Welcome, Romance Lovers! Multi-talented Romance author C. H. Admirand is with me today!

   Available now at Highland Press

Welcome, Romance Lovers!

My guest this morning is multi-talented, multi-published Romance author C. H. Admirand.  I'm thrilled that you could join me! 

Tell us a little about yourself.

Southern born…Northern bred - I was born in Aiken, South Carolina, but alas, my parents moved back to northern New Jersey where I grew up, which if you’ve met me would explain a lot. I’ve always had my nose in a book, have traveled the world over, and even tested the time-space continuum, thanks to the awesome power of the written word.

My love for the written word is a gift from my parents, but the need to write was instilled by my 7th Grade English teacher. One of my writing quirks is that I love to include bits and pieces of my ancestors and ancestry in all of my books.

Fate, destiny and love at first sight will always play a large part in my stories because they played a major role in my life. When I saw my husband for the first time, I knew he was the man I was going to spend the rest of my life with. I’ve loved him forever…well…more than half my life. Each and every hero I write about has a few of Dave’s best qualities, his honesty, his integrity, his compassion for those in need and his killer broad shoulders. I’m such a sucker for a man with broad shoulders.

Ooooh...me too!  When did you first start writing Romance?

For fun? Back in school, but seriously about fourteen years ago.

What drew you to Romance?

I’m a huge fan of the HEA and have been hooked on Romance since I first read The Lost Island by Phyllis Whitney when I was in Sixth Grade…which is really weird because I was also reading J. R. R. Tolkien at the time.

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

I’m not sure if any one author had any influence on my writing style. But I do have favorite authors that I love to read that are keepers that I also re-read: Nora Roberts, Julie Garwood and Sherrilyn Kenyon are my top faves.

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

Actually, all of the above have given me ideas, but it’s the voices that argue in my head that usually get the most attention when characters are clamoring to have their stories told.

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

It depends on what else is going on in my life at the time. Right now, I write, have a day job, an evening job and I’m a mom to three fabulous “adult” children and married to the man I fell in love with at first sight. *sigh* Soooo…sometimes the balance in my life leans toward one of my other jobs and my writing has to wait. Right now though, my current deadlines are back-to-back, so my family is being wonderful and giving me the space and time I need to create and turn the books in on time.

You have a new book out. We’d love to hear about it.

I’m one of the five contributing authors in Highland Press’s Special Ops Romance Anthology….Operation: L.O.V.E. My story’s called SO OTHERS MIGHT LIVE. Anne Elizabeth asked if I’d be willing to write a short story for the Collection, and I jumped at the chance.

I was fortunate enough to contact the right person at the right time and was able to do a phone interview with a USCG Rescue Swimmer…from that conversation I was invited to tour the Atlantic City Air Station. For three hours I was allowed to ask any question I could think of and ended up with ten pages of notes! It was a fabulous experience.

Tell me a little about your newest book.

I just turned in a short story for the next Highland Press Collection…the Intelligence Collection. My story, FOR LOVE OF TRUTH, is about an analyst in the CIA’s Intelligence Directorate and the Internal Affairs Agent who is investigating her.

How did the inspiration for this work come to you?

Actually FOR LOVE OF TRUTH went through three lives before I was happy with it. Thanks to a fabulous war-gaming session with Anne Elizabeth, it all came together.

What was the inspiration for your latest book?

I’m inspired by the people that I meet, read about, or see in the news, and of course my family and friends. Sometimes characters are actually bits and pieces of all of the above. While I’m not really like either of the characters in this latest short story, the basis of their relationship, beliefs and work ethic is something that I do identify with…trust…it’s the solid foundation my husband Dave and I have based our relationship from the start…we’re celebrating our 30th anniversary this August, so believe me when I say it works.

Now THAT'S romantic!  Do you identify with the characters you write about?

I do identify with some of the characters, but not all of them. It’s always good to push the limits of your comfort zone and write what isn’t comfortable, or is outside of your realm of experience, as long as you do your research!!!

You’ve recently signed with a new publisher. Can you tell us about that?

Leanne Burroughs of Highland Press is fabulous to work with. She’s open to new ideas and promotion for the upcoming Collections we’re working on with Anne Elizabeth at the helm. She’s behind us 100% with our decision to donate a portion of the proceeds of Operation: L.O.V.E. to the Special Operations Warrior Foundation. Their mission statement appears in the book right after the table of contents. We’re honored to be spreading the word about their charity and at the same time bringing the different Spec Ops branches of the Military to romance readers.

