Author Interview: Stephanie O'Hanlon

Interview with 

Stephanie O'Hanlon, 

author of 

Affaire de Coeur

&

Out of My Grave

Today we're welcoming author Stephanie O'Hanlon to The Happy Book Reviewer.

Thanks for joining us all the way from Ontario, Canada, to talk to us about your books! You've had two novels published just this past year: Affaire de Coeur in February and Out of My Grave in August. What a busy 2013!

O'Hanlon: It definitely has been! I was so happy when Eternal Press chose to publish Affaire de Coeur, so it was even more exciting when they snatched up Out of My Grave. Lots of excitement and work involved! Busy, busy year, but enjoyable nonetheless.

Sounds like the good kind of busy! InD'tale Magazine called Affaire de Coeur a "flirtatious story with debauchery and ribaldry that is as alluring as it is captivating!" This is a historical romance set in 1770 Paris, where country girl Madeleine Dumont takes a fancy to an established bachelor and favorite of King Louis XV. Have you had an interest in and knowledge of this time period, or did it take a lot of research to get the setting and customs accurate?

O'Hanlon: Both, actually! When I started to write Affaire de Coeur I was just getting into both the century and my now-extreme love for everything Marie-Antoinette. I then took it to the next level and started to research like crazy. I have books on architecture, interior design, art, historical figures, and of course, fashion, which is my favourite part. I fell in love with it all very easily.

Ah, I sure appreciate a well-researched historical novel! So what inspired Madeleine and Lucien's story?

O'Hanlon: It started with just wanting to write something based on myself and my friend, being the basis for Madeleine (myself) and Colette (my friend). I knew I wanted it to be a romance, which meant I needed a leading man, so I created Lucien. I had just been through a really bad breakup, so I wanted to create a man that would treat me right, treat Madeleine right. Then through all my research into aristocracy, I realized that a lot of good conflict would come from two people from different classes falling in love.

I love the cover; the laciness, the woman's sultry gaze out the window, the general sensuality of it. I know sometimes I dream about what a cover might look like while I'm writing a manuscript. Was this cover your idea that you pitched to the cover artist (Dawné Dominique), or did you give her some hints about the book and she ran with it?

O'Hanlon: I had an idea of what I wanted, but at the same time I was open to something better, which Dawné totally provided! I explained wanting a woman with that forlorn look, holding a letter. What I got was ten times better, and definitely more intriguing. I also love the use of purple and the swirly filigree!

Speaking of covers, I also love what Dawné did with your second book from Eternal Press, Out of My Grave. This is a paranormal romance, and the other-worldliness of the cover is just gorgeous.

Out of My Grave is also set in the late 1700s, this time in London (it was the best of times, it was the worst of times, after all!). Annalee Harding daydreams the days away in her large home, wishing a dark stranger would whisk her away. Then Vincent Moor comes to town and catches her eyes, but his secrets are dark and dangerous.

If you could live in any point in history, would it be Affaire de Coeur's 1770s Paris, Out of My Grave's 1790s London, or a different one entirely?

O'Hanlon: I would be in the same century, but preferably in 1750, mainly because of the fashion. Even though I absolutely adore Marie-Antoinette, I find her whole journey heartbreaking, so I would have wanted to steer clear of the 1770’s as best I could, as well as the Revolution. I would have been a royalist for sure, so I would have been by her side until the end, when I probably would have met with Madame Guillotine. It doesn’t sound very pleasant!

Right! Some of the most creative times in history are also the most violent, especially if you're on the wrong side! Fiction allows us to play in history while keeping a safe distance.  Is there a time period and place you'd love to research and set a novel someday?

O'Hanlon: I already have ideas set in Victorian & Tudor era, so it’s just a matter of getting around to them. Most authors don’t like doing research, but I absolutely love it! I like making things as accurate as I can, like a historical drama film. Most miss the beauty of describing something that was actually real. I love history in general, so writing in every century would be interesting!

After writing paranormal romance or historical romance, did one (sub-)genre come more natural to you? Or was one more fun to write?

O'Hanlon: For some reason I enjoy writing the historical portion, but I keep going back to paranormal as well. They both came to me very easily. My first three manuscripts I wrote were paranormal vampire romance, but set in different time periods. Then I did straight historical romance with Affaire de Coeur, and that’s what I keep coming back to. I just love to write in general, so as long as I like the story idea, I run with it, no matter the time period or content.

  

Usually, I like to learn about the deeper sides of books, so I ask about a high school class reading the books. I'm thinking these might be a little too sexy for a teacher to assign!

O'Hanlon: Oh yeah, way too sexy! My books are definitely more for the 18+ crowd.

