Make-Believe Mondays With Gail Barrett

Today on Make-Believe Mondays, my guest is Gail Barrett.

Gail, first, tell us a little bit about the manuscript you’re working on now.

Gail: I’m currently writing a miniseries for Silhouette Romantic Suspense. It’s called The Crusaders: Chasing legends, capturing hearts, and I am extremely excited about it. The series begins when a legendary, eleventh-century artifact shows up in a Spanish bank vault -- sparking murders and resurrecting rumors of an ancient curse. Each story takes place in a different country, and I’ve had a fabulous time doing the research -- I’ve gone to Spain and Peru so far.

Debra: Oh, yes, research in foreign places is one of my favorite things to do. How exciting!

Ray Bradbury said, “We are cups, constantly being filled. The trick is, knowing how to tip ourselves over and let the beautiful stuff out.” How do you keep your creative cup filled?

Gail: It’s hard to pinpoint where my creative inspiration comes from, but I know I’m very influenced by setting. I love to study the interplay of light and color on leaves and trees, for example, or watch a flock of birds twisting and expanding in the sky. There are so many beautiful subtleties in our world, and I find it inspiring to really sit back and see what’s around me. I also love to listen to music. I do some of my best brainstorming while I’m driving in the car with the music on (I’m a Celtic music fanatic). Another thing I like to do is travel. Going to a foreign location can be uncomfortable, even grueling, but it yanks me out of my comfort zone, and forces me to grow and experience new things -- essential for creativity.

Debra: I couldn't agree more.

Is there a point when your characters begin to come alive and you can see and hear them?

Gail: Absolutely, but it’s not something I can plan or predict. It happens at different points in my work for different characters. For example, in the second book of my current miniseries (To Protect a Princess, October SRS), as soon as my hero began to talk -- out came a very sexy Texan drawl. That totally threw me because I had no idea how a Texan ended up in the mountains of Peru. I had to go back and figure that out. (It was hard, but no way was he losing that accent because it was exactly right for him.) In Heart of a Thief, the hero came alive as soon as he spotted the heroine, the woman who once betrayed him, across the room -- and man, was he was furious! As a writer, I’ve found that it’s vital to watch for those moments because they make all the difference in the book.

Debra: And what a magical moment it is, when they come alive.

Some very famous authors have played with language, creating words for people or places that no one has ever heard of. Have you ever played with words in that way and if so how?

Gail: I’ve never invented words, but sometimes when I’m writing, I’ll think of the perfect word in Spanish (I used to live in Spain and know the language). That’s particularly frustrating because I can’t insert Spanish in an English sentence, even if it’s exactly the word I need.

Debra: Yes, and so many times there is no word which in translation carries exactly the same meaning and connotation.

For some writers, dreams play a role in creating fiction. Has this been true for you? Have you ever dreamed a scene or an image that later wound up in one of your books?

Gail: That’s a great question. I’ve never actually dreamed a scene -- my dreams are always long and convoluted, usually involving me flying through the air or engaging in other bizarre acts. But I do have a lot of recurring dreams set in fascinating buildings that are just begging to show up in my books. One is a beautiful house on a cliff overlooking the ocean in San Diego. The view is amazing, the house has lovely, sun-filled porches and rooms -- but a dead body in the basement (very scary). Another is what seems to be an abandoned palace in Spain. The marble floors are cracking, the ancient pillars sinking, but every time I enter that place, I feel a huge excitement, an urgent need to discover what secrets it holds.

Debra: Thank you, Gail. I believe our dreams can point us in the right direction, if we listen to them. So I hope some day to be reading about this abandoned palace one day.

Is there anything else you would like to add about the role of imagination, and dreams in creating fiction? Any other message for our readers?

Gail: Yes. Allow yourself to daydream. Turn off the television and just let yourself think. I firmly believe that creativity occurs when we are forced to delve into ourselves for amusement. If we are too busy reacting to the world around us, we stifle our creativity. I cringe when I see children whose parents schedule every second of their days. I think it’s so important that kids be left alone to simply play. When my own boys were little we had a policy of no television during the week -- no computers, no Game Boys, nothing. The lack of stimulation forced them to read and play creatively, to invent characters and games. That’s where it all starts, I think. I was a huge daydreamer as a kid. I spent hours grinding glittering rocks into “fairy dust,” convincing my friends we were coyotes (and running all over the hills howling at the moon) -- and curling up with a good book when it rained, of course!

Debra: Yes, and we are surrounded by constant noise, which makes it harder to find that quiet time to think and daydream. Sometimes its nice when a storm knocks the power out because then the board games and books and candles come out.

Gail, thank you for visiting Make-Believe Mondays. It's been a pleasure.

Readers may visit Gail at
www.gailbarrett.com

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Debra's news/Debra is watching:

It was wonderful to attend the RT convention in Pittsburgh to meet up with old friends and make new ones. This is the event I look forward to all year and I haven't missed one since I first attended four years ago. I hope I never will. For all who were aware I'd hurt my foot that last day, it is almost mended and I'll be back to dancing at the end of this week. It's quite an adventure being wheeled through the airport in a wheelchair. Everything looks different from that vantage point.

One good thing about being off my feet for two weeks is that I was able to finish second round edits of my manuscript early and what a good feeling that is.

Now I have partials to prepare and send to the editors who requested them, and I'm back to the revisions of my second novel. It's rather interesting here, how my routine is working out. Our sons border collie has come to live with us and I have a new laptop, so I can now sit on the deck, throw the Frisbee, write a few lines and throw the Frisbee again. It's spring here in the Memphis area, everything lush and green and the birds singing.

Not a bad way to set up office, doing my dream job.
Spring is here! Enjoy the day!

And if you're rained in, my photos are posted of the RT convention on my MySpace page.

Make-Believe Mondays On Hiatus

Make-Believe Mondays will be on Hiatus while I attend the Romantic Times Booklovers Convention in Pittsburgh, PA.

If you're attending, be sure to look for me at the eBook signing on Wed, Club RT on Thursday and the Samhain Publishing party on Sunday.

Make-Believe Mondays With Susan Lyons

Today on Make-Believe Mondays I'm pleased to introduce Susan Lyons.

Susan, first, tell us a little bit about the manuscript you’re working on now.

Susan: I’m working on three projects – all very spicy, and none of which has been contracted yet. (So if you know of an editor who’d be interested, be sure to let me and my agent know!) One’s called Wild Ride, and is a 3-novella sexy anthology about three single sisters traveling home to their baby sister’s wedding. Each meets a guy on the way and has a wild ride – one by plane, one by train, and one by battered van – and finds love on the journey.

The second is Red Garters, a 3-book series set in gold rush days. The minister of a boom town decides to import marriageable young women (i.e., brides), hoping to civilize the miners, but three of the girls aren’t exactly the sweet innocents he had in mind.

In the third project, Going Down, the heroine, who comes from a background of poverty and neglect, has reinvented herself and is working her way up the management ladder in a ritzy hotel chain – so she accepts a job in Whistler (the ski resort) even though she hates winter sports. There, she’s torn between two men. One’s wealthy and successful and seems a perfect match for her reinvented self. The other’s a ski instructor who encourages her to come to terms with her past, to play, and to take risks – on the ski slope and with her heart.

Debra: I certainly will. They all sound intriguing.

Ray Bradbury said, “We are cups, constantly being filled. The trick is, knowing how to tip ourselves over and let the beautiful stuff out.” How do you keep your creative cup filled?

Susan: I do all the usual things such as brainstorming, chatting with friends, reading, watching movies and TV, going some place different, listening to music. But the most important aspect for me is, I need to keep my imagination/muse alive. This is hard to explain, but it seems like my brain can work in one of two ways. Maybe that’s because I have a very logical, analytical side as well as a creative side. Anyhow, when I’m in one frame of mind, I’m practical and efficient; when I’m in the other, I’m full of ideas. I guess in one frame of mind my muse is sleeping and in the other she’s wide awake and wanting to play.

When she’s awake, I’m very open to ideas that come along. Brainstorming is so exciting when I’m in that state of mind! Even a boring article in the newspaper can trigger an idea without me putting any conscious thought to it. But when my muse is asleep, I have to consciously try to wake her up. It’s like I poke at her and say, “Hey, I’m a writer, I’m supposed to have ideas. That’s your job so would you haul butt and get at it? Here I am, trying to brainstorm about a new story, and I need you!” She may be a little grudging at first but usually once I’ve dragged her out of bed and told her I need her, the energy begins to build and we start having fun.

