TQ: What would you say is your most interesting writing quirk?
Gwyn: I absolutely have to be working on a ThinkPad because ThinkPads are the only laptops left, I think, that use a keyboard-embedded pointing stick for moving the cursor around instead of a touch pad or external mouse. Touch pads drive me INSANE. I don't know what I'll do when they stop making pointing sticks. I'll probably be one of those crazy old ladies scouring eBay all day long.
TQ: Are you a plotter or a pantser?
Gwyn: Sadly, plotter. It goes against all my sensibilities, but publishers seem to require outlines (at least my publisher does.) Plotting is hard for me and the month or so it takes me to pull an outline together is painful. But when it's done, I am one happy camper because all the hard stuff is over and I can focus on the fun stuff--the actual writing.
TQ: What inspired you to write the A Novel Seduction?
Gwyn: Several things, really. I wanted to write a story of second-chance love. Let's face it, Ellery and Axel were meant to be together. Second, I wanted to capture the spirit of someone falling in love for the first time with romance novels. Third, I wanted to do a little nod to the book that made me fall in love with romance novels (thank you, Diana Gabaldon.) And fourth, I wanted to make a gentle poke at the people who dismiss romance novels, especially those who've never read one.
TQ: What sort of research did you for A Novel Seduction?
Gwyn: The most fun research I did was touring a microbrewery since Axel, the hero, is interested in buying one. A friend of a friend here owns the fabulous East End Brewing here in Pittsburgh, and he was kind enough to not only give me a tour and talk about the issues involved in running a microbrewery (did you know, for example, that 90% of the work one does at a microbrewery is cleaning?) but also to read the chapters I wrote and offer suggestions. He also gave the very funny story that happens in the brewery in A NOVEL SEDUCTION.
TQ: Describe A Novel Seduction in 140 characters or less.
Gwyn: A sexy, laugh-out-loud funny second-chance romance that will remind you what it was like to fall in love with your first man and your first romance novel.
TQ: The cover features a be-kilted fellow. Can you tell us a bit about the tartan of the kilt?
Gwyn: Gosh, I wish I knew. It looks pretty close to a Clan Macleod of Harris tartan, though, of course, Axel is Clan Fraser. However, Axel and the man on the cover look good in just about any tartan, so I'm not too worried.
TQ: Are all kilts the same? Do you have to have a sporran? Are there everyday kilts and dress kilts?
Gwyn: No, not all kilts are the same. Apart from the tartan (the bands of color) differences, there can different ways to belt them, different weights and a range of color styles even within the same tartan pattern. For example, each clan probably has a muted version of their colors for hunting and a bright version of their colors for dress.
TQ: In A Novel Seduction, who was the easiest character to write and why?
Gwyn: The easiest character for me is always the hero. I think it's a lot easier to know what it takes for a man to be heroic if you're a woman than it is to know what it takes for a heroine to be. We have experience closely observing and choosing men. It's harder to have distance when you're talking about a character of your own gender. And of course I fell in love with Axel while I was writing him. I fall in love with all my heroes. He's troubled, which I love in my heroes, but he strives to be a better person in order to earn Ellery's love. That's about the best thing you can say about anyone, man or woman, don't you think?
TQ: Without giving anything away, what is/are your favorite scene(s) in A Novel Seduction.
Gwyn: I love the scene in the microbrewery because it shows what Axel is capable of as far as caring and tenderness, even though his feelings are hurt.
TQ: You've previously written Time Travel Romance. Was it hard to switch to Contemporary Romance.?
Gwyn: Heck, no. Since my time travels always had a heroine from the present, they had a contemporary feel. And since A NOVEL SEDUCTION has scenes that feel just a touch magical, I felt like there was hardly any difference. In fact, after my editor read the pitch and bought it, I said to her, "You do realize that the book you're buying us a contemporary, not a time travel, don't you?" Since they hadn't said anything, I wasn't even sure they'd noticed.
TQ: What's next?
Gwyn: My next book--working title, PLAYING THE PAST, is a return to time travel for me. After that, even I don't know. I'm writing two proposals for my editor, one contemporary, one time travel, and I'll let her choose. I'm also working on a memoir about my relationship with my younger sister, who died young.
TQ: Thank you for joining us at The Qwillery.
Gwyn: Thank you for hosting me.
About A Novel Seduction
A Novel Seduction
Pocket Star, October 25, 2011
Mass Market Paperback, 384 pages
From the old steel mills of Pittsburgh to the picturesque hills of Scotland, romance novels save the day in RITA Award-winning author Gwyn Cready's fun and sensuous take on literature and modern-day love.
When snobbish book critic Ellery Sharpe screws up at Vanity Place magazine, her boss assigns her the ultimate punishment: write an ode to romance novels, a genre she considers the literary equivalent of word search puzzles. To make matters worse, he hires her sexy former party boy ex, Axel Mackenzie, to shoot the photos. Axel really wants the project to succeed. For one, the magazine will double his fee if he convinces strong-willed Ellery to write a story no woman can resist. Besides, getting Ellery to fall for romance novels might be just the push she needs to believe people can change . . . even him. At his sister's advice, Axel gives Ellery a copy of Kiltlander, a much-adored romance whose warrior hero is utterly irresistible. To her dismay, Ellery finds herself secretly falling in love with the story—and with Axel, who's drawing his own lessons from the book's compelling hero. With her carefully crafted image of herself crumbling and her dream job on the line, will Ellery risk it all to make the leap from tight-lipped literati to happily-ever-after heroine?
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For more information about Gwyn's books, visit the Book List page at Gwyn's website:
http://www.cready.com/book_list_ordering.html
About Gwyn
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| © Garen DiBartolomeo |
Gwyn's Links:
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The Giveaway
THE RULES
What: One commenter will win a copy of A Novel Seduction from Gwyn. US Mailing Addresses Only.
How: Leave a comment answering the following question:
Hero in a tuxedo or hero in a kilt?
Please remember - if you don't answer the question your entry will not be counted.
You may receive additional entries by:
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3) Mentioning the giveaway on your on blog or website. It must be your own blog or website; not a website that belongs to someone else or a site where giveaways, contests, etc. are posted.
There are a total of 4 entries you may receive: Comment (1 entry), Follower (+1 entry), Facebook and/or Twitter (+ 1 entry), and personal blog/website mention (+1 entry). This is subject to change again in the future for future giveaways.
Please leave links for Facebook, Twitter, or blog/website mentions. In addition please leave a way to contact you.
Who and When: The contest is open to all humans with a US mailing address. Contest ends at 11:59pm US Eastern Time on Tuesday, November 1, 2011. Void where prohibited by law. You must be 18 years old or older to enter.
*Giveaway rules are subject to change.*
