…Figuratively not literally of course!
Intro:
When I read what Donna Cummings wrote
about her work background, I couldn’t help but find myself humming a line from
the lyrics to, That's
Life by Frank Sinatra… I’ve
been a puppet, a pauper, a pirate, a poet, a pawn and a king...
Here is what she wrote; “I have
worked as an attorney, winery tasting room manager, and retail business owner,
but nothing beats the thrill of writing humorously-ever-after romances”. Tell me you didn’t find yourself humming too.
But honestly all jesting aside what an influential and motivating
background it is. She lives in New England and fantasizing about spending the
rest of her days in a tropical locale where she can wear flip flops all the
time.
It’s however, her other fantasy that most intrigued me. That fantasy has to do with “living in Regency London, scandalizing the
ton”. But since time travel has yet to be invented Cummings has taken matters into her own hands, literally by putting pen to that
fantasy in her writing. What a clever girl!
I’d like to take a moment to also mention, and thank, my
friend Lexxie for agreeing to my
request to participate in this interview with Donna Cummings by adding some questions of her own. The reason?
It’s always nice to keep things fresh and what better way than to see what
another might have to ask. Add that to the fact that Lexxie also is a big fan. So, I knew she wouldn’t ask your run of
the mill questions.
Do you have your coffee Donna?
Then let's get started!
Lexxie: What are the four things you NEED to have next to you when you are writing? Apart from coffee!
Coffee takes up the first two spots on the list! As for what
else I need when I'm writing, the only necessities are peace and quiet, and I'm
lucky that I have that readily available. I probably need more discipline,
because I get too easily distracted by Twitter. But, in one case, being on
Twitter to goof off, uh, I mean "research" actually worked out in my
favor, since a conversation there with other writers led to a book series that
we sold to Samhain!
Barb: How do you cope emotionally with reviewers who seemed to have missed the point
of your story(s) completely?
I've been really lucky because
I haven't really had reviewers like that. In fact, I've learned so much about
my own characters from what reviewers have said about them! There have been a
few readers who don't connect to a story I've written, and I feel bad that I've
disappointed them. Obviously they had certain expectations, which made them
select the book in the first place, but somehow I didn't deliver the experience
they were hoping for, and I wish I had.
For example, several
readers have said my contemporary novella, Summer Lovin', is too short, and some have said they wished
there was a sequel. So now my brain is plotting a sequel, or two, which I
hadn't planned to do originally, and it's because of reviewers' comments.
Lexxie: What is the most difficult to write, a sensual scene or a heated discussion
between two characters?
A heated discussion is definitely harder! I hate for my
characters to be in conflict with each other, which of course they have to be,
or there's no story. If they had their way they'd be getting smexy with each
other all the time. LOL Which is probably another reason it's good for them to
have conflicts -- so they'll stay out of bed!
Barb: How do you know when writing a
scene that it has produced the desired or intended result, sexually and
otherwise?
I
think it's when I'm reading a scene and I forget that I'm the one who wrote it!
The other day I was looking for an excerpt for a blog post, and the next thing
I knew, I'd read a couple chapters, because I'd gotten caught up in the story
and forgot what I was supposed to be doing. I hope that's how it works for
readers too.
Lexxie: What's the
strangest scene you've written for one of your stories? Did you keep it in the
final version?
I don’t know if it's the strangest scene, but my villain in LordMidnight is addicted to opium, and I had to research how he would
consume it. I spent time on several websites, looking at all the paraphernalia
from the Regency time period, learning how he would smoke it, and the effects
it would cause. In fact, discovering that it could cause impotence was one of
those "ohmygod, this is too freakin' awesome" moments, since it
worked perfectly for the plot I already had in place.
Another fun scene was in I Do. . .or Die,
when the heroine goes to a shooting range to learn how to shoot a gun. I had
never handled a gun before, so I went to a shooting range to learn what the
heroine would learn. It was a great experience, giving me details the heroine
could use (and comment on). I'm hoping for an upcoming book that I can learn to
drive a racecar!
Barb: What do you draw on as your muse to
help when you run into trouble writing a scene?
I call my
muse Endora, just like the disdainful mother-in-law in the TV show Bewitched. She's always disappearing in
a puff of smoke, or making derisive comments, so it's a challenge to work with
her. LOL The hardest part about writing sometimes is trying to figure out
whether to keep pushing onward when you hit a troublesome part, or to let go
and do something else for a while. I hate doing housework, but I have to admit,
the answer to a difficult scene often appears to me while I’m washing dishes,
not even thinking about writing.
Lexxie: Do you still have the first story you wrote?
The very first story was something in grade school, so
that's probably lost to time. Which is a good thing! But the very first book I
wrote, a traditional Regency called At
First Blush, still exists on my hard drive. I don't know that I can ever
make it publishable, but it showed me that I could actually finish a book, and
then start writing another one, and then another. So I'll always view it with
fondness.
