The Romance Reader's Connection

NOVEMBER AUTHOR OF THE MONTH

 

 

 

Linda Castillo 

 

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by 

Barb Deane

 

BD: You have been publishing fast paced, compelling romantic suspense stories for only three years and yet are becoming one of the hot new names in romance. How long have you been writing? What was your first sale?

LC: Gosh, has it only been three years? <grin> It feels like a lot longer, but that's probably because I've been writing seriously for about fifteen years. Wow, that's a long time when you start counting those fingers (and toes). I really did write my first romantic suspense novel when I was thirteen. I still have it. The story is hand written and was about two teenaged twin sisters whose parents' were divorced. These two girls, who were living in Illinois with their mother, decided they wanted to run away and live with their father, who was a Native American living on a reservation in Arizona. Of course, my two young heroines decided to make this journey on horseback, and they ran into all sorts of problems along the way. (Yes, I was a horse nut.) I had titled the story THE LONG JOURNEY, which is a fitting title since it covers both their external journey as well as their emotional one. It's really fun to go back and read passages that were invented inside my thirteen-year-old mind.

The first book I sold was REMEMBER THE NIGHT to Silhouette Intimate Moments on June 8, 1999. There's a story there, too, if you have a moment. (You can tell I'm into telling stories-good thing I'm a writer, huh??? <grin>) Anyway, I was, of course, sitting at my computer, working on another book. I was tired. It seemed as though I had been trying to sell forever. The manuscript had been in New York for a very long time. I was feeling disheartened, like maybe it wasn't ever going to happen. Then I got an almost overwhelming impulse to pull out that manuscript and just hold it, which I did. I think I may have even said a little prayer <grin>. It gave me a lift, because I was very fond of that story. I indulged for a few minutes then I went to my computer and got back to work. Half an hour later I got the call from my agent telling me REMEMBER THE NIGHT had sold. Pretty cool, huh?

BD: Why did you choose to start your career in category romance?

LC: The first two books I wrote were actually single titles, and they were very bad. Thankfully, they will never be published. <wry grin> Then I began reading Silhouette Intimate Moments in earnest, and I began to learn things I hadn't known before. No matter what you write, category romance has something to teach you. They encapsulate the romance novel, pack it into 251 pages. Category romance novels taught me about internal conflict, which, in my opinion is vital to writing a good romance. I didn't sell my first attempt at category. But I did sell the second one I wrote, which was REMEMBER THE NIGHT.

BD: What drew you to romantic suspense?

LC: Well, I think it must have started with Johnny Quest. <grin> I have always loved suspense and mystery. I read horror before ever reading romance. Dean Koontz. Stephen King. As a kid, when everyone else was watching cartoons, I was watching George A. Romero's NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD. LOL! It wasn't until I was into my twenties that I discovered romance. Then I discovered you could actually combine suspense and romance, and I knew I'd found my niche. What a wonderful revelation! I was writing woman-in-jeopardy stories long before they were hot.

BD: You have won many awards for your books in the past three years. Which was most meaningful? How do you think these awards have helped your career so far?

LC: I think the most meaningful award was my Rita nomination for Best First Book, with REMEMBER THE NIGHT. I didn't win the Rita, but that first sale was so damn hard won, just being a Rita finalist was an incredibly satisfying experience.

In 1999, I was a Triple Golden Heart finalist-that was an extremely satisfying award achievement, because I hadn't yet sold my first book and it was a badly needed shot in the arm. I went on to win the Romantic Suspense category that year, but just the nomination gave me the incentive to keep going, to keep trying to make that first sale.

As a published author, the most meaningful award was Waldenbooks Best-selling Debut Romantic Suspense Author presented in July 2003 in New York for THE PERFECT VICTIM. My Berkley editor had told me I needed to be at this big luncheon. I had no idea why-honest. I had assumed Berkley was going to make some kind of announcement about their new Sensation imprint. With my editor sitting on one side and one of my very best friends, Vickie Taylor, sitting on the other my name was called. I was eating and gabbing and generally not paying attention. When I heard my name I sat up straight and said, "Do I need to go up there?" It was a funny and very special moment.

BD: How do you balance your writing between the SIMs and the single-title books? Do you enjoy one more than the other? Do you have any plans to leave Silhouette for the bigger books permanently?

LC: Writing for two publishing houses is a balancing act. I feel privileged to be able to do both. But I also believe it is an achievement I have earned through very hard work, focus and complete dedication. Some people believe that writing for category is easier. It has been my experience that writing a category novel is every bit as challenging as writing a single title.

Category novels have tight parameters that must be followed because reader expectations are such a big focus. It is not always easy to write within tight parameters. By the same token, writing a single title is like driving in a strange place, trying to get to a certain point-without a map. Both are challenging. Both are satisfying. The one element I really like about single titles, however, is the opportunity to push the envelope. At this point in my career, I'll write category as long as I enjoy it.

BD: Have you received fan mail from a different type of fans after publishing single title books than you did with your SIMs?

LC: I receive a substantial amount of mail. Fan mail is one of the most personally satisfying aspects of writing. I personally answer every single letter. Well, except for those prison letters, but we won't get into that. LOL!

I do believe my single title readership is slightly different from my category readership. Since my single titles tend to have a quite a bit more suspense I get some crossover readers. It's amazing because I've received letters from people who "wouldn't pick up a romance novel on a dare" (unquote) But they loved the book. It just goes to show you that a lot of people have preconceived notions about romance novels that simply aren't true. They just don't know what they're missing! <grin>

BD: What goals do you have for your career next?

LC: I want to continue growing as a writer. I want to continue challenging myself and pushing myself to improve. I want to be a better writer. I want to continue building my readership. I'm going to stick my neck out here, but one concrete goal I have is to start hitting some of the major lists. I've hit the Waldenbooks list several times with my category books. I'm shooing for the USA Today extended list. Maybe next year??? The year after? Who knows?

BD: What books do you have scheduled for release next and what are you working on now?

LC: MIDNIGHT RUN from Silhouette Intimate Moments will hit the bookstores the last week in October/first week of November. It's my eighth book for Silhouette, and I think it's my best to date. I'm particularly fond of this book because my editor let me push the envelope on this one. It's an edgy story with a very fast pace, but it's also probably one of my more passionate stories. The hero is an ex-cop who was wrongly accused of murdering his partner and sent to prison. The heroine, sister of the dead cop, is the hero's ex-lover. The murder investigation tore them apart. With Jack in prison, Landis, a prosecuting attorney, is finally putting the pieces of her life back together. But after escaping from prison, Jack is back in her life. He has forty-eight hours to clear his name. Ah, it was a really exhilarating book to write.

My next Berkley project, a romantic thriller titled FADE TO RED, will be released in May 2004. It's my biggest and most ambitious project to date, and I can't tell you how excited I am about it. Talk about pushing the envelope! The book is dark and edgy and will take you places you've never gone before in a romance novel. This book is not for the faint of heart. OTOH, even though the book is heavy on the suspense, it also contains a very emotional and compelling romance.

BD: I want to thank Linda for taking time out of her busy schedule to share her time and comments with me. She is a superb writer whom we will definitely be hearing more from over the years. Personally, I loved MIDNIGHT RUN and look forward to reading FADE TO RED.

 

(Click here for a review of MIDNIGHT RUN)

 

 

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