Joyce I am so honored to have you at the Pen to Paper Blog.  Your upcoming release is a must read.  We have alot to cover so lets get started.

1. Tell us something about you and your books

The old cliché write what you know has worked fairly well for me since I owned horses, my husband and I farmed, and I was born in Central Texas where my stories are set.  

1.  Are there any new authors who have grasped your attention?

New authors, as in recently published, or authors that I have recently found who are new to me? So far this year I’ve read 42 fictions books. At least, that’s how many titles I managed to write in my diary. As I recall, Silent in the Sanctuary was a debut novel for Deanna Raybourne. Other authors I read for the first time, all though many might be long-time-published, Michelle Rowan, Stacey Kayne, Sophie Jordan, Maureen McKade, Linnea Sinclair, Jean Harrington. And of course I love most anything by Nora Roberts/J.D. Robb. My favorite author of all time is Ken Follett. As you can see, my reading tastes are eclectic.   

1. Do you have any advice for other writers?

Unpublished? Don’t give up. I wrote for 20 years prior to publication. It’s a tough business, but you can do it if you take the time to learn your craft and write, submit, write, submit… If you’re intending to publish in the Romance genre, join Romance Writers of America and a local RWA chapter. Attend conferences. Study authors who write similar to what you write. Study what makes that author’s work stand out and catch your eye―and especially an editor’s eye. There are a myriad of classes, online or at conferences offered by RWA.

1. What’s your latest book about?

Two people who fall in love and face the impossible task of blending two cultures. Cultures set on destroying each others’ way of life. 

1. Where do you get your information or ideas for your books?

I’ve always wanted to believe that in the days when the white man invaded Indian territory war and rape weren’t always the outcome. Surely there were instances when a man and woman met and fell in love. I’ve read more than 100 research books about American Indian cultures. You can never learn too much. The trick is to know how much of what you learn should appear in a book, tidbits that make an era stand out, a setting that gives the reader the impression that she’s visiting that particular place. 

1. What promotional ideas can you give to other beginning authors?

Develop a web site early and blog if you can. I don’t blog, but I do have a web site. www.joycehendersonauthor.com  Find what works for you that you can easily afford. I’ve always given bookmarks or business cards everywhere I go. If a beginning writer or author is expert in something offer to give workshops to writers’ groups. Visit booksellers and let them know you are anxious to know them and help them promote your work.

1. What advice would you give to somebody trying to get a literary agent?

Study the market in which you wish to break into. Study agents who represent authors you like or admire. Ask acquaintances about how they like their agents. What do you want in an agent? One who markets and sells your work? Or perhaps you want an agent who gives editing advice. Study each agent to find out how s/he deals with clients. Only go with an agent who is really excited about your work. An agent who isn’t excited about your work, isn’t out there beating the bushes to lay your work on editors’ desks is a bad agent for you, and a bad agent is worse than no agent at all.

1. [Is] there any thing you would like to say to other aspiring writers?

Don’t listen to all the negative chatter about how tough getting published is. You already know that! You don’t need it shoved in your face. Work at your craft. By that I mean, learn how to edit your prose until they shine. Learn how to write a query and synopsis. Write, write, write.  

1. As a child what did you want to do when you grew up?

I wanted to be a stewardess! It sounded like the most glamorous thing a girl could do! Those were the days when flying was more or less for the rich and famous.

10.  As a writer and published author how do you feel about e-publishing [?]

Like it or not, that’s where publishing is going. I fervently hope print books are around forever because I like the feel of a book in my hands, the smell, the fabulous cover art, but 30-somethings and younger are used to computers, texting, anything techie, and e-books are certainly that. Actually, my book published by Dorchester, To the Edge of the Stars is also offered on Amazon in Kindle format. E-books are so easily pirated, though. It’s a problem the publishing industry needs to solve; authors cannot stop that thievery alone.

1. What advice would you give to other aspiring authors about getting their work placed with

      a big publishing company?

Most big companies prefer agented submissions. So finding an agent would be the first hurdle to get noticed by the “big” boys. Actually, though, some of those publishers who have been around for a long time aren’t as big is we think they are. Editors are really overworked because there just aren’t a lot of bodies in those hallowed halls anymore.

12.  Please give us a list of all of your books currently available.

Alas, To the Edge of the Stars is the only one on the shelves since Walks in Shadow and Written on the Wind are out of print. The latter two can only be found in used books. Although some of those are advertised as new. I don’t have a publishing date for Capture an Eagle yet, but I hope it will be available in 2010. When it is published, it will be available in most places but the easiest way to get it will be to go on The Wild Rose Press web site and look for my name or go to the historical Western pages. It will be available in print and e-book formats.

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

I never quit researching. I love it! Actually, I have to watch myself or I’ll fritter away weeks just researching and not get to the business of writing my stories. LOL Most of my research these days is if I come across a question during the writing I pause and look up that particular thing to make sure that I’m as authentic as possible.

