heidibetts

Heidi: LOL. Well, I know where you can find the elevator with Peter Reynolds in it -- that would be the Georgetown/Washington D.C. area--but I don't know where you can find an elevator like it, with a sexy man inside, just waiting to be calmed down and seduced. Believe me, I've been looking :-D

The idea to set the crux of a story during a city-wide blackout actually came to me after we experienced a multi-state-wide backout here in the East a few years ago. I was traveling at the time, but remember the chaos it caused and remember trying to think of how that situation might lend itself to a romance plotline. Peter's claustrophobia came about simply because I was trying to think of a way for him to drop his straight-laced notions about the employer/employee relationship enough to make love with Lucy while they were trapped together in that elevator.

The sequel to Blame it on the Blackout and Ethan Banks's story is When the Lights Go Down, which is available this month, October 2005. It's in stores now, as a matter of fact. In When the Lights Go Down, I've matched Ethan with a shy, rather introverted librarian who decides to get a full makeover for her birthday, then drops by the most popular nightclub in town for the first time in her life. Of course, Ethan is a ladies' man who is usually only attracted to much more worldly, self-assured women. But something about Gwen catches his eye and he's hooked. I think Ethan and Gwen are a really good match because even though they're opposites in so many ways, they also bring out the best in each other. Hidden qualities they might never have recognized if not for the other.

Denise: Back when you use to sneak romance novels into study hall did you have any idea you wanted to be a romance author?

Heidi: It's hard to remember that far (unfortunately :-p) but I think I probably did entertain the notion in junior and senior high. It wasn't until I went off to college and was still enamored of romance novels, though, that I really gave writing them serious thought. And I'm so glad I did! :-)

Denise: Tell us about your first book, Cinnamon and Roses, which was published by Dorchester in 2000. How many historicals followed?

Heidi: In Cinnamon and Roses, the heroine is a struggling seamstress who is forced to confront the hero when he refuses to pay for a gown his mistress ordered. I really had fun with that book and was absolutely ecstatic when Dorchester called to tell me they wanted to buy it. I was also lucky enough to get what I think is one of the most beautiful covers ever for that book.

After Cinnamon and Roses, I wrote five more western historicals for Leisure Books. Six total: Cinnamon and Roses, A Promise of Roses, Almost a Lady, Walker's Widow, Callie's Convict, and Hannah's Half-Breed.

Denise: How did you come to write Harlequin Books for the contemporary romance line? Was it a difficult transition from western historicals? Did you have to write according to their guidelines only? Did your readers follow you through this new challenge?

Heidi: I made a conscious decision to switch from historical to contemporary romance because western historicals weren't selling very well at the time. Besides which, I've always loved the Silhouette Desire line and always wanted to try my hand at writing contemporary romance.

It wasn't a difficult transition at all, though as I was writing my first Desire, I did worry about getting it just right for the line. Each of the lines at Harlequin/Silhouette has very specific guidelines and a very specific idea of exactly the type of story they want to publish under that imprint, so I definitely had to do my homework.

Thankfully, my readers do seem to have followed me over to the contemporaries. I got a few letters, even before my first Silhouette Desire came out, from readers saying they only read historical romance and weren't sure they wanted to read a contemporary. But then later, those same people wrote again to tell me they'd give Bought By a Millionaire a shot and really enjoyed it. One even said she hadn't thought she'd like contemporaries, but I'd changed her mind and she was going to look for even more of them!

Denise: Tell us about your pets, about where you live and what you do when you're not writing a new novel?

Heidi: I have four adorable kitty cats, all of whom think they're people. I swear, cats are so crafty, if they had opposable thumbs, they'd rule the world. :-)

When I'm not writing, I'm usually reading or - I had to admit it - watching TV. Oh, and let's not forget the internet. I spend a lot of time blogging, answering e-mail, or just surfing, even though I know I shouldn't.

Denise: Do you attend romance conferences or conventions? If so, what's that been like?

Heidi: Absolutely. I attend the RWA (Romance Writers of America) National Conference just about every year, which gives me the chance to travel to a number of different cities. And I usually attend a handful of other smaller and more local conferences, too. Writing is a very isolated occupation, so I think it's important to get out and socialize, especially with other writers. Conferences, whether large or small, can be a wonderful opportunity to catch up with friends, learn about the market and make invaluable contacts within the industry.

Denise: You've also written Bought by a Millionaire. Tease us with the plot without giving too much away.

Heidi: Bought By a Millionaire is about a man who has everything money can buy, but what he truly wants is a baby. He isn't interested in the trappings of marriage, so he hires a woman to be the surrogate mother of his child. Of course, once he meets her, he finds himself wishing there was more to their relationship than simply a business arrangement.

Denise: Who are "The Elliotts." Can you tell us about this series?

Heidi: The Elliotts are a wealthy magazine publishing family from New York and will be the focus of Silhouette Desire's 2006 continuity series, "The Elliotts." (Formerly titled "Dynasties: The Elliotts" for those who have been following the Desire Dynasties.) The series is made up of twelve books, one per month, and each written by a different author. I was invited to write Book #5 of this series, Mr. and Mistress, which will be out in May 2006. I really had a lot of fun with the story, which involved an ex-Las Vegas showgirl and hope readers enjoy it!

Denise: What is the most difficult part of writing for you?

Heidi: Usually, it's getting started. Sometimes on a story idea, when all the details haven't come together yet or I'm having trouble figuring out how to get from Point A to Point B. Sometimes just sitting down to write on a daily basis. There are so many distractions in our lives these days, and so many things that need to be done, it can be hard to remember that the writing needs to come first. Once I get started, I'm usually okay, but I can be the Queen of Procrastination at times. :-p

Thank you for inviting me to spend some time at your website. I'd also like to invite readers to visit my website as often as they like. Drop in to read about current and upcoming releases, join my Mailing List, enter monthly contests, and keep up with my daily blog. Enjoy yourself, and as always, happy reading!