Now that you’re writing fantasy, are you going to abandon historical romance?

What are the Fallen Angels books in order?

What are you working on now?

What about your older books? I’m having trouble finding all the Fallen Angels stories.

How long does it take you to write a book?

Where do you get your ideas?

Will you ever write stories about the Fallen Angels’ children?

I’m writing a romance, or at least thinking about it. How do I proceed?

Why did you have your historicals put into hardcover?

Will you be writing more contemporary romances?

While I would never say never, I have no more contemporaries under contract and I don’t know if I’ll ever write any more. While I’m proud of the three contemporaries I wrote for Berkley, contemporary is not really my natural voice, so they were much harder for me. That combined with stresses in other areas of my life made me decide it was time to simplify, which meant no more contemporaries. Still—who knows what the future may bring?

Now that you’re writing fantasy as M. J. Putney, are you going to abandon historical romance?

Not at all! For the foreseeable future, I hope to continue doing romantic fantasy and fantasy romance. I’m a lifelong reader of science fiction and fantasy, and I love the way fantasy elements blend so well with history and romance. The Ballantine and Del Rey books will have similarities—the difference will be in the emphasis. In the Ballantine romances, the relationship is paramount. In the Del Rey books, the fantasy plot will be emphasized but the developing romance will also be important.

What are the Fallen Angels books in order?

Thunder and Roses (Nicholas)

Petals in the Storm (Rafe—revised and expanded from The Controversial Countess)

Dancing on the Wind (Lucien)

Angel Rogue (Robin—revised and expanded from The Rogue and the Runaway)

Shattered Rainbows (Michael)

River of Fire (Kenneth)

One Perfect Rose (Stephen)

All of my books are written as complete romances with a beginning, a middle, and an end, so it isn’t necessary to read them in order. However, some of the books are more closely linked than others. I’d suggest starting with Thunder and Roses.  Ideally, Petals in the Storm would be read before Angel Rogue, and Shattered Rainbows before River of Fire and One Perfect Rose.

What are you working on now?

I just finished revisions on a Distant Magic which will be out Aut 2007 and working on a proposal about the Stone Saints Series. 

What about your older books? I’m having trouble finding all the Fallen Angels stories.

Signet has been reissuing two of my older historicals a year. Shattered Rainbows came out in December 2004, and April 2005 will see the reissue of   River of Fire.  Petals in the Storm and Angel Rogue are 2006 reissues .

How long does it take you to write a book?

Actual writing time is usually six to seven months, but time for thought, recovery, research, and revisions has to be factored in, so I usually produce a book about every nine or ten months. Over the years, my writing speed has been very consistent. However, since I have two publishers scheduling my books, the actual publication dates might be less consistent.

Where do you get your ideas?

Ideas are everywhere—in the newspaper or magazines, in other books, on television or in the movies, or sometimes they just appear in the mind. The hard part is actually turning them from ideas into real books!

Will you ever write stories about the Fallen Angels’ children?

Probably not. Very often my characters have experienced difficult childhoods and part of the story arc is their struggle to heal and build a better life. Since my Fallen Angel characters are all exemplary parents who will raise healthy, happy children, I’d have nothing to work with in their children’s stories! The one exception to this is Amy Melbourne, daughter of the heroine in Shattered Rainbows, who became the heroine of The Bartered Bride. Because I knew that her stepfather, Lord Michael Kenyon, would protect her from any harm in Britain, I had to send the poor girl to the other side of the world in order to get her into enough trouble for a strong story.

I’m writing a romance, or at least thinking about it. How do I proceed?

Read, read, read, then write, write, write. Since talent isn’t uncommon, the defining characteristic of a successful writer is a burning drive to tell stories. (This is another way of saying it helps to be a little bit crazy.) For practical aid, join the Romance Writers of America if you aren’t already a member. The organization supplies all kinds of help, including local and specialty chapters (including online chapters), a monthly magazine, and numerous regional and national conferences. All of these resources offer abundant information on the art and business of romance writing.

Why did you have your historicals put into hard cover?

Actually, that is a choice made by the publisher, not the author. Being in hardcover means that books can go into libraries and they get more review attention than paperbacks. Also, some readers who won’t pick up a paperback will buy hard covers. I regret that my long-term readers are inconvenienced, but my hard covers will all be reprinted as paperbacks eventually—and in the meantime, there are those libraries!