Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Writers' Wednesday: An Interview with Linda Banche

Welcome to Writers' Wednesday! Before I forget to mention it, I'll be looking for authors to feature right here for interview spots, starting in July. Interested? Email me at allieb@allieboniface.com for more information.

And now, help me say hello to Wild Rose Press author Linda Banche!

Linda, can you tell us a little about your background?

I'm a brand new author with two published Regency novellas so far. Although my stories are by and large historical, some fantasy and paranormal creeps in. And everything I write contains humor. I like a funny story at any time, and with the current economic climate so dismal, everyone can use a laugh.

Sounds like a great combination! So when did you first begin writing? Was there an event or moment in your life that triggered your desire to write?

I never had a life-long desire to write. I love romances, and for a long time I was happy to read others' books. But about four years ago, I went on a romance reading binge. I read romance after romance after romance. But after I had wallowed in romance for a while, (and did I have a good time wallowing), I ran out of books. Panic! What to do? Why, write my own. Almost at once I discovered how hard writing is. But did that revelation stop me? No. I tell people I'm persistent. That's French for "too stupid to quit".
LOL...now, tell us about your latest writing project or published title.

My very first book, Lady of the Stars, is the story of a woman who sees a man she thought forever gone through the back door of a gazebo. Little does she know that back door is a time portal that whisks her back to 1817. Culture shock abounds on both sides, as she and the man she literally runs into adjust to each other. But as they fall in love, the hero's family legend awakens. Will it bring them together, or tear them apart forever?




Pumpkinnapper, my second story, is a Halloween comedy. Long-separated childhood friends rediscover love as they join forces to catch the thieves who try to steal the heroine's pumpkins. Complications arise in the form of hero and heroine's skewed expectations of each other, as well as from the heroine's jealous pet goose. Both novellas are with The Wild Rose Press.




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

My favorite books are historicals, mainly Regencies. I don't find the modern world romantic. For me, romance comes from the past, in a world that is unlike ours, but at the same time has similarities. The Regency, that period in England about two hundred years ago, fits the bill. That time was different from our own, but not too different, as the era was the very beginning of the modern world.

So many authors are favorites; I have a hard time picking and choosing. I'll start with the Regency romance superstars, Mary Balogh, Mary Jo Putney, and Loretta Chase. But my absolute favorite may be Barbara Metzger, who writes wacked-out comedies, which my stories also tend to be.

What do you like to do when you're not writing?
Why, read romances, of course. While I mainly stick to Regencies, I do read the occasional Georgian, Victorian, or earlier era. I've even been know to read a contemporary (gasp!) or two. I like something in addition to the romance, so I prefer stories that add mystery, adventure, or suspense.
Finally, what advice would you give to new writers just starting out?

Keep trying! Lady of the Stars was a loser in The Wild Rose Press's Through the Garden Gate contest. But they saw enough there to ask me to resubmit. I resubmitted twice before TWRP accepted the story. And keep learning and practicing. The more you write, the better you become, and the reward will be a contract.

Want to know more about this author?? Visit her on the web at any of the addresses below:

13 comments:

Lindsay Townsend said...

Excellent interview, Allie and Linda!

I really like your dashing and noble heroes, Linda, and your laugh out loud humour. I'm full of admiration for those who can write comedy. How do you 'treat' a scene to make it amusing?

Joanna Waugh said...

've read Lady of the Stars. It's a wonderful story! Congratulations on all the good reviews it's been receiving, Linda!

Linda Banche said...

Hi Lindsay,
Thank you for the kind words. To my way of thinking, only an honorable man can be a hero. No bad boys for me.

As for the humor, I can think of several examples:

A parenthetical expression
...in my copious free time (ha!)

a reaction; time-traveling Caroline's reaction to the object under her bed in "Lady of the Stars":

"the object she'd found could only be a chamber pot. Why was she not surprised?"

A description, from my chapter in Pass the Plot 2 on Harlequin Community come Monday:

a hard pillow: "the pillow could replace any of the flagstones covering the floor."

How do I do it? I don't know. And what I consider funny, other people might not.

But if you think "Lady of the Stars" was funny, wait until you read "Pumpkinnapper"!

Joanna, thank you so much for liking my story. You've got plenty of great reviews for your "Blind Fortune", too, and well-deserved they are.

Jen Black said...

I must get myself on the web and over to Wild Rose Press - these stories sound good!
Jen

LK Hunsaker said...

Linda, I love having humor added to books, also. My favorite characters tend to be the funny ones as long as they have real substance, also.

I find it interesting that you don't find the modern world romantic!

Cate Masters said...

Great interview, Linda and Allie! Linda, your books sound intriguing. I love time travel - and humor. I wish I could write comedy, but it takes a certain flair, which you apparently have in abundance! Congrats on the excellent reviews!

Linda Banche said...

Oops, looks like I missed putting my website in my signature line. Silly me. Well, my website is www.lindabanche.com

Linda Banche said...

Hi Jen, thanks for coming over. The Wild Rose Press has lots of good stories (besides mine, of course). www.thewildrosepress.com

Loraine, I agree funny just for the sake of funny isn't enough. The character has to have something else, too.

Real life? AArg! Economic uncertainty, layoffs, spending your time at a job doing stupid stuff (they do pay me)--nothing romantic here.

Hi Cate, thanks. As for my humor, I like to think my stories contain a unique combination of elements that appeal to a lot of people. Doesn't everyone like a funny story?

Jacquie Rogers said...

Nice interview, Linda. :)

I prefer historicals and fantasy, too, and I also love humor in the books I read. If an author can make me laugh, I'm hers forever.

Jacquie

The Writer Resource Pit: said...

Hi Allie:

I'm very impressed with your blog. I'm new to the blogging process, but I really like your interviews.

I'm a former teacher and although I didn't stay in the profession, I learned a lot from my experience. I wish you the best and I hope the rest of your year is successful.

Sincerely,
The Resource Writer
info@resourcewriting.com

Linda Banche said...

Hi Jacquie,
I'm the same way. If I find an author who writes the kind of books I like and adds humor, I'm a fan for life, too.

Margaret Tanner said...

Hi Allie and Linda.
Great interview.
A woman after my own heart Linda, I love historicals too, reading and writing them.
Couldn't write humour though, now that is a hard genre.
Cheers
Margaret

Linda Banche said...

Hi Margaret, great to see another historical fan. And they said historicals were dead. Not as long as there are enough people like us.