1. What were you in your
life before you became a writer? Did this influence your writing?
I did many things before settling down to write: from gymnast to actress in France, studying spirituality in India, traveling the world, even martial artist, tour guide, and surfer in Hawaii. I always wanted to write, but thought I needed more life experience as fodder for my writing. My first novel published (the fourth novel I completed), ASHES FOR THE ELEPHANT GOD, reflects many of my experiences in India, although the story itself is fictitious.
2 Are you genre specific or general?
I write in many genres, from straight speculative fiction to contemporary romance and medieval fantasy, with everything in between, including adventure, suspense, legends, and shape-shifters. I like all my stories to have satisfying endings, where justice prevails, and the heroes get their just rewards. I hate it when an author makes me love his characters, then kills them at the end. No offense intended, Arthur C. Clark. I have a few series in Medieval Fantasy and in Sci-Fi Romance, but even in a series, each book has a satisfying ending. I also hate it when an author ends a book on a cliff-hanger, just because it's a series and they want you to buy the next book. It's a dirty trick. I would never do that to my readers.
3. Did your reading
choices have anything to do with your choice of a genre or genres?
Absolutely. I write what I love to read. Before writing novels, I was an avid reader since the age of three. Science fiction was my first true love as a teenager, because it creates new worlds for me to step into. I also liked detective stories, and thought I might write one someday. I love legends, anything mysterious and intriguing. I also thought some science fiction novels were too dry, too technical, and missed the emotional element female readers crave. That's why my science fiction novels include a romantic element, and usually a few cats for good measure.
4. What's your latest release?
ASLEEP IN SCOTTSDALE, a contemporary romance, came out from Books We Love Ltd in September 2015. It's a billionaire in jeopardy story, with a bright heroine physician, greed, intrigue, and a little suspense. I like to mix it up.
Also in 2015, BELOVED CRUSADER, Book 6 of the Curse
of the Lost Isle medieval fantasy romance series came out, from Books We Love
Ltd.
5. What are you working
on now?
Next for me is DAMSEL OF THE HAWK, Book 7 in the Curse of the Lost Isle series, another standalone story based on Celtic legends. Set in the Middle East during the Crusades, it involves a Fae with a curse, who is forbidden to love. The hero is a barbarian of the steppes, a Kipchak warrior, and it is a medieval fantasy romance. I am enjoying the writing and the research, and I truly love these characters.
6. Where can we find
you?
Vijaya Schartz
Blasters, Swords, Romance with a Kick
http://www.vijayaschartz.com
Amazon - Barnes & Noble - All Romance eBooks - Smashwords - iBooks - Kobo
Blasters, Swords, Romance with a Kick
http://www.vijayaschartz.com
Amazon - Barnes & Noble - All Romance eBooks - Smashwords - iBooks - Kobo
3 comments:
What an interesting life you have led, Vijaya. Makes mine look quite boring. And like you I hate books that do not come to a satisfying conclusion. Makes me think, "What was the author thinking?"
Thanks, Tricia. But my life is interesting only in intense episodes, with a lot of not much happening in between. That's when I write. LOL
Guys, Thanks for stopping by. I'm the one with the boring life not the pair of you
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