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So, I got to interview the fabulous Candis Terry, who is not only my friend (and honorary meme), but an all around amazing woman. Thank you!
Q: Firstly, congrats on the release of your ninth
full length novel and first in the brand new Sunshine Creek Vineyard series, A
BETTER MAN. Even through you are a total veteran now at this whole
"New Book" thing, do you still get the same excited, nervous, mixed
emotion with each release?
A: Thank
you so much! I’m really excited about the new series. The Kincade brothers are
super delicious, and this time around I got to include a little mystery.
Honestly,
I don’t see myself as a veteran. I’m still learning so much about writing a
better book. So for me, each book really feels like the first. I usually get a hard
copy a couple of weeks before the release date and the minute I hold it in my
hands I feel like I’m getting ready to go to prom. Seriously. All those happy
tickles going on inside my heart are like the popping of the cork on a
champagne bottle. With a new series I always get very nervous because I really
hope my readers will enjoy the new characters as much as the last.
Q: How do you feel your writing had grown from
SECOND CHANCE AT THE SUGAR SHACK, your debut release with Avon, to now with A
BETTER MAN? What is the one thing you have learned that stands out for
you looking back?
A: I’m
reaching outside of boxes I didn’t even know I had! I think the one thing I’ve
learned (with the help of my amazing editor, Amanda Bergeron) is to really dig
deep into the characters and their situations. More than just a fun story
(which I hope they are), I want the reader to get the emotional pull so that
they feel like they’re right there in the pages with the hero and heroine. When
I receive a note or letter from a reader saying my stories made them laugh and
cry, I can’t even describe the absolute satisfaction I feel. Because that’s my
ultimate goal–making the reader happy.
Q: What are two of the biggest hurdles you have
had to jump in order to make your writing career a success?
A: Oh
my gosh, there have been so many. Balancing a day job, my family, and my
writing. Battling self-doubt (probably the biggest one). Finding a new flavor
of frozen pizza my family hasn’t suffered through yet. J
Q: Do you as an author feel like you have
accomplished the goals you set for yourself? Is there anything that
stands out for 2016 that is an "I WANT" in terms of goals?
A: In
the beginning, my only goal was to write a book good enough that a publisher
would want to buy. It took me twenty-two years to make that a reality, so
anything beyond that was frosting on the cake. I never dreamed I would be the
first of anything. But I was the first for the Avon Impulse line and the first
to be moved to mass market. I never imagined that my books would be best
sellers. Inside this crazy mind of mine, I’m still the chick who plugged away on
manuscript after manuscript for years without any success.
I’m not
the kind of person who ever asks for much for myself, so an “I want” in terms
of goals is difficult. Of course I’d love to be a NYT bestselling author, and
I’d love to win a RITA. But truthfully, I really just want to write really
good, heartwarming stories for my readers. Without them I’d just be writing for
myself, and my characters would be very sad and probably bored as heck with me.
Q: For anyone who doesn't know, you didn't become
a traditionally published writer until your daughter was a grown adult. Do you
have any advice for aspiring authors who think it's too late for them to begin
a writing career?
A: Yeah,
it took me twenty-two long, tough years. I was just too darned stubborn to give
up. I came close a couple of times, but as my husband always said, it’s my
passion, so why would I quit. My favorite quote is from the movie Galaxy Quest.
“Never give up. Never surrender.” If writing is your passion, stick with it. If
publication is your goal, there are a dozen ways to make that happen these
days. There are pros and cons to writing when you’re older, just as there are
pros and cons to writing when you’re younger. There is never one perfect time
and one perfect career. I’m a believer that life is what you make it. If being
an author is your passion and your dream, make it happen and enjoy whatever
opportunities come your way. I’m now heading into my sixth decade of life. Do I
wish I could have become a published author sooner? Not really. I think it
happened when it was supposed to. And I’m enjoying it every bit of the way.
