Let
Us Welcome
Collette
Cameron
Author of:
Thank you so much for
inviting me here today!
Rad-Reader: Where did your
idea for this story come from?
Collette: I introduced Isobel Ferguson
and her sweetie, Yancy in my Castle Brides series, but at that time, I didn’t
know they would end up sweethearts.
It wasn’t until I wrote
TRIUMPH AND TREASURE (Highland Heather Romance a Scot Series, #1) before I
realized they’d be perfect for each other.
I wanted both Isobel and
Yancy, flaws and all, to be characters readers adored.
Rad-Reader: Why would Isobel the character like to argue
with men but take the word of a woman instead of asking Yancy the truth?
Collette:
Isobel foolishly assumed she
was being told the truth, and as some women are wont to do, her own
insecurities kept her from confronting the other woman.
Isn’t it so true that hindsight is so often clearer, but when characters are in the middle of
something, their emotions keep them from seeing what’s right in front of them?
I think challenging men in
areas that were generally considered off limits to women intrigued Isobel, but
when it came to affairs of the heart, she let doubt guide her, much to her
regret.
Rad-Reader: I would have thought Isobel knew Yancy’s
intentions were real when after the escape from the castle. She didn’t?
Collette:
Even though he rescued her,
and she wanted to believe him, he hadn’t proved himself yet.
Rad-Reader: I couldn’t tell whether Isobel’s brother,
Ewan, liked Yancy or not?
Collette:
Even though he and Yancy are
chums, he knows Yancy’s been a bit of a rake.
Rad-Reader: Is their going to be a book about Harcourt,
Yancy’s friend?
Collette:
He’s one of my absolute
favorite heroes!
Rad-Reader: What made Yancy continue to pursue Isobel
after all of her rejections?
Collette:
Rad-Reader: What was the reason behind Yancy feeling like
he needed to get married all of a sudden?
Collette:
Isobel was his first choice.
Rad-Reader: I enjoyed your book, this is the first one of
historical Romance for me. Did you have
to study language of the time clothing, food – to make the stories appear more
real for people? Or Not?
Collette:
I do research almost
everything from clothing to food, to colors, to word origins, to forms of
address. Even which plants and animals were native to the setting.
Rad-Reader: What is your process for writing? An outline or have you been writing for a
while now and the stories come easier?
Collette:
Three or four stories
into my writing career, I started
completing a character questionnaire for my hero/heroine as well as a
goal/motivation/conflict chart.
By doing so, I was forced to
really get to know them. I frequently stray from those initial thoughts, but
they give me a place to start.
By the time I’d written six
books, I started writing a brief summary of what I thought the story might look
like. Again, I had basic plot points that I wanted to hit, but didn’t stick to
a firm outline or beat sheet.
I’ve tried a beat sheet for
two stories and ended up moving away from it entirely because of the direction
the characters took the story.
Rad-Reader: The lead female in this story Isobel is a
strong female, even besting Yancy at Chess.
Is all of your leading female characters in your books strong like her?
Collette:
I try to let the character
tell me who she is, and I want to be as true to her personality as I can be.
Rad-Reader: How long were you writing before you had a
published book?
Collette:
Rad-Reader: Did they sign or buy for one book or did you
have a series already written and you pitched the series?
Collette:
Rad-Reader: Was there anything special that you did or
bought for yourself when you got your first royalty check?
Collette: I had my daughter take a
picture of me with it and then I took my family out to dinner!
Rad-Reader: How do you come up with your characters for
your stories do they come first or the story?
Collette:
My stories are mostly
character driven. I might have an idea or a partial idea for a story, but
before I fully explore it, I decide on characters.
That’s especially true of my
series where I’m introducing secondary characters who will have their own books
later.
Rad-Reader: Have you ever traveled to Scotland and
visited the Highlands?
Collette: Not yet, but I have a trip
scheduled for summer 2017!
Rad-Reader: Do you base either of your female or male
characters on anyone you know? Or do you
just come up with the personalities as you write?
Collette:
Occasionally, I’ll create a
secondary character and afterward, realize they are much like someone I do
know.
A few times, I’ve had
readers insist I modeled a character after someone but that isn’t true. I never
set out to do that.
I will tell you though, I’ve
written four minor characters into stories that were people I was ticked at.
They may have suffered a bit!
Rad-Reader: What led you to get into writing historical
romances?
Collette:
I read my first historical,
a Barbara Cartland book, when I was just thirteen. A friend gave it to me to
read. I truly fell in love with the genre, though, when I read THE FLAME AND
THE FLOWER by Kathleen Woodiwiss.
As is true of almost all
authors, we are readers first, and so when I finally decided to explore
writing, I naturally started with historical romances.
Rad-Reader: If your books was made into a movie who would
you want to play…
Isobel:
Lord Ransbury:
Collette:
Isobel:
I adore Charlize Theron
http://strayhair.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/snow-white-huntsman-braid-crown-hairstyle-charlize-theron.jpg
or
Isobel:
I adore Charlize Theron
http://strayhair.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/snow-white-huntsman-braid-crown-hairstyle-charlize-theron.jpg
or
Jennifer Lopez. Her coloring
is closer to Isobel’s.
Lord Ransbury:
Patrick Dempsey would make a
great Ramsbury!
Rad-Reader: What is your next project and when is coming
out?
Collette:
That’s the final Ferguson
sister, Seonaid’s story.
Rad-Reader: Where can our readers buy your books?
Collette:
My A Waltz with a Rogue
Novella Series and Conundrums of the Misses Culpepper are available at most
major vendors.
Rad-Reader: Where can our readers find you on the Web?
Collette:
Website:
http://collettecameron.com
Amazon
Author Page: http://amazon.com/author/collettecameron.com/
Newsletter:
http://tinyurl.com/regencyrose
Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/collettecameron
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/collette-cameron-bestselling-award-winning-author-66717a60
First one
to follow us and say, “You Rock Collette!” on our Facebook
Page and the goes to Collette’s Facebook and follows her and says
the same Wins Our
signed copy of Virtue and Valor.
1 Rad-Reader Link: https://www.facebook.com/booksreviewedauthorstoo/
Collette,
Thanks so much for being with us. You took precious time out of busy schedule to be with us and for that we are forever grateful. It was funny to hear hubby reading your book because he would be reading and then all of a sudden you would get a burst of laughter. I would say now what happened. He would fill me in on another thing Isobel had done to poor Yancy. All Hubby kept saying was he wasn't the one that said it. Then continue reading. So, ladies and gentlemen I know you both would get a kick out of this book. I gets you riled in so many ways. Be sure to hit up Amazon you won't want to miss it. Thanks again Collette can't wait to see you and your son at next years conference. If not sooner. Thanks again,
Char & Pat.
Thanks so much for inviting me!
ReplyDeleteThank you <3
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