Moi, as a writer, especially one who leans heavily on dark
paranormals I really struggle to inject homor into my romances. ;) Lucy Woodhull,
the super-duper author who has agreed to share her debut release with us, does
it so seamlessly that in addition to laughing out loud while reading her book,
I really had a moment of writer-envy!
And that, my friends, is a high compliment ;) since, I personally
believe a book is meant for relaxation and if I can take that away from her
book—the entire credit and some more goes to the author, ie Lucy J
With those words, let me welcome Lucy Woodhull into the
spotlight! I hope you enjoy chatting with her as much as I did.
What steered you towards romantic fiction? And where do you
think your stories fit?
I’ve always read
romance and loved it. I adore a happily ever after! My first was
the Rosemary Rogers book Bound By Desire. I have no idea where I
got it, but it’s a filthy Old School to end all Old Schools and if my mother
had known I probably would be typing this from a maximum-security
nunnery. One thing I never found a lot of was funny romance, although I
think it’s more prevalent now. I grew up with a dad who loved Mel Brooks,
the Blues Brothers, Monty Python, and movies like Love at
First Bite. It’s really no wonder I developed a compulsion for rubber
chickens. If you only enjoy angsty heroes who sullenly writhe in their
tragic, sorrowful angsty angst, then I might not be the author for you.
But if you like an alien dude with a tail and a snappy comeback, then maybe try
Ragnar and Juliet.
Humor is a bit of a
red-headed stepchild in the romance world/publishing in general (perfect for me
with my Totally Natural™ red hair), so one of my goals is to make unrepentantly
humorous romances more popular. Sometimes at the end of a long, crappy
day you just need something to lift your soul, you know? And booze.
Booze helps, too.
Interesting history there, Lucy! I fell in love with Rosemary
Rogers too ;) And I’d rather snort with a romance novel than with booze! LOL!
Could you share your major milestones in your writing journey so
far? And what next?
Getting Ragnar and
Juliet accepted by Liquid Silver Books was definitely an amazing day.
The wonderful Tina Burns at LSB emailed me to accept the manuscript twenty-four
hours after I sent it, and the turnaround was so short I felt sure I was
getting a “don’t let the door hit your butt on the way out” letter. When
I read her happy email I cried and ran to my husband, who saw my face and thought
I’d had a rejection. Hmmm… maybe I should have let him “comfort me”
before I told him the truth…
Within the same month
I got my agent, Sorche Elizabeth Fairbank of Fairbank Literary. She’s
representing a humor (non-romance) work of mine. To have nabbed one of
the best agents for humor out there was amazing and baffling. I can’t
believe I get to play with the big girls! It’s been a great year.
What's next is more
romance, to hopefully get my humor book sold, and then, someday, to be able to
unleash a parody on the unsuspecting world. Bwahahahahahahaaa!
My secret, evil,
ultimate plan? To bring back the interrobang. Come on, publishers! What’s not to
love‽
I really had to google up interrobang! Don’t even ask me what I
initially assumed that as ;) And yeah, sometimes, I do have a dirty mind…
Congrats on getting the agent, Lucy! Hope you can sell your books and we get to
see many more on the bookshelves (both virtual and otherwise)
So, what are some of your writing tips and tricks?
Ha! It’s cute
that you think I have a “technique” besides grabbing the Cheez-Its and trying
to get my cat to stop sitting on the keyboard. My stuff is funny (at
least to me), so when the funny is not coming, I put the laptop down and return
later. If I have to think too hard for the joke, it never works.
I’m a 100% pantser. I could be the Queen of Pantsers. I am the
High-Poobah of Planning it Ahead of Time Sucks. I tried plotting for one
book – once I’d worked out all the details of the story I became bored and
didn’t want to write it anymore. I love having events unfold unexpectedly
in front of me, and have the characters naturally develop their quirks, tics,
and issues, plot and personal, they must to resolve.
I usually work from a
premise (female bounty hunter goes after a hot, innocent man, like in Ragnar
and Juliet) and then just start writing. After a while, even I have
to figure out a general direction for the book, so that’s when I open up a Word
doc and type nothing more than “this happens, then that happens, then they get
naked (yes!), then the other happens, the end.” This basic road map is
usually all I need. The other thing I’ll do is keep a list of plot points
and character arcs I must tie up before the end so I don’t forget. But
even then your beta readers can save you from a screw up. When he read Ragnar
and Juliet, my husband pointed out to me that, as it was originally
written, I’d accidentally blown up a bunch of innocent concubines.
