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The Romance Reader's
Connection
AUGUST AUTHOR OF THE MONTH
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Metsy Hingle |
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Click on cover to purchase
book.
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by Tracy Farnsworth
With her debut full-length contemporary, THE WAGER, premiering this month, Metsy Hingle enters a territory that is new
to her; and what a grand entrance into the world of MIRA Books! I am honored to have interviewed Ms. Hingle for TRRC’s August AOTM and introduce new readers and her longtime fans to a peek into her life and books! Be sure to
check out the reviews for THE WAGER in our Book Reviews section and reviews for both WIFE WITH AMNESIA and BAYOU BLOOD BROTHERS in our archives! Also be sure to check out our contest this month for a chance to
win a copy of BAYOU BLOOD BROTHERS!
Special thanks to Metsy for taking time out of her super busy schedule for this interview! TRRC and I wish her the best of luck with THE WAGER and her upcoming releases!!
Tracy- THE WAGER is your debut mainstream novel, which I am sure is going to be a great success! Did you find it harder to write a full-length story or easier since you were able to spend longer getting to know the characters?
Metsy- A great success? I've certainly got my fingers crossed and am hoping for that. And speaking of crossing my fingers, when I found out that THE WAGER had been picked up by both Doubleday and Rhapsody Book Clubs, I took
it as an omen--a good one. Alas, I'm a superstitious soul which is probably understandable given that I'm Catholic and from New Orleans. (I don't set a foot outside the house without my guardian angel pin on my shoulder. <g>)
As to whether THE WAGER was easier or more difficult to write--I'd have to say a little of both. It was easier to write in that I did get to spend more time with the characters. I also was able to have my central characters interact with the
secondary characters and expand their roles beyond the immediate love story. What was difficult was that I had never written a book that was so large in scope and had to take deep breaths and tell myself I could do it. Of course, only
giving myself three months to write the book didn't help either. <g>
Tracy- Writing can be a very time consuming task, do you have any hobbies or techniques that you use for breaks or down times?
Metsy- Down time? What's that? I'm afraid it's been a while since I've had any. When I'm working on a book, I write every day. It helps me to stay focused, in the heads of my characters and keeps the momentum going for me. One of the
things I do to make the characters more real for me--and hopefully for the readers--is to immerse myself in them and the setting whenever possible.
For instance, THE WAGER is set in New Orleans primarily during winter and early spring. So I moved one of my sweet olives into my study where I was able to constantly catch a whiff of the scent. I put a bud vase with my heroine's favorite
flowers and kept a handkerchief sprayed with her perfume on my desktop. I pasted up pictures of my main characters (torn from magazines), kept a folder with clothing I'd envisioned them wearing, pictures of the oak trees with moss
dangling from the branches, grand old houses, etc.
What I do if I need to break away from the book for a few hours is spend time in my garden. Since New Orleans is such a warm climate, we have blooms throughout the year--even during our winters. I have a large rose garden and can
generally clip blooms right through December. I have other gardens as well, but the roses are probably my favorite, followed by the gardenias and calla lilies in the spring. I always keep fresh flowers throughout the house, so working out
in the garden helps me to relax and clear my head.
The other thing I love to do is cook and am pretty good at it--at least my family and friends think so. Nothing fancy, just
your basic Creole dishes and lots of thick gravies and seafood dishes. I was fortunate in that I learned many of the dishes
I still use today from an older nun at the orphanage I lived in when I was younger. My husband is the oldest of four and we have four children of our own, plus six grandchildren. So when the entire family gathers, we have quite a crew. My
house is usually the site for all family holidays, so I guess it's a good thing I don't mind spending time in the kitchen.
Of course, it goes without saying that I love to read. I read a pretty broad spectrum, but romance and romantic suspense remain my favorites.
Tracy- You have written a number of books for Silhouette and Harlequin. Starting with SEDUCED which was written in 1994; which of the characters through the years have been closest to your heart?
Metsy- That's a tough one. But probably my two favorite books were SECRET AGENT DAD for Silhouette Desire and THE WAGER, the single title for MIRA Books. SECRET AGENT DAD was special to me for several reasons. It was
my first continuity series--where you're given the characters names and occupations and must come up with a story for them that also touches on the elements you're asked to work with and weave into the other stories in the series. That's not
always an easy task. But I managed to take what I thought was an implausible idea and turn it into a story that stirs the heart. It was also the first time I'd used any of my own background of growing up in an orphanage and foster homes for a
character's back-story, so that made it special too. And the other authors in the series with me--well, I was the least published of the group and had long admired their work, so I was thrilled to work with them.
