aspiring to be a Carina Press author wanted to make you wiggle in your chair, what would he or she send you?

Because I’m so busy with the administrative side of running Carina, I don’t have much time in my schedule any more for editing. I do read a lot of submissions, but I generally pass the ones I love/acquire to the freelance editors. I really love editing, though, so I continue to work with a few authors, though not much more than a book a month. The genres that are most going to catch my eye and convince me to edit a book from the slush pile are space opera (I’m still waiting for someone to write me a western-flavor space opera a la Firefly and Captain Tightpants!), futuristic romance, steampunk (I was asking for this 5 years ago, long before it was “in” so why stop now?) and erotic romance of any sub-genre, but I have a soft spot for good BDSM erotic romance because it’s so difficult to find.

Though I do find myself reading some longer submissions because of the genre, if you’re writing a novella in any genre, I’m most likely to grab it out of the slush pile and read it, and most likely to keep it for editing myself, because novellas fit much better into my schedule!

All that said, there are always books and authors who I’ll try to edit (Hi Nora, call me!) because I want to keep editing, as it’s something I love and don’t want to get too rusty at!

* * *

You can find Shannon at her website or running amok on Twitter and Facebook. Her next book, Undeniably Yours, releases from Carina in October. You can find Angela pretty much everywhere (the hard part’s getting her to sit still), but Twitter and the Carina Press Facebook page are good places to start.

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Posted in editors | 35 Comments »

Leah Braemel interviews editor Rhonda Stapleton

Leah Braemel | April 27th, 2010

Hi from southern Ontario Canada, home of Harlequin’s headquarters. And me, Leah Braemel. I’m the only woman in a houseful of men—heck, even my cat Spike is male. It’s my life’s mission to avoid the dust bunnies that are taking over the house by hiding out in my office writing steamy romances like my upcoming Carina release, Texas Tangle. I was thrilled when Angela invited me to interview my editor, Rhonda Stapleton. When I learned that I could give Rhonda a deadline instead of the other way around, it was that much more fun.

Leah: Since I’ve not met you in person (yet), I want to know more about you. Is there something unusual that you do or have done that people normally don’t know or would be surprised to know about you? Are you an avid ghost hunter? Have you ever gone sky diving?

Rhonda: Oooooh intriguing question. Um, here’s one: I have a HUGE backpiece tattoo. It takes up my entire back. It’s a Japanese samurai woman with a background taken from a Japanese woodblock painting done in the 1800s. At the top is a phoenix flying.

Leah (cringing): Wow, that sounds intricate. And painful. I freely admit I’m a wimp. I nearly passed out getting my ears pierced, so I can’t imagine subjecting myself to a needle for that long. It must make for an interesting conversation at the beach.

I glance at the ceiling in an effort to figure out what Spike’s staring at. Yet again he’s psyched me out—there’s nothing there, silly cat. What were we talking about again? Something about a beach? Hmm, that gives me an idea for my next question:  if you were stranded on a deserted island and could bring only three books from your keeper shelf, what books would they be? (see how skillfully—not—I worked in the beach reference?)

Rhonda: OMG I can’t even answer this. It’s like asking me to choose between my kids. haha. I can give you genres though–YA contemporary, adult futuristic, and adult historical.

Leah: Hmm, should I be worried that there are no erotic romances on that list? Maybe I should slip a copy of Texas Tangle into your emergency bag when you’re not looking. Oh, right, you’ve gone over it so many times editing, you probably have it memorized by now.

I lean back in my chair and toy with my pen in an attempt to appear professional. (Ooops, too late, I’m pretty sure my flannel pajamas have destroyed that image.) While we’re on the subject of editing, writers know that editing is not just about grammar and punctuation, it’s so much more. But for those non-writers who are reading this, can you share your process when you’re editing a manuscript? What do you look for to make a story better?

Rhonda: The first thing I do is a read-through of the story. As I read, I make notes about things I notice that need to be tweaked or clarified or may be potential issues. After that, I do a thorough digging in, looking at the big-picture issues: plot, setting, pacing, character, etc. All those things that affect the storyline and how it progresses. Are characters consistent and engaging? Is the setting relevant and present? Is the pacing appropriate to the scene and to the story? After that, I do my nit-picky round, where I look at the language and word usage–is there too much repetition/similarity between sentences, or word choice? Is the language vivid, concrete, and specific enough with sensory detail?

Leah:  I stifle a groan and mutter about sensory detail as I stab another pin into my Rhonda voodoo doll (Ooops, you weren’t supposed to see that!) For the writers who are reading this, what are your pet peeves that turn you off a manuscript?

Rhonda: Too much info drop is a huge pet peeve. It slows down the pacing and pulls me out of the immediate story. I also don’t like characters who are overdramatic or who don’t react as a normal person would. If your character is unreasonable and petty, I am totally not going to want to read the story.

Leah:  Overdramatic? I wouldn’t know anyone like that! I quickly change the subject. What type of story would you love to find in the submission pile?

Rhonda: I really want interesting locales or time periods you don’t normally read about. I love reading about unusual places and eras. I adore futuristics, contemps, historicals–really, any genre of romance works for me. I love anything from a sweet story to a super-spicy one, so long as there is romantic and sexual tension there. I also loooove Asian culture and would love more submissions that are multicultural.

Leah (making notes for her own future submissions): Not only are you an editor, but you’re also an author. How do you balance your time between writing, editing and having a life? (You do have a regular life, don’t you? Or is that a set of shackles around your ankle binding you to your computer?)

