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When/how did you know you wanted to write?

I’ve been a storyteller all my life. When I was a child, if I didn’t like the way a story ended, I made up my own ending. I wrote stories for my own and my friends’ amusement. I guess in those early days what I was writing was fan-fic, but at the time there was no such thing.

When I was a stay-at-home mom in my mid-twenties, I took a writing course (just to get out of the house) that opened my eyes to the actual process of writing and submitting for publication. But only after I discovered and joined Romance Writers of America in 2001 did I get serious about writing and publishing a novel. Unfortunately, my dreaded day job was very stressful and sapped most of my creativity. Finally, at the end of 2003, I decided if I were ever going to write and publish a novel, I needed to quit the day job and make a serious commitment to pursuing my goals. I’m so happy I made that decision, and I have never regretted it!

How long did it take you to become published?

Almost exactly four years. I officially quit my day job on Sept. 22, 2003 and received “The Call” to buy my book The Wild Sight on Sept. 14, 2007. Doesn’t sound very long, but (as I said above) I’d been dabbling with writing for many years (like a couple of decades) before I began my serious pursuit of publication.

How long does it usually take for you to research a book? Write the book?

I’ve usually already visited the places I write about so I don’t count that as research other than maybe refreshing my memory with pictures, maps, or my own travel journals.

Actual research into certain aspects of the story I need to know before I start writing may take me two to three weeks. Since I’m a seat-of-the-pants writer, I often need to research facts as I go along. This can vary a lot depending on the story.

Both my published books, The Wild Sight and The Treasures of Venice took me around a year to write and research, but I didn’t have a contracted deadline on either of them. I recently completed my third romantic suspense for Sourcebooks Casablanca, and it took me eight to nine months to write and research.

Is there any character in your books that you can really relate to?

Since they all have a little bit of me in them, all of them!

Seriously, I’m a little in love with all my heroes. If I don’t love them, why should my readers? I also need to be able to identify with my heroines. Not just any woman is good enough for my heroes. Heck, I even understand the motivations of my villains, even if I don’t necessarily agree with their methods.

In both The Wild Sight and The Treasures of Venice, the heroes have bossy older sisters. I will admit to being the oldest of four siblings, and my sister and brothers have been known to call me bossy. AHEM!

Where do your story ideas come from? Do you use people you know as characters sometimes or even sometimes a certain event from real life happenings?

My ideas honestly do come from everywhere! I never know where the next one might spring from. I do know that the idea for The Treasures of Venice was inspired by a piece of classical music from the opera The Jewels of the Madonna. After hearing it on the radio, I went home, googled the opera, and thought it could be the basis for an interesting story. I started playing the writer’s favorite game, “What if…” and eventually, the story for The Treasures of Venice evolved.

I often use certain aspects of people I know in my characters, and in The Treasures of Venice, I named a minor character (Donatella Bottini) after a friend of mine. I’m happy to say she was very flattered.

Sometimes certain experiences I’ve had or things I’ve seen in a particular setting will find their way into scenes in my books. I never quite know when this is going to happen, but have been told it lends a certain authenticity to my stories.

How long does it take you to complete a book, from the time the idea for the book is conceived, to when you submit it to your editor?

Since I wrote my first two books before I ever had a publishing contract, I can only say that my third romantic suspense, The Wild Irish Sea took me a little over nine months from idea to finished product submitted my editor. And no, the analogy of giving birth was not lost on me!

Getting back to your books coming out soon. Tell us a little about what to expect from them.

I write what I call romantic suspense with paranormal elements. My current release The Treasures of Venice has a dual storyline in both contemporary and Renaissance Venice. It also has star-crossed lovers, stolen jewels, kidnappings, and possible reincarnated soul-mates. Definitely something for everyone!

My spring, 2010 release, The Wild Irish Sea is set on the rugged coast of Donegal and features twins who have mental telepathy. Trouble begins when one of them witnesses a murder and then disappears.

When and where can we purchase your books?

The Wild Sight and The Treasures of Venice are currently available in all of the major chain bookstores, and they can both be ordered online from Amazon, or directly from the Sourcebooks website.

If you would like an autographed bookplate and/or a bookmark, please contact me through my website: http://www.LoucindaMcgary.com

What’s your next project?

I’m currently working on revisions and then copyedits of The Wild Irish Sea as well as coming up with a proposal for a new book. I’m thinking Hawaii would be a nice exotic setting, and I haven’t been there in awhile. What do you think?

Some authors start out with a plot in mind, others with characters whom they’ll follow to reveal the theme. What works best for you and why?

This varies for me from book to book. For The Wild Sight, the characters came first. For The Treasures of Venice, I had this idea about jewels stolen and missing for 500 years. For The Wild Irish Sea, it was a combination. I knew there was a murder, and I knew who witnessed it, the rest I had to figure out as I went along.
Many writers have had success writing in different genres. Do you think it is difficult to switch over to another genre?

I’m sure that would depend on the author and the genres. Thus far, the only thing I’ve written and published is my own brand of romantic suspense. As I mentioned, I do include some paranormal elements in each story, so I guess I have the best of both worlds.

Oh, and in The Treasures of Venice, I did have a sub-plot that took place in 1485 so I guess I’ve written some historical too. I’d love to write a completely historical story sometime, but knowing me, there would be both suspense and paranormal elements in it, so technically would I really be switching genres?

Do you ever look back and think, “I wish I had written this differently?”

Every single time I pick up one of my books and read more than a few pages!

I believe my writing is constantly growing and evolving, and I’m also one of those writers who can always find something to revise. When I find myself ‘tinkering’ too much with a scene or paragraph, I remember a quote I heard by James Michener. He said he never truly “finished” a book, he merely “released” it.  So like him, I do the best I can at the time and then let it go. 

Is writing your full time job or do you have another job also?

Lucky for me, I was able to leave my previous career after almost seventeen years in order to pursue my two favorite things:  travel and writing!

I am in awe of people who can manage to write in addition to holding down a full time job and/or raising a family.

What else do you want your readers to know? Consider here your likes and dislikes, your interests and hobbies, your favorite ways to unwind — whatever comes to mind.

Writing is the most difficult and the most rewarding job I’ve ever had. It still amazes me that people all over the world can read and enjoy my stories and love my characters. When a reader takes the time to drop me an email, a post card, or a letter, it is truly special for me. Receiving fan mail and connecting with readers is the most wonderful aspect of being an author!

Thank you for inviting me to be a guest on your blog and thank you to everyone for taking the time to read this interview! If you have any other questions about me or my books, I’ll be happy to answer them. I would love to know what you enjoy most when you read a book – the plot, the characters, something else? Do you like to know something about the author before you read the book?

About the Interviewer:
Margay Leah Justice caught the writing bug from the very first time she picked up a pencil and hasn’t stopped writing since. Her first novel, Nora’s Soul, is available now. She currently lives in Massachusetts, but her home on the web is http://margayleahjustice.com.