Writers' Wednesday: An Interview with Paula Calloway

Welcome to Writers' Wednesday! Today I'm pleased to feature author Paula Calloway, who writes sensual and erotic romance in the genres of fantasy, sci-fi and paranormal. She has a lot more fun information about herself and her writing on her website, so make sure to visit there as well.

Note: Paula will be chatting with readers from 11 am to 9 pm at http://www.ebooklove.com/, this-coming Saturday, to celebrate her newest release. If you like what you see here and want to find out more, make sure to mark that date on your calendar!

Hi Paula! Can you tell us a little about your background?
Born in Pennsylvania and grown in Florida, I call Tennessee home. I still cuddle with my husband. My teenage daughter is an angel who interprets "teenageese" when I ask. One of my nephews lives with us and is an A/B honor roll student. I have five nieces and five nephews from four baby sisters. As is typical with siblings, they all have at least me as an older sister and, on occasion, each other, by their own choosing. You ought to see when they quibble...most flee the area. LOL

Wow! So when did you first begin writing? Was there an event or moment in your life that triggered your desire to write?

I always wrote poetry. In 1991, I endured a dream that would not leave me alone. Haunted for weeks on end by this dark and devastating vision of future earth, I created a web page titled "Nature's Plea" where the dream is revealed (accessible from my home page). It wasn't enough. Two of the characters from that dream came to life and demanded I tell their story. I lived through those dreams on a nightly basis and the only way to get them to leave me in peace was to write them down. Hence, The Cursed Hit and The Blessed Return. These were based on the Y2K theory and postponed when that date slipped past. Now, with a little rewriting and time shifting, I'll adjust any given dates, years and events to work on the 12/21/2012. I haven't stopped writing since.

Can you tell us about your latest writing project or published title?
A Cry in the Night. Oh my heart be still! I entwined my father's love of the old Werewolf with my version of the new Vampire. So many Werewolves in today's stories shift when they want because the one thing that is supposed to rule them has been deemed a mere light in the night sky. Nature's power of full moons, lunar cycles and the tide shifts are forces that should never lose their part in a creature created to work with them. I took the Werewolves of days lost, from times long ago and legends faded and brought them back. Now the Were, the Beast and the Wolves need help. Only one legendary creature has ever been able to tangle with a Beast and survive: vampires. Once known as healers in some ancient realms, they walk the earth and care for the Were who cry out in the night, protect the Wolves lost to the feral side and intercept the hunted the Beast in its bloodlust frenzied search for Human flesh.

How do you go about developing your characters?
Odd as it sounds, they come to life on their own. I might hear a phrase or song or see something in a dream or life and they live. The rest is the Hero and Heroine standing close and telling their story. Occasionally I have to heave a sigh to get them to slow down, but it's worth it. There are times where the Heroine-especially the young, inexperienced one-might drive me insane or moments where the Hero-young and dominant-agitates me, but it's part of them, their ways and the path they walked. I don't create them, they are and they live. I do have to look over my shoulder every now and then because I have this supervising, lurking, muse. He has a nice smile but can be unnerving at the worst of times. Sometimes I think he's what keeps the others in line. Or is he waiting to see who tells what and try to better their story? *shiver*

Oh, very well said. So what advice would you give to new writers just starting out?
Actually, I put together a page with the help of reviewers and editors just for this purpose. I hope it helps. http://www.paula-calloway.com/writingtips.htm

Great resource! Well, what do you find most difficult about writing? What do you find most exciting or rewarding?
Difficult? Editing. Making sure all the little glitches are destroyed.

Exciting? When a reader tells me they like my story. Even more so is the comment one reader gave about Dark Hope and how she enjoyed it so much, she read it again!

What a great compliment! Tricky question, now: How do you balance writing with the rest of your life?
Carefully. There are times where I shut down writing because my family needs or wants me and there are times where they lead me to my desk and make me sit because the energy thrumming in my veins is a story and they can feel it. It is those moments they send me to my desk so I can de-energize. But no matter what, I am always there for them. With a husband, a daughter, a mother, four sisters, five nieces, five nephews and numerous pets, I am always available.

OK, but do you ever suffer from writer's block? If so, what do you do about it?
I have, but not for some time. (Knock on wood.) When writer's block struck years ago, I spent hours on my porch listening to the cascading brook, babbling stream and plunging waterfall that feeds my 3500 gallon pond. With all the soothing sounds of nature, I soon washed away all the interference and returned to writing in only a few short months.

How blissful! Can you describe your writing space for us?
My small desk houses hubby's generous gift of a 3.4 GHz dual processor, 1.5 GHz memory, large non-glare/flat screen, HP Compaq. I don't understand all that, but it does fly. Little yellow stick 'em notes decorate the monitor's left side and bottom. Full page notes stand on the monitor's left and right. A tall left-hand shelf holds a thesaurus, dictionary and various research books, including a Strunk & White Elements of Style. The top desk shelf holds a dragon with a massive sword, a baby dragon, a tiger, a unicorn and a black knight. On the right is a large cage with four parakeets who dance and sing throughout the day. Behind me, the sliding glass door opens and invites in the sound of the backyard waterfalls. A coffee warmer lives a foot from my right hand. Shame I can't find a tea cooler for my right. If I snack while working, I prefer cereal and fruits. The other day, I concentrated on finding an error I knew I saw and reached for a honeycomb. I dipped my fingers in the coffee. :)

I can almost picture that! LOL Thanks for an informative and entertaining interview, Paula!

Readers, remember to check out Paula's website and also join her for an all-day chat and a chance to win one of her books on Saturday, January 19, 2008. (You must be a member of the group to participate, so head on over to join before the 19th and get in on the fun: Click here to join eBookLove)