Tracy

Whether it is due to the fact that she lives in a town steeped in civil war history or because of her fondness for such writers as William Faulkner, Eudora Welty and Katherine Ann Porter is up for debate, but Charlotte Hughes brings a welcome shot of Southern comfort to her readers.

Raised in South Carolina and Texas, Charlotte comes by her feel for the South- its voices and traditions- honestly. "It's not a perfect place but my roots are here and the characters that populate my books are the people that I have grown up with." She describes her mother as the heroine of her life. "She taught me the value of hard work- something I have never been afraid of- and that's allowed me to remain a highly motivated individual."

Although she majored in English and communications, Charlotte maintains that most of what she has accomplished is self-taught. "I always read a lot, and one day, while running a day care center, I picked up a Silhouette romance. That book saved me- I literally 'saw the light' and began to write myself." When her husband was transferred to Kansas City, Charlotte decided to write full-time. "My first category romance manuscript was turned down but I sold the second one. I look at first books as very useful and necessary learning tools of what not to do."

Since that first rejected manuscript, Charlotte Hughes has gone on to write more than thirty critically acclaimed novels running the gamut from romance to horror, mystery to humor. A regular occupant of Waldenbooks and B. Dalton's bestseller lists, Charlotte was one of the first category romance writers to secure a top-fifty ranking on USA Today's list. She has won the respect of both Southern Literary cousins such as Pat Conroy and Janet Evanovich, and her romance peers. A two-time recipient of the Maggie Award, Charlotte has also won the Talisman Award for best short story.

She lives in Beaufort, SC surrounded by beautiful antebellum homes with her two dachshunds, Rambo and Muffin.

Tracy - What led you to your writing career?

CH - I began writing romances after my ex-husband was transferred to Kansas, and I found myself 1100 miles from my nearest living relative. I was butt-deep in snow – dang, I’d never seen that much snow! I’d been an avid reader for years so I just naturally decided to try my hand at it

Tracy - This year you have three books coming out. First up is your debut for the Silhouette Desire line, followed by the charming and laugh-out-loud HOT SHOT in September. After that is the release of a project for which loads of fans have impatiently been waiting – your project with Janet Evanovich. Can you tell readers how this project came about? How many books will complete this series?

CH - Janet Evanovich and I have been friends for years, both of us wrote for Bantam’s Loveswept line. Because we both share the same sick sense of humor, she approached me with the idea to co-author a series. It sounded fun. I helped Janet rewrite an earlier book that was a favorite of her readers. The project turned out even better than either of us expected! Right now we’re working on the second book of the series, entitled FULL TILT. We don’t know how long the series will last – as long as fans enjoy it we’ll just keep going.

Tracy - HOT SHOT is a riot! Though I was saddened that the story came to an end. Will you ever return to Purdyville, NC and to the lives of Frankie and Matt?

CH - I don’t know if I’m going to return to Purdyville or not, but I think it would be fun. Once in a while a character becomes so real that you don’t want to let go of them. Frankie was that kind of character. I also fell in love with Winnie Frye in A NEW ATTITUDE, and I’d like to bring her back one day. Time will tell.

Tracy - Readers have all commented on your talent for romantic comedy, and at this point I think the only sub-genres you haven’t tried are historical and paranormal romance. Would you ever consider trying your hand at one of those?

CH - I did actually try my hand at historical and paranormal when I did an anthology with two other authors. The book, MOONLIGHT, MADNESS & MAGIC, begins during the Salem witch trials, and I delved into areas like reincarnation and time travel and what was referred to at the time as "soft horror." This came about after Ann Rice’s success with her vampires. Publisher’s Weekly compared one of my scenes to something from a Stephen King novel, which, of course made me giddy with delight.

Tracy - Your small town settings come to life within your pages, but the characters also add life. Do you find it easier building the setting or the characters? Do you develop your setting first and then create the perfect characters to fit within your new town, or vice versa?

CH - My settings are mostly small Southern towns because that’s what I know best. So I already know where my characters will be placed. I am usually "hit" with a wacky idea for an opening, and I go from there.

Tracy - I read that some of the funniest scenes in your books are taken from events in your life. Can you share a few? (The story about your neighbor in the boxers is a riot! Was the safety off? <G>)

CH - It’s true I take some of the craziest things from my life and add them to my stories, changing the names of the innocent so they won’t die of embarrassment. The alley/robbery scene in my Silhouette, THE MILLIONAIRE COP AND MOM TO BE, was based on something that actually happened to me. I once rented a spare bedroom to a cop, and I heard this loud noise coming from next door. I just knew my neighbor was being raped and bludgeoned. I banged on Rob’s door (real name here) and told him my neighbor was in serious trouble. We raced outside (I’m in my pajamas) and found clothes in my neighbor’s courtyard, and the screen off her window. What really happened was my neighbor had gone out of town, and her daughter was visiting from college, and she and her boyfriend were in a spat. The girl had forgotten her key so she’d broken into her mother’s house. She was pitching one hell of a temper tantrum inside! Of course, Rob and I did not know this at the time. He told me to go home and call 9-1-1. As I was dialing, I thought I heard shots. I didn’t know this girl was throwing pots and pans against the wall. When 9-1-1 answered, I became a blubbering fool and told them my tenant was a cop who’d just answered an emergency next door and that I thought he’d just been shot. Well, hell, you should have seen my parking lot about ten minutes later. Blue lights flashing everywhere! I apologized to Rob profusely afterward, but he just smiled and said, "Thanks for the backup, Charlotte."

Yes, my neighbor (another good looking male) did actually come running into my house in his underwear, carrying a gun. I assume the safety was on, and that he wasn’t injured, because he still gets dates. Stuff like this happens to me all the time.

Tracy - With such a busy schedule, do you often find time to indulge in a book? What is currently on your reading pile?

CH - One of the biggest disappointments I’ve known since becoming a writer is that I don’t read much fiction anymore. I read a lot of motivational and self-help material because I need all the help I can get. 

Tracy - What’s in the works for 2003? Will your release schedule be as busy as it was this year?