BETH TRISSEL
Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing our CHRW Author of the month, Beth Trissel. Welcome Beth!
Please start off by telling us about yourself. Where you were born, where you are now? I’m right here, Lisa! *Waving. I was born in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley of VA where I’ve lived since middle school, with a stay in Taiwan and Tennessee in between.
Is there anything about your life that would surprise most people? Sure, but I’m not telling. J People who read my gripping novels might be surprised to know that I’m an armchair adventurer who likes the serenity and continuity of country life.
Please tell us about the stories you write. Journeys into the past filled with danger, adventure, and of course, romance. I also like to include mystery and light paranormal elements.
What are some of the ups and downs you have encountered on the road to publication? Not getting published for 12+ years was right much of a downer, but I had all that time to better hone the craft, so by the time I was published, I’d already completed half a dozen manuscripts and started several more. The biggest UP was finaling in the 2008Golden Heart.
What do you think is the key to a memorable romantic story? Memorable characters; a vivid setting can also impress itself on the reader.
Where do you get your story ideas? From dreams, historical accounts I’ve come across, even legends and lore. But ideas do just come to me sometimes.
Which of your books has been your most favorite to write? Red Bird’s Song, the book of my heart is not yet published, but has been all gone through AGAIN and is ready for my editor to read.
Red Bird’s Song, a Native American action-adventure romance, is the first novel I ever wrote, and rewrote and learned to write on--inspired by events that happened to my early American Scots-Irish ancestors.
Which character have you had the most fun creating? Rebecca in Through the Fire, love her fiery spirit. Will in Somewhere My Love, enjoy his dry wit.
Which character have you had the hardest time creating? None of them have been hard once I got to know them, but Tonkawa, the enemy warrior in Through the Fire, is by far the scariest. I fled my computer and bolted for tea breaks several times when he was in a scene, and I watched my back.
How many hours a week do you spend writing? Not as many as I used to and not as many as I would like. I vow this fall I am making great strides,
What challenges do you face in your writing endeavors? Making good progress in my WIP, my first Scottish time travel, which is taking me out of my comfort zone. Yikes.
What goals do you have regarding your writing? Finishing this darn WIP and then the next one after that…
13. How has success changed you? Promo eats up a lot of time. And someone is always asking me to read something for them. I try to be of help and encouragement to new writers, but can only do so much or will disappear up my backside.
14. If you were to write an Anthology, who would you choose to team up with? I have and am, a Christmas anthology with five other American Rose authors, due out this December.
15. Do you have any rituals you enact before sitting down to write? (i.e. say a prayer, shake a chicken bone at your computer screen…) I have to have the right music for whatever scenes I’m writing and a cup of hot tea, preferably Earl Grey.
16. Your parting shot or words of wisdom: “You are not finished when you lose, you are finished when you quit.” So keep on going.
*A big thanks and best wishes for your continued success, Beth!