by Cynthia D’Alba
the Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award from Romance Writers of America,
thousands of readers, many dear friends, and the cutest little yellow convertible in the world.
Her career has also given her work she loves.
Although she’s written more than 100 books, she continues to be fascinated by the many ways that a man and woman fall in love. The age-old story remains a challenging puzzle to be solved anew with each book. That makes her a very lucky person, indeed.
An author with an extensive backlist of more than 100 books, Vicki continues to write romances that are long in humor and sexuality without excessive fretting and angst on the part of her characters. She enjoys putting her character into almost impossible situations and letting them find their way out of the maze of problems she throws at them. She feels she’s a lucky person to do able to do a job she loves. I think it’s her readers who are the lucky ones to have someone with her talent there to amuse and entertain us.
Welcome Vicki.
CYNDI: Let’s talk about getting lost in a story. Do you ever find yourself lost in the story you’re writing to the point the characters live in your mind as though real?
VICKI: If I answer this honestly, promise you won’t send the guys with the butterfly net. When I’m writing a book, I ALWAYS think of the characters as real. And next we can get into a philosophical discussion about what is real and what isn’t. Who knows? My characters are more real, and a lot more fun to hang out with, than my next-door-neighbor. Anyway, for the length of the book, and often beyond, those people are alive and well in my imagination.
CYNDI: If you want to get lost in a story other than your own, who are some of your favorite authors who can take you away with their words.
VICKI: Lorraine Heath is one of my favorites. I discovered Regencies about three years ago, and I can’t get enough of them. Sabrina Jeffries is another fave of mine, and I just latched onto Victoria Alexander and Julianne MacLean. I’m sure I’m forgetting a bunch of writers I love. I don’t read as much contemporary as I used to because I write it and that means it’s harder to get lost in the story. I don’t write Regencies, so they’re a pure escape for me.
CYNDI: What is your favorite fairy tale? Have you used it as the basis for any of your books?VICKI: Beauty and the Beast, hands down. I hadn’t thought about it until now, but NERD IN SHINING ARMOR is a similar story of transformation. I didn’t mean to mirror Beauty and the Beast, but I think it does. I love stories of transformation.
CYNDI: I heard a rumor that you can kill a computer faster than anyone you know. Why do you hate computers so much that you beat them to death?
VICKI: LOL! I don’t hate computers. I love them to death, just like The Velveteen Rabbit. I love off all their letters and squeeze them until the battery pops out. I break bread with them and fill their keyboards with crumbs. I have a laptop that my daughter has threatened to take into the local computer store as an exhibit of what I can do to them, except she’s not sure their hearts can take it. I’ve dropped that thing several times, once on a tile floor so hard that the battery jumped out and flew across the room. It wasn’t quite right after that episode, so I’ve moved on. I want to give that poor thing a decent burial, but my daughter thinks it should sit there as an object lesson of some kind. I’m now loving a new laptop to death.
CYNDI: What is the first thing you do when you type THE END on your book (after you pour a big glass of wine.)
VICKI: I’m glad you mentioned the big glass of wine, because that is definitely my first move. My second move is to find out if my friends are talking to me anymore or if I’ve lost them all through my inattention. I usually have to schedule a hair appointment after that, because otherwise I would be ashamed to be seen by the friends I have left.
CYNDI: If money were no object, where would you go? Where would you live? Why?
VICKI: I’d take a cruise around the world first. I’d plan to write while I was on the ship because I love to write and wouldn’t want to give it up for the months I’d be at sea. As for where I’d live after that, I’d probably establish several homes. One would be on the Left Bank in Paris, one on Santorini, one overlooking Lake Tahoe, one on the beach in La Jolla, one somewhere in Ireland, and maybe one in Cornwall, although I’ve never been there. I think I’d love it, though.
Let’s talk about you next book, A WEREWOLF IN MANHATTAN. (Signet, January 2011, ISBN: 045123247X)
CYNDI: You haven’t written about werewolves before, right? Where did you get the idea to write about werewolves?
VICKI: Nope, never wrote about werewolves. The idea to do so came from my agent, Robert Gottlieb. It’s the first time he’s ever suggested a story concept, and that’s why I dedicated the book to him.
CYNDI: We all know that writers do extensive research for books. Tell us about your trip to Manhattan and upstate New York when you visited the werewolf pack and got a tour of their compound. Were you nervous? Did they let you take pictures? Was it really cool to watch them change into their wolf forms? Did you have to use a lint brush afterwards?
VICKI: You crack me up. Yes, the research was the best part, and I was nervous until I realized that hey, werewolves are people, too. And contrary to popular opinion, they don’t shed at all. They’re too cool for that.
GOTTA ASK QUESTION:
When men are interviewed, they seem to always be asked boxers or briefs. I don’t want to be accused of sexual discrimination, so…thong or grannies?
VICKI: Oh, good grief. Neither. Hate them both. Bikini briefs, okay? Happy, now?
CYNDI: Is there any question you’ve never been asked during an interview that you wished someone had asked? Here’s your chance…ask yourself and answer it.
Dear Miss Vicki: How is it possible you’ve written so many books when you’re so young? Dear Sweet Reader: I published my first romance when I was seven years old. Thanks for asking.
CYNDI: What question (or questions) do you want to ask your fans?
VICKI:What’s your favorite book of mine and why? I’ll bet the answer will be different for everyone, which is why I need to keep writing. If I haven’t made someone’s favorite list yet, I’ll just keep trying until I hit that sweet spot! I relish the challenge.
Thank you so much for being here. Also, thank you for your current service to Romance Writers of America by serving on the Board of Directors as a Regional Director.
VICKI: Thank you for inviting me, Cyndi! It’s always a pleasure.
~ ~ ~
Vicki will select one person to receive the Advance Reader’s Copy (ARC) of A WEREWOLF IN MANHATTAN. To be entered in the drawing, leave a message here and tell me you want it. Also go read 'the read' of A WEREWOLF IN MANHATTAN at http://everybodyneedsalittleromance.com/2011/01/02/a-werewolf-in-…mpson-a-review/
Leave a message there for a second entry into the drawing.
To be clear…there is only one ARC but you can have two chances to win. If you want the ARC autographed by Ms. Vicki, let me know and I'll have her personalize it to the winner in March.
Note: Offer void where prohibited. Prizes will be mailed to North America addresses only. Odds of winning vary due to the number of entrants.
If you want to read an excerpt from A WEREWOLF IN MANHATTAN: http://www.vickilewisthompson.com/were1chapter1.html
Thanks Vicki for coming by!
And thanks to Cyndi for hosting today! This is awesome, two guests at GLIAS.
Don't forget to answer Vicki's question about her favorite book! And ask Vicki anything you'd like to know. Check our winners' circle page for a list of winners. And be sure to come back tomorrow to visit with Allison Brennan, and then Friday with Barbara Dunlop.
~~'til next week, Angi