I am so excited to have Loucinda McGary here at Paranormal and Romantic Suspense Reviews with a Q/A and a Giveaway.
Loucinda will be visiting and answering any questions you might have so please participate, thanks!
Please take it away, Loucinda!
1. What are you books about?
My three published books are stand alone romantic suspense novels with paranormal elements. I also like to say they are in exotic locations because they are set in Northern Ireland, Venice, and the Republic of Ireland. My paranormal elements are “light paranormal” in that they are not vampires or shape shifters. Instead, I try to include something that might realistically happen to someone.
My first book, The Wild Sight has a clairvoyant hero who has ‘visions’ when he touches or gets close to certain objects. The Treasures of Venice has a contemporary couple who may or may not be the reincarnation of the 15th century lovers in a parallel story line. My current release, The Wild Irish Sea has a set of fraternal twins who communicate telepathically with each other. But their abilities change when they arrive in the land of their ancestors.
2. How did you first become interested in writing?
I think I’ve been interested in writing since I first learned to read. If I didn’t like the way a story ended, I made up my own ending. I wrote and studied writing off and on for many years. I’ve written short stories, poems, and actually made my first attempt at writing a novel when my son was three years old. He’s *KOFF* considerably older now!
Finally, in 2003 I decided to quit my day job and concentrate on novel writing with an eye toward publication. In 2006 I was a finalist in Romance Writers of America’s prestigious Golden Heart contest with the manuscript that eventually became The Treasures of Venice. In Sept. 2007, almost four years to the day after I quit my day job, I sold my first book, The Wild Sight, which was published in Oct. 2008.
3. Who are your inspirations?
I grew up reading the novels of Victoria Holt, Phyllis A. Whitney, and Mary Stewart. I’ve had a couple of reviewers say my work reminds them of Mary Stewart and I consider that the ultimate compliment.
Two newer authors whose works inspired me to try writing my own stories are Diana Gabaldon (her Outlander series) and Terry Brooks (his Sword of Shannara series).
4. What are some of your favorite authors or genres?
Generally when I’m working on a contemporary story (and thus far all of my books have had contemporary settings) I read historical authors. Some of my favorite recent reads include books by my fellow Romance Bandits, Anna Campbell, Christine Wells, Christie Kelley, and Donna MacMeans. I also enjoy Deanna Raybourne and Amanda Quick/Jayne Anne Krentz.
For contemporary authors, you just can’t beat Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum series!
5. What is it like being a multi-published author?
A lot more work than I imagined, and I happen to have a good imagination! Simply writing a good book is not enough. You need to be building your online presence and creating your author brand before you are ever published. Then, once your book is on the shelf, you need to do tons of promotion. The best way to sell books is word of mouth and the way to build that is by promoting online, in person, everywhere! I have never been comfortable trying to sell people something, but I’ve had to learn to spread the word about my books. With each new book, I think I learn a little more and become a little more proficient at the promotion game.
And of course, there are always the reviews. I know that not everyone is going to like the same thing and that reviews are totally subjective. But some of them make me want to grind my teeth or even bang my head on my desk… Like the recent reviewer who gave one of my books a negative review because it was “too romancy.” ARGH!
But hearing from readers who enjoyed my stories is what makes this publishing biz all worthwhile! I hope all of you know how very much I treasure your positive comments and emails. They really do make my day.
6. What's on your next to do list?
Which list? I keep several going at once. Though actually there is some overlap, like next on my travel ‘to do’ list is my seventeenth cruise and my current work-in-progress is set on a cruise ship! So I am working on a new novel, which I hope will be the first in a series, and I am also looking forward (in November) to another fabulous vacation!
Plus, I have several dozen books in my TBR mountain that I’m really looking forward to reading. I’d love to know what books are on your waiting list. I’ll bet we have some of the same ones!
Thanks for answeing my questions on my Blog, Loucinda I greatly appreciate it!
Contest Rules
Thanks to Loucinda who generously offered a signed copy of The Wild Irish Sea to one lucky commenter.
This giveaway is open internationally!
If you’d like to enter this giveaway please leave a comment answering Loucinda's question!
Must be a follower or please check back to see if you are the winner, thanks!
The contest runs till July 18th and closes at 11:59 PM PST!
The Wild Irish Sea
A tale of Love, Magic and Selkies
Drawn together by a force they can't resist...
The telepathic image of her twin brother fighting for his life sends Amber O'Neill rushing to the rocky shores of Ireland. Desperate to find him, she turns to reclusive local inspector Kevin Hennessey.
Bound together with a passion as relentless as the tide...
His past full of pain, Kevin has withdrawn from the world. But when the rain-drenched American appears on his doorstep with her wild tales of danger, something more than her sensuous beauty makes it impossible for him to turn her away.
The wildness of the sea, the mystery of a selkie prince, and a dangerous band of ruthless smugglers bring two lost souls together in a connection of mind, body, and spirit that can't be denied.
