Lisa VanAuken is an agent with Creative Media Agency. She’s been acquiring for about a year, having started as an intern who was tasked with reading through the slush!

WWR: How long have you been acquiring for the Creative Media Agency?

Lisa: I’ve been officially acquiring for about a year, but have been with Creative Media for longer than that. I started as an intern—reading through slush, etc.—and Paige and I got along so well, she asked me to come aboard officially. She and I have similar tastes in some ways; we both love romance and commercial genres, but I also acquire mainstream and literary fiction/non-fiction. I can be as romanced by lovely, poetic prose and theme as by romance itself.

WWR: Your bio on the Creative Media website says you’re "a sucker for any book that simply ‘does what it sets out to do’." Would you tell us what that means?

Lisa: While a love of basic efficacy in books may seem bland or lackluster, I have to say that because my tastes are so diverse, so open to "experiments" in plot and characterization, I’m often charmed by projects that are out-of-the-way or unconventional—as well as by good stories with strong hooks. I suppose what it means is that I’m open to any writer who really, truly knows what she’s about, regardless of genre or form. I just love to read good books. That’s really the bottom line!

WWR: What elements do you love to see in a book? What elements will turn you off a book you might otherwise be interested in representing?

Lisa: In romance I tend to look at the style and tone of the book first (I love unique voices and perspectives). But while I’m reading for technique, I’m also looking for strong intermediate and over-arching conflict on every page, a solid, exciting hook, and memorable characters. I adore books I can learn from. And I love sexy stuff! Dark and wild or light and fun—I say, the hotter the better!

As far as turn-offs, I have an aversion to bitchy heroines, characters who exclaim the word "damn" prodigiously (I see it a lot), and alpha males who won’t let heroines be their emotional equals.

WWR: Are you looking for books to represent or authors? (By that, I mean, do you focus more on a single project or book, or are you looking for authors who already have several books ready?)

Lisa: I’m looking for writers who are in it for the long haul, who understand how a successful partnership will result in successful branding. When I pitch an author, I don’t want to sell her book to an editor as a one-off deal—a project—I want to sell the author herself: that is, her unique personality, her interests, her ability, etc. In short, I want sell both the book and the promise of the author’s future successes.

WWR: Do you take on clients based on the potential you see in their work, or do you stick with authors who are clearly ready for publication?

Lisa: A little of both. We’re very hands-on at CMA. When we send out a book, we want to send out the best possible thing we can. We’re not adverse to critique—in fact, we love doing it if it makes the work in question that much more saleable. But—we do want to see submissions come into our agency in the very best possible condition they can be in.

WWR: There aren’t really classes you can take to teach you to become an agent (or are there?), so how do you gain the experience you need to effectively represent your clients?

Lisa: Some new agents have to start on their own, sort of trial by error until they get it right. I have had the distinct advantage of working at CMA, leaning about the many hats an agent wears by interning before actually becoming an acquiring agent. There are "how-to" books out there on agenting (including some "be your own agent" books), but I haven’t read any that were helpful when it comes to the intimate nuances of the business. Really, learning first-hand from a pro has made all the difference.

WWR: Do you offer career guidance to your clients? How important do you think it is for your clients to have a clear idea of where they want to go with their writing in the future?

Lisa: I look at agenting not as offering writers only basic representation, but offering them knowledgeable career management. An idea of who you are and what you want from your career is absolutely essential for success. Know thyself. That’s the first step for the serious writer.

WWR: Do you ever feel like there’s a conflict between what readers want to read and what editors are acquiring, and have you ever found yourself turning down the representation of a book because of that?

Lisa: Editors are business people. They acquire what people are reading. They know the market. I wish I could say that I acquire books simply because I fall in love with them. But the cruel fact is that while reading is a warm, welcoming hobby for most Americans, it’s a die-hard business for those of us on the inside. I do love every book (and author) that I take on…but when I’m sitting at my desk with two books that I love (one that’s marketable, one that isn’t), I’m going to offer for the book I can sell.

WWR: And finally, what do you like to read when you’re not working?

Lisa: Amazon.com is still trying to figure me out on this question! Some days, they’ll recommend romance to me, other days, a post-modernist satire. As a woman enamored with books, writers, and the industry, I love reading (and acquiring) non-fiction that offers new insight into the business of writing/publishing. When I’m exhausted, I read romance (love sexy, smart historicals!), and when I need a challenge, I read literary. I’m particularly interested in America’s social and political history and (for some reason) the history of the Catskills. I also love general women’s fiction. I guess I love it all!

WWR: Lisa, thanks so much for your time!

Lisa: Thank you for the interview!

