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Welcome to our New Faces column, where you can meet brand-new romance authors and find out about their books. This time we're visiting with Jeannie Watt, whose first book is A Difficult Woman from Harlequin Superromance.
Welcome to our New Faces column, where you'll meet the latest romance authors to debut on your local bookshelves. This time we're visiting with Rona Sharon, whose first book is MY WICKED PIRATE from Zebra. Let's meet her.
Rona, welcome to TRR! Tell us about yourself.
I'm so happy to meet you! MY WICKED PIRATE was released a little over a month ago and I still haven't come down to earth yet! Becoming a published author is a dream come true for me. I hope you'll enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it!
As for me… you're in for a little surprise. I'm a sabra, a cactus. Wait! Don't leave. I'm not a mental case. A cactus means I'm Israel-born. Figuratively it implies to a prickly exterior and a tender heart, but the truth is I'm an absolute romantic! I live in sunny Tel Aviv, a block away from the turquoise Mediterranean Sea. I love to read, travel the world, learn foreign languages, watch movies and documentaries, cook gourmet meals that "impregnate" my family (when they deflate, they ask for lasagna,) and above all spend time with the people I love. I have an amazing two-year-old nephew, who is my best story customer and most honest critic. When I bore him, he goes off to play with his toys. I know the story is a winner if my sister calls to ask what happens next with the sick baby elephant…
The year 2006 was a challenging one for me, because I renovated and moved into my new apartment while writing my second historical romance for Kensington, first time on a deadline! When I completed the book - on time! - I swore I'd take some time off and visit my brother in New York City, but… alas… the Muse is calling to me again!
Are you coming to romance writing from another job?
Yes and no. I cannot remember a time when I wasn't inventing stories, usually involving a romantic couple (and performed by my Barbie dolls.) Throughout my school days, I've written short stories, chapters that never became books, school plays, and poems. I wrote my first long historical romance during my 9th grade (while my sister fed me chocolate croissants to keep me going.) But those remained unpublished. Writing was my hobby.
When it came to choosing a career, I decided to 'play it safe.' I got a BA in accounting and economics (while reading romance novels at the back of the classroom,) and landed a great job with the Treasury Department. But I kept my "night job", namely, reading, researching, and writing. Soon after completing MY WICKED PIRATE, I made the decision to quit my day job and pursue my one creative passion - writing passionate love stories!
What led you to write romance?
I was fourteen years old, flying home from NY. I spent the entire flight devouring Julie Garwood's THE BRIDE. When I got home, I set down to write a historical romance novel.
Why historical? Because I live in a country rich with history and spiritualism, dating from the time of the Phoenicians, King David, the Roman Caesars, the Crusaders, the Ottomans, Napoleon, the British Empire, and everyone else who dropped by between times. How could I not be fascinated by history? BTW, to this day my first novel from the 9th grade still sits on my bookshelf, a reminder that dreams do come true!
Tell us about your road to publication.
While writing MY WICKED PIRATE, I researched the US publishing industry. I sent lots of query letters to agents and was asked by several of them to send out my manuscript. Regrettably - but ultimately for the better - they returned it, saying the same thing, "Good read, too long, resend a shorter version."
Grouching, I set about to cut my 820-pages "masterpiece" in half. Zealously defending the plot, I cut from the fat: I rephrased difficult sentences, tightened the dialogue, the imagery, and pushed the story faster, or as they say in the movie SPACEBALLS - I took only what I needed to survive (and learned how to live without my industrial strength hair-dryer!)
A year later, the book was lean and mean and ready to be pitched at the Writer's Digest Writers Conference prior to BookExpoAmerica in New York City in the summer of 2005. (Writers Digest later mentioned me on its web site as one of the conference's success stories!) I met my wonderful agent, Evan Marshall, during a pitch session, and before I knew it, I had a two-book contract from John Scognamiglio at Kensington - the home of some of my favorite romance authors!
What kind of research was involved for your first book?
