Wednesday, August 20, 2014

Favorite Author and My Guest Today: Shirlee Busbee!


With over nine million copies of her books in print, Shirlee Busbee is the recipient of numerous awards for excellence in writing, including the Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Award and Affaire de Coeur's Silver and Bronze Pen Awards.

Shirlee was born in San Jose, California, but grew up traveling the world with her parents, two sisters and three brothers, because her father was a career navel officer. She attended high school in Morocco!

While working in Solano County, she met her life-long friend and mentor, author Rosemary Rogers. Shirlee followed Rosemary into the world of romance writing, with the much-acclaimed success of her first novel, Gypsy Lady in 1977. Shirlee went of from that success to carve her own niche in the historical romance genre.

She is married to her best friend, Howard. The couple celebrated their 48th anniversary in 2011.

      I am thrilled to have Shirlee as my guest today. I've asked her a lot of questions so we can catch up with this prolific author. Make sure you comment as Shirlee has graciously agreed to give away one of each of her 3 eBooks pictured below.



The Interview:
      Shirlee, I know you’ve been deep in the world of historical romance since Gypsy Lady was first published in 1977. And that you’ve written two dozen historical romances since then. I also know that Rosemary Rogers (of Sweet Savage Love fame) was your mentor. And, of course, you live in California (where I do!), but what I don’t know—and you need to tell us—is what you are doing now.

Right now and for the past several months, I’ve been busy bringing out my backlist in the ebook format. I’m ashamed to confess that I haven’t written an original word in longer than I care to think. I do plan on changing that and soon. The urge to write is just too strong to ignore.

So what do I plan on writing? There are several ideas that keep reoccuring to me. One is a paranormal set here in California in a small town. I’d like shape shifters, dragons, vampires, telepaths etc., but I know that I’ll need to keep the amount paranormals to a resonable level so I have a lot of fun making lists of which ones I can use.  

Another idea is going back to my contemporary books The Oak Valley series, and continuing that series. I have one completed manuscript and half of another.  That unfinished manuscript nags at me and I keep telling myself I need to finish it before moving on. 

Of course, I couldn’t ignore my historical roots either. I play with the notion of completing The Joslyn Family books – Simon, Mathew and, perhaps Lamb being the lead characters. We’ll see.

So far, there’s….



     This is “Exotic Locales month” on my blog, and I have just reviewed The Spanish Rose, which is set in the Spanish Main and British Jamaica, so tell us, what made you set your intriguing story in such an exotic location?

I have always loved pirates and have special fondness for Harry Morgan. Don’t ask me why, except maybe the fact that he was a well-known pirate (and not Mr. Nice Guy) and yet he became respectable, eventually becoming the Governor of Jamaica and died in his bed at a ripe old age. A pirate happy ending, if you will. I’ve also always loved the tall ships and I just wanted to something totally different from the books that I’d written, at least as far as local and era. The Spanish Rose fits the bill.

 
      What’s your favorite book? The hardest to write? And, which hero is your favorite and why?

It’s a toss-up between Deceive Not My Heart and Whisper To Me Of Love. The hardest to write?  Lady Vixen. I don’t think that 2nd books are ever easy to write. I kept thinking I was transcribing words, descriptions, actions from Gypsy Lady until Rosemary Rogers said, “Shirlee, that’s your style. Your voice.” Uh, okay.

  

      One of my very favorite stories of yours is Lady Vixen, which involves a wonderful heroine and a privateer's ship bound for the pirate havens of New Orleans. It’s on two of my best lists: Best Pirate and Privateers and Best Bodice Rippers. It is also one of my favorite romance novel covers.


I’m pleased and delighted that Lady Vixen found such favor with you. As I mentioned above, this was the hardest book for me to write. Mostly, I think, 2nd Book Writer’s Block. It was very long book, too. The original manuscript was 897 pages (I think), and we had to edit it down to a size the publisher could publish for a reasonable price. Cutting nearly 200 pages was one of the most, if not the most painful thing I’ve ever done. I tell myself, oh, well, you learned to cut and edit. Painfully. 

      I admire your ability to take on difficult subjects…it’s something I have been trying to do in my own writing. Did Lady Vixen require huge amounts of research? I’m thinking yes, but want to hear it from you.

