Romance In Color Interview

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1. What inspired you to write, NEVER TOO LATE TO LOVE, your current release?
I always was pulled to write Tiffany's story; a story about mature heroine with issues and real life baggage. I mentioned it to my editor about it shortly after Heart's Desire came out and she said Tiffany was too old for a heroine. I asked about Tiffany again when asked about a new contract after The Look of Love. This time
she agreed that I could write the story.

2. Do you have a full-time career outside of your writing?
I've returned to the world of the j-o-b. I'm working as a nurse manager.

.3. When you're not writing, what do you like to do in your spare time?
The demands of work, writing and my child cut pretty deeply into my time. I like to read, cook, eat and relax with friends. I'm a homebody type.

4. What is something about you that your readers would be
surprised you do?
Hmmm. If they've read my books, I doubt if little could
surprise them :-)

5. What should a reader expect from one of your books?
My goal is a page-turning read where the reader is caught up with the characters and events. I want to write a hard-to-put down books that causes you to sigh when you lay it down. My readers should expect the unpredictable. The unexpected event, character trait, or twist of plot that changes everything. If they expect to pick up one of those romances where they can figure out everything
that can happen next, or a book with a near-perfect, glamorous, uncomplicated heroine, they should elsewhere.

6. Which character did you have the most fun writing about?
I love writing all my heroines. Tiffany was so real to me, I
almost cried myself when she slipped. Taylor's story (A Magical Moment) was a fun write. I might have went a little overboard with the demon, but shoot, Dean Koontz gets away with it all the time.

7. If you could pick one of your books for a movie, which one would you choose, and whom would you cast in it?
A Magical Moment with Angela Basset as Taylor!

8. What do you like about African American Romance novels?
What I love about romance are the happy endings and that it is a woman's genre. I'm writing about our relationships, our hopes, and our fantasies. Romance speaks to the most secret and feminine part of us. I particularly love the leeway I've been granted to experiment and perfect my craft.I think it is wonderful that we are finally represented in these immensely popular novels. As a teenager, I loved to read romance, but the underlying message was deleterious to my self-image-you have to fit into a certain mold to find love. When I was young, only traditionally beautiful white women were desirable in the world of romance novels. The fact that there are all types of
black women portrayed now in a realistic and non-stereotypical fashion is a huge move forward. So, I'm pleased to have a part in AA romance's emergence as a viable entity. Finally major publishers have got it straight that black folks do have romance and enjoy reading about it as much as the average American.

9. How did you get started writing your novels?
I've always wanted to write. A writing workship in the CA bay area just six years ago give me the impetus to get into writing fiction. Shortly after that I had surgery with a long period of enforced inactivity and writing Midnight Blue is what I did.

10. What process do you use in writing your novels?
A deadline kicking me in the rear helps immeasurably. Seriously though, I start with an idea, a feel for what I want the final form of my book to be. I don't have the details. Then I do a brief outline. I do sketch out a rough idea of the events that happen in each chapter to move the story forward. I write a few words for each scene at this point. Then I start at chapter one and work my
way on through. The outline frequently changes as the story takes shape. I try to plan the gist of what I'm going to write before I sit down for a writing session.

11. How long does it take you to complete a manuscript?
About three months for a straightforward story that
requires little research.

12. What was your becoming a published writer journey like?
For many aspiring writers, I think it's the pinnacle of a dream when they envision getting that call from an editor who wants to buy their book. In a sense for the fledging writer that's Christmas and what comes next is the day after. Most aren't able to quit their day job after the first book, the fifth, the tenth and maybe even the fifteenth as a midlist author in a genre field with a less-than-generous publisher. There's a new set of demands and new dreams replace the old one of getting published. The new dreams may be more difficult to obtain: making a living off your
writing, making the New York Times Bestseller list. But you
wouldn't trade it because you are able to finally do what you love, writing your stories down for all to read.The journey is ongoing. You strive to write a better book, to gain recognition, to reach your personal definition of success. For me the sky's the limit. I don't think I'll ever stop the journey because there's always more to achieve. Some think publisher hype and promotion is what makes bestsellers and it's true to a certain extent. But the tried and true way to a career is to slowly build a following. Write better and better books so the people who read
your books pick up the next one and tell a friend. It's a slow momentum. I feel that my career is just starting. There are pitfalls and decisions ahead. I did what I could and got the best career manager (agent) I could find to help me negotiate them. Other than that, all there is to do is to trust in God and keep moving forward, writing the very best books I can.