Debra: How dare that muse think she can lounge about all day sleeping! :-) If only they would be somewhat predictable. Mine picks the oddest moments to decide to play.

Is there a point when your characters begin to come alive and you can see and hear them?

Susan: Yes, absolutely. I don’t plot my books, so in the beginning it takes me a while to really know my characters and figure out what’s going on with them. I’ll write in little bursts as they reveal things about themselves, then I’ll get stalled and not know what happens next, which usually happens because I don’t know the characters well enough. So I use a variety of techniques to get in better touch with my characters. For example, brainstorm with other writers or with non-writer friends, read through Heroes & Heroines: Sixteen Master Archetypes, go for a walk and muse (or maybe that should be, go for a walk with my muse!), talk to my characters in my head. As they become more clear to me, then they start taking over the keyboard. I love it when that happens.

Occasionally I’ll even argue with them because I don’t agree with where they want to take the story, but in the end they’re usually right. That happened with my April release, She’s on Top. About 2/3 of the way through, I didn’t know how the book would end. The hero told me what was going to happen and I disagreed, but he won out and yes, he was right.

Debra: Yes, they can be stubborn that way. :-)

As a child did any particular book or author pull you into their imaginary world?

Susan: I’m an only child and spent much of my childhood alone with a book – or, rather, living in an imaginary world. Books were the best part of my life. I was a really bright, precocious child and read more widely as a child than I do as an adult. I kept winning book prizes at school and got some really odd books I’d never have picked up myself, but still I devoured them. Okay, here are some that I remember. I loved horses and read every horse book I could get my hands on. I fancied myself a detective and read Nancy Drew, Trixie Belden and the Hardy Boys. I read biographies, history, archaeology, etc., and I’m not sure I really distinguished fiction from non-fiction because the non-fiction also took me to new (or very old) worlds. The only books I didn’t enjoy were fairy tales – and even now I’m not much into paranormal, fantasy or science fiction. I love fiction but prefer fiction I can identify with – e.g., I could imagine myself being Nancy Drew and today I can imagine myself being a contemporary romance heroine, but I had trouble imagining being Alice down the rabbit-hole and now I have no desire to imagine falling in love with a vampire.

Debra: It's interesting to hear you say that. Non-fiction can transport if it is written in a voice that allows this. Some of the reading I did back when I owned the travel agency did exactly that. Allowed me to travel from the couch.

Is there anything else you would like to add about the role of imagination, and dreams in creating fiction? Any other message for our readers?

Susan: For me, a story usually grows out of one or more “what if?” questions. There’s some initial trigger, be it a dream, a snippet of conversation, something I see on TV or read in the paper or in a book. The trigger is something that resonates with me. Something another person might think utterly boring, but it tweaks my imagination. That tweak wakes up my muse, who says, “Okay, that’s interesting, but what if . . .?” And then it’s kind of like she and I carry on an internal dialogue, playing with all the “what ifs” until the beginning of a story, or a character, emerges and I get excited and think this may turn into a book or novella or short story.

Debra: "What if" is the ultimate story generating question.

Susan: Visit my website at www.susanlyons.ca. I have excerpts, insights into my writing process for each book, trailers, review quotes, a monthly contest, give-aways, a newsletter and lots of other good stuff.

Susan, thank you for joining us here on this Make-believe Monday to share a little bit of the magic of writing with our readers.

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Debra's news/Debra is watching:

This week I've been working on promotional items for the Romantic Times convention. My book cover isn't done yet, so I designed the bookmarks myself. My husband helped and as he is a perfectionist and I used to work in advertising, it was interesting working together on that project. I also ordered a promotional give away item for the 80 gift bags Samahain Publishing will hand out at their spotlight. So if you are headed to RT next week, you might want to pop in on that one. I'll be there from April 15th to the 21st, so there will be no Make-Believe Monday interview on the 21st. If you are going to RT you will find me at the eBook signing on Wed. and Samhain's party on Sunday. Be sure to come up and say hello!

Other exciting things this week: I received my first author quote for A Desperate Journey and what a thrill that was! And late last night I got a sneak peak of the first draft of my book cover! Exciting days here, celebrating all these firsts.

Over on Title Wave this week, I am blogging today, Gina is blogging on Wed. and Jeanmarie is blogging on Fri.

Make-Believe Mondays with Jim Hines

Today on Make-Believe Mondays, my guest is Jim Hines.

Jim, first, tell us a little bit about the manuscript you’re working on now.

Jim: My publisher just released Goblin War, the third and final (for now) book in my goblin series. So I'm now working on a new series which is basically a mash-up of old fairy tales and Charlie's Angels. Fun stuff! DAW has bought three books in this series. The first one is done, and I'm currently chest-deep in revisions on the second.

Debra: Old fairy tales have always intrigued me, from the time I was small. (And I love this Goblin cover by the way.)

Ray Bradbury said, “We are cups, constantly being filled. The trick is, knowing how to tip ourselves over and let the beautiful stuff out.” How do you keep your creative cup filled?

Jim: Writing every day helps. I think creativity is like so many other things: the more you practice, the better you get.

The other trick is making sure you don't burn yourself out. With the latest book release, I've been spending a lot of time on publicity while also trying to write the next book. Add a pair of sick children, and my brain has gotten pretty fried for the past few weeks. I've needed to prioritize more and turn down a few events in order to have the mental and emotional energy to devote to the stories.

Debra: Yes, it's quite a juggling act, isn't it? I'm learning that publicity part right now as I prepare for the Romantic Times convention. It's a big brain switch from the world of story.

Is there a point when your characters begin to come alive and you can see and hear them?

Jim: There's definitely a point where the characters click. Sometimes it takes longer than others. In my second goblin book, I had a warrior who was ... well, she was boring! Perfectly competent and workable, but dull as anything. It wasn't until the rewrite that she transformed from a dangerous warrior woman into a crotchety goblin who liked to whack people with her canes.

Debra: Oh, my! LOL She reminds me of my great grandmother who lived to be 106 and could have whacked you with her cane if she wanted to. Now I'm going to have to get my hands on that second book.

Jim: Jig the goblin, on the other hand, was a delightful little coward from day one. It's unusual for a character to spring fully-formed into my brain, but every once in a while I get lucky.

Debra: It would be lovely if we had a magical formula for making that happen.

If there were no categories for books, no reader expectations to meet, and you could create the wildest work of imagination that you could think of what kind of story would that be?

Jim: You know, I'd like to think they'd be the same kind of stories I'm writing now. For starters, fantasy isn't exactly the most lucrative genre -- especially humorous fantasy -- but it's what I enjoy. I love my quirky goblins and their adventures. I've just been fortunate that a fair number of readers seem to feel the same way.
If I were writing full-time, I might have to pay more attention to market demands. But I have a day job which pays the bills, and that gives me a little more freedom to write what I want without worrying about whether it has "Potential Bestseller" stamped all over the manuscript.

Debra: That freedom to write is so very important. And I enjoy your quirky characters too.

Jim, thanks for joining us here on this Make-Believe Monday to share a little bit of the magic of creation with our readers.

Readers who wish to visit Jim and his quirky characters can find him at:

Website: http://www.jimchines.com
Blog: http://jimhines.livejournal.com

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Debra's news/Debra is watching:

Just last week I received my ISBN number and I was as thrilled about that as the day I received my contract! My editor has been working with me on the cover blurb which was another woo-hoo moment. Everyone talks about getting the call, and that is a very exciting day in the life of an author, but there are also the sequential joys along the road to production, all those little firsts which ought to be celebrated.

This week I am working on getting bookmarks together in time for the Romantic Times convention in Pittsburgh. I'll be there from April 15th to the 21st and I can't wait to meet up with old friends.

Over on Title Wave this week, I'm blogging today, Ruth is blogging Wednesday, and Lois is blogging Friday.

Watch for A DESPERATE JOURNEY to be released July, 2008 as an eBook. Print edition will be out in 2009.

Make-Believe Mondays With Marilyn Campbell

Today on Make-Believe Mondays I'm excited to be able to introduce Marilyn Campbell.

Marilyn, first, tell us a little bit about the manuscript you’re working on now.

Marilyn: As you may know, for the past year, all of my time has been spent establishing and developing The Lotus Circle publishing imprint. As part of that effort I completed three non-fiction metaphysical books – “Metaphysical Fitness, Ten Commandments for Spiritual Being”, “Tarot of The Lotus Circle” and “Numerology To Go” – as well as a psychic fiction novel, “Dreams of You”, which was co-authored with my daughter, Joie del Rio, under the pseudonym Campbell del Rio.

