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Romantic
suspense readers, you are in for a treat when you
read this highly entertaining interview with Annie
Solomon!
Angela Etheridge: Your website shares a great deal
about you, including the fact that you are a native
of New York. How did growing up in New York shape
your career as an author?
Annie Solomon: Writing-wise, I think I have a
"big city" outlook, which has given me
more of an "edge". My heroes and heroines
tend to be pretty flawed, even morally ambiguous. I
think living close to a big city, where you rub
shoulders with people from different ethnic groups
and cultural backgrounds, you're exposed to many
different points of view, which can blur the line
between black and white. Career-wise, I think in
some ways it made me a bit more intimidated about
the chances of success. The world I knew was huge,
and conquering it seemed unlikely.
AE: When you begin developing your
novels, how is the story shaped? Does the plot
appear first or does a character keep appearing in
your mind? Which is most important in
developing a story?
AS: For LIKE A KNIFE and DEAD RINGER,
the characters came first. My third book, TELL ME NO
LIES, which is due out next April, started from a
plot idea. I prefer writing from character rather
than plot. For me, the characters are what gets me
involved in a story, so if they come first, the plot
kind of develops organically through them. But if
the plot comes first, you have to dig to find the
characters the plot demands, which is a bit more
manipulative and for me, harder to do. Inventing
character is harder than inventing plot. No--I take
that back. Both are hard! And both are important. I
like strong characters in a well-defined plot. I
think the plot issues are what draws me to romantic
suspense, which demands a strong external conflict
and gives your hero and heroine a context in which
to work out their issues and fall in love. Books
where the characters are two talking heads don't
appeal as much to me.
AE: LIKE A KNIFE deals with two
characters who must come to terms with events that
shaped their lives when they were children and young
adults. What made you decide that these two characters, Nick and Rachel, deserved a
"happily ever after"?
AS: LIKE A KNIFE is a story about
redemption. And I guess I think redemption is
possible. Nick did a lot of bad things in his past
and the book takes him through a journey that allows
him to atone for what he can. Although the book has
a "happy" ending, it's also somewhat
bittersweet. Nick still has his nightmares and is
still aware that he can never make up for
everything. But he can dedicate his life to trying.
Bottom line, I guess I believe in second chances.
AE: Will we learn more about Nick and
Rachel in DEAD RINGER? What lessons can we
expect to learn from this story?
AS: Nick and Rachel don't appear in
DEAD RINGER, which is a completely new story. Sorry!
In KNIFE I told the story of a man struggling with
his own goodness. I wanted to try and write a book
about a woman in a similar situation. The heroine in
DEAD RINGER, Angelina Mercer, sees herself as a
"bad" girl who has squandered her
goodness. The book gives her a chance to get her
self-respect back. I loved writing Angelina. She's voluptuous and not afraid of it, smart-mouthed,
cynical, and very, very vulnerable underneath. I'm
one of those people who only thinks of the perfect
come-back hours after I need it. Angelina never has
that problem!
AE: What spurred you to publish your first
novel?
AS: I spent most of my childhood with
my nose in a book. I can't remember a time when I
didn't want to tell stories.
AE: Which authors inspired you to
write?
AS: I loved Pat Gaffney's Wyckerley
trilogy. And books like Laura Kinsale's Flowers from
the Storm. These are highly emotional books, which I
love and admire. I also like Margot Early's
Superromance duo--The Keeper and Nick's Kind of
Woman--for their deep point of view. Ultimately, I
think the authors that truly inspired me to write
were those I read as a child--Beverly Cleary, the
Nancy Drew authors, Edward Eager, who wrote Half
Magic and Magic by the Lake, plus the many Golden
Books my mother read to me (anyone remember The
Color Kittens?).
AE: Which authors and genres do you
most enjoy reading?
AS: Strangely, I don't read much
suspense or mystery. It's usually not emotional
enough for me. Although recently, I've discovered T.
Jefferson Parker, whose books are as much character
driven as mystery/police procedural. And they're
dark. I tend to veer toward darker stories and
characters. Anne Stuart is a favorite because of
that. But I also love historicals for the
world-building. If it wasn't for the research, I'd
write them! I read some sci-fi/fantasy, but enjoy
that genre more on TV. I was a huge Farscape fan
until the series was cancelled. Grrr...
AE: Would you like to share anything
else?
AS: I just want to thank you for the
opportunity to "meet" more romance
readers. I love romance. Despite its undeserved
"lightweight" reputation, I believe
romance is a genre that celebrates women and their
values--commitment, love, community and
relationship. And I love talking about it, so I'd
love to hear from everyone out there! You can
contact me through my website at anniesolomon.com.
And don't forget to enter my contest, so you can win
a chance at a box of See's candy, and get on my
mailing list. I've started a monthly newsletter, so
you can keep up with me and my adventures. Thanks
again, and happy reading everyone!
AE: Thanks again, Ms. Solomon, for
your time! Readers can find DEAD RINGER and
LIKE A KNIFE at your local bookstore! And for
more information on this wonderful author, along
with contest details mentioned above, please visit
Ms. Solomon's website at www.anniesolomon.com
(Click
here for review of DEAD RINGER)
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