Interview Linda Ciletti

by

Hazel Stathan

1) Hi Linda. I'm so pleased to have been chosen to interview you. Please can you tell us about you new release, is it an historical novel? 

Hi Hazel. Pleased to meet you. You asked about my new release.

KnightStalker is not historical, albeit the male protagonist is. KnightStalker is a comtemporary time travel. Michel (French for Michael) is of Norman descent in 14th Century England. A killer (Ruford) is stalking young women and killing them on the waxing, full, and waning moon. Michel vows to stop him whatever the cost. And it costs him plenty. It costs him the world as he knows it when he follows the killer and finds himself in present day. That is where he meets the heroine and her young (psychic) son, Timmy. Michel faces culture clash, but he also faces the difficulty of finding Ruford before Ruford discovers that he's being hunted and turns the tables on Michel.

2) Do you, like me, have a passion for history? If so, which are the main eras that fascinate you and create the desire to put pen to paper?

I do have a passion for history. But not so much learning it as much as feeling it. Which is why I don't delve deeply into history in my novels. I'm more about the characters and the flavor of the time period. Hopefully that doesn't sound too insane. If it does, well, I'm happy in my little world. I absolutely love period films and books though. Beowulf, Braveheart, Pride and Prejudice, 300, King Arthur, Timeline (time travel), Excalibur, First Knight... and the list goes on and on. If I'm pulled out of my present time period... I'm happy.

3) How long have you been writing? Is it something that comes easily to you or do you have to work hard at the creative process? 

Too long and not long enough. I'd say about 16 years. I wish I had started sooner. I was NOT an English major. I just decided out of the blue to start writing. I had A LOT to learn. So it's been a 16 year learning process. I think the learning process really never ends. Hopefully, we just keep getting better. The creating process comes easy for me. It's the revising process (because the creating process was such fun and wasn't thought out thoroughly enough) that's hard work. LOL

4) Roughly, how long does it take you to complete a novel? Do you plan your work down to the last detail or does it all evolve as you go along?

Ahhhhhhhh... I am not a planner. I start with a title and a character or two and begin. Right now I'm writing a fantasy. My critique group meets every two weeks and I usually have a chapter or two to hand in to them. They always ask me, "so what happens next?" And I reply, "I have no idea." So basically, I go with the flow and where the characters take me. Sometimes they get rambunctious and screw things up... things I have to fix later. Currently, I'm very near the end of my fantasy and am just NOW feeling the need to work out details. Believe me, this process is more work because of all the revising that comes later... but, for my own creative release... I need to keep moving as the muse hits me and worry about details later. Each novel is different, plus I work full time and critique for my writers group, so a novel takes me longer to complete than some. If you're talking from beginning to end first draft without the revision process, and there aren't too many things getting in the way, maybe three months. But that's an estimate. Really I have no idea.

5) Is there any one place or person that has inspired your work?

I wish I knew the answer to this. I can't for the life of me figure out why I love the medieval time period and the French language. My psychic friend tells me that my last several lifetimes have been spent in France. Maybe that's the culprit. Maybe these lifetimes inspire or influence my work (again insane). Where my fantasy is concerned, I started it and hit a block. Then I heard "Cast in Bronze" playing the carillon at the Renn Faire here in Pittsburgh. As a dutiful little writer, I of course had my pen and pad with me. As I listened to the music, the fantasy started pouring out of me and before I left, I had a complete outline drafted. This is not to say I won't deviate from it, but at least it's there. So different things inspire me for different stories.

6) What do you like to do to relax, when you are away from your keyboard?

Writing first drafts is relaxing. I enjoy the creativity. I used to craft porcelain dolls. I made some French Brus and Bleuettes. Some traditional. Then I started making dolls that represented my book characters. I knew then that that was where it was all leading. When I get some decent pics of them, I'll post them on my site. Unfortunately, the doll shop where I took my classes closed. So doll-making has come to an end. But I have 4 couples (and their kids if they apply) to 4 of my books. I also read a lot when my eyes aren't rebelling. When (or if) things finally slow down, I hope to pick up my guitar again.

7) What books do you read and who are your favourite authors and which are an auto buy?

I have no auto buys. I read at random (translate... many different authors). I don't buy just because an author is famous. I usually check out the story content, flip to the middle of the book, read a page or two, and determine if I'll like it... or if I like the writing style. Beginnings can be misleading as far as writing style. Some authors begin slow and build. Some put all their energy into the first chapter (to make the sale) then get lazy further in the book. That's why I choose my reads by reading from the middle. I recently read a book by Melissa Mahue and enjoyed it. I do like Laura Kinsale's "For My Lady's Heart" and "Flowers From The Storm". I'm starting to read more fantasy now since I've begun my own.

8) In all the books that you have read, who stands out as your favourite hero/heroine?  Have they inspired any of your own characters?

No other book or character has inspired my own (at least, not that I'm aware of). I honestly don't know where my characters come from. They just show up and won't leave until I write what they tell me to. Scary huh?

9) Do you have any current works in process?  Do you work on more than one book at a time?

I have two works in progress. One I'm revising--a historical time travel that takes place in Sherwood Forest during the time of Robyn Hode. The other is (at the moment) a first draft fantasy involving a changling, many faeries, a mortal, a stolen child, and a dragon. I'm really loving writing it and, yes, it's a romantic adventure as well.

10) Is there anything you would like to add to this interview that you think might interest your readers?

Just to say thanks to all my readers. As much as I love to write books, I love it more knowing that readers are enjoying them.

Thank you so much for taking the time to answer my questions, Linda. It has been a pleasure talking to you and I wish you every success with your new novel, 'Knight Stalker'.