We’re delighted to have you join us at the Fuzzy hangout, Faith. To get us started, I have some questions for you to ponder, the sorts of things all of us, readers and writers alike, wonder about. So kick back, pour yourself a cup of coffee and spill. (Your thoughts, not the coffee.)

 1) What was it that made you want to be an author? Are you one of those writers like me whose been scribbling since childhood, or did the burning desire to put pen to paper or fingers to keyboard strike far later in life?  

I’m like you. I’ve been writing something or another since the sixth grade. Of course, I did not get serious about it, by actually following though on a book until 2000.

2) And a follow up question, are you a diehard romantic (like me) and is that what prompted you to write romance?   Have you ever written in another genre or considered it?   

I am a bit of a stick in the mud when it comes to reading. It has to be romance, but I have tackled different genres since I first found “Mann Of The Medical Wing,” a Harlequin romance my brother’s wife had. I was fifteen. Now, I pretty much read paranormals, time travels, and historicals. And they just happen to be what I love to write! However, I may get around to writing a non-fiction book sooner or later.

3) Also along those lines, what draws you to write paranormal romance? And how do you come up with your ideas? I’m assuming a fabulous imagination enters in.   

I never thought I would ever pen a vampire romance. I am a chicken at heart, (Me too :) and don’t like to look at scary things, but I wanted to enter a contest, and after taking a nap one afternoon, I dreamed about a guy who seemed to be a vampire. He was a bit arrogant, handsome, and oh so possessive…lol.  After I wrote “Kensington’s Soul” the first book in my “Bound By Blood, The Legends” series, I was hooked. How do I come up with these ideas? Well, it’s like this. My brother asked me if I just had stuff rattling around inside my head. I told him yes, and that was as good thing or I wouldn’t be able to write.

4) Do you ever struggle with writer’s block, and if so, what are some of your coping strategies?  Apart from bribing yourself with chocolate, as some of us do. 

Beth, I don’t think I do, or I haven’t in a long time. For me it’s mostly finding the time to write at the moment. But for me when I did get it, reading a book, chocolate, all kinds of things helped. A tip an instructor gave me years ago when I did an article on his solution for writers block, is to turn off the monitor and just let your fingers type. At that time back in 2001 or so, I needed that advice, and it did help! And one of my problems is turning my characters off…lol. They like to jabber in my head way too much when I’m supposed to be doing something else.

5) Is there someone in your life you consider to be your inspiration, or many such individuals?   

There are several someones! First I would have to say God, his son Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. Without the peace of mind this heavenly host brings, I couldn’t write. Next on my list would be my daughter, who took care of her dad while he was sick so I could work. I know it was hard on her, and I hated it so badly. She is awesome.  Then there is my brother Rod. He has always believed in me, and makes me feel like I’ve arrived…lol.  Of course, there are so many authors out there who have supported me, picked me up when I got rejected, and gave me sound advice!

6) Do you base any of your characters on people you know?  Of course, as it says in the start of our books, ‘any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales, is entirely coincidental.’  

Actually, I don’t. I do however use unusual names of people I meet.

  

7) What would you consider to be your favorite book you’ve written?   

Well, I love my first book, which has yet to find a home. It is a medieval. After that it would be “Dunbar’s Curse” the second book in my vampire series. And I love “Viking, Go Home.” A time travel with, you guessed it, a Viking. I am especially pleased with the first book in my “Immortal Executioner” series. It allows me to explore how archangels work and how they look on the evil that is in the world. Of course, readers will love the Highlander hero who fights demons.

8) Who are some of your favorite authors? Favorite books?   

Okay, let’s see, I know Beth Trissel is one of them! You rock with your time travels. (Awww, shucks.) And let’s just say I love a lot of the paranormal authors out there. If I tried to list them we’d be here a week…lol.

9) How do you--or have you--coped with rejection?   

Well, I’ve learned not to get as upset as I did with my first two or three…lol. I wanted to rip my manuscript apart. Now, I leave it alone for a day or so and go back and then read the reasons why it was rejected. Sometimes you can find a beacon of inspiration in the editor’s words, and then again sometimes you just write up a scene and kill people off…lol.