If you check out the site, www.thelotuscircle.com, you’ll see that we now have a very nice selection of books, and there are a lot more in “the queue”.
Joie and I also co-wrote an erotic thriller, “Eye Witness”, under the pseudonym Kennedy Vance, which was released in e-book through TLC’s sister imprint Cerridwen Press.

Personally, I have been getting a lot of nudges, both from readers and my spirit guides, to do another futuristic or time-travel romance. In order to decide which book to write next, I’ve added a Reader’s Survey onto my site. I’d love to get some more opinions! (www.marilyncampbell.com)

Debra: Yes, you have been busy! The Lotus Circle is a unique website. I enjoy visiting. And I'd be happy to take your survey.

Ray Bradbury said, “We are cups, constantly being filled. The trick is, knowing how to tip ourselves over and let the beautiful stuff out.” How do you keep your creative cup filled?

Marilyn: Whenever I feel empty, I take a weekend off from my routine and do one of two things – I go see four or five new movies in a theater plus at least that many more on video at home or I head for a theme park, ride roller coasters and play like I’m 8 years old again. For me, either activity works like sherbet between courses of a heavy meal. (Btw, speaking of food, junk food consumption plays a vital part in my re-inspiring-myself process.)

Debra: Oh, it's been years since I rode a roller coaster since there are none nearby. I grew up not far from Kings Island and we used to have season passes. What fun!

Is there a point when your characters begin to come alive and you can see and hear them?

Marilyn: Actually, for me, the characters are usually in existence before I start writing. In most cases, they tap me on the shoulder because they have a story they want me to tell for them. And woe is me if I don’t pay attention!

Debra: How wonderful to be so in tune. Mine whisper and I'm never entirely sure who they are until I'm almost at the end of the book.

Some very famous authors have played with language, creating words for people or places that no one has ever heard of. Have you ever played with words in that way and if so how?

Marilyn: In my Innerworld series of futuristic romances, I had the thoroughly enjoyable opportunity to make up names, places and words. The complete lack of any requirements to be realistic or politically correct according to current Earth standards was incredibly liberating…and one of the reasons I am seriously considering revisiting that sub-genre.

Debra: How freeing it is to play with language. Many of the best authors I've known have played with it in some way.

For some writers, dreams play a role in creating fiction. Has this been true for you? Have you ever dreamed a scene or an image that later wound up in one of your books?

Marilyn: Dreams have played a major role in creating several of my fiction novels. The premise of the first book I wrote, “Pyramid of Dreams”, came from a very clear dream about the hijacking of a yacht in the Bermuda Triangle. Another time I dreamed that I woke up naked and fully sated but the man lying next to me was a complete stranger. That book became the bestselling novel “Pretty Maids in a Row”. And most recently, “Dreams of You”, is about a lucid dreamer who works with the police.

Debra: Somehow I suspected they would. Lucid dreaming is a fascinating subject.

If there were no categories for books, no reader expectations to meet, and you could create the wildest work of imagination that you could think of what kind of story would that be?

Marilyn: It has been my habit to write what I feel compelled to write, when the compulsion hits, regardless of the market at that time. In fact, my futuristic romances were originally rejected dozens of times by editors and agents, because they were convinced that no one wanted books that combined two different genres! Within two years of all those rejections, an auction was held to determine which house would get to publish that series. I have now been published in every sub-genre I ever wanted to write in. On the opposite side, I avoid writing a particular type of story just because it is popular. For instance, I have no interest in vampires, thus I would never attempt to write about them.

Debra: It is good to hear you say this, because I think new writers need to hear this. It can take years to be published and it is important to believe in your work, to have that persistence rather than chasing market trends.

Is there anything else you would like to add about the role of imagination, and dreams in creating fiction? Any other message for our readers?

Marilyn: It is good to remember that the imagination is your direct connection to the Universal Consciousness, but you need to be open to receiving the inspiration and train your mind to be quiet enough to hear the messages. When your awake time is too full of noise and busy-ness, your dream time is all that’s left. If you know you dream but can’t remember them in the morning, you may just need to work at it a bit. Start by ordering yourself to remember all your dreams right before going to sleep. Keep a notepad by the bed and the instant you awaken, write down any images or words that come to you before they fade away. It takes some practice but it could be worth it!

Debra: Oh, this is so important. Quiet time is very hard to come by in this modern society and perhaps it is the thing most needed. This year I started my first dream journal and I am slowly training my myself to remember my dreams. It does get easier with practice.

Marilyn, thank you for joining us here on this Make-believe Monday to share a little bit of the magic of writing with our readers.

Make-Believe Mondays With Barb Meyers

Happy St. Patricks Day from Make-Believe Mondays! Barb Meyers is our guest today.

Barb, first, tell us a little bit about the manuscript you’re working on now.

Barb: I recently completed work on my romantic comedy A MONTH FROM MIAMI which is scheduled for release as an eBook from Samhain Publishing in March 2008. They said it was only for a month--trading car repair for babysitting. But when Rick discovers stolen gems hidden in Kaylee’s car, he has to wonder: Is she the woman he thinks she is or is she taking him for a ride?

My Samhain editor is considering another manuscript entitled NOT QUITE HEAVEN. It’s anything but a romantic comedy. More of a dark, complex romance. It’s about a best-selling author whose career is flailing and a woman from his past who might be able to help him get back on top. At the beginning of every chapter, there’s a snippet of his current work in progress featuring a hero who is his alter ego.
Sitting on the back burner (which means I’m doing the hard work of figuring out a story in my head before I start to write it) is a sequel to A MONTH FROM MIAMI. I’m toying with idea of giving the hero of that story a twin brother and a story of his own.

Debra: That's an interesting format, having the work in progress of the main character highlighted. I find it quite intriguing.

Ray Bradbury said, “We are cups, constantly being filled. The trick is, knowing how to tip ourselves over and let the beautiful stuff out.” How do you keep your creative cup filled?

Barb: The best way for me to keep my creative cup filled is to do things non-writing related. I’ve learned, perhaps too late in life, to be kind to myself. Although I guess it’s never too late. Have you ever noticed, many of us do not treat ourselves very well? We feel guilty if we indulge ourselves. I think sometimes we are nicer to strangers than we are to ourselves.
So, I indulge. That might mean a massage or a pedicure. It might mean spending an afternoon window shopping or a morning meandering the beach. If I want to curl up in the afternoon and read and take a nap, I do it. Recently, I’ve begun to meditate, which is as simple as taking a cup of coffee and sitting in the swing overlooking my swimming pool. In the early morning I listen to the birds singing and watch the squirrels race up and down the trees. Or I simply sit and appreciate my surroundings. Being good to yourself doesn’t have to cost a thing.

Debra: Yes, this is very true. Thank you, Barb. That's a message we don't hear often. It's important to learn to be kind to ourselves.

Is there a point when your characters begin to come alive and you can see and hear them?

Barb: That’s a good question. It’s hard to answer. For me, I think I almost always see the hero first. I know what he’s about and I know what he needs from the heroine. For some reason, the female protagonist is always harder for me to get a handle on. But there’s definitely a point where the characters become who they are. They aren’t even the writer’s creation. They are very much their own persons. What’s interesting is how characters can do something you didn’t expect them to do, but it’s right for them. At that point, the story’s out of your hands. It’s up to them to tell it.

Debra: It's so interesting to hear you say that, because for me the heroine always appears first. What an experience it is when they come to life and then take over.

As a child did any particular book or author pull you into their imaginary world?

Barb: Oh, my. I read avidly as a child. I loved The Boxcar Children and the Little House on the Prairie series. I remember the wonderful discovery of reading a book I loved and realizing there were more of them for me to read. Little Women was a Christmas gift and I read it over and over because we didn’t own very many books. I loved the Rapunzel fairy tale. Imagine having hair that long!
As a high school freshman, our English classed was “forced” to read Jane Eyre. Far from complaining like my fellow students, I zipped through it way ahead of schedule. I loved that book.

Debra: The Boxcar Children was one of my favorites.

If there were no categories for books, no reader expectations to meet, and you could create the wildest work of imagination that you could think of what kind of story would that be?

Barb: I think I’m already doing this, even though I don’t write fantasy and I don’t make up fictional worlds. I deal in fantasy within our own reality. The fantasy of romance is that love exists, that it can last, that two people can be happy together in a committed relationship for a lifetime. I want to believe it and I want my readers to believe it, given that there’s so much evidence to the contrary in the world in which we live. I want readers to believe it’s possible for them, if it hasn’t already happened in their lives.