Rhonda: Wow, good question! Um, not having much of a life right now, but I’m trying! haha. I do a lot of multitasking, and I set aside dedicated time for each task.

Leah (guessing that Rhonda’s wondering if this interview will ever be over, especially from the way she keeps eyeing the door and checking her watch):  Thanks, Rhonda. Or and um, about that doll with the pins? It’s for, um, research. Honest!

You can follow Rhonda and Leah on Twitter. You can also check out Rhonda’s excellent editing of Leah’s Texas Tangle when it releases in June.

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Posted in Authors, editors | 14 Comments »

Shirin Dubbin interviews editor Kym Hinton

Shirin Dubbin | April 23rd, 2010

For this Author-Editor Q&A I turned on the spotlight, donned a hardboiled detective demeanor and asked the probing and utterly inappropriate questions you all want answers to. Kym ignored me. I switched tactics. My name is Shirin Dubbin, graphic artist and aspiring raconteur. My addiction is storytelling—mainly Urban Fantasy with strong romantic elements. Come meet my sponsor.

SD: You’ve chosen a career wrangling authors and corralling runaway plotlines. I’m fairly sure I’m not the only writer with a Circle C (©) brand of crazy so I have to ask: What were you thinking and how did it start?
(Sorry. All these genre tropes keep getting stuck in my head, plus I’ve been listening to Brooks and Dunn.)

KYM: I’ve always had an affinity for words and have worked as a newspaper proofreader, a journals editorial assistant, and the managing editor at a pharma advertising agency. Editing fiction was always the dream, but I knew moving to NY was a no-go, so in grad school, I applied for a volunteer proofing position with an e-publisher, and the rest is history. Working with authors is awesome, and there’s rarely any wrangling involved. Most of the time, if there are disagreements, the author and I can talk them out and find a happy medium that pleases us both.


SD: If you could write yourself into any book, TV show, movie or play what would it be and who would be your love interest?

KYM: Oh my! That’s a tough one. Can I pick two?

SD: Of course!

KYM: I would love to be Sydney Bristow from Alias, and I’d turn traitor for Julian Sark (David Anders). I’m all about kicking butt while looking amazing, and traipsing around the world as a super-spy who could just as easily kill a man as kiss him would be a fantastic job. But I also wouldn’t mind being Cristina Yang from Grey’s Anatomy. She’s so driven and not easily broken, but I’d take Dr. Avery (Jesse Williams) over Owen Hunt any day.

SD: Sounds like a hit show. Dr. Kym Hinton—secret agent—repairs hearts, kicks ass, and loves only one man: Dr. Avery Sark, double agent and saboteur. Sparks and scalpels fly this fall on FOX.


SD: What is guaranteed to hook you, even in a flawed book, and what will send you running, even if a book is well written?

KYM: Characterization is always a deal breaker. If the characters are just flat, one-dimensional words on the page, I’ve got no reason to care what happens to them. In particular, I’m easily hooked by broken heroes who needs to find love to put themselves back together again. When their lives are falling apart, and they’re on a downward spiral, I get so invested in the happily ever after, and I love when the strong/capable heroine (or hero) swoops in and is able to put aside the flaws to see the person underneath and stay with him through thick and thin until they find a way to make it work. The thing that sends me running is anything or (shudder) everything listed in the CP “Reasons for Rejection” post. Your editor isn’t there to serve as a critique partner or clean up typos that spell-check could catch, but rather to help you make what’s already polished shine. If the first few chapters read like you didn’t take the time to self-edit and remove backstory/build conflict, I’m already on to the next one.

SD: Ahh, for question 3B: Who is your top broken hero of all time?

KYM: In contemporary fiction, Doug Parker in Jonathan Tropper’s How to Talk to a Widower. In romance, Zsadist in J.R. Ward’s Lover Awakened.


SD: You’re big into fitness: running, kick boxing, wine drinking (rightly so; red wine is good for the heart and the sanity). What other pursuits do you enjoy?

KYM: You’ve about covered it. I work from home and freelance full-time, so other than those things, I’m actually pretty boring. Anyone who follows me on Twitter knows that if I’m not reading, editing, or working out, I’m probably in bed trying to fall asleep (insomnia is for the birds), researching/buying wine, or twiddling my thumbs while I wait for football season. Come August, the only addition to the list will be watching the Indianapolis Colts make it to the playoffs again.


SD: Last year’s Super Bowl was definitely a tough end to a great season for the Colts. Can you tell us a bit about your upcoming Carina Press titles and why you’re excited about them, or what made you pluck them from the slush pile? Just a few one-liners; I won’t tell a soul…
[Harp playing in the background]

KYM: Well, with Dreams’ Dark Kiss, it was the first sub I’d read that made me laugh out loud, but it’s got a darker, harder edge too (how do you toe that line so well?). Your surfer hero cracked me up, and I could never resist a heroine whose weapon of choice is a frying pan.