Susan McCarty is an editor with Avalon Books. She joined Avalon in 2005 after leaving Berkley.

WWR: Can you tell us a little about your move from Berkley to Avalon Books? What drove you to change career paths?

Susan: Well, it’s the same career path (editing genre fiction), but a different approach. I loved my editors and authors at Berkley, but I wanted to see what it would be like to edit for a small house. Plus, Avalon offered me the chance to work on the production of their books, which was intriguing. I’d never done that before. And I was already familiar with Avalon Books. I started my editing career as an intern here five years ago!

WWR: Could you give us a little background information on yourself? For example, what is your official title at Avalon Books? What are some of your daily, weekly, and/or monthly duties?

Susan: I’m the Associate Editor. My job is really interesting because what I do changes every day, depending on where the books are in the production cycle. Some days I may be writing editorial letters or editing copy, other days I’m going over cover art, sometimes I get to spend a day reading-those are my favorite days! Daily, I make sure that all our books are on schedule for publication. Weekly, I update our production lists, and read manuscripts for our editorial meeting. Every other month, I send our books and covers out to be printed. I also try to read some submissions every day.

WWR: While we know Avalon focuses on the sweet romances, can you tell us what you look for in a submission? And how many new authors have you personally picked up since starting with them?

Susan: We look for a fun, fresh voice or plot. And we love a strong, funny heroine. Avalon romances are special because, to me, they’re really what romance is all about—the excitement and uncertainty of meeting someone who amazes, intrigues and sometimes frustrates you. We want that breathlessness, that fun, conveyed in a story. We don’t do any romantic suspense or anything with soap opera elements. No dark, secret pasts or homicidal twin siblings…nothing like that.

Also, even though we accept unagented submissions, I always want to see a professional presentation. Every submission should have a cover letter listing the word length of the book, the author’s publishing history, and a full synopsis. And it should be a book that fits our publishing program—if it’s clear to me that an author hasn’t read our writer’s guidelines, and has sent us something way off base (a 100,000 erotic romance, for example), I don’t even bother reading the submission.

I’ve picked up a few authors since I got to Avalon last November. Ideally, I will be editing about 30 books per year, and very roughly, one-third to a half of those books will be by new authors.

WWR: What suggestions can you give an unpublished author just starting out in the romance industry? Would you recommend they find an agent first or start submitting?

Susan: It’s good to have an agent, but not having one doesn’t have to keep you from publishing. Many of Avalon’s authors are unagented. The famous saying in the publishing world is: the easiest way to get an agent is to sell a book. It’s always good to try to find an agent, but don’t let the quest for an agent keep you from your quest for publication, which is your real objective anyway. It’s fine, for instance, to send out your work to houses that accept unagented submissions (like Avalon), and also to send your work to agents at the same time. Just make sure you let the publishers and the agents know you’re doing this. For anyone who has questions about finding an agent, there’s a great weblog called Miss Snark: The Literary Agent (www.misssnark.blogspot.com). Miss Snark is an anonymous literary agent who answers author questions about the publishing world. And she’s really funny and fun to read.

Other than that, I would advise a new romance author to join RWA. When someone lists their affiliation to RWA in their cover letter, I know immediately that they’ve received coaching in how to write, pitch and sell their work. I know I’m reading a partial that has probably been workshopped and revised several times. An RWA membership isn’t necessary to be published, by any means, but it does indicate to an editor that you are serious about your craft.

WWR: What is your ultimate favorite romance and/or women’s fiction novel, and what did you find about it that captured and kept your attention?

Susan: The oldies are still my favorites: Wuthering Heights, Pride and Prejudice. I loved the stories when I was a kid, but the attention to detail and the high quality of the prose brought me back to those books as an adult. V.C. Andrews was one of the first genre authors I read as a kid, so I have a soft spot in my heart for those books, even though they are pretty melodramatic. They are my guilty pleasure. Also, I just loved The English Patient. Michael Ondaatje is an amazing writer.

WWR: How do you decide what readers want to and/or will buy? And do you ever feel like there’s a conflict between what readers want to read and what editors/publishing houses are acquiring?

Susan: Readers are writers, and writers shape the market, so I don’t think, especially in romance, that houses ever put out books that readers won’t buy. They’re putting out books written by their readers. Romance sales make up something like 58% of the fiction market right now, so I’d say especially in romance, the editors and the readers are pretty well in sync. It’s true that editors can shape or influence the market, but almost always it’s because they are picking up on something that readers have loved. A very good editor will be able to anticipate the market by nine months to a year, which is approximately how long it takes to publish a book after an offer is made.

