BIO: Canadian born and bred,
and a lifelong dreamer, I began writing at an early age and can’t recall a time
when I wasn’t creating in some artistic form. My life has had several on-going
love affairs that shape much of what I write, the American West, Victorian
England, cowboys, a passion for pirates, Greek Gods, and Ancient Egypt. The
other endless love affairs in my life are Italia and Romania, and all their
magic, beauty, and dazzling culture. That passion spills into all aspects of my
life.
The Interview:
GRACIE: I’m
excited to have you here at The G-Spot, Denyse! Please tell us a little about
yourself (or a lot J) and how and when you got into writing?
DENYSE: Thanks so
much for having me as your guest, Gracie. It’s wonderful to be here. I really
don’t know what to tell you about me. I’m an avid reader, and writing has been
something I’ve done for as long as I can remember. I started in school with
class essays, and discovered I loved creating stories. I got lost in music for
a lot of years, but found my way back to the written word after I left school.
Oddly, it was one of my English teachers who told me I could have a career as a
writer, and I thought she was kidding... that wonderful lady attended my first
book launch party back in 2007, brought me flowers and had me sign my book for
her. It was an incredible moment.
I got my start with writing as an adult when I was so bored
with the stories on one of my favourite TV shows. So, an idea came to me, a
full story, and I decided to write it. I’d never heard of fan fiction back then,
I was writing it for me. I sent it to the actors in the show, and one of them
called me 13 days later. He told me I should consider a career as a writer,
too–so I was blown away. I spent the next 20 years writing fan fiction,
learning, and finally daring to take a shot at a pro contract. I entered a
contest 24 hours before it closed, wrote
the story and proofed it in that time–12K words, and a few weeks later I was
told I was one of the winners–that’s how it all began back in 2004.
GRACIE: Is there
any one thing or person in your life that inspired your writing? Any one thing
or person that influenced the genre(s) you write in?
DENYSE: No one person, honestly. People I admired were very
encouraging of my efforts, so there were a lot of influences. I write in so
many genres, too, it would be impossible to nail down even a couple of
influences. Writers I read avidly are Conan Doyle, Lara Adrian, Cynthia Garner,
Nalini Singh, Lucy Monroe, Opal Carew, Barbara Conelli–to name just a few.
GRACIE: I know it
might be difficult to remember the beginnings of your writing journey since you
are so prolific and have countless books published in numerous genres, but when
did you get The Call and what was your first published book?
DENYSE: My first published book was a sizzling short story called A
Safer Haven, which won the Amber Heat Award at Amber Quill Press in the Spring
of 2004. I’d entered at the last minute, having written the story in under 24
hours, and I didn’t expect to win, believe me. My sister was doing my email
back then, and she called me one morning a couple of weeks after the contest
closed, and read me the message that told me I’d won. It was pretty amazing to
us all!! And very exciting, of course. I published all of my first titles with
AQP, though none of those books remain with them now.
GRACIE: What do
you know now about writing and the publishing industry that you wish you’d
known before you started?
DENYSE: The
extraordinary amount of time you have to invest in building a brand, and a
following. Making a public presence that people recognize is hugely important in
this business, but it eats up days upon days of time that could be spent
writing. Finding a working balance is very difficult.
GRACIE: Please,
give us a little story behind the story and what inspired you’re espionage book
Defector.
DENYSE: Oh that
one is based on my love of an old television series from the late 80s. I had
written a fan fiction of the same name, and it was nominated for a Fan Q Award.
I revised and updated the story when Midnight Frost Books did a pitch session,
looking for non-romance books, and they liked it, so here we are. It has one of
the coolest covers I’ve seen in ages. I love it.
GRACIE: As the
lone-wolf, life-long spy in Defector,
what do you think is Andrew Dahle’s Achilles’ Heel and how do you go about
stomping it?
DENYSE: Andrew’s weakness is his growing awareness that there are
cracks developing in his armour. He’s a hard-ass, doesn’t care about anything
but the job. Then he gets involved with people who actually like him and
befriend him, and he finds himself wanting to be worthy of that trust. He hates
it, but he can’t shake it–the cracks have begun, and he’ll have to adjust. I
have a few more stories with him, so it could be fun watching him relearn his
own strengths and weaknesses.
GRACIE: In your romance Texas
Heat, what do you think it is about war veteran Chase Jordan that makes him
a perfect match for the determined and enamored Cheyenne MacKenzie and vice
versa?
DENYSE: Cheyenne
wants to break through Chase’s walls, to make him feel wanted, loved, and
needed. Their attraction is burning hot, but their emotional attraction is the
real chemistry. Chase has lost half his life to PTSD, and Cheyenne knows more
about him than he knows about himself. That scares him and lures him at the
same time. It’s her willingness to lead him back to his own life that makes
them work. They need each other, Chase to find himself, and Cheyenne to be able
to love the one man she truly wants.
GRACIE: Of all
the stories you’ve written, which is your favorite and why?
DENYSE: That’s a toughie.
One is published, and one is pending contract. The one that is published is The
Devane Files: Out of Hell – a Victorian era mystery with ties to Jack the
Ripper. I love historical fiction, and this one required research and a careful
touch. I think it worked out well, though the book never really attracted the
attention it should have.