It required a fair amount, no doubt about it. But since it involved subjects that fascinated me, Lafitte, the Battle of New Orleans, the War of 1812 and I had several books on those subjects, it was a pleasure.

      What was your favorite novel to research?

Probably, it was While Passion Sleeps. I loved learning about the Comanches.


           And what was the most popular by sales?

Gypsy Lady did excellently, but Deceive Not My Heart is what I consider the gift that keeps giving. That book just keeps selling and selling and selling.

[Regan’s note: I can see why! I loved that intriguing love story from old Louisiana!]

  Any advice to a new author joining you in the historical romance writing profession?  
                 
The same advice I got from Rosemary Rogers: Do it. Just go for it.
    

Any plans for the fall you want to share with us?

As you know, I’m in the process of bringing most of my backlist in the ebook format and until they are done, any thought of new book is down on my list of must dos. Right now, I’m finishing up The Southern Women series, which includes The Tiger Lily, Each Time We Love, At Long Last, and Love A Dark Rider.  They should be out this fall. 

Once Southern Women is out, I’ll be starting on The English Brides series.  However, I’m not going to say I’m not thinking about that new book. My problem is that being in unique position of pretty much writing what I want, I’m like a kid in a candy store.  Oh, I want that one. No, that one. Ooooh, what about this one? You get the idea.

Thanks, Shirlee, for joining me today. It’s so good to catch up with you!

34 comments:

  1. I´m one of the older readers so I think I have read most of yours in Paperbackover the years. I look forward to Reading more.

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    1. Thanks for stopping by, Petula! You are entered to win one of Shirlee's books!

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    2. Hi Petula: Thank you for dropping in. Always great to hear from a fan, even better when it's a long time fan :-)

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  2. Shirlee Buster really set the gold standard for lavish historicals. Lady Vicente is one of my very favorite books of all time, and no matter how many times I've moved, her books go with me!

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    1. Jennifer, I do not recall the title Lady Vincente. Did you mean Lady Vixen? It's one of my all time favorites.

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    2. Hi Jennifer: Wow! What a nice compliment. It's much appreciated.

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  3. I typed Vixen. Autocorrect is the bane of my cell phone existence! Sorry for the typo.

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    1. Ah, ha! That explains it. And here I thought you'd uncovered a missing manuscript! Yes, Lady Vixen is a GREAT story!

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    2. Hi Ladies: That also explains the Shirlee "Buster". I figured a typo and had to laugh. I've heard Busbee pronounced many different ways, but that was a new one. My favorite? Booshay. Don't ya love it?

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  4. Welcome, Shirlee! I am glad you fixed the browser issue!

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    1. Believe me, not as happy as I am. I was almost in tears (in between some words heard only on the lips of drunken sailors). Happens a lot to me dealing with the internet. All's well that ends well...and with a smile.

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  5. I have very fond memories of hiding a copy of The Spanish Rose, personally recommended by Bertrice Small, under the sink in my dad's bathroom, and locking myself in to "clean the tile." By which I meant devour The Spanish Rose and giving strategic tiles the detailing of their lives. That bathroom saw a lot of good reading on "cleaning" days, including Lady Vixen and Deceive Not My Heart.

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    1. Oh Anna, I loved your comment! I used to have to clean the bathrooms, too. That was long before I ever had any thought of writing. Used to just daydream as I shined faucets. Amazing to think that I might have gotten the glimmer of ideas for books in those long ago days cleaning the bathroom! Thank you so much for stopping by. And thank Bertrice for me. She's a great friend, isn't she.

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    2. I love your story, Anna. How creative of you!

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  6. Shirlee Busbee was one of the first authors I ever read when I started with historical romances. I was 17 and just graduated high school. I was still reading 'young adult' novels - with an occasional horror thrown in - when my friend passed me a pile of historicals and said, you need to READ. Within that treasure of books was Gypsy Lady! Shirlee Busbee's characters were so real and the stories were so engaging. I loved them! That was ages ago! I buy her books the DAY they come out. I can't wait! They are always soooo good! I know she can only write so much but I'd prefer a new Shirlee Busbee book weekly, more than yearly! I'm patiently awaiting a new book now but I'm also happy her older books are coming out in ebook format. My Nook is hungry!

