I am very happy to have Rebecca Savage, author of several romantic suspense books here at Smexy today! I reviewed Consequences yesterday and thoroughly enjoyed it!
Who is Rebecca Savage? Give us the low down.
Rebecca Savage is a product of her experiences. I started out very quiet in school, hardly talking to anyone, hiding in my shell. I was a teacher’s pet. I joined the Air Force and escaped my shell. Now I won’t stop talking, and I’ve resorted to writing and teaching, so I can ruin people’s minds enmass! I speak English and Italian, and I teach German. I love to travel, and if I were rich, it’d be my goal to see every ‘safe’ place on the Earth before I die.
As stated on your site, one day you were “lying on your couch” and you decided to write a book, and then you ACTUALLY wrote a book! What inspired you?
This is a two part question. 1) I was lying there reading a romance novel because I’d been working on my masters and was sick and tired of nonfiction. I’d been in the Air Force for ten years, taking classes and making rank, then I’d earned my Master in History. So I wanted something fun to read, and I have a friend who always has a book in her purse. I borrowed one, and I was hooked. 2) My actual inspiration is my stubborn streak. I joined the Air Force and made something of myself because I came from a very poor background, and I refused to let it hold me down. I earned a Master just to prove I could, and I almost earned a Doctorate for the same reason, but then I started writing. I still teach high school and college, but now I have other ambitions, and they all have to do with writing!
Your journey to becoming published has been a long one. Where do you find the motivation to keep going?
I keep going because I never quit anything. I’ve been married over twenty years. See what I mean? LOL Anyway, I love writing. I can’t imagine not doing it. Also, I have several fans now who write me little notes and ask when the next book is coming out. How can I let them or myself down by not writing that next book?
How has joining RWA changed your writing career?
If not for RWA, I wouldn’t have joined my local writers group and learned how BAD my writing was…notice I said WAS. LOL I’ve learned so much from the seminars I attend each month, and then there’s the networking. They’re invaluable, the benefits you get from your local RWA chapters and from your writer friends/associates on you loops/groups. Cherish them.
I am always very intrigued by an authors writing processes. Can you give us some insight into yours? How much research/outlining do you do? Do characters visit you in the middle of the night and tell you what to write? *g*
It’s an evolving process. In the past, I’ve been pantser…I fly by the seat of my pants. I’ve known the main idea, and I’ve just start writing and ended up with a happily ever after. Now I’m changing a bit for my latest WIP(Work in Progress). It’s a suspense/intrigue, but it’s paranormal/fantasy: a dragon story. The world building is a bugger! LOL
You write romantic suspense. Do you draw anything from background experience to put into the books? Do you like writing the bad guys?
My background played a big part in my first trilogy because for ten years, I had a Top Secret SCI Clearance and copied Morse Code in the military, and my first trilogy is about the FBI and the mob, CIA assassins, and DEA snipers. In my next trilogy, in the first book, Coincidence, the heroine is an accountant, and I do taxes; my hero is a lawyer, and I coach a Mock Trial team; in book three of the trilogy, Consequences(Sept. 2009) the heroine earned a Masters in History, which I have, and in another book, Guard My Baby, the heroine is a teacher and the hero is in the Air Force Secret Ops. So, yes, definitely, my background plays a big part, and I’ve done very little research. although, with the dragon story, I’m having to do a bit.
Do you have a favorite book or character you have written? What makes it (or him/her) so special?
A favorite character? Oh, wow! That’s a toughy! My answer might be a little sick because my villains actually come to mind when I think of those who stand out the most, but also I’m truly starting to develop a real voice, and my characters are all more real to me than they ever were before, so I think of them as true people sometimes, and I’d find it hard to say I like one more than they other. It’d be like saying I like one of my children more, and I can’t play favorites with them. They’d kill me, or make me spend money on them to make up for it! LOL
What authors or books have inspired you?
Here’s where I give my standard answer of: I love Nora Roberts…but I also love Emilie Rose(Silhouette Desire), and I’ll forever be her minion, and Anglela Knight(who also writes dragon stories), plus too many others to name here:) Suffice it to say, I love to read any subgenre, and I read as much and as often as I can.
