|
TRRC is proud to have an interview with one of
the most romantic storytellers in the market today, Rochelle
Alers. With Valentine’s Day being celebrated this month, this
author has written several books that can give you many reasons
why love is worth the time and effort we put into relationships.
Her latest novel, NO COMPROMISE, is written with the same
romantic flare that we expect from her.
Many thanks to Ms. Alers for her time!
Lora McDonald
Lora- Tell us a little about yourself,
Rochelle. How long have you been writing? Has it always been for
Arabesque? What do you do for a living besides writing?
Rochelle- I am a native New Yorker (born,
raised, and educated in the Big Apple [Manhattan]) and currently
reside on Long Island. I’ve earned degrees in sociology and
psychology, and taught pre-school. I also am fortunate to have a
solid background in the business world – all which proves
helpful when plotting and developing characters.
I am currently working as a Community
Liaison Specialist for state-funded substance abuse programs on
Long Island. My responsibilities have expanded to the criminal
justice system wherein I spend several days each week in what
are designated as misdemeanor or alternative courts.
It will be fourteen years in December since
my first book was published (December 1988) – CARELESS
WHISPERS by Doubleday Books. Since that time I’ve become an
Odyssey, Arabesque, St. Martin’s Press, Ballantine, and
Genesis Press author. I’ve recently signed with Silhouette for
their Desire imprint, and NAL.
Lora- For any of our readers that maybe new
to your romance stories, could you briefly list the stories so
that fans that have missed any of your books can pay a visit to
the bookstores to add to their collection?
Rochelle- CARELESS WHISPERS – reprinted
by Ballantine Books
MY LOVE’S KEEPER – reprinted by Domhan
Books
HAPPILY EVER AFTER – Pinnacle Arabesque
HIDEAWAY* – Arabesque Romance – BET
Books
HOME SWEET HOME – Pinnacle Books
HIDDEN AGENDA* – Arabesque Romance –
Pinnacle Books
VOWS* – Arabesque Romance – Pinnacle
Books
HEAVEN SENT* - Arabesque Romance –
Pinnacle Books
SUMMER MAGIC – Arabesque Romance –
Pinnacle Books
HARVEST MOON* - Arabesque Romance – BET
Books
JUST BEFORE DAWN* - Arabesque Romance –
BET Books
PRIVATE PASSIONS* - Arabesque Romance –
BET Books
NO COMPROMISE* - Arabesque Romance – BET
Books
RECKLESS SURRENDER – Genesis Press
GENTLE YEARNING - Genesis Press
"First Fruits" from ‘TIS THE
SEASON – Arabesque – BET Books
"Hearts of Gold" from LOVE
LETTERS – Arabesque – BET Books
"Special Delivery" from ROSIE’S
CURL AND WEAVE – St. Martin’s
"Far From Home" from ISLAND MAGIC
– St. Martin’s
"Sweet Surrender" from DELLA’S
HOUSE OF STYLE – St. Martin’s
"Second Chance" from WELCOME TO
LEO’S – St. Martin’s
"Stand-in Bride" from GOING TO
THE CHAPEL – St. Martin’s
"From The Heart" from ISLAND
BLISS – St. Martin’s
*HIDEAWAY Legacy Series
Lora- I have read all of your books and
have enjoyed them all. For new readers, I would like for you to
share how you began the series of the Hideaway Legacy.
Rochelle- The Hideaway Legacy began with
one book – HIDEAWAY. This title was my very first attempt at
writing romance. In 1985, I sat down with an electric
Smith-Corona typewriter and typed a page a day for almost a
year. The end result was a 315-page manuscript originally
entitled CANDIDATE FOR LOVE. There were many glaring plotting
errors, a secondary character overshadowed the hero, and was
rejected by several publishers. I revised it at least twice,
knowing in my heart that I had a solid plot with memorable
characters. I also knew I wanted to write at least three sequels
with Matthew Sterling, Joshua Kirkland, and David Cole as
heroes. After the second revision, I began the spin-offs HIDDEN
AGENDA and VOWS.
Karen Thomas, Arabesque’s founding editor
offered for CANDIDATE FOR LOVE in 1993, asking me to expand the
plot to show how Martin Cole first met Parris Simmons; she
changed the name to HIDEAWAY, and worked closely with me to tone
down Joshua Kirkland so he wouldn’t supplant Martin as the
hero. HIDEAWAY was finally released in May 1995 – ten years
after Martin and Parris came to life in my very fertile
imagination.
My original four-book series increased to
seven with the Daughters and Sisters Trilogy, and finally to ten
with the concluding Sons and Brothers Trilogy: NO COMPROMISE
(2/02), HOMECOMING (ll/02), and RENEGADE (6/03).
Lora- As a romance writer do you ever write
about romantic experiences that have happened in your life and
left you feeling that it was something you just had to write
about?
Rochelle- No, never. I include places I’ve
visited, foods I’ve eaten, or sometime people I’ve met, but
never myself. I feel personal romantic experiences are exactly
what they are – personal. Besides, what may be exciting and
romantic to me may be the opposite for others. My books are
works of fiction, never autobiographical.
Lora- Since your books are part of a family
series, do you have a particular couple whose story has touched
you more than the others?
