Interview of Author Collette Cameron

 

Today I'm pleased to present an interview of romance author Collette Cameron.

Latest Book: Wagers Gone Awry (Conundrums of the Misses Culpepper, Book 1)
Buy Link: http://www.amzn.com/B00UQVRATC/

BIO:
Bestselling, award-winning author, Collette Cameron, has a BS in Liberal Studies and a Master's in Teaching. Author of the Castle Brides Series. Highland Heather Romancing a Scot Series, and Conundrums of the Misses Culpepper Series, Collette writes Regency and Scottish historicals and makes her home in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and five mini-dachshunds. Mother to three and a self-proclaimed Cadbury Chocolate chocoholic, Collette loves a good joke, inspirational quotes, flowers, trivia, and all things shabby chic and cobalt blue. You'll always find dogs, birds, quirky—sometimes naughty—humor, and a dash of inspiration in her novels.

Her motto for life? You can’t have too much chocolate, too many hugs, too many flowers, or too many books. She’s thinking about adding shoes to that list.

Q: How did you celebrate publishing your first book?
A: Thanks so much for having me here today! This month, May 2015, I’ll celebrate two years as a published author. Highlander’s Hope got all kinds of special treatment as my first “book baby.” I think I was a bit obnoxious! No, I know I was. I took a cake to work, had a release party, gave away all kinds of swag, and was basically an over-the-top-super-excited-first-time-published author. Okay, I’m still obnoxious when another book baby is born.
I can’t show favoritism, now, can I?

Q: What’s your writing schedule like? Do you strive for a certain amount of words each day?
A: Since I cut back to teaching one day a week (at least that’s the goal) I try to write full-time.
Once I get my household chores out of the way and have worked out, I check emails, (Those little buggers multiple faster than mice!)check my blog posts for the day if I have any, take care of any pressing business or marketing types of things, and usually pop into Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ for a few minutes.

All of that takes about an hour.Then, I either edit or tackle my work in progress. I have a mental word count I try to meet every day, but often don’t make it depending on if my other author responsibilities require my attention. I have gotten better about staying out of email and off social media during my designated writing time and that has helped a lot.

Q: What is the most important thing you do for your career now, as compared to when you first started writing?
A: I set aside specific days and times for writing.

When I first started writing, I was also teaching full-time and didn’t even know if I could get a book published, let alone make writing my full-time career.

Now that I’ve made the transition to writing full-time, I can’t let myself get distracted. Much.

All right, fine. I get distracted all the time, but I still try to be a little productive.

Q: How much of yourself is hidden in the characters in the book?
A: I’ve tried really hard not to let my personality, or even my likes and dislikes, creep into my characters.

I’ve gotten better at that the longer I write.

I have a friend who insists Yvette from Highlander’s Hope is me. She’s not, at all, but she did influence me when I was writing her. I even started sounding like her!

I actually find male characters easier to write because I’m not as worried about my personality filtering through.

Q: If you could change something about your first book, what would it be?
A: I’ve learned so much as an author since Highlander’s Hope, I’d really like to have a go at the entire manuscript.

It’s chock full of newbie author mistakes: buried dialogue, overly-descriptive, dialogue tags galore... *Shudder*

Q: Do you eat comfort food/listen to music when writing?
A: No, I have to have absolute silence while I write. Even the birds outside this time of year can be distracting. My backyard is a wildlife habitat, and right now, flocks of migrating birds are visiting my feeders.

I have neighbor who hired a contractor to build a deck. He had his radio playing outside yesterday and it about drove me bonkers.

As far as food goes, that’s a no too. I do have a tall bottle of sparkling water and usually a cup of tea or coffee(depending on the time of day)sitting on a warmer.

Q: Covers. Ever get one you wish you could change?
A: Yep, but I’m not going to say which one(s) cause it will hurt those characters’ feelings.

Q: What genre would you like to try writing that you haven’t yet tried?
A: I have a time-travel young adult series bopping around in my head that I’ve wanted to give a try for about a year and a half now. I even know the series name.

I have to finish up my two current series before I start another though. Otherwise, my head might explode because I’m also doing several group projects.

Q: How many stories are swirling around in your head? Do you keep a mental list, a computer file, or a spiral notebook filled with the ideas?
A: I have so many stories demanding to be written, they are getting really intrusive.

I have a “Book Bible” that I keep all new story ideas in. Otherwise, I’ve found, I forget details that come to me.

