Please help me welcome my friend Leslie Ann Sartor to my blog today. Leslie Ann is giving away a copy of either of her books to one lucky commentor so be sure and leave her a comment.
What inspired your latest book?
Stone of Heaven came about when my husband showed me a newspaper article about a blue Jade roadway discovered in Guatemala after a hurricane uncovered part of it. And one of my all time favorite movies is Romancing the Stone, if you’re a romance writer, how could you not identify with Joan Wilder as she cries while writing the end of her novel!
Anyway, I first wrote a script, not at all like RTS, but the woman, actually women, are twins and one of this is the protagonist.
Then I realized it would make a fun read, so wrote the novel. Yikes, what a difference.
I’ve always known novel and screen writing were two beasts, I used to do lectures on it, but this one was hard.
What is your favorite part of writing?
The excitement of a new story. That unfortunately wears off fast, and the hard work sets in. Then, believe it or not, I love rewriting. That’s where I can add the texture of the location, make my characters hurt, love, make mistakes and still have a happy or at least satisfying ending. Yup, love rewriting.
What is your next project and when will it be released?
STONE OF HEAVEN is due in January. Set in the Yucatan, it involves a reclusive woman (Tori Carswell) whose twin (Abby Carswell) is an adventure-junkie and this time gets into trouble she can’t extricate herself from.
Reid Hunter, Abby’s ex-partner, turns out to be the only person Tori can find to help her save her sister from the Mayan God whose blue jade Abby wants—it has special powers and is worth endless amounts of money. This Mayan God also wants to enslave mankind and it’ll take the combined power of the twins, and a few other things, like missing Jade amulets, to make that happen.
Naturally Reid Hunter is very interested in helping Tori save her twin if he can get the jade.
So there is a lot at stake…lives, love, money and hey, even mankind!
What is your typical day like?
Well, I think I’m pretty darn lucky. I got to retire early and write and play. I get up at around 8, (but go to bed around midnight.) I read the digital newspaper on my iPad, then hit the computer around 9. I’ve had 2 cups of coffee by that time. Then I try to settle down to write, but usually check email etc. Then write for a couple of hours, and by 1pm I like to be done. Afternoon is for playing…relearning the piano, taking a walk , scrapbooking, photography…all the things I didn’t have time to do before.
Evenings…sometimes I write, or work on social media. Or my DH and I watch a movie (still writing screenplays, you know, so it’s research ) or we cook a recipe (trying all sorts of food and we cook together.)
How has your experience with self-publishing been?
I couldn’t be happier. I could sell more books But I know it’s a process and it takes time. Having additional titles out will help tremendously. I proud to be Indie Published and I have a blog all about it.
www.anindieadventure.blogspot.com
Indie Publishing about more than just putting your work out there. It’s about learning what works on covers, and for marketing to name a few.
My blog is about all that and the latest news and interviews. And it’s not just about writers, I want to interview Indie Filmmakers and Indie Musicians.
What advice do you have for other authors wanting to self-publish?
Get an editor!!!!! Honestly, we’re not doing ourselves and the industry any good if we put, excuse me…crap…out there. Get your book in the best shape it can be at that moment and then put it out.
Cindy has been a tremendous mentor to me as far as guiding me through some of the processes. Find someone whose been there and ask for help.
Ask me. I’ll help as much as I can. And there are a lot of yahoo groups that you can join that offer tremendous support.
IndieRomanceInk@yahoogroups.com is an amazing group and has provided lots of support for and by indie authors to other indie authors
What’s next for you?
I have a huge number of stories to get out, honestly I can’t write fast enough, and I’m trying to learn to be “retired” it’s not easy.
I’m working on a new romantic comedy screenplay called the Prince of Granola and I’m going to write the book as well. Since Stone of Heaven is a series, and you’ll see why when you read it there are more of those books to write. I have an old manuscript my buddies are dying for me to update and that I think will be my next book out, it won many awards as a manuscript, so it’s time. Betrayal Of The Trust. Summer of 2013
Here’s a good question for you all. Notice how I italicized The in the title…it’s an important difference in the book an agreement, the trust” has been broken. Do the italics make a difference to you in how you perceive the title?
Betrayal Of The Trust
Or
Betrayal Of The Trust.
Cindy, thank you for having me here today. Fun questions and I hope you all enjoyed my answers.
