.jpg)
Meet Angela:
During her senior
year in high school, Angela Smith was dubbed most likely to write a
novel, and that has been her dream ever since her mother read Brer
Rabbit to her and her sister so often that they were able to
recite it back to each other before actually learning to read. She’s
always enjoyed stories about the adventure of love, and getting
involved in the legal field developed her love of suspense. A
certified paralegal, work gives her perfect fodder for her romantic
suspense stories. When not caring for her small farm or spending time
with her husband of two decades, she enjoys creating, reading, and
dreaming of the places she’ll visit one day.
I asked Angela some questions about herself and her writing.
What made you decide
to write romantic suspense?
I’ve always loved
reading romantic suspense, and I’ve always known I had to write to
shut up the voices in my head. I had already been writing romance
(unpublished) when I started working at a prosecutor’s office and
once there, I knew suspense was what had been missing. (Too bad it
took me another ten years or so to pursue publication!)
Did you do research
for your books? If so, what kind?
Absolutely! I do all
kinds of research for my books throughout the entire writing process.
I read a lot of books on topic that relate to my book as well as
search the internet for anything that might help in my research. I’ll
ask questions and read blogs on topics. And when I can’t go where I
want to write about, Google Earth is my friend! I recently contacted
a police department in another state for information I needed and
they were very helpful. Learning new things through my research is
one of my favorite parts of writing.
Who is your favorite
character and why?
A favorite character
I wrote about would be like picking a favorite child. I can’t do
it. I have certain characters that won’t leave me alone, but those
are usually characters I haven’t completed stories on. I could pick
a favorite one for a particular subject, but not overall.
How long does it
take you to write a book? How much revision do you do? Any tips for
other authors working on romantic suspense?
I typically plan to
write one book a year, and my revision process is grueling because my
first draft is like a puzzle. The three books I have now (one still
in the works, but all part of my Slopeside series) took five years
from start to finish, but they were finished long before I did
anything with them and that’s when I was letting other things get
too much in the way. Although I’d love to write and publish three
to four a year, I have to be realistic with my schedule and other
demands. And I always remind myself that Sandra Brown, my favorite
author, only writes one a year. And she doesn’t have another job
full time! So that always makes me feel better. My biggest tip for
authors of any genre is to write what you enjoy reading, and don’t
be afraid to write bad on the first draft. Keep writing and don’t
give up, and learn everything you can.
How did you find
your publisher? What made you decide to publish this way?
A lot of research. I
decided to go with a smaller press because they don’t require an
agent and I love the fact my book won’t take years to get published
once I sign with them. I also love that Crimson Romance is a part of
Adam’s Media, a well-established publisher that has been around a
long time. Going with a smaller press has a lot of huge advantages,
and I’ve been very happy with them.
What sort of writing
schedule do you have?
I have a full time
job, so my writing schedule revolves around my work. I usually try to
get up early enough to write in the morning and I write most
evenings. I usually try to write a few weekends a month, but not
every weekend. I do miss weekdays, though, but have learned not to
beat myself up.
Anything you'd like
to add about your books?
Fatal Snag is
the second in a stand-alone series set on the ski slopes of Montana,
featuring the brother of the hero in my first story, Burn on the
Western Slope. Along with the romantic suspense, there’s a lot
of adventure, even some history and learning tidbits (i.e. Chayton
discovers his mother is Native American living on a reservation).
Although I’ve always called my stories mindless entertainment that
won’t change the world (to my non-romance reader friends), I always
try to add some depth in the form of setting, character development,
and many unusual ways, including topics that interest me. For
instance, Winona, who you’ll meet in Fatal Snag and who has
her own story coming out, volunteers at an animal shelter. And I’m
a huge animal lover. And I’ve always been infatuated with Native
American history. So I tend to add tidbits in my stories about things
that interest me.
Blurb for Fatal Snag
Hollywood
fashion consultant Naomi Fisher is happy to use her
obsessive-compulsive planning to assist with her cousin's wedding,
but her history with the sexy and sullen Chayton Chambers, the
groom’s brother, terrifies her. When the groom is kidnapped at his
own wedding, Chayton and Naomi rush to find an important relic to
satisfy the ransom before her cousin becomes a widow before a bride.
Naomi trades garters for guns as survival, and love becomes a deadly
game impossible to resist.
Information
about the book:
Title:
Fatal Snag
Author:
Angela Smith
Genre:
Romantic Suspense
Release
Date:
17 March 2014
Buy
Links:
Crimson
Romance: http://goo.gl/84nFbt
Amazon:
http://ASIN.cc/sPcNqL
Thanks for hosting me on your blog today!
ReplyDelete