SD: Oh, you charmer you! I find being slightly off-center helps in blending darker imagery with humor; just a spoonful of wacky helps the creepiness go down…

KYM: I just wrapped up edits for Savage Sanctuary by Jacqueline Barbary, a GLBT paranormal novella with two drool-worthy heroes caught up in a resistance between shifters and the scientists who created them. The story is full of rich imagery, so it was easy to become immersed and fully invested in the shifters’ survival. The Panther’s Lair by Esmerelda Bishop is a steamy erotic paranormal with a heroine who gets more than she bargained for when she tries to have a one-night stand. Its balance of snappy wit and steam grabbed me, and it’ll be a nice summer read. And most recently, first-time author Harper Fox’s Life After Joe, a character-driven GLBT contemporary with a broken hero (see question 3) that I stayed up till 3 a.m. to finish. My favorite line is when the hero’s undecided about the guy who’s going to help pick up the pieces of his fractured life, and is trying to decide if he should resist. He thinks, “I should at least appear a little bit harder to get, shouldn’t I? But I didn’t have the strength. Not to say no to the sunlight.” Harper’s for sure going to break some hearts with that one.


SD: Very cool! Before we say good-bye, and get back to work (did you hear a whip crack?), there are a few genres you’re hoping to find among Carina submissions. Please share your wish list.

KYM: I’ll edit any genre Carina accepts with the exception of horror, mystery, and inspirational. We’ve got other editors who would love to receive those submissions, though, so never fear! In particular, it’s no secret I’m dying for a medical romance. I’ve got my fingers crossed someone puts me out of my misery soon in that regard. Otherwise, I’m a big fan of GLBT stories and would love to see more that are sweet, nonerotic, or romantic comedies (though you can send the erotic ones too). And you already know I have a soft spot for broken heroes, but I also love stories with multicultural characters (another reason Dreams’ Dark Kiss caught my eye), heroines who can kick butt and take care of themselves, and emotional, conflict-driven plots that put me through the wringer. I don’t care if you make me laugh or make me cry, but as long as you can make me feel something, I want to read your book.

That’s a great way to end the Q&A! However, Kym and I are chatty so if you’ve got more questions or simply want to dish please fire away…

You can follow Kym on Twitter @kaywhyem

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Posted in editorial, editors | 7 Comments »

Donna Lea Simpson interviews editor Gina Bernal

DonnaLea | April 22nd, 2010

I’m Donna Lea Simpson, and I’ve been an author for quite a while, publishing Regency romances with Kensington, paranormal historical romances with Berkley, and now a Victorian romance with Carina. Love & Scandal is a sexy historical that delves into the literary world of Victorian England. I’m thrilled to be a part of the launch of Carina Press, and the editorial process has been an exciting one.

Gina Bernal has made Love & Scandal a million times better with her edits, suggestions, questions, and the absolute attention to detail she brings to the project. She has also called me on some bad habits (starting sentences with ‘and’… thanks for pointing it out, Gina!) with unfailing good humor. I’m thrilled with the finished product; L&S would not have been nearly as good without Gina’s enthusiastic TLC.

Donna – Do you have any pet peeves, as an editor? Any authorial habit that drives you nuts? C’mon… all editors have ‘em, so tell us.

Gina – On the most basic level, it irks me when authors (particularly newbies) don’t take the time to really study their genre of choice. For example, don’t pitch your project as steampunk in a query letter when the closest the book comes to steampunk is a Victorian setting and some vague references to technological advancements.

It also drives me crazy when characters describe themselves in a way that feels forced–and that includes the old standing in front of a mirror trick. Heroines are particularly prone to this. When you’re putting your hair in a pony tail, do you ever think about your luxurious chestnut curls? Neither should your characters, unless they are particularly vain.Girl in Mirror

Something that will immediately pull me out of a story is a lack of dialogue. Sometimes an author gets so caught up in a character’s internal monologue or in paragraph after paragraph of description that the novel goes on for pages without anyone speaking. Once, at the ballet, I sat behind a mother and her young son. About halfway through the first act, the kid turned to her and said (quite loudly), “Why aren’t they talking?!” That’s how I feel when there’s not enough dialogue in a story. Trust me, authors, dialogue is your friend. Dialogue can progress the action, reveal information and express emotion. This is especially important in romance, where dialogue can be fun and flirtatious or seriously sexy–either way, it helps build intimacy. It’s like the line from “Lost in Austen,” when the modern-day heroine advises Elizabeth Bennett to get to know Darcy: “Just keep talking. From the talking comes the love.”

Donna – This next is a ‘choose your own question’ question… choose a) or b) to answer.

Gina – I’m going to pull another of my own pet peeves–not following directions–by quickly answering both.

2a – Do you write? If so, what do you write?

Gina – In college, I started to write. Recently, I uncovered a bunch of random chapters from projects I started but never finished. The longest chunk I wrote was for a time travel romance (these were much more popular back then). Maybe one day it will see the light of day again.

2b – Why do you enjoy editing?

Gina – I love the creative collaborative process between editor and author. Finding a submission that excites you is a great thing, but it’s the actual hands-on work with the author to make it the best book possible that’s most rewarding. I’m constantly awed by the incredible imagination that writers possess. Brainstorming ideas or working the kinks out of a troublesome scene can be a lot of fun. But even when edits get a bit frustrating or when you’re forced to crack the editorial whip now and again,  it’s completely worth it when both of us are proud of the finished product.

Donna – What is the farthest you have ever traveled from home? (Why? Did you enjoy it?)

Gina – Miles-wise, the farthest I’ve ever traveled is Greece. Two summers ago, my boyfriend and I spontaneously booked tickets to Athens. We went the first week of September, so the temperatures were intenSantorinise and I spent much of the trip with heat rash up and down my arms. But I’d do it again in a heartbeat! The ancient ruins of the Acropolis were truly awe-inspiring. Plus, we spent the longest part of our holiday on the island of Santorini, which is quite possibly the most beautiful place on earth. I wish I could vacation there every year!

