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Welcome To Spare Time Novelist
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Welcome to the Spare Time Novelist. This web page is for those writers who
dream of some day being on the New York Times Best Seller List. Maybe you've dreamed of being the
next Robert Heinlein, Nora Roberts, John Grisham, Toni Morrison, Tom Clancy or one of my favorites, Susan Krinard.
Or maybe you're striving higher, to become the next Aristotle, Euripides, Machiabelli or Freud. Whatever your choice,
there's always a starting point, a place to begin. Hopefully, Spare Time Novelist can be a part of
your destiny. These pages are dedicated to YOU, to those of us who need, who feel the urge to tell a story.
[About Us] [Dedication]
[Contact Us]
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Interview with Author Patricia A. Rasey
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Patricia A. Rasey, Author
Visit her website: Here
Interviewer: J.M. De Long
for Spare Time Novelist |
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I want to thank Ms. Rasey for taking the time out of her busy schedule to do this interview for
Spare Time Novelist. I hope you enjoy this interview as much as I enjoyed finding a new friend.
(STN) 1. How did you start writing? What first inspired
you?
(Ms. Rasey) I have always written something, back as far as I can remember. I use
to
create little scenarios in my mind--daydreams. Once I got out of school
and
went to work, got married, had children--I lost the writing part, but
never
stopped daydreaming. One day, I was able to quit work, be a stay home
mom,
but with both kids in school I grew bored and turned to reading. I just
said, "I can do this." The written words became my inspiration. So I
started
with a prologue--took it my friends and asked their opinion. They gave
me
the courage to continue.
(STN) 2.Do you write everyday?
(Ms. Rasey) I try to write at least once a day. Even if it's something small.
Weekends
don't always work out as we do a lot together as a family. But the best
way
to keep your thoughts and words flowing is to write. When I don't write
for
the entire weekend, then I notice it's harder to get back in the swing
on
Monday.
(STN) 3. How do you feel about Writer's Groups? Do you
think they help a writer?
(Ms. Rasey) I think they are extremely helpful. I took a course through Long Ridge
Writers group, which did help me hone my skills early on in my writing
career, but I think it was the writing groups and critique partners
that
helped me learn more about the writing world and what editors want. I
think
every writer can benefit being part of a group of people who has
similar
goals and ideas. Besides, they are a great support group.
(STN) 4. Tell us about your latest book.
(Ms. Rasey) Let's see--the latest release is The Hour Before Dawn which is the
sequel to
Deadly Obsession. You need not read both--they are stand alone books.
When I
wrote Deadly Obsession, it was my first inkling that vampires exist in
the
world today. We're not talking about paranormal, but flesh and blood.
After
writing it--I found a whole culture on the net and I felt I hadn't done
the
book justice. I missed a big share of what was out there. So when I
decided
to write The Hour Before Dawn, I wanted to give people and
understanding to
a lifestyle, many don't even realize is there. I write
suspense/thrillers
with a touch of romance. It's pretty cross genre, but I think the
combination works.
(STN) 5. Do you have a special place to write? Typically,
how much do you write a day?
(Ms. Rasey) I write in my bedroom. That's where my desk and computer are. During
the day
I can close the door and be in my own little world. Interruptions
really
stop the creative flow for me. I try to write at least three to four
hours a
day. I spend a great deal of time on promotion and emails as well.
Sometimes
I have to go no mail in order to get any writing done.
(STN) 6. How much do you re-write? How many drafts do you
typically have ?
(Ms. Rasey) I rewrite until it's as perfect as I can get it. I use to write a
chapter in
one day when I first started--before I knew any of the rules. Now it
takes
me about three days to do a chapter. I'll write a section, maybe four
or
five pages. I will work on it until I get that section right before
moving
on. After I have completed the entire chapter, I'll go over it from
front to
back again, maybe a few more times. When it's ready and I think I can
move
on, I have probably read that chapter at least twenty times making
changes.
The nice thing is that when it's finished and the whole book is
complete,
the rewrites are minimal.
(STN) 7. Do you use an outline? If not, how do you keep
your story and characters together?
(Ms. Rasey) No, I don't really outline my story on paper. I have a good idea of the
whole plot in my head. I do keep a log of characters and
characterizations.
So it's easy for me to keep them separate as all I have to do is look
in my
file. I typically keep a running log of what happened in each chapter
should
I need to go back and find something. I've just never been good at
outlining
it all out before hand. If I did, I'd likely change it anyway as I
often
come across something I really hadn't planned on in the beginning, but
the
addition works and I roll with it.
(STN) 8. What drew you to your specific genre?
(Ms. Rasey) No. I am definitely cross genre. Not that I would suggest anyone write
that
way as it is very hard to market and may get you easily rejected at the
publishing houses. My problem is I write from the heart--and this is
what I
love. Luckily ePublishers are not as worried about genre and my books
have
been best sellers for my company. The readers seem to like them. They
are a
mix of suspense, thriller, mystery, and romance.
(STN) 9. What authors do you like to read?
(Ms. Rasey) Not as many as I'd like to. I wish I had more time and it's the one
thing I
miss. I use to read a lot of Sandra Brown, Tami Hoag, Teresa Medeiros,
William Diehl, and some Stephen King. Lately I've stayed with my
friends
books like Tina St. John, or eBooks to help support the medium. There
are
some fantastic writers out there like Charlotte Boyett-Compo, Brian
Knight,
and Trace Edward Zaber.
(STN) 10. Do you enjoy meeting your readers and are you able
to do this often?