I wish I wrote faster, then my new stories wouldn’t have to wait so long to be shared.

Fun Stuff:
Q: What is your favorite holiday and why?
A: Christmas. I decorate and bake like a crazy-person, and it’s the one holiday all my kids try to make it home by. Oh, and the music. I love Christmas carols and start playing them right after Thanksgiving.

Q: What are two things people might be surprised to know about you?
A: Secrets, huh? Imagine me rubbing my palms together here.

Hmmm. Well, I didn’t always want to be an author. Gasp, I know. I knew I liked to write and thought someday I might write a book, but never a romance.

I’m a bit of a nerd. Straight As in high school and college. Well, there was one A-.

I’m sneaking in a third surprise. I also sing.

Q: As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
A: A mom. Seriously, that’s what I wanted more than anything.

Oh, and I wanted to be an interpreter and an actress.

Q: Favorite food.
A: Italian! Give me some spinach tortellini or fettuccine Alfredo, and I’m you’re slave.

Q: Favorite happy memory.
A: Going to Europe with my daughter.

Q: Favorite drink.
A: Pumpkin spice latte. Yum.

Q: Hot summer days or chilly winter nights?
A: Hot summer days, of course.

Q: What is the top thing on your bucket list?
A: Scotland. Hubby and I were supposed to go this summer but we postponed until next summer. Too many weddings and conferences this year.

Q: If you could have a super power, what would it be?
A: The ability to zap calories out of food!

Tell us where to find you: website(s), publisher’s page(s), blog(s), Facebook page(s), etc. List them all!
Website: http://collettecameron.com
Facebook: http://facebook.com/collettecameronauthor
Tsu: https://www.tsu.co/collettecameron
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/colletteauthor/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/Collette_Author
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Collette-Cameron/e/B00CWLYXL2
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7047979.Collette_Cameron
Newsletter: http://tinyurl.com/regencyrose
Blog: http://collettecameron.com/blog/
Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/+ColletteCameronAuthor/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=215403055&trk=hp-identity-name
 
BLURB:
Wagers Gone Awry, Conundrums of the Misses Culpepper, Book I

Brooke Culpepper resigned herself to spinsterhood when she turned down the only marriage proposal she’d likely ever receive to care for her family. After her father dies, a distant cousin inherits the estate and becomes their guardian but permits Brooke to act in his stead.

Heath, Earl of Ravensdale is none-too-pleased to discover five young women call the dairy farm he won and intends to sell, their home. Desperate, pauper poor, and with nowhere to go, Brooke proposes a wager. His stakes? The farm. Hers? Her virtue. The land holds no interest for Heath, but Brooke does and he accepts her challenge.

Brooke loses, and her devastation is compounded when the cousin arrives, intending to haul the Culpepper misses off to London. Heath astounds himself and proposes in order to apply for guardianship of the other girls. Does Brooke dare marry the handsome stranger who’d been bent on compromising her? Will Heath regret his impulsive gesture, or will unexpected love flourish?

EXCERPT:
Brooke whirled around at a light touch on her shoulder.

He stood mere inches away, close enough that she smelled his cologne once more. Such forwardness wouldn’t be tolerated. She opened her mouth to say as much, but his chestnut eyes held no hostility, only warm empathy.

She swallowed, wanting to glance away, but her dratted eyes refused to obey. What was wrong with her today? Out of character for her to be mawkish over a man, weep like a child, or wallow in self-pity.

“I will go, for now, because this weather forces me to.” Brows pulled into a vee, he looked to the window. “But be assured, I will return with a satisfactory solution, and I intend to communicate with your cousin regarding the matter of the house and grounds.”

A bitter laugh escaped Brooke. “Unless your solution involves allowing us to run the dairy farm and remain in our home, I strongly doubt you will have any suggestion I would welcome.”

“You will agree to what I propose, Brooke.” He ran his forefinger along her jaw and smiled. “You haven’t a choice, have you?”

Brooke tried to ignore the flash of sensation his touch caused. Why did this man have this power over her? “We’ll see about that, my lord, and I haven’t given you leave to use my given name.”

He glanced at Brette.

Her eyes shut and head resting against the chair, she appeared to have dozed off. No wonder. She’d been up past midnight finishing a lace collar for Josephina.

Lord Ravensdale edged closer to Brooke and bent his neck, his mouth near her ear. “Oh, I intend to use much more than your name, Brooke.”