If you leave a comment, I’ll include you in the drawing for a free book. Your choice, Dare to Believe, or Stone of Heaven (in January).
A Happy, healthy and successful 2013 to all of us.
BIO
Leslie Ann Sartor, Screenwriter
When I was writing romantic suspense novels, I was certain I’d found my calling. But I had never quite been able to rid myself of the dream I had as a little girl watching Disney movies–to create magical moments up on the big screen.
So I took screenwriting classes, sure I was chasing a hopeless dream, after all I now lived in Colorado, not California.
Then came an unexpected request; could I write a romantic movie based on a true story? YOU BET! And I was contracted to adapt a non-fiction book, Mother of the Pound, into a big screen romantic epic, Cry of the Dove—a story of faith and love built around the ethnic struggle in Iraq during the turmoil of WWII.
I’ve truly found my passion and am living my dream. To create stories on paper that translate into magic on the screen.
Hi Leslie Ann,
What romance reader is not a Romancing the Stone fan? Lovely to find out that you have written something in that venue. Sounds like fun. As for the title, too bad the italics didn’t come through. Not sure it would make a difference since adding THE is a key factor in the title. Good question though! Best of luck with the book. 🙂
Hi Jessica,
Hmmm, odd the italics didn’t come through. Blogs are so funny (read irritating) that way. I’m always fighting that on my blog…anyway, thanks for your insight, I’m hoping you’re right. There are a few books out there titled Betrayal of Trust!
~ciao
LA
Amazing! So proud of you, L.A. and glad you’re finally getting to enjoy (work your behind off) during your retirement. Great advice about the editor. Everyone needs one. Waving hi to Cindy!
Hi Donnell,
It’s funny to say retirement. I’m way too young to be retired…but that’s the way my job classified me 🙂 as I left, so I will be “retired” from that part of my life.
Life is busy…how did I ever have time to work, even part-time?
You have a new book coming out soon, can’t wait to read it!
~ciao
LA
Hi Cindy,
Thanks for having me here today. I enjoyed answering your questions!
It looks like Stone of Heaven will be a February release, I had requests for 3 scripts and had to put aside the edits on the book. I hate not making a deadline, but when an opportunity comes up like that one, you have to jump.
~Ciao
LA
Hi Leslie Ann,
I’m so glad that you are here with me on my blog today. I hope you get lots of comments and have lots of fun.
Sorry about the italics not being in. My fault. I should have checked more closely. It is now italicized.
Oh, thanks Cindy. I think it’s the blog’s formatting fault, not yours 🙂
Leslie, what a wonderful interview. Did you ever think retirement would demand more from you than working everyday?? Well, you’re still working everyday…you know what I mean : ) Dare To Believe kept me turning the pages. I know Stone of Heaven will, too.
LOL, I read your comment on delaying the release date of Stone of Heaven due to requests for THREE scripts. Way to go!!!
Cindy, thanks for the great interview!
Audra, I know, isn’t that cool about the scripts? You just never know. All fingers crossed for them.
Yeah, I do know what you meant, it’s so funny. Now to learn how to relax and make the time to do so.
Thanks for the compliment, DTB was a fun book to write, then rewrite AND REWRITE, but it got better each time 🙂
Sounds like a great topic! And a super book!
Hi D’Ann,
Thanks! Action Adventure is fun to write, but a challenge to get the romance in and not ruin the action just to have a kiss or …. 🙂
That’s why I love Indie Publishing…I can make it work my way and then hope you’ll all love it even if it doesn’t fit neatly into a genre.
By the way, Cindy is going to talk about her Indie Journey on January 9th, on my blog
http://www.anindieadventure.blogspot.com…don‘t miss it.
She’s been a great help navigating me through some of the tricker Indie waters.
Good to see you here, LA. I’m still convinced “Hollywood” is everywhere. Never give up the dream!
Lisa,
Never! It’s a promise I made to myself long ago and still tell myself when it gets rough.
Oh, both sound fun to read. My friend writes scripts and I don’t envy him at all. More power to you for writing the script THEN changing it into a novel! WOW!
Wishing you lots of luck with your coming release~!
Jesse,
Thanks for the good wishes. I hope it works the way I want it to. It’s finally coming together, the romance and the action adventure…but it took awhile to remember it wasn’t a script and that my characters did get to internalize 😉
Best of luck with the screenplay I can’t wait to hear more about it!