What is one of your favorite things about writing?
I love writing seeing a story all the way through and writing “The End.” Of course, it really isn’t the end, it’s the start of the real work—rewriting and editing. But that moment of satisfaction when the first draft is completed is great.
When you’re brainstorming for a new story, what usually comes first for you, the plot or the characters?
I get a lot of inspiration from dreams, but they only give me the beginning of the plot. But as I write, the characters often start talking to me, and they fill in the gaps of the story. It’s their story, after all.
Are you a plotter or a pantser?
I’m a pantser all the way. When I start writing. I usually only have the beginning, the vaguest outline of a plot and what I want the ending to be. Everything in the middle is what I need to discover.
When you’re writing, who is more in control, you or your characters?
My characters. I often think I know where a story is going, only to find out I was wrong. And if I try to force the story to go the way I want it to, I end up with writer’s block. I have to figure out where I went wrong and start over again.
Oh, and the bit about knowing what I want the end to be? Sometimes I get told I’m wrong.
What are your favorite research resources?
I’m a computer geek, so naturally my first source of information is the internet. Wikipedia is a good, if not always reliable, place to start my search. If you are researching the right topics, Wikipedia will give you links to other sources as well. But I grew up in the pre-internet era, so I am quite familiar with using a variety of resources. (Remember microfiche? I’ve used it)
Would you tell us about your latest release?
Her Ladyship’s Ring was released April 14th. It’s the second book in the Oak Grove Mysteries. Harmony Duprie is back and so is trouble in Oak Grove. I’ve given Harmony the challenge of solving a murder while trying to figure out the mystery of her own heart. She’s a quirky character, and I have a lot of fun writing her books. When I started the first one, The Marquesa’s Necklace, I thought it would be a stand-alone book, not part of a series. Another case of my characters proving me wrong.
Here’s the blurb for the book: When a man is murdered in the back yard of the old Victorian house she is remodeling, Harmony is determined to help locate his next-of-kin so he can be put to rest properly. But with her ex-boyfriend Jake out of prison, back in town and one of the suspects in the murder, she takes on the challenge of solving the crime.
With Eli, her current love interest, in Florida and Jake close by, old emotions come back to haunt her. Can Harmony clear Jake’s name and solve the mystery of her own heart?
What are you working on now?
I’m actually working on two books. I’m about 15,000 words into the next book in the Oak Grove Mysteries, and 10,000 words into another Free Wolves book. (Paranormal Romance) I think I just needed a break from living in Harmony’s head, and one of the characters from Wolves’ Pawn has been pestering me to write her story. So I decided to switch gears for a little while.
Do you have an excerpt from your latest release you would like to share?
Sure do! With Jake, her ex-lover, back in town, Harmony is forced to confront old emotions.
We made it through the rest of supper without further discussion of my love life. But the snow starting falling again and Sarah started yawning like crazy, so we called an early end to the evening. Jake eyed me speculatively the entire time, so I shouldn’t have been surprised when he stopped in the doorway after letting Freddie and Sarah leave before him. “I’ll be right there,” he called after them. “Forgot something.”
I glanced around, trying to spot what he’d left behind. His duffel bag was on the floor beside him. “Did you leave something in the kitchen?”
“No.” He closed the gap between us and wrapped his arms around me. “I didn’t want to forget this.”
His lips were suddenly pressed against mine. As he leaned me backward, I wrapped my arms around his neck to keep my balance. Big mistake, because I’m sure he read it as a sign of encouragement.
I tried not to respond, but my mouth remembered all too well how nicely we’d meshed, and I think I kissed him back.
He chuckled, his lips still gently touching mine. “So you haven’t had sex with Eli yet.” It was more of a statement than a question. He allowed me to straighten, and I hastily dropped my arms and gave him a small push. He chuckled again and released me.
“Good night, Angel,” he said with a smirk as he picked up his duffel bag. “Sweet dreams.”
I closed the door behind him, locked it, then leaned against it. Shit. I was in so much trouble.
If the main characters in your latest release were invited to a masquerade party, what costumes would they wear?
A continuing thread in the Oak Grove Mysteries is ComicCon, and trying to convince Harmony to attend. The guy who keeps inviting her says she should go as Spitfire. (A little known character from the Marvel Universe.) He thinks it fits her personality perfectly.
And Jake, as the classic bad boy, would probably go as Fonzie. Jake’s a lot “darker” that the Fonz, but the face he shows to the world is very similar.
Would you share a favorite quote from your latest hero, heroine or villain?
In one scene, Jake and Harmony were discussing what, as kids, they wanted to be when they grew up. Harmony came up with this gem, ““Worse. I wanted to be a cowboy. Not a cowgirl, mind you, but a cowboy.”
Would you tell us about yourself?
Born and raised among the rolling hills of western Pennsylvania, I still find inspiration for my books in that landscape. I’m a computer geek by day and a writer by night who currently lives in the shadow of the Rocky Mountains. When I’m not in front of a computer screen, I might be found exploring the back roads of the nearby national forests and parks.
Where can we visit you online?
You can reach me at
Facebook https://facebook.com/pjmaclayne Twitter https://twitter.com/pjmaclayne
Google + https://plus.google.com/u/0/+PJMacLayne/posts
Amazon http://www.amazon.com/P.J.-MacLayne/e/B00HVE8WZI
My Blog: www.pjmaclayne.blogspot.com
Do you have any particular writing habits?
I write better when I’m listening to music. It helps me to block out distractions. My go-tos are classic rock and John Denver, but it depends upon what mood I’m in. I also prefer to be alone when writing. I hate getting interrupted when I’m in the middle of finally getting that one scene down that’s been eluding me.
If you could be any kind of shapeshifter, what kind would you be?
Both the hero and heroine in my paranormal romance are wolves. I know that’s the classic shifter, but I really like wolves. They’re intelligent and beautiful and have distinct personalities. They’re also good hunters and take care of their friends. I think we humans could learn a few things from them.
What is your favorite comfort food?
I make a great chicken and dumplings. High in fat and calories, but boy does it taste great on a snowy winter’s night. Next to that—chocolate. I’ve given up caffeine mostly, but I refuse to give up my chocolate.
You can buy Her Ladyship’s Ring at the following retailers. It’s available in either e-book or paperback formats.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00VQE31S2
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1121692446?ean=2940151639064
https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id982884469
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Thanks for letting me stop by, Kate.
Thank you for being a guest, P.J.!
Kate