Love and Romance, etc.

LARE Issue #5

AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT:

Sensual Romance Author - Vicki Lewis Thompson~

An Exclusive LARE Interview

LARE: What made you decide to become a romance writer?

Vicki: My husband thought I'd be good at it. Seriously, it was his idea, not mine.

LARE: Wow, very insightfull guy, your husband! And Out of all the wonderfully sexy stories you've created - which one is your favorite?

Vicki: Nerd in Shining Armor stands out because it was the first book where I just let go and wrote whatever I wanted. I had a blast with it.

LARE: That's incredible, Vicki, because that was also the book that got national attention on "READING WITH REPA". So, Which one of your heroes is the one you fell in love with the most?

Vicki: Again, it would be Jack Farley, because he was so atypical, yet had the same soul that all my heroes have. Great guy. And smart. I like that.

LARE: How long had you been writing before your first sale?

Vicki: Writing romance? About a year, and nine months of that year was intense, no other-job writing. That intensity put me over the top. But I've been writing "stuff" ever since third grade.

LARE: What do you like the most about being a romance author? Have you ever considered another genre?

Vicki: The happily-ever-after endings, i.e. the optimism of the books, and the fantastic women I've met in the business. I've never seriously considered another genre. My hubby was right about me. This is perfect.

LARE: I agree with you - I need a happy ending to be satisfied with a story! What do you like the least about being a romance author?

Vicki: I wish those who read and write in other genres would respect this one. The prejudice is tough to take.

LARE: That's very true, but I think people like Repa and Opera are changes that. Can you tell us what you're working on right now?

Vicki: I just finished "Gone with the Nerd", about an actress and her lawyer who end up in a cabin in Northern California, where dangers abound, and Bigfoot makes an appearance! Right now I'm writing a Harlequin Blaze called Talking about Sex . . which is about a mouthy female DJ who's mounted a campaign against the high rise going up next to her station. The contractor happens to be an old boyfriend, and she has a score to settle. She accuses him of erecting the high rise as a sexual compensation device.

LARE: Mmmm, I can't wait! Did you have a mentor or a favorite author you looked up to before you became published?

Vicki: Mary Tate Engels, who wrote as Tate McKenna for Dell Ecstasy and Mary Tate Engels for Harlequin Temptation, was my mentor and role model. After I sold my first couple of books to Harlequin, Mary and I co-authored several books as Cory Kenyon. I learned a huge amount from her.

LARE: Have you ever had an idea for a story that your editor just wouldn't go for?

Vicki: Several! One that comes to mind was the hero planned to build a high-speed train line that would threaten the heroine's peaceful little town. I'm glad I didn't end up writing that. I know zilch about high-speed trains.

LARE: Out of all the romance novels you've read (that weren't your own) which one has remained your favorite?

Vicki: That's tough. I keep coming back to "Fever Dreams" by Laura Leone, though. It's a jungle story with adventure, humor and great characters. I wish I'd written it. It came out from Kensington many years ago, but it was due to be re-released. I'm not sure if it's out yet or not, but I wrote a cover quote, because I loved that book so much. ~

Love and Romance, etc.©
By Bonnie Williams
Copyright 2005
Torrance, CA 90501
www.LoveandRomanceEtc.com