Saturday, August 23, 2008

Barbara Edwards - Interview


INTERVIEW WITH BARBARA EDWARDS
Hi Barbara,
I’m so delighted to have this opportunity to chat with you. Pull up a chair, grab a cuppa your favorite beverage and let’s sit on the deck and enjoy the cooler fall evening as we explore everything we can about you and your writing.
Iced green tea and home-made almond cookies for me! I’ll try not to talk with my mouth full.
First off – I know every one will want to know who is Barbara Edwards when she is not the intriguing romance writer for some historical or contemporary tale? What do you do on your days when you put the pen down and the keyboard away for a bit?
Barbara Edwards is a married lady with a family and a very big dog. I have several pastimes. One is Civil War reenacting; the other is gardening. I love portraying a woman mourning her fallen soldier and describing life in the South during and before the Conflict. Gardening is more work, but I’m planting Antique roses as I find them. They are wonderful flowers with delightful aromas.
How long have you been writing and when did you think you’d like to become a published author?
I’ve been writing since I was a teenager. I started off with poetry, tried short stories but found they grew too big. I didn’t expect to be published then. It was a way to let out all that emotion. After I joined RWA, I realized writing was more than a hobby. It was important to me and I wanted the recognition of being published.
What is your favorite genre to write – Judging from your website and the books you have published so far I’m going with historical romance but I know that isn’t all you are writing. What genre haven’t you written in that you would like to explore and what genre can you never see yourself writing?
I love historical romance and have a couple bubbling on the back burner. To my surprise, my most recent novel turned into a paranormal. It started as a romance, but the characters went off on a strange journey and I went along for the ride. I can’t write inspirational, to my disappointment. It’s very popular, but I find myself slipping into sensual.
I admire anyone who can write believable historical novels. In my opinion getting the language and customs right is only one of the problems of writing in that genre, whether it’s romance, adventure, mystery or whatever. You need a really good ear and eye, or a really good editor that can catch inconsistencies or errors in wording etc., in my opinion. How do you manage this?
The secret is not a secret: its lots of research. I’ve always loved history so it’s not a chore. I even read historical non-fiction for fun.
You are a member of the Romance Writers of America, how does belonging to this group enhance your writing career? What benefits do you feel belonging to an organization of this proportion give you?
RWA is a great organization with access to editors and agents that you can’t find elsewhere. I’ve belonged long enough to see major changes, big squabbles and wonderful solutions. I’ve learned so much I would need an encyclopedia to list it all. The biggest benefit is the friends I’ve found. I can go anywhere in the country and have lunch with someone I know from RWA.
Teaching Romance writing is another one of your career threads – I’ve heard that when you teach you learn twice – do you feel that teaching the subject has enhanced your own writing, if so how? Have you heard from any of your students that they have sold a romance novel, or published a book?
I love teaching writing romance. The students always ask things I’d forgotten I knew. It helps to be reminded of the basics. Several students joined the local chapters and I know one who has submitted.
Can you tell us about Ancient Awakening your latest book due to be released by Wild Rose Press?
Ancient Awakening is a paranormal set in a small New England town. Police Officer ‘Mel’ Petersen investigates a death only she believes is murder. By disobeying direct orders from the Rhodes End Chief, she risks her career to follow clues that twist in circles to her backyard and lead the killer to her.
Her neighbor Stephen Zoriak is a prime suspect. Steve worked for a major pharmaceutical company where he discovered a weapon so dangerous he destroys the research. He is exposed to the dangerous organism. He suspects he is the killer and agrees to help her find the truth.
Say I’m an aspiring author, if you were to give me some advice on writing what would that be?
Write. Write every day. Write. Finish the book. Write. Learn how to make it better. Write.

You hear that writing romance is easy, and that the readers are all women with dreamy ideas about romance and happily every after. I know and you know romance readers are very selective, intelligent and discriminating readers — what would your answer be to someone who says writing romance like Harlequin books is fluff, not real writing?
I’d say the person was an illiterate know-nothing. And if they knew how to read, they’d recognize that romance authors are the best writers in the world.
What is the hardest part of writing in the Romance genre for you?
I believe in love being the strongest emotion, and I have to make my conflict reflect that.
What next for you? What are you working on now?
I’m working on a sequel to Ancient Awakening. Also, I have the outline for another historical romance, a humorous contemporary and the beginning of a romantic suspense. It’s like choosing chocolates from a box. Which one is next?