Oops. That’s not very funny. Sorry, concubines!
The ever present pantser in me is nodding at what you’re saying,
especially parts about developing the characters as we write. I usually get
closed-mouth treatments from both H/h, if I try to get to know them before
their story comes J Oh, and I’m glad
you didn’t blow those innocent concubines up!
What are some of the most important things you have learnt as an
author that you didn't when you were a writer?
The biggest thing I’ve
learned since I began serious writing a few years ago is to trust my
voice. I’ve had people try to drown me in writing “rules.” Sure,
it’s important to study and learn what the preferred, current writing
techniques are and proper POV and such – you must learn them so you can choose
when to blast them to smithereens.
Not everyone is into
my kind of humor, and I can appreciate that. But I learned that when I
trust in what I’m doing, in what flows naturally from my (weird) brain, that’s
when I do the best and, ultimately, succeed. So my advice to the aspiring
author (am I not still one of those‽) is to learn it all,
know the rules, read the advice, get the critiques – but then decide which to
use and which to throw out because they don’t work for you. I hate
absolute “rules” in art. J.K. Rowling has multiple point-of-views that
switch with no warning in the first chapter of Harry Potter and the
Sorcerer’s Stone, and none of them are Harry’s. Rules can be
broken – telling a good story is what matters most. Love what you write
and others will, too.
Ah, that’s the perfect wisdom summed up in a nutshell! Aspiring
authors (like me), take notes here;)
Last, but not the least.. Writing vs social networking. How do
you find the perfect balance?
That’s a hard
one! You must get out there, but you must also get your ass in the chair
and write something. I’ve tried all the platforms and decided I can’t be
everywhere at once. So I mostly keep to my blog, Twitter,
and now Goodreads.
I just have fun and find that readers who enjoy my silly blogging about nothing
may also enjoy my books. One piece of advice: if you stand on a
street corner and try to sell romance that way, it doesn’t turn out at all
how you think it will. And never let a guy named Icepick be your agent.
Icepick..LOL! I never thought about it that way ;) Wonderful
perspectives, Lucy! Thanks so much for being a sport and being here with me
today!
Thanks so much to Ju
for being my very first interviewer! She
was extremely gentle, and I highly recommend her to other first-time… writers.
Aw, thanks so much for your kind words, Lucy J Honored to be
your first. I love having authors on my blog – a writer’s life can get very
lonely otherwise! So thank you!
RAGNAR AND JULIET BLURB:
Bounty hunting is usually so easy. Flash a little cleavage, mix a
roofie cocktail, and Juliet has her man right where she wants him: out cold,
ready to be swapped for cash. Her passions are freedom, trashy clothes,
and pie -- not necessarily in that order.
Hunky alien ship captain Ragnar doesn't deserve torture at the
hands of the psychotic king who hired Juliet; he liberated one of William the
Nefarious' illegal concubines. Juliet can't ignore such a noble act. She
doesn’t trust men, but this one, with the kindest smile she's ever seen, picks
away at her resolve to stay aloof and clothed. He's just so...nice! Crazy she
can deal with; sincerity is terrifying.
Before she gives in to her irrational urge to get a timeshare with
him (and his cute tail), they're caught by the bad guys. Ragnar disappears and
abandons her to her disgusting captors -- so much for togetherness. Perhaps
he’s not such a saint. Even worse, Nefarious William (who prefers
"Bob") has nominated her for Concubine of the Evening. This dubious
honor does not thrill her, and only a few hours remain before the king’s
mind-altering drugs obliterate her free will.
Sexual slavery might not be fatal, but Juliet would rather die. Of
course, the third option (run away to a beach and hump Ragnar silly) is the
best, if they can live that long.
And lovely friends, Just show Lucy some comment love and she’ll
pick a winner for hr book – Ragnar And Juliet. The book is fantastically
hilarious ;) And I bet you wouldn’t be able to put it down once you start
reading it. You can find her at : http://www.lucywoodhull.com
PS: Winner will be picked by Thursday and announced
on Friday! So comment away!
