Please Welcome Charlotte Stout author of Seattle Delight

The Angels are pleased to have Charlotte at our blog today. I hope she has lots of comments. I know as an author that I love to hear from my fans.

Charlotte will be giving away a $75.00 amazon gift card to some lucky commenter. So don't forget to say hi!

Seattle Delight

By

Charlotte Stout

BLURB:  

Charly’s life was simple and uncomplicated, just like she wanted it.  Or so she thought!  One chance encounter with a devilishly handsome stranger in her local coffee shop would turn her world, and her heart, upside down.  She would be thrown into a realm of privilege and romance, and more than just a little danger.  

How will she handle the dark gorgeous man who has inserted himself into her domain?  When danger threatens those she loves, will she have the strength of heart and spirit to do whatever it takes to save them?  Share Charly’s adventures as she navigates through the quickly changing landscape that has become her life.

INTERVIEW:

Before I get to your questions, I would like to say thank you for agreeing to host this stop on the tour.  I so appreciate your time and courtesy.

1.      What or who inspired you to start writing?

I can’t think of one specific thing or person who inspired me to write.  I believe it is all of the authors, whose books I have read, who have inspired me.

I started reading at a very young age and have always loved it.  It has been a wonderful respite for me from a house filled with seven siblings and the stress filled corporate world where I worked for twenty-five years. 

I am still an avid reader to this day and continue to get inspiration from other authors.  I am amazed and awed by how certain writers are able to string wonderfully seductive words together and create vivid images of a situation, a person, or incident that leaves us wanting more.  I sometimes have to pause and re-read a passage to savor the sensual nature of the words and how compelling they are.  Authors are awesome creators of diversion for all of us.

2.      How did you come up with your idea for your novel?

I’m a sucker for romance.  The way I met my husband and our courtship inspired me to write the story of Julien and Charly in Seattle Delight.

I was living in Seattle and met my husband when interviewing for a job with his company.  There was mutual interest between us from that first meeting.  When we finally started dating a few months after our first meeting, we had the best time.  He introduced me to things of a sophisticated nature and I introduced him to spontaneity and whimsical fun. 

When we were living in Hong Kong for a year I had a lot of time on my hands.  I was not working as I had left a job for this opportunity to live abroad.  I felt this hiatus from work was the perfect time to put pen to paper and write a story that reflected some of what we experienced.  Of course, we didn’t have a yacht, or a limousine and my husband is not French but it was the essence of what we experienced and felt that I wanted to capture.

I let my husband read the first draft of the book on one of our flights back to the States for a short visit.   It was a fourteen hour flight and what else is there to do but read or watch a movie?  He read the book and laughed out loud several times.  That’s when I knew I had captured the essence of my intent.  It swelled my heart to hear that laughter.

3.      What expertise did you bring to your writing?

I worked in the corporate world for twenty-five years as a senior executive in human resources.  In that position, I was responsible for writing official company policies, procedures, investigation reports, and position papers in response to EEO complaints. This is highly specific, technical writing that must be clear, concise and convincing.  I received several compliments and was sought after to perform this type of writing over my career.

While writing in the corporate world was a far cry from writing a romance or romantic suspense novel, it provided good discipline for writing in general.

Now, I can be whimsical and explore whatever I want.  I can have fun with the writing and the characters.  I feel a freedom and I relish that.

4.     As far as your writing goes, what are your future plans?

I am working feverishly to complete the editing of my first romantic suspense novel.  It is set in Minnesota and Alaska and I hope people find it to be a fast moving, yikes – I’m scared, kind of book.  

I am also working on finishing the very first novel idea I ever came up with many years ago but never finished.    I had completed 120 pages of this specific novel and presented to two of my very close girlfriends when we were on one of our trips to the Grand Canyon.  They have been begging me since they read those first 120 pages for the rest of the story.  I want to finish it not just for me but for them.  They still ask me about it to this day.

Then there is the sequel to Seattle Delight.  Julien and Charly are not finished with their journey together.  I actually love both of these characters and it is so fun to pretend I’m Charly when I am writing.

In between all of this I have started a blog and continue to work on my website. 

5.      If you could be one of the characters from this book, who would it be and why?

I love Charly from Seattle Delight.  She is funny, independent, sarcastic, strong, clumsy, naïve, curvy and has naturally curly hair.  I adore her inability to filter what she says out loud.  She makes me smile and I created her.  Go figure!

I appreciate the love and respect she has for her not so hip, wound a bit tight, mother; her sister and her father.   While Charly appears to work hard to antagonize her mother and ignore her mother’s suggestions – ergo orders – her love for her mother is obvious.

I think Charly is who I would have liked to be in my early 30’s. 

6.     When did you first decide to submit your work?  Please tell us what or who encouraged you to take this big step.

You are right. This is a huge step; a scary step; a necessary step. 

I am serious about my writing and moving forward with this second career.  In order to do this, I had to take this step. 

I discussed this step with a few of my girlfriends and they were very supportive.  They are my guide, my constant source of support, and my biggest fans.  If these wonderful women say I should do this, who am I to mistrust their guidance at this stage in my life? 

So, here I am, bearing my soul with responses to theses interview questions and in my writing.  It is a very difficult thing to let go of your writing and let others critique it.  No mother wants to hear anything bad about any of her children. I am no different about my children (my writing). 