Where can my readers find out more about you and your work. Do you have a website, a blog, are you on any of the social networks such as Ning, LinkedIn, facebook, and the like?
I don’t have much social time, but belong to a number of writing loops.
Barbara Edwards
Coming soon from The Wild Rose Press: Ancient Awakening, a Black Rose
www.barbaraedwards.net
http://barbaraedwards.net/blog/blog.asp for Barb'Ed Comments
www.Wings-press.com for Annie's Heart, Another Love, Rachel's Rescue
Thanks so much for taking the time to chat with us and do plan to come back again soon.

18 comments:

Unknown said...

Great interview. It's good to get to know more about Barbara.

Helen Hardt said...

Hi Billie and Barbara. Barbara, great to see you on another blog! Fun to learn a little more about you, too. I'm looking forward to Ancient Awakening!

Helen
www.helensheroes.blogspot.com

JanetElaineSmith said...

I have to get some of this gal's books. I also love writing--and researching--historicals. Great interview, Barbara and Billie. Thanks for sharing a bit of your world.
Janet Elaine Smith

Joyce Anthony said...

Wow--not only an extrmely fascinating cover, but a wonderful interview!!! Billie, you did great with the questions as usual and Barabar--glad to get to know you!!

Anonymous said...

I enjoyed the interview. Good questions and good answers. I especially enjoyed Barbara's passion for the genre and her advice for writers.
Boyd Sutton

Carolyn Howard-Johnson said...

Gorgeous, sexy cover. Thank you, Billie, for bringing this to us. Love your blog, too.

Your friend,
Carolyn Howard-Johnson
Author of This Is the Place, Harkening, and Tracings
www.carolynhoward-johnson.com

Unknown said...

Ashley, Helen, Janet, Joyce, Boyd, Carolyn thank you all for your wonderful comments - Barbara is something isn't she - fun to interview too. I hope you will check out her books and website - she's one interesting lady.
Thank you all again for your visit and comments!
Billie

Anonymous said...

"Write. Write every day. Write. Finish the book. Write. Learn how to make it better. Write."

Solid and cogent advice, Barbara.

Excellent interview, Billie and Barbara. Sheesh, now I got ANOTHER book I have to buy - LOL.

Marvin D Wilson
blogs at: http://inspiritandtruths.blogspot.com/
eye twitter 2 - http://twitter.com/Paize_Fiddler

Pee Wee said...

Great interview. Enlightening and inspiring. Barbara's answers have made me want to hurry back to my sequel and get crackin` on it. Thanks for the inspiration through the questions and answers.

Pee Wee
S.K. Hamilton

Anonymous said...

what a great interview Billie...good questions that were answered in depth.. Amother nook I must add to my collection...Barbara Williamson WoodBabs

Joyce Anthony said...

Hey Billie: stop over at my blog for a surprise :-) Love you!

Anonymous said...

Congratulations on your win. If you haven't seen it yet, stop by Joyce's blog.

ron

Judith Leger said...

Loved the interview, Barbara! Wishing you the best on your novel! I love the title: Ancient Awakenings! Fantastic! Wishing you the best!

Hugs,
Judith

Anonymous said...

Loved your answer to "writing romance is easy." Enjoyed getting to know you better. Great interview.

Anonymous said...

Congrats on winning the "Brilliant Weblog" award, Billie - if you haven't seen it yet, check it out on Joyce Anthony's blog today

http://joyceanthony.tripod.com/blog/

Anonymous said...

Thank you for sharing the interview. Barbara, you may not write inspirational, but you are certainly inspiring! :-) Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

Anonymous said...

What a great interview, Billie! I enjoyed learning about Barbara and her advice to writers.
Thanks to both of you.
Linda

Sandra Cox said...

Hi Billie, You've been tagged.
sandracox.blogspot.com