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C.L. Wilson Contest and Q&A!
C.L. Wilson has made quite a name for herself in the past few months. Her two releases, Lord of the Fading Lands and Lady of Light and Shadows are the most talked about books this year. C.L. has opened up and given a very honest opinion about writing and not being afraid to ask other well known authors for advice. Perhaps she will even come by this week to answer any questions you may have. 
You've become quite the shining star with Lord of the Fading Lands and the sequel, Lady of Light and Shadows. Could you have ever imagined the wonderful response and incredible reviews for these two books?
No, really, not at all. The response has been overwhelming, so much more wonderful than I could have imagined. The outpouring of welcome from so many readers all over the world has both amazed and humbled me. I’m so glad I had this chance to tell a story that connects in such a good way with so many people. Literally, in the last two months, every writing dream I ever has come true, and I can hardly believe it.
With all the interviews, signings and writing you do, you must be exhausted! How do you relax? Do you write in your PJ's with a pot of coffee by your side or are you more the type who writes at a desk for hours at a time?So much to do, so little time! Plus two books to write for next year. It’s been quite a challenge, but also the most exciting year of my life. Relax? What’s that?! LOL. I do still get up at 3am to write, because that seems to be the most productive time of the day for me. Now, though, I get to take a power nap in the day to recharge. I mostly write at my desk…and I have to walk to the coffee pot, but I do keep a cup at hand. There’s something about a warm drink that just goes so well with writing. I switch to herbal tea in the afternoon – and occasionally a glass of red wine. When I get stuck, I’ve found that a change of environment really does help me get the story going again, so I’ll move to the living room where I can look out over the pool into the oak trees, which is very relaxing. And now that fall in coming and Florida is getting cooler, I look forward to doing some of my writing outside on the lanai. I still try to keep evenings for family time, though when deadline approaches, pretty much all the time is work time.
Congratulations on becoming a USA Today Bestseller with Lord of the Fading Lands. Is that something you were hoping to achieve? Does winning awards and making book lists matter?
Thanks so much. Yes, LORD hit the USA Today on its first week in print, which shocked me to no end! Was I hoping? Dreaming maybe. I do dream big *g*. Still, I wasn’t expecting it at all, and when one of my friends emailed me to break the news, I cried. LOL. I’ve discovered that I cry when my dreams come true. When LADY made #26 on the extended NY Times and my fourteen year old daughter screamed in threw her arms around me, I cried again. LOL.
Do the lists matter? I honestly haven’t had time to assimilate yet. I’m still working on deadline, still a mom and wife, still 10 minutes late everywhere and forgetful unless I put notes to myself in my PDA! I don’t feel any different than I ever did. I’m excited, of course, and extremely relieved on my publisher’s behalf (and mine) that the books are doing well. They took a big risk, and I’m so very grateful that risk seems to be paying off for them. I do think the lists matter from a publicity, promotion, and sales perspective, because the velocity gets people’s attention. As for awards…Ha! You’re talking to a contest Diva. As all my friends know, I’m incurably fond of awards especially those that include bling *vbg*
Is it true you were a critique partner to another best selling author? How did that come to be and inquiring minds want to know who the author is!
Actually, I critique with a number of people, both published and unpublished, including two bestselling authors, Christine Feehan and Betina Krahn, both of whom are very dear friends and terrifically talented novelists. Christine I tracked down in true fangirl fashion years ago after reading Dark Desire (still one of my top five favorite books, and always will be). Betina I accosted in the Dallas airport after RWA a few years back, LOL. Christine just hit #1 on the NY Times this year with her Drake sisters’ novel Safe Harbor, and Betina won her first RITA award from RWA for The Book of True Desires. I am over the moon for both of them!
Now, I want to make clear that when I laugh about tracking Christine and Betina down…I’m talking about meeting them to tell them how much I loved their work. Ultimately those meetings turned into friendships. The CP relationship came much later, and it grew out of the friendship.So for anyone looking for a CP, please don’t misunderstand. I’m not advising you go find your favorite author say, “Hi, I’m Jane Doe, let’s be CPs.” (Do not be the cheeky guy in the Knotting Hill movie who asks the Julie Roberts character for her autograph, then asks her if she wants his phone number so she can call him for a date.) The best way for critique partnerships to work is to find someone basically at the same level of writing you are, and help each other to grow in writing skills together. That’s why it’s a partnership. Because if you’re in it to take and have nothing to give back, you’re just using the other person and there’s no way the partnership is going to last.
