Interview

Hi Meagan, and welcome to RomanceJunkies.   First, can you let us know what projects you are currently working on?

 

Musketeers, Dragons and Elves, oh my!    LOL!  

 

Currently, I am working on the first two of four books in my erotic paranormal series, THE MUSKETEER CHRONICLES, which put a sexy, supernatural spin on the historic classic.   I am also finishing my contemporary paranormal, DRAGON FIRE, which takes the world from my award-winning erotic novella, CLAIMING THE LAMB, and makes it bigger, darker and hotter.   

 

After I finished up the edits on A MAGICAL ENCOUNTER, my fantasy romance novel coming out this month from New Concepts Publishing, another story slammed into my head.   I’ve already gotten a proposal done of KINSLAYER, which takes the secondary Elfin warrior character, from A Magical Encounter, and makes him the hero…well, sort of.   *grins*  

 

I’m also awaiting edits on my hot historical romance, THE MARQUIS & THE MISTRESS, which is being released by The Dark Castle Lords, and THE WHOLE ENCHILADA & LUST DESSERTS, two erotic contemporary stories coming February 1, 2008 in TORRID TEASER #43 from Whiskey Creek Press Torrid.

 

So, it’s pretty much writing and editing, with a dash of promo and playtime at Myspace, right now.   

 

How do you fit writing into your schedule? What does your workspace look like?

 

Well, I work a job Monday through Friday, 5am to about noon.   Yes, I said 5am.   {{yawn}}   Now that the kids are both in school full day, I get a good chunk of writing time in before they get home, which is a nice switch.   I got so used to writing in chaos, or at two in the morning and now it’s just me and the pets until the munchkins come home.    

 

My workspace is heaven, I love it!   I have an office, with a door.   I’ve found that doors are key when you have two kids, a cat and a dog and your office is directly off the kitchen.   Anyway, my office has warm, pumpkin colored walls that are lined with books, filing cabinets, posters, charts, desk and computer and a corkboard covered plot wall with submission charts, plot boards and hotties…er, I mean, hero inspiration pictures.   Yeah, that’s it.   *winks*

 

Do you do a lot of research for your stories? What is the most interesting thing you have learned?

 

I always research.   Let’s face it, any excuse to get my nose in a musty, old book, and I’m there.   J   Now, how much I research depends on the story.   For THE MARQUIS & THE MISTRESS, I did endless amounts.   The story takes place during King Henry IV of France’s last years ruling the country, and includes as many factual characters as fictional.   So, I read up on, not only the period and the locale, but the people.   I’ll tell you, some of the books I read on King Henry IV were so old, the binding glue turned to dust on my desk.   But, I love history and books (probably why I write) so I found all of that research not only interesting but inspiring.   It amazes me to hear that the French court setting does not appeal to a good number of people.  I think it’s just as rich, lush and intrigue laden as the English court.   Not to mention all those hot, French men.   Ooo-la-la, what’s not to love?  

 

The most interesting thing that’s happened so far came from reading the Marquis de Sade’s letters and works as research for my erotic novella, ONE NIGHT WITH DE SADE.   I had always been fascinated by him, but I had no idea what a normal, intelligent, politically conscious minded and loving individual he was.   He was very much ahead of his time when it came to reform and society - a rebel with a cause, if you will, who used his works to shake people up, to wake them up.   So, it was interesting to leave that experience not only understanding a bit more about the man many considered a monster, but admiring him on certain levels.   He was French too, of course, so that helped.   LOL!   (Are you noticing a trend here?)

 

Are you a plotter or do you write as it comes? Do your characters start with names or do they have to have personalities before they can be named?

 

Both.   I am a firm believer that if you have two great characters, plop them in an interesting setting and let them loose, stuff will happen and you will eventually have a book.   However, that can either take a year or generate a 120,000 word epic.   So, I plot.  

 

To me, character names are like baby names.   You have an idea of what you like and what you want, but you don’t know their names until you get a good look at them.   If you are going for a name that means something significant, then it’s you and the baby name website’s until you find something that doesn’t make you cringe.   J

 

What is the most challenging part of writing the story for you? Is there anything that you aren’t fond of doing?

 

That moment when that fire under your butt excitement about your new idea burns out and you realize that you still have to write an entire book.   This usually happens sometime in the middle, lasts about sixty pages and ends when the thrill of finishing settles in.

 

I’m not too fond of that moment.   J

 

What are your goals in life? Personal or otherwise?

 

I want to be Nora.   Oops, did I say that out loud?   LOL!   Okay, so I don’t really want to be her.   But, I would like her job security and her paychecks.   Unfortunately, writing isn’t about either for most authors.   So, my goal will continue to be to enjoy writing stories about my nutty characters, and getting all their voices in my head down on paper.  

 

When you think about it, it’s like therapy, really.  

 

Of all the places that you have traveled, which one is your favorite? Is there a place you haven’t been that you would love to?

 

I just visited New Orleans this August/September and had the best time!   The atmosphere is amazingly vibrant and it has such a rich history.   I cannot wait to get back and spend more time in that fabulous city.

