With us today is Kally Jo Surbeck, well known author of For The Love Of...

Thank you, Ms. Surbeck, for being here today.

Thank you very much for inviting me.

Could you tell us please what inspired For the Love of ?

As are most of my stories...I was in the tub (my friends tell me I have gills and fins) and rather spacing when Mac (the heroine) started talking to me. Thought she had an interesting life...and there it started, thinking it was too cool not to share.

Where did you get the idea for a pair of Assassins?

She told me. Oh dear, that sounds mental.

Was there anything in particular that compelled you to tell their story?

She is (note the present tense) a very persistent character. I honestly tried to write the first three chapters in 3rd person...still have the hard copy around somewhere, and it wasn't as good as the 1st person. She pretty much said "It's all about me. It has to be 1st." It was a good call. On a side bar, not including her, I just loved the idea and was fascinated by the idea of the standardized judgment calls people make every day. All of the characters in the Luck Of The Irish series are what I call a little left of the law, in some fashion or another. And it intrigued me that the general person would make a blanket call that "all" assassins are bad, but what if, (I know the what if question nails me every time) what if, she had no choice?

I see from your website that you'll be doing an RT Signing in St. Louis soon. Can you tell us more about that?

I am incredibly honored and thrilled that my publisher Triskelion Publishing contacted me while I was at the 2004 RWA National conference in Dallas and asked if I would be interested to attend RT. This is my first RT convention, so being a newbie I honestly don't know what to expect. I hear great things, rave and wild stories about the parties and over and over again about the companionship and friendships formed. I can't wait. Love to see anyone who's going. If you're not sure check out the RT Convention website.

Can you tell us something about the Yadderwal Balance Series you have coming out with Triskelion Publishing?

The Yadderwal Balance series is a high fantasy series dealing with two planes of existence, the reality of dreams and the belief to see your dreams turn into truth. Thus far there are two books in the series...Sudden Fall was just released. Book II Whispered Promise is slated for January 2005. Depending on how well these books are received, there are possibly three more that can be included in the series.

Is there any reason you began writing series?

I began with a different series, my Such As These series. When I read, and I read a bunch, if I truly come to love and care about the characters I don't want to see the story end. I think that is where my desire to write series originated. I wanted to do a really good job sharing these people's lives with readers. And if I do my job well, you will care about them and want to know more. Since I love them so much, I guess I hope you all will too.

Was the initial story too large to be told at once?

In the Such As These series, yes. In the Luck Of the Irish ( For the Love Of...) series, yes. The Yadderwal Balance, not really. Not their story. Not the base story. The world is huge and has endless possibilities, but it's a shorter set up and therefore immediate.

Or do you just prefer writing grand, epic tales of love and lore?

Well ;-) I guess my critique partners would say you have me on this one. I really, really have a hard time with shorts. Again, I would have to attribute this to caring about the characters and thinking, but wait...there is one more detail. I know what my mind is like, and the amount of detail filtering through it at any given moment, then I read the "greats" (Not that by any stretch of the imagination that I think I rank on the same flip chart, but come with me on this) and the amount of detail that went into their inspiring, epic fantasies, and tales. The minute descriptions that conjure vivid pictures in your mind, complete with taste. The amount of detail they experience, put my overload to shame. But...LOL Back to the question. Yes. I love sweeping tales that you can sink your teeth into and savor…A book that wasn't just fast and forgotten…but lingers. Hopefully, I have created some of those works.

I also see from your website you have A Christmas Anthology coming soon. Can you tell us more about that please?

This is something I am particularly thrilled about. Seems weird, no? Especially after the last answer? This is, as you said, an anthology available this holiday season from Triskelion Publishing. My contribution is entitled Eternity. It is about the choices we make and how the effects can ripple through time. The heroine makes a poor choice that condemns her to immortality until she can rectify the situation. I enjoy this so much because it kick-started my imagination on the Fates. And I did way too much research on the three sisters of Fate, which has prompted another small series I am proposing. The Humanities of Fate. Hopefully it will be 3 small stories making up their own anthology.

And please, tell us about the Such as These Series that's upcoming from your wonderful world...

I don't know what all I can tell you about this. It is currently under consideration at TOR/Forge (hoping hoping). This is another High Fantasy series combined with action and intrigue. This is the series that I began my writing adventure with. These are the books of my heart, though I love all of my characters, Belle, Callista and Dolan hold special places in my heart...as do the heroes, (hubba hubba.) The first book is No Neutral Ground, Book II is Dishoner Bound, and Book III Vicious Pride. No Neutral Ground was an honorable mention in the 2004 Daphne du Maurier.

With all these works coming out soon, how do you balance your time between your wonderfully written worlds and your family and friends?

Whenever I am feeling a drain, I simply step back. I have a lot of obligations with my activity in RWA, CRW, HHRWA and my other affiliations that force me to prioritize a lot. My family does not hesitate to tell me "Hey! Now!" So, I do what everyone does..I try my best.

Is there any one piece of advice you'd give to other aspiring authors?

Don't ever give up - as GALAXY QUEST says Never Give Up. Never Surrender.

Is there any thing you do to keep motivated when you're writing?

I have lots of inspiring pictures. I burn CDs for each of my characters, soundtracks so to say. Of course knowing there is contract waiting is always inspiring.

And finally, if there was one thing you would have done differently in your career so far, what would it be...

I've had some ups and downs. Everyone does. There are things that I wish hadn't happened, however, without each and every one of them I would not be where I am. It all works to the right end. So, no.

Thank you Ms. Surbeck for being with us today. We look forward to your work coming soon from both Triskelion and Loose-ID.

Thank you very much for your time and interest! Hope you enjoy your reading.

Interviewed by: Mary