Today I am speaking with Mila Ramos.

Woohoo, hello Mila! And welcome to Fallen Angel Reviews! It is great to have you with us today. Thank you for taking time out of your busy day to answer questions for us. The readers would love to hear something about Mila Ramos.

Woohoo to you!! Thank you for this opportunity!

Mila, you have such an intriguing website and I noticed that you have some releases with Midnight Showcase and quite a few other releases for 2007, would you like to share some of your projects with us today?

For 2007, I have quite a few projects. It’s exciting how these stories will come about and can’t wait to write them.

For Midnight Showcase I have the following:
Jan 07 – Blue Noir Digest: Reel to Real
May 07 - Strange Desire’s Digest: The Watchers
July 07 – Faery Tales & Fables: The Seventh Legend
Aug 07 – Glass of Infinity (Novel)

I’m waiting to hear back about the submission of a few other projects scheduled for this year as well as 2008 with Midnight Showcase, and a couple other e-publishing houses but right now these are the big ones.

Where do you get your ideas for your stories?

Goodness, the ideas sometimes just come about out of the blue at times. Sometimes they’ll come to me as I’m studying or reading a book. Sometimes it’s a TV show, a book, the Sci-Fi channel, but mostly it’s just an idea that pops into my mind and just unravels from there.

What made you decide to start writing? Was it something that you always wanted to do?

Well the actual push into writing came from a friend, Waterfall Nagamoon, another writer. She had seen my poetry writing for some time and after much complaining and threatening, she asked me to try to apply for a contest being thrown by Playboy. It was based on the now released Jaded Beasts Series. I thought she was insane but I did it and I got my first story accepted, Prophecy of the Boar. From there, the writing was officially born.

Before then, I had been writing poetry privately. I even went as far as putting up some of my poetry up on Literotica.

Do you mind readers contacting you?

No I don’t mind at all. I like to hear from my readers. So please say hi!

Do you know how many readers/fans contact you?

I’m new to writing so I don’t know how many. But I do know when people have dropped by my site to read the material. I do wish though people would leave notes. Even if it’s just say ‘I was here’. Gives me an idea of who’s out there and what they like.

Do your fans' comments and letters influence you in any way?

I think it would, in certain aspects. I would like to know how they feel about certain books, characters, and the way the story was set up. Did it make them cringe, sigh, weep, want to strangle the characters? Those sorts of things help out.

Do you have a favorite comment or question from a reader?

Yes. There was one reader who made me laugh when they said that I knew just where to precisely stop the excerpt to tease someone. She was completely taken with the reading; the abrupt end of the excerpt drove her a bit nutty.

How much of your personality and life experiences are in your writing?

A great deal of my personality and experiences are in my writing, whether it is the main characters or the supporting characters. I tend to draw not only on them to develop areas in a character that might be intriguing but also fun to explore. My experiences have also been used to draw out an emotion from a character that can be rather profound. It could be a feeling I had at the time or a period in my life, I’ll use it.

Generally, how long does it take you to write a book?

Usually I try to make sure that within a few weeks I get a book done. If I’m really focused in writing a scene or finishing the book, it will take me a few days to write the book. If I give myself time, I’ll space it out to weeks or months. It is again through this time, the other ideas in my mind want freedom and their own fifteen minutes of fame.

Do you have a set schedule for writing or do you just go with the flow?

Yes I do. I am a graduate student as well, so having a set schedule is a necessity. I write for a good 2-3 hours a night. Though some days I just need to forget it and go with the flow. My peak times are after class or before I go to bed I’ve noticed.

What is your writing routine once you start a book?

I like to play music, or find a song that describes the book. The title is important to me, and it can tell you a great deal about the book. So I try to find some song, soundtrack, genre that would fit perfectly with the book. When I’m writing, that music helps the writing process in my mind.

From there, I need to envision the characters going through the motions. Getting into the characters head and really understanding their motives is imperative. It has its problems when the scene doesn’t flow smoothly from my mind to the page.

What about your family, do they know not to bother you when you are writing - or are there constant interruptions?

When I’m visiting my folks, they want to get me OFF the computer to do something else. My roommate has known me for a long time so she’s used to seeing me typing away. Interruptions I’m used to but overall don’t bother me. Unless there is a scene I can’t unravel, interruptions are usually helpful.

What do you do to relax and recharge your batteries?

Sleep, TONS of sleep. When I want to forget about writing, I’ll read a book or watch TV. Something that doesn’t involve creative thinking and it also helps when there is writer’s block.

Sometimes I like to go where people can’t find me and I can listen to the peace and silence. There is a pond in the area where assortments of ducks swim. They’re very adorable and watching them walk around, even take food from my hand can be quite relaxing.

What is your most secret indulgence?

I have quite a few, but buying Starbucks coffee with a little treat is the primary. I also like to splurge on a DVD, a new journal, or get a pedicure/manicure. It really depends on the moment.

Where would you classify your best vacation spot to just really relax and enjoy?

From the various places I have visited, I have so far enjoyed Lansdale, Pennsylvania. It is very quiet and tranquil. The times I have gone there, the weather has been gorgeous and I have felt relaxed up on my return.

Do you have a website other than www.milaramoswrites.com that you would like to share with your readers?

Actually yes I do. There are a few:

Second site- http://milaramos.xbuild.com
Blog- jademystique.blogspot.com
Forum– www.coffeetimeromance.com/board/forumdisplay.php?f=17

If you could compose a book with anyone living or dead, who would you choose, it doesn’t even have to be an author.

Anais Nin. She was the first erotica author I ever read and showed me that when you write, it should come from deep inside. A great many of my writing are Anais Nin inspired. She really got down to the core of what writing is, what it should be especially erotica/romance. I tend to really like her deep introspective view in to erotica/romance and life in general. “We write to taste life twice, in the moment, and in retrospection.”

Thank you so much for sharing time with us today, Mila. Anyone interested in reading more about Mila and her delightful books, please visit her website to read more about her great works. It has been a pleasure Mila, and I wish you the best with your writing. I know I am looking forward to reading your wonderful books.

Thank you so much as well and to those for reading my books. I hope to hear from you soon!

Interviewed by: Linda L.