Everybody Needs A Little Romance

We’ve got Elissa Wilds in the house today. Woot!!! I’m really excited to have her with us and to be giving away Between Light and Dark (you can read the excerpt on the link) as this months must read.

Waiting for the book to release seemed like forever, and then once I had it in my hot little hands I couldn’t put it down.

Needless to say I’m chomping at the bit for Darkness Rising (again, you can read the excerpt by clicking the link).

Okay, if you’re ready, here goes:

Me: How did you get started writing and have you always written paranormal?

Elissa: Ever since I was a kid, I’ve loved to read. The library was my favorite place. (now it’s a toss up between the library and bookstores!) I always had my nose in a book. When I was around eight or nine, I started to think about how I would change a particular story I read. Or how I would continue the story if I were the author. So, I began to write stories of my own. When I was a teenager, I penned ongoing sagas with my friends as the main characters. Each week, they’d get another installment and I knew better than to be late, or they’d be very angry with me! Of course, in addition to traveling to exotic locales, meeting famous people, and buying cool stuff, my fictional friends also got to date different guys. I had a ball pairing them up with the hottest guy in school, or making them get back together with their (real life) exes, or even better – hooking them up with the geekiest guy in class. So, romance was part of my writing early on.

And as for paranormal, the first couple books I wrote (now gathering dust under my bed) were not paranormal but straight contemporary romance. It wasn’t until I began to work on my third book that – duh – it occurred to me that what was missing was something magickal. After all, I spent my free time reading either romance or metaphysical non-fiction books. It suddenly dawned on me to combine the two. And now, I don’t have any desire to write anything that doesn’t have a magickal slant!

Me: Are you a plotter or a pantser?

Elissa: I’m more of a plotter. First, I decide the theme of the book. In the Hidden Circle Coven books the theme is a tried and true: good vs. evil – in this case, witches (on Earth) and gods (in the Light Realm) working together to save both mankind and the gods. There is also an ongoing secondary theme having to do with the balance between the light and dark in all living things. Sort of the ying/yang theory. Once I have a theme down, I decide the overarching plot – who are the bad guys, what is their motivation, who are the good guys, their motivation, why are my hero and heroine integral to the fight, what do they bring to the table, etc. I then determine the hero and heroine’s own personal growth arc – what are their strengths, weaknesses, and how are they going to grow as people through the battle – and most importantly, through their relationship with each other. I then determine the major plot points – you know, the inciting incident, the black moment, etc.  Now, when your publisher asks for a synopsis, you do have to fill in the blanks a bit more than that. So, I do come up with some ideas for how to get from point a to point b while working the synopsis. However, my final product, aside from the major plot points, does often evolve a bit by the end of the book. I enjoy seeing what happens in each scene, and how my characters reveal themselves to me as I go. I have a general idea of who my characters are when I begin, but their quirks, their personal style and such appear as I write them. For example, in Darkness Rising, I didn’t plan for Aurora to have artistic talent, but she does.

I hear of writers who sell based on an idea alone. In theory, I would love that because it would mean I could already be under contract when I start writing the book, rather than having to go through the proposal process. (My time is limited and I’d much rather be writing under contract always!) However, being forced to pen those first few chapters and a synopsis from the get go has made it easier for me to jump right in to the book and make it happen once I’m on a deadline.

Me: You’re not only an amazing writer, but a wife and mom. How do you manage to do it all?

Elissa: Awwww, thanks, Vicki!!! (You know, we newly pubbed’s need all the compliments we can get!) There is one word for how I get any writing done at all. Michael. My husband is absolutely the most fabulous man. He is not only an extremely attentive and capable father (he has garnered the nickname “Mr. Mom” for a reason) but he is very supportive of my writing. He is always willing to take care of the kids so I can get some quiet time to write. And, he is a great idea person. We are very similar in our interests as far as paranormal phenomena, and he has studied a lot of metaphysical topics. So, I often bounce ideas off of him when I get stuck with a particular scene in a book. For example, the cool crystal magick in Darkness Rising – all his idea. Now, you’ll just have to read Darkness Rising to know what I’m referring to!

Me: Okay, I know you have awesome scenes in the book, which have to do with Laurell coming into her own as a witch. Can you tell us how you came up with the idea?

Elissa: Writing the magickal scenes in my books is such a joy for me. I have studied so many metaphysical subjects over the past fifteen years that it really becomes a matter of picking just a few to use in each book (so I can save some for the next!) Wicca and witchcraft is one such subject I’ve studied and become quite knowledgeable about. My Master’s thesis was devoted to the study of how gender and identity is communicated and created through the Wiccan religion. I am also Wiccan myself. So, as far as Laurell’s journey, it was really structured around my own experience. Now, obviously, a hunky god did not come to Earth and whisk me away to a coven to mother a super kid who will save the planet. Darnit! (LOL) However, the scenes, for example, where Laurell learns to work with elemental magick are from my own personal experience. Now, you may wonder, did I really whip up a dust devil from thin air and crack a boulder with my thoughts? I’ll never tell. (grin)

Me:  What’s your favorite part of the job?