I’m not saying we should all live in a romance novel. But in all our lives, there can be that seed of passion, a connection with a significant other, someone who thinks you’re the best thing in the world. It can happen. It does happen.
(In case your readers think I’m a complete lunatic, my 28th wedding anniversary is fast approaching.)

Debra: Congratulations and happy anniversary (if a bit early)

Is there anything else you would like to add about the role of imagination, and dreams in creating fiction? Any other message for our readers?

Barb: I admit it. I’m a sucker for happy endings. I don’t like books that bring me down, make me sad or depressed. When I read I want to be entertained. If I want something to make me feel bad or cause me stress, I can turn on the news any night of the week.

Reading fiction should take you out of your circumstances for just a little bit. It should be something you enjoy, maybe something that uplifts or makes you smile. Something that comforts you or gives you hope. That’s my dream as a fiction writer. That’s the experience I want to give my readers.

Debra: Oh, Barb, I agree. It's lovely when a book can sweep you away to new lands, to the world of the story.

Readers may visit Barb at:

Samhain Author Page:http://samhainpublishing.com/authors/barbara-meyers
Web Site: www.barbmeyers.com
URL: http://www.myspace.com/barbmeyers
Blog URL: http://blog.myspace.com/barbmeyers

Barb, thank you for joining us here on this Make-believe Monday to share a little bit of the magic of writing with our readers.

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Debra's News/Debra is Watching:

Last week was my editing deadline, and I'm pleased I was able to bring it in a day early. One particular scene was giving me fits and took the longest, so last week everything went on hold so I could give all my attention to it. (Yes Make-Believe Mondays went on hold, in fact I wasn't on the internet at all.) I think that first editing is a real learning experience and I expect like anything else, the more you do it the faster and better at it you become.

Now I can turn my attention to the upcoming Romantic Times convention which I will be attending from April 15th to April 21st. If you are attending, you can find me at the Samhain party on Sunday and the ebook signing. Be sure to come up and say hello! I love meeting new people. Stay tuned for more details.

I'll also be working hard to finish up another manuscript before the conference, but I can't talk about it yet. (I'm a little superstitious about that.) There are several manuscripts in the works, so I had to choose one to focus on.

Over on Title Wave this week, I'm blogging today, Theresa is blogging Wed. and Maria is blogging Friday.

Next week on Make-Believe Mondays I'll be interviewing Marilyn Campbell (March 24th) and on the 31st our guest is Jim Hines.

Make-Believe Mondays With Lyndi Lamont

Today on Make-Believe Mondays my guest is Lyndi Lamont.

Lyndi, first, tell us a little bit about the manuscript you’re working on now.

LL: Debra, first let me say thanks for asking me here. It was great to meet you at last year’s RT Convention.

I’m just starting a new manuscript, ALLIANCE: COSMIC SDANDAL, an erotic futuristic romance. It’s part of my Alliance series in which the people of two very different worlds come together to fight space raiders who are attacking their merchant vessels.

The hero of this story is Prince Myrek of the planet Zigan who is now acting ambassador to planet Mhajav. Myrek is a widower with one son who suffers from a blood disease. He hopes the Mhajavi scientists will be able to help his son. The heroine, Khira, is a Mhajavi genetic researcher with whom he falls in love.

The obstacles in their way are both genetic and legal. Their two races are genetically incompatible, meaning Khira can’t give him children. Legally, as heir to the throne, Myrek must marry a virgin. Though Khira still a virgin, Mhajavi law prohibits virgins from marrying.

Afraid his only son will not survive childhood, Myrek knows he must wed again, but Khira is the only woman he wants. In order to have her, he will defy convention, break the laws of two planets, and cause a Cosmic Scandal that will threaten the alliance between their two worlds.

Debra: Lyndi, it was lovely meeting you at the RT convention. I can't wait for this years convention. RT is such a wonderful place to meet new friends. Your new novel sounds fascinating and I am wondering how they will overcome genetic obstacle. That's a a tough one.

Ray Bradbury said, “We are cups, constantly being filled. The trick is, knowing how to tip ourselves over and let the beautiful stuff out.” How do you keep your creative cup filled?

LL: The story ideas never stop coming, but periodically I do run out of steam, and words to put the ideas to paper. Music helps me to keep focused on my story. I write to sound tracks or New Age-type music, instrumental, no words. I usually do a short meditation and affirmations before starting to write to get myself into the right state of mind to let the ideas flow more freely.

Debra: Interesting that you should mention that, as I am looking into tapes which stimulate creativity, much the way a hypnosis tape puts you into a certain state. It's important to be able to clear that busy mind.

Is there a point when your characters begin to come alive and you can see and hear them?

LL: Yes, but don’t ask for more details. Each story is different.

Debra: Some very famous authors have played with language, creating words for people or places that no one has ever heard of. Have you ever played with words in that way and if so how?

LL: I didn’t do much of that until I started to write futuristic romance. In creating my two worlds, I’ve taken liberties with both names and words, often changing the spelling. Creating the imaginary worlds was a lot of fun, esp. the “social engineering” of a traditional society teaming up with one that is much more socially and sexually open.

Debra: For some writers, dreams play a role in creating fiction. Has this been true for you? Have you ever dreamed a scene or an image that later wound up in one of your books?

LL: I wish. My dreams seem to be odd and rarely, if ever, have anything to do with my writing. Day dreaming is a different story. That works much better for me.

Debra: Daydreams are very important for creativity. I've always suspected that the authors I've met were the children who daydreamed out the window when they were in school. I know I was. ;-)

As a child did any particular book or author pull you into their imaginary world?

LL: As a child, I had a number of favorite books. I can’t remember how many times I re-read LITTLE WOMEN, and cried every time. Another favorite was THE WITCH OF BLACKBIRD POND by Elizabeth Speare. It was after reading her book that I decided I wanted to be a writer. I ended up a librarian instead. My dream was postponed until I was in my 40’s, but I eventually started writing.

Debra: THE WITCH OF BLACKBIRD POND. I haven't thought of that one in years. :-) Thank you for reminding me of another one of my favorites.

If there were no categories for books, no reader expectations to meet, and you could create the wildest work of imagination that you could think of what kind of story would that be?

LL: I’ve kind of done that with my futuristic stories for the Alliance series. I’ve always felt that science fiction and fantasy were the most imaginative genres, and I’ve always admired people who could create whole worlds from scratch. I’m learning that it’s not easy to do, but can be very rewarding. I didn’t know how readers would take to my futuristic stories, but I’ve been happy with the sales.

Being able to take chances like this is one of the nice things about writing for a small e-publisher like Amber Quill Press. They put very few restrictions on their authors, and if something new comes up, the editorial director creates a new category on the website. J

Debra: Is there anything else you would like to add about the role of imagination, and dreams in creating fiction? Any other message for our readers?

LL: Imagination is a wonderful thing, and the world would be a depressing place without storytellers in it. I suspect that people who read are happier than those who don’t. A good book can take you away from your problems for a short while. Reading keeps us sane and emotionally healthy, in my opinion.

Debra: Oh, I so agree, Lyndi. Thank you for joining us here on this Make-believe Monday to share a little bit of the magic of writing with our readers.

LL: Thank you, Debra. Congratulations on your upcoming book. I hope it’s a big success for you. J

Debra: Thanks, Lyndi. All my fingers and toes are crossed. ;-)

Readers may visit Lyndi at
http://www.lyndilamont.com
http://www.myspace.com/lyndi.lamont

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Debra's News/Debra is watching:

I'm just back from a great weekend in Hot Springs Arkansas (celebrating our 27th wedding anniversary) and ready to get back to work on the first round edits of A Desperate Journey. Its been a challenge getting this post up today as we've had lightning and thunder all day and the internet has been up and down.

Over on Title Wave this week, I'm blogging today, Ruth is blogging on Wed, and on Friday, Lois is blogging on ladies riding side saddle in history and when it is appropriate to use it in your own writing.

Watch for the E-book version of A Desperate Journey coming in July, 2008 from Samhain publishing. The print version will be released ten months later.

Make-Believe Mondays With Cheryl Holt

Today on Make-Believe Mondays I am thrilled to be able to introduce USA Today Bestselling author Cheryl Holt.

Cheryl, first, tell us a little bit about the manuscript you're working on now.

Cheryl: For years, I've been hailed as "the Queen" of erotic romance. I started out writing erotic historicals when the trend toward erotics was just beginning, and my career rose as the subgenre exploded. However, the release of my March '08 book, DOUBLE FANTASY, will be my 15th and last erotic, and I've decided to move on to other writing projects.

