Interview Pam Labud

by

Nancy Arant Williams

1) Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Pam Labud, the author of The Mad Earl. Congratulations on your new release, Pam. Could you tell us a little about your new book, The Mad Earl?

The Mad Earl is the story of a young middle class woman who is forced into marriage to an insane nobleman. Prone to fits and considered to be very dangerous, he was the victim of a head injury as a child and when he'd gone to war he'd been hurt again, captured, accused of treason, and later found not guilty due to insanity. What she discovers is a tortured, broken man who, when she learns the true cause of his illness, she can't help but fall in love with. Together they solve the mystery behind his condition and learn that love truly does heal all things.

2) How long have you been writing, and is this your first published work?

I have been writing various things since I was thirteen, mostly poetry and short stories until I was about thirty. That was when I began to take novel writing seriously. However, marriage and career put my writing on a back burner until eight years ago when I started writing romance. The Mad Earl is my second novel. My first was another Wings title, Strong Arms To Hold Me, which came out last May.

3) Do you write full time or is this a second vocation?

Writing has always been first in my heart, but unfortunately not my pocketbook! (Oh, how I wish it was!) I have been supporting my writing habit for the past 23 years as a registered nurse.

4) How many hours a day do you spend writing?

It varies. On the days I work, I usually don't do much. I mostly work on edits and so on whenever I get spare time. My days off can be from 2 to 6 hours, usually.

5) Who are some of your favorite authors?

Gosh, there are so many! I love Diana Gabledon, Mary Jo Putney, Christina Dodd, Laura Kinsale for historicals. Kathleen O'Brien, Ann Evans, Roxanne St Clair, Katherine Garbera, and Leslie Kelly, for contemporaries.

6) What is your favorite part of the writing process?

The first rush of freewriting! I think it must be like a runner's high for me. All of the juices are flowing and it seems like you just can't type fast enough.

7) Do you have a family or hobbies?

I have a husband and two daughters, a teen and a t'ween, who keep my quite busy. I love watching movies, reading, and vegetating in front of my favorite television shows on DVD.

8) Who do you think has influenced your writing the most? Any one mentor or another author?

Hmmm. I would have to say a number of things. Reading Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series made me want to write. Mary Jo Putney, whom I've had the pleasure of meeting and is a lovely woman, made me decide to write romance. Of course, all the writers in my local RWA chapter inspire me every day. Also, Marlene Noles, my critique partner who keeps me going these days.

9) Walk us through a day in your life, so we can get to know Pam Labud.

It really depends on whether it's a workday or an off day, since I split my week between the two. Since I'm a night nurse and I work weekends so I can be with my kids during the week, my week starts on Thursday. After getting up early to run them to school, I come home, do a little bit of housework, take an early afternoon nap and then I'm off to work around 6 p.m. I usually only read emails and edit pages I've printed up in my spare moments. On my off days, I usually get the girls to school then get right to work on the computer. If I've had a late night the night before, I might go back to bed and do the bulk of my writing in the evening, and often times into the late night hours. My sleeping schedule goes between night and days, so it's hard to say which I'll be doing.

10. Describe your writing space for us. What does it look like? Messy? Tidy? Lots of artwork on the walls?

Oh, very messy. I didn't intend it to be that way, but I share my office with my kids and husband and it also serves as a storage room. Every once in awhile I'll get busy and clear everything out, but not often. No art in here, unless my youngest daughter's drawings count. Lots and lots of books though.

11. Should we expect to see more books in the near future?

Absolutely! I have another book, The Hanging Bride, which will come out from Wings in May of 2006, that I'm very excited about. Also I have a book coming out May 2005 from Zebra Historicals, titled Spirited Away. In addition, I write screenplays and I've got one currently being placed on CD and will getting ready to start actively marketing the first of the year.