10) Any new projects you’re at work on, or new directions you’d like to tell us about?   

Oh yes, I am working on a series that will deal with the Archangel Michael heading up a group of immortal executioners. I also have book coming out with Siren Bookstrand in May 2011. It is also a paranormal.

Wow.  Fascinating, Faith, and you're an amazingly productive author.  An inspiration to us all.  I've decorated this post with your lovely covers and didn't get all of them up here.

Thank you so much, and for having me back here! I love you and this blog!  Hugs!

Faith

 

For more on Faith please visit her website at: http://www.faithvsmith.com/

Greetings Faith.  We're delighted to have you visit with us. ~

1: What do you most like about writing? Least like? What made you want to be an author?

What I like the most…I love creating characters.  How they talk to me, how they won’t move if I’m not going in direction they want me to…lol. 

What I like the least…second guessing myself after the book is finished.  Like when all the edits are done, the galley’s finished, it has a release date, etc, and I’m going, maybe I should have done it this way.  I am also not very fond of editing my own work…lol.  

 What made me want to be an author?  Well, it’s like this, I don’t think I had a choice.  From the time I was old enough to know what an imagination was, I was daydreaming.  I dreamt of heroes, heroines, plots, all kinds of stuff that took me away.  Once I discovered romance novels, I couldn’t stop reading them.  So many exciting worlds!

 2: When did you decide to write romance and how long have you been at it? Also, have you written other genres? 

 I decided I wanted to write romance in the sixth grade.  Yep, when there were dragons and dinosaurs…lol.  I have been seriously writing since 2000.  No, I stick to romance.

3: How do you get over writer’s block? 

Now you are speaking my language…lol.  I actually interviewed a professor who helped me get over writer’s block.  You simply turn off your monitor and write blind so to speak.  Don’t worry about the mistakes, just visualize the scene.  It works.  Here is the link where you can find the article if interested.  http://thewildrosepress.com/publisher/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1047&Itemid=142

4: How do you come up with your ideas?

Most of my ideas come out of the blue.  From a dream, watching someone walk down a road, just a passing thought, a thunderstorm.

5: Do you ever have problems not going over the top details and plot lines? Do your characters take over?

My characters do have a mind of their own, but so far they have not proved to be too bad…lol.  I think that my details and plot lines balance out pretty well.

6: How did you find a publisher? 

I entered the Through The Garden Gate Contest and got a request from Pam Winger at The Wild Rose Press to revise and resubmit.  I did and then I submitted a paranormal.  I was truly blessed!

7: On average, how long does it take to write your books? 

That depends.  My first book, which is not pubbed took over seven years with a five year hiatus due to family crises.  I have written a book in less than two years, two months, two weeks, and six weeks.  I think it depends on the subject and if I can just find the time to sit down and let the muse take over.

8: Do you have a person in your life that you would consider to be your inspiration?

Wow, that is a hard question.  There are more than one.  My husband who fought the battle of a brain injury and lost, my daughter who cared for him and put her own life on hold, and special friends who are authors who wouldn’t let me quit.

9: Who’s your favorite author to read? Favorite book?

Now, that is a question, I feel I just can’t answer.  We don’t have enough space…lol.  I love to read medieval and regency authors, as well as vampire authors.

10: How do you cope with rejection?

My first rejection made me want to tear up the manuscript.  It was for a contest.  A friend stopped me…lol.  Since then I’ve been rejected several times and still dread the dreaded rejection.  Now, I try to read it without getting my feelings  hurt, put it away for a day or two and then look at it again, and stubborn as I am, I try to rework the manuscript to make it better.

11: Do you base your characters on people you know?

Not really, although I might use certain characteristics or surnames from people I know.

12: How do you determine the goals of your characters? 

That is a good question.  I’m not sure…lol.  I tend to sit down, write out the first few chapters, and then take a look at GMC.  I know that’s not the way it’s suppose to be, but I have to get into the characters heads before I know what their goals are.

Faith, we have much in common.  Thanks so much for your honest, touching, and witty answers.

For more on this talented author please visit her website at:http://www.faithvsmith.com/