Donna – What did you hope to be when you grew up, when you were twelve? Would you be happy now, if it had come true? (Or did it?)

Gina – At twelve, my dream was to be an actress. How happy I’d be today would totally depend on how successful an actress I’d become. J

Donna – If you were a tree… naw, I won’t ask that. But… if you had to choose an animal to become, what animal would it be? And why?

Gina – I’d be a tiny ball of fur named Nemo Bernal. My parents’ adopted the Pomeranian mix from a shelter a few months after the passing of our 15+ year-old family dog. Because he’s the new baby, Nemo is a spoiled brat who gets to do anything he wants. Oh, to have that dog’s pampered life!

A note from Gina Bernal about reading and what she’d like to see from writers:

To say I’m a big reader is an understatement. I’m usually reading more than one book at a time for pleasure–currently, a historical novel for my book group, a young adult dystopian fantasy as a read-along with my guy, a Silhouette Special Edition on my Blackberry, and a history of the founding of Australia whenever I can sneak in a chapter or two.

As for acquisitions, I’m looking for romance of all subgenres and heat levels. I love historicals set in unusual eras, sexy shapeshifters, and fun contemporaries. I’m a Texas girl, so cowboys–historical or contemporary–always have a spot in my heart. Outside of romance, I’m interested in women’s fiction (especially family dramas), historical fiction, and suspense with strong female characters,

You can find Gina on FaceBook, and also:

Twitter: @GinaBernal

Blog: http://www.readinginexile.blogspot.com/

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Posted in Writing/Submissions Advice, editorial, editors | 10 Comments »

Dee Tenorio interviews Editor Deborah Nemeth

Dee Tenorio | April 20th, 2010

A loud series of clanks breaks the silence in a dark room, coupled with the muffled oomphs! of a woman in clear distress. The sounds stop at the blink of bright overhead lights and a second woman steps out of the mysterious shadows…

For a moment, the woman in the chair can hardly believe it. If she didn’t know better, she’d think that was Dee Tenorio headed her way. But it couldn’t be. Dee lives in California, for one, and usually has her hands full with four kids and a husband. The author of twelve romances is supposed to be home writing number thirteen. Not to mention getting ready for her first paranormal romantic suspense, Tempting The Enemy, which is due to release from Carina Press in June.

She is not supposed to be lying in wait for unsuspecting people to spring a mousetrap for humans. The woman knows this because the woman in the chair is Dee’s editor, Deborah Nemeth. And the woman in the chair is not happy.

Unfortunately, Dee looks like she is happy. Very happy indeed…

Dee Tenorio: Oh, hi, Deborah, you made it! Great! Angie said she’d direct you this way. Welcome to my new “Bahbwa Wawa” set! I’ve gone all out for my first, very special interview here at the Carina Press blog. I’ve surrounded myself with an array of gorgeous floral bouquets and I have tried to make your chair as enticing as possible. Did you like the cheese I left there for you? I figured it might entice you! The arm and leg irons are extra padded, designed to be comfortable and reduce chafe as you sit beneath my inquisition…er, interview!

First tell us a little about yourself. Hobbies, what part of the world do you live in, that kind of thing.

Deborah Nemeth (after a pause—and a wiggle to test for escapability): I’m a soccer mom who lives in Virginia with my husband and two daughters. Editing for Carina is a dream job. I get to read stories, pick my favorites ones…and then work with brilliant authors such as you, Megan Hart, Carrie Lofty and Bonnie Dee to polish them for publication. What more could a bookslut ask for? When I’m not working, I enjoy reading, traveling, reading, sudoku, reading, gardening, reading…

Dee: Who are your favorite authors?

Deborah: Eloisa James, Marian Keyes, Philippa Gregory, JRR Tolkien, Elizabeth George, Georgette Heyer, Jane Austen, SEP, Angela Thirkell, Ngaio Marsh, JKR, Jennifer Crusie…to name just a few!

Dee: Now, a question that will tell us almost everything we need to know about you as a person. Are you a dog-lover, cat-lover, both or none?

Deborah: Dogs, definitely. Although nothing’s cuter than a purring kitten, I don’t like the little dead-bird/mouse love gifts that cats like to present to their owners, and hubby is a bird lover so that’s a nonstarter. I love sheepdogs and Labs and I think all seeing eye dogs are brilliant.

Dee: One of the things I both admire and have trouble understanding about you is that you have such a genuine love for grammar that you actually know what most parts of speech are called. When did this love affair with grammar begin, and has becoming an editor to grammatically incorrigible folks like myself detracted from it at all?

Deborah: English was my favorite subject in elementary school, so I guess my interest began then. While many authors can teach me a thing or two about grammar, others need some gentle guidance with misplaced modifiers and when to use lay vs. laid, which I’m always happy to do. I’m not a strict grammarian, though. I split infinitives, use fragments, and end sentences with prepositions—and I rarely use whom, which makes me come across as terribly ignorant to some of my overseas friends. Of course editing for grammar is only a small part of my job, since I rely on the copyeditor’s expertise for the nitty-gritty. As a developmental editor, my main focus is on the story structure.

Dee: What are you looking for in a submission? And what genres are you interested in?

Deborah: I love intelligent characters who are passionate about their goals, stories that take off from the first page and mount to a grand finale. I adore a rogue, and enjoy stories about rebels, smugglers, courtesans, thieves and forgers, though I can fall for a straight arrow too. An author’s voice is important to me, especially the rhythm of the prose. I’m open to most genres:

• In a thriller/suspense novel I want to see fast-paced action and I like my cozy mysteries to be clever—with or without romantic elements.