At conferences, people often ask what they should be writing, what’s hot right now. The truth is, what’s hot right now was bought a year ago and written two years ago. Really, what you should write is what you love to read.

WWR: Have you ever acquired a manuscript that you know fits well into the market, but that you didn’t personally like? And along the same lines, have you ever liked a manuscript but decided to pass on it because it didn’t fit the market? Don’t worry, we’re not asking for names! :-)

Susan: I can’t remember ever buying a book I didn’t like. There are so many great books out there looking for a publisher, why waste your time on something you don’t love? I suspect this may happen in non-fiction, since often what you’re selling there is the idea, not the writing. But with novels, it always comes down to the story. If you can’t tell a story, I’m not going to buy you.

On the flipside, I think one of the toughest things about being an editor is passing on projects you love because they don’t fit the market or would be very difficult to package and sell. This is definitely true at larger houses. At Avalon this doesn’t happen. Our guidelines are so specific that only something that already fits all of our requirements gets past our first readers. So anything I’m reading already fits our market.

WWR: Outside of reading submitted materials, are you an avid reader? If so, what types of books and which authors do you like best?

Susan: Yes, I’m always reading. Every editor and agent I know grew up with a book firmly in hand. I read mysteries, westerns and romances for work, and I read titles in those genres from other publishing houses. But when I really want to unwind, I read short stories. I’m a short story writer, and I just love to read them. I think, in some ways, they are the most pure and perfect form of fiction. Plus they’re a nice break from the novels I read for work. It’s satisfying to be able to start and finish a story in one, brief sitting.

I adore Alice Munro, Lorrie Moore, A.M. Homes, Pam Houston, Denis Johnson, Adam Haslett…the list goes on. Right now I’m reading Voodoo Heart by Scott Snyder, which I’m loving. He’s got it all—great plot, sympathetic and emotionally complex characters, a playful and intelligent understanding of language.

I also try to read non-fiction when I can, to keep some semblance of reality in my life. Recently, I read Animals in Translation by Temple Grandin, an autistic woman who designs humane slaughterhouses. She seems to be able to understand what animals think and feel. The book was about the emotional lives of animals. It was fascinating.

WWR: What is a typical day like for you?

Susan: I usually get to work 10 minutes late (curse the train!) and promptly go to the deli for fortification (i.e. iced coffee and an egg sandwich). I get back to my office, read and respond to emails, take a quick glance at the New York Times front page, then get to production work. I save the reading for later in the afternoon when I’ve worked hard all morning and need something a little more laid back. At lunch I try to leave the office and take a stroll around the neighborhood. I also try to eat a salad. Some days I succeed, but some days it’s a working lunch with Wendy’s at my desk. After work I go to yoga, which is a good break for my eyes. Then it’s back on the train and back to reading. I get home, play with my rabbit, Kevin, then read some more.

WWR: If you could give authors submitting to you one piece of advice, what would it be?

Susan: Always, always, always look at our guidelines first. We publish short, sweet historical and contemporary romances, mysteries and westerns. I can’t tell you how many times I open mail and immediately put the partial in the "To Reject" stack. People send their autobiographies, their 150,000 word science fiction odysseys, their how-to books, none of which we can even consider. We also don’t do time travel romances, romantic suspense or YA of any kind. It’s the worst at conferences, where people are actually paying for their time with me, and they go to pitch something and I have to stop them and say, "I’m sorry, that’s not something we will publish." That’s a very good rule in general: if you’re sending something out, or you’re pitching something to an editor, make sure they buy what you’re selling before you waste your time and money. Although, the caveat to that is that every pitch is useful, even a mismatched one, because it’s all good practice.

We would like to thank Susan for taking time out of her busy schedule to talk with us.

Nadia Cornier is an agent with Creative Media Agency. She also owns the public relations firm Cornier & Associates, which handles book publicity for authors.

From Nadia
Disclaimer: Interviewee likes to hear herself type. Please do not judge her on the tendency towards over-inflated verbosity. Thank you – Dia :-)

WWR: How long have you been acquiring for the Creative Media Agency?

Nadia: For about six months now; I’m already getting tons of mail. But the response has been really great and I’ve seen some fabulous projects – so I’m really excited about working with CMA.

WWR: Your bio on the Creative Media Agency website says you’re interested in "speculative fiction." Since speculative fiction is a mighty! big subset of fiction, would you elaborate on what types of speculative fiction you’re most interested in representing?

