Writers' Wednesday: An Interview with Cara Marsi

Welcome to Writers' Wednesday! Today's interview is with romance author Cara Marsi. Pull up a chair, refill your cup of coffee, and enjoy!

Hi, Cara! (Love the picture, by the way!) Can you tell us a little about your background?

I'M A NATIVE OF DELAWARE. I ESCAPED ONCE BUT I CAME BACK. I'M A CORPORAT DRONE AND CUBICLE DWELLER WITH A ROMANTIC SOUL. I WAS A MANAGER AT VERIZON FOR MANY YEARS, AN EXTREMELY STRESSFUL JOB. NOW I WORK AT AN INSURANCE COMPANY. I READ AND WRITE ROMANCE TO STAY SANE IN THE DRUDGERY OF THE CORPORATE WORLD.

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

I'VE WANTED TO WRITE SINCE I BEGAN READING. AS A YOUNG TEEN I ADORED THE YA ROMANCE NOVELS OF ELIZABETH HOWARD AND THE JUDY BOLTON MYSTERY STORIES. I WANTED TO BE LIKE JUDY AND THE HEROINES IN THE ELIZABETH HOWARD NOVELS.

Ah...so tell us about your latest writing project or published title.

MY LATEST PUBLISHED BOOK IS LOGAN'S REDEMPTION FROM THE WILD ROSE PRESS. I LOVED WRITING THIS BOOK SO MUCH THAT I DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE MY CHARACTERS. I HAD TO FORCE MYSELF TO END IT. LOGAN'S REDEMPTION HAS BEEN GETTING GREAT REVIEWS WHICH MAKES ME VERY HAPPY. I'VE RECENTLY COMPLETED A PARANORMAL INVOLVING A WITCH, A WEREWOLF, A DEMON AND A KICK-ASS FEMALE BOUNTY HUNTER. MY NEXT BOOK WILL BE ANOTHER TRADITIONAL ROMANCE FOR AVALON BOOKS. MY FIRST BOOK WAS WITH AVALON.

What wonderful writing success - congrats! With all that experience, what advice would you give to new writers just starting out?

READ THE TYPE OF BOOKS YOU WANT TO WRITE, TAKE WRITING COURSES, JOIN ROMANCE WRITERS OF AMERICA, ATTEND CONFERENCES, LEARN THE BUSINESS SIDE OF WIRTING AND NEVER, EVER GIVE UP.

What kinds of books do you like to read? Who is your favorite author?

I LOVE ALL KINDS OF ROMANCE, CONTEMPORARY AND TIME TRAVEL IN PARTICULAR. I ALSO LIKE HISTORICALS. I HAVE MANY FAVORITE AUTHORS BUT THE ONE WHO TOPS THEM ALL IS HEATHER GRAHAM. I LOVE HER HISTORICAL ROMANCES. I MET HER AT A CONFERENCE ONCE. SHE IS VERY GRACIOUS.

OK, now the question everyone wants to know the answer to: how do you balance writing with the rest of your life?

ITS VERY, VERY DIFFICULT. I WORK FULL TIME. I HAVE A HOUSE AND FAMILY. I WRITE EVERY LUNCH HOUR AT MY DESK. I LET A LOT OF THINGS GO AT HOME. I DON'T READ AS MUCH AS I'D LIKE. IT'S VERY HARD, BUT I WOULDN'T GIVE UP WRITING FOR THE WORLD.

What is your favorite movie? Did it inspire your writing in any way?

I LOVE THE OLD ROMANTIC COMEDIES OF THE THIRTIES AND FORTIES. A BARBARA STANWYCK-FRED MCMURRAY MOVIE INSPIRED LOGAN'S REDEMPTION. MY FAVORITE MOVE IS "THE MORE THE MERRIER" WITH JEAN ARTHUR AND JOEL MCCREA (HE WAS YUMMY). ANOTHER FAVORITE IS "CHRISTMAS IN CONNECTICUT" WITH BARBARA STANWYCK AND DENNIS MORGAN (ANOTHER YUMMY). I GET A LOT OF INSPIRATION FROM MOVIES.

Cara, thanks so much for being here and sharing your story with us today! Readers, don't forget to visit Cara's website...or perhaps read the 5-star reviews of Logan's Redemption and then pick yourself up a copy!