A conversation with author C. L. Wilson

author C.L. Wilson/credit: author's collection

As we’ve seen before, the Tampa area is replete with talent, is it not? So it was not surprising to learn there are some fine fantastists here as well. One to recently catch our eye, and hearts, is author C. L. Wilson, a local gal, past president and active member of the Tampa Area Romance Authors, whose bestselling, and award winning, Tairen Soul series is the first I’ve been excited about, in years, and I can honestly say, it is sure to please all lovers of both the fantasy and romance genres. Her fourth novel in the series, Queen of Song and Souls is to due to be released by Leisure/Dorchester later this month, and recently Ms. Wilson took time out of her busy schedule to speak with us. Hence, we are pleased to present to you this, our latest edition of conversations….

                                 A Conversation with C.L. Wilson

cover art/credit: Judy York

Thanks for taking the time to speak with us today, Ms. Wilson. If I may ask, when did you start writing, and who are your influences?

C.L.Wilson: I started writing when I was six. (No lie. My first “work” was an episode of Hogan’s Heroes – because I fancied myself in love with the actor who played Hogan. LOL.) I wrote short stories and “Seussian” rhyming children’s books until I was 12-13, at which time I discovered Tolkien and McCaffrey and started writing fantasy. At 14, I discovered romance, and I’ve been writing books ever since.

The authors whose writing/imagination has most influenced my own include J.R.R. Tolkien, Anne McCaffrey, Christine Feehan. But I’ve been influenced/inspired by every book, movie, song, and poem I’ve ever loved. Inspiration is everywhere. Pretty much everything that makes me *feel* somehow ends up in my writing.

So then, when you think of the subject, what would you say was your first favorite romance novel or movie (or both)? And since I can totally see The Lord of the Fading Lands as a movie, I’m curious about your favorites among the fantasy genre, too, if you have favorites there?

C.L. Wilson: My first? LOL, I don’t know if I remember that far back! Shanna, by Kathleen Woodiwiss, on the romance novel front made a big impact on me. And the Dragonflight, by Anne McCaffrey, gripped my imagination more completely than Tolkien.

My top favorite romance novels of all times are Loretta Chase’s Lord of Scoundrels; Dreaming of You by Lisa Kleypas; Flowers from the Storm, by Laura Kinsale; Dark Desire by Christine Feehan. My top favorite fantasy novels are The Wizard’s First Rule, by Terry Goodkind, The Dragonriders of Pern (first three books) by Anne McCaffrey. And I’m quite taken by Sharon Shinn’s Angel series.

Moviewise – Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy, hands down. Incredible, gorgeous, spectacular films. The soundtracks alone are works of art. The attention to detail leaves me in awe.

So then did they inspire the Tairen Soul novels, or what would you say did?

C.L. Wilson: My love of romance and fantasy, and my desire to write a book in which the fantasy quest and the romance quest were of equal importance to the story line – such that one could not be completed without the other. It was the first time I sat down, thought about all the books I’ve ever loved, and started to ask myself “What is it about these books that make them keepers? What core themes and characteristics make you love them so much?” Basically, I tried to take everything that sparked my imagination – everything I loved about fantasy and about romance – and tried to merge them together in a single work. I also drew  from the fairy tales I loved as a child (which are, basically, “fantasy romance” in their own right).

In terms of your body of work/career, what are you most proud of?

C.L. Wilson: That I touch people’s emotions with my books. I get quite a few emails each day from readers, and it’s truly astonishing and rewarding to have people write to tell me that I’m the first author they’ve ever written, or that they’ve read my books so many times the pages are falling apart, or that the books have helped them through some tough period of their life (these last letters are the most wonderful to get). And I’m so thrilled when readers tell me that my books have inspired their own artistic expressions (paintings, poetry, books, etc).

I am so grateful to have had this opportunity. Getting published has been my dream since I was six, and having that dream come true—and to such a wonderful reception—well, it’s a feeling like none other.

cover art/credit: Judy York

What can fans expect with your new novel that’s coming out in October, Queen of Song and Souls?

C. L. Wilson: Lots of emotion, I hope. Laughter, love, tears, surprise, concern, suspense. Every time I sit down to write, my goal isn’t just to tell a story, it’s to draw people into the story. To make them feel like they’re there—to invest themselves in the characters and what’s happening to them. If I can make my readers “become” part of the story when they read, then I’ve done justice to the story, to my characters, and to my readers.

Do you think there will be a further stories set in Celieria, after Queen of Song and Souls is released?

C.L. Wilson: Absolutely. :) I will take a brief departure to a new fantasy world, in my novel WINTER KING, but then I’ll head back to the Fading Lands. I’m contracted to write Belliard vel Jelani’s story and Gaelen vel Serranis’s story too. And I have more than a dozen other ideas percolating as well.

We'll be looking forward to those, definitely! :) And, the obligatory, what advice do you have for budding Romance and/or Fantasy authors?

C.L. Wilson: (1) Don’t expect to “find” time to write. Plan to “make” time to write. If you want it badly enough, you’ll find a way.

(2) Join Romance Writers of America. it’s literally the best organization in the world for learning the craft of genre fiction writing.

Do you ever suffer writer's block and how do you deal with it?

C.L. Wilson: Ummmmm….I think the long delay in the publication of QUEEN sort of answers this question. :( Yes, I have had writer’s block. When it comes to writing, I’m a perfectionist – and that can bring my writing to a grinding halt. How do I deal with it? Well, sometimes quite well. Sometimes (as with QUEEN) not so much. With QUEEN the block was so overwhelming, I literally threw out the first half of my manuscript and started over from scratch. And I went back to the basics including going back to read all my “how to” books to jump start my writing brain.

My editor really came through for me on QUEEN. She was my sounding board and brainstorming partner this time around.

Glad to hear she did! :) Now, this one’s just for fun: If you weren’t a romance author, what else might you have pursued?

C.L. Wilson: “Fairy tale princess” – but there aren’t a whole lot of kingdoms hiring these days. :D

Sad but true. ;)

C.L. Wilson: Seriously, I’m only recently a full time romance author. Before that, I had a career in Business-to-Business marketing and training for computer & Telecommunications companies.  As a kid, I thought I was going to be an artist. Then, one day, I realized I was never going to be among the top 10% of artists. I decided words were easier to erase/revise than sketches and paintings, so I switched my goal to journalism. Then I decided, I wanted to be a novel writer, and switched my college major to English, Creative Writing. Even while doing B2B marketing to pay the bills, I wrote on the side in my spare time.

For a very brief time, I thought I was going to be a member of the US Armed Forces (my interest was in linguistics). Of all the things I wish I had pursued, that remains the one I still wish I’d given a shot.

Interesting, I can see that interest in the Armed Forces (and linguistics) in the novels, personally. :)

Thank you so much for taking the time to speak with us, Ms. Wilson. We truly appreciate it. Finally, do you have any final thoughts for our readers?

C.L. Wilson: Follow your dreams. Whatever they are, follow them. And if you do decide to give my books a try, I want to say in advance, “Thank you.” People who go out and buy my books help keep my dream alive, and that’s a real treasure.

So, there you have it, folks. If you’d like to learn more about C.L. Wilson and her fine works, do check out her website, where she’s celebrating the release of the long-awaited Queen of Song and Souls.

And remember you can find all her fine works at any Barnes and Noble, Borders, or at Amazon, or the Dorchester site, itself.  We hope you have enjoyed this conversation as much as we enjoyed bringing it to you. Until next time!

    C.L. Wilson on Facebook