13. Is being a published writer what you thought it would be like?
Nope. I'm amazed at how the industry treats the majority of its writers. I had the fantasies about making a modest living wage, etc., down the road, but it's a heck of a lot further down the highway than I first believed. The June 2000 Romance Writer's Report, a publication of the Romance Writers of America, showed just how much of a fantasy that is to many writers. Writers are struggling, getting discouraged and quitting. One of the near-prerequisites they listed making it possible to succeed as a
romance writer was having a husband who'd support you, as many of the majority writers do. I'm a single parent and while the industry is willing to make bucks off me as long as my books are selling, they are not willing to pay me the equivalent of someone asking "Do want fries with that burger?" a few hours a week. Many Arabesque writers don't have external financial support and they have to work full time while writing a book or two a year. I can't be productive writing while working full time, so I make the
sacrifices to work part time.

14. What do you feel has been your greatest accomplishment as a writer and why?
Writing books that readers enjoy reading is the payoff and the pleasure. My greatest accomplishment is that after five books, readers are picking up my sixth book and letting me know that it meant something to them. This means to me that I'm achieving my goal of continously improving my craft and perfecting my art.15. How do you feel about critique groups?I think there are two ways to use a critique group. The first is to seek out people who have your interests in common for support and encouragement in your writing. This has its place and it's an important one.The second type is to improve and evaluate your work. A wholly
supportive group might not be as good at this as a hard working, hard-edged critique group full of people who are willing to tell you that your baby is ugly. This is hard to hear. I said to disregard people who disparage your writing ability, but I feel you should play close attention to what people say about your work. It's difficult to see technical flaws as you're working on it or right after you've finished it.Also, writing is intensely subjective. The purpose is to affect people's emotions. The best writing lingers with a person. But if the overall feeling they have isn't positive--regardless of the beauty or technical strength of the writing--they aren't likely to pick up your next book. So you do need to know how your work affects others. Most often you're too close to it to tell for yourself, unless a considerable amount of time has passed and you're able to look at it with the objective eyes of a stranger. Keep in mind that people's opinions are just that, opinions. They
are colored by that individual's perception and it's possible that their opinion has little to do with you or your work. But you should listen and weigh carefully what they say carefully along with others opinions and your own gut feelings to see if there's anything you can subtract, change or add to make your work stronger.

16. Do you think an agent is necessary?
It depends on what you're writing and where you're planning to sell. It also makes a difference where you are in your career. I think an agent or a literary attorney is helpful in negotiating most contracts. I'd recommend one with BET/Arabesque. If you are selling to Harlequin/Silhouette less authors in this house are agented. The payments and contracts are pretty standard. If you wish to break into mainstream publishing (non genre, bigger books, hardbacks, etc.) then an agent is necessary.

17. If you had known then what you know now, what would you have
done
differently in terms of your romance writing career?I suppose there are many things that could have been done
differently. I can't think of any single one decision I regret.
It's hard to tell if you've taken the wrong path until you realize that you're not getting where you want to go. So far I've been putting one foot in front of another, and as far as I know I'm on the road to where I want to be.

18. Any advice for those aspiring romance writers?I get a lot of people asking for what seems to be some sort of
secret key to become a published writer. There is none. It takes hard work and perseverance. If I tell someone where they can find the information and they are disappointed that I just didn't dish it out to them, I know that person is unlikely to have the persistence and motivation it takes to be published. No, I can't tell you step by step how to write a book, but I can tell you where to find lots of information that does. I can lead you to the water but I can't drink for you. The writing industry deals out lots of hard knocks and rejection. You have to find out the way to do things and to continue to strive when it seems like the entire
world is saying no to you. It doesn't get much easier when you become a published romance writer. The need for persistence and motivation doesn't dissipate.

19. Do you like communicating with your readers? In what forms. And how can a reader contact you?
E-mail is best. Please check out my web site and drop me a line through one of my many e-mail links there.
http://www.monicajackson.com

20. Can you give us a peek at what we can expect from your next romance?
My next romance heroine is Tiffany's (from Never Too Late) daughter, Jenny.Fed up with 'trifling' men, the last thing Jenny Eastman wants to do is become Jared Cates newest flavor-of-the-month. So she's more
than game when a group of Jared's ex-flames enlist her help in teaching him a lesson he won't forget. But when Jenny's smooth moves ignite an irresistible passion, she'll have to play for the highest of stakes between heartbreak and love--forever.I'm having fun with this. A group of women get together to form a woman's support and information group--S.C.O.R.N.E.D.--Sisters
Committed to Overcoming Rejecting Narcissistic, Egotistical Dogs. Jared is one of their first targets and they enlist Jenny in the effort to teach him a lesson.