Beth, It is an honor to have you at the Pen to Paper today.  You have a world of information for us so let’s get started

1. Tell us something about you and your books.  Thanks, Melinda.  I’m a Virginia author of historical and light paranormal romance, passionate about the past and my early American roots. I live on a farm in the Shenandoah Valley with my husband, assorted children and animals.  The valley and surrounding mountains are my inspiration.

1.  Are there any new authors who have grasped your attention? Quite a few at The Wild Rose Press. Too many to name. I mostly favor authors who write for the same lines I do, but not always.  I’m eclectic.

1. Do you have any advice for other writers?  Write what you love because you’re going to be doing it for a very long time.  Revise, revise, revise…

1. What’s your latest book about?  My latest release, one of three novels that came out in May 2009, is Through the Fire, a fast-paced romance with a The Last of the Mohicans flavor and a mystical weave.  The French and Indian War, a Shawnee warrior, an English lady, blood vengeance, deadly pursuit, primal, powerful, passionate…THROUGH THE FIRE.

    Blurb: At the height of the French and Indian War, a young English widow ventures into the colonial frontier in search of a fresh start. She never expects to find it in the arms of the half-Shawnee, half-French warrior who makes her his prisoner in the raging battle to possess a continent––or to be aided by a mysterious white wolf and a holy man.

Where do you get your information or ideas for your books?  I do copious research.  For Through the Fire, I consulted with historians, colonial reenactors, anthropologists, archeologists, even the Shawnee themselves, in addition to all of my reading.

What promotional ideas can you give to other beginning authors?  Network on loops and social sites like myspace, Twitter, Facebook… have blogs, take part in interviews and chats, any FREE promotional opportunities, and invest wisely in those that cost money. 

What advice would you give to somebody trying to get a literary agent?  Check out AgentQuery.com, a great website that vets the agents they list.

Is there any thing you would like to say to other aspiring writers?  “You are not finished when you lose, you are finished when you quit.” Never give up on anything you truly love.  Glean what you can from all those rejections, accept constructive criticism, learn from it and go on.  People along your journey will help you; some of these are not even known to you yet.

As a child what did you want to do when you grew up?  Miss America, a great singer, actress, and now I hole up and write.  But I always wrote, kept diaries as a child.

As a writer and published author how do you feel about e-publishing?  E-books are the wave of the future and the future is now, but I also think there will always be a place for print.  My publisher offers both.

What advice would you give to other aspiring authors about getting their work placed with a big publishing company?  That’s a tough sell these days, but if a big company is what you really want then get yourself a good agent. Enter respected writing contests–being among the finalists gives you a shot at getting your work before an editor. I was a finalist in numerous contests including the 2008 Golden Heart.

    Please give us a list of all of your books currently available.  Somewhere My Love, Daughter of the Wind, Enemy of the King and Through the Fire.  I’m one of six Wild Rose Press authors in An American Rose Christmas, a historical romance anthology due out Dec. 11^th.

13.  How long does it take you to do research on the books you write?  Months, years…

How do you give credit to any research you do?  I’m not required to give credit in romantic fiction, but may mention some of my sources in blog posts or my website.

      What inspired you to become a writer?  I’m fascinated with the past and writing historicals is a wonderful way of communing with those who’ve gone before us.  I also love to read.

How did you go about getting published?  I honed the craft, learned from constructive criticism, never gave up and was open to new opportunities. 

     Where do you do most of your writing?  In my home, either on my sunspace, or living room or bedroom.

Are you working on other things, if so what are they?  I just signed a new contract for historical romance, Red Bird’s Song, also set in the Virginia colonial frontier with a The Last of the Mohicans flavor, inspired by actual events that happened to my early American ancestors. 

I’m also at work on a new light paranormal romance, the next in my ‘Somewhere’ series, a suspenseful Scottish time travel.

What do you enjoy most about your writing?

Seeing where the story takes me.  I do my research and plot the story as best I can but leave a lot of wiggle room.  I’m an organic writer.  My stories are character driven, so it’s essential I know them well.  I spend a lot of time rewriting chapter one as I get to know the main characters.  I’m also guided by dreams.

For more on my work please visit: www.bethtrissel.com

Thanks Beth and hope you visit again real soon.

Walk in harmony,

Melinda