Q: You have had a host of different careers in
your life as you mention in your website bio, "From working in a
Hollywood recording studio to a graphic designer in marketing; from schmoozing
with the likes of Charleton Heston and Motley Crüe". Do you ever use
your "past life" as a muse for a story line, a character or a
setting?
A: I
use a lot from my personal life in stories, but it never has anything to do
with meeting celebrities (although that was always fun). It does, however, have
everything to do with personalities, and lives, and the stories they tell. The
characters and settings I write about are a lot more grounded than some of
those who live behind a mansion’s security gates. But I could tell you stories
about those days. Oh yes I could. ;)
Q: One of my many problems when it comes to your
romances is that you have too many amazing heroes to choose from, and I can
never decide who is my favorite. Some have been my "first",
some have stolen my heart, some have made me swoon, and some have made me laugh
out loud. Do you have a favorite hero among the bunch? The one who gave
you the hardest time, the one who made you cry, the one who you let lead the
way?
A: Ah,
come on! That’s like asking who is your favorite child. But since you asked . .
. yes, I do have my favorites. For different reasons. I always compare my
heroes with a bag of M&Ms. Each one has a different substance (because, you
know, there are regular, crispy, and peanut butter M&Ms now) and each has a
different color to his personality. I’d like to note that not a single one of
them has ever let me lead the way. I write alpha males. They don’t like to be
led by anything or anyone. Specifically, the hero who gave me the hardest time
would be (hands down) Jackson Wilder from Sweetest Mistake. I love him, but we
argued the entire time I wrote his book. He was hot-headed and passionate about
everything and I could barely keep him reined in. The one who made me cry?
Well, there are three. Matt Ryan from Second Chance at the Sugar Shack broke my
heart so hard I had to stop writing until I could get my stuff together. Reno
Wilder from Anything But Sweet because he was such an amazing guy who’d had
such a tough life. And Jake Wilder from Truly Sweet. Jake was a hero from head
to toe who was so afraid to live life that he made my heart pound through his
entire book. The sexiest? Jesse Wilder from Something Sweeter. Jesse. Yeah.
Whew!
Q: Where do you see your career headed in the
next few years? (aside from hitting USA Today
and NYT's wink wink).
A: I
really have no idea where it’s headed. With the
generosity of my readers I hope I’ll still be writing books. I have so many
ideas in my head there’s no way I could ever write them all. But I’m going to
give it a damn good try.
Q: What do you hope that readers take away from
your romances? Who are the kind of readers that you think your books will
appeal to?
A: I’d
love for my books appeal to everyone. Realistically, if a reader likes blood
and gore they’re not going to like my stories. If a reader is looking for a
story that is fast-paced, fun, emotional, and heartwarming, then I think we’ll
get along just fine. Oh, and if they like pets, because the little furry guys
in my stories bring a whole lot to the page. I hope my readers take away a
great amount of satisfaction and that my little tales of love hit them in just
the right place in their hearts.
Q: And lastly...I know that you are a HUGE romance reader as well as
author...I need your Top Five Romances of All Time.
A: Good
grief! Only five? Have you ever seen my paperback keeper shelf or the library
on my Kindle? It’s insane. Okay, okay, I’ll try to narrow it down.
1.
Heaven, Texas by Susan Elizabeth Phillips. I have two copies of this book
because the first one got so dog-eared from me re-reading it so often. Three
words. Bobby Tom Denton. Sigh.
2.
Whitney My Love by Judith McNaught. Such a wonderful read. My heart
pitter-patters just thinking about it.
3. Truly
Madly Yours by Rachel Gibson. Another book I have two copies of. Nick’s love
for Delaney is just so tortuously sweet and wonderful I will never get enough.
4.
Outlander by Diana Gabaldon. Hey, I’m a Scot, so sue me if I’m crazy over Jamie
Frazier and his kilt.
5. Son
of the Morning by Linda Howard. Just a breathtaking story with amazing
characters. And okay, yeah, another Scot. Can’t help myself.
This
has been so much fun! Thank you so much!
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