BEVERLEY Bateman

Guest Author of the Month

I'm very pleased to introduce our next Guest Author for this month. She is Elaine Cantrell. I hope you enjoy meeting Elaine and learning a little about her.

Elaine Cantrell

BEVERLEY: Can you tell me a little about yourself?

ELAINE: I’d be glad to.  I’m married to a wonderful man whom I met the summer after I graduated from high school.  We got married three years later and in time had two wonderful boys.  They’re married now and have given us three beautiful grandchildren, a girl and two boys.  My husband and I are animal lovers.  We own two cats and a nice brown dog, just a mutt, but she’s great anyway.  At present I teach high school social studies at our local high school.

BEVERLEY: How long have you been writing and why did you start to write? 

ELAINE: I started writing in 2002 after my son wrote a book.  I figured if he could do it so could I.  Nobody liked that book, but I wrote another which I submitted to a contest sponsored by Oak Tree Press.  I won first place and Oak Tree published my book, A New Leaf.

BEVERLEY: I know you write contemporary romance. Do you write in any other genres?

ELAINE: Actually, I’ve written one sci fi/ fantasy romance and one inspirational romance.  I have a publisher who’s reading the inspirational romance right now. 

BEVERLEY: Tell me a little about The Welcome Inn. 

ELAINE: Julianna Martin is the manager at The Welcome Inn.  When it came on the market she tried to buy it, but a contractor called Buck Abercrombie bought it instead because the bank wouldn’t give Julianna a loan.  Buck has a good reputation in the community, but his brother doesn’t.  Travis was convicted of blackmail eighteen months ago, and some of his reputation has rubbed off on Buck. 

Naturally, Julianna isn’t inclined to like Buck, but truthfully he isn’t inclined to like her either.  After a failed marriage, he’s scared of intimacy.

They need each other, though, because strange things have started happening at the Inn.  Julianna’s apartment is broken into, and someone tries to kidnap her.  Together, they’ll face danger in some very unexpected places and with some very unexpected results.  I have a video trailer for the book at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fn_bb3s4UiY

BEVERLEY: This is probably a question most people ask - but what comes first for you - character or plot? 

ELAINE: Usually the plot.  I’ll get an idea that appeals to me, and from there a character takes shape.

BEVERLEY: What's your biggest challenge when writing - hooks, sagging middles, other? 

ELAINE: Definitely sagging middles.  But no, it might be saying goodbye to my characters.  I always hate to let them go.  In fact, I so fell in love with one set of characters that I’m planning a three book series featuring those guys.

BEVERLEY: Do you have a routine for writing? And if you do can you share it with us? 

ELAINE: My summer routine and my winter routine are different because I’m a teacher, but a perfect work day is when I get up around nine and have a nice breakfast.  Then I check my email, and afterward I write until lunch time.  I’ll take a little break in the afternoon, and then after dinner I’ll write for another couple of hours.

BEVERLEY: How do you fit in reading, research, online lists, etc.? 

ELAINE: It isn’t easy to get around to everything, but I’ve found if I set a time limit on each activity I actually get more done.  It’s awfully easy to get sidetracked if you aren’t careful.

BEVERLEY: What kind of books do you enjoy reading? And who are your favorite writers?

ELAINE: I enjoy almost anything.  The last couple of things I’ve read are the First Born Series from Karen Kingsbury, Deep Dish by Mary Kay Andrews, Home to Holly Springs by Jan Karon and Gulliver’s Children by Linda Ambrosia. 

BEVERLEY: Do you spend much time marketing? And what do you feel works best for you? 

ELAINE: Marketing is something every author has to do, but frankly I don’t do it as well as I’d like.  I’m a shy person by nature so promoting myself isn’t easy for me.  I think blogging is helpful as are online chats, but as far as I’m concerned nothing is better than the personal touch.  A few months ago I sent postcards with pictures of my last two book covers to everyone I could think of.  I generated a lot of buzz and made some sales too.

BEVERLEY: For all those aspiring writers out there who are looking for that magic formula - do you have any suggestions for them?

ELAINE: Read books published by your target publisher.  You need to know what they like.  Be prepared to edit the book, but don’t let it be edited to the point where it isn’t your story anymore.  That takes all the pleasure away.

BEVERLEY: What do you do for fun and relaxation? 

ELAINE: I enjoy reading, quilting, spending time with my grandchildren, getting together with my friends, movies, and trying new restaurants.

BEVERLEY: Is there something about yourself that you'd feel comfortable sharing with your readers that maybe, not many people know? 

ELAINE: Hey, my life is an open book, but not too many people know that my older grandson has autism.  It’s a day to day challenge for the entire family, but we all love him and want the best for him.

BEVERLEY: Thank you Elaine, for a fascinating interview. Find out more about Elaine by visiting her at http://www.elainecantrell.com/ or the Wings ePress website http://www.wings-press.com/.

BEVERLEY: Next month we'll be talking to JD (Dave) Webb who writes cozy mysteries for Wings ePress, so please come back and check out our next author of the month.

Publishers, agents, and fans. Contact BEVERLEY by clicking here.