Hi Kelly and thank you for speaking with us today. The readers would love to hear something about Kelly Wallace.

Hmmm…I guess the most interesting thing about myself is that besides being a romance author I’m a pretty popular psychic counselor on eBay and through my own website http://www.BackinBalance.us. Recently I was approached by a production company in Los Angeles about creating a talk/reality show that I’d be on. That’s really exciting! I know how Hollywood is and it may never happen, but just the fact of creating a portfolio and brainstorming angles for the show has been fun! And it finally forced me to take new pictures of myself.

Kelly I love your website. Tucson is really nice, isn’t it? I like your tagline...‘Sensual Romance Writer.’ I noticed you have quite a few publishers under your belt. Love Immortal, has a sexy cover, and is enticing.

We would love to hear about Love Immortal, can you tell us about it?

Tucson is a wonderful place to live and be creative. I truly love it here. I lived on the West Coast in Los Angeles for 32 years, then went to Baltimore on the East Coast for 8 years. I really missed the friendly people and fabulous food on this side of the United States!

And thank you for the compliments on my website. I did it myself. (Okay, with the help of templates, but I’m still happy with it!)

Although I have loved all of the books I’ve written--of course!--Love Immortal was one that I really immersed myself in. I tried to take a different angle on the common Vampire theme by making my hero a three-hundred year old virgin! In order for him to retain his powers of clairvoyance and telekinesis he has to remain a virgin. Although he has some fun with the ladies since he needs to feed nightly on their blood and partakes in a little oral play with them, he has never had intercourse. He was pretty okay with this until he accidentally hits a woman with his car one evening. He takes her home intending to heal her injuries since he has medical knowledge, but mostly it’s for the fact that he knows he’s met the woman of his fantasies and nightmares. The one woman who could tempt him into giving up his immortal life all for the sake of…gasp!…love? He thinks it’s ludicrous, but if you read the book you’ll find out just how much Leah Nolan tempts this very sexy vampire. It’s my sexiest book out there and I’ve had readers write to me saying they needed a cold shower…or two…after reading it. I guess that’s good? lol

Why not tell us how your day is once you wake and get motivated?

I wake up every morning around 6am and start in on my psychic readings. Once they’re done and I’ve answered emails, I try to sneak in some writing time. With three teenage daughters in the house, writing is my therapy and solace! Afterward we do chores around the house, cook dinner, maybe watch a movie or forensic show. I try to keep my life as simple and relaxed as possible.

Do you have any special rituals to help you get in the mood to write?

Every morning I light a candle and some incense. I have a Buddha statue on my desk and a salt crystal candle holder, along with a trilobite--all gifts from my loved ones. This little altar is my way of channeling energy for my day ahead. I’m not overly spiritual or superstitious, but this set-up makes me feel good and puts me in the mood for writing.

What part of the book do you prefer best, the beginning, middle or end, when composing?

I detest the middle! That’s where it’s too easy to let things drag. I’ve taken so much out of all of my novels in the middle because it’s just boring! If I had my way I’d just have the beginning and ends! Lol So, it’s a toss up between preferring the beginning or the end best. In the beginning the characters are being developed and you have those first hints of sexual tension. With the end, it’s all wrapped up into one happy package and the reader can take a satisfied sigh. But, I suppose the beginning is the most fun to write because it’s like starting an adventure and you aren’t sure yet where it will lead.

Do you have any bad writing habits?

Yes, not writing nearly as often as I’d like! As for bad habits within my writing, I seem to use the word “eyes” a lot. My editor pointed this out, even counted the number of times I used the word! It was a lot. Eyes are the windows to the soul and I tend to go overboard it seems.

Do you get along well with all your publishers?

Yes, I do. I do extensive study on a publisher before I submit any work. I go on Piers Anthony’s site and check them out there, and I talk to other authors who are with them and see what they have to say. And I won’t choose a publisher who puts out crummy covers. As you can see, the four books I have out right now have wonderful covers! My two favorite covers are for Love Immortal with Liquid Silver Books, and Cowboys Make Better Lovers with Linden Bay Romance.

