1. Do you write a single genre or do
your fingers flow over the keys creating tales in many forms?
Most of my books are western
historical romances but most also contain mystery, murder, or some form of
mayhem. I love it when my fingers fly over the keys creating whichever story is
my current WIP. I have also written two mysteries, a time travel, and several
contemporary romances. All of my books are set in Texas.
Do
your reading choices reflect your writing choices? Are there genres you
wouldn’t attempt?
My reading choices are eclectic. The
only genres I don’t read are horror, sci-fi, and true crime. I usually read
western historical, but I also like general fiction such as Daniel Kalla’s FAR
SIDE OF THE SKY, Susan Elia Macneal’s Maggie Hope series, and Sarah Addison
Allan’s books.
2. Heroes, Heroines, Villains. Which
are your favorite to write? Does one of these come easy and why?
For some reason, spunky heroines are
easier for me. I suppose that is because I can visualize myself as the heroine
more easily than the other characters. I give some of the heroines those
qualities and abilities I’ve always wanted. J At the same time, I enjoy writing heroes and
villains.
When writing the hero, I visualize
my husband (who I call Hero) and what he might do in the situation. Of course,
I enhance him by making him younger than he is and more like he was when we
became engaged. I also make him a little over the top ability-wise. After all,
he IS the hero.
With a villain, I think of people
who have caused a problem for my family or ancestors. Making a villain of
someone I don’t like is easy. J. A. Jance gave me that idea when I heard her
speak years ago. By the way, she is a funny speaker as well as a good author.
3Heroes. How do you find them? Do
pictures, real life or plain imagination create the man you want every reader
to love? Do they come before the plot or after you have the idea for the story?
Luckily for me, the hero springs into my head fully formed.
I see him as if he were in a movie in my head. My problem comes when searching
for a stock photo to convey him on the book’s cover. Very seldom does the cover
reflect exactly the image in my head.
4. Heroines. How do you
find them? Do pictures, real life or imagination create the woman you want the
reader to root for? Do they appear before the plot or after you have the idea
for the story?
Heroines appear at the same time as the hero. Usually, I see
a scene from the book playing out in my head. From there I plot the rest of the
book. Sometimes that scene will be the opening, or it may be further into the
book.
5. Villains or villainesses
or an antagonist, since they don’t always have to be the bad guy or girl. They
can be a person opposed to the hero’s or heroine’s obtaining their goal. How do
you choose one? How do you make them human?
First, a true villain has to be as strong as the hero and as
smart. Other villains, like the one in the book I just released, might be
insane and/or vindictive or some imagined or real slight. Gus Tucker, the
primary villain in WINTER BRIDE, falls into this category. He’s wily and sly,
and has slipped from mean to insane. To humanize him, he has to have a
sympathetic characteristic. This is harder if he’s insane, but the WINTER BRIDE
villain wants his son with him. In THE MOST UNSUITABLE WIFE, the insane villain
wanted to protect his family name by keeping secret that he had half-sisters
born out of wedlock. Of course, everyone knew about them, but the villain
didn’t understand that fact.
6. What is your latest
release? Who is the hero, heroine and or the villain?
WINTER BRIDE is my latest release. Kendra Murdoch is the
heroine, and she is the guardian of her nephew and two nieces, ages two to
eight. Sheriff Butch Parrish is the hero and is determined to capture Gus
Tucker and protect Kendra and the children. Gus lusts after Kendra and plans
also to kill her and his daughters, but to take his son with him.
7. What are you working on
now?
I’ve just begun THE IRISH TEXAN, a story of Finn O’Neill (a
secondary character in THE TEXAN’S IRISH BRIDE). Because he needs money to
purchase the ranch he wants, Finn agrees to work undercover in a Texas coal
mine and discover who is sabotaging operations. He’s not a fan of working
underground, which makes his job even more difficult. The heroine is feisty,
intelligent Stella Clayton, who’s the daughter of a miner and who wants better
things for her family than mining offers. There are multiple villains, so Finn
is blocked from all sides. Since he’s the hero, we know he’ll be all right. J
8. How can people find you?
Twitter
@CarolinClemmons (no E in Caroline)
Thank you for having me on your blog, Janet. I have several newer releases since WINTER BRIDE so I hope readers will check out my books on Amazon.
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