Okay, so let me ask it this way instead... If my book club were reading your books, what themes would you hope we'd be discussing?

O'Hanlon: In regards to Affaire de Coeur, I think the whole subject of aristocracy in that era is an interesting theme. So much went into being on top of the social ladder, so finding love was usually disregarded in exchange for titles, money and power. Also, fashion as currency. Men’s fashion was slow to develop throughout the century, but women’s fashion was different month-to-month, especially when you reached the 1770’s with Marie-Antoinette as the figure head of fashion.

In regards to Out of My Grave, I think the main theme in it is appreciating what you have and looking before you leap. I don’t know if that’s interesting to talk about, unless you put yourself in Annalee’s shoes.

I understand you are now a full-time writer. What is the most fun thing about a writing career?

O'Hanlon: The most fun is being able to write! Just sitting down and writing and being able to say, “I’m working right now.” I also enjoy answering the question “What’s your job?” and replying with that I’m a writer/author. Being able to produce my work for people to enjoy.

But I'll bet it is not all fun and games! What's the most difficult part?

O'Hanlon: The most difficult is promoting your work. I wish I had a publicist! But, we all have to start at the bottom and work our way up. I am very blessed with having Eternal Press & Damnation Books as my publisher; they try to help as best they can to help you reach success. The other authors at EP/DB are also so supportive and love to help out. So it’s bittersweet.

So many people have kernels of ideas for books, but never take the first step and begin to write their book. They might think about it for years, or their entire lives, and never let it go beyond being a dream. What advice would you give to someone just starting out as a writer?

O'Hanlon: Just keep writing. The first manuscript may not be the best, but the more you write, the more you learn how to tell a story, and that’s the important part of being a writer. You have to be able to tell the story. So, writing, reading, and even indulging and watching TV shows and movies is where it’s at, how you learn to tell a story.

Since you mentioned reading, a favorite subject of mine (obviously!), let me ask: Do you generally read romance too? 

O'Hanlon: I sometimes read romance novels, but I enjoy and get inspired by historical dramas in film. I mainly read research materials…which sounds kinda boring, but I love it.

What book have you read (romance or otherwise) that that you wish you had written?

O'Hanlon: I think I wish I wrote Anne Rice’s The Vampire Lestat. I’m crazy about her work and it’s just so amazing what she does with her characters, especially Lestat. There is no character like him and you just have to love him.

I hope you're working on a next book! 

O'Hanlon: I actually just finished my next manuscript just a few days before Christmas! 

Congrats! Can you give us a hint of what it is about?

O'Hanlon: It’s another 18^th century romance, set in 1750, following a young woman named Mignonette and her drama-filled life and quest to win a man of importance. It’s a lot of fun, I found myself laughing a lot while writing it because of Mignonette’s character. But, as with any great romance there are tears. I’m very proud of it and hope to share it with everyone soon!

Ooo... I'll keep an eye out for that one! And while we wait for your next book, everyone can check out Affaire de Coeur and Out of My Grave at:

• Eternal Press
• Barnes & Noble
• Amazon
• ... or order through your local bookseller!

Author Interview: Katie McKnight

Interview with Katie McKnight, 

author of 

Secrets Revealed

Welcome, Katie McKnight, to The Happy Book Reviewer! I’m happy to talk to you today about your romantic suspense novel, Secrets Revealed. Even the title is mysterious!

Your main characters are right in the public eye: Melanie's on Broadway and Ryan's a Hollywood heartthrob. Their latest projects have wrapped and they're ready to enjoy an overdue holiday vacation. That is, until a secret from Melanie’s past brings the celebration to a horrifying halt, and they face a public scandal. As if that's not enough, someone is masterminding a plan for murder!

I love that this is a romance featuring a married couple! So many romances are about getting to the point of marriage, but the majority of our love lives are spent IN love and marriage. What made you decide to have them at this point in their relationship at the start of the book?

McKnight: I hoped to explore a different romantic angle in this book. The couple beat the odds of a long-distance relationship and are now married (the reader learns about the long-distance relationship in the back story). I wanted to move forward and explore the mindset of newlyweds placed in a desperate situation to see if their love would survive secrets, scandal, blackmail and the scariest problem of all -- dealing with their in-laws.

Their careers obviously have them right in the spotlight. Do you consider yourself an outgoing person who likes to imagine being in the spotlight? Or are you more shy, and the idea of paparazzi is terrifying to you?

McKnight: I am an outgoing person. When I graduated high school, I planned to become an actress. My parents had other ideas. They required education before acting. By the time I finished school, I met my husband and lost the desire. Writing replaced my passion to perform on stage. Since I often forget my camera, I would welcome the paparazzi. This way all family memories are captured on film.