 

I’ve always wanted to backpack through Europe.    Although, after seeing that movie “Hostel,” I’m thinking I’ll do it the first-class hotel way instead.  

 

Do you have any hobbies that you do in your spare time? Is there something you would love to learn but haven’t had the chance yet?

 

Ha!   Spare time! LOL!   *wiping tears* Ah, Kim, you’re funny.   

 

If I had some free time, I’d love to get better at playing my guitar.  

 

What kinds of advice would you give a new writer? Is there anything that you have learned that you can pass on to someone just starting out?

 

Develop thick skin, keep your chin up, write everyday, treat others how you want to be treated, keep learning, always be professional, if you don’t have a critique partner – get one, and surround yourself with those who support your dream.   Ignore the ones who don’t – they will all be clamoring to for autographs when you’re published and success is the sweetest revenge.   J  

 

What age is your inner child? Why did you pick that age?

 

Inner child?   If I had to guess, I would have to say ten. At ten, you can read at a pretty advanced level, which opens up worlds you never knew existed beyond your little bubble.   You’re not a little kid anymore, but you have the imagination of one.   You know what’s coming with the whole teenager/adulthood mess, but you don’t have to worry about it yet.   You have some chores, but no job or heavy responsibility and all your subjects in school are fun and not mission impossible.   You have the friends you’ve had since as far back as you can remember, and at this point, think you’re going to grow up across the street from each other so your kids can all be BFF’s too.

 

All in all, it’s a great age to be.   Now, if I could only convince my daughter.   J  

 

What kinds of books will we find on your bookshelf?

 

Hundreds!   Literally.   My office is lined with them.   My daughter tried to count them, and quit less than halfway at 500 when I told her the shelf she’d just counted was double stacked.   LOL!   I have everything from my collection of leather bound classics to college textbooks I couldn’t part with to old Harlequins from the 70’s that my grandmother gave me.   I have a pile of Blaze’s that go from the floor to three feet high, and three stacks of twenty paperbacks squeezed beside my desk.  

 

What can I say?   I’m an addict.   Books are my crack.

 

MORE FUN…

 

Are you caught up in the reality TV craze? Has one of the endings blown you away? If you could create your own reality show, what would it be about?

 

Not any more.   Years ago, I used to watch Survivor.   But now, I don’t really have time to watch TV.   When I do, I catch Prison Break, Blood Ties (if they’d ever put it back on - Grrrr), Ghost Hunters and Family Guy.

 

If I were going to create a reality show…Hmm.   I know Affleck/Damon did their Project Greenlight for screenwriters, but I would love a romance writer show.   Well, in theory, anyway.   I mean, honestly, how boring would it be?   The host comes on…Oooo, we could have a yummy cover model host though…but, I digress.   Ahem, so the host comes on and says - ‘Ladies, your challenge for this week is…write a novella featuring a Scottish hero, a turtle and the color purple.’   Then we at home watch while a bunch of women in bunny slippers type for thirty minutes.   Um, yeah, riveting television.   LOL!

 

I can see why it hasn’t been done…and why I’m not a producer.  

 

If you could pick one super power to have, which one would it be and why?

 

I'd have to go with psychokinesis.   Work would be a breeze, I could clean up the kid’s room with some mad Mary Poppins skills, and type my manuscript without actually typing.  

 

What kinds of music do you enjoy? Do you have a favorite band?

 

My tastes change all the time.   At the moment, I am more into hard rock than pop, but I will listen to everything.  

 

Favorite band: 30 Seconds to Mars.    

 

What is your favorite part of spring? How about your least favorite?

 

Favorite part of spring:   The snow melts!!   

 

Least favorite part of spring:   Tornadoes.  

 

What is your favorite TV commercial? Do you have a least favorite one?

 

I LOVE the “But he has Bud Light. And a chainsaw!” one – cracks me up!  

 

Prescription medication commercials drive me insane!

 

Thanks for the great questions, Kim.   I would also like to thank everyone at Romance Junkies, for all of your hard work here. It's a great resource for writers and readers alike.

I’d like to mention that I also have a Yahoo Newsletter Group – ( http://groups.yahoo.com/group/A-Little-Bit-of-Magic/ ) called - A Little Bit of Magic. Every three months, I post a newsletter with info about me, my books, hottie of the month and the contest winner of that issue.   Once you're signed up for my group, you'll receive automatic entry into all of my contests. I give away everything from LOTR goodies, books and arc's to chocolate!

Feel free to stop by my website ( http://www.meaganhatfield.com ) to learn more about me or my books.   Or cruise by and friend me at Myspace ( http://www.myspace.com/meaganhatfield ) or leave a comment at my blog ( http://www.meaganhatfield.blogspot.com )

Oh, I almost forgot...I have bookmarks, brochures, magnets, postcards, etc. If anyone wants some goodies, just e-mail me with your snail mail and I'll pop something in the mail for you!

 

Thank you, Meagan, for chatting with us.   Best of luck with your writing in the future!

By Kim Atchue-Cusella

Romance Junkies Publishing Editor

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