What made it even better was that we bonded while working on the series and became very good friends. I'm proud to say that our friendship continues.
THE WAGER was special for different reasons--because it was the first mainstream story that I'd written, and I had the freedom to develop the characters more fully. I also set it in my hometown--New Orleans--and had the characters
involved in a business I knew about firsthand (hotels). I also had been wanting for sometime to do a story about a woman who discovers that her life and heritage--or at least the life and heritage that she's believed are hers--have all been a lie.
The book was a challenge to me on many levels both personally and professionally. I only hope the readers think I've succeeded.
Tracy- This is a busy year for you. So far this spring, you have had two books released and your first mainstream novel will follow them in August. Tell us more about your current and upcoming projects.
Metsy- You're right. It is a busy year for me and next year is shaping up to be equally busy. After THE WAGER comes out this August, I have another Desire scheduled for release in January 2002 called NAVY SEAL DAD. That will be
followed in June 2002 by AND THE WINNER GETS....MARRIED!, Book 6 of DYNASTIES: THE CONNELLYS,
part of a 12-book continuity for Silhouette Desire. In August 2002 my second MIRA--BEHIND THE MASK--will be released.
Also, I'm part of a single-title continuity for Silhouette called LONE STAR COUNTRY CLUB. These books are being issued as single titles and are available direct in late 2002. My book--THE MARRIAGE PROFILE--is book number 11
and will be issued retail in March 2003.
Tracy- You recently gave up a job in the hotel business to pursue a full-time writing career (although I can't imagine how you were able to write all these books and work.) Are you missing
work so far, or enjoying creating new roles and characters?
Metsy- Actually, I loved my job, but it was quite demanding and while I miss some of the people, I don't miss commuting two hours a day or board meetings and receptions, etc. I'm much happier writing--although having committed to turn in
four books by the end of November has me spinning a little faster than I'd like. <g> And since my good friend Sandra Brown has both of her children
getting married this year, I'll be making several trips to Texas and New York for weddings, showers and then stealing another few days to spend with the Brown’s for our annual getaway. This time it will be to celebrate my and Jim's 25th
wedding anniversary.
All I can say is that Nora Roberts was right about one thing--growing up Catholic and being educated by nuns has its advantages. Discipline and guilt are pretty strong motivators. <g>
Tracy- And for me this is the most important... Are there any plans to reunite Nick and Faith in the future?
Metsy- Oh, I'm so glad you liked Faith and Nick. Those characters and that relationship weren't planned when I started writing THE WAGER, but they took on a life of their own and I'd love to write their story. Whether I'll get the chance or
not I suspect will depend on the success of THE WAGER and the number of requests MIRA gets asking that I do their story. I'll keep my fingers crossed for both. I hope you will, too.
Also, please allow me to thank those readers in advance who pick up a copy of THE WAGER. I do hope they'll let me know if they enjoyed it
Hugs,
Metsy Hingle
Visit Metsy Hingle’s website -- http://www.metsyhingle.com
(Click here for a review of THE WAGER)
(Click here for a review of WIFE WITH AMNESIA)
(Click here for a review of BAYOU BLOOD BROTHERS)
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METSY'S BACKLIST
SEDUCED (Silhouette Desire #900) 12/94
SURRENDER (Silhouette Desire #978) 01/96
BACKFIRE (Silhouette Desire #1026) 09/96
LOVECHILD (Silhouette Desire #1055) 02/97
THE KIDNAPPED BRIDE (Silhouette Desire #1103) 10/97
SWITCHED AT THE ALTAR (Silhouette Desire #1133) 03/98
THE BODYGUARD & THE BRIDESMAID (Silhouette Desire #1146) 05/98
DAD IN DEMAND (Silhouette Desire #1241) 09/99
SECRET AGENT DAD (Silhouette Desire #1250) 11/99
THE BABY BONUS (Silhouette Desire #1295) 05/00
BAYOU BLOOD BROTHERS (Harlequin Intrigue #606) 03/01 *Anthology
WIFE WITH AMNESIA (Silhouette Desire #1359) 04/01
THE WAGER (MIRA) 08/01
And a few Spanish Titles:
DEMASIADO PERFECTO (Tiempo Para Ti – Harlequin Deuso)
UNA ROSA PERFECTO (Harlequin Dueso #191)
RENDICION (Harlequin Dueso #35154)
AVENTURA SIN FIN (Harlequin Deuso #35223)
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