Interview with Carol Burge, author of DANGEROUS DESIRES

Viewers, have I got a treat for you. A sweetheart of a friend who I’ve known for a little over a year, maybe longer - you all know how bad I am with time - has been published. She and I share some of the same trials and tribulations, so it was especially fantastic news when I discovered her book will be in print soon.

I wanted you all to get to know her as well as I do and what better way than through an interview, right?

Her name is Carol Burge. Since her early teens, she has been an avid reader of romance novels. However, it wasn’t until years later that she decided to try her hand at writing one. With pen and paper in hand, and with the determination she's well known for, Carol began plotting her first romance novel.

Carol loves history and has always been fascinated with the Wild West and the romanticism of the American Cowboy, so naturally, that's where her writing will take you. Carol's novels are filled with strong, sexy cowboys, tough Outlaws, gorgeous gunslingers and wild passionate romance.

Carol lives just outside of Detroit, Michigan, where she was born and has lived most of her life. She's been married for nearly 24 years, has three grown children and five grand children, who are the light of her life.

When Carol's not hard at work writing, she likes to spend time with her family. Other interests include reading, the paranormal, tarot, history, meditation, and genealogy.

Carol recently received her first publishing contract for her Historical Western Romance Novel, Dangerous Desires, from Lyrical Press, Inc., and she's working hard to make her debut into the romance writing industry as a published author.

Look for Dangerous Desires this fall, when it will be available in ebook format September 1, 2008 and then in print, December 1, 2008.



Here’s a little bit about the book.

To avoid an arranged marriage, Mairan O’Donnell flees Texas, only to fall into the arms of the notorious Santana, a Juárista rebel fighting for the Cause in Mexico.

All Mairan O’Donnell wants is to make her own choices in life. Being raised by her father, on a rugged South Texas ranch made her realize that the independence and security she grew up with are the most precious things a young Texas woman can have. Then Mairan’s father informs her she's betrothed, and her world is turned upside down. Mairan decides to take fate into her own hands and runs away, only to learn the hard way that no matter what you do, you can't change your destiny.

All Travis Morrison, known in Mexico as Santana, wants is to complete his mission. He wants to get the guns and ammunition entrusted to him into Mexico and into Benito Juarezs' hands. By helping Benito Juarez, Santana is helping himself, because when his life gets back to normal, he can wash his hands of his bothersome family obligations with a clear conscience – specifically, his betrothal. But then Santana runs into Mairan O’Donnell stranded and alone in the Chihuahuan Desert and his life changes forever.

Can a man who thrives on danger, a man who'd rather face a firing squad than get tied down, let one slip of a girl change everything he's ever fought for?




Now let’s get to chatting.

Hi Carole! Thank you so much for taking the time for us. I know with your schedule, you have been one busy person.

Thank you so much for having me, Judith. I enjoy interviews and telling your readers about Dangerous Desires. As you know, I’ve been a J. Kaye’s Book Blog subscriber since the beginning.

I know and it's natural for you to have a spot here. So tell us, is DANGEROUS DESIRES your first book to write? If not, what have you written previously and is Lyrical Press, Inc. considering it?

Dangerous Desires was my very first writing project. This poor manuscript has been through so many revisions and rewrites and changes that it’s nothing like it started out.

At the present time I don’t have anything else with Lyrical Press. However, I do have two projects in the works, but they’re not anywhere near being ready for submission. When they do reach that point, I plan to submit to Lyrical Press.

I do remember you blogging about the revisions. What about the rejection slips? How many (if any) rejections before Lyrical Press, Inc. accepted your book?

I almost hate to admit this, but I’ve never received a rejection letter. Lyrical Press was the first and only publisher I submitted to.

Oh wow! That is amazing. Now I have to ask, how long did it take to write this book?

Because Dangerous Desires was my very first attempt at writing it’s hard to say exactly how long it took to write. If you want to get technical, I first picked up pen and paper and decided to try my hand at writing almost nine years ago, and that’s when I began plotting Dangerous Desires. But, keep in mind that I’d never written a word before. I didn’t know the first thing about writing. I didn’t own a computer and I’d never heard of RWA (Romance Writers of America). My husband bought me a computer for Christmas in 2000, and I started taking online courses and workshops. I joined critique groups and eventually, I joined RWA. And during all that, I was writing Dangerous Desires and learning to write simultaneously. Needless to say, this manuscript has been through quite a few changes.