• In a historical I’m looking for dialogue that subtly conveys the flavor of the period while still being readable and natural-sounding. Aside from Regencies, unusual periods and settings appeal to me: ancient civilizations, medieval knights, Saracens, Vikings, the Italian Renaissance, Japan, India, China, Belle Époque Paris and the Roaring Twenties—and England in all periods up through WWII.

• I’m interested in acquiring space operas, steampunk, paranormals and epic fantasies (if they’re not too derivative or apostrophe-stuffed). I’d like a new twist on the Arthurian legends. And I’d love an anti-war sex-strike comedy (an updated Lysistrata) set aboard a closed community like a spaceship.

• I enjoy both lighthearted rom com and angsty women’s fiction. In a contemporary romance I look for strong conflict, something beyond a character’s hesitation to commit, in any heat level.

• Genre blends are welcome: historical paranormal, m/m fantasy, paranormal suspense… I’d love to acquire a space opera, steampunk or historical mystery with a really cool sleuth to base a series on.

Dee: Now, I know that writers have story dreams and we fantasize about writing something challenging and epic and enthralling the world with our amazing vision. But what do you as an editor dream of? Are there genres you want to conquer? Editing aspirations you’d like to meet?

Deborah: For the past three years I’ve edited mainly romances so I’m delighted to have an opportunity to acquire in other genres as well. And, just as authors would love to hit the bestseller lists, editors have similar dreams. When I fall in love with a project, I hope it’ll get wide exposure because I want everyone to read it.

Dee: And finally, though I know you want this grilling–um, interview–to go on forever… If you could send the writers who want to submit to Carina one bit of advice, what would it be?

Deborah: Most submissions suffer from too much exposition. If an editor realizes in the first scene that revisions will be needed, the author is already at a disadvantage, no matter how awesome the premise. Chunks of exposition bring the story’s momentum to a grinding halt. Develop your characters by showing them in action. Show us their passions, their goals, their conflict. Reveal only as much of their life’s story as we need to know to follow the action, as concisely as possible, and don’t be afraid to dole out the backstory in small doses.

Dee: Thanks so much, Deb. I really appreciate you taking the time to join me today, and of course, if anyone is interested in getting to know you better, they can stalk–I mean, follow you on Twitter for more info on what you’re looking for, they can keep up with you at @DebNemeth. And you’ll definitely be online, even with my plans for you.

(Claps hands for burly men to load Wunder-editor onto dolly.)

See, the original plan was to, of course, let you go after the interview. But it occurs to me that if I do that, you might run away, call the police or get that restraining order you keep joking about. Then who would edit my masterpieces? No, this is not a good plan. So, I’ve made you a nice, cozy room at my house, with REALLY shiny locks on the windows and doors. Normally, hubby would do the cooking, but since I can’t tell him I’ve kidnapped you, you’ll have to make do with my cooking…

(Worry laces Dee’s tone.) Now, Deb, I don’t think chewing your restraints is a very good id–…Um, Deb?

(Flat with shock.) Wow. I’m not THAT bad a cook.

Hmm. This might be a good time to start running. See you later, Deb! I’ll send in my next proposal soooooooon!

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Posted in Authors, editors | 16 Comments »

Joely Sue Burkhart Interviews Editor Alissa Davis

JoelySue | April 15th, 2010

Joely always has her nose buried in a book, especially one with mythology, fairy tales, and romance.  She, her husband, and their three monsters live in Missouri.  By day, she’s a computer programmer with a Masters of Science degree in Mathematics.  When night falls, she bespells the monsters so she can write.  Read more about her current projects on her website, http://joelysueburkhart.com, including news about her upcoming Carina Press release, The Bloodgate Guardian.  Stop by her blog each Friday to read short snippets (first).

From as early as I can remember, I loved books.  As a young reader, my favorite book—the first one I can remember reading myself over and over—was Heidi.  What’s the first book you can remember falling in love with?

Alissa:  I’ve got a bookshelf full of childhood favorites, so this is a hard question, but Madeline L’Engle’s Many Waters was the first book to really touch me. On the morning of my wedding, I sat in the stylist’s chair getting my hair done and reading that book. Susan Cooper’s The Dark is Rising saga and L. M. Montgomery’s Emily books are two other childhood series I still read regularly.

Who doesn’t love a tortured hero?  Can you talk about a few of your favorites?

Alissa:  One of my closest friends is a publicist at a New York house and shares my love of tortured characters. We joke that if he’s blind in one eye, missing a leg, scarred, and suffering from PTSD, he’s just about perfect. Some of my favorite tortured heroes include Zsadist from J. R. Ward’s Lover Awakened, Edward Rochester from Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre, Ken Norton from Christine Feehan’s Deadly Game, and Sydnam Butler from Mary Balogh’s Simply Love.

When I read The Bloodgate Guardian, your immortal priest Ruin stole my heart. He isn’t missing any body parts, but emotional torment—he has that in spades. On a soul-deep level, he’s just incredibly tired and sick and sad. When a character has reached that point, that’s when I love him best. Okay, that makes me sound really depressing! Honestly, I just love seeing characters who deserve a happy ending find one.

What book have you loved that no one else really seemed to care for?