I felt that DOUBLE FANTASY was the very best book of it's kind that I could write, and that it would be impossible for me to improve on that sort of story, so it seemed like a good time to move on to other things.

I have big career news to go along with this change, but I'm waiting to make any "official" announcements until after DOUBLE FANTASY is released. So as to the specific details, I will keep you in suspense until then, but I can tell you that I am writing at a furious pace on a manuscript that's been sold to a major publishing house, and I can give you a few hints about what's coming next.

My erotic novels were constrained by the erotic venue in that the length had to be shorter, the themes different, and the flavor more intense than in a typical historical romance. Often times, I felt very limited in what I could do and say, as well as in the kinds of themes I could use and the types of characters I could create.

For a long time now, I've been wanting to write longer and more emotional stories, which is what I think I'm best at. I am returning to books that are similar to the romance classics of 20 years ago - such as WHITNEY MY LOVE or THE FLAME AND THE FLOWER.

I'm eagerly finishing my first manuscript that will take me in this new direction, although it's really an "old" direction for me. What I will be doing in the future will be similar to my second novel, MY ONLY LOVE, that was released at the very beginning of my career and is still my most critically acclaimed book.

I look forward to having a chance to once again tell stories that are very emotional and poignant, where I can let readers see the depth of my talent, but also where I can let the love - rather than the sex - tell the story. I will still write very sexy books, but "sex" will not be the only element that drives the plot.

Debra: I'm thrilled that you shared some of your exciting news here on Make-Believe Mondays and I am anxiously looking forward to your new books. Emotional, poignant stories are my favorite kind.

How do you keep your creative cup filled?

Cheryl: I work very hard and I work all the time. For several years now, I've been blessed in my career that I don't have to work at an outside job to earn a living at writing. My work as a novelist is my full-time job, and it's my home business. As with any other business owner, I work all the time and I never have weekends or holidays off. I write between 60 - 70 hours per week, plus I don't have a secretary, so I'm swamped with administrative tasks such as answering emails, doing interviews, arranging advertising, and the other myriad chores that go along with being a successful novelist.

My work schedule is compounded by the fact that I have two very active teenagers, who are involved in completely different activities - one is an athlete and one is a Hollywood TV/movie actor - so I'm constantly on the go in driving them to practices, events, and auditions.

It takes an enormous amount of energy for me to keep going at such a frantic pace, and every area of my life is geared toward keeping me healthy and rested so I can continue to keep my creative output very high.

I exercise strenuously, I eat a high protein diet, I take naps, and I surround myself with "positive" energy. I don't engage in negative activities, I don't spend time around "negative" people. I use positive thinking techniques, and surround myself with positive influences. For example, when a fan writes me a note, I cut it out and tape it around my computer desk, so that their positive thoughts surround my computer.

I also wear cotton clothing, so that my skin and pores absorb the universe's energy. For some strange reason, if I wear synthetic fabrics, I can't write! I know it sounds weird, but I'm a very normal, very middle-class sort of person, but it seems to help me very much!

Debra: It's interesting to hear you say that. Back when I was getting my undergrad degree I had an Eng. prof. who once worked at a mortuary. He explained what happens to a body when there is a fire on an airplane and how synthetic fabrics contribute to death whereas cotton doesn't. Ever since then I've only worn cotton when I fly. I do feel better when I wear cotton or silk so that doesn't sound weird to me at all! And I agree on surrounding ourselves with positive energy. It makes a huge difference.

If there were no categories for books, no reader expectations to meet, and you could create the wildest work of imagination that you could think of what kind of story would that be?

Cheryl: I think I would still write love stories.

I had never read a romance until I was 42 years old. I was a professional woman, and I always thought I was too sophisticated to read romances. But I found myself trapped at home with two babies, and trying to figure out how to be a commercial novelist, and I was reading every best-seller I could get my hands on.

I was particularly fascinated by the historical romances I read, and I decided to try writing some of them. It turns out that I have a knack for writing some of the world's greatest love stories. I didn't know! I'm still surprised by this. Every morning when I turn on the computer, I smile and think: who could have imagined I'd be good at this?

In such troubled times, it feels wonderful to bring people such joy and love, and I feel that my life has been particularly blessed in having such a necessary talent that I can share with others.

Debra: And we are blessed to have you share your talent with us. Cheryl, thank you for joining us here on Make-Believe Mondays to share a bit of the magic of writing with our readers.

Readers may visit Cheryl at
www.cherylholt.com
and be sure to check out her new book trailers!


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Debra's News/Debra is watching:

Over on Title Wave this week, I'm blogging today, Gerri is blogging Wed and Michelle is blogging on Fri.

I'm hard at work on my first round edits, and anxiously awaiting my book cover.
A Desperate Journey, will be released by Samhain Publishing in July, 2008.

Make-Believe Mondays Looks Back

Recently a friend asked me when the anniversary of Make-Believe Mondays was. It's hard to believe I am now going into my third year with this blog as it certainly doesn't seem that long. My hope is that my readers get as much enjoyment out of this blog as I do.

So, to answer my friend, I thought I would revisit the very first author interview which posted Jan. 9, 2006. And because I've always enjoyed reading Lucy's Greek heroes, I'm posting a picture of Greece from my recent Mediterranean trip. Enjoy. :-)

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I'm thrilled to introduce my dear friend and mentor Lucy Monroe on our first Make-believe Monday.

Lucy writes wonderful romances filled with heroic men and modern women and she writes for three publishing houses. Berkley Sensation, Harlequin Presents and Kensington Brava. On my most recent visit to her website I counted 51 books!

She truly is an amazing author, so let's find out what she has to say about creativity and imagination.

Mark Twain said, "You cannot depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus." How do you fill your creative well to keep your imagination in focus?

Lucy:For one thing, you can't stay creative if all you do is create. So, taking time off from creating is a must for me...just not an easy thing to do. I also love to read magazines...not gossip rags (yuck), but stuff like "The Smithsonian", "Architectural Digest" and "Harper's Bazaar", etc. I've just recently taken up knitting and a rousing game of Perquacky with my family can be very creativity enhancing. I also read tons, both fiction and nonfiction, but romance is my favorite. I re-read my favorite authors over and over again and I think that helps me write better. Learning in cockpit as they say. But it fills up my creative well to sip at someone else's.

What a lovely thought. I can just picture authors visiting each other and dipping down to gather that cool clear water before sipping. Creative works can nourish the soul that way.

Is there a point when your characters begin to come alive and you can see and hear them?

Lucy:Usually before I ever type the first word in their story, but sometimes they are nebulous beings that only become concrete after I've really settled the first 50 or so pages of their stories. They always do become concrete and very real to me at some point in the process though.

For some writers, dreams play a role in creating fiction. Has this been true for you? Have you ever dreamed a scene or an image that later wound up in one of your books?

Lucy:I get lots of story ideas from dreams and find that I dream more vividly (and remember my dreams better) when I'm not writing. So, clearly, I've got to get better about taking time off if I want more story ideas to buzz around inside my brain. My agent calls it thinking time...for me, it's dreaming time.

Lucy, thank you for joining us and sharing a glimpse into the creative life of an author. May your dreams be plentiful and your well always full.

To learn more about Lucy and the many stories she's written, visit

Lucy Monroe

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Debra's news/Debra is watching:

Next week my guest here on Make-Believe Mondays is Cheryl Holt.

This week on Title Wave I'm blogging today, Theresa is blogging Wed. and Maria is blogging Fri.

And I am hard at work on my first round edits for A Desperate Journey, which will be out in July, 2008.

Make-Believe Mondays With Adrianna Dane

Today on Make-Believe Mondays our guest is Adrianna Dane.

Adrianna, first, tell us a little bit about the manuscript you're working on now.

Adrianna: Wow, at any given moment I'm usually working on several projects. Right now at the forefront would be:

--drafting the second Zytarri story tentatively titled Huntress Queen. This is a series about an alien vampire culture.

--a new, full-length novel in my Vampyre Falls series about a vampire and a lethal DNA-spliced creature known as a Spinner.

--a second edit on an erotic contemporary gay romance titled Hidden Impact.

--a scifi erotic romance tentatively titled Sidra's Song which is related to my Argadian Rebellion series.

You don't want to know what's waiting for my attention on the back burner. One thing I've never had a problem with is coming up with story ideas. It's harnessing the muse into a workable manner that takes focused effort.

Debra: So many story ideas, so little time. Yes I know how that can be. :-)

Ray Bradbury said, "We are cups, constantly being filled. The trick is, knowing how to tip ourselves over and let the beautiful stuff out." How do you keep your creative cup filled?