What are you presently working on? You mention on your site a future series with sexy dragons – details please!!
Yep, a dragon story. The heroine is an FBI agent, and the hero is part of a secret organization that works between Earth Mortal and Earth Immortal. I got the idea while teaching Chinese history last fall. Every dragon has a different color, and that color is determined by genetics but also by their destiny: color signifies their occupation, when in human form, or what they guard/protect in dragon form. For example, in Chinese mythology, blue dragons protect water, so when in human form, the person would work as lifeguard or SEAL or sailor, etc. I can’t give too much away, but I hope to finish it by year’s end and submit, so it’ll be out sometime next year.
Since you are in Smexyville, I must ask:
Which fictitious character do you lust after the most?
James Bond. I’d imagine if I stood too close and heard his voice up close and personal, that’d be enough to send me over the top…you know the top I mean, of course:) LOL
If you could trade places with any heroine, who would it be?
Angelina Jolie, because she gets to sleep with Brad Pitt, in real life and in fiction, and I once told my husband I’d only leave him if Brad Pitt came calling. I’m still married, so…:(
Angelina Jolie, because she gets to sleep with Brad Pitt, in real life and in fiction, and I once told my husband I’d only leave him if Brad Pitt came calling. I’m still married, so…:(
Who would win in a battle – Harry Potter or Edward Cullen?
That’s a no win situation. They’d just have to fight then go back to their perspective worlds and have their perspective women kiss their wounds and make it all better. What a way to go!
That’s a no win situation. They’d just have to fight then go back to their perspective worlds and have their perspective women kiss their wounds and make it all better. What a way to go!
Hairy chests – Smexy? Yay or Nay.
Wow! These are tough questions. I hope I pass this test:) LOL I like hairy chests if they’re not too hairy, and yes, there is such a thing as too hairy, but a nice clean chest is very touchable, and you can see the definition of the toned body. With layer of fuzz, you can’t see the shape. Now don’t get mad, all you hairy chested folks, or the women married to them:) LOL
Wow! These are tough questions. I hope I pass this test:) LOL I like hairy chests if they’re not too hairy, and yes, there is such a thing as too hairy, but a nice clean chest is very touchable, and you can see the definition of the toned body. With layer of fuzz, you can’t see the shape. Now don’t get mad, all you hairy chested folks, or the women married to them:) LOL
Thank you Rebecca for taking the time to stop by here today – even if you you prefer a non-hairy chest ;)
Rebecca is offering one of her books for a giveaway! The winner can choose any of Rebecca’s books (in pdf format). Go HERE for more information on her books.
All you have to do is leave a comment and tell us – Are you the kind of person who has an idea and follows through, or do you have tons of ideas and have no idea where to start?
This contest will run through midnight August 27th and I will announce the winner on Friday.
Hi Rebecca!
Hum, I would have to say that I have a ton of ideas and I am usually all over the place, it takes a lot of me to settle down and focus!
bjwaldron(at)gmail.com
Hmm, I generally have alot of questions not necessarily ideas. Lol. Of which I never get to ask all because I have very short term memory and my mouth tends to run on that by the time I finished one question + explanation I would forget some or all my questions. Lol
Hi Rebecca-
This is so bad to admit, but I am not an idea person. I am always all over the place, but I don't come up with idea's too often. I like to let someone else think of things, and then I just do as needed.
Amy M
atc218 at aol dot com
I'm a little of both actually. I have several projects that I've started and just work on occasionally – maybe never finishing them. Other times, I'm all over it and get done exactly what I planned and then some.
Mostly the first though. :)
mandyfish@gmail.com
http://mandyfish-reads.blogspot.com
I follow through with ideas when I can. It's not always possible. Great post. Perfect background for a romantic suspense writer.