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    1. Lori, I do understand. And I'm so glad you stopped by my blog to pay Shirlee the supreme compliment. We authors live for those!

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    2. Hi Lori: Zounds! What lovely compliments. They are so appreciated. Thank you -- for the compliments and for dropping in. Sigh. I wish I could write at least a book every month or six weeks. Dream on. I keep reminding myself of a great Tom Huff (Jennifer Wilde) quote. "Do you want it now, or do you want it good?" :-) Hopefully, with my hip replacement behind me, you'll get 'em both, now and good. Thanks again for stopping in.

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  7. Wonderful interview. Amazing author and brilliant books. Thank you to Shirlee Busbee for so many hours of fabulous reading. Love, love, love all her books. Would love to read a new book. :)

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    1. Thanks for stopping by, Marsha. I know Shirlee appreciates it!

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    2. Hi Marsha: Thank you so much for the wonderful comments! Nothing does more for an author's ego, believe me. Thank you for dropping in. Appreciate it.

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  8. Thanks for this wonderful interview. I am writing my second book and it is hard. I feel a bit like I am second guessing myself all the time. I hope you do start writing something new Shirlee.

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    1. Cassandra, hang in there. You'll do it. The second one is hard. Mine was, but my readers tell me it is their favorite!

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    2. Hello Cassandra: Basking in your kind comments. Thank you, too for dropping by. To repeat what Regan said: second books are HARD. And second guessing yourself is something we all struggled with writing that second book. Just push on through. Don't question yourself so much, just DO IT!

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  9. I remember reading Gypsy Lady all those years ago, along with Lady Vixen and many others. I would go to the store, hoping for a new book by "my favorite author"! Yes, I started reading These books back in 1977 as a 20-year-old!

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    1. Hi Sandy: Imagine finding you here :-). Thanks for dropping in. I just love hearing from long-time fans.

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  10. Oh my goodness, Shirlee, I'm thrilled Regan had you on her blog today! I've long loved your stories. I have been reading romances (mostly historical) for many a year and still love reading them. I hope you will give serious thought to writing some more historicals. I delve only into shifters and vampires (good ones) for paranormals and I'm real picky on contemporaries as they are my least favorite reading genre. I'm addicted to Regan's famous "Lists" that she puts on her blogs and have saved every last one of them I've been fortunate enough to read...for future reading purchases. And I'm thrilled you've made it on more than one of her lists. :-) So I'm so glad to have read your interview here today. Thanks so much for your writing, Shirlee. jdh2690@gmail.com

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    1. Hi, Janice! Thanks for coming to see the post and to let Shirlee know how much you like her work. I know she'll be thrilled.

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    2. Hi Janice: Oh, my! What a lovely, lovely comment. I really appreciate you taking the time to check out Regan's interview. Regan is a great, upcoming writer and she's an excellent reviewer. Even when she 'dings' me I can't disagree with her assessment. I liked your comments on what you read -- always helpful. Have to keep my fans happy.

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  11. I have to confess I have enjoyed seeing these older book covers. I have a collection of this type of book going and they are becoming harder and harder to find. So, I know I haven't read all them yet, which is why I am so happy to hear Shirlee is putting her books in digital format. I just love that I can read all these great stories and keep them forever and ever without worrying about trying to find them in print. Thanks for the wonderful interview!

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    1. Hello, gpangel! So glad you enjoyed my interview with Shirlee. If you are a fan of the classic book covers (as am I), you might check out this post: http://reganromancereview.blogspot.com/2014/05/my-favorite-classic-historical-romance.html

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    2. Hi gpangel: So nice of you to stop by. Thanks. I'm with you -- I loved several of the old covers. My favorite: WHILE PASSION SLEEPS. The original painting hangs in my living room. Thank you for the compliments. Love 'em.

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  12. I've been reading Shirlee Busbee for years, and seeing some of the classic covers was a trip down memory lane :-)

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    1. Thanks for joining us, Lisa! I know Shirlee will be happy to hear it!

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    2. Hi Lisa: Great that you popped in. Appreciate you coming by. Appreciate your comment. Authors always love to hear from fans, especially long-time ones.

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