Fallen Angel Reviews would like to welcome Carys Weldon!!

Hello Carys!! Thank you so much for taking the time to answer some questions for Fallen Angel Reviews. Would you please tell us a little about yourself?

Sure thing.

I suppose the first thing I should mention is that I’ve been married for over twenty years and have five children. Four girls and a son. I like to keep that upfront. Priorities really tell on a person, don’t they?

I met my husband in Nevada, and we lived there (halfway between Las Vegas and Death Valley) for eighteen years before moving to Missouri. Now, I live in a haunted hollow not too far from Branson.

I’m an animal lover, a wannabe artist, and a hopeless romantic.

Did you always want to be a writer and when did you write your first story?

I remember wanting to write as far back as first grade. I’ve always loved to read, and always thought up better endings to the stories I consumed. So, actually, it really was in first grade that I wrote my debut story. We made up our own little books, and illustrated them ourselves. Only, our teacher had us do rip-offs of our favorite story. Mine was about a spotted dog.

How did you feel the first time your work was published?

For a woman whose wordy, I kind’ve go speechless at the thought. I was dumbfounded, elated, absolutely grateful. After dancing around a little bit, and giggling ridiculously, I sent up a ton of repetitive prayers. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. (You get the drift.) I figured there had to be some divine intervention in it. Always give credit where it’s due, ya know?

Your work seems to cover many genres; Contemporary, Adult Fairy Tales and Paranormal. Where do the ideas for your stories come from?

I have the sixth sense. Muses. (I hear dead people.) ~laugh~ No, really, I am a firm believer in inspiration from outside sources. Which also includes music. I’ll listen to a song and think, ah, that gives me an idea. I’ll watch people at the grocery store and think, ah, I bet I can peg them on paper when I get home.

Of all of your published work, which story did you find the most difficult to write and why?

Oh, gee. Hm. That would probably have to be Tower of Loneliness and that’s mostly because I wasn’t quite sure what erotica was. It was my first effort at writing it, and I didn’t know how long to make it, or how much to put in. If you’ve read my stuff, you’ll see that I have a big range of length and content in my first seven novellas. That’s because I thought, “I’ll offer up a big variety and see what the editors like.” Big surprise to me, they liked it all. And the reviewers seem to like my stuff, too, so that’s all looking good, I guess.

I do know that most of my stuff is on the soft end of the erotica spectrum, and much more twisted in the plotting than regular romances, too. But I think there are a ton of people out there who like to have more going on in a story than JUST two people on a page, but want some real tease and fulfillment without too much crassness. You know, a happy medium between the mass and the porn.

Do you ever base any of your characters on people that you know?

(Laugh) Oh yeah. But the names are changed to protect the guilty. (Wink, wink) I slap personality profiles down, then change the physical features so you can’t blame the character’s bad behavior with a direct point to a friend or family member. Nobody’s safe.

I actually get a big kick out of writing stories, with a certain person in mind, then showing it to them and asking, “What do you think?”

I get all range of answers, too. Some will say, nobody would be that stupid. Others will say, I know exactly where they’re coming from. I just think it’s fun.

We can only assume since you love to write, you must love to read as well. What authors do you enjoy reading?

Ah. You know, that’s a tough question—because I read so much. In regular romance, I like Sue Ellen Wolfonder, Susan Wiggs, Kathryn Sutcliffe. In erotica? Hm. Extasy Books (my current publisher) has a lot of great authors. Just scam their list.

Are there any authors who have inspired you?

(Laugh) Robert Heinlein? Ray Bradbury? What can I say, I think they warped my little brain. Oh, and Anne McCaffrey. Twisted me right up with her dragonriders. Take me to Pern! I think that’s why I like to write fantasy. They opened up new worlds for me, and I like to go off world still, if that makes sense.

Can you tell us what you are working on now and maybe give us a “sneak peak” of your next book?

Sure. I’m in the middle of a story titled PACK CITY. It’s a sequel to my werewolf novella, Leader of the Pack.

It’s not your typical romance, in that it starts with a recap of the big scene from LEADER—so it takes a few chapters in to get to the ‘new’ romance. Those who have fallen into serious lust with the stars of the first in the series won’t be disappointed to pick up the sequel, because the story carries on.

I really struck out, though, and picked a character from the first book, Fera, who was born a wolf, raised a wolf, but is about to turn through the shapeshifting phases—hoping to go human. She has human emotions, and feels like she’s trapped in her wolf body. So, when she gets the shift, it’s like the big release. The whole butterfly effect.

There’s some insight to me there. I’m overweight, have these great fantasies of breaking out, emerging as the real me on some distant shore where preconceived notions don’t exist. This book is for people who long to be someone else—if only for a short time. Uh, and werewolf and shapeshifting fans, too, of course.

Do you have any words of advice for new writers who are trying to get their work published?

Yep. Set goals. Tell yourself, and others, that you are a writer. Then, get your backside into a chair and write something. Okay, do it standing up if you want. (wink, wink) Sometimes that’s fun.

You can’t be a writer if you don’t write, and write often. People will never know you’re a writer, if you don’t tell them. And the more you tell others, the more you believe it yourself.

And you have to send your stuff out. Let editors slash and dash you. I know one that bleeds all over my pages with her little red pen, but you know what? I am a better writer for that. And I’m more determined to show the world I ‘can do dis thang.’

I look around at all that’s being published and think, some of it is good, real good. But some of it is absolute bunk. I say, some of you ‘great closet writers’ should get jiggy and toss your stuff into the ring. Ya wanna talk about it? Email me. I’ll pump you up. Did I mention that I do motivational speaking? I’ll pack my bags and come speak to any writer’s group.

Is there anything you would like to add to this interview?

Just that I appreciate the opportunity. Thanks for having me—and an interest in my books. I hope you’ll check out the new things I have coming. There’s a couple of vampire books slated to be released in the next couple months. I think fans will like that.

Thank you so much for answering my questions, Carys! I have enjoyed the opportunity to speak with you. I wish you the best of luck with your upcoming books!

If you would like more information about Carys Weldon and her books, please visit her website at: http://www.carysweldon.com



Interviewed by: Jennifer