Getting To Know Sharon Clare

Today, I'm pleased to host the lovely and talented Sharon Clare on my site. She's from Canada, and has graciously agreed to spend some time with me this morning. And, as if hearing more about her novel, which is set on a tropical island isn't enough for me on a snowy Ohio day, she's offering a gift to one lucky commenter on the blog! Here's Sharon!

Before I answer Becky’s wonderful author questions, I want to thank her for having me as a guest today.

1. What is your current project about?

Rhapsody is a paranormal novella, released from Crimson Romance on Dec. 24, 2012. The blurb describes it best:
Isabelle plans to escape the real world when she takes a tropical vacation. But escape becomes too real when Paradise Resort disappears. To win her freedom, she must break an oath and out-play her opponent in a game of seduction. Her self-control is resolute until her traitorous body decides this is a game she wants to play.
Jonathan’s needs are simple: break down Isabelle’s resistance, win the game, and get back to the real world where an emergency waits. Desire grows between them as each roll of the die reveals secrets, truths and skin, until Jonathan is forced to confront his worse fear or forfeit Isabelle to the dark mastermind of the game.

2. What’s your favorite part about writing? Least favorite?
My favorite part about writing is getting to the final draft of a story. This is the polishing stage, when I know my characters best and start to feel better about the writing. I enjoy this micro-editing, trying to write fresh sentences, toning up the plot and adding tension where needed.
My least favorite part of writing is the beginning, the rough draft. Even though I work on my characters before I start to write, they feel flat to me until I’m well into the story. My rough drafts are not pretty. Lots of he saids and she saids and just getting a story down. I have to remember it will get better.

3. Why do you write romances? Have you ever written in any other genre?
I write romances because I love the interplay of romantic relationships, the dynamics of men and women working together. Characters have flaws, but ultimately they’re desirable people, nice to have in my head. Romance feels good. It’s a fun genre to spend time in, and with so many sub-genres, there’s lots of variety. I would have a hard time living with characters suffering the emotional angst that’s common in literary fiction, besides I don’t have a literary voice.
The first manuscript I wrote is historical, a love story between an Anishnabe man and a French-Canadian woman. I cut my teeth on this story, but I didn’t write it as a romance because I wasn’t well-read in the genre. Honestly, when I learned that romance is the best-selling genre and the one where it’s possible for mid-list authors to make a living, I began to learn how to craft a romance. I had a lot to learn.

4. Have you ever written a character based on someone you know?
Yes, I wrote a short story based on my mother, something I would like to revisit one day and expand into a novel perhaps. My mom suffers dementia, and she lived with my family for a time, a pretty brutal time actually. One day as we stood in the kitchen together, she said, “I can’t find myself.” I thought that was profound and true to my writing nature, I used her words as the title for the story.

5.  Where do you rank in the family hierarchy?
I’m the oldest of three. I have two brothers, 4 and 6 years younger.

6. Are you a dog or cat person?
I have both, but always considered myself more a dog person. My cat, Dave, became so ornery in his old age he began attacking the neighborhood dogs when they dared to walk by our house. He’s now both notorious and leashed.

7. Sun or fog?
Sun absolutely. Nothing better than its heat on my skin.  

Thanks again, Becky! For more information on Rhapsody and my first paranormal romance, Love of Her Lives, please visit: www.sharonclare.com

To thank your readers for visiting today, I’d like to offer the chance to win a small travel gift since Rhapsody takes place on a tropical vacation. Please leave a comment with your email address and tell us what games you like to play on vacation, and I’ll randomly select one commenter.