Your background in acting must have come in handy when writing about Melanie. But then how did you research what life is like for a big-name Broadway actress?

McKnight: I live on Long Island and attend Broadway show once a year. When I get the opportunity, I question staff members about the life of a Broadway actor. I also read books written by Broadway performers describing the difficulties they face. While the sets are magnificent, backstage is often deplorable. According to research, asbestos in the historic buildings and germs are a huge concern to performers.

Okay, so you've been an actress, and you've also done your research on Broadway! Since it sounds like you enjoy the research, what then would you say was the most difficult thing about writing Secrets Revealed? 

McKnight: A month after I completed the manuscript, my computer crashed and all files were destroyed. Lucky for me, I printed every page. I retyped the entire thing. Realized the suspenseful-romance novel lacked suspense, so I re-wrote a good part of the beginning. Then I spent a year editing. I have three sons, worked full-time and volunteered at my kids’ school. It took five years to complete this project. That is a long time (not fun).

What was the most fun part?

McKnight: I enjoyed sharing the story with my sister and mother and brainstorming with them. The book became a family project. My sister came up with the title, my brother-in-law and a friend suggested the tag lines. My youngest son took the picture used on my author bio page and my oldest son created a cover (which was not used). We bonded over this book (tons of fun).

It sounds like you have a wonderful community of supporters around you. My grandmother, also a writer, called these "the True Believers and Gentle Persuaders." It also sounds like Secrets Revealed is deeper than some of the superficial romance novels you find in the grocery store! Because I appreciate books that manage to be entertaining and deep, I love to ask this question: If a high school class were reading your book some day, what themes would the teacher be wanting them to pick up on in your book?

McKnight: Parents allowed their teenage daughters to read Secrets Revealed. They discussed the importance of respecting yourself and considering the consequences of your actions. I would add the importance of open communication with family. Our mistakes sometimes magnify in our own head. There are solutions to problems. We just need to trust our family and friends to help.

Wonderful! So, I know you've done some advanced courses in writing (though I'm not sure where you find the time to attend those, and write a novel, and raise three boys!). What was one of the most valuable lessons from those courses?

McKnight: Online classes are awesome. They allow you to take classes during the night and on weekends. The most valuable lesson I learned is the Paradigm of Story Structure (impressive, right?) Every story has three acts. Each act has milestones that authors must meet in order to complete a successful novel. Before taking this class my manuscripts would reach a certain point and hit a brick wall. This plot design forces me to put my thoughts on paper before I begin writing. While characters guide their own journey, the design forces them to remain on track and reach their happy ending. Sounds boring -- but in reality is fascinating. Once you learn the system (for lack of a better word) you notice that television shows and movies use the same design.

And was there something you could only learn "in the trenches" (writing, publishing, and marketing your book)?

McKnight: Writing active sentences vs. passive sentences. It is something you learn while writing. Professors drilled the idea of active vs. passive in my head. Writing on a regular basis finally taught me to spot and correct passive sentences.

I also learned to delete unnecessary words/phrases by participating in Drabble nights. Drabble is a written piece consisting of 100 words (not a word more or less). If you want a complete story in 100 words, you delete unnecessary words. It is a fantastic exercise. I reduced the number of words in Secrets Revealed by 25,000 after learning this exercise.

I've never heard about Drabble before! In case anyone else wants further info, here you go: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drabble

Pretty much all writers are wild about reading. What book have you read that that you wish you had written?

McKnight: I wish I could have come up with the idea of Twilight. Some people love the books and others hate them. I would have enjoyed the characters camping out in my head for years. Stephanie Meyer had a way of pulling me into her story. I teased that she laced the pages with some sort of compelling drug -- probably given to her by the vampires.

Haha! Who knows? Maybe there was some vampire with the special ability to make people addicted to certain books. If so, may that vampire also cast a spell on Secrets Revealed!  Do you think you'll revisit Melanie and Ryan in future books, or will answering that give away how this book ends?

McKnight: I wish I could continue Ryan and Melanie’s story. They’re my fictional family members. Melanie lived in Manhattan and frequented the same places as me. When I visit the “big” toy store in Times Square, my favorite Italian restaurant in the theatre district or a Broadway show, I can’t help but think, Melanie was here. Unfortunately, for me, I tied up their story on the last page of Secrets Revealed.

Even if you had to say goodbye to Ryan and Melanie, you must be working on something new! Can you give us a hint on what it is about?

