Friday, December 28, 2018

Friday;s Guest featuring Joanie MacNeil #MFRWAuthor #BWLPublishing LTD #Romance


1.      Are you a pantser or a plotter or perhaps a bit of both?

In my early writing days, I was always a pantser, but these days I see the benefits of having a framework to carry the story elements. I don't see myself as a dedicated plotter. I tend to do a bit of both.  With Sweet Temptations, after completing the first few chapters, I was stuck on how to move the story on.  I wrote the last few chapters which helped me work my way through the middle. I already knew how I wanted the story to end.

2.      Which comes first - characters or plot for you?

It depends on the story. With some stories, the idea comes first; with others, it's the characters. There have been times when I've had two separate stories in mind - one has no more than a hero/heroine, the other is an idea. Though I tried to keep them separate,  the idea and the characters merged into one story. Desperate and Dateless is an example.

3.      What are you working on now? Is this a book in a current series or something totally new?

My current work in progress is set on the Sapphire Coast, and is a friends to lovers story, and a quest for forgiveness.  My characters each have to negotiate several emotional issues, including danger for the heroine. The burning issue is the hero’s awful secret; and the heroine has a secret of her own.

My local writing group, Canberra Romance Writers, plans to release a second anthology in mid 2019.  I am in the early stages of planning a story for inclusion in the anthology.

4.      Do you have some kind of object or place that figures in most of your books? I use gems a lot, hospitals and caves.

Three of my novels are set on the Sapphire Coast, along the far south coast of New South Wales.  The area is known for its clean beaches and clear water. From Canberra, where I live, it’s a three hour drive over the mountains, or a six to seven hour drive from either Sydney or Melbourne. I began writing my first novel while staying in that area.

I was an executive assistant for most of my career which influenced the settings for The Trouble with Natalie and No Boundaries.

5.      Do you write every day or just when the spirit hits?

When I’m on a roll, I write almost daily and stay focused. Sadly, I can’t always keep up the routine due to other distractions which absorb time and energy. My intention to write is always there. I hope to do better in 2019.

6.      Where can we find you?


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