The Definitive Interview with NY Times Bestselling Author Paula Quinn!

My guest today is New York Times bestselling author Paula Quinn. Paula claims to be “a sappy romantic moved by music, beautiful words, and the sight of a really nice pen.” She lives in New York with her three beautiful children, six over-protective Chihuahuas, and three adorable parrots. She loves to read romance and science fiction and has been writing since she was eleven. She's a faithful believer in God and thanks Him daily for all the blessings in her life. She loves all things medieval, but it is her love for Scotland that pulls at her heartstrings.

Paula has graciously agreed to answer all my questions, so here goes!

 

1.     Do you write while listening to music? If so what kind?

Music is my muse. I can’t write without it. I’ve met some of my characters while listening to a song. It can be any kind of music, Celtic, classic, rock, anything as long as it moves me.  I think I listened to “Come What May” from the Moulin Rouge soundtrack at least three hundred times while writing Laird of the Mist.
 

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    2. Which of your characters would you most/least invite to dinner, and why?

      I would love to invite Callum MacGregor, and not because he’s big, brooding, and gorgeous (at least, that’s what I tell myself) but because I would want to hear more about the history of the MacGregor proscription. I did so much research, but I’d still love to hear about it from the perspective of someone who actually lived it. Least would be Connor Grant because I’d end up being rude and staring at him all night. I might possibly take a bite out of him at some point, too.

     3.  Do you read reviews of your books? If so, do you pay attention to them, or let them influence your writing?

Yes, I read them. We all want to know how our “children” are being perceived. Bad reviews don’t bother me. I don’t pay attention to the overly critical reviews. You can’t please everyone and I realize that. I do try to learn from constructive criticism though. If some of my faithful readers aren’t happy with something, I try to fix it in future books.

4.     What color would you make the sky if it weren’t going to be blue anymore, and why?

Wow! What a great question! I’d like the sky to be crimson or dark pink. I think it’s so soothing. Just think how good we’d all look in such warm tones. Besides, pink is my favorite color!

 5.     What will always make you smile, even on a bad day?

Praising God always takes away my worry and makes me happy. Also, I find great joy in my dogs. Their love is all consuming and unconditional.

6.     What was the first story you remember writing?

Embarrassing, but okay. My mom had gotten me an ADAM (that’s right, not Apple) computer with a dot matrix printer. Oh, how I loved it. I had a little desk in my bedroom and a corkboard nailed to the wall with pictures of Jack Scalia pinned to it for character inspiration. I sat down and wrote Eternally Yours, a book you will never read about a demon named Jerry who falls in love with a woman who has already been claimed by God. It was so bad, but I was so proud of myself. I printed it up and still have it. I’d written some short fantasies before that. All bad but I knew that I wanted to be a writer. Numerous jobs, a marriage and three kids later, I returned to a newer model computer and was back at it again. The rest, as they say, is history.

7.     What sound or noise do you love?

Birds chirping. Oh, I love it. I try to make a point of going to the park everyday to feed the sparrows. I love how busy they are and always wonder what they’re saying to each other. J I also love the sound of the chipmunks voice from Alvin and the Chipmunks LOL.

    8.     What drew you to write the genre(s) you write?

I grew up reading sci-fi/fantasy, which was a very small genre way back then. No paranormals back then. Not one. I loved everything from David Eddings and Raymond E. Feist, Marion Zimmer Bradley, and my all time favorite, Guy Gavriel Kay. I was a romantic kid and as much as I loved these authors (and still do), I yearned for some romance. I switched over to authors like Rosemary Rogers (Sweet Savage Love, baby!) and Johanna Lindsey. My first published books were medieval romances set in the time of William the Conqueror. I’d toyed with the idea of writing Scottish romance, but my affinity for Scotland scared me. I didn’t think my emotions would hold up. Seriously, bagpipes make me cry. Research on the MacGregors made me a weepy mess, but their story needed to be told and I got through it and finally wrote Laird of the Mist. And yes, I cried through most of it. [Regan's note: You and I, Paula, have the same affinity for Scotland!]

After eleven Scottish romances and two novellas, I decided it might be time to go back to my first love, fantasy, which I write under as my alter ego, Genevra Thorne.

9.     What is your favorite book of your various series?

Ah, I love them all. If I had to choose one from my Scottish series, Laird of the Mist takes the lead by a slight margin. [Regan’s note: Laird of the Mist is my favorite by Paula.] From my fantasy series, A Faerie Tale, I probably favor The Beloved a little more because of the meaning of the book. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

     10. In what time period do you most like to set a story?

Anywhere from the eleventh to the seventeenth century. I love history!

11.  What’s coming next?

   I’m working on Book 6 of my Highland Heirs series and also something new in paranormal will be coming soon! Can’t say just yet, but it will be good!

Paula's question to the readers: 

What is the most important element in a book you want to read (wounded hero, reformed rake, danger, sex, etc.)? 







GIVEAWAY!
One commenter will win a signed print copy of Paula’s latest release, A Highlander's Christmas Kiss and a digital copy of either The Enchanted or The Beloved (your choice).

Order A Highlander's Christmas Kiss and The Beloved on Amazon. And keep up with  Paula on her Website, Facebook, Twitter and Goodreads