The guest author for today on Interviews by Dante is Tracey Clark. She is an author of Paranormal Romance. Her latest work is Shocking Finds. It is the first installment in the Finder’s Keepers series.
Please tell us a little about yourself.
My name is Tracey Clark, a born and bred Kentucky gal. I started writing a few years after I was diagnosed with MS, and my worlds quickly became my passion. My two pugs help keep me going and for down time I use art projects to refresh my mind.
Tell us about your latest book.
Shocking Finds (A Finder’s Keepers Novel) is my first publication, and will be released on oct 26. Paranormal Romance at it's finest. Follow Marin and the Fae entering her life. Betrayal, Fae assassins, steamy and undeniable lust … magic and the unknown.
What do you have coming out in the future?
I have two rough drafts for the Finder’s Keepers series that I will be editing, along with a few accompanying short stories.
Is your book a stand-alone or a series?
Shocking Finds is the first book in a series, but each book can be read as a stand alone. I want this world to grow with each novel with out any confusion should a reader start with book two or three, instead of one.
Why romance and what makes your particular brand of romance special?
I love the emotional content in a romance novel. The pull of seeking out that HEA. I will read anything from behind-closed-doors-lovin’ to in-your-face-gymnastic-worthy-passion. My brand of romance shows the doubts that can be felt, but the connection is impossible to dismiss. Plus ... Paranormal Romance allows for anything to happen. Which I love.
Is romance the only genre that you write in or do you write in other genres? If so what other genres do you write in?
I have yet to write anything that didn’t hold some form of passion. For the most part I stick to Paranormal Romance, but I started a contemporary romance rough draft. Still in the romance section but it is my first attempt at something other than paranormal.
My name is Tracey Clark, a born and bred Kentucky gal. I started writing a few years after I was diagnosed with MS, and my worlds quickly became my passion. My two pugs help keep me going and for down time I use art projects to refresh my mind.
Tell us about your latest book.
Shocking Finds (A Finder’s Keepers Novel) is my first publication, and will be released on oct 26. Paranormal Romance at it's finest. Follow Marin and the Fae entering her life. Betrayal, Fae assassins, steamy and undeniable lust … magic and the unknown.
What do you have coming out in the future?
I have two rough drafts for the Finder’s Keepers series that I will be editing, along with a few accompanying short stories.
Is your book a stand-alone or a series?
Shocking Finds is the first book in a series, but each book can be read as a stand alone. I want this world to grow with each novel with out any confusion should a reader start with book two or three, instead of one.
Why romance and what makes your particular brand of romance special?
I love the emotional content in a romance novel. The pull of seeking out that HEA. I will read anything from behind-closed-doors-lovin’ to in-your-face-gymnastic-worthy-passion. My brand of romance shows the doubts that can be felt, but the connection is impossible to dismiss. Plus ... Paranormal Romance allows for anything to happen. Which I love.
Is romance the only genre that you write in or do you write in other genres? If so what other genres do you write in?
I have yet to write anything that didn’t hold some form of passion. For the most part I stick to Paranormal Romance, but I started a contemporary romance rough draft. Still in the romance section but it is my first attempt at something other than paranormal.
An act of rebellion, Marin doesn’t think that running into the new store in town will hurt anything. Her aunt will never know… right? One car wreck later, her aunt is hospitalized, Marin is forced to spend her twenty-first birthday fighting for her life, and magic – the very thing her aunt has always sworn to be for fools – is real. And so is the irresistible Fae dedicated to Marin’s protection.
Kyland has searched Earth-side and all the other realms, looking for a missing Fae child. A child his Queen prophesied would be able to one day save the Fae people from the Danshue, as the evil Fae threat tries to overwhelm the entire Supernatural Community. A child that would know nothing of her blocked gifts, or her Fae heritage waiting to be claimed. A child that has grown into a curvy, delicious morsel he would love to taste
Together Marin and Kyland will fight Fae assassins, overcome betrayals, and if they’re lucky … they will find the Danshue responsible for their plight. That’s if Marin doesn’t shock him to death with her erratic new gift, and her out of control emotions.
Kyland has searched Earth-side and all the other realms, looking for a missing Fae child. A child his Queen prophesied would be able to one day save the Fae people from the Danshue, as the evil Fae threat tries to overwhelm the entire Supernatural Community. A child that would know nothing of her blocked gifts, or her Fae heritage waiting to be claimed. A child that has grown into a curvy, delicious morsel he would love to taste
Together Marin and Kyland will fight Fae assassins, overcome betrayals, and if they’re lucky … they will find the Danshue responsible for their plight. That’s if Marin doesn’t shock him to death with her erratic new gift, and her out of control emotions.