Adrianna: Keeping the cup filled hasn't been a real problem for me. But focus can be. I'm a member of a small brainstorming group with several other very talented authors and we try to keep each other centered. We call ourselves Servants of the Muse (www.servantsofthemuse.com) and we help each other through the highs and lows that encompass an author's daily life. Be that breaking a block, sharing a success, hugs in personal tragedy, unraveling a plot knot, or whatever, a wonderful support system of friends such as this can help to keep that cup filled and overflowing with energy and creativity. It's like you've got this circle of girlfriends all holding your hand tight while you try to navigate your way. You know you're not alone. These ladies are my lifeline to sanity.

Debra: You're very fortunate to have found such a group. So many authors struggle alone.

Some very famous authors have played with language, creating words for people or places that no one has ever heard of. Have you ever played with words in that way and if so how?

Adrianna: Oh yes. I play with language all the time. Take for example my science fiction series with Amber Quill Press, The Argadian Heart. I actually have a glossary of terms for this series. You can find it on my website.

In Body Parts, my gothic/horror paranormal/dark romance story with Loose Id, which was just released, I create an electrophasm machine. That's purely a made-up word.

I first learned to do this in a fiction writing class I took a long time ago. We did a lot with mixing and matching of words, using them in different ways, switching letters around to create new words. It's a very freeing experience and I think it makes creativity even more fluid and versatile. I love making up new words.

Debra: What fun, to play with language in such a way. Yes, I believe in can be freeing, even if the play we do as we create our stories is never seen by anyone.

For some writers, dreams play a role in creating fiction. Has this been true for you? Have you ever dreamed a scene or an image that later wound up in one of your books?

Adrianna: Definitely. Again, I do this all the time. Many times I'll go to sleep at night thinking of a particular story or theme and wake up with either a full-fledged story or a very vivid scene. I had that happen with Nights in White Satin, which is just one example. Ruthless Acts pulled together in a dream sequence. I woke up this morning with a story plot and several scenes which I've had to jot down before I lose them. For me, it's more the rule than the exception. Even if I don't know what a particular dream means, I keep a dream journal to refer back later. Every symbol is important, so I try to be careful to write everything down. Some of the dreams will be developed later into full-fledged stories that may not be on the front-burner right now.

Debra: So many authors keep dream journals. The dream world is such a rich one and so full of symbolism.

If there were no categories for books, no reader expectations to meet, and you could create the wildest work of imagination that you could think of what kind of story would that be?

Adrianna: Actually, I do that all the time. My latest "problem genre" was Body Parts. Definitely a story difficult to categorize. It's erotic romance, yet it doesn't quite follow the rules and comes more under the heading of dark romance. It's gothic, with traces of horror. The relationships within the story in many cases fall under the heading of GLBT. It's not an easy story to categorize, but it is the story that I needed to tell. Thank God, my editor was willing to work with me.

I've had several instances of reviewers commenting that my stories don't follow the rules. But they are the stories that need to be told. That's where the magic is.

Debra: Yes, and when a story needs to be told, well, it can be quite insistant.

Is there anything else you would like to add about the role of imagination, and dreams in creating fiction? Any other message for our readers?

Adrianna: Many people think that imagination is simply a gift and either you have it or you don't. I'm not sure I agree with that. Imagination and creativity sometimes hide and they have to be wooed out of that secret place and it does take time to seduce them into the light. A person who says they don't have any imagination simply hasn't learned the art of wooing the muse. At least not yet. Some days the muse can be more contrary than others.

Dreams are the same. They need to be worked with. Opening our minds to the Universe and allow a door to open and reveal what's on the other side is sometimes frightening. But in my opinion, well worth embarking of the adventure.

Debra: I think we are all born with massive imaginations and as children we either protect them or have them squashed out of us. I think when an adult says they don't have any imagination it's because they lost it somewhere along the way and don't know how to connect with it again. This to, me is a very sad thing.

And you are right, in that it can be quite frightening to open ourselves up to dreams and those things that seem to be on the other side.

Adrianna, thank you for joining us here on Make-Believe Mondays.

Adrianna: Thanks for having me here, Debra.

Readers can visit Adrianna at

http://www.adriannadane.com
and
http://www.servantsofthemuse.com

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Debra's News/Debra is watching:

Well, it has been an exciting week since I last reported in. We had tornados here in Memphis and several people lost their lives. Lightning hit the pole in front of our house and we were without power from Tuesday to Thurday. We were the only ones on the street hit, but there were whole sections of Memphis without power and there were looters as some houses were condemned. We were lucky the only thing we had to deal with was no heat or hot water or way to fix a hot meal. There is something about being in a dark silent house with candle light that our modern way of living has lost. (I can look at it romantically now that my feet are warm.) ;-)

Tuesday I had received an email from my editor. The subject line said first round edits. I have an iphone, so I could read this message, but couldn't open it because the file was too big. So it was a relief on Thursday evening to finally be able to open it. For the rest of this month I will be hard at work on edits.

And hopefully there won't be any more excitement here for a while.

AT2 sister, Gina Black is doing her last book giveaway over on her blog. This week, the book is The Raven's Revenge, her ebook that was just released in December. Pop over to The Gina Channel to get in on the action.

Over on Title Wave this week, on Wednesday, Gina is going to blog: "Valentine's Day Boycott -- Counterpunch" and on Friday, Jeanmarie is blogging on style changes.

Make-Believe Mondays With Caitlyn Willows

Today on Make-Believe Mondays our guest is Caitlyn Willows.

Caitlyn, first, tell us a little bit about the manuscript you’re working on now.

Caitlyn: I’m in the preliminary stages of the second of my paranormal series with Loose Id. The first book was Into The Lair, a paranormal erotic romance released last fall. In this story one of the main characters was a shape-shifting, long-lived, black jaguar – Wyatt Caldwell (aka El-ian). He was so compelling a character, I felt he deserved his own book. Loose Id agreed. His story, Into The Night, is slated for 2008 Fall release at Loose Id. In this book we see a man who is trying to come to terms with his role as leader of his people and the loss of the woman he loved. We also see the turmoil of a woman whose belief system has been shaken. She’s not the person she thought she was. In fact, she hates the life she created for herself and now struggles with the changes coursing through her.

Debra: So, she must create a new life for herself. I find those stories so interesting.

Ray Bradbury said, “We are cups, constantly being filled. The trick is, knowing how to tip ourselves over and let the beautiful stuff out.” How do you keep your creative cup filled?

Caitlyn: Believe it or not, my latest method is PLAY. This will probably sound very strange, but I’ve rediscovered the wonder of make-believe by playing with my two young grandsons. Everything is new in their world (ages 3 and almost 2). The world stops for them when I am with them, and I thoroughly enjoy playing in the dirt, slaying dragons, “cooking”, playing cars, and making up games with them. It fills my heart with joy, makes me laugh, and helps me be creative. It’s fun to watch their minds work on developing their own “story line” as we play, and I really have to be on my toes to keep up. I also enjoy doing cross-stitch. I refer to this as coloring with thread. When I’m working on a project, my mind can easily drift to other things, such as plot points for a story. Reading, both fiction and nonfiction, and watching movies or television are also great ways for me to refill the well.

Debra: Play is essential I believe and this theme shows up again and again, every time I ask this question. :-)

Is there a point when your characters begin to come alive and you can see and hear them?

Caitlyn: They come alive from the instant I begin a story. I listen to what they have to say, what they are feeling and experiencing. It always feels like great magic when that happens. I go inside myself and let the story breathe. Sometimes there are glitches in communication, but I find that if I can take some time to let myself “daydream” about the problem, things work out very well.

Debra: "Let the story breathe" (I am writing that one down - love that quote)

Some very famous authors have played with language, creating words for people or places that no one has ever heard of. Have you ever played with words in that way and if so how?

Caitlyn: I’ve never played with words, but I have created places for my characters. (Actually, I did create words in the Star Series I created a couple of years ago.) Anyway…I take everything I’ve seen, done, heard, and everywhere I’ve been, read about, or watched to create a believable world for my characters. This works no matter if that world is historical, contemporary, or fantasy. It works for physical locations and the emotions involved. I’ve also become a shameless eavesdropper and often use conversations overheard to help create the characters.

Debra: For some writers, dreams play a role in creating fiction. Has this been true for you? Have you ever dreamed a scene or an image that later wound up in one of your books?

Caitlyn: I became a writer because I had a dream about a place and people and thought it would make a great book. I started writing the very next day.

Debra: Fascinating. What a great story that is!

