Sunday, January 6, 2013

Getting To Know Sharon Clare

Today, I'm pleased to host the lovely and talented Sharon Clare on my site. She's from Canada, and has graciously agreed to spend some time with me this morning. And, as if hearing more about her novel, which is set on a tropical island isn't enough for me on a snowy Ohio day, she's offering a gift to one lucky commenter on the blog! Here's Sharon!

Before I answer Becky’s wonderful author questions, I want to thank her for having me as a guest today.

1. What is your current project about?


Rhapsody is a paranormal novella, released from Crimson Romance on Dec. 24, 2012. The blurb describes it best:
Isabelle plans to escape the real world when she takes a tropical vacation. But escape becomes too real when Paradise Resort disappears. To win her freedom, she must break an oath and out-play her opponent in a game of seduction. Her self-control is resolute until her traitorous body decides this is a game she wants to play.
Jonathan’s needs are simple: break down Isabelle’s resistance, win the game, and get back to the real world where an emergency waits. Desire grows between them as each roll of the die reveals secrets, truths and skin, until Jonathan is forced to confront his worse fear or forfeit Isabelle to the dark mastermind of the game.

2. What’s your favorite part about writing? Least favorite?
My favorite part about writing is getting to the final draft of a story. This is the polishing stage, when I know my characters best and start to feel better about the writing. I enjoy this micro-editing, trying to write fresh sentences, toning up the plot and adding tension where needed.
My least favorite part of writing is the beginning, the rough draft. Even though I work on my characters before I start to write, they feel flat to me until I’m well into the story. My rough drafts are not pretty. Lots of he saids and she saids and just getting a story down. I have to remember it will get better.

3. Why do you write romances? Have you ever written in any other genre?
I write romances because I love the interplay of romantic relationships, the dynamics of men and women working together. Characters have flaws, but ultimately they’re desirable people, nice to have in my head. Romance feels good. It’s a fun genre to spend time in, and with so many sub-genres, there’s lots of variety. I would have a hard time living with characters suffering the emotional angst that’s common in literary fiction, besides I don’t have a literary voice.
The first manuscript I wrote is historical, a love story between an Anishnabe man and a French-Canadian woman. I cut my teeth on this story, but I didn’t write it as a romance because I wasn’t well-read in the genre. Honestly, when I learned that romance is the best-selling genre and the one where it’s possible for mid-list authors to make a living, I began to learn how to craft a romance. I had a lot to learn.

4. Have you ever written a character based on someone you know?

Yes, I wrote a short story based on my mother, something I would like to revisit one day and expand into a novel perhaps. My mom suffers dementia, and she lived with my family for a time, a pretty brutal time actually. One day as we stood in the kitchen together, she said, “I can’t find myself.” I thought that was profound and true to my writing nature, I used her words as the title for the story.

5.  Where do you rank in the family hierarchy?

I’m the oldest of three. I have two brothers, 4 and 6 years younger.

6. Are you a dog or cat person?

I have both, but always considered myself more a dog person. My cat, Dave, became so ornery in his old age he began attacking the neighborhood dogs when they dared to walk by our house. He’s now both notorious and leashed.

7. Sun or fog?

Sun absolutely. Nothing better than its heat on my skin.  

Thanks again, Becky! For more information on Rhapsody and my first paranormal romance, Love of Her Lives, please visit: www.sharonclare.com

To thank your readers for visiting today, I’d like to offer the chance to win a small travel gift since Rhapsody takes place on a tropical vacation. Please leave a comment with your email address and tell us what games you like to play on vacation, and I’ll randomly select one commenter.


16 comments:

  1. Sharon, I enjoyed your post. I agree with you on so many points about writing. The rough draft is the most difficult for me because I don't know my characters well enough. Sometimes I do edits on the first half so I understand my characters better, and then plug through to the end.

    When I'm on holidays somewhere tropical, I like to walk along the beaches and pick shells. Not into games unless it's cards in the evening.

    Since I won previously from you on another site, please don't enter me in your draw. I so enjoyed reading Love of Her Lives. Looking forward to reading Rhapsody.

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    1. Thanks for visiting, Carol.

      I do the same thing, go over the first half, putting flesh on my character's bones.

      I'm a shell/stone gatherer myself. I have stones from every place I've visited, some sit in bowls around my house. It's interesting how different they can be.

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  2. Nice interview! Sharon, I was so touched by what you said about your mother. That is a very poignant statement she made, and I would love to read that novel some day.

    I differ from you and Carol in that I find the first draft the most fun. It's when I discover the story, when it comes alive!

    I am definitely intrigued by "Rhapsody," and wish for you the success that I am certain it deserves.

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    1. Thank you for your kind words, Mary. I know what you mean about the first draft being fun. I need to get over my self-critiquer and enjoy the first drafts more, believing it will get better.

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  3. Lovely interview Sharon, it's always so nice getting to know fellow authors!Bless, your poor mum, "I can't find myself" and you too, not nice to hear from someone you've always looked up to. I agree with MJ too, I find the first draft the most exciting, finding out where the story is taking me. Good luck with it all!

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    1. Cait, it really is a horrific disease. For a long time it was too emotional to write about, but I think I could do it now.

      You and Mary are making good points. There can be fun in the first draft!

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  4. I love interviews like this one. Add in the tropical flavor and you have a book I'll have to add to my TBR list.

    Games on vacation? My guess is you're not referring to body shots. A normal game would be dominoes. I love that and backgammon. A regular deck of cards can offer multiple games, or a deck of Uno, which is easy enough for other travelers to pick up.

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    1. Oh no, Tricia, body shots would probably fit into Rhapsody rules just fine.

      I used to play backgammon and Uno a lot. My kids recently brought Cranium to the table and that's a hoot!

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  5. Hi Sharon
    I'd like to tell you I finished Rhapsody a couple of days ago and when I get a moment I'll be writing a review on Goodreads. It was great fun and though, I don't usually read romance, I'm glad I read yours for its human quality. Funny to say that about characters who shift from wolf to human!
    I keep learning new things about you and your writing. Keep up the good work.

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    1. Lol, Elaine, and thank you. The human quality is the important part to me. No wolves in Rhapsody though! Not that there's anything wrong with wolves :)

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  6. hey sharon. great interview, eh? i just had my brother and his wife visiting from new york for two weeks and it was non-stop boggle, rummy, upwards, poker and perquackey. we tend to switch between cards and word games. they've gone home now and i'm back to staring at my 3/4 written ms and groaning. my favourite part of writing is where i find out how the story ends and then can go back and edit to fill in the foreshadowing.
    good luck with rhapsody!

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    1. Yes, Nora, I do love that part of writing.

      My daughter is visiting tonight and brought a couple new games. Shhh, I snuck away. Better get back.

      Thanks for visiting!

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  7. I think finding the genre you want to write in is like deciding whether you want to study jazz or classical on an instrument - a combination of aptitude and interest. I agree with you, though, that the interplay between men and women has so many possibilities it makes the romance genre a lot of fun to work in. And you know, Rhapsody's near the top of my TBR pile...
    ;)

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  8. Thank you, Liv! I never thought of genre that way, but that makes sense. It's great to be able to try different sub-genres under the romance umbrella, something I hope to do.

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  9. I read the whole interview but what I retained is...

    Is Dave leashed for real? What a riot! LOL

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  10. Sharon, you may not write literary novels, but your voice drips with lyrical quality many a literary author would envy. And how can we not be drawn to at least some sub-set of romance, when love is such an integral part of our lives?

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