My next novel is Grande Amore–a sensual romance set in the
beautiful country of Italia, Roma and Amalfi to be exact. An internationally
renowned singer, an injured tourist, and an attack that leaves the heroine in
the care of the hero.
GRACIE: I know
this is like asking a mother which is her favorite child, but which of your characters
is your favorite and why?
DENYSE: Inspector
Michael Devane of Out of Hell and An Unspoken Betrayal. He is deeply flawed, a
man of honour, courage, and strength. He’s also an opium addict, and a
clairvoyant. Makes him very interesting. After him it would be Austin Standish,
from Champagne and Chocolate, one of my latest releases. He’s a gambler,
gunfighter, and gentleman all rolled into one.
GRACIE: What
about your characters makes them unique?
DENYSE: I don’t
know if they’re wholly unique, really. I think they’re flawed, which makes them
accessible to readers, so they can relate. They make mistakes, have fears and
do stupid things–just like real people! Maybe that’s part of their charm. But,
they are, at the core, people who are strong and determined, and passionate
about what they want. Loyalty and trust is key to each of them, heroes and
heroines.
GRACIE: What is
your favorite aspect of the writing process? Your least favorite?
DENYSE: Favourite part of the process is editing. I love to edit.
The polishing and fine-tuning, working with a good editor can be more exciting
than initially writing the book. I’m not a lover of first drafts. Once that
dreaded part is done, then I have fun. J
GRACIE: Are you a
pantser or do you outline?
DENYSE: I have to
outline. I tried the pantster approach and didn’t like not knowing where I was
going with a story. So, for novels I have often detailed outlines, with
settings, research notes, and even partial scenes written in so I don’t forget
things. If it’s a short, I still end up with a page of notes and a general idea
of beginning, middle, and end to keep me on track.
GRACIE: If you
weren’t a writer, what other profession would you have chosen to pursue?
DENYSE: I have no
idea. I seem to have a flare for promotional stuff and networking, because I
know a lot of amazing people. Maybe I’d do advertising or marketing.
GRACIE: Who are
some of your favorite authors and why? Name some of your favorite books and why
they’re your favorites.
DENYSE: All of
the Sherlock Holmes stories and novels that were written by Conan Doyle. It was
through reading Holmes that I learned to pay attention to detail and the small
little foreshadows in a story. Margaret Mitchell, Gone With The Wind is
probably my all-time favourite book–it’s epic in that it not only sweeps us up
into the Civil War and the suffering it inflicted, but it’s a love story of
incredible reach. Terry Brooks’ The Sword of Shannara is also my favourite
fantasy novel, it was the first one I read in the genre, and it’s never been
topped for me. Also, Anne McCaffrey’s Dragonriders series, I love them. Lara
Adrian’s Midnight Breed, Nalini Singh’s Guild Hunter series. All are sweeping,
well plotted and executed stories that live and breathe in a reader’s
imagination.
GRACIE: What are you
working on now and what should readers be looking forward to from you in the
future?
DENYSE: I’m
always working on new things, at the moment, I have a list of things that I
want to get working on once I have the current edits and revisions done. I have
a new Western, a contemporary with an older couple, a couple of fantasy stories
plotted and waiting, a gargoyle novel, and two djinn tales. All in all, I never
know if I’ll live long enough to do half of what I want to get done in terms of
storytelling.
GRACIE: Do you
have a website and/or how can readers contact you?
GRACIE: Where and
how can readers purchase and/or read samples of your work?
GRACIE: What
advice do you have for beginning writers?
DENYSE: Write,
read, and learn. When you finish a project, begin another. Accept that there is
no such thing as a perfect book, but each one is a learning process. If you
spend all your time trying to perfect one book, you will never write another.
Also, and this is critical, be gracious and work with a decent editor. Your
best friend, your mother, or your husband/wife is going to be enthusiastic and
praising. They love you. You need the impartial thoughts and insights of
someone who will be constructive, helpful, and above all honest. There are a
lot of excellent guides and instructional books out there, written by people
who are experts in their field. Take advantage of that, and read those books
that pertain to your genres. Learn to address your weaknesses and make them
strengths.
GRACIE: Anything
else about yourself or your writing you’d like to share with your readers?
DENYSE: Nothing I
can think of at the moment. I think it’s important to find inspiration in
everything you see and let your imagination weave beautiful things for your
spirit to embrace and share with the world. If you write with positive energy
and a desire to create something that makes people smile, I think you will win
hearts in all you do. I’m a firm believer in all things coming when they are
meant to, so faith really can make miracles happen. If this is your dream, give
to it, and it will give back, in wonderful ways.
GRACIE: Denyse, thanks so much for taking time from
your busy schedule to share yourself and your work with us at The G-Spot and
giving us a little insight into your writing and the writing process! We’ll let
you get back to writing those wonderful books you write! All the best!
DENYSE: Thanks so
much for sharing your time with me, Gracie. It’s been my pleasure.
Blessings and much happiness to you and your readers,
always.
Denysé
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