Interview Linda Ciletti
By
Michael Murphy
Linda, congratulations on the release of your first Wings novel, Draegon's Lair.
1. Draegon’s Lair has been described as a “stirring medieval Beauty and the Beast novel.” How did Draegon’s Lair come about?
Draegon’s Lair is the book of my heart. I don’t know why. He’s such a tortured hero. And really, I can’t say how it came about. Some writers will think I’m strange for saying this and some will absolutely understand, but my characters always come to me first. I don’t create them. They just appear in my head and say “Hey, write my story.” And I start writing. Then the movie starts playing in my thoughts and I write what I see. Of course, I always need to revise and tweak the plot later. J So, to answer your question, Draegon just told me his story. Spooky, huh? I think that’s why I write in so many genres, because I don’t usually set out to create a story, I wait until they come to me.
2. You also write fantasy and historical time travel. What drew you to this genre?
For the fantasy I’m working on (okay… now I’m going to go against what I just said in question one) I did actually set out to try it and guess what, I hit a roadblock. Then I went to the Renaissance Faire where a musician (Cast in Bronze) was playing a carillion (bells) mixed with other music. I pulled out my pad and pen and the characters just bloomed. I wrote a complete rough draft of the story in one sitting. Amazing. The music really inspired the story. The hardest part of fantasy is creating another world. At least in this world, the basic rules are ingrained in us. I think what drew me to write a fantasy is just to try something I’ve never done. And I love all things mythical.
As far as time travels, I love the culture clash. Plus I love and am drawn to historical language and characters, so it’s a great way to write a contemporary and still have historical flavor.
3. What author has influenced you most as a writer?
None. That’s terrible to say but I don’t really have a favorite author that I “follow”. I read books rather helter skelter. I’ve read several of Laura Kinsale’s books and really liked them. I loved For My Lady’s Heart and have two (I don’t know why two) copies on my keeper shelf. Some people I’ve talked to can’t read it because the medieval language is so strong, but that’s what I love about it. I don’t use that strong of a language because I don’t want to lose readers.
4. What’s the hardest part of being a writer?
After finding publication? J As I work full time, Monday through Friday 8-4:30, the hardest part of being a writer for me is finding the time to write. I typically write in the evening, but have two problems with that: 1) once on a roll, I find it difficult to stop at a decent hour. I want to keep going even knowing I have to go to work in the morning and 2) keeping my weary eyes open. They tire after staring at a computer for too long.
5. What’s the most helpful book on the craft of writing you’ve ever read?
I’m embarrassed to say I’ve never read one. That sounds terrible but the more I try “learning” how to write, the more it stifles my writing. Most of what I’ve learned is through my critique group and the school of hard knocks. LOL I think it sinks in better when I learn through the school of hard knocks. Reading about “how to write” just fogs up my brain.
6. What advice would you give to an aspiring novelist?
Persevere. Never give up your dream and be open to advice. Join a good critique group. They are a blessing.
7. You paint, play the guitar and are a published novelist. Any other creative ambitions?
Well, I used to paint and play guitar, but I haven’t had time for that lately. I made porcelain dolls for about 6 years, then the shop closed down. Before they closed, however, I managed to make doll replicas of the heroes and heroines of seven of my books. So maybe it was all leading to that. I plan to take my “book dolls” to signings--people love seeing them. Beyond that, no other creative ambitions. Yet!
8. Your next novel is a contemporary time travel work called KnightStalker. Tell us about this novel?
It involves a knight who comes to present day to track a serial killer knight. Michel, the good knight, takes on the task knowing he can never return to his own time, but he’s willing to make that sacrifice to stop the killings. It’s a romance, so naturally he meets the heroine and her young son early on, which puts them in danger. It’s a book of culture clash, love, loyalty, trust, and vengeance.
9. Do you have any other novels in the works?
Are you kidding! Of course. I’m rewriting a historical time travel called Dream of the Archer (inspired by a song by Heart). It was the 2nd book I’d ever written and surprisingly a good story (with just a bit too much telling). So now that I write better than I did those many years ago, I’m revising. I hope to have it finished in the next month or two, then I can submit.
I’m also working on a fantasy romantica or fantasy romance (not sure which it is yet… it depends on what the characters decide to do) called Faerie Dust. It’s about a male faerie who feels compassion for a stolen human child, so he comes to the human world to find the changeling that was put in her place. He then returns to the faerie world with the changeling and the stolen girl’s mother. Naturally, there are a lot of obstacles in his way, including his own people. (Okay, that’s as far as I’ve gotten, but I have notes!)
I also have a finished contemporary that I need to submit and a straight historical and two contemporaries I need to finish. So much to do, so little time. My very first manuscript, a first draft of a paranormal contemporary, may never see the light of day again. But who knows, I may revise later. I hate leaving things unfinished.
Thanks so much, Michael. Good luck with your new release.