Help me welcome Romance author Tracy Madison!

                Romance author Tracy Madison

Today's guest is author Tracy Madison, whose new book is out today from Dorchester Pubishing. Tell us a little about yourself.

I am a mother of four, work full-time at writing (both fiction and freelance/non-fiction), am addicted to reality television, love romantic-comedies (both in books and on screen), and will do nearly anything for someone I care about.

When did you first start writing Romance?

Wow, I think in seventh grade. I remember trying to write a Harlequin romance in my spiral-bound notebook during Spanish class. My Spanish teacher was not that happy about it when she found out. Though, she did offer me extra-credit if I wrote the book in Spanish. Seeing as I knew the alphabet and maybe a dozen other words, I declined.

What drew you to write Romance?

Well, I’ve always read romance, so writing romance was a natural progression. My light paranormal Gypsy Magic series came about because I wanted to tell the tale of a woman a year out of divorce who wanted to get revenge on her cheating ex-husband. She also wanted to move past the history she’d shared with him. When I first started the book, it was too heavy, so to lighten it up, I added the paranormal twist. This book became A TASTE OF MAGIC, and Elizabeth learns rather early-on that she can cast spells/wishes through her baking, and oh, does she have fun with her power!

Of all the great Romance authors, who would you say has had the greatest influence on you/your writing style?

There are many, many authors on my must-buy list. I’d have to say, though, that I will forever be a fan of Nora Roberts. I love her writing style and her books always engross me.

How do you find ideas for your books? Real happenings? Dreams? A great imagination?

Hm. Usually, a book comes to me in the form of a character first. Rarely, really rarely, is it a plot idea that initially comes to mind. It’s almost as if I’ll hear a voice yammering at me in my head, insisting I listen, insisting I tell her story. The characters that refuse to go away are the ones I ultimately listen to. Even when a plot idea gets my wheels turning, I need to wait for the characters to show up. I’ve found I can’t force character.

Describe the heroines you love to write.

My heroines are usually at a critical moment in their lives and do not know which way to turn. Maybe they’ve just made a bad decision, or are about to make a bad decision, perhaps they’ve just been dumped or found out their husband/boyfriend lied and/or cheated. Regardless, they’re at a place that they don’t know how to push through the surface of the water, so they feel like they’re drowning. Then, I give them something—in the case of my magic series, a little bit of magic—that empowers them.

What drives them into the arms of these incredible hunks?

Oh, all different reasons, but the most basic is also the most important: love. Maybe the relationship starts off as a flirtation, or an embarrassing moment, or one, hot night, but over time (and the course of the book), love has to take center stage. After all, I am writing romances. Happily-ever-after is a definite in my stories.

Tell us a little about your favorite “hero” type guy.

Strong. Sexy. Handsome. Courageous and Caring. Wow, need I say more?

How difficult is it for you to get into “writer’s mode”?

Depends on the book, the scene, the day, sometimes the very minute. Sometimes I get into writer’s mode just by putting my fingers on the keyboard. Other times, it’s not so easy.

Tell me a little about your new book.

My newest release is the third in my Gypsy Magic series, and it’s titled A BREATH OF MAGIC. The heroine of A BREATH OF MAGIC is the owner of a New Age store and discovers that she’s related to a line of powerful gypsies. She is unprepared when she also discovers that her family’s magic will lead her to her true soul mate.

How did the inspiration for this work come to you?

While I was writing book two in the series, A STROKE OF MAGIC. That’s the great thing about writing a series, each book can flow from the one prior to it. While each of the novels in the Magic series focuses on a different hero and heroine, the family relationships from prior books are an important aspect in the telling of each story.

Do you identify with the characters you write about?

Oh, absolutely! Not that I have any magical ability (don’t I wish?) but my characters are going through emotions and life choices that make it easy to identify with them.

Congratulations on your success as an author. How many books do you have in print  now? Do you have a favorite?