(Ms. Rasey) Oh this is what it is all about. I love to meet anyone that has read
and
loved my books. You can't get better flattery than that. I have had
people
email me before that has read my books and became friends with them.
Unfortunately, I haven't been able to do as many personal appearances
as I
would like, money always being the factor and holding me back--it takes
a
great deal to be able to get yourself out there. So the answer to if I
do it
often--is not nearly enough!
(STN) 11. Who is your greatest support?
(Ms. Rasey) My husband. Even when times are tough, he's always been there for me,
believing in me. He's been the financial support as well. Giving me
time at
home to write so I could realize my dream. Unfortunately the economy
does
fall at times and we all need to kick in. He hates it when I have to go
out
and get a job to help support us, but we all have to do what we can in
times
of need.
(STN) 12. E-Publishing is becoming a big part of the
publishing world. You've done exceptionally well
in this field of publishing. Can you tell us a little
about how e-Publishing works?
(Ms. Rasey) ePublishing is not an easy road to travel. I will tell anyone that.
I've
done fairly well in sales, and even saying that, the money is still
quite
small. Don't expect to get rich at this stage in the game yet. Unlike
traditional publishers, my books are not shipped to brick and mortar
stores
and don't sit on bookshelves. That leaves me trying to get my name out
there
and my books so that people even know a Patricia Rasey exists. It's not
easy
and it takes a lot of ground work. You don't do this, you don't sell.
It's
that simple. I've seen writer, after writer fail to sell books--but
those
same writers I don't see them out there promoting themselves as hard as
they
could either. It takes a lot of time away from your writing and is a
catch
22 if I ever saw one. But unfortunately, in the ePublishing world--if
you
don't promote yourself, no one else will.
(STN) 13. Is e-Publishing a good place to start for an
unpublished writer?
(Ms. Rasey) I have to say yes. Getting published in the traditional houses is
getting
harder everyday as they re-release hordes of books by the name authors
and
the midlist is dying out. It is much easier to get in the door at an
ePublisher than a New York house. But even then, it's still tough. You
have
to write a great book, do the work, and pound the Internet pavement.
Once
you get established as an eAuthor, who knows, maybe that path to a New
York
house might be a bit easier. I haven't tried that route yet, so I
wouldn't
know. :-)
(STN) 14. In your opinion, will e-Publishing ever replace
the good 'ol book?
(Ms. Rasey) No, not at all. I think people still love to have that book in hand.
But I
do think, once the price of readers become reasonable, they sell them
in
bookstores, and they make them very easy to use, I think the interest
will
go up. The older generation still loves to have that paperback in hand.
But
we are bringing up a new generation that is use to doing everything on
computers and electronics--so why not read? I think it will help
replace
some of the old heavy textbooks at schools and colleges in the
future--which
in turn will help grow the paperless society. But, I really don't want
to
see paperbacks replaced, and that's not what most ePublished authors
want.
All we want is to add another medium, another way to read.
(STN) 15. If you could have done anything at all in your
life, what would it have been? A secret ambition?
(Ms. Rasey) I would have love to have been a detective. I love to solve puzzles,
tax my
mind and put it to work. Now, at my age, that will always remain just a
dream. But with my writing, I was still able to keep that dream alive
by
writing about cops.
(STN) 16. What are you currently keeping yourself busy
with besides writing?
(Ms. Rasey) My family. With two boys, I do a lot of running, taking them to
sporting
events. Recently my husband has had a cut in hours at work, so it's
forcing
me to go out and get a full time job besides my writing. So for a
while--I
will be kept extremely busy as I juggle a job, my writing, and my
family.
But we all have to do what we have to do to make things work. We're
survivors.
(STN) 17. Many of the visitors to Spare Time Novelist are
beginners. What advise would you give them?
(Ms. Rasey) Never give up. Persistence is the key to gaining that contract. If you
quit--you never will be able to grasp that brass ring, but if you keep
at
it, one day t will be yours!
Pat
~*~
Patricia A. Rasey parasey@adelphia.net
http://www13.brinkster.com/Rasey
http://www.authorsden.com/patriciaarasey
Ms. Rasey’s work from Dark Star Publications includes the novels...
-- Deadly Obsession
-- Kiss of Deceit
-- Facade
-- The Hour Before Dawn (Available July 2001), the long-awaited sequel to the best-selling Deadly Obsession.
-- Eyes Of Betrayal (Available Summer of 2002), the long-awaited sequel to the best-selling Kiss Of Deceit.
...As well as stories in the anthologies...
-- Twilight Obsessions
-- Twilight Visions
You can write to Patricia at:
Patricia A. Rasey
P.O. Box 385
Napoleon, OH. 43545
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Publishers
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Publishers Guidelines
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Please take a moment to view our on-going list of Publishers for all
Genres. If you have dealt with a certain Publisher and it was either a good or bad
experience, please let know about it. Email Us
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I've had losts of questions about Publisher Guidelines. I've gone to several of the publishers
sites on the internet to see what their specific Guidelines are. The guidelines listed below are mainly for the
Romance genre. I will be updating this list with other genre guidelines soon. Mystery, Science Fiction, Fantasy
and Horror will be my next update. Please, if you know specifically any Guidelines for publishers, please let me
know and I will add them to this list.
Spare Time Novelist
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This is a short list of Literary Agents from various areas of the internet. I will be adding
to it gradually.Spare Time Novelist
(This list is from many sources on the Internet and I appreciate every last one of them! Thank you for answering
my questions!)
Publishers & Literary Agents Resource!
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Issue:
03 Year: 1998
Editor: J.M. De Long
© 2000 J.M. De Long |
| Writing for Children |
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