Liz Talley

JUNE 2010

WG:      Welcome and thanks for stepping into my spotlight this month. To start off, please tell us about yourself.

LT:      Well, I was born in Chambersberg, Pennsylvania, but my parents moved back to Louisiana when I was one. So, I'm pretty much a Southern gal, raised in Minden, LA. I grew up a nerdy extrovert - when I wasn't cheerleading or being a social butterfly, my nose was in a book... a romance book. I married the only guy I ever kissed, went to Louisiana Tech, and graduated in English. I taught for eleven years and now stay home in my jammies. I have two boys, two dogs and two cats that I clean up after.

WG:      Let's talk about your own personal road to publication:
Is there some individual, group or event that you can point to as the catalyst/impetus that set you on the road to becoming a writer? Explain.

LT:      I first started writing after I read one of Julia Quinn's books. I remember thinking "If I were going to write a book, I'd write one like that." Then I thought, "Hmmmmm..." And I started. I wrote a Regency historical with no clue about what I was doing. I finished the book and then wondered if there was a person who could help me learn about publishing. Turns out there was a RWA chapter in my own town. I joined and gained so much support. Don't know what I would do without the terrific people who've showed me the ropes and been my cheerleaders. People like Winnie.

WG:      Tell us about your journey.

LT:      Oh, jeez. Not as long as I imagined and then longer than I thought. Confused? Yeah, me too. I started writing Regencies and had some success with it. I finaled in some contests, got a few requests that didn't lead to much, and managed to final in the Golden Heart. But somewhere along my path, I discovered a small town, Southern voice that I loved. I wrote a book based on a silly idea that one of my chapter mates gave me. I pitched that story at my local conference and then started several rounds of revisions before my editor ultimately bought it. In between revisions, I wrote another book, pretty much taking a gamble that this was the right road. It paid off when I sold book one in September, and then books two and three this past January.

WG:      How many books did you complete before you sold your first? Have all/any of them sold since?

LT:      Two Regencies that haven't sold. Oh, and one novella.

WG:      Can you tell us something about your experience in getting 'the call'?

LT:      It made me sick to my stomach. Thank God for my husband and Imodium. Haha. My editor, in the middle of the phone call, asked if she could call me back. She waited an hour before she returned my call, and the whole time I was on pins and needles. It was terrible...but turned out to be wonderful. My whole family came over that night and we ate cake and drank bubbly. My mother made a toast in my honor. Very cool and very sweet.

WG:      How has being a published author impacted your life?

LT:      It's given me more confidence in my ability, but then again, I haven't had readers actually read it yet. That sorta paralyzes me a bit. I'm pretty tough skinned with my critique partners and contest judges. But somehow I feel a little vulnerable. But overall I am proud of myself and want to keep growing as a writer, so I've got that whole challenge myself thing going on.

WG:      What aspect of life as a published author surprised you the most - either in a good or bad way?

LT:      Nothing really. I think I was pretty well informed. I guess the only thing that surprised me is that I can't seem to hook an agent, but I'm not suffering from it.

WG:      What about your writing process:
Do you maintain a set schedule? Is there such a thing as a typical day for you?

LT:      I usually fix my coffee and start with email. Put out fires, check my blogs, and then start writing. I try to write from 7:30-11:30 Monday - Thursday. I try for "new" words in the morning. Often times I go over what I wrote each evening. I actually find myself pretty shrewd and creative around dinnertime. Maybe it's because I don't want to cook.

WG:      Do you set writing goals for yourself?

LT:      Yes. Have to. I usually set for around 5000 words a week.

WG:      Do you have a 'mood setter', something (music, ritual, environment, etc) you use to get you going when you sit down to write?

LT:      Never listen to music. It distracts me. I use it when I'm brainstorming or plotting only. If I have it on when I write, I start shifting my focus.

WG:      Do you do a lot of up front plotting before you start or do you just dive in?

LT:      I used to profess myself to be a pantser, but I don't think that's true anymore. In order to write two to three books a year, I must have a plan of action for my books. What I've employed lately is a character sketch for the h/h along with a GMC for both of them. I try to do a five or six page loose synopsis as a guide, but I feel free to deviate if I find my characters too stubborn about their set path.

WG:      Do you normally start with storyline or with character or with some combination of the two?

LT:      Combination. Sometimes I'm inspired by a secondary character, and I think, "Gotta write his/her story." Other times I'm struck by a problem or a scene that I just have to write.

WG:      Do you find certain themes or character archetypes making recurring appearances in your stories?

LT:      Yes. I like second chances. Or even third chances. I've not written a secret baby story yet. I'm convinced that I won't write one of those because I don't like those, but then again, maybe that will be my challenge - to write a secret baby story that I do like.