Alissa:  It stinks when you love a book and can’t find anyone to share that enjoyment. I can’t think of a specific title, but back when I taking Very Serious English Lit courses, it wasn’t uncommon for some of the other students to make fun of romances. So there I was with a well-worn Susan Elizabeth Phillips novel sandwiched between Wilde and Chaucer in my backpack, trying to laugh with the others and thinking I’d never make a good professor if I liked Those Books. It stank to feel ashamed of my books and it turns out I hate teaching, so I switched grad schools, went into publishing, and now happily brag about my acquisitions to anyone who will listen.

What popular book has everyone else loved but you just didn’t care for?  (I’ll tell you a little secret:  I refuse to read or watch the Twilight saga.)

Alissa:  Your secret’s safe with me! I haven’t read Twilight either.

Much has been made about the Maya “predicting” the end of the world on Dec. 21, 2012.  (If—when!—our readers check out The Bloodgate Guardian, they’ll learn the truth about the Maya calendar cycle.)  If you knew the world really was going to end on that date, what’s the one thing you’d make sure you accomplished before then?

Alissa:  It would be great to grab my husband and baby and jet off to New Zealand for a long stay. It’s where they filmed Xena and The Lord of the Rings, and I’m a geek. :-)

How did you get into editing?

Alissa:  Shortly after ditching Professor of English Literature as my career choice, I switched grad schools, moved to New York, and got my MS in Publishing. After graduation I got a job with Alicia Condon at Dorchester, where I edited most sub-genres of Romance. A few years and one baby later, I said good-bye to Dorchester in order to move across the country, stay home with my little girl, and work with Angie at Carina Press. It was a huge move for my family but I’m thrilled to be editing some wonderful authors at Carina, yourself included. And I sure don’t miss the 1.5 hour commute!

Thank you so much, Alissa–I’m definitely glad you’re with Carina!  Lastly, I’m sure everyone wants to know what kind of books you’re hoping to find for Carina. What kind of book would make you jump up and down with glee if you found it in the slush pile?

Alissa:  I particularly love character-driven romances featuring heroes or heroines finding self-acceptance and a HEA after having suffered some sort of abuse, though I don’t care for a lot of violence taking place on the page. Also, submissions (funny, serious, whatever) where main characters who are socially awkward must learn to navigate society. And I’ve said this on a previous blog post, but books that include chefs, restaurants, or other foodie elements make me very happy.

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Posted in Authors, Behind the Scenes, editors | 11 Comments »

KS Augustin Interviews Editor Michael Banks

Kaugustin | April 13th, 2010

KS Augustin is a Malaysian-born writer of science-fiction, romance, and various permutations of the two. She has one husband, two children, one dog, two cats, and a couple of dozen fish, each with their own names. Her main activity, when not writing, is to stop any one group of the above trying to eat another group of the above. Her website is here and her blog, Fusion Despatches, is here.

KS Augustin: Michael, as both an editor and a writer, have you seen a difference in reader tastes over the past ten years? Do you have any thoughts on where this might be leading?

Michael Banks: One trend I see is a shift in backstory technique. Readers today are willing to accept a character’s backstory being spread across most of the story arc, rather than learning about a character immediately on introduction (the traditional approach). This fast-tracking challenges authors to not “lecture” the reader or break the proscenium, and thus encourages tighter writing.

Spreading out a character’s backstory has its own challenges. These include the potential for depriving the reader of background necessary to justify this or that event, and diverting the reader’s  attention from the main story. John Grisham, who uses the spread
backstory technique quite a bit, had trouble with these challenges in “A Painted House”. Studying the book and spotting the backstory problems can be a useful exercise for writers. (Grisham is better at this than he is bad at it. Other writers who are good at spreading backstory are Peter Robinson and Elizabeth George.)

KSA: It seems an obvious question to ask, but what benefits does an editor bring to a manuscript?

MB: A major benefit is the fact that the editor is not the writer. Unlike the writer, the editor doesn’t see what  the writer meant to say, or thought she said. The editor can also see the forest, and not just the trees–which usually obscure the writer’s view. The editor doesn’t share a writer’s lack of self-confidence, overblown ego, or fear of failure. (Hence, the editor is not afraid to polish or stet weak or strong work.) Ideally, an editor knows the genre in which a writer is working and can serve as an informed reader.

KSA: That’s a good point. Say a writer has moved past the first hurdle. She has managed to get a couple of books published. What publications or books would you recommend she read in order to further develop her craft?

MB: Magazines: The Writer, Publishers Weekly (ask your librarian to let you read the latest copy if it’s not on the shelves), Writer’s Digest, Editor & Publisher, and magazines that focus on specific genres (Romantic Times and Locus Magazine come to mind).

Books … read  “Another Life” by Michael Korda to understand the development of publishing in America–and how publishers think.

Read books on  technique–dialogue, characterization, etc. Writing how-to books by genre fiction authors are particularly helpful. Orson Scott Card’s “Characters and Viewpoint: How to Write Science Fiction and Fantasy” for example, and Damon Knight’s “Creating Short Fiction”.

KSA: You have worked with authors from all over the world. How are they different? The same?

MB: Writers everywhere are similar in that they are involved in the culture of writing–a culture that is focused on communicating with readers. Their own cultures are framed by the writing culture.

KSA: Why Carina Press?

MB: The biggest plus for Carina is the fact that it is backed by a large organization with decades of successful experience in marketing. Although “Harlequin” isn’t heavily emphasized, it’s good to be associated with a brand name.

KSA: Do you own an ebook reader?

MB: No, because all ebook readers are overpriced. There is nothing available as an ebook that I can’t get in another format, or read on my computer screen. I’ll buy an ebook reader when the prices are reasonable.

