It’s really hard to say how much time you can expect to get for each book. For the first contract I sold in July 2007 and the first book didn’t get to the shelves until April 2009.

My third book deadline was May 2008. So that was more than a year from deadline to its June 23 release date.

On the second trilogy, I have much less time, but my editor thought it would be great to have six books come out so close together. I think it all depends upon the scheduling at the publishing house and their marketing plans. And each publishing house probably differs. LOL. I just try to write them in the time frame they give me and hope that they love them.

Congratulations on getting your first series completed! That’s a great accomplishment. Best wishes to you also!

Don’t be disheartened about my response on whether or not I would have achieved what I did if I hadn’t quit work. That was me personally. See, I didn’t even realize I had the dream of writing until I quit. It wasn’t until I quit and asked myself what I truly wanted to do, that I realized what I wanted. You already know what you want, so you’re way ahead of me!

Also, I tend to have tunnel vision when it comes to my work. If I had another job on top of writing, I know one would suffer. But again, that’s me. Most women are good at multitasking. I don’t think I am. And there are an enormous amount of successful authors out there who have other careers too, so please don’t be disheartened! Each person has their own journey to take.

Whew, okay, let’s see. Regarding my voice. After I wrote RESCUE ME and RETURN TO ME, I went back and read a couple of my older manuscripts and the difference I saw was in the tone. My voice now is much darker and less, shall we say, chatty? My earlier books were based in the south and I think they all had a southern flavor and though they had romantic suspense elements, they were of a lighter nature. The Last Chance Rescue series is necessarily more serious since much of it deals with abductions and the darker side of life. Also, I think I’ve matured as a writer.

I’m extremely emotionally connected to my characters. I don’t think I’ve written any Last Chance Rescue book where I didn’t cry at some point. A few characters have made me laugh…I still enjoy Noah’s humor in RETURN TO ME because it was so unexpected. I didn’t know it was there, but it made sense because Samara brought out that side of him.

I write backstory when I write the synopsis, though sometimes I don’t write the synopsis until after I write the book. I just depends. But if I write the synopsis beforehand, I start out with the backstory. That way, what happens in the the story makes sense…if that makes sense.

I don’t have a file yet on characteristics and physical traits. I have gone back to my previous books to make sure I’ve got the descriptions right. For some reason, I kept putting Ethan’s scar on the wrong side of his face. I may have to start keeping a notebook soon. A copy editor just noted in my last edits that I have an unusual amount of last names that begin with ‘M’. I have no clue why, but I’m really trying to concentrate on other letters! And copy editors are a blessing. If I put that someone had green eyes on page eight and now on page ninety, they’re blue, they’re great at catching that.

Thanks so much for the great questions. Hopefully I answered them all coherently!

Oh, and I should add that you’re so right. My darling hubby is definitely a keeper!

What do you think led to the different voice and style that emerged when you let yourself free to write for yourself? Do you think that voice was “in you” from the start, or did it develop from your other work? How emotionally connected are you to your characters – do you laugh, cry, frown, shudder while you’re writing? How much outlining do you do before writing a story? Do you write character backstories before you begin the main story? Do you keep a file on location/character/story specifics to avoid a character having blue eyes in one book and green in another?

Whew A lot of questions. Thanks for your time, and keep writing!