Avalon Books - Author! Author!


	Read some interviews from past editions:
		Zelda Benjamin April, 2008
		Shirley Marks December, 2007
		Donna Wright December, 2007
		Carolyn Brown August, 2007
		Roni Denholtz June, 2007
		Tara Randel April, 2007
		Sydell Voeller February, 2007
		Sheila Robins December, 2006
		Ann Holt October, 2006
		Cynthia Danielewski July, 2006
		Patricia Azeltine May, 2006
		Jane McBride Choate March, 2006
		Kathryn Meyer Griffith January, 2006
		Mel Taylor November, 2005
		Kathleen Fuller September, 2005
		Tracey J. Lyons July, 2005
		Ludima Gus Burton May, 2005
		Holly Jacobs March, 2005
		Sandra D. Bricker January, 2005
		Kathryn Quick November, 2004
		Cheri Jetton September, 2004
		Heather S. Webber July, 2004
		Karl Fieldhouse May, 2004
		Shelley Galloway March, 2004
		Ilsa Mayr January, 2004
		Kathy Carmichael November, 2003
		Dorothy P. O'Neill July, 2003
		Joani Ascher May, 2003
		Patricia DeGroot March, 2003
		Nancy J. Parra January, 2003
		Barbara Meyers November, 2002
		Christine Bush September, 2002
		Debby Mayne July, 2002
		Jean C. Gordon May, 2002
		Charles E. Friend March, 2002
		Norma Seely January, 2002
		Glen Ebisch November, 2001
		Gina Cresse September, 2001
		John Paxson July, 2001
		Terri Alcock May, 2001
		Clifford Blair March, 2001
		Amanda Harte January, 2001
		Kent Conwell November, 2000
		Carolyn Brown September, 2000
		Annette Mahon July, 2000
		Marjorie McGinley May, 2000
		Jack Lewis March, 2000
		Amanda Harte January, 2000
		Joyce and Jim Lavene November, 1999
	Return to the current Author! Author! interview:
		S.J. Stewart April, 2008


Author! Author!: June, 2007
Click an image to learn more about these books. An Interview with Roni Denholtz


How long have you been writing and how long did it take to get published?
	I made up stories and acted them out with dolls, puppets and friends since I was very young. Eventually I started writing them down and even wrote my own “Nancy Drew” stories. When I decided to get serious about selling my work I began with short stories and articles and it took me a year to make my first sale—a children’s story. Later I began writing romance novels but it took me over 10 years, and the help of New Jersey Romance Writers, to sell one!
How do you name your characters?
	Naming characters can be either fun or frustrating. For example, in my second Avalon romance, Somebody to Love, I knew the heroine’s name would be Grace because her former-hippie parents were giving their children names of their favorite rock and roll singers. But it took me a while to figure out the hero’s name—I went through a baby naming book til I found the one that sounded right for him—Brian. For my new novel, Marquis in a Minute, I picked names that sounded appropriate for the Regency period—Andrew and Justine. I give my main characters names I like (except for the villains).
Where do you get ideas for plots?
	I usually start with an incident—something that happens—and then start to think how did the characters get into this situation, and where do they go from there? Sometimes I take something that happened and ask myself, now what if this happened, or that happened? For Marquis in a Minute I wondered what would happen if a nobleman suddenly inherited a title he didn’t expect, and how that would change his life.
What inspires you to write?
	I LOVE to write. If I don’t write during the week, I feel like something’s missing in my life. I think I was first inspired to write because I love books and storytelling. There’s nothing like an imaginary world where love conquers all and the villains are vanquished!
What’s the hardest part of writing?
	Deadlines. It’s both work and fun to write, but when you have a deadline staring you in the face, you have to write and revise in a certain time frame. Fortunately, I’ve done work for my local paper and for magazines and I learned quickly how to structure my writing time in order to get the work done. Even when I don’t have a deadline, I give myself one, so I can produce the work I believe I should.
What can you tell us about your latest book for Avalon?
	My latest book, Marquis in a Minute, is my first historical for Avalon—a traditional regency. I love reading Georgette Heyer’s and Jane Austen’s books, and always thought I’d like to try my own set during England’s regency period. It was a lot of fun to write!
Are you working on anything else for Avalon?
	Yes! This one’s another contemporary romance, like my first three books. It features a Latina heroine who’s a librarian and part time Salsa dancing teacher, and a handsome doctor who takes her class. And I’m planning another regency.
Do you have any advice for aspiring writers? Or for anyone wanting to submit to Avalon?
	If you want to write, get some books on writing and submitting your work, like Writer’s Market and books on the writing craft. There are good writing magazines being published too. Join writing organizations and meet other writers. Take writing classes at your local adult school or college (I teach one!) Most of all, sit down and write, don’t just talk about writing. And when the rejections come—which will happen at first—remember the motto from the movie “Galaxy Quest”—Never give up. Never Surrender. You have to persevere!