KSA: Do you have any Internet presences you’d like to share with the readers?

MB: My blog, “The Real Writing Life” offers writing advice such as what  to do with an idea once it comes to you, how to break writer’s block and how to bring your writing to life with the right verbs. Posts on research and writing techniques are there, too. I also recommend books for writers, and discuss fiction that can be instructive. I blog as much about my writing life as I do about the craft and business of writing. I talk about how and why I got into writing, not getting paid for eleven years, being plagiarized–anything that comes to me. (Sometimes nothing is forthcoming for a week or two [tell me about it! --ksa], so the blog goes silent.) I try to avoid politics and religion.

KSA: Ah. You mention writer’s block. Any last words of advice for the writers in the audience?

MB: Always have more than one project working. If you are hit with writer’s block you won’t compound the problem by being frustrated over not getting anything done.

If you’re interested in submitting to Michael (and I can confirm that he’s constructive, knowledgeable and has a wicked sense of humour) his genres for submission are: science fiction, fantasy, urban fantasy, science fiction romance, paranormal romance, mystery/detective, steampunk and interactive fiction.

For pleasure, he enjoys reading hard SF, alternate histories, series detective novels, fantasy that goes beyond the “wizards and elves” stereotypes, and romances with interesting backgrounds that show the author’s mastery of the subject without overwhelming the story (aviation, for instance).

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Posted in Carina Press, editors | 10 Comments »

Janni Nell Interviews Editor Elizabeth Bass

JanniNell | April 8th, 2010

Hi!  I’m Janni Nell and I live with my family in Sydney, Australia. I’ve always dabbled in writing but didn’t seriously try for publication until my kids were in school. Luckily my submission, Allegra Fairweather: Paranormal Investigator, to Carina Press fell into the hands of Elizabeth Bass. It was my pleasure to interview her for the blog.

Okay my first question isn’t the most original but I’m interested. How did you get into editing?

Luck!  When I was twenty-one I ran away to New York City, armed with nothing but a fine arts degree. I had no idea what I was doing.  I moved into an eight-by-twelve (that’s feet!) apartment and found a job in a bookstore and later worked as a substitute teacher for a while, but my big ambition was to work in publishing.  I took a proofreading course and started applying for jobs—legal publishing, sports publishing, literary fiction houses…anything.  I lucked into an editorial assistant job at Silhouette Books, where I had the good fortune to apprentice under great (patient) editors and work with many wonderful authors.

A member of my family recently adopted a rescue dog. He’s a huge gorgeous mutt (the dog not the family member) who just loves people. Do you have any pets?

Congratulations on your pup!  Next to books and movies, my biggest mania is for animals.  I grew up in the country, where I was always surrounded by animals and pets.  All my own pets have come from shelters.  I love dogs and cats equally and usually have several, although right now, sadly, my menagerie has dwindled down to a twenty-one-year-old kitty, Ophelia.  (Who, because I adopted her from a shelter when she was fourteen, was once written up in Cat Fancy magazine—my proudest moment!) She’s stone deaf, one-eyed and senile–but spry.

One of the things I love about Carina Press is that the authors and editors have come together from all over the world. I live in Australia and you’re in Canada. What are the three best things about living in Montreal?

1:  It’s a gorgeous, multicultural, dynamic city—yet not as overwhelming (or overwhelmingly expensive) as New York can seem.

2:  I get to practice my very bad French without being entirely dependent on it. (Most everybody here is bilingual.)

3:  Bakeries.  I’m pretty sure Montreal has more bakeries per square mile than anywhere else in North America.

I understand you’ve recently discovered Aussie pies. My favourite is chicken and vegetable. What’s yours?

I’m a vegetarian, so I get the veggie kind.  They’re very good!  Odd that within week of editing a book by an Aussie author, an Aussie pie store opened on my street.  Coincidence???

We all enjoy a good laugh. When was the last time you laughed out loud?

I was just looking at a picture on the web of a Chihuahua perched on top of a Saint Bernard. Obviously, I am easily amused!

Can you tell us a little bit about what you like reading for pleasure.

I read an oddball assortment of new and old.  I love older fiction from the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.  My favourite author of all time is Anthony Trollope, and my favourite author of the moment is Kate Atkinson.  I read suspense, mysteries, romances (especially historicals), history, and I have a particular weakness for old movie star autobiographies.

What would you love to find in the Carina Press submissions?

My favourite genres are historicals (all settings—but I do have a fondness for westerns, Victorians, and anything about the Tudors), suspense, women’s fiction (a term I can’t stand, by the way), and chicklit.

I hesitate to get too specific when it comes to genre or setting or plot, because when push comes to shove, what I really love is a book that keeps me turning the pages.  To me, there’s nothing better than opening a submission—maybe even one I have little enthusiasm for from the brief description in the query—and then being glued to my chair for the next few hours, completely drawn in to a different world.  Good writing does that, no matter what the genre.

And yet…  I keep waiting to come across a really great police thriller—a good old-fashioned serial killer plot in the Val McDermid vein.  That would make my day!

Liz is one of the editors behind the Carina Press Facebook Fan Page.