McKnight: I just completed the first draft of my second novel. This story falls under the genre of women’s fiction. I saved the manuscript on my desktop computer, my laptop and a memory stick!

The story follows Tara Steffen and her husband, who is injured in an accident. While she sits vigil at his bedside, she meets people who paint a picture of a man very different from the one she married. She struggles to break free of her husband and his web of lies, but is dragged back into his life. Will she walk away from her current situation and build a better life for their daughter or honor her vows by caring for her severely injured husband?

I'll look forward to seeing that one in print! For now, thank you for popping over to The Happy Book Reviewer for this fun interview, and best of luck with Secrets Revealed!

Secrets Revealed is available in e-book and print from:

• Eternal Press
• Barnes & Noble
• Amazon
• or, better yet, order from your local independent bookstore!

Author Interview: Steve Myers

Interview with Steve Myers, 

author of 

Garden of the Falling Moon

Welcome, Steve Myers, to The Happy Book Reviewer! I’m excited to have you on today to discuss your historical thriller, Garden of the Falling Moon, which is currently available from Damnation Press.

Your main character, Esther Marie, is powerless when her family declares her incompetent and in need of psychiatric help. Her only hope for escape is with a mysterious stranger on a secretive and dangerous mission. Sounds exciting!

It wasn’t until recent history that women had power over their own lives and medical care. What time period is Garden of the Falling Moon set?

Myers: It's the summer of 1909, a time of labor unrest, terrorism, a war in the Philippines against rebels, extremes of poverty and wealth, and discrimination based on gender, race, and class.

Do you usually read historical fiction, and that’s why you chose to write it? Or did you have a specific interest in this time period?

Myers: I like some historical fiction (after all, War and Peace and Vanity Fair were written long after the time of the story) but this novel is part of a sequence of stories I'm writing for each decade of the 20th century. No matter who you are or what your gifts, you pop into the world at a particular place and time and society and family that affect your life. No one gets to choose their parents or the place they're born in.

Great point. One of your characters is a perfect example of that! Tell us, how does the little homeless girl come into play in the story line?

Myers: Little Nina is the emotional axis around which the story revolves. Esther pities this child who works cleaning a brothel for a dollar a week and hasn't decent clothes. Esther sets about educating Nina, taking her on Sunday excursions, and loving her. Sal meets Esther because of Nina and the child becomes very important to him.

That is really touching. No wonder she's such a prominent part of the cover art, which by the way is gorgeous! Did you have an idea of what you wanted the cover to look like, or did the artist (Ash Arceneaux) come to you with a vision?

Myers: I agree on the cover. It was completely the artist's idea and I believe it shows the relationship between Esther and Nina well and suggests the outcome.

If a high school class were reading your book some day, what themes or messages would they be discussing?

Myers: The position of women in society, the political and economic situation, the casual cruelty of accepted attitudes to people, and the courage of some women. I hope they would also discuss how concern becomes compassion becomes love.

Great messages. I love when a book can tell an interesting and exciting story but also has this kind of depth. Seems like a prime candidate for book clubs too (hint, hint)! So tell me, what part of the writing business do you like the best?

Myers: I like the actual writing best. I hear and see the people and the scenes. I don't write easily and struggle too often, but it's worth it.

How about what you like the least?

Myers: Tough to say, but I guess it's submitting. I expect rejection every time but that doesn't make it feel better. I have one story that's been rejected at least 30 times. I'm running out of places to send it.

At least you're in good company! I think pretty much all writers have the same experience.  Your experience is unique though in that you also write short stories, poetry, Sci-Fi, and even children’s lit! With that kind of variety, you're not just carving a narrow niche. So while it makes it harder to find a publisher, it also keeps you from being stuck in one genre, afraid to break the mold!  Which means... your next work could be just about anything! Can you give us a hint of what you’re working on?

Myers: I have four novels to be published this year.

FOUR?! You've been busy! What genre or genres are these?

Myers: A hardboiled detective mystery, a crime thriller, a detective novel, and a western plus two western stories. Right now I'm working on a western set at a fort in the Dakota territory in 1868, and a novel about a man who believes this world is run by the devil. The novel is set in the 1920s and centers around the making of a movie based on Hawthorne's “Young Goodman Brown.” I have detailed notes for four more novels that I hope to get to before the year is out.

That's so exciting! I'll keep an eye out for those coming out this year. Thanks for coming on for an interview, Steve! And now, I'm going to pick up a copy of Garden of the Falling Moon, and recommend my readers (and all you book clubs out there) do the same!

Find Garden of the Falling Moon in e-book or print at:

• Damnation Press
• Barnes & Noble
• Amazon