Interview Carol McPhee

by

Patricia FitzGerald-Petri

1) If you could be one of your characters, which one would you be, and why?

I had to stop and really think about that question because there are qualities about all of my heroines that I'd like to have. There is a lot of me already in Andrea, the heroine of Be Still, My Heart! I guess the one I would most like to be is Brie in Something About That Lady. She showed courage when life looked grim, was artistic, quick witted, and had a generous spirit.

2) What genre do you dislike most, and why?

I dislike fantasy most because there is little chance of any of the events ringing true and now that I've grown up, I prefer the intrigue of realistic involvement.

3) What was your very first moment of success?

My first moment of success was when I finished the last line of my first manuscript... None So Blind. It was not my first novel published, but it presented an incredible new pathway in my journey through life. It was released from Wings ePress, Inc. in February 2006.

4) After you’ve completed a manuscript, who do you show your work to first, and why?

To my husband, Karl, who will then proofread it for me. He is excellent at picking up small details that are out of whack.

5) How long does it take you to write a novel?

It takes me about eight months to complete a story, the reason being that I submit my work chapter by chapter to an excellent critique group. The active members give advice on grammar, punctuation and logic, which is invaluable to me in the presentation of a decent manuscript.

6) What do you hate most about writing?

There are few things I don't like, but trying to find the right word for the connotation I want to convey is a daily struggle. Oh yes, I really, really hate writing a synopsis of my story to send to an editor.

7) What makes you envious in connection with writing?

I envy the natural gift some authors have to make their words sing across the pages. My focus is on making my plotline realistic and intriguing and using my imagination to surprise the reader.

8) Is there anything you could imagine you’d prefer to do other than writing?

Other than enjoying family, there's been nothing else for the past ten years that I'd prefer over writing.

9) Is there anyone you secretly hope will not read your novel, and why not?

I don't write erotica so I have nothing to cringe about. I do know authors who don't want in-laws to read their work because of an embarrassment factor.

10) Where do your ideas originate?

Sometimes they pop out of nowhere, but most of the time I see a location and think... what if... then I take to my imagination and let the ideas roll. I've come up with three novels that centered on the Eastern Shore of Nova Scotia. The region is sparsely populated and, with its rugged shores, coves and inlets,is beautiful beyond compare.