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Kathleen Dienne Interviews Editor Melissa Johnson

KathleenDienne | April 6th, 2010

Hey, y’all. I’m Kathleen Dienne. I’ve been a theatrical stage manager, a marketing director, a video game consultant, and a professional blogger, but being a Carina Press author is my proudest achievement to date. My first novella, Her Heart’s Divide, is an erotic contemporary with a plot that turns on the concept of parallel universes. Can a girl have too many handsome husbands? My wonderful editor, Melissa Johnson, deserves big kudos for making my story shine (and for never losing patience with all the questions of a first-time author).

I’m excited to be the one to get to introduce Melissa to the CP blog readers – and to get to edit the editor.

*rubs hands in glee*

Kathleen Dienne: So, let’s say you’ve got a totally unexpected hour of peace and quiet (ha!). You have no pressing deadlines (double ha!) so what you choose to do is a decision guided by your own idea of fun and relaxation. Do you:

A) Read a slush manuscript to see if you might discover something new to recommend for acquisition,
B) Do a final polish pass on a manuscript that’s almost ready to go to press,
C) Bat around developmental ideas with an author,
D) (Insert your choice of editing task here).

Melissa Johnson: Triple-ha! for the idea of no pressing deadlines.  Once I suspend disbelief at that scenario, I can indeed come up with a long list of things I’d like to do.  Option E: Shower, brush my teeth and vacuum the living room.  Kidding… sort of.  Personal and home hygiene aside, I would most like to soak in the tub and finish the book The Help by Kathryn Stockett which I have been reading for a couple weeks.  It is a beautiful and wrenching book and just happens to be great for learning about switching POV.

From the editing standpoint, if I could choose a task from all the possibilities…well, I’d say it depends on my mood.  Sometimes, I just want to do something mundane like organize all my emails from authors into their appropriate folders and make sure I haven’t dropped the ball on something.  (Please always feel free to email me again if I do.)

I do love the developmental and line edits.  I enjoy getting deep into the manuscript and hunting for all the little (or big) ways to make it a smoother read and a more logical/believable story.

One of the hardest things for me to do is the letter introducing myself to the author and giving the majority of my developmental edit suggestions.  It is too easy to list issues without giving explanations and being sensitive to the person behind the story.  I am always working at this.  This letter also involves combining my notes with those of the acquisition team member(s) who read the story, and making all the suggestions work together.

KD: Your past career is as all over the map as mine is. I tell people that my stint as a stage manager for an outdoor drama prepared me for the world of fiction writing – when two dozen college kids in Native American costumes throw flaming torches at your head for 73 nights in a row, plus matinees, mere rejection holds no horror. Which of your past jobs best prepared you for the sharp penciled world of editing?

MJ: Thankfully, no one has thrown torches at me in previous jobs, or this one…yet.  Hey!  Are you saying that my edit-suggestions are like flaming torches being thrown at you?

KD: Probably not. ;)

MJ: Before I started my editing career with Samhain, I did have a lot of different jobs. I learned how to balance the needs of different clients, stay organized with excel spreadsheets and think of the big-picture as well as micro goals when I was a management consultant to investment banks.  My waitressing experience in college helped prepare me for the multitasking and fact-recall in editing.  Staring at ten plates of eggs with slightly different components and remembering which customer gets what is not so different from remembering the status of ten manuscripts, the authors’ styles, character traits and plot timelines.  I also used to catalog photo-negative slides for an archaeological expedition (in their non-glamorous home office)–that required a lot of attention to detail.

KD: If there was one thing you could wave your hand and get writers to stop doing, for the love of dulce de leche ice cream, what would it be? And would you prefer a different flavor?

MJ: I love dulce de leche ice cream! My mom is from Argentina, and I can remember my aunt bringing a tub of pure dulce de leche each year when she visited us.  I’d stand in our front closet/pantry and eat it with a spoon in the dark.  The rest of my family could never figure out why it was gone so quickly.

I don’t think there is one writing faux pas that I can’t stand.  A little tell instead of show or backstory or misuse of words or weird punctuation isn’t going to make steam come out of my ears if your story is unique and compelling.  So, it depends on how often the author commits said writing sin and if it is balanced by other strengths.  I guess I have a little bit of a pet peeve about heroes who think, or God forbid, speak in purple prose e.g. “My heart pounds at the sight of your rose-petal lips.” (Exceptions can be made for genre, time period and a quirky character trait, of course.)

KD: What reference book/book on writing do you recommend to new authors?

MJ: Angela’s self editing workshop!  I just read it a week ago and am in love…with the text ;-)

KD: Five years from now, what’s going on in your dream editing career?

MJ: I’d like to be doing more of the same.  Seriously.  Maybe with a little more free time though.

KD: You said on the CP blog in February: “I’d love to see some submissions that give me a real feel for a subculture in North America (or elsewhere). It could be economic, geographic, ethnic or all three…yum. I have a longstanding crush on stories about outcast witches, who meet and transform conservative heros…in a rural and/or historical setting.” That was in the context of telling authors what you wanted to see more of, not what you were limited to editing. The stuff you’re editing is all over the map. So what genres do you edit? What do you read for fun? And how much overlap is there?

MJ: I edit everything that is on the CP submissions list minus inspirational, because I don’t have much experience in that genre.  I also edit and write articles in the area of lung disease.

I read for pleasure from all the areas I edit, perhaps with slight weight toward paranormal, contemporary, suspense, and erotica.  I read general fiction too and medical journal articles/news releases.  I like the New Yorker magazine.  I read in the social sciences and love Malcolm Gladwell and Oliver Sacks.  Oh yeah, and with my kids I read American Girl Doll books, weaponry and outer space books, and Dan Gutman’s books.

KD: Thanks, Melissa!

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