Nadia: Sure! I like romances with paranormal elements (I just finished reading Jude Devereux’s Forever, Forever and Always, Always series — and loved it, loved it, loved it — like I do with all her books), but I also like reading different types of science fiction and fantasy. I’m a huge fan of Orson Scott Card and will read anything of his I can get my hands on. But while I can find examples of a dozen different sub-genres with in spec fic that I enjoy – they all have at least one thing in common: there is a stronger focus on the character development than on the world development. Not that having either be weak is a good thing, but I definitely enjoy character-oriented stories more.

WWR: What elements do you love to see in a book? What elements will turn you off a book you might otherwise be interested in representing?

Nadia: Elements I love: I love funny books — I love to laugh and love and when a book makes me feel either, I like it, both and I love it.

Elements that turn me off: men who wear Hawaiian shirts (just kidding…although…), overly flowery language. I like things said simply so that the characters and the story stand for themselves. I also catch some of my authors overwriting phrases because they don’t think that the writers will "get it." Trust me, trust your readers – you’re good, we’ll get it.

WWR: Are you looking for books to represent or authors? (By that, I mean, do you focus more on a single project or book, or are you looking for authors who already have several books ready?)

Nadia: CMA makes it a point to represent authors. Which works for me, because I’m such a manic-reader that when I find an author I really enjoy – I want to read everything they write. If my authors (and I really enjoy reading my author’s works) didn’t write more than one book — I’d go nuts! I assume, perhaps egotistically, that others will share my love of these authors and I’ll have the joy of seeing their work on the shelves.

WWR: Do you take on clients based on the potential you see in their work, or do you stick with authors who are clearly ready for publication?

Nadia: Probably authors who are clearly ready for publication. I think that I can help authors polish their works to make them better – but I can’t (i.e. don’t have the time nor the inclination) to really show anyone how to write. That’s such a long and personal process, that I wouldn’t even want to try. So most of the projects I take on are ready with little or no editorial changes to be ready to submit. Of course, this is just me – I know Lisa and Paige have more editorial experience than I have and are better able to see a diamond in the rough. I hope that this comes with more experience and I often ask their opinions on materials to see how they would go about working with an author to strengthen the material. I’m still learning, but I’ve got seriously talented people to learn from.

WWR: There aren’t really classes you can take to teach you to become an agent (or are there?), so how does an agent gain the experience needed to effectively represent clients?

Nadia: OMG! I think there are classes now. I believe William Morris has an interesting program like this for people who want to be agents, also — I believe NYU and a few other universities have a Masters in publishing (but check with your guidance counselors on that one.).

I worked with CMA for a while before I began acquiring. and really, the only way I’ve "gained" experience is to try things out. Paige has been an exemplary role model, showing me step by step what is done and what isn’t. but she still gives me a wide birth to really go after projects that I adore (even if she doesn’t) and grow. She gives me information and suggestions but then steps back and lets me go at it. I’m naturally a dorky kind of person, and she accepts that. And thankfully, so do my clients. So while it may not work for all agents, for me: I think I gain experience by being open to suggestions, information and having the enthusiasm to really just go out and "do." Also CMA is well respected within the industry, so I have a lot of doors open to me that I wouldn’t have had if I had one day just said, "Ok, now I’m an agent!" (and the music would surge). Instead I get to use the contacts that Paige and Lisa have already made – and those contacts are extremely important.

WWR: Do you offer career guidance to your clients? How important do you think it is for your clients to have a clear idea of where they want to go with their writing in the future?

Nadia: Before an author signs with us, we speak with him/her over the phone. I like to know about my author’s strengths, weaknesses, and aspirations. This way I can tailor our professional relationship. I offer guidance in the form of information (which I highly value and always share), so they can know what’s selling right now and who is looking for what but I try and remind them to write what they feel good writing. But, when we are going over ideas for their next project, I can say "I really like idea C, I think this would be a great fit for houses blah blah blah – I really like editor Z there, you two would probably get along really well." [Sometimes agenting feels more like matchmaking. Yenta, I am].

It is fine for an author to want to write full time (C’est bien (my college French at work)!) but it is a lot harder to do that when an author can only produce one project every four years (C’est mal!). So, I think it’s good to have a clear idea of where you want to go, so we can discuss the possible ways of getting there and see if it’s even plausible within the scope of the authors’ strengths and weaknesses.

WWR: Do you ever feel like there’s a conflict between what readers want to read and what editors are acquiring, and have you ever found yourself turning down the representation of a book because of that?

Nadia: Not really. I’m a reader, I look for an author that I want to read (note I said author, not project) because if I represent this author – I’ll have to read book 2 and book 3, too). If it’s something I love, I think I have a pretty good chance of finding another person to love it, too. The problems come when I see a project that I could probably sell, but that I don’t love. It’s always hard to turn down those projects – and it doesn’t mean that they won’t do well (which is even worse! Gah!) but I know they’ll have a better chance with another agent.