I’ll also say, if you’re in an RWA chapter, and your chapter’s published authors offer advice and give workshops, listen to them. Ask them questions. Pick their brains—as long as you don’t become a pest about it. And if they raffle off critiques or offer contests judged by your chapter authors, ENTER. Don’t just focus on the pubs either. There are many tremendously talented unpublished writers out there, too. In fact, the ones finalizing in all the contests are probably soon-to-be published authors just waiting for that magical nexus of “right book/right time/right editor”. You never know who is going to be the person with that one piece of advice that makes everything finally click into place for you. Published or unpublished, romance writers are, on the whole, incredibly giving people, and most will be willing to help if asked politely. Just don’t abuse the privilege.
Do you mind being considered a fantasy romance author? Or would you rather not have your books be labeled?
No absolutely I don’t mind. I read fantasy and romance, I love fantasy and romance, and the Tairen Soul books are a combination of fantasy and romance. I do, however, hope that people who don’t typically read fantasy might find they enjoy it, and people who don’t typically read romance might find they like it as well. And I hope straight historical romance readers and contemporary paranormal romance readers will also give the books a try.
One of my sincerest hopes is that the success of the Tairen Soul books will open up the field and encourage more writers to write and more publishers to buy fantasy romance novels because fantasy and romance are my two favorite genres and I would love to see more great stories out there from other authors.
How did you come up with the places, people and terms for your novels?
Elfin magic.
LOL, okay, seriously, it’s just something I do, something I’ve always done. I’ve always been a world builder, always created my own words for things, always had fun playing with words and sounds and putting them together in unusual ways. The world building techniques – in particular the idea to include poetry, a created language, etc – were inspired by Tolkien and a few of my favorite fantasy authors. As for names, I collect them and have for years. I have files and files filled with names and their meanings – and just names for those I make up or can’t find a meaning for. I’ve even asked readers with interesting names if I could add their name to my collection for future use. Three or four of those will be featured in King of Sword and Sky because I thought they were so wonderful and unique.
Even though Thanksgiving has come and gone, what float would you like to see in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade?
Ha! A big, black purple-eyed, fire-breathing tairen! Was there ever any doubt?
This week we are giving away both Lord of the Fading Lands and Lady of Light and Shadows!
Just come up with the answer to this question:
C.L. wrote her first story based on a sitcom. How old was she and what was the name of the sitcom?Send your answer to aarblog@gmail.com. One winner will be chosen at random from all correct entries submitted by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, Thursday night, November 29, 2007. (Unfortunately because of high postal rates, we can only ship to US addresses.)The winner will be announced here and notified by email on Friday, November 30, 2007.
Hi Kate,
Thanks for the warm welcome and for having me this week. I'm happy to
answer any questions anyone may have.
Cheers
Cheryl
C. L., I finished "Lady of Light and Shadows" yesterday and just loved it.
You managed to push almost all my buttons for things I like to see in a
book. I'm a fantasy reader first and a romance reader second and I thought
you managed a perfect balance between the two. Thank you so much for such
a lovely read. I'm in New Zealand, so can't enter the contest, but be
assured I would if I was in the US. I read your books from the library and
want my own copies. I'll be budgeting for them after the Christmas
craziness has settled down. I'm really looking forward to next year's
books. Thank you.
P.S. I do have a question. How do you pronounce Ellysetta, as I can come
up with two possibilities and would like to know which one is right.
Kerry,
I've tried several times to answer but none of the responses have been
posted. Trying again (this time without choosing the "create and account"
option.)
Would you ever co-author a book with Christine and Betina or any of the
other authors you are in contact with? Also, can you see this series going
on indefinitely? Congrats on all your successes and I can't wait for book
number 3! I love Rain :)
Hi C.L., love this series, both for the fantasy and the romance. Going to
be hard waiting until next year.
Hi Megan,
Would I ever co-author a book? If you mean, would I be likely to
participate in a project where several authors work together to produce a
single story (ie, plotting, writing, revising the same book together), that
would be an interesting project but its not something I see as likely in
the foreseeable future. (Believe me, writing my OWN stories is keeping me
busy enough *g*) If you mean co-author a series, or write separate but
connected stories together in an anthology, that's a more likely scenario.
I would love to work with fellow writers I've read and admired through the
years--especially when it involves the brainstorming/worldbuilding part of
the process - which is ALWAYS more fun with friends :)
Pam P ~ Thanks *gg* I really am sorry for the wait, but I hope you'll find
the end product worth it! :)