I'm a person who has many ideas, but don't have no idea where to start. Even when I'm cleaning I might start from point A, but somehow I get distracted and notice I'm doing another thing in another room. This continues on and on, and I'm left with an apartment that doesn't look like cleaned because I've done only bits in here and there :P
chayanna82(at)hotmail(dot)com
Hi Rebecca & MAndi,
I am absolutely a person who has ideas popping out of her without any effort. I have to shift through them, some take careful construction to become reality and others simply come to be and I go with it.
I'm an idea person to a fault! Always have too many balls up in the air at the same time.
Love the questions in this interview – really great!
Wow, I'm impressed with the reponses to my post! Thanks so much for participating!
I'm glad to hear all of you have an idea of who you are as people, which usually trasnlates somehow into how you are as writers!
I hope you like my work, and don't forget to go tomy website and send info through that contact form to enter my contest:)
I am a little bit of both. Alot of my ideas, I follow up and do. Sometimes my ideas just get left on the wayside, too many other things going on!!
magnolias_1@msn.com
Thanks for all the great comments!! I think until I get a hold of Rebecca, just keep posting comments here. I will collect all email addresses and forward them to her:)
Hi Rebecca, Yes I have ton of ideas, but I sort through them and follow up, and always achieve what I set my head and heart at doing. I always wanted to write and my traveling gives me great setting for my stories.
Contest: Keep posting! We'll make sure we get everyone's email address and pick someone to win! Don't worry! We'd never leave anyone out! :) LOL
When I get an idea I usually follow through. I don't get tons of them so when I do I use them!
Hi Rebecca & Mandi,
I am both I think, sometimes I have lots of ideas and plans and follow them up and sometimes, usually due to lack of time, ideas just stay ideas,
I have tons of ideas…things I want to get done, projects I want to do, etc…but, I never seem to get past the planning stage. There always seems to be something else that I have to do.
I usually have several ideas but only concentrate on the ones I know I can do. They are usually creative in nature.
JWIsley(at)aol(dot)com
What a great post! I love that she was in the air force, hoo-ra or is that the marines can't seem to remember…Looking forward to her dragons series, I heart dragons sounds very interesting.
BTW I'm on of those poor saps that has a lot of ideas, but can't seem to follow through. Ex my couch cushions are in need of some major TLC due to hubby's 24/7 prone position, I blame xbox. Anywho one would think you would want to fix this as sitting on a couch w/ no padding tends to hurt the bottie, this has been on my must do list for 2 years. Don't even get me started on my interior design er disaster projects…
Hi Mandi & Rebecca,
Great interview! I'm more of a tons of ideas don't have a clue where to start or how to find the time.
Hi Rebecca,
I'm with you, Amy, I am not an idea person, though I am great at behind the scenes action. As long as you tell me what and when, I am a great go-to girl.
Hey Mandi & Rebecca!!! Rebecca, welcome!!
Oh.. I am a person that has to follow through. Sorry… my OCD kicks in if I don't.
Mandi, I pimped out at my place!!!
Hi Mandi and Rebecca!
I have tons of ideas, but only follow through on a few, and it may take me forever on the follow through. But, I always get it done.
Dottie :)
gymmom_027@yahoo.com
SO jealous to see that you are reading 'Hunting Ground'. Since I live in Australia I have to wait for my Amazon order to arrive. It could be weeks! WEEKS! I need my Charles fix, dammit!
Have you also bought the Mercy Thompson graphic novel 'Homecoming'? It came out the same day as Hunting Ground.
Just wanted to say fab interview!! I like a little or no hair, too much hair is a definite no, no – especially if it creeps around to the back !! ;0
What a truly wonderful interview! I haven't read any of her books before, but now want to!
I was impressed with how you started writing and it really amazes me how hidden talent shows up. I love to read but never considered writing a book. I guess I was meant to be the receiver of your imaginations. ha ha I look forward to finding some of your books and getting to know you better. I have a reader's group and always looking for new authors and this is a great way to find you all. Hope I get lucky enough to win one of your books. susan L.
Great interview! I like Rebecca's personality, she seems like a cool person. I will check out her books as soon as possible! =)
Oh and I've granted you an award, so hop over to my blog to see it!