WWR: And finally, what do you like to read when you’re not working?

Nadia: AH!… I read A LOT. In addition to any mail I get, or projects that my clients are sending me to look over — I read probably a dozen (published) books a week. Just about anything I can get my hands on (although I tend to stay away from true crime – but probably only because it’s usually close to the romance section and I tend to drift towards that like a magnet. ::zoompf::: ). Things I read this week: Candice Hearn, Gary Wassner, Orson Scott Card’s Rachel and Leah, Fantasy and Science Fiction Magazine, Gossip Girls, Meg Cabot. But, my top choice will always be a funny historical romance (regency period).

WWR: Thank you for the enthusiastic interview!

"Leanne Tyler is a bright new voice on the romance horizon. Her first story, Victory’s Gate, will be considered one of the best of the year!" Donna Wright, Award winning author of the Tennessee: Love series

WWR: Leanne, since this is your first interview with WWR, can you give us a brief rundown of your writing career? How long have you been writing? Do you write under any other names, etc.?

Leanne: I’ve been writing for many more years than I like to count now. I started when I was 13. My mom bought me a few First Loves from Silhouettes (their YA line in the 1980s) and I immediately started writing my own love stories. I actually completed that story. I still have the notebook paper with the faded pencil scribbling in my file cabinet. Was the story good? For a first attempt of a seventh grader I’d have to say yes. Would it be publishable in YA today? No.

I do have another pen name I write under when I am working with my writing partner. We have a four book project originally targeted to Harlequin Blaze, but until my partner finishes her doctorate all plans are on hold.

WWR: You’re first release, Victory’s Gate, is in The Wild Rose Press’ Through the Garden Gate. Can you tell us about the story and how it came to be chosen for this series?

Leanne: Victory’s Gate is the American Rose winner in the Through the Garden Gate contest. The criteria for the contest required each story to begin in Bury, Lancashire, England in present day 2007 at a cottage where the heroine is vacationing. When she walks through the garden gate she’s transported in time to one of four time periods where she finds true love. The time periods were Regency, American Western, Civil War, and Vintage (1900-1960s).

I chose Civil War because when I thought about the premise and closed my eyes I had the vision of a woman walking out of a door into a battle zone in Charleston, SC. Of course, as most writers know, what you think happens in your books, isn’t always what gets put down on page when you write them. My heroine does go to Charleston, SC, but she walks out of a misty fog during the early morning hours and comes face to face with a Union regiment.

According to my editor, Victory’s Gate was chosen because it was beautifully written and had all the elements of a civil war love story. She said when she read mine she knew she’d found her story for the American Rose line.

WWR: We’d love to know how you structure your time when you’re working on a book. Do you have a set schedule? Do you work with an outline or synopsis…or do you "fly by the seat of your pants" so to speak?

Leanne: With Victory’s Gate I had literally 12 weeks to write it by the time I learned about the contest. It was late May and the contest deadline was Aug. 30. I had to use my time wisely and produce pages to get the story completed. I have to thank my critique partners for keeping me on track. We met every week and they picked my work apart, nailing them if they didn’t think I was making the characters true to the time period.

I typically don’t write with an outline or a synopsis. When I hit a snag, I do try to write the synopsis to help me press forward, but I find my most productivity is when I let the story flow. Then I go back and tailor my synopsis or outline to the story. If that is what you consider “flying by the seat of you pants” then I guess I am one.

When I’m working on a story I try to write as much as possible every day until I get to the point where the words stop flowing and I feel I’ve hit a bump in the road. A good example is my current WIP. I was working on it when I learned about the Garden Gate contest and as soon as I submitted Victory’s Gate I went back to it because I want to submit it to WRP for consideration.

WWR: What’s been the most memorable moment of your writing career? What would you like to see in the future?

Leanne: I thought having Victory’s Gate win the American Rose line be published was tops, but I’ve been on the best selling American Rose book since it’s release. I’ve also been told Victory’s Gate is currently ranked #9 on the paranormal page.

I’d like to see my current WIP published in print.

WWR: Do you like to hear from readers? What’s the strangest comment or question a reader has ever sent/asked you?

Leanne: I love to hear from readers. Many of the folks who read my book drop by my office at work and tell me how they liked it, how proud they are of me for doing it, give us more love scenes in the next one. One person even said she wanted more of the story. She didn’t want it to end when it did. Those kinds of kudos always make you feel good, but it also makes you want your next book to be even better than the first.

WWR: For others still waiting on "THE CALL", do you have any advice to share? Can you tell us about your "CALL"?

