Hi, all! Recently I had the pleasure of interviewing Emily Wade-Reid and today I’m excited to post the transcript of that interview. Emily currently writes for Loose-Id and Forbidden Publications. So everyone give a cyber-wave to Emily!
Emily, I’m going to ask you the question I always ask all of my guests. What was it like for you when you got your first book contract? Tell us about the cyber-call you got from a publisher wanting your book!
When I received my first book contract, although, at the time, I was a published poet and I had two short stories published in anthologies, I felt accomplished. I’m not an excitable person, and being mobility-impaired, after being notified, I did my own version of a happy dance — my feet had a certain rhythm going on under my desk. Then, I called my kids to let them know.
Has becoming a published author changed you in any way? How?
Yes, it has changed me. I work more hours honing my craft.
Please tell us about a favorite book you’ve written, maybe one that took all of your blood as you wrote it or maybe one that literally wrote itself, or just a work that just touched your heart a little more than the others?
All the books I’ve written are my favorites in one way or another. However, my first book, Bittersweet Chocolate took quite a bit of my blood, sweat, and tears, per se. I started it in 1990. From that point, until it was completed, my life involved working 14-16 hours a day as an account with a non-profit organization, I still had children at home, my oldest son, a Marine, did time in Desert Storm, and my husband was dying of cancer. Determined to master the craft of writing, I eked out the time to write while participating in, and dealing with the drama of life churning around me.
What directed you toward writing romantic suspense?
Ooo. Getting me started on this topic could, at the least, become a short story, and at the most, become a full-blown novel. Nevertheless, here goes; I’ll encapsulate. I have been an avid voracious reader since I was young, back in the Stone Age. I started out with mysteries that some of your readers are probably too young to remember — The Bobbsey Twins, Nancy Drew (the original), the Hardy Boys (the original), and Agatha Christie. Although these stories had little to no romance, the suspense was there. With age, came graduation. I moved up to Harlequin Romance and Harlequin Presents, which crossed the bridge from mystery to romance and romantic suspense. From there, the big leagues — books that had it all — the mystery, the romance, the suspense. My current favorite authors are Julie Garwood, Catherine Coulter, Judith McNaught, Sandra Brown, and Tami Hoag, to name a few.
Yet, there seemed to be something missing. Ethnicity. As an African-American, back in the day, there weren’t many choices, in the romantic suspense genre, that told stories of Blacks, Hispanics, or Native Americans. I wanted to write romantic suspense stories that include my culture, other cultures, and a combination thereof — interracial relationships.
Now, let’s move onto your writing schedule. How many hours a day do you write, how many revisions do you do to your manuscript before submitting, and how long do you usually take to churn out a book?
Since I no longer work outside the home, I spend anywhere from 8-14 hours of the day writing and researching. Revisions — too numerous to count. It depends on the length of the manuscript, and the time it takes to complete. Each day, before I start writing, I review and revise the work from the day before. Once I feel the manuscript is finished, to my satisfaction, I do one final review and revision of the entire manuscript.
Hmm. Bittersweet Chocolate seemed to take forever. However, it was my first, and I was learning. Clandestine Impasse and Bouzwha Princess — I’d say it took about a year per book. But keep in mind, once I had the gist of where I wanted to go with Bittersweet, I started the other two. I wrote them simultaneously with Bittersweet. Since Clandestine and Bouzwha are part of the saga begun in Bittersweet, they were easier to pull together, the foundation, so to speak, already fleshed out.
My latest published book, Memories Erased, took exactly one year from inception to completion, which included revisions. However, I’m usually working on more than one book at the same time, so time of completion is iffy.
As a writer, there are things that indulge your senses. Could you describe the things that milk your creative flow?
Odd as this might sound, I’m a recluse. There are no outside influences to distract. I’m anal-retentive (retired accountant), maybe too focused. Since my husband’s death nine years ago, I no longer work outside the home, and I rarely leave it, unless medical issues dictate, or I really want to attend a specific writer’s conference. Hence, I’ve created, and I maintain a specific mode of living, which eliminates gratuitous outside hassles.
However, if anything milks my creative flow, it’s fatigue, usually from writing all day. My mind goes blank.
Tell us a little bit about your personal hero.
My husband. Until his death, he supported and encouraged whatever endeavors I attempted.
Who inspires you the most in your life and why?
God. Because I believe.
Do you ever have moments when the words won’t come? If so, what do you do?
As mentioned above, when I’m tired my creativity is shot. What do I do? I read.
If you could describe your style of writing in one word, what would it be?
Mine.
What is the one thing you think all writers need if they intend to succeed in publishing?
Self-esteem.
And finally, if you could meet every one of your readers face to face, what would you want to say to them?
My heartfelt thanks for your interest and support.
Emily, it’s been great getting to know a little more about you. We wish you the best with your writing and hope you can spend some more time with us in the near future!