Do you ever base your characters on real people in your life?
I have yet to base any of my characters on real people. I have used a few of their last names, in a kind of shout out to those I love, but that is all for now.
What authors inspire your writing?
I have been inspired by many authors. I love the feel and build up in Karen Chance’s novels. Laurell K Hamilton and Lora Leigh are both steamier than I am so far, but they both have the ability to pull me into the story with the emotions jumping off the page. Shelly Laurenston/G. A. Aiken always manages to make me laugh out loud. I could go on for hours, but all the authors I fine inspiring have been from the romance genre. I actually have one favorite that didn’t come from the paranormal subgenre... Lorelei James and her cowboys novels.
What do you like to do when you are not writing?
I love to paint, using oil paints. Really, art of any kind draws me. Other than that, I spend time with my two pugs.
What was your road to publishing like? Tell us about it.
Like a lot of other authors, there were a lot of query letters. And man do I suck at query letters. I was actually looking into self-publishing, even though I knew I needed someone to lead the way (I am still learning all the ropes) when I came across Gone Writing Publishing. They asked for a copy of the novel and a synopsis. Which I found a lot easier.
How did you come up with the title of your book?
I was actually planning to use Finder’s Keepers as the title, then I saw that Stephen King was coming out with a novel using the same. At first, I thought ... well crap... then I realized that Kind had done me a favor, though he will never know. I started looking for a new title and came up with Shocking Finds. My main character get an electrical power that she can’t control, and inadvertently shocks those around her when she loses her temper. Plus she works at Finder’s Keepers ... so Shocking Finds.
Do you read romance or do you prefer other genres?
I read at least thirty romance books each year, more depending on free time.
What is your absolute favorite book or books and why is it special to you?
I will always love Pride and Prejudice... a true classic. But my current favorite has to be the Cassandra Palmer series by Karen Chance. I love her stories, but I’m really waiting to learn more about her Pritkin character. He is my favorite male lead.
What celebrity would you chose to play the main character(s) in the movie rendition of your book?
My main male character feel like the Fae version of an American Indian to me, but I can’t pinpoint one that is currently famous... so he will have to be an unknown. One of my male background characters feels close to the ‘Rock’ Johnson. And my Female main character would have to be that girl that played the Doctor’s daughter in one episode of Doctor Who.
Have you joined any writer’s groups?
I am a member of RWA, and always participate in the various NaNoWriMo groups. There area few other online groups that I like to visit, but those two are the main ones.
What is the hardest part of the writing process for you?
Editing, editing, and more editing has to be the hardest part. There are so many edits, and something to do with my MS causes my mind to shut off after a few hours of edits, so this process is extremely long for me. That is part of the reason that I wrote about five rough drafts for various series, as well as a handful of short stories before I started trying to get published. I needed a cushion so that my readers won’t have too long to wait for book two and three.
What is the easiest part of the writing process for you?
Brainstorming comes really easy for me. I love doing it for new stories. Even if those stories are being written by my writing friends.
Which of your characters is your favorite and why?
Makayla is my favorite. She doesn’t get too much screen time in Shocking Finds, but she will be one of the main character’s in book two.
What is your preferred writing environment?
I like to be comfortable when I write. Usually this happens in my lazy boy, in my office. Surrounded by my art and my pugs.
How would you describe your writing style?
I start out by writing story boards. For me, these are quick and extremely short snippets. He when here, she did this, oh look...a fight, they had sex, more fights, the cave contains, etc... then I sit down to write the first rough draft. This way I can get all my ideas down fast, and come back later.
Do you have a careful plan when plotting your stories or do you just go with the flow?
There is now plan when I write. I sit down, and it is all free flowing information. I write down what comes to me, and later I can decide or change that information. This works for me, and when I have a piece that I can’t use, I usually gets used somewhere else.
When did you know you truly wanted to give writing a shot?
About five hours after I got diagnosed with MS I knew that writing was the only thing that wanted to do. I also happened to be the only course of action that didn’t cause my MS to flare up. I started playing around with writing about three years after my diagnosis for a way to keep my mind occupied. Walking was hard to do, and television caused my head to hurt. So I told myself stories. Eventually I could write these stories out, but at first I could only do story boards. Writing was hard for me at that time, and most likely this need to keep my writing short started my writing style.
What is your favorite quote?
I love the first part of William Blake poem... ‘To See A World...’
To see a World in a Grain of Sand
And a Heaven in a Wild Flower,
Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand
And Eternity in an hour.
Do you have any advice for other writers and what is it?
Go out there and have fun with your writing, work hard, and support your fellow authors. We are a community and there is a lot of support and influence to be found. As well as the push we all need from time to time.