You have several books in print (or upcoming releases). Is there a favorite among them? Why?

My favorite is usually my current wip…but I will confess I dearly love the characters in my Medieval Series with DCL Publications and my Irish Western Series with Five Star Expressions.

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

Operation: L.O.V.E., A Special Ops Romance Anthology is my tenth book…5 in print and 5 e-books. I’m really pleased with FOR LOVE OF TRUTH…the short story I turned in on Thursday…I don’t really have a favorite.

What do you love about your editor (or publisher)?

I’m blessed to have fabulous publishers that are a pleasure to work with, who listen to my thoughts and ideas and always encourage me: Pam Seres, DCL Publications; Tiffany Schofield, Five Star Expressions; Leanne Burroughs, Highland Press…and one I’m hoping to be working with in the next few months…keep your fingers crossed for me. :)

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?

My writing schedule is NUTS right now. I just turned in a short story for the upcoming Highland Press Intelligence Collection and have a few weeks before I have to turn in three more short stories for upcoming collections, also with Highland Press. I just signed a contract for the 4th book in my Irish Western Series, A GIFT FROM HOME, John Reilly’s story which starts out over in Ireland, so I should be seeing edits soon. OH…and I have an opportunity to work with a new editor at another publishing house…so keep your fingers crossed that she likes the changes that I’ve made and offers a contract. :)

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

About ten years ago, we winterized the screen porch that ran the length of the front of the house. We divided it into three sections, the entryway, a small bedroom on one side and a small office…my safe haven…on the other. I have porcelain faeries hanging in the window where I look out onto our front garden (which is in bloom right now…with azaleas, lilacs and rhodies) statues of faeries, pictures of faeries, a fountain, candles…you get the idea…and over a hundred research books.

Sounds absolutely heavenly.  Do you have a “day” job? OR I know you also have a full time job. How do you balance the two?

I work in a real estate office in their administration department…I used to be a secretary, but now I understand that term is no longer PC, so I guess I’m an admin.,  and I work in the evening at the Jazzercise center. It’s hard to keep the balance smooth, especially when I have to factor in taking my Mom to doctor appointments. I have very little down time…I usually just crash!

What advice do you have for aspiring writers? OR What advice would you like to give aspiring writers to help make life easier for them?

Never EVER give up…believe in yourself and your writing. Trust in yourself and listen to your heart and your gut…they won’t steer you wrong.

Do you have another project in the works?

For Highland Press: three short stories for upcoming collections. For Five Star Expressions: A GIFT FROM HOME, Irish Western Series, Book 4.

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

I drink waaay too much tea. Earl Grey is one of my favorites. It’s hard to write with music on…I get distracted and start to sing along (if it’s an instrumental…I hum!). When I’m doing edits, though I like to listen to a variety of different music. During the edits for A GIFT FROM HOME, I listened to the soundtrack from George Strait’s movie: Pure Country. For THE CIRCLE G RANCH: TYLER, I listened to The Cranberries album: Everybody Else is Doing it, So Why Can’t We? For SO OTHERS MIGHT LIVE, I listened to the Kingston Trio’s Greatest Hits and FOR LOVE OF TRUTH, I listened to: the Eagles Greatest Hits.

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

Book trailers, postcards, magnets, mugs, pens, posters, book signings, readings, conferences, conventions, appearances, blogs, radio blogs, TV interviews.

What else would you like to tell us?

I’d like to thank Fran Lee for this wonderful opportunity to be interviewed by her and have her create a montage of photos of book covers and pics. It’s been a pleasure!

Thanks so much, Fran!!

You are entirely welcome! Did you bring me some of your covers to show folks?

Of course!

Here's a full list of my books:
Operation: L.O.V.E., A Special Ops Romance Anthology
Sullivan's Choice
Pearl's Redemption
The Rancher's Heart
The Marshal's Destiny
Patience
Bridget's Rainbow
A Scot's Honor
The Saxon Bride
The Lord of Merewood Keep
Once Upon a Dark Castle Lord Anthology
The Dancing Rose Anthology
Romance Recipes For The Soul

Where can we find you on the internet?

www.chadmirand.com
www.operationlove.us