Leanne: My advise for those still waiting on “the call” is don’t give up. It will happen. Believe in your writing and don’t let others tear you down with their criticism or negative comments. My mom was the worst because I’d been writing forever and she’d always say “I thought you were giving that up?” or “Haven’t you been working on that long enough. Maybe you need to do something else with your life.” Of course her tune has changed since I sold Victory’s Gate. She was happy when I called her and she seems to understand why I go to critique and leave my son with her every week or that I have to go to a book store and hang out at signings even if my book isn’t in print, because I’m spreading the work about my own that can be downloaded.

My “call” wasn’t a call at all. It was an email notification. But unlike those who receive a phone call. I can save it to my hard drive and I have it printed off for my records. Sure it would have been great to answer the phone and hear, “WE WANT TO BUY YOUR BOOK.” But I still screamed with joy when I read the email.

WWR: Okay, now, we have to ask for all those who will fall in love with your first story…how many books do you expect to have out this time next year? If you already know, we’d love to know the titles and release dates. And, if you can, tell us a little something about your current work in progress!

Leanne: I hope to have my current WIP available by now or possibly before now.

WWR: Do you belong to any writing groups? Do you recommend aspiring authors join groups? If so, can you suggest which ones are the best investment for your career?

Leanne: I am the founder of Smoky Mountain Romance Writers in Knoxville, TN. I also belong to our parent chapter Romance Writers of America.

Anyone interested in writing should join a writers group. Professional skills and networking is available through sponsored conferences and events. You can also meet with editors and agents.

I think a local chapter of an organization is your best starting ground because you want to be able to have face to face meetings or networking sessions with others who are at the same level as you.

WWR: Do you have a website that readers can visit to keep up with your career and upcoming releases? Do you recommend other authors (published or not) have a site?

Leanne: My website is www.leannetyler.com. I also have a newsletter and encourage anyone who wants to stay in the loop on what’s going on to sign up. I have a myspace and shoutlife sites as well as blogspot.

I most definitely encourage any author, published or not to invest in a website or a myspace page. It is one way to connect with your readers on the internet. A great venu for promotion.

WWR: Do you have any plans for a book tour? Appearances?

Leanne: I won’t be doing a book tour yet. I will be attending the 2008 Readers and Authors Get Together hosted by Lori Foster, Dianne Castell, and Linda Keller in Ohio, June 6-8. And I look forward to meeting lots of readers at the event.

WWR: We appreciate Leanne taking the time to share some about Victory’s Gate and her writing career with us!

Since her first book was published in 2003, Tanya Michaels has released books in multiple series romance lines, including Harlequin Duets, Flipside and Temptation. Her current release is Spicing It Up, June 2005. Later this year, she’ll be branching into even another line, Next, with Dating The Mrs. Smiths, which is due out November 2005.

WWR: Tanya, you’ve written for both Harlequin Temptation and Harlequin Flipside, and now you have a book coming out in the new Next line from Harlequin/Silhouette. Has it been a big departure for you to go from writing pure romance to writing something considered much more women’s fiction-y?

Tanya: Yes, writing for the NEXT imprint (which launches July 05) is a huge departure from my previous Flipsides and Temptations. NEXT novels are definitely women’s fiction, and my first book for the line, Dating the Mrs. Smiths, was challenging but fun, too. It allowed me to express a different mood, a different facet of my writing. It’s just like me and DVDs–some nights I want to watch a romance like While You Were Sleeping or Pretty Woman and others, I’m more in the mood for a movie like the British women’s comedy Calendar Girls. NEXT books are longer than the romances I’ve done and the focus is so different, with neither the passionate emphasis of my Temptations or the comic emphasis of my Flipsides (although my editor did say she cracked up several times while reading Mrs. Smiths!) I hope that readers enjoy the variety as much as writers enjoy getting the chance to try something new. But romance will always be my first love, no pun intended. I’m a sucker for a happy ending and am looking forward to my next chance to write a sexy hero!

WWR: Also, can you tell us a little about your upcoming book from Harlequin Flipside?

Tanya: I had so much fun writing Spicing It Up, although, since my heroine is a chef, I spent lots of time doing food-related research and gained a few pounds while finishing the manuscript! The story is a first-person comedy told through the point of view of Chef Miriam Scott, a woman who is dumped by her restaurateur boyfriend on the same day a publisher rejects her cookbook. A late night pep-talk and bottle of wine shared with her best friend leave Miriam in an "I’ll show them" frame of mind and before she can talk herself out of it, she’s written a proposal for a new cookbook. A very sexy cookbook. The publisher flips for the idea, but they want to send Miriam on a February publicity tour to promote the book for Valentine’s Day…enter one media consultant, Dylan Kincaid. Throughout Miriam’s wisecracks and makeover, she and Dylan develop a romance, but what happens when the job’s over? Miriam just isn’t sure if he’s attracted to the real her, or the public image the two of them have created. She feels a little like Frankenstein’s monster–only with better shoes and a padded bra.

