This weeks erotic romance author spotlight features, Raven McAllan. She was gracious enough to take some time out of her busy writing schedule to answer a few questions about her writing process. She also shared an excerpt of her new book Honk Kong Heat at the end of this interview, and it’s hot!
1. When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
I was about seven and I won a competition to write an essay on “where does Chocolate come from.” The prize was chocolate and I was hooked. It took another half century to really think, “come on woman write, you know you want to, what’s stopping you?” The answer was nothing, and I got cracking.
2. How long does it take you to write a book?
That’s a bit like how long is a piece of string. It depends on so many things. Am I on holiday—not a lot each day but several thousand words on the plane—Do I need to actually do some housework—as little as possible, I’m no domestic goddess. It’s a crime to upset the dust bunnies. Do we have visitors/family/things to do. However if I can crack on, I can write 5-6 k in a day. That’s not the norm because sadly I do have to cook, clean and be sociable.
I do try to write 2k a day Monday to Friday if I’m at home though. Weekends and evenings are family time, although I have been known to say oops, sorry have to edit/reread/sort this arsy hero out, and disappear into the study. Dh is lovely and passes me my wine glass—filled.
3: What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
I walk with a friend and her dogs. I live on the edge of a Scottish forest, so there’s a lot of fabulous places to wander along. I run my plots past her and we put the world to rights. Read—anything except horror. Eat—As long as it doesn’t have gluten in it. Drink fizz—anywhere and any time. And travel—with my long suffering hubby. I love to visit new places, it’s great research. (That’s my excuse and I’m sticking to it.) Hong Kong Heat is a result of some of that traveling.
4: Do you have any suggestions/tips for aspiring writers and authors you’d like to share?
Write. Just write. And write as you can, not as you think you should. Your voice might not be as you think it is, but it’s yours and yours alone. Unique. So celebrate it, and let it out.
5: Chocolate or vanilla?
That would be telling eh? wink
6. Do you have any strange writing habits (like standing on your head or writing in the shower)?
I can and do write anywhere. It’s a standing joke in our family that I could write a book about bathroom floors I have sat and written on. If we’re in a hotel, and I, as usual have woken up at silly o’clock, I head into the bathroom to write. That way the tapping of my laptop doesn’t wake Dh up. I also love writing on long haul flights. I’d say that way there is no interruptions, but on one flight, I went to the loo, and got back to see a guy reading the M/s. When I explained it was my seat, he moved away. Then about half hour later, one of the cabin crew came up to me, and said the guys in seats ** and ** want to know what happens when she gets on the bed and faces the wall.
7: Tea or Coffee?
Tea, then coffee, coffee, coffee then tea, tea, and tea…