WG:      What do you see as your own personal strengths as a writer?

LT:      Dialogue, humor, and emotion.

WG:      Are there any obstacles/conflicts, specific to your particular lifestyle, that get in the way of your writing? If so, how do you try and overcome them?

LT:      Oh, yeah. They are called two little boys who are always hungry. And a husband who still sometimes thinks of my writing as my "little hobby." Add to that, a bunch of laundry, orthodontist appointments, church obligations, PTA chairs, etc and my time can be sucked down easily. But writing is a priority for me and often times I have to do some fit pitching to get that through thick male heads.

WG:      Is there anything else you'd like to tell us about your process?

LT:      Nope. My mind is a strange, wonderful place. Wish you could all join me there sometimes, but I'm thinking that you may be glad you can't.

WG:      Do you have a favorite sub-genre as a writer? as a reader?

LT:      I love writing what I'm writing now. It's satisfying. As to reading, I'm pretty eclectic.

WG:      Is there a genre you haven't been published in yet that you'd like to try your hand at someday?

LT:      Maybe women's fiction or mainstream single title romance.

WG:      Do you have any advice to offer writers still striving toward publication?

LT:      Don't quit. Set goals and visualize yourself achieving them. I believe in using visualization as a tool to get where you want to go. Of course, that cannot take the place of work. Still gotta put the fingers to the keyboard, still gotta submit, and still gotta grow as a writer. But picture yourself being successful.

WG:      Is there a specific 'ah-ha' moment you've had as a writer that you would like to share with us?

LT:      I can't really think of any off the top of my head. Maybe GMC. I scoffed at it a bit at first, but now I realize that the h/h have to have it present for the book to be satisfying.

WG:      Rejections, notes from unhappy readers and less than stellar reviews are all part of this business. What is your own method for dealing with these and moving on?

LT:      Ugh. Chocolate? Tequila?. On rejections I alternate between "Oh, yeah?!? Well, I'll show you, missy," and "Crud, I really suck."

WG:      Is there some piece of advice you received or bit of 'conventional wisdom' that you wish you had ignored?

LT:      Not really. I wish I hadn't listened so hard to contest judges, but even the bad ones gave me a reaction. I think I've mostly gotten good, well-intentioned advice.

WG:      What do you find to be the most rewarding thing about being a writer? What aspect do you struggle with the most?

LT:      I love getting into my story. Love my characters and love going through the story with them. I think it has made me emotionally in tune with the real people in my life.

WG:      When you're not writing, what do you do for fun or what is your favorite self-indulgence?

LT:      I love to shop - Target, boutiques, love children's clothing stores - love to spend money. Poor husband.

WG:      What would your readers be most surprised to learn about you?

LT:      Hmmmm....good question. I'm an open book. Not much I won't share, which can be a bad thing.

WG:      What are your favorite movies and/or TV shows? Why?

LT:      I like Dexter, Castle, Glee, The Tudors, The Office and 30 Rock. I really like clever writing and plotting. I think all of the above deliver.

WG:      I love to collect quotes, all kinds of quotes - inspirational, quirky, motivational, profound, etc. Do you have a personal favorite you'd like to share.

LT:      "If you can form it in your mind, you can create it in your life" Got it out of a fortune cookie, but it's my motto. I truly believe in myself and if life throws up a road block, I find a new direction to get me where I'm going.

WG:      Please tell us about your current project.

WG:      What inspired you to write this particular story?

LT:      I was fascinated with her. Intrigued by why she threw up barriers and blazed her way through life. I HAD to write her story.

WG:      What sort of research, if any, did you have to do? Did you stumble across any unexpected interesting/fun tidbits along the way?

LT:      My hero is a reformed gang member and he starts a rehabilitation center for gang members. I had to do a lot of research on Latino gangs in Texas. Very interesting and depressing at the same time.

WG:      Tell us about your upcoming plans.

LT:      I have The Way to Texas releasing in December and Kate's book (Untitled to date) releasing in January. Currently, I'm just beginning my fourth book which takes place in the same small town as the others. It will likely be my last there. And a secondary character (Bubba), another one of my favorites is going to get a gal in this one. He's so funny, so my mind is going crazy trying to think up the woman for him. Bubba will stay a secondary character. The hero is another guy appearing in all three of my books. He's the sleazy, town Lothario. I really wanted to write about a man whore falling in love. Brett is really a poet at heart and despises much about the life he lives. We'll have to see if he's strong enough to reclaim himself.

WG:      And before we close, tell us how your readers can get in touch with you.

LT:      Easy, peasy - liztalleybooks.com. I'd love to hear from folks!

WG:      Thanks so much for spending time with me and my readers this month. It was fun 'chatting' with you, as always!

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