Stacey Kayne Interview

1. Will you tell us about your January 2008 release, Maverick Wild?
MAVERICK WILD is the sequel to MUSTANG WILD. In Maverick, Chance Morgan, Tucker’s twin brother, is doing all he can to avoid the snares of marriage-minded women looking to capture a husband. When a woman from his past arrives at his ranch, his resolve to stay single is weakened. Cora Mae Tindale owns a foothold into the emotions he’s kept under tight rein for most his life. A distracting array of curls and curves, she hardly resembles the mischievous spitfire from his youth, but her eyes hold the shadows of a painful past, and a passion she struggles to conceal. When Chance gives in to his own desires, he discovers something he’s never faced—she doesn’t want him. Cora Mae’s indifference entices Chance in a way blatant flirtation never could. He yearns to discover the truth she hides, and as their pasts catch up to them, rekindled love becomes their greatest protection.

2. Where did the inspiration come from for your “Wild” books?
The inspiration came from Tucker Morgan, the hero in the first Wild book. He appeared in my mind lounged at a card table, mischief gleaming in his green eyes, good luck raining down on him in spades, and, as his heroine observes, wearing a smile that can sweet-talk the spines off a prickly cactus. Being a fly-by-the-seat-of-his-pants kind of guy, Tucker needed a woman who could whip him into shape. That woman was mustanger Skylar Daines—she even carries a bullwhip. In Chance’s story, the gang has settled in Wyoming, but not everyone has found their place in the family. When Cora Mae comes onto the scene, there’s some rivalry between Chance and Garret, Skylar’s younger brother, as both men strive to come into their own.

3. Will there be more in the series?
Yes. Skylar’s younger brother Garret has wounds to heal in the third wild book, which should be out late next year or early in 09. He’ll have his hands full with a wild woman all his own in the last of the “Wild” trilogy. The second book in my “Bride” series will be out this coming July—THE GUNSLINGER’S BRIDE.

4. What do you find sexy in a hero?
His smile. His ability to bring humor, hope and a positive spin to an otherwise hopeless or dreadful situation.

5. From what do you derive the most inspiration for your writing?
Daydreams. I do like panoramic picture books to help add color to my visual of scenery, but for the story itself, it will come to me as a flashing visual in my mind, or a voice, which leads to the visual of whatever calamity the character is in. With MUSTANG WILD, I had a vision of a hero being clocked in the head with a skillet and slumping to the ground—I didn’t know why he’d been knocked out, I only knew he was the hero. So I had to come up with the circumstances requiring a skillet to the head  In BRIDE OF SHADOW CANYON, my first vision was the heroine being held in a saloon bedroom, wearing only a sheet. Again, I didn’t know who she was or why she was there, but I knew she needed help—which came in the form of a tall, shadowy hero. With MAVERICK WILD, the starting scene for the story actually ended up being in the last chapter of the book. The scene on the bridge, in the pivotal moment when Chance is fighting for Cora Mae—that was the scene that started Chance’s story, and I began spinning the rest of the story out from there.

6. Since everybody needs a break, even when doing something they love, how do you like to spend your time away from writing?
I have two extremely active teenage sons and hubby who keep me occupied while away from the computer—which gives me some balance. Otherwise, I’d likely never leave my house!

7. What does your working space look like?
For real, or the way I want it to look? I’m really good at using tunnel vision when I’m on deadline. I have a lovely desk in a spacious office, which lately is all buried under mountains of paper and boxes. I do love my laptop, which keeps me mobile, and with two teenage boys, that’s important. My office away from home is the driver’s seat of my truck, where I write for at least two hours every day in between taking my kids to practices or tutoring.

8. How many hours a day do you spend writing?
I start writing when I return from taking my boys to school, which is 7:30 am, until I pick them up at 3:00. Since we live ten miles out of town, I sit in my truck and write while they’re at drum practice, water polo or tutoring. Sometimes if the family is occupied in the evening and we’ve ordered take-out, I’ll write in the early evening. Otherwise, I sit down at my computer again around 9:30pm and will write until midnight or later.

9. What is the best advice that anyone ever gave you?
Don’t give up. Keep learning, writing, and submitting. Be careful of over-critiquing—you don’t want to wash out your voice. While advice and suggestions are wonderful and essential to learn and grow as a writer, always remember your opinion comes first—write YOUR story.

10. Favorite bath or spa product? Favorite article of clothing?
Hmm? I love my Neutrogena body wash—I won’t use any other. As for clothing…I’m a pajama nut. I have a wild collection of PJ bottoms; silky, flannel, fleece—even have cowboy PJ’s! My daily HOME attire is usually tee-shirts and PJ bottoms….until 2:30 when I have to put on real clothes and drive to town to pick up my boys. At which point I tug on jeans and sweater.

11. Was there any one person or event in your life that finally inspired you to sit down and write your first book?
Not really. I’ve always had voices and stories bouncing around in my head—I just never realized they were books! All it took was my first computer in 2000 for the words in my head to find their way to my fingertips.

12. Do you have a favorite movie that you could watch over and over again? Favorite music you listen to?
I’m not much of a TV watcher. Right now my ipod is loaded with Nickleback and Lincoln Park—I’ve been listening to them over and over for the past few months. In my truck I’ve got Daughtry, Gary Allen, Creed, Evanessance, Pink, Korn, and Metallica–my boys (hubby included) would riot if I dared to take out their beloved Metallica.

13. What would we find on your bookshelf?
Dust. And a ton of western historicals  Keepers include the works of LaVeryl Spencer, Dorothy Garlock, Elizabeth Lowell, Linda Lael Miller, Mary Burton, Jodi Thomas…to name a few. I also enjoy romantic suspense, and have keepers by Elizabeth Lowell, Roxanne St. Claire, Debra Webb, Brenda Novak… I’ve recently been drawn into the fantasy realm by C.L. Wilson and her TAIREN SOUL series, and the Paranormal side with Terri Gary’s DEAD GIRLS series.

Thanks so much for inviting me over!

Lettetia Elsasser

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