Caitlyn: But that’s the extent my dreams have ever helped me with writing. I have some really, really weird dreams…and they never mean a thing. Although, perhaps the weird dreams are a way of getting garbage out of my head so I can write better.

Debra: As a child did any particular book or author pull you into their imaginary world?

Caitlyn: Not that I can recall. The first book I remember reading to death was The Night Before Christmas, and I had that one memorized at a very early age. In elementary school I wasn’t all that fond of reading. Then I became fascinated with the action/adventure and super hero comic books the boys read. They were always so much more entertaining than what was available for girls. I can remember different phases I went through—reading Gone With The Wind, digging through the school library to find the scandalous passages in Hemingway’s books, cringing at the school’s required reading list, loving Shakespeare. I remember the first time I read a book by Victoria Holt—I was hooked on romance from that point on, but still loved reading horror, too. I’ve always had an overactive imagination, something I’ve managed to pass on to those two little boys.

Debra: If there were no categories for books, no reader expectations to meet, and you could create the wildest work of imagination that you could think of what kind of story would that be?

Caitlyn: That’s a hard question to answer because I’ve been blessed with publishers who allow (and want) me to write to my muse. I’ve never been given any restrictions. I’ve always been encouraged to “go for it.”

Debra: Is there anything else you would like to add about the role of imagination, and dreams in creating fiction? Any other message for our readers?

Caitlyn: Don’t restrict children. Let them have their play, their games. Get on the floor and play with them. Let their imaginations soar. Nothing is more wonderful for them or for you.

Debra: Hmmm, I might add to that. Don't restrict yourselves, either. Imagination should be allowed to roam free. It's one of the very few things that can't be taken away from us.

Caitlyn, thank you for joining us here on this Make-believe Monday to share a little bit of the magic of writing with our readers.

Readers can visit Cailyn at:
Catherine Snodgrass www.catherinesnodgrass.com
aka Caitlyn Willows www.caitlynwillows.com
MySpace: www.myspace.com/caitlynwillows
www.myspace.com/catherinesnodgrass

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Debra's News/Debra is watching:

Over on Title Wave this week, I blog on Mondays (and today I am talking about plagiarism), on Wednesday Ruth will be blogging about Boycotting Valentine's Day and Lois blogs on Friday.

AT2 sister, Gina Black is doing free book giveaways over on her blog.
This week, the book is Wicked Woman, AT2 sister Denise Eagan's American Title II finaling book. Pop over to The Gina Channel to get in on the action.

Debra's first novel, A Desperate Journey, will be released by Samhain publishing July, 2008.

Make-Believe Mondays with Cindi Myers

Today on Make-Believe Mondays, our guest is Cindi Myers.

Cindi,first, tell us a little about the manuscript you're working om now.

Cindi: I’m currently working on the third book in a series of romantic comedies set in Crested Butte, Colorado that I’m writing for Harlequin American. The second book in the series, The Right Mr. Wrong, is in stores Feb. 12. I’m not sure yet when the third book will be out. I’m also reviewing galleys for a book I have out in June, A Soldier Comes Home and revising a book that will be out in December.

Debra: The Right Mr. Wrong is an intriguing title and it's coming out during ski reason, so there's a book to curl up with by the fire in the lodge..

Ray Bradbury said, “We are cups, constantly being filled. The trick is, knowing how to tip ourselves over and let the beautiful stuff out. How do you keep your creative cup filled?

Cindi: I think it's really important to have a life outside of writing - to have other interests and activities, and to get out in the world to interact with other people. It's so easy to spend too much time in our own little world. I take a weekly dance class, am involved in my church, belong to a knitting group, and am an avid skier. Exercise is another good way to recharge. Unless the weather is really nasty, I walk by dogs 2-3 miles every day, and hike or ski on the weekends. Getting out in the fresh air really clears away the cobwebs and gets my mind moving again.

Debra: Oh, I agree. It's wonderful how you can be a little fussy on something to do with your story and once you work your body a bit, whether it be dance or a good long walk, the answers suddenly appear.

Cindi: I also think it’s a good idea to let your inner kid come out and play sometimes. I keep crayons and modeling clay on my desk. When I’m stuck for an idea or everything feels stale, I’ll start playing around with these toys. It’s as if another section of my brain kicks in when I start to play this way.

Debra: (Well, I confess. I have a brand new box of crayons just waiting for that day when I need them) :-) It is so important to play.

Is there a point when your characters begin to come alive and you can see and hear them?

Cindi: I've noticed an interesting phenomenon among the writers I know. There are those who see their stories, like movies playing in their head. They know exactly what their characters and their settings look like.

I, on the other hand, hear my characters. I very rarely picture them, but I definitely hear their dialogue, and I hear the sounds of the setting – ocean waves, automobile traffic, etc. I’m not sure why this is, except that I had very poor eyesight as a child and it wasn’t discovered for several years. By then I think I’d grown accustomed to relying on my ears rather than my eyes and this has translated into my writing.

Debra: Fascinating. Yes, I can see certain phenomenon emerging now that I'm going into my third year doing author interviews here Certain things are mentioned again and again..

For some writers, dreams play a role in creating fiction. Has this been true for you? Have you ever dreamed a scene or an image that later wound up in one of your books?

Cindi: I have dreamed plots and scenes and bits of dialogue. Usually the dreams having nothing to do with the work in progress. But I have filed away dreams to use later. The beginning and some subsequent scenes of my September 2006 book, Fear of Falling, were originally dreams I wrote down and saved to use later.

Debra: How interesting. Many of us keep dream journals. This is one of the patterns I see..

As a child did any particular book or author pull you into their imaginary world?

Cindi: I read all of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Little House books when I was 8 and 9, and decided then and there that I wanted to be a writer. I wanted to create worlds and carry people away to them.

Debra: Cindi, is there anything else you would like to tell our readers?

Cindi: Readers can visit me on the web at http://www.CindiMyers.com or www.MySpace.com/CindiMyers

I’m also a member of the Deadline Hellions Blog

Thank you, Cindi, for joining us here on this Make-believe Monday to share a little bit of the magic of writing with our readers.

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Debra's News-Debra is watching.....

Over on our Title Wave blog, Maria has just announced a first sale! Pop on over to check out her story about getting "the call".

Also over on Gina's blog ,Gina is giving away books written by my American Title II sisters - one every week.

Here is the schedule:
1/21 Gerri Russell: The Warrior Trainer
1/28 Michele Ann Young: No Regrets
2/4 Denise Eagan: Wicked Woman
2/11 Gina Black: The Raven's Revenge

Watch for Debra's first novel, Desperate Journey, to be released from Samhain publishing July, 2008.

Make-Believe Mondays with Lori Avocato

Today on Make-Believe Mondays our guest is Lori Avocato.

Lori, first, tell us a little bit about the manuscript you're working on now.

Lori: Gladly. I am starting a new romantic series of three women who were born and raised by Hippie moms on a commune. Actually, they don't even know if they have the same dad. They pretty much had to raise themselves since the moms were so "free" with no rules. The women did grow up with nurturing natures and all became nurses. They picked different types of nursing, which fit their personalities. Now they are all nearly thirty and single--and rebelling at their mom's lifestyle choices for them. So, they decided to swing the pendulum in the complete opposite no-rules direction--and join the military--fraught with rules. All become Air Force nurses! (As I was.)

Debra: What an interesting storyline. And who better to write about Air Force nurses!

Ray Bradbury said, “We are cups, constantly being filled. The trick is, knowing how to tip ourselves over and let the beautiful stuff out.” How do you keep your creative cup filled?

Lori: Hm, I'd like to say with wine but I've never found one sweet enough and my friends won't let me add Splenda to my Merlot.

Debra: Hahahahaha. Oh, I like that. :-)

I don't buy into the muse/sleeping muse at the moment theory. I think if you are a writer, you just have to sit down and write and the cup will pour out. If we think too much about it and worry that the darn cup is nearly empty, we'll get nothing done. Always assume it's full!

Debra : Yes. We tend to experience what we expect in many cases. And worry is such an unproductive activity.

Is there a point when your characters begin to come alive and you can see and hear them?

Lori: At the risk of sounding certifiably insane, that moment happens each time I sit down and write. And I gotta tell you, when I don't write, I get crabby.

Debra: Oh, I do too. Jut ask my family. ;-)

Lori: It's as if those characters are in my head and want to get out. I see the book in my head like a movie when I write and the darn characters do take over--which is actually my subconscious at work. That's why writing the first draft all the way through is so important. Trust your subconscious and listen to the damn characters. "Oh, nurse! Straight jacket please!"

Debra: The subconscious is a very powerful thing. Everyone should pay more attention to it.