Rochelle- I would have to say Jolene and
Michael’s in NO COMPROMISE, because this is the first time I
decided to write about a theme that is so close to my
occupation. There is hardly a family that hasn’t been impacted
by substance abuse and/or domestic violence in one form or
another. My involvement with the criminal justice system has put
a face on those whose lives are torn asunder by these familial
and societal aberrations. Unfortunately, I was able to role-play
with Jolene when she counseled her client, and felt her passion
as she risked everything to help the women who came to the
Sanctuary seeking empowerment.
Lora- I have enjoyed every male character
in your stories and have always wondered how do you decide on
the personality and character of the men in each book?
Rochelle- There is no pat answer on how
they evolve. There are times when they amaze me, too. However, I
begin every book with a detailed character dossier wherein I
give each character a distinct personality. This is where my
educational background comes into play, because once I define a
personality type, the character cannot deviate from it. If they
do, then they come off sounding stilted or as we say, doing
things "out of character." The most difficult task is
making each character unique. And because I’m dealing with
families, I don’t want the offspring of the second generation
to become clones of their parents.
I like alpha males – this is not to say
they should be bullies. I think Matthew Sterling from HIDDEN
AGENDA was my quintessential alpha male. The only time he
exhibited a modicum of vulnerability was when he gave Eve his
good luck medals and told her to return them to him when he came
for her. At that moment, he was uncertain whether he would live
or die.
Martin Cole --HIDEAWAY -- was my first beta
male. Heir apparent to a billion dollar dynasty Martin has grown
up privileged. If he wanted anything, then he only had to pay
for it.
Joshua Kirkland --VOWS -- is my most
complex hero. I took me ten years to feel comfortable as a
writer to create this character. To date he is my personal
favorite. I don’t know if readers realize it, but Joshua has
appeared and will appear in every book in the ten-book series.
Christopher Delgado is another beta male,
because he has become an expert in controlling his temper and
his passions. His career choice also plays a factor in his
personality. How others perceived him is always a main concern
for him because of his elected official status.
Lora- The women in your books are
interesting also, and you have a way of writing that never takes
away from their character in order to enhance the man’s role
in the stories. Is it difficult to write about two very
independent personalities when you are deciding on how they will
end up as a couple?
Rochelle-I use the same technique to create
the personalities for the heroines as the heroes. These women
become a female counterpart for their men without sacrificing
any of their femininity. How admirable would Eve Blackwell have
been if she hadn’t stood up to Matthew Sterling? And how soon
would it have taken for him to become bored with her if she
cowered every time he raised his voice to her?
I’ve created couples that plan to spend
the rest of their lives with each other; therefore, they should
be evenly matched. If not, then one is apt to stray.
Lora- In your latest novel "NO
COMPROMISE," Jolene Walker and Michael Kirkland have
several romantic interludes that lead to a pregnancy before the
marriage. While I like the fact that you keep your stories
believable, do you think that people are critical when sexual
relations lead to conception before wedlock?
Rochelle- Readers haven’t been critical
in the past with this situation. Regina was a "secret
baby" in HIDEAWAY; Regina Cole-Spencer gave birth to a son
before she married Aaron Spencer in HARVEST MOON, and Serena
Morris was pregnant with David Cole’s son before they married
in HEAVEN SENT. These situations are what I call fantasy within
the realm of possibility.
All of the couples are committed to
marrying each other before a pregnancy become apparent. In NO
COMPROMISE Michael proposed marriage to Jolene prior to her
pregnancy, and she accepts with the provision they wait several
months before they inform their respective families of their
decision to marry.
Michael tells his sister, Emily Delgado,
"She agreed to marry me before I got her pregnant. We’d
already set the date but decided to make it official after we
found out she was going to have a baby." This is very
different than agreeing to marry because of a baby.
Lora- Michael Kirkland’s father, Joshua
Kirkland, is the only illegitimate child in the series so far.
Do you think there is a chance that one of the other men may
stray from the love of their life, producing another love child?
Rochelle- No! Never!
These sophisticated men and women who dare
risk everything for love would never jeopardize their marriages
by engaging in an extramarital affair.
Lora- What else can readers expect from you
this year in addition to NO COMPROMISE?
Rochelle- I contributed to another St.
Martin’s Anthology,  ISLAND BLISS, with "From the
Heart." I use historic St. Simons Island as my setting for
this sensual tale of summer love.
The next installment in the HIDEAWAY Legacy
continues with HOMECOMING in November 2002. Dr. Tyler Cole will
take center stage the ninth book in this series.
December 2002 will celebrate my first
Silhouette Desire. Tentatively titled "A Time to Keep"
this novel will focus on an older heroine/younger hero and a
love that promises forever.
January 2003 will showcase another
anthology – this one from NAL. The theme of LIVING LARGE will
highlight full-figured women who love themselves and their lives
in what is promised to become a fun, sexy read.
June 2003 will bring down the final curtain
on the HIDEAWAY Legacy with Gabriel Cole’s RENEGADE.
The sexy Hardcastles from WELCOME TO LEO’S
[St. Martin’s Press] will return with their own affair of the
heart in 2003.
(Click here for a review of NO
COMPROMISE)
(Click here for a review of
PRIVATE PASSIONS)
|
