Sue-Ellen, welcome to TRR! Tell us about yourself.

Well, I think the things I write about are much more interesting than me personally ... which is why most writers write, I suppose. I'm not one to enjoy being in the limelight and much prefer understatement and reserve. I am a Florida native but spent fifteen years living abroad. My greatest passions are the British Isles, in particular, Scotland, as I am of Scots descent, and medieval history. I also am a great dog lover. And I've been happily married for almost twenty years.

Are you coming to romance writing from another job?

Yes. I worked for the airlines for twenty-some years. I was a flight attendant and flew mostly international routes because I am fluent in German. I write full time now and am very happy about that. Constant travel for so many years made me quite a homebody. I really appreciate not going anywhere and, these days, only get excited about packing my suitcase to go to the UK or a writers conference.

What led you to write romance?

Yes, I am a longtime reader. My mother taught me to read before I entered school. I've been an avid booklover all my life. I believe this is true of all writers, it's our common basis. Regardless of our former careers, we all were first and foremost voracious readers.

I was led to write romance by my own favorite author, Becky Lee Weyrich. After sending her a fan letter, we began corresponding and became friends. I'd send her lengthy letters describing my travels and after a while, she told me she felt I should try writing romances. Without her urging, I would probably still be penning nothing more exciting than lengthy letters and detailed travel journals.

Tell us about your road to publication.

It took about five years before I sold. Of those five, only about two and a half were spent seriously writing. I wasted a lot of time submitting early work that was by no means ready to be out there, and I also wasted a tremendous amount of time and energy being furious and frustrated over rejections. I dearly wish I could go back and start over. I think I might have sold sooner had I not allowed myself to get so angry and depressed over rejections. I'd stop writing for weeks and months each time, and that is the worst thing an aspiring writer can do. You have to scrape yourself up and keep going.

I never entered contests because I did not care for the idea of sending my work out to someone I did not know. I have good friends who have had great success by going the contest route, but it wasn't for me. Ditto critiquing. I prefer my agent's opinion on any works-in-process. I never did, and still do not care for, the idea of other writers seeing my work in progress.

What kind of research was involved for your first book?

Years and years of studying medieval history and years and years of travel to the British Isles. I'm a self-taught medievalist and have been studying medieval history for my entire adult life and continue to do so. I have quite a large personal research library, plus research onsite on my trips to the UK. During the fifteen years I lived overseas, I spent a great amount of time exploring Great Britain. So I am writing what I know and love best.

Who are your influences as a writer?

Probably Daphne Du Maurier and Victoria Holt. I devoured their gothics as a young girl. Atmosphere is very important to me and should be so vivid, so real, it seems like a character in itself. At least that is what I enjoy. My ideas come from places I've visited. The atmosphere speaks to me, shows me the hero, and then I have my story. His story. But it all starts with an atmospheric place I've visited, and the kind of atmosphere I love is the kind seen in the old gothics. So, they would be my main influence. Definitely.

What does your family think of having a romance author in their midst?

Ha ha ha. My husband told me for years that I was chasing rainbows and more or less accepted my writing as a fanciful hobby. Now, he has done a complete turn-around and is my greatest supporter. It's truly amazing and I couldn't be more pleased.

Tell us about plans for future books.

Well, since the Scottish medieval is truly where my heart is, I don't see myself writing anything else. I also think it is important to build a readership and believe if readers enjoy my Scottish medievals, that is also what they will want to continue to read from me. My next Scottish medieval is KNIGHT IN MY BED and will be out in May 2002. Someday I would like to write paranormals, too. Ghost heroes and time travels, but these, too, would be set in Scotland or elsewhere in the British Isles, and would most definitely have medieval heroes as either a ghost hero or time traveling heroine who goes back to that time. But this is a subgenre I would not move into until I am better established with the pure Scottish medievals, and even then, I would only attempt such as a second, additional writing venue. I do not want to stop writing Scottish medievals. They are my greatest love.

How can readers get in touch with you?

I prefer e-mail. Readers can reach me through my website at www.welfonder.com. I answer all mail I receive, though the business side of writing may cause a delay of a few days in responding.

Sue-Ellen, thanks for joining us, and best of luck! Readers, we have a review of Devil in a Kilt on our Historical page.

September 21, 2001