I do a lot of research. I have great respect for readers. Each reader has her/his area of expertise. They want to experience something new and exciting and will only suspend the disbelief so long as they don't stumble onto a huge error or are subjected to a run of clichés. Besides, Kensington's editors are sophisticated readers as well as experts at sniffing anachronisms. They wouldn't let me get away with anything!
While writing MY WICKED PIRATE I read tons of books and web articles on every relevent subject. I visited most of the beautiful places I wrote about, to absorb the scents and the atmosphere. I even went to an old fortuneteller in Jerusalem to personally experience what Alanis, the heroine of the book, does when Eros takes her to see Sanah, the Algerian fortuneteller. The jury is still out on whether I'm a believer or not, but it was fun!
Tell us about your debut book.
MY WICKED PIRATE features Eros, an enigmatic Italian pirate, and Lady Alanis, the beautiful Englishwoman he captures on her way to marry her fiancé. Alanis is intrigued by and drawn to her dark, irresistible captor. Sometimes he behaves like a pirate, sometimes like a prince. He has royal crests, private vendettas to settle with empires, and deep emotional scars.
When her fiancé refuses to ransom Alanis because he's in love with someone else, Eros whisks her off on a thrilling adventure to places of mystery and enchantment.
Needless to say, Eros is not what he seems, but neither is Alanis… and what begins as a friendly bargain explodes into a passionate journey of love, danger, betrayal, and glory.
Who are your influences as a writer?
When I started writing, I tried to emulate the romance authors I enjoyed reading at the time, but my own voice, emotions, and perspective of life took over. I'm a melting pot of Homer, Joanna Lindsey, Ovid, Meagan McKinney, Propertius, Amanda Quick, Machiavelli, Jane Austen, Alexander Dumas, Jo Beverly, Byron, Wilde, the Bronte sisters, Sabatini, Mark Twain, Rosemary Rogers, Freud… I know, I know, my list is somewhat peculiar. As a writer, I endeavor to diversify my reading materials all the time, discover new and vintage voices, in romance as well as in the classics, and enthrall readers with richer experiences.
Having said that, I confess that I LOVE the cinema, and any movie directed by Ridley Scott, Spielberg, and others of their ilk instantly sparks my imagination!
What does your family think of having a published romance author in their midst?
They are so proud and supportive! They read my manuscripts, offer indispensable critiques, encourage me, brainstorm with me, listen to me complain about my characters, advise me on the 'business aspect', and brag about my "great talent." They are a great source of inspiration to me and always find their way into my books.
I also have a close circle of disgustingly intelligent friends, my 'adopted sisters.' I never submit a book before they all read it. Each one has a very exasperating gift for discerning a specific glitch - and they are always right! Thanks to them, I'm constantly challenged to hone my craft and close the gap between orally telling a story and writing it.
Tell us about plans for future books.
My up-coming historical romance features Miss Isabel Aubrey, Society's darling, who is in need of an influential gentleman to champion her charity cause: helping destitute females, whose male providers perished in the Napoleonic wars. Colonel Lord Ashby is the perfect candidate: Commander of the 18th Hussars and a decorated war hero, he was also her late brother's best friend and senior officer in the Peninsula. Unfortunately, the 'gargoyle' earl suffered a facial injury so severe he confines himself to his Park Lane manor and never shows his face in public. Isabel has no alternative but to risk her reputation and call on him in person. Or in other words - "Phantom of the Opera meets Jane Austen!"
As for my next project, I'm still debating between another Regency romance, derived from the second book, and the story of a disillusioned knight, returning to England from the crusade of Richard the Lionheart, who is persuaded to go back into "hell" to help the lady he wants to marry find her missing brothers. We'll see. Maybe readers can help me decide?
How can readers get in touch with you?
I LOVE to hear from readers! I'm overwhelmed by the beautiful letters I receive and am so grateful! I answer every letter personally, but I would still like to thank the readers who take the time to share their reading experiences with me. It is my sweetest reward!
Please email me to rona.sharon@gmail.com or visit my website at http://www.ronasharon.com
Rona, thanks for visiting us, and best of luck! Readers, we have a review of MY WICKED PIRATE on our Historical page.
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