WWR: You say romance is your first love. What author’s books do you like to read? Do you have a favorite of your own books?

Tanya: There’s no way I could name all the authors and books I love, but in high school, I used to stay up late on school nights reading Judith McNaught’s single titles over and over by flashlight. She was one of the writers whose books inspired me to try to write. Jennifer Cruise, Stephanie Bond, and Julie Kistler make me laugh, while also making me think and providing interesting characters and offbeat plots. I don’t read as much historical as I used to (the time constraints of motherhood <g>) but I really enjoyed Julia Quinn’s Bridgerton series. Susan Elizabeth Phillips has written some books I just adored, and I can never go wrong with a book by Jane Graves (who writes for Harlequin as Jane Sullivan). I also enjoy Cindi Myers, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Dorien Kelly, Jamie Denton, Julie Garwood, Karen Kendall, and Christina Dodd. One of my all time favorite books was the time-travel A Knight in Shining Armor by Jude Deveraux. There have got to be hundreds more, but currently, I’m plowing through JD Robb’s "In Death" series. Even though these futuristic novels about homicide cop Eve Dallas aren’t romance novels, it’s the potent relationship between Eve and her husband Roarke that has me so addicted!

As for having a favorite of my own books…yikes, that’s like asking me to pick my favorite child. <g> With every story I’ve written, there’s something I love (often the characters, whose story I was moved to tell) and at least one thing I wish I’d done differently, even if it was just a sentence on page 78! But my first book, The Maid of Dishonor, is obviously very special to me, as is the last book I got to write for the North American Temptation line, Going All the Way. It was my editor’s idea to see if I could write something hot enough to be a Temptation "Heat," which was a creative stretch for me. I was pleased with how the book turned out, but at the time I was writing the book, someone close to me was battling cancer. She died shortly thereafter and royalties from Going All the Way are being donated to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. The story is light–not a comedy, but definitely a happy ending and with some laughs along the way–but a number of people responded to the dedication and dear reader letter in the book, letting me know they not only enjoyed the romance but could relate because they’d either survived cancer or it had touched their lives in other ways. I was amazed at how this book became a way for me to reach out to people, and them to me, and I’m thrilled that everyone seems to be enjoying David and Serena’s hot story. Along with David and Serena, another favorite couple I’ve written about are Josh and Piper in Hers for the Weekend. In both of these stories, two best friends fall in love, and I think they’re secretly my favorites among my books because I married my own best friend.

WWR: What inspired you to write romance fiction? Have you ever considered writing in another genre?

Tanya: I like a variety of books and a variety of movies, but I always come back to romance. It’s the same with writing–sometimes I dabble with ideas for other genres, but I always come back to romance. The subject of love is affirming for me, and there’s so much to do with it, whether the story is sexy, suspenseful, hilarious, heartbreaking, tender, complex or whimsical. One of the other genres I do enjoy as a reader is fantasy. Sometimes I finish a really great fantasy novel, with its rich characterization and thorough world-building, and as I drift back to reality think, maybe I’ll try my hand at that. But the closest I’ve come so far to acting on that is a short story in the anthology Fantastical Visions. I do love reading fantasy, though! (I’ve been impatiently waiting for the next book in George R.R. Martin’s Song of Ice and Fire series for what feels like forever.)

WWR: Have you ever thought of writing fantasy romance where you could blend the world-building with the romance (and the sex) :-)?

Tanya: I’ve toyed with the idea (and have certainly read some wonderful books that did just that!) but so far, I’m more comfortable writing contemporary romances set in this world. Part of it is because I’m already contracted for a certain number of books and with those obligated deadlines and two toddlers at home with me, I haven’t had as much time to stray into new subgenres. Maybe when my kids hit school age!

WWR: Earlier you mentioned your next book’s heroine is a chef. What gave you the idea to create a character with such an interesting career? During the writing, did you find yourself watching a lot of the food network (one of my own particular daytime weaknesses)?

