An Interview with
Maureen Child
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Greetings everyone, it has been an exciting time here at Kwips so many great books, a new yahoo group, and a few new reviewers. You have decided to join us at the interview section of our site, where the Kwips family gets the opportunity to talk with some of our favorite authors. Must say, besides reading the delectable books the interviews are one of the most exciting aspects of the job. Today I get the pleasure of talking with Maureen Child for the release of her new book More Than Fiends. Maureen is a veteran in writing, with more than 90 releases to her name in various genres. So whether you love contemporary romance, paranormal or even historical there is something for all readers here. Welcome Maureen, I am going to start out with some questions many struggling writers face, before moving on to your novels. That is if you don't mind. Don't mind at all, Joyce. Thanks for having me here. 1. When you started out as a budding author, what were you doing to get by while you were waiting to be picked up by a publishing house? You mean besides the candle lighting and the chanting?? I did a little of everything. I used to paint portraits--I was a coil winder on this huge machine I had installed in my office--then I delivered singing telegrams for awhile (if you knew how well I sing, you'd be appalled at that thought!) and at Christmas, I painted storefront windows! 2. When did you know this was without a doubt what you wanted to do? I'd tried so many different things and eventually got tired of doing them. I'd be bored or restless. But with writing, it only got better. I loved sitting down and making up stories and there always seemed to be more stories crowding my brain. I knew I'd found what I'd been looking for. 3. What is the one challenge that sticks out most in your mind early in your career? And how did you overcome it? Surviving rejections was the hardest part. There were a lot and every time a new one arrived in my mailbox, I'd be crushed. Then I came up with the 24 hour rule. When I received a rejection, I gave myself 24 hours to be furious, hurt, downhearted. I'd kick pillows and rant and rage. But when the 24 hours were up, I was back in the chair, working. I made up my mind to be published and wouldn't let anything stop me. 4. Your books are spread through various genres what is your favorite to write? And the flip side while scouring the shelves of bookstores what do find yourself picking up the most of? Oooh. That's like asking a woman what kind of chocolate is her favorite. It's so hard to choose. But I do love writing contemporaries and paranormals. Everything I write, even dark paranormals have humor in them and that's important to me. When I'm reading, I look for two things...1, a book to make me laugh or 2, a book to scare me. I want an escape in the books I read and that's what I try to give my readers, whether they're laughing or turning on extra lights in the house! 5. Is there one book that you have read that is were your absolute favorite? CARNAL INNOCENCE by Nora Roberts really stands out for me. It is the best romantic suspense ever, in my opinion and I reread it at least twice a year. 6. When you reflect on the day your first book was released what did you do to celebrate? And can you describe what you were feeling? It was an amazing feeling. My husband and I drove all over the county, looking into bookstores, finding the book on the shelf. We opened some wine and and toasted the book, then the next day we went out and found more bookstores. To see something I'd worked so hard for actually there on the shelf, meant more to me than I could possibly say...It was physical proof that dreams do come true if you want them badly enough. 7. Now when one of your books hit shelves, do you still feel the same way? I really do! LOL......I still drive around the county, moving the books around to face out. I see those books and know I made the right choice so long ago. I love doing what I do. It's the best job in the world. 8. You have been a part of the Harlequin family for quite awhile, now with the launch of Nocturne we have gotten the chance to see another side of you. How many books do you have planned for this collection? And what do we have in store for the future releases? Nocturne has been so much fun! My Immortal Guardians are pretty much open ended. I can explore as many of them as readers will buy! I just finished the latest one, VANISHED, about an Irish Guardian. The book is set in Ireland, in one of my favorite places to visit. It will be out in January 08. But I've got a vampire novella coming out this December, too. And that was great fun! My first foray into Vampire-ville. 