Barb: When you complete your novels do you breathe a
sigh of relief, or do you feel sad the experience has ended?
When I
finish, it's actually a blend of euphoria and amazement that the story didn't
kill me off! I love finishing the first draft of a story, and that's when I'm
floating around, with a big goofy grin on my face. When I'm finished revising a story, I'm convinced it's a complete
hodgepodge of random nonsensical words, and I want to toss the laptop under a
moving car, only I'm so exhausted, I don't have the strength to do it. LOL
Also, by then I have characters for another story tapping me on the shoulder,
reminding me it's their turn, so I don't have a chance to be too sad.
Lexxie: Where is the best place to go to if you're in need of inspiration?
Starbucks! When I'm writing, I spend a lot of time staring
out the window, so I like looking at trees and the squirrels scurrying around.
But sometimes the muse needs a change of venue, so we'll go hang out at
Starbucks and watch humans in their natural habitat. Even though it's the
complete opposite of the peace and quiet I need, somehow I can write there.
Maybe because the air is saturated with caffeine! Of course, I'd love to time
travel to London, circa 1810, and get inspired there. It'll happen one of these
days, right?
Barb: What are the most important attributes to remaining sane as a writer?
Oooh, maybe we should ask a sane
writer! Actually I think "sane writer" is a bit of an oxymoron. We
make things up out of nothing, characters that don't really exist talk to us
all the time, we constantly doubt and second-guess ourselves. It's not really
what sane people do. LOL
I
do think it's important to replenish and rejuvenate and do everything possible
to keep the creative spark alive. That includes reading other writer's books,
chatting with writers who understand the craziness of this kind of work, being
kind to ourselves and rewarding ourselves for working when we'd rather do other
stuff. It also helps to re-read the nice things people say about our books.
Barb: Your ability to draw
the reader into turbulent moments is touched also by your aptitude to bring in
humor at the most needed times. Are these planned or just your own wicked sense
of irony coming through?
Thanks--I appreciate you saying that. The humor really just shows up on
its own! I'm really fortunate that I have clever characters who say hilarious
things. I love humor in stories, because it can help people deflect tension, or
to cope with emotional turmoil. I also believe it's a great way for heroes and
heroines to let down their defenses long enough to fall in love with each
other. So I love to watch them banter and tease and react with humorous
exchanges. I can't tell you how many times I've laughed out loud because of the
surprises they spring on me.
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I always like to end interviews with a question “Just for Fun”. And Donna
this is the question I choose for you.
“Just For Fun”
Q. Biggest
turnoff in the opposite sex?
REMEMBER DETAILS… oh dear, I seem to be going off half cocked…oh my did I
just write cocked…no no I didn’t mean…Damn! Let me try this again. What I was
trying to say any details, including those having to do pertaining to the size of
cocks would be fine. (I just crack
myself up sometimes, LMAO!!!)
Oooh, you're a naughty one! LOL I
love so much about men, but I was just mentioning to a friend the other day how
I cannot stand how they SPIT. Ack! It's awful and horrible and I'm making
myself woozy just thinking about it. And I probably made everyone else feel the
same way. Sorry! Let's think happy thoughts. Like how wonderful they are when
they're. . .doing everything else.

"Like how wonderful they are when they're...
doing something else".
Ummm? Sorry got a bit distracted for a moment...
Thank you again, Donna
for this opportunity to interview you. And I’d also like to say thank you to Lexxie for your great questions and help
with this interview today!! I hope both of you had fun.
I would also like to thank those who stop by. Hopefully you
enjoyed this interview too!!
Donna, Linda and I would love to hear from you. So don’t be
shy, leave a comment and say Hi!!
Donna Cummings can usually be
found on Twitter (@BookEmDonna), talking about writing, and coffee. Facebook
and Goodreads. Or can also find blogging at Heroes and
Heartbreakers.
Here is the link to her website http://www.allaboutthewriting.com/
Intro
written by Barb M.
Interview
questions by Barb & Lexxie.
6 comments:
Barb and Lexxie, thank you so much for having me. This is definitely the most fun interview I've ever done! Such great questions, and wonderful visual aids. (You had me a little nervous about the spitting picture though. LOL)
Thanks again. You've give me a big smile today. :)
Wow! That is music to my ears!!! What a nice thing to say. Had you on the edge of you seat there wondering what picture I put there um? LOL!
I really enjoy reading your reactions to our questions!!
I'd also like to thank Lexxie for her great questions.
And for also being by first co-host questionnaire on an interview!
Big Hugs!!
wait questionnaire isn't the right word...D'oh!
It should be my first co-host questioner on an interview...crap I need coffee, stat!!
This looks so nice - I feel like we were really having coffee together, sitting around a table somewhere - and here we were - in different parts of the world!
Thank you so much for letting me participate in the interview, Barb! And thank you for answering my questions so graciously Donna! This was a lot of fun :)
This was definitely a lot of fun! I wish I could have been here all day, drinking coffee and chatting. :) Thanks again for having me!
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