Some very famous authors have played with language, creating words for people or places that no one has ever heard of. Have you ever played with words in that way and if so how?

Lori: I can tell you that I always used to make up words with my kids. In the stories that I told them and even in the daily talk to them, in a humorous way. And yet, both of my sons seem very normal to this day. I still make up some words in my work. My characters say them. I love doing that and that's why I liked Dr. Seuss so much. He not only made words up, but they rhymed. How cool was that!

Debra: That was very cool. He was always (and still is) one of my favorites too.

Lori, thank you for joining us here on Make-Believe Mondays.

Readers please visit Lori at
www.LoriAvocato.com

http://www.harpercollins.com/authors/27851/Lori_Avocato/index.aspx

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Debra's news and updates:

I'm expecting to receive my first edits from my editor within the next three weeks and anxiously awaiting my book cover.
Keep watching for my first novel, Desperate Journey, to be released from Samhain July, 2008.

This week on Title Wave,
http://titlewave.blogspot.com"
the blog of my American Title II sisters, Theresa is bloggging on Wed. and Maria is blogging on Fri. I've taken Mondays to list my Make-Believe Mondays blog authors and the occassional blog chat. Stop by and say hello!
www.debraparmley.com

And next week, here on Make-Believe Mondays, our visiting author is Cindi Myers.

Make Believe Mondays With Anton Strout

Today on Make-Believe Mondays our guest is Anton Strout.

Anton, first, tell us a little bit about the manuscript you're working on now.

Anton: Currently I'm working on three things:

- one short story for City Fantastic (DAW Books) called "Stannis", about a gargoyle and his century long watch over one New York family

- a second short story about magical critters, also set in New York City for another anthology which name escapes me at the moment

- one full length novel which is the second book in my Simon Canderous series after DEAD TO ME. It's a very different experience ... with DEAD TO ME I had several years to write it since I was a n00b, but the second, tentatively title BACK TO LIFE, I've had a year and deadlines to meet. Things are a little crazy at the Strout Compound right now.

Debra: Wow. Yes, I can imagine they would be. There's nothing like having a deadline looming to speed up the process.

Is there a point when your characters begin to come alive and you can see and hear them?

Anton: I tend to think cinematically when I sit down at the keyboard, laying out much of my thoughts like a screen play so my mind's eye sees my characters right from the get go. However, they tend to be a bit skeletal on my first draft as I write it out fast and dirty, but by about two-thirds of the way through I know them well enough that they start to flesh out nicely.

Debra: Skeletal. Yes, it's a bit like layering, isn't it? I like that image, the flesh being the last layer.

Some very famous authors have played with language, creating words for people or places that no one has ever heard of. Have you ever played with words in that way and if so, how?

Anton: I am amazed when I read, say, Tolkien and the myriad linguistic tricks he pullls off, but it's not for me. I tend to cringe at the idea of creating fanciful words for my work...it doesn't feel honest to what I do. I write mostly in reality anyway, only with little twists to it and using names that are all consonants like Krxyzl or something just seems like bad scifi conventions.

Debra: Yes, better not to do it if it doesn't feel organic to the writing. Then it is forced and is as you say, like bad scifi.

For some writers, dreams play a role in creating fiction. Has this ever been true for you? Have you ever dreamed a scene or an image that later wound up in one of your books?

Anton: Dreams don't play heavily into my work, which I suppose is why most of it is grounded in reality. For instance, I love the shows Joss Whedon creates because ultimately they're about real people trying to get through their day as weird shit goes down around them. Buffy Summers is just trying to get through school and date, but unfortunately she is The Chosen One. Mal and his crew are just trying to earn their keep and live peacefully, but they're flying through space dealing with pirates and a world where the Brown Coats lost....I'm intrigued by real people thrust into unreal situations.

Debra: Yes, and the reader can easily get caught up in that scene because what if they were thrust into that world? What would they do? I think that is why a TV show like Lost, for instance can be so popular.

As a child did any particular book or author pull you into their imaginary world?

Anton: I go to a Tolkien rereading binge every few years, but I think of the books from my teen years as the ones that most influenced my style: Douglas Adams, Robert Aspirin and Craig Shaw Gardner - I wanted their levels of humor, William Gibson - I envied the way he dropped you in a story with little explanation and you as a reader had to hit the ground running to keep up, Stephen King - I desperately wanted to tap that vein of universality he hits when he turns a phrase.

Debra: Yes, I do that rereading binge too every so often. But I can't read King. He is so good he gives me nightmares. lol

Anton, thank you for visiting with us here on Make-Believe Mondays.

Readers can visit Anton at

His website www.antonstrout.com

http://antonstrout.livejournal.com/

His group blog with other urban fantasists: http://leagueofreluctantadults.com/

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News and updates from Debra:

I'm adding this new feature at the end of all the interviews to let everyone know what I am up to as an author, what I am working on, where I am blogging, what I am following in the writing world.

First, I'm thrilled to announce my first novel, A Desperate Journey, will be out July, 2008.
I haven't seen the book cover yet and will soon be working on the edits. I closed down my travel agency at the end of 2007 to focus on writing full time, so of course that is a major shift for me.

I also blog over at
http://titlewave.blogspot.com/
with my American Title II sisters. I'll post a schedule of upcoming topics and bloggers there once we have the 2008 schedule worked out.

Make-Believe Mondays With Denise Eagan

I'm happy to be able to kick off the New Year here on Make-Believe Mondays with a visit from my American Title II sister, Denise Eagan, who we affectionately call Dee.

Dee, is there a point when your characters begin to come alive and you can see and hear them?

Dee: Yes, but sometimes not soon enough. It's not until they are actually talking to each other in my mind - sort of like a movie in the mind - that I can write anything. Still, I'm not completely "there" until I can imagine how they speak, how they interact after the end of the book. Another way I know if I "know" my characters is if I imagine them at a party together, and I know how they act at that party. For some reason that solidifies them for me. Everything else is learning exactly how they act at that party. For some reason that solidifies them for me. Everything else is learning about how they got to be the way they are.

Sometimes for me this is a matter of creation. Sometimes they are just there. That’s how both Wicked Woman and Wild Card were for me. I had the characters talking to each other in my head—the scenes rolling through my mind—before I had any thought of writing those books at all. Those of “gift” characters and “gift” books. Not that they don’t have their own challenges, they just “come” easier then ones where I have to sit down and figure out why this character is behaving this way or why that character won’t behave this way.

Debra: Tell us a little bit about the manuscript you are working on now.

Dee: The working title - sure to be changed because I'm very bad with titles - is Stalking Star. It's sort of a sequel to Wicked Woman and Wild Card, as in the heroine, Star, is the daughter of the hero and heroine in Wicked Woman, and starts talking about the hero, Nick, in Wild Card. Star is a woman's rights activist who has forgone marriage to pledge her life to the movement. But she doesn't want to forgo the intimacy of the marriage bed. Unfortunately, the conservative, uptight society men of Boston and New York are not willing to assist her in this endeavor. When she and her family visit with Colorado rancher Nick McGraw, she assumes that a Western man will be less uptight, and he become her latest target. It’s not until she has developed feelings for him that she learns he is not going to concede to her wishes, certainly not while they are inhabiting the same building. He may not be high society, but he does know right from wrong. As they the book progresses and the characters dance to the music of stalker and prey, Star’s secret admirer, unhappy with her association with the harridans of Women’s Right’s starts to do some stalking of his own. Only his comes with physical threats. . . .

Debra: The heroine sounds like a fascinating woman. I will be waiting for this one to come out.

For some writers, dreams play a role in creating fiction. Has this been true for you? Have you ever dreamed a scene or an image that later wound up in one of your books?

Dee: Oh yeah, I wrote one whole book based upon a dream I had. It was very warm dream and the “hero” of the dream was a vampire. I can’t see myself ever writing a vampire, book, though, so I took the characters of that dream, twisted and turned them, and came up with a book, Heart and Soul. Just so I could write that scene! Funny thing, though, I never put the scene in the book. In the end, the dream mostly just set the tone of the hero and his journey, dark and menacing, which I mixed with a heroine who is all light and humor. Eventually the book went on to take second place in WISRWA’s Fabulous Five contest.

Debra: Sometimes the writing of a book is a story all on its own and just as fascinating. :-)

Dee, thank you for visiting with us here on Make-Believe Mondays. It is lovely to be able to share the success of my ATII sisters with our readers.

Readers may email Dee at

victorianromance@comcast.net

Visit her at www.deniseeagan.com

and www.slipintosomethingvictorian.com