Elissa: Ooooo…I enjoy so much about writing! I’d have to say that getting to incorporate all sorts of interesting metaphysical topics into my stories is wonderful. But also, I really enjoy creating the emotional connection between the hero and heroine and showing how two people can come together, find common ground, and fall in love. Because truly, that’s the most miraculous magick of all – true and lasting love! And yes, I do enjoy getting to sit in my sweats, drink good coffee, and get paid to do something I’d do anyway for the pure enjoyment of it.

Me: With the release of Between Light and Dark and the upcoming release of Darkness Rising, have you found it easier or harder when you sit in front of the computer? What has changed for you now that you are under actual deadlines from an editor?

Elissa: Ah, deadlines. It’s not necessarily harder for me to write. Actually, I’m more motivated now to plant butt in chair and get to work. However, I no longer have the luxury of days spent mulling interesting ideas and plot twists in my head and then putting them on paper whenever I darn well felt like it. Now, I have to pull those ideas out, pick one that works, and get to it. I’m also learning to write tighter and cleaner the first time around so that I don’t have to spend as much time in revisions. I’m still learning, but I think I get better with each book.

Me: Whose journey was it harder to write, Axiom’s or Laurell’s? And can I just add I love Axiom.

Elissa: Axiom! Yum! I do get reader mail from time to time asking if I would mind forwarding their contact information to Axiom in case he needs someone else to mother another Earth Balancer. LOL. (Of course, that is the single greatest compliment to me ever!) Actually, they were both hard in their own way.

For Laurell – I always put myself in her place to determine her responses to people and situations. I know I would be extremely stubborn and difficult and a pain in the arse if someone were to try to take control of my life. And same goes with her issues with her mother in the book. In some ways this was difficult for me to write because my own relationship with my mother has always been so good – I didn’t have a reference point. I did, however, think hard about what my response would be if my mother who was so cruel and emotionally abusive to me as a child then turned up later as a dead guide to assist me in navigating the scariest, most uncertain time of my life. I decided I’d be really, really ticked off and would try to avoid her at all costs. I’d most likely even be a bit childish about it. You know, you can’t just shake off years of abuse like that by snapping your fingers and then magically forgive. I tried to make Laurell a real person in her reactions to her situation. I kept asking myself, how would I behave in this situation?  How would a REAL person react?

Axiom was difficult because he’s – well – a god who is new to being human. Although he has studied humans from the Light Realm, there is a big difference between studying something, and being that thing. So, I constantly asked myself, if I were just thrust down to this planet after only studying it – never actually experiencing it before – what would seem foreign to me? What would I notice about it? What would be intriguing? Disconcerting? This was especially true when dealing with his emotions. Since the gods are not terribly emotional beings normally, (although they tend to get that way once they’ve been “tainted” by us humans) finding that they are suddenly behaving like humans (Desire? Jealousy? Love?? Gasp!) was actually soooo fun to write.

Me: Can you tell us a little about your upcoming release?

Elissa: Sure! Darkness Rising is the story of Aurora (the Earth Balancer child who was created by Laurell and Axiom in Between Light and Dark). Now, as you’ll recall, Aurora had accelerated growth both physically and mentally since she is half goddess, half witch. So…book II picks up 11 Earth years after her birth. (But she is really more like 24 years old from an emotional/physical standpoint). Aurora is out kicking butt and reclaiming humans who have been turned evil by the Umbrae – with the assistance of Hidden Circle Coven members, of course. But, despite this, evil on Earth is increasing – and the gods in the Light Realm are being affected and falling ill. Someone has to go to Earth and figure out what’s going on and help. Mobius ends of being that someone. And of course, sparks fly between Mobius and Aurora. There are a lot of cool metaphysical themes in the book: past life connections, crystal magick, Reiki healing, and of course Wicca…and lots more…but I don’t want to spoil the book for you so that’s all I’ll say for now.

Me: If you weren’t an author and could be anything you wanted to be, what would it be and why?

Elissa: A professional singer. Because the only thing I enjoy almost as much as writing is singing. I’m a serious karaoke junkie. I’m just too darn old to audition for American Idol. Grrrrr.

Me: Any advice for those of us who are aspiring writers and parting words for our readers?

Elissa: No matter what, believe in yourself. Whatever your dream is, don’t be afraid to go for it. And don’t wait! I can’t tell you how often I hear people say “I’ll do (fill in the blank) when I’m retired. I don’t have time for it now.” You know what? You’ll never have time. You MAKE time. And there is no guarantee you’ll make it to retirement!!  So live in the here and now and make each and every moment count.

Me: Did I say I was super excited to have you here. Okay, so I did, but really, it’s been fabulous. Thank you so much for stopping by and visiting with us.

Elissa: Thanks, Vicki! I enjoyed our chat. I’m totally tickled that you invited me. J

Okay everyone, it’s your turn. Any questions for Elissa? Leave your comments and/or questions to be included in the drawing for this week’s theme. And Elissa is going to also send a signed cover book flap and a pin. Nice!

Writing Wishes and Plotting Dreams,

Vicki