I have two other books coming out through Liquid Silver very soon. A Bitter Pill and Looking for Mr. Right. (Just thought I’d throw that in! J )

If you were stranded on a desert island, what things could you not survive without?

I’d say my laptop, but how long would that last? I doubt they’ve installed chargers into palm trees recently! An interesting thing about this is I’ve often thought about, and even craved a time or two, being stranded on a deserted island. I had a list of things I’d take and here they are: An emergency kit that fits into a metal Band-Aid box. (Yes, they used to be metal way back when!), a world encyclopedia, pencils, and a thick tablet. That’s about it. I’d hunt for my own food. As long as I could read and write, I’d be happy.

What is the hardest part of creating a book? Surviving the editor? Promoting? The last chapter?

Promotion sucks really bad! I hate it, but who doesn’t? And in the day and age of ebooks, it’s hard to find out what works and what doesn’t as far as promotion is concerned. As an ebook author it’s like you have to justify why you chose this route. Too many traditionally published authors seem to think we’re not as good, but that’s a whole other story and not all authors feel that way. It’s not as easy to get book signings or get your book into the local libraries if people can’t just go to Barnes and Noble and pick your book up. You really just have to try different things and see what works best for you. Like most authors, I just want to write and have the book sell itself. Fat chance on that, right?

Where would you like to see yourself in three years?

I’d like to publish a mainstream horror/thriller novel with a traditional publisher, doing book signings, traveling around, teaching classes, having people actually recognize me. J. That would be great!

If you could go back in time, where and when would you go and what is the one thing you would bring with you?

I’d go back to my 20’s when I was writing the most, but I’d take a different husband back with me! Lol Really, I’m happy to be alive in this day and age and think that if I traveled back in time it would be really hard to fit in. I know I’ve had fantasies about knights, and pirates, and all that sexy stuff like a lot of people do. Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow has really bumped up the pirate fantasies! But let’s face it, everyone probably needed a shower and a dentist back then. Those fantasies are best left in my head! But in my 20’s I had enough energy to raise a family, work, and wrote daily. I’d love to have that energy again in my life, but with the guy I have now.

Do you have any indulgent behaviors one might find surprising?

Hmmm…I’m trying to think of things I can actually share with the public! Let’s see… I have an addiction to lotion. I absolutely can’t live without it and have at least 20 bottles of it between my house and Mike’s. Not very indulgent sounding, but I love the stuff! I also buy a one pound dark chocolate bar from Trader Joe’s a couple times a month and tear into that sucker. I loooove chocolate! Oh yes, and I love taking the bus. I don’t drive and don’t care too. Taking the bus is a lot of fun for me and my kids. I enjoy looking at all the “interesting” people who ride it. I always look forward to Monday’s because I go out with my kids and I’m sure to take the bus somewhere.

For Fun: What’s your favorite flavor ice cream?

Death by Chocolate, with Dove hot fudge. Mmm….If I had a choice between that or sex, I’d be hard pressed to choose!

For Fun: Camping in the mountains or going on a ski trip?

I used to camp all the time when I was a kid. My family would go to the mountains in Northern California for two weeks each summer. We would rough-it and then some! No bathrooms, had to bathe in the river, cook over a campfire, sleep in a tent. I loved it! I’m going skiing this February with Mike. It will be my first time, so I might love that too, though I really detest cold weather. Tucson makes me happy since it’s hot just about every day of the year.

Is this the only website you have or do you have another that you would like to share with your readers? http://www.kellywallace.com/

I have a few other websites:

http://www.BackinBalance.us. (My psychic site)
http://www.AuthorKellyWallace.com (My nonfiction author site still under construction)
http://groups.google.com/group/psychic-insights (My psychic Google group)

Thank you so much for sharing time with us, Kelly. It has been a pleasure and I wish you success with your writing.

Thank you for having me here today, Linda. I had a wonderful time and really enjoyed talking with you. It’s fun to get inside my head and talk about myself for a bit!

Interviewed by: Linda L.