Do you like to read romance novels? Wouldn’t you like to know more about your favorite authors? Well you came to the right place! Join the writers of Romance Weekly as we go behind the scenes of our books and tell all….. About our writing of course! Every week we’ll answer questions and after you’ve enjoyed the blog on this site we’ll direct you to another. So come back often for a thrilling ride! Tell your friends and feel free to ask us questions in the comment box.
This week’s questions are brought to you by Leslie Hachtel.
1. Do you prefer to write futuristic, contemporary or historical romances and why?
*Cue gratuitous Fabio Cover – because the man is a God*.
So far, my published books have all been contemporary. The reasons for this are twofold. Firstly, especially at the start of my writing career, I found it easier to ‘write what I know.’ This included locations I’d visited, a timeframe I was comfortable with, and characters I understood. However, I do have a very soft spot for historical novels. Not least because they combine my two favourite things; history and love. So I’d never rule out writing a historical romance.
As for futuristic, I take my hats off to anybody that writes these. Their imaginations, and ability to world-build always blow my socks off. So, that’s my hats and socks gone. A few more sentences and I could be naked. Let’s leave it here, shall we?
2. What is your favorite time in history and how and why does it inspire you?
I’ve alway
s had a soft spot for the sixties. Firstly because the music was second to none. The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Hendrix, Dylan, Simon and Garfunkel…I could go on, and suspect I already have! Writing a story with it’s own, natural soundtrack is something I’m very attracted to. I did this in my contemporary novel (Fix You) and would definitely like to do it with a Sixties-based romance as well.
It’s not just the music, though. The sixties saw such upheaval–the Vietnam War, the fight for Equality in race and gender, not to mention the sexual and social revolutions. It’s a little minefield for all things romance and angst. I feel the need to tap it!
3. How has your life experience contributed to your writing?
They say that everybody’s first novel is autobiographical. While I’m not in total agreement with that, I do think I’ve tried to give some of my experiences and life settings to the characters in my books. Some of the themes are universal–who hasn’t fallen in love and had their heart’s broken? Others may be more personal. I put a lot of the music I like into my stories, and I also add details I’ve lived through. In one of my books, I’ve had a background of the rise of social media and technology, of the banking crisis and its effect on business. All those things have helped give me a framework over which I weave the story.
However, other things are purely from imagination. My life is way too mundane to make a good story, so I never just rely on my experience!
Thank you to Leslie for setting such interesting questions, I really enjoyed thinking them through. And now to read more Romance Weekly Blog Hop go to www.katerobbinsauthor.com and read Victoria Barbour’s answers!