I have three books in print, and a fourth book, BY MAGIC ALONE, being released in December of this year.

How difficult was it to submit your books to the big NY houses? Many don’t take unagented submissions.

I submitted to a house that does accept unagented submissions (though I do have an agent now). I also finaled in a couple of contests, one of which put my work directly in front of the editor who subsequently bought the book.

What does your writing schedule look like? What's your best time of day to write? Are you a morning writer or a night owl?

Hm, this changes. I love to write at night when the house is sleeping and quiet, but haven’t been able to accomplish that as much lately. There’s just too much going on for me to catch up on sleep during the day. I also love to write in the morning. Most of the time, though, my writing takes place in late afternoon through early evening.

Do you have a “writer’s cave”? Where do you do your best work?

I have a room that my desk and PC live in, and that’s definitely where I do my best work. However, with four kids, there really isn’t a cave I can call my own.

What advice do you have for aspiring writers?

Seriously: Don’t give up. Yeah, I know it’s been said before and will be said again, but it’s the best advice I can offer. Publishing is a tough business, and it is also very subjective. What works for one agent or editor might not work for another. Of course, continuing to practice and learn about the craft of writing is a necessity. Write. Keep writing. And don’t give up.

Do you have another project in the works?

I do! At the moment, I’m still writing my next book in the series, BY MAGIC ALONE, which will be on the shelves in December 2010. I’m also working on a proposal for what would be book five in the series, but it’s far too early to say if that will go anywhere or not.

Do you have any writing rituals? Like special music, times of the day, food quirks, etc?

Not so much a ritual, but I cannot write new material until I’ve read the prior ten to twenty pages. I need to get back into the story, and the only way I seem to be able to do that is to read what I’ve already written. About halfway through the book, I read from page one. This helps me sense where I’m at, but it also reminds me about any plot points I might have forgotten.

Today, writers need not only write great books, but be great promoters of their books, too. What kinds of things do you do?

Promotion is difficult. No matter what I do, I never feel as if it is enough. I blog regularly on my personal blog, as well as once a week on a group author blog. I make personal & virtual appearances whenever I can (usually when a new release is happening), I hold contests, pay for promo space on a few romance reading related web sites. Mostly things that I can afford and still allow me time to write.

Did you bring a blurb or excerpt?

I did! This is the blurb for A BREATH OF MAGIC

Waiting to Exhale

Chloe Nichols is holding her breath. All her life, finding true happiness with a family has seemed as easy as…well, snagging a bubble off the wind—a bubble that her current boyfriend seems dead set on bursting. Yes, every time Chloe mentions her one true desire, Kyle shoots down her hopes. But he hasn’t reckoned with the awesome power of Gypsy magic, or with loyal kith and kin. One way or another, Chloe’s going to get her happily-ever-after. One could sometimes be found after you’d convinced a man he loves you, right? All Fate needs is a little puff in the right direction…

Sounds great, Tracy! Where can readers find your books?

My books can be purchased at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, Borders, Powells, etc.

Now, my readers love to hear some non-authorstuff, too, so here goes...

Quick Quiz:

Coffee or tea? Coffee

Divinity or fudge? Fudge

Sprite or Mountain Dew? Mountain Dew

Terminator or Rocky? Rocky

Dogs or cats? Dogs, but 2 of each own us

Summer or Winter? Winter

TV or Reading? Both!

Diet or original? Diet…always diet, lol

Twilight or Potter? Potter

Sunny or rainy? Rainy

Romance or mystery? Depends on the day…

Muscular or lean? Depends on the day… (LOL)

Vampires or shifters? Shifters

Body hair or smooth? Um, depends on the MAN

Where can folks find you on the web?
www.tracymadison.com
www.thenovelgirls.blogspot.com

Thanks so much for dropping in and visiting today, Tracy! Congratulations on your new release!

Thanks for inviting me, Fran. It was fun!

Questions?  E-Mail Me...