Interview Dalia Trevino

by

Tricia McGill

1) Dalia, you seem to be as fascinated by the past as I am. Can you tell us when this interest began to show itself?

I think it began when I started reading the romances my mother was finished with.  Though her taste didn’t always lead to the historical she would purchase one every once in a while.  After reading a couple I started buying them myself and eventually found Jane Austen.  From there I started to want to find out what was true and what was fiction so I began my odyssey into British history.

2) Writing historicals takes a lot of research. Where do you carry out most of this research, the internet, local library, elsewhere? 

All of the above.  I get my research done anywhere I can, but I find travel and biographies invaluable.

3) Are you a plotter? Do you spend a lot of time on your plot before you start writing?

I do plot out a basic story line but invariably find my characters change the story when they do something I hadn’t planned.  These variations always tend to lead to a more interesting tale.

4) Are you happy living in the present or do you often yearn for days gone by? 

As much as I would like to live in 18^th or 19^th century England I have to ask myself, upon occasion, how well I would do without all the modern conveniences we have now.  I think I would like to try it though.

5) When you start a new book do you work from an idea, then decide on the time period, or the other way around? 

I know generally the time period I want to write in, but if something my characters need to do happens better around an event, and it will not disrupt the rest of my plot, I will move the time period.

6) How does your writing day go? Do you spend as much time writing as you would like?

I have yet to have a day when I have been able to spend as much time as I would like writing.  I try to get in as much writing as I can, when I can, and am fairly happy when I can do six to eight pages in a day.

7) Dalia, please tell us about your characters in Love Wins. How did the Duke of Alderburgh and Lady Georgiana Hazeldon come to life?

I wanted to do a story around the ostentatious Prince Regent and his world.  Gambling was a prevalent pastime in that era and the two characters evolved from there.

8) Have you any other interests apart from writing?

I love to read a good book; I enjoy traveling to Europe, and spending time with my family.

9) Who would be your keenest fan? Your most honest and trusted critic?

My mother is my greatest fan, but since she likes anything I do, I don’t think I could trust her as critic.  I rely on critique partners for an honest evaluation on my work.

10) If you could time-travel, what would be your chosen period to return (or go forward) to? 

I would love to spend a month in 1805 London, a month in 1067 London, and a month in 1560 London.

11) I see on your web site that you have a lot of other books coming up. Please tell us what you are currently working on.

I am in the midst of a love story set in the French Revolution and the marriage of the Prince Regent to his soon to be estranged wife Caroline of Brunswick.

12) And, what is the next book that your readers can look forward to in the near future?

I am hoping Voyage Of The Heart will by my next release.