I have yet to base any of my characters on real people. I have used a few of their last names, in a kind of shout out to those I love, but that is all for now.
What authors inspire your writing?
I have been inspired by many authors. I love the feel and build up in Karen Chance’s novels. Laurell K Hamilton and Lora Leigh are both steamier than I am so far, but they both have the ability to pull me into the story with the emotions jumping off the page. Shelly Laurenston/G. A. Aiken always manages to make me laugh out loud. I could go on for hours, but all the authors I fine inspiring have been from the romance genre. I actually have one favorite that didn’t come from the paranormal subgenre... Lorelei James and her cowboys novels.
What do you like to do when you are not writing?
I love to paint, using oil paints. Really, art of any kind draws me. Other than that, I spend time with my two pugs.
What was your road to publishing like? Tell us about it.
Like a lot of other authors, there were a lot of query letters. And man do I suck at query letters. I was actually looking into self-publishing, even though I knew I needed someone to lead the way (I am still learning all the ropes) when I came across Gone Writing Publishing. They asked for a copy of the novel and a synopsis. Which I found a lot easier.
How did you come up with the title of your book?
I was actually planning to use Finder’s Keepers as the title, then I saw that Stephen King was coming out with a novel using the same. At first, I thought ... well crap... then I realized that Kind had done me a favor, though he will never know. I started looking for a new title and came up with Shocking Finds. My main character get an electrical power that she can’t control, and inadvertently shocks those around her when she loses her temper. Plus she works at Finder’s Keepers ... so Shocking Finds.
Do you read romance or do you prefer other genres?
I read at least thirty romance books each year, more depending on free time.
What is your absolute favorite book or books and why is it special to you?
I will always love Pride and Prejudice... a true classic. But my current favorite has to be the Cassandra Palmer series by Karen Chance. I love her stories, but I’m really waiting to learn more about her Pritkin character. He is my favorite male lead.
What celebrity would you chose to play the main character(s) in the movie rendition of your book?
My main male character feel like the Fae version of an American Indian to me, but I can’t pinpoint one that is currently famous... so he will have to be an unknown. One of my male background characters feels close to the ‘Rock’ Johnson. And my Female main character would have to be that girl that played the Doctor’s daughter in one episode of Doctor Who.
Have you joined any writer’s groups?
I am a member of RWA, and always participate in the various NaNoWriMo groups. There area few other online groups that I like to visit, but those two are the main ones.
What is the hardest part of the writing process for you?
Editing, editing, and more editing has to be the hardest part. There are so many edits, and something to do with my MS causes my mind to shut off after a few hours of edits, so this process is extremely long for me. That is part of the reason that I wrote about five rough drafts for various series, as well as a handful of short stories before I started trying to get published. I needed a cushion so that my readers won’t have too long to wait for book two and three.
What is the easiest part of the writing process for you?
Brainstorming comes really easy for me. I love doing it for new stories. Even if those stories are being written by my writing friends.
Which of your characters is your favorite and why?
Makayla is my favorite. She doesn’t get too much screen time in Shocking Finds, but she will be one of the main character’s in book two.
What is your preferred writing environment?
I like to be comfortable when I write. Usually this happens in my lazy boy, in my office. Surrounded by my art and my pugs.
How would you describe your writing style?
I start out by writing story boards. For me, these are quick and extremely short snippets. He when here, she did this, oh look...a fight, they had sex, more fights, the cave contains, etc... then I sit down to write the first rough draft. This way I can get all my ideas down fast, and come back later.
Do you have a careful plan when plotting your stories or do you just go with the flow?
There is now plan when I write. I sit down, and it is all free flowing information. I write down what comes to me, and later I can decide or change that information. This works for me, and when I have a piece that I can’t use, I usually gets used somewhere else.
When did you know you truly wanted to give writing a shot?
About five hours after I got diagnosed with MS I knew that writing was the only thing that wanted to do. I also happened to be the only course of action that didn’t cause my MS to flare up. I started playing around with writing about three years after my diagnosis for a way to keep my mind occupied. Walking was hard to do, and television caused my head to hurt. So I told myself stories. Eventually I could write these stories out, but at first I could only do story boards. Writing was hard for me at that time, and most likely this need to keep my writing short started my writing style.
What is your favorite quote?
I love the first part of William Blake poem... ‘To See A World...’
To see a World in a Grain of Sand
And a Heaven in a Wild Flower,
Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand
And Eternity in an hour.
Do you have any advice for other writers and what is it?
Go out there and have fun with your writing, work hard, and support your fellow authors. We are a community and there is a lot of support and influence to be found. As well as the push we all need from time to time.
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