|
Monday, March 13, 2006
Q & A with Anna DePalo
Why do you write for Desire?
I started reading the Desire romances back in the 80s and early 90s, when stars like Barbara Boswell and Jayne Ann Krentz (writing as Stephanie James) were getting Desire established as a great imprint to read and to write for. So naturally, a few years later, when I started to think about writing a novel, Desire seemed a great place to try to break in because I was so familiar with the books.
Do you plot first, or just sit down and write?
I have a general idea of where I'm going before I start writing. I write a synopsis for my editor in order to sell the book, but I also try, for my own benefit, to do a chapter-by-chapter outline with a brief description of the scenes in each chapter and a designation of the point of view in each scene. I also do rough character sketches of my hero and heroine, listing each character's name, occupation, age, hair color, build, likes/dislikes and personality traits. The character sketches help me when I get stuck: I'll go back to them and see if there is a detail I can explore and use to move the story forward.
What's your writing schedule?
It's constantly evolving. When I sold my first book, I was still working as an attorney in my day job, so I wrote mostly on weekends and some evenings. Last year, while pregnant and out of my day job, I had the luxury of deciding when I would write. It evolved into a pattern of some early morning hours, before my husband got up and left for work, and some mid-afternoon hours. Since I suffered from insomnia off and on, I also took to writing during the middle of a night, which was great in terms of having a low probability of being interrupted by a phone call or a ringing door bell. Now, with a four-month-old in the house, my schedule is in flux again. I try to write during nap time, some early mornings and some late nights.
Do you draw on your real life experiences for the settings of your books?
I think all authors do -- or have to. My books about the Whittaker family are set in Boston, where I went to college. The book that's out this month, Cause for Scandal, part of the Elliott family continuity series, is set in New York City, where I grew up. It's always fun to add some elements from places I've been, whether it's a neighborhood I've visited, or a bar that's sort of a composite of a few establishments I've been in.
posted by Anna DePalo at 8:07 AM
|
Previous Posts
|
2 Comments:
Playground Monitor said...
I just read Cause for Scandal last week. Gotta love those sexy rock stars and the whole twin switch (sorta).
I like your idea of a chapter-by-chapter outline with the scenes and POV listed. I'm going to look into that.
Marilyn
10:44 AM
Charlene Sands said...
Anna,
I'm also a "midnight" writer of sorts. When I can't sleep, or I have to get that scene down, I'll go to the computer. But, unfortunately, it's doesn't tire me out, but kinda hypes me up, so I have to realize that I won't be sleeping too much that night.
Charlene
11:04 AM
Post a Comment
<< Home