Tanya: The idea for an interesting character came from a somewhat boring person–me <g> No, seriously, I can be really introverted and the fact that I’ve written some pretty hot books for Temptation is sort of a running joke in my family. So I had the idea for the naughty cookbook first. What if this woman who really is more comfortable back in the kitchen, letting the food be the star, writes a cookbook that thrusts her into the limelight? (Of course she is subsequently horrified that her father is reading it and that little old ladies will see the risqué cover art, LOL!) In general, I’m not a huge reality tv fan, but I do like cooking shows (Nigella Bites is one of my favorites) and every once in awhile, I’ll catch some sort of fashion or makeover show (as long as there’s no plastic surgery involved!) So all of that added together led to Chef Miriam Scott and Spicing It Up. Once I had the idea, I not only watched food television, I read some really fun cookbooks, including Intercourses (which is almost more of a picture book) and the hilarious Booty Food.

WWR: A lot of writers complain that although reading’s what made them want to write, they don’t often have much time for reading once their careers take off. Have you found that to be true?

Tanya: When I’m working on a book, I’m not only short on time, I worry about reading other people’s words. I don’t want to unconsciously borrow any phrases or, worse, read something similar to what I’m working on (especially if I think the other author did it better <g>). However, as soon as I meet a deadline, I binge. I’ll read almost a book a day for anywhere from two to three weeks, of multiple genres and different authors–turning pages while I’m cooking supper, staying up late at night to finish a chapter, not watching television so I can attack my to-be-read pile–then I’ll get to work on my next idea. So while I may go a few months without reading a novel (which was unheard of for most of my life) I make up for it by reading like a maniac between manuscripts.

WWR: So, do you write at a desk in a dreary dark corner of your basement or at a window overlooking a lovely lily-filled lake :-)?

Tanya: I write in the corner of our bedroom, facing the wall. There is no window because my high-backed desk is blocking it! When my husband and I bought our house, we had no kids. Since we now have two, space is really tight, but we’re looking into knocking out the back wall of the house to add on. Financially, it’s a huge burden, but luckily for me, my poor husband just can’t take my edits and research books piled up and blocking his dresser anymore! I dream of an office with floor to ceiling bookshelves and an actual real life window–I don’t even need a lily-filled lake, just occasional glimpses of sunlight <g>

WWR: How long did it take you to get published? We’d love to hear about your journey!

Tanya: I’ve wanted to be a writer as far back as I could remember. My mom’s nickname for me growing up was Inkspot because I never went anywhere without notepads, several black pens and usually inkstains on my hands and clothes. When I was in high school, Kathryn Falk released her How to Write A Romance and Get it Published. I read it cover to cover multiple times, highlighted a bunch of sections, typed up my first romance novel (a really bad historical), printed it on dot matrix and sent the whole thing off to Pocket Books when I was seventeen. (I was delayed about a week trying to figure out what an SASE was, but even with the self-addressed stamped envelope I included, Pocket never responded. Which is probably for the best.) It wasn’t until I was married and my husband talked me into the Internet–having finally figured out how to use all of my computer’s programs and functions, I was resistant to change–that I discovered Romance Writers of America. RWA helped me monitor market changes and polish my craft, and three and a half years after joining, I sold my first book to Harlequin. It came out in 2003, and I’ve made about a dozen sales to Harlequin since. (My husband has cheered me on every step of the way, but he does occasionally smirk because I hardly go a day without surfing the ‘Net and sometimes not even half an hour without checking my email.)

WWR: Is the writing life anything like what you imagined when you first started out?

Tanya: I don’t know that I spent a lot of time imagining what it would be like. Most of my fantasies centered around getting that first-sale call and the lavish ways I would celebrate. THAT certainly didn’t go as planned. When I sold my first book, I was the sleep-deprived mother of a two week old baby with an upset stomach. I hadn’t slept for a couple of days, and my husband had just left with my son, so I could rest, when the phone rang. When I heard the news, I figured I was dreaming. Once it sank in, I alerted my husband, and we celebrated by setting the baby in the car-seat between us on the couch while we ate take-out food from the carton. Writing isn’t really a very glamorous way to make a living, but those days when I get mail from Finland and think about my words touching someone across the globe, or a fan lets me know that I made her laugh during a bad week…I’m reminded there’s no other job I’d rather do.

WWR: What’s the single most important piece of advice you received after you decided you wanted to be a published author one day?

Tanya: I honestly couldn’t say because I’ve learned so much and received countless pieces of good advice from fellow authors since joining RWA. So I guess that would be my advice to any aspiring author–join a writing organization! Anyone interested in romance novels or even women’s fiction could learn a lot from Romance Writers of America, but I know other genres have their own professional groups, too. Becoming active in an organization where veteran writers share their experience and upcoming writers can cheer each other on is invaluable.

If you’d like to check out some of the things we talked about in this interview, visit Food Network tv, RWA, or the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.