Ali welcomes comments from readers and answers emails as soon as she can. You can find her at these places:
http://aliatwood.blogspot.com/
https://twitter.com/#!/AliAtwood1
http://www.facebook.com/ali.atwood.3
Interview with Sassy Brit/Alternative-Read.com
http://tinyurl.com/25xdykp
SB: Good Morning, Ali! Welcome to AR.
AA: Good Morning, Sassy. Thank you for interviewing me. I’m big fan of Alternative Read and I visit the website often.
SB: Oh, you’re too kind. But thanks! 😉 Okay, please may I start by asking you to tell our readers a little about how you got into writing, and what made you turn to this genre?
AA: Well, the game of make-believe began for me when I started reading junior, adventure books. I was probably about eight. In my teens my interest switched to science fiction and horror. Secretly, I wrote my own stories when I was supposed to be doing school homework. I knew nothing about the technical aspects of writing, but I had a fantastic time creating my own universe, filled with a variety of bizarre life forms. Oddly enough, I didn’t pick up my first, romance book until I was twenty-four—Sweet Savage Love by Rosemary Rogers. I was hooked, reading more and more. Believing, fool that I was, that the sexy stories I devoured as easily as chocolate, couldn’t be very difficult to write. I remind myself of that on the days my laptop screen seems as large as a king size bed while I struggle to fill it with words.
SB: For those who are new to your work, can you please give us a brief description of whatCelestial Heat is all about?
AA: I think the blurb will best explain it:
In the year 2096, Feyna Sy Tordinay knows the price of love. Once she would have given her very soul to Ketrick DeSardon, but after a few, short weeks of tender romance and phenomenal sex, the dashing Starfleet captain left her in a storm of heartache. Now she’s strictly business, a clinical psychologist on her way to the top. Is she troubled by the unexpected assignment aboard DeSardon’s warship? Not a bit.
Darkly seductive DeSardon is running from his feelings, hiding dangerous secrets. Unbeknown to Feyna, she and Ketrick are cosmic mates with untried, magical abilities. Unbeknown to both of them, there are some scary beings out there stalking the couple, aiming to harness their talent through crossbreeding. To save themselves from an uncertain death, Ketrick and Feyna must revitalize an ancient power source—right after they blend their special powers by way of high-voltage sex.
SB: Yum! Yum! For anyone who missed it, here’s my review! >http://bit.ly/9kRE9s
So, you were born in the British Isles and now live in the United States. Why did you relocate, and how does living in both countries affect your writing?
AA: Actually, I’ve lived and worked in both countries over the last two decades and my day jobs could probably fill a catalogue, everything from flight attendant to ice cream parlor owner. I decided to relocate to Florida at the end of last year because my mother lives there and I do love the outdoor life. Since I am a Mid-Atlantic species, I can readily shift backdrops for my stories to either side of the pond.
SB: That’s fantastic. Florida sounds so warm and fun to me! What are your writing strengths and weaknesses?
AA: Hmm. I would say discipline and perseverance are my strengths. When I decided to write for publication I treated it like a part-time, office job, aiming to turn out roughly two thousand words per day. To motivate myself, while I was burning the midnight oil, I stuck a sign on my refrigerator that advised: “If you want something badly enough and you don’t give up you’ll get it.” Too bad that doesn’t apply to winning the lottery. *chuckle*
SB: *Chuckles along* Too right!
AA: As for my writing weaknesses, those stem from method. I’m a pantser, probably for the same reason I hate reading the instructions that come with new products, it taxes my patience. I would rather write than refer to a detailed synopsis. But that does put me at the mercy of my characters’ whims, which means I have moments of panic when the story runs away from me and I’m not sure how to get to the next plot point.
SB: Would you please share with us one tip you discovered about the craft that you felt improved your writing?
AA: I suppose not stopping until I finish the first draft. Despite my pantser status, I tended to edit as I went along. Finally, I realized the process was stifling my idea flashes, which stalled the story.
SB: What’s the last book you read and what did you think of it?
AA: How Did You Get This Number by Sloane Crosley. It’s a collection of essays that are philosophical, current and extremely humorous. I believe Crosley has written at least one other book, which I will definitely be looking at.
SB: I’ll have to look that one up. Thanks! So, what’s on your TBR list?
AA: I’m afraid it would fill a complete page, I read all the time.
SB: *Chuckles* I know that feeling! Okay, do you set goals for your life and writing job? If so, could you share how you do this, please?
AA: Absolutely! I don’t believe in setting achievement limits in any area of my life. While the plan I made in my twenties to go pony trekking through the Himalayas is pretty much off my bucket list. LOL! There are still a lot of places I would like to visit, like St. Basil’s Cathedral in Moscow, and Alaska to see the Aurora Borealis effect. As a writer, I will always strive to improve my skills. I belong to a small, critique group and I plan to take more classes this year to improve my technique.
SB: I bet you’d still love to pony trek through the Himalayas, I would! I’d ache a bit afterwards though. LOL Thank you so much for sharing so much about yourself and your writing life.
AA: Thank you, Sassy. It’s always a pleasure chatting with you.