In 2003 I entered and placed fourth in my very first RWA sponsored contest. Shortly after that I fell ill and was forced to set my writing aside. Then in April of 2007, after a three year hiatus, I began writing again. I entered a few contests and did well, and then I started thinking along the lines of submitting Dangerous Desires for publication.

So, in answer to your question, I suppose all together (minus my three year hiatus) it took roughly about five years to write Dangerous Desires.

I am not sure I could have stuck with one story for so long. That could be the secret to your success. It takes lots of hard work, but what was your biggest obstacle?

Writing the book itself. It absolutely will not take that long to write my next romance. Learning to write while writing really isn’t a good idea. But that’s a whole other blog post.

I agree. I am taking a course and learning more as I go. Now for the good stuff. From the time you found out about being accepted, what has been the coolest thing to happen to you?

Actually, besides “getting the email” I’d say the coolest thing, for me, was seeing my book cover for the very first time. What a thrill! Renee Rocco does the art work for Lyrical Press, and she’s absolutely awesome! Renee had a design in mind for Dangerous Desires even before it was accepted, so I got to see my book cover the very same day.

I love-love that cover. He’s a hottie! What about getting the word out? I’ve heard one of the toughest things for new writers is promoting. How are you going about getting the word out and are you having much success?

You’re right. Promotion is one of the toughest things for a new writer. And unfortunately, these days, most of your book promotion falls to the author. A lot of publishers require you to have a market plan when you query, so you should have something in mind beforehand.

Being a debut author, I have to work even harder to get my name out there, so I was thinking about promotion before Lyrical Press accepted Dangerous Desires.

I had a MySpace page and a blog long before I even thought about submitting to publishers. They both get quite a few hits, so I have a little bit of a head start. Hopefully, that will help.

I make the rounds on all the writer’s lists, e-loops and forums, and whenever I post to a group or send an email, I use my signature line with links to my website/blog and with a photo of my book cover.

I have several interviews already scheduled, and because my book is a western, I’ve set up author spotlights and interviews on the few western romance focused blogs. I’m making a book trailer and I plan to do all the usual things, i.e. book marks and post cards and contests and book signings once my book comes out in print. Also, my publisher has a really great promotional plan that I’m really excited about.

Whether or not all this will work is yet to be seen. I can only hope.

Well, if you stick with promoting like you did this novel, then you won’t have a problem. Something I have been curious about. Why historical romance? What is the attraction for you?

I love history of any kind and I’ve always been fascinated with the romanticism of the Wild West and the American Cowboy. Movies, books, whatever, if it has to do with history or the Wild West, I’m on it. And I’m one of those people who love doing research.

I’ve always been an avid romance reader. I started out reading historical romance authors like Rosemary Rogers and Kathleen Woodiwiss, and it stuck with me. So, naturally, for me, historical romance is what I like to write.

You just listed the two authors that started me on this road to reading. Both books were on a bookshelf of my mother’s. I was at that age of wanting to learn more about sex. Figured it was a good place to start.

What about your next book? Have you started on it? If so, would you tell me more about it?

I do have a couple of projects on the back burner and they’re both Westerns. Both take place in the Southwest, but one takes place in about or around 1846, just after the Mexican War, and the other takes place about 1835, near the time they started up the Texas Rangers.

Wonderful! I don’t have a favor western romance novelist, so I am glad I will have more to read in the future. Would you keep us (viewers of J. Kaye’s Book Blog) posted on updates and future releases?

Absolutely! J. Kaye’s Book Blog will be the first to know!

Oh Carol, thank you so much for coming out to chat. I am so very proud of you. You know that you are my hero. I think of you on those bad days and it keep me moving ahead. In my world, you totally rock!

Thank you again, J. Kaye, and best of luck with all your endeavors! I know you’ve got a few in the works.

To learn more about Carol Burge and her book, DANGEROUS DESIRES, go to her blog at Romance Writer Woes or visit her on MySpace. (Click on the highlighted words.)

Interview with Carol Burge, author of DANGEROUS DESIRES

http://j-kaye-book-blog.blogspot.com/2008/05/interview-with-carol-burge-author-of.html