9. I absolutely adored the cover of Eternally by the way, do you get a choice in the cover selection or is it just a surprise? Which of all of your covers is your absolute favorite? ETERNALLY was a fabulous cover, wasn't it? I loved it. NEVERMORE, not so much. LOL. But you win some you lose some. And no, we don't get a say in cover art. We just fill in our Art Fact sheets for the art department and hope for the best! My favorite cover of all my books??? ETERNALLY would rank right up there. I also loved my cover for my Desire, BEYOND THE BOARDROOM, though. That guy was just amazing... 10. In June you have a new book out More than Fiends, and I must admit I absolutely adored it. Definitely a grand beach read, light and fluffy and outrageously funny with paranormal undertones. Can you share with our readers what you would want them to know about the book? Thank you, Joyce! MORE THAN FIENDS is a favorite of mine! I had so much fun with Cassidy and her friends and family. I love a laugh out loud kind of book and I think this one delivers! It's sexy and funny and hopefully all of your readers will run right out to buy it! 11. Your main character Cassidy is a mother with a housekeeping service, though I like her immensely and can relate, my personal favorite is the trainer that lands on Cassidy’s doorstep. How do you choose your characters? And wherever did you get her? LOL... Jasmine was fabulous, wasn't she? I needed the equivalent of the 'wise old man'..Someone who could explain to Cassidy what was going on and help her through this transition. And Jasmine just popped into my head like she'd been waiting for me to notice her. An elderly, crabby woman with a no nonsense attitude is so much like my own grandmother, maybe I was doing a little channeling, too! 12. Two handsome men are woven intricately through the book, one a demon and one a face from the past Cassidy hoped would never show up on her doorstep. Which kind of man was your choice in your personal life, the stable one with life preplanned or the bad boy that spiced things up a bit with spontaneity? Ah...I dated the bad boy then married the stable one. And it's worked really well! I'm the kind of person who does things spur of the moment and he plans. I go off on wild tangents and he reels me back in. Hmm. Seems there's a lot of Cassidy in me! 13. Cassidy’s adventures in demon dusting is laugh out loud funny, how many books do you have planned for her? Any hints on what we can expect in the follow-up? Right now, there are two books for Cassidy. MORE THAN FIENDS and the sequel, A FIEND IN NEED. (The cover for that one is gorgeous, too!) It will be out in March 08. And, if readers respond to Fiends the way I hope they will, there will be more books! A FIEND IN NEED stars Brady the Faery, who's in big trouble with the local demon queen. He comes to Cassidy looking for sanctuary--and things spiral out of control from there..... 14. You have used various pseudonyms in the past, and now only use Kathleen Kane to differentiate your novels. Do you or have you ever put a book out with a different name just to see if anyone could guess that it was you? If you have was anyone successful in guessing? LOL, no I haven't done that, but it's an intriguing idea. For now, I"m writing only under my own name. But you just never know what's around the corner! 15. I have visited your website and it seems that many of your readers keep in touch with you regularly. As a reader I love when writers do this, it is a wonderful gesture of appreciation. What is the greatest compliment you have received from one of your readers? That question is easy. Years ago, I wrote a western for Harper, called THE BANDIT'S LADY. It was a terrific story with a great heroine and it was very funny, even if I do say so myself! A month after it's release, I received a letter from a woman who told me that her daughter had died six months before. And that while reading my book, she'd laughed for the first time since that tragedy. She thanked me for making her smile again. That is the finest compliment I've ever been given. And it reminds me why I do what I do. I want to give my readers a chance to escape from their real worlds for awhile--and a chance to play in my world. 16. On that note here is your chance to say anything you would like to readers who been following your career through the years. A big THANK YOU to all of my readers. For your loyalty. For your letters. For your consistent support! I promise to keep writing if you'll keep reading........ Speaking for all of us at CK2S Kwips and Kritiques I appreciate the time you spent with us, and look forward to following all of your future releases. You are an amazing role model for anyone looking to go into the writing profession. Keep on doing what you are doing and many blessings. Thank you, Joyce, this was a pleasure. And to anyone hoping to become a published writer, please stick with it. Don't let anyone tell you your dreams can't come true. If you want it, and are willing to work for it, anything is possible.........
Visit Maureen's website! Read Maureen's blog! Read reviews of Maureen's books: Debbie's
reviews: Joyce's
reviews:
Interviewed by Joyce |