- What inspired you to become a writer? Was it something that started at a young age? I started in my forties. I discovered romance while I was trying to lose weight and spending time on the treadmill. After months of reading the stories, I tried to write one.
- Could you tell us a little bit about your path to publication? Take us through your journey – from the itch of writing, the seed of an idea – through being published? I have no idea where my ideas come from. Sometimes something mundane will trigger something and the idea begins. I write them down and then let my mind stew. Some take root, others wither. The ones that take root, I start to flesh them out, characters, conflict, plot. Then I write the story. Some I submit to my current publishers while others I sent to my agent so they can be shopped to a wider audience. From there, they are contracted and the publication process starts.
- How do you get to know your characters? How do you make sure each character can stand by themselves? My characters tend to make themselves known to me. Its like a crowd in my head sometimes with general background noise, but them sometimes one will raise his hand, jump up and down, or just step forward. It’s the latter ones I have to watch out for. They want a story, but don’t like to do a lot of talking.
- For you, what makes a great story? For me there is one thing that makes a great story and that is being able to touch the readers heart. If you can do that in one way or another, then the book is a success.
- If you could offer one piece of advice to writers looking for their work to be published, what would it be? Always write from your heart. Follow it where it leads. Don’t write what you think will sell, but what touches and moves you. That will also move the reader. See #4 above.
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“Dexter, it’s Jane…. You need to come home right away.” Suddenly, he listened more attentively. “It’s your mother….” She could barely speak, but Dex’s stomach wrenched. Jane was one of those people who took everything as it came with the strength and stoicism worthy of a Hemingway character. She was his mother’s life partner. Dexter’s father had passed away ten years ago, and afterward his mother had decided that she was going to be true to herself. She met Jane a year later, and they had been together ever since. Dex had never been prouder or loved his mother more than when she decided that she was going to live life on her own terms, even if he and Jane didn’t always see eye to eye at first.
“What’s happened?” He struggled to speak. If Jane was this upset over the phone, it had to be bad.
“She had a stroke last night. We got her to the hospital and she’s in the ICU, but you need to get here as fast as you can. Do you need help getting a flight?”
Dex tried to think if he had enough money available on his credit card to pay for one. Probably not, given the fact that this would be last-minute. “I don’t know.”
“I’ll get you a ticket and email you the details. It will be the earliest flight I can get, so you should start packing. Okay?” She sounded as frazzled as Dex felt.
“Yes. How bad is it?”
Jane didn’t answer right away. “Just get here as fast as you can.” She ended the call.
Dex hurried into his bedroom, pulled the suitcase out from under his bed, and threw clothes into it. Jane called him half an hour later with his flight information. She also sent him an email. He had four hours until he was scheduled to leave, which meant he only had time to call work to explain what was going on, let his landlady know he was going to be away so she could get his mail, and then leave for the airport. He knew he’d spend the whole early-morning cross-country flight to Baltimore worrying and wondering. What if he didn’t make it in time?
stories and a mother who loved to read them. Since then he has lived throughout
the country and traveled throughout the world. He has a master’s degree from
the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and works in information systems for a
large corporation.
leaving his dirty dishes anywhere but in the sink (particularly when writing) He considers himself blessed with an accepting
family, fantastic friends, and the world’s most supportive and loving partner.
Andrew currently lives in beautiful, historic Carlisle, Pennsylvania.
I like a lot of his books but my favorite is Fire and Water.
andrew is a new author for me
This sounds so good!
Another perfect book from Mr. Grey!
I love ‘Unconditional Love.’
Eyes Only For Me
I Like the Carlisle Cops