7.      Do you outline your books or just start writing?

I think of a story and I start writing.  When I have completed the first chapter, I think about where the story is going, who the characters will be, conflict, etc.  I can fit all of my musings on one page.  Crazy eh!

I then develop the story as I write.  I think about where I want it to go each time I sit down at the computer.  I research as I need to and then write some more.  It sounds quite simple and mundane but there is nothing quite like the thrill of being “in the zone” and cranking out 2000 words in a few hours; words that actually make sense at the time.

When I go back through the book, once it is finished, I draft more of an outline to ensure I am not duplicating scenes; I have gone where I want to go and the characters are who I want them to be, and I delete characters and scenes that are superfluous to the story.  I love this, the editing phase of writing.

8.     How do you maintain your creativity?

I believe our creativity is found in life around us if we are open to it.  Think about all the people you know, things you have done, experiences you or others have had, and work you have done.  All of these things stimulate your creativity and can be used as fodder for characters and stories.  All of the things I have experienced certainly play into the development of my characters and stories.

As long as I live I won’t lack for character or story ideas.  Be careful friends and family members.  You never know when something you say or do may be used to stimulate my creativity.  Wink Wink!

9.     Do you belong to a critique group?  If so, how does this help or hinder your writing?

I have not belonged to critique groups in the past, nor do I belong to one now.  Do I think they could be helpful?  Absolutely!  I believe to benefit from the critique group you need to find one that you gel with.  There are lots of groups out there but finding the right one with just the right amount of give and take for your genre is not as easy as it might seem.

I like face-to-face meetings and finding critique groups that meet regularly face-to-face is difficult.  I like to discuss things with people more than once a month.  Online chatting is just not as effective for me. 

Will I join a critique group?  I am still searching for the right one.  When I find it, I will definitely join for the support, camaraderie and advice.

10.  What would you want your readers to know about you that is not in your bio?

My bio is short and sweet without divulging much about me.  I shared the first bio I wrote with a friend.  She told me it sounded like I was preparing one of my legal, no-nonsense descriptions and I needed to spice it up.  I told her, “Debbie, I’m not good at describing myself.  I’ve always done it from a résumé perspective.”  So, Debbie and her husband actually wrote the bio that is found on my web page and in the preface of the book.

I am a loyal and loving friend.  If you are my true friend, you will be my friend for life.  I have friends from eons ago and when we talk or see each other, which may not be often, it is like we were never apart.  I treasure those long-lasting and bonded friendships.

I am generous to a fault and that has caused me some heartache in the past.  But, it appears my heart is big because I keep giving and loving it more all the time.

I am fun, spontaneous and up for just about anything at any time.  I enjoy traveling with a couple of my long-time girlfriends, Bev and Patty.  We have traveled together once a year since 1997.  We are all so compatible that the trips we take are relaxing and totally fun.

Bev and I spent seven days/nights rafting down the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon.  Yes, I have peed in the Colorado River and I am proud of it. 

I am not necessarily athletic and I don’t camp so I wondered how I would do running the rapids, camping on sandbars or along the shore of the Colorado River, using a pup tent and peeing in the river.  I surprised myself and did just fine, Thank you very much.  In fact, it was one of the wildest and most fun trips I have ever taken. 

I love my family, my dog and my husband for sticking by me through thick and thin and there have been plenty of both in my life.  Awesome people surround me!

Thank you again for this interview.  I appreciate you taking the time to host me on your blog. 

Bonne Journée

Charlotte Stout

EXCERPT: 

Chapter One

“Hey, watch it,” Charly said as someone bumped her table and precious drops of the caffeine laced fuel danced across the table.  She couldn’t afford to lose a microgram of caffeine. Not today – well not any day!  Considering she’d written two lines and a finished first draft of her book was due in two months, she knew she was in a world of hurt.

Charly turned to see who had been so rude.  Okay, as a romance writer it was Charly’s job to write about hunks but what she saw before her left her breathless.  Looking at her with Caribbean Sea blue eyes, copper skin, and dark hair falling in waves to the top of his shoulders was a God.

“Pardon, I am so sorry,” he said in a deep, richly accented voice bowing his head in her direction. 

His eyes – those incredible blue eyes were intently focused on Charly making her feel self-conscious.  Charly regretted that she hadn’t taken more care with her appearance this morning.  Her damp hair was a mass of unruly curls, her face devoid of makeup with the exception of a dab of lip-gloss.  Charly rested her chin in her right hand appreciating the view before her until she laid a finger on her upper lip.  Panic rose within her; she felt it and if he noticed it she would be mortified.  Damn, why hadn’t she waxed her mustache last night?   Why did women get mustaches in the first place? It’s not like we don’t have enough to worry about. 

AUTHOR INFORMATION:

Charlotte lives in Arizona with her hunky husband Warren, and her spoiled Silky Terrier, Tess. Her life has been filled with serious endeavors, including earning a Master's degree, owning her own business, consulting and working in the corporate world as a human resources executive. Before penning her first novel, Charlotte had written several practical guides for business applications, not exactly steamy stuff. Luckily, she never lost sight of her dream to write a novel that would encompass her passion for gorgeous men, adventure and a love of life. Enjoy

Charlotte will be giving away a $75.00 amazon gift card to some lucky commenter. So don't forget to say hi!

LINKS:

Web site:  http://www.charlotteastout.com

Blog:   http://www.charlotteastout.com/blog