1. How do you give credit to any research you do?

Most of my research is done in books published for years and years. Individual credit hasn’t happened yet, but it will in the book I’m writing now because I’ve asked some questions of a specific person; and artist friend who was “born out of his time.”

1. What inspired you to become a writer?

Inspired probably isn’t the right word to explain my reason for starting to write. Beyond marriage I’d had a successful part-time business in Southern California, raising three kids, ranching, and working part-time as a bookkeeper for small business. Oh, yes, and  secretary/treasurer of my husband’s corporation. When we moved to Florida I looked around for something else to do. Sure didn’t want to become bored. LOL I was one of those idgits who read a romance and told myself, “What’s so hard about that? I can write a romance.” (Rude awakening fast approaching.)

1. How did you go about getting published?

By doing everything wrong. LOL No kidding. I didn’t know diddly-squat about how to write fiction, but that didn’t stop me from going right ahead and writing something like 600 pages of absolute drivel. That was in 1984, and after I sent in that first draft, returned unopened, I finally found RWA in 1989. There were two reasons that first effort was returned unopened: the house I mailed it to didn’t accept unagented material, and whoever received it knew by my unsolicited submission that I didn’t know what I was doing. Why waste his/her time?

1. Where do you do most of your writing?

Mostly in my office. Twice a year I’m fortunate to have two critique partners who own second  homes elsewhere. We take a week in the spring to go north to one place in the spring and the other in the fall, and do nothing but write for a whole week and critique each other. It’s wonderful to immerse oneself in nothing but writing, no other responsibilities intruding.

1. Are you working on other things, if so what are they?

A time travel, which is entirely new for me to attempt. But I’m having fun with it. And I’m about to resurrect another book that’s a turn of the century that takes place in Southern California. Um, turn of the century is from the 19^th to the 20^th century. I tend to forget we are now in the twenty-first century. I also write how-to’s for writers, and I occasionally do workshops.

1. What do you enjoy most about your writing?

I’m a “write in the mist” storyteller. So when I sit down to write I have no idea where my characters are going to take me that day. Does that approach sometimes take me into a boxed canyon? Well, yeah, but part of the fun of writing is getting myself out of those predicaments.

I supposed another of my favorite things about writing is the people I’ve met in the 20-year journey I’ve taken.

 Capture an Eagle                                                           by  Joyce Henderson

Coming soon from The Wild Rose Press                          www.joycehendersonauthor.com

Joyce it really has been a pleasure visiting with you today.  Please come back soon.

Walk in harmony,

Melinda

Jodi I am honored to have you visit Pen to Paper today.  Your books are just wonderful.  So, lets get started.

Whispering Mountain Series

Texas Rain

Texas Princess

Tall, Dark, and Texan

The Lone Texan – October 2009

Contemporary Fiction

Twisted Creek

Rewriting Monday

Anthologies

Give Me a Texan

Give Me a Cowboy

How long does it take you to do research on the books you write?

It takes me about a year to write a book.  I usually am working on the research for one while I’m writing another and editing another.  Some people think that would be confusing, but I enjoy shifting.

What inspired you to become a writer?

My brother often tells people that his little sister turned a disability into a career.  He doesn’t know how right he is.  I’ve always daydreamed.  In school I never remember a teacher telling me how talented I was.   I only remember them saying ‘Pay attention, Jodi.  You seem to be in another world.’

I wish I could go back and say, ‘Don’t bother me, I’m studying for my career.’

How did you go about getting published?

I tried everything.  For the first few years I wrote in several areas.  Read everything I could about writing, took every class, studied the markets.  I sent my work to everyone in New York.  Then, I heard about an RWA that was going to be in Dallas.  It was a dream come true.  I went to the conference, got a ten minute interview with an editor and talked her into taking a look at my work.  Two months later she offered me a contract. 

Where do you do most of your writing? 

I’m the writer in residence for West Texas A&M University.  I spend my mornings with my door open to students and my afternoons writing. 

Are you working on other things, if so what are they? 

I’m working on a new series set in a small town in Texas.  The first book, WELCOME TO HARMONY will be out in May 2010.  I’m very excited about this story.  I think it may be my best work to date.

What do you enjoy most about your writing?

I love the writing.  The stepping into another world, but I also love being a writer.  The best part of that is the wonderful people you meet along the way.  I love watching beginning writers stretch and learn to write deeper.  I love spending hours talking plot.  I love teaching at the Writing Academy every summer.  I love traveling and meeting writers. 

And then, best of all, are the readers who go along on my journey with me.  I love the readers who give me a hug at an autographing party because even though we’ve never met, they feel like I’m part of the family.  Sometimes, late at night, when I’m about to turn off the computer, I think about that reader out there waiting for my next book and I write an hour longer.

Thank you for inviting me.  May we visit again soon and until then, I’ll see you in fiction.

Jodi Thomas

www.Jodithomas.com  

Jodi thank you for all the wonderful information you have given us today I will await for your next visit.

Walk in harmony,

Melinda