Author Interview: RRT: Why did you decide...

RRT: Why did you decide to write romance novels?

My own favorite author, Becky Lee Weyrich, urged me to write. We became friends after I sent her a fan letter years ago, and I would send her lengthy letters describing my travels. One day she told me she felt I could do this. My first thought was 'no way,' but she put a bug in my ear that wouldn't go away. She became my mentor and we are very close friends today.

RRT: Where do your ideas come from?

Always places. Places fascinate me. Since I have been fortunate enough to spend a lot of time in the British Isles, and still make annual research trips there, I definitely use my time there as the wellspring of my ideas. An atmospheric place captures my heart as nothing else can: it is as if the past still exists, just beneath the surface in such places, and when there, I 'listen.' Once a place grabs hold of my heart in this way, the hero appears with his story. Then the heroine. So far, all my story ideas have materialized in this manner.

RRT: How much of your personality and life experiences are in your writing?

Probably a lot. But I think this is true of all authors. I know I can see my writing friends' lurking between the lines of their books when I read them. My great loves are medieval history, the British Isles -- in particular Scotland -- and the paranormal. And I am huge on atmosphere, very easily captivated by a place's subtle feel. So all these interests guide me as I write. And being physically familiar with my settings allows me to 'go there' when I write, so I hope readers will be able to 'go there' as they read my books. So my travels are definitely one part of my life experience that I tap into when writing.

Personality is in play, too, I am sure: I am a great dog lover and always have a dog in my books. Mauger in DEVIL IN A KILT was based on a much-loved mongrel my family rescued when I was a young girl. His name was Spot. The heroine's little dog, Bodo, in KNIGHT IN MY BED is in truth my own little Jack Russell Terrier male, Em. Those who know Em, will recognize him. And I suppose bits of my own personality reflect in my heroines, too. I value understatement and I think this comes through in the things my heroines value. I shy away from flash and glitter. This trait can be seen in Linnet of DEVIL IN A KILT. Her worth lies deeper than a showy exterior, and I, too, value inner worth above outer beauty. Isolde, the heroine in KNIGHT IN MY BED, is similar. A practical example: my husband knows he can really please me if he gives me a nice gift certificate for a bookstore or builds a new bookshelf for my office. Such

things are more important to me than, say, a flashy piece of jewelry. Give me books and bookshelves above flash any day. I collect special rocks on my travels. Each one 'spoke' to me and holds a wealth of memories. They sit about my writing office and are, really, of no true monetary value at all, yet, to me, they are more precious than a closet full of flashy designer clothes and other such frippery. I can hold one stone in my hand and 'go back' to the place I found it. That is worth gold to me. So, those who know me well, will see this mindset reflected in my heroines.

RRT: How much do your books incorporate your real life experiences?

See above. I have actually been to the settings I use, so these experiences are definitely incorporated into how I portray the story world. Most writers, not all, but most, do not begin writing in earnest until they have spent a decade or two at some other, entirely different, career. So, I suppose most of us need those years to develop, ripen, and experience life, before we can create a real-seeming fictional world and characters. Many of the things I have done and seen are tapped into as I write. I think we all do this.

RRT: What do you think makes a hero attractive to a woman reader?

Ahhhhhh ....... the hero. My very favorite topic. In fact, I always think of my books as being the 'hero's book.' He IS the book to me, it all revolves around him. I am very old-fashioned, I suppose. I love the dark and sexy Alpha male. I think deep down most romance readers share this love. I think it is a deep, deep feminine trait: our attraction to a darkly handsome and wildly sensual, larger-than-life hero. And maybe we all secretly harbor the desire to have this hero, in the classic knight in shining armor guise, storm into our life and sweep us off our feet? Yes, that is what I love and how I want my heroes. And I think they can be made even more appealing if we give them a wee spot of vulnerability. Not too much, just a smidgen. Something that endears them to the heroine: beneath all their might and strapping good looks, a soft spot. Duncan, the hero in DEVIL IN A KILT, is about as handsome and sexy as I can stand -- boy, would I love to have him sweep me into his arms! -- but he has one little weakness: he is not a smooth talker. He gets tongue-tied and bumbles his words when he tries to express his emotions. To me, this makes him all the more appealing.

RRT: How may readers contact you?

Readers can best contact me through my website:
www.welfonder.com It has a form to join my mailing list. The form can be found under the 'Of Note' button. My email address is welfonder@msn.com And I have a post office box at:
P.O. Box 3246
Sarasota, FL 34230-3246

I enjoy hearing from readers and respond to all mail personally, though deadlines and the business side of writing might delay a reply a day or two.

Posted with permission from Romance Reviews Today. Copyright 2001.