Interview with Cait London, Romance Author

Please welcome author Cait London to my home. I met her at Lori Foster's Readers 'N Writers' Get Together in Cincinnati this past summer which I enjoyed immensely. Please be sure to ask her questions and leave comments for her and maker her feel welcome. Cait, please tell us about yourself.

As a mass-market and well published writer of 23 years and almost 70 books for various publishers including Dell, Berkley, Harlequin and Avon Books, I have read many, many books of all kinds, fiction and non-fiction. Typically, I've read other authors between writing my own stories. Like others, I find that reading material so much like my own causes interference with my own stories.

What kind of stories do you like to read?

Energy and good writing style, plus the story, will draw me to a book. Because my books are constantly edited while in progress, I tend to mentally edit those I read. If the technique is poor, the sentences long, the story without sensuality, leaving only graphic display and no connection, or bond between the protagonists, I am unable to finish the story. So as a writer/reader, if the writing style is poor, that disqualifies it as something to take my time, when there are other more worthy reading projects. Also as a full time writer for many years, I guard my time closely, reading only that which interests me.

What publishers have you written for? What type of stories do you write?

I have written many Desires, many of them in reprint, all over the world. In those books, when the word count was low and the pages fewer than single title, I wrote about sensuality, the sparks between the protagonists, and developed a relationship all within a plot. In single title now, there is more room to develop that relationship/bond.

Do you have advice you'd like to share with aspiring writers?

I recently spoke with a new writer, who did not understand the sensuality preceding lovemaking, such as the stroke of a thumb along lover's cheek or eyelashes, the consideration of how their hands fit together. I am not ready, as a reader, to leap into a story that is only graphic material. I want the feeling, the kinship, in anticipation, and the knowledge to know that these two protagonists may possibly have a common and unique bond between them, that they share with no one else. And when they do make love, they are making a commitment. Plus, I need a real plot around which to weave the romance. To me now, a good plot may outweigh the romance, and it's very difficult to construct a really good plot. Remember that a book is constructed by the writer, built from tiny nuggets that expand slowly into a story.

Where can we find out more about your books?

Hopefully, my books contain the above. You can find a list of them and my current releases, front list and backlist, at http://caitlondon.com. In 2008, A STRANGER'S TOUCH is already on the stands, the second in my psychic triplet trilogy. The third, and the conclusion of the trilogy is FOR HER EYES ONLY, an October release.

Where do you get inspiration for your stories?

Where do I get my ideas? From everywhere. My psychic triplet trilogy is a direct reflection of myself as the mother of three daughters, their relationship to me, and their relationship to each other, and how the family weaves together as one unit. As twins have been proven to have a connection, triplets also have that same sensory and mental attachments. Imagine how difficult it would be to have a romantic session, with your very psychic sisters, and perhaps your mother, latching on to the emotional and physical stimuli? This is why the triplets need to live miles apart, in fact in different states. AT THE EDGE, Claire the empath's story, is set in Montana. A STRANGERS TOUCH, Tempest who uses her psychic hands, is set in Michigan, near the lake. FOR HER EYES ONLY is set in Lexington, KY, Bluegrass country. I visit all of the locations of my books, and have visited these.

What are your interests and hobbies?

As a writer, I am interested in almost anything that energizes me. My interests include computers, photography, I am an artist, canning/making jam, cooking, herbs, gardening, graphics, Internet networking, etc. I am a professional and a full-time writer, so all of these activities, including what transpires in my life, my family, are usually found reflected somewhere in my books. It's said somewhere, that to be a good writer, you cannot sit behind a desk alone; you must get out and experience life. And I do.

Do you have a daily routine and if so, what is it?

My daily routine is the same as when I held at day job, many years ago, and at the same time with the single mother with three daughters. When new writers tell me that they have no time, because of job and family, I say, "Make time. You only get out of it, what you put in."

I get up very early, maybe four or five o'clock, make coffee, and sit down at the computer. With ongoing ad work, it is important to attend to networking, such as e-mail, and ad work, such as designing my own website, blogs, and generally keeping threads in the communication on a business, personal, and advertising nature moving consistently. After that, I usually work on my stories, either building them from the ground up which is important, or writing the scenes. In publishing, there is a terrific amount of business for the writer, i.e. copy edits, sales conferences, galleys, agents, and ad work, so all that is within a writing day.

How do you feed your creativity?

Again, a writer's maintenance of their creative time and the energy is essential. I have never attended that many conferences, or been on the conference trail consecutively. I do travel, have personal retreats, and research trips, to get away from behind that desk and pick up new story ideas. Internet presents excellent PR opportunities, and most writers, including myself, find that very worth their time.

Please tell us about when and where you will be appearing in the near future?

I do have some book signings when a new book comes out, but did have a lot of fun at Lori Foster and Diane Casteel's Reader and Writer Event, where I met you, Ashley, and other lovely people. Currently, I am committed to a few book signings for FOR HER EYES ONLY in October, and my backlist will be there as well.

Is there anything else you'd like to share with your readers?

I hope you do visit my website, and while you are there perhaps subscribe to my e-newsletter.

You can find many of my articles and my interests listed and my website, (http:caitlondon.com) and my blogs, Cait London's Daily or Not (http://caitlondon.blogspot.com), The Second Cup (http://thesecondcup.blogspot.com) And My Jam Jar (http://myjamjar.blogspot.com).

CaitLondon.com AT THE EDGE on sale now A STRANGER'S TOUCH FOR HER EYES ONLY 10/08

You'll also want to see what Amarinda Jones, Anika Hamilton, Anny Cook, Barbara Huffert, Brynn Paulin, Bronwyn Green, Dakota Rebel, Kelly Kirch, Molly Daniels, Sandra Cox, Regina Carlysle, and Cindy Spencer Pape are up to, so make sure to visit them also. :)