Alice Orr loves to write. Especially
romantic suspense novels and blog posts. She’s been a workshop leader, book
editor and literary agent. Now she lives her dream of writing full-time. So far
she’s published fifteen novels, three novellas and a memoir – either
traditionally or independently. Learn more about Alice and her books at her
website. Today Alice sits down with us for an interview.
When
did you first decide you wanted to write novels?
The first writers’ conference I ever
attended was at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, NY. I’d been writing
articles for various periodicals for some time, but I’d never admitted to
anyone that what I really wanted to write was fiction. In a class taught by the
poet Judith McDaniel, I spoke for the first time at that conference. She’d
asked us what stood in the way of our most important writing goal. I stood up
and said, “I want to write novels, but I don’t think I have any imagination.”
Then I cried. The decision flowed out of me at that moment, along with my
tears.
How
long did it take you to realize your dream of publication?
It took a while for me to publish a
novel because I wouldn’t submit to publishers. I’d write just about enough of the
manuscript to have the ending in sight. Then I’d say to myself, “I have a
better story idea than this one.” I’d jettison my current project and begin
another one. This was still the hard copy submission era so I’d stash the
incompletes on shelves my husband built for them in our hallway. I did this
again and again until a friend of mine asked, “What are you going to do?
Collect those yellowing manuscripts til there’s no more room in your place for
shelves?” I was tempted to answer, “We’ll get a bigger place.” I made my first
submission instead, and that became my first published novel, a contemporary
romance from New American Library.
Are
you traditionally published indie published or a hybrid author?
I’ve been all of the above.
Where
do you write?
I write in my home office, with
pictures of my family on one wall, my grandchildren’s artwork on another wall
and mementos of my writing career on a third wall and atop the bookcases.
Is
silence golden, or do you prefer music when you write?
I prefer silence, except for the sounds
of breeze and birdsong through my open window in summer.
How
much of your plots and characters is drawn from real life? From your life?
I write about families now. My own
family experience certainly informs those plots, but so do other families I
encounter. I’m always observing and taking notes. As for characters I may have
borrowed, in part, from real life – I’ll never tell.
Describe
your process for naming your characters?
I used to have a master list of
possible character names. Two lists actually, one for first names, a second for
last names. One of my favorite sources for those names was the credits at the
end of movies. I’m a huge movie fan. Then I misplaced those master lists. Now,
I let whim and inspiration from the goddess of creativity be my guides.
What’s
the quirkiest quirk one of your character has?
Character quirks are overrated in my
opinion. Characters come alive on the page because they are more than their
quirks, more than the sum of those surface parts. They are three-dimensional
people through and through.
What’s
your quirkiest quirk?
I know I have quirks, but to myself I’m
just me. You’ll have to ask my husband this question. I’m sure he has the
answer.
Everyone
at some point wishes for a do-over. What’s yours?
My first marriage. I wouldn’t have my
beloved children without that error in judgment, so I’ll embrace the
relationship. I simply shouldn’t have married him.
What
is your biggest pet peeve?
My own inadequate supply of patience,
sometimes with people but mostly with situations.
You’re
stranded on a desert island. What are your three must-haves?
Photos of my family. A copy of The Holy Bible. Moisturizer.
What was the worst job
you’ve ever held?
I can’t give details because somebody
might guess where it was. I’ll just say there were unkind people working there,
not so much unkind to me as they were unkind to others.
What’s
the best book you ever read?
Always the one I’m reading now, and
there are generally several. Check my Kindle.
Ocean
or mountains?
Ocean. Please. Please. Please.
City
girl or country girl?
I’ve lived in both. I’ve loved both,
and occasionally I’ve hated both. I’m an adaptable be-here-now kind of person
so at present I’m an urban girl because I live in New York City. More
important, like most writers, I carry my true region of preference in my head.
What’s
on the horizon for you?
God willing. More loving. More family.
More writing. Maybe an apartment with a terrace.
Anything
else you’d like to tell us about yourself?
I adore the people I meet through my
work, the (mostly) women who write, read and produce romance and women’s
fiction. We are generous, irreverent, straightforward, feisty, sometimes
grouchy and always gorgeous. I’m overjoyed to be in such company.
A
story of tangled roots and tormented love.
Two families are shaken to their
roots. Vanessa Westerlo must find her roots. Bobby Rizzo is torn between
Vanessa and his true roots. They are all tormented by love – past and too present.
Meanwhile a man has been murdered. And that is the most tormented tangle of
all.
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Enjoyed your interview, Alice. Best wishes with your book!
ReplyDeleteGreat interview, Alice!
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