As a child my short writing assignments would turn into many pages. I wrote my first book when I was about ten. So, all my life.
Did you have any influencing writers growing up?
Enid Blyton, then Sidney Sheldon, Jacqueline Susann, Edward Rutherford, Harold Robbins, Edgar Allen Poe, Shakespeare.
Are any of your characters based on people in real life?
Many.
Where do you draw your book inspirations from?
Everywhere. I was driving home today and a new song came on. It immediately took me to the plot for my next novel. Someone will say something in passing, and suddenly a character will pop into my head, and the story will follow.
Do you use have a basic outline when starting a new story or do you let the characters lead the way?
No outlines. I may have a general idea where the story is headed, but more often than not my characters surprise me.
When you are picturing the characters in your book, do you have a cheater photo for inspiration?
No, that’s never happened. I once had PR person who wanted me to pick celebrities as the leading characters. I found it very difficult.
Many people read as a form of escape and relaxation. What is your favorite way to sit back and relax?
Watching football, great British Dramas, comedy shows that are irreverent, like Two-and-a-Half Men.
Who are your favorite current authors to read?
Sorry, I don’t have any. I don’t have time to read. I’m too busy writing.
What are your favorite books by others?
Before I became a full time author, I was enthralled by Edward Rutherford’s sagas.
Do the locations in the stories have any meaning to you?
They’re usually fictional, but based on real places. Sometimes, like The Cowboy From Down Under, that was meaningful. I’m a Kiwi and spend a few years in Oz.
Do you write in single or multiple POV?
Multiple…though usually just the two main characters.
What do you find to be your best research tool?
The internet.
Do you write under a pen name? Also, do you write under more than one name?
Maggie Carpenter is my only pen name.
What genre do you write and why is this your preference?
Romantic Suspense, usually cowboys. I love stories with plots, whodunits, with surprises. I’m not into angst. And I’m a horse person, so riding, horses and cowboys come naturally to me.
Tell me something about yourself outside of writing. Jobs, accomplishments, family, quirky trait...what led to you being you?
Here’s my bio. A bit easier that rehashing everything.
Hailing from a tiny town in New Zealand, her first taste of notoriety came as a Dallas Cowboy Cheerleader. Then it was off to Los Angeles where she was picked up by a modeling agency, and went on to star in film and episodic television.
But her foray into the entertainment world didn’t stop there. She launched a highly successful live show as a stage hypnotist.
Known as Sonjia: The Mistress of Mesmerism, she performed for the boys in uniform at Camp Pendleton, thrilled crowds in L.A. nightclubs, flew down to Sydney, where she incorporated illusions into her act, then returned to her homeland and wowed the audiences across the country.
Now she works late into the night writing sexy, intriguing stories, and never misses a day riding her beloved dark bay mare.
What advice would you give to an aspiring writer?
Stay authentic, write what you know, and manage your expectations.
How do you deal and process negative book reviews?
They no longer bother me. Everyone’s entitled to their opinion, and I try to keep an open mind. But there are various reasons why people leave negative reviews.
What is the most difficult part of your writing process?
I don’t find the writing process difficult, except perhaps not being able to get the story out of my brain fast enough. Being a full-time author though, that’s different. There are many challenges.
What do you need in your writer’s space to keep you focused?
No interruptions and to start with a great cup of tea.
What is your naughty indulgence as you are writing?
Chocolate.
If you could spend a day with another popular author, whom would you choose? And why?
I don’t have an answer for that one.
What is your schedule like when you are writing? Do you have a favorite writing snack or drink?
I don’t have a schedule. I write all the time, except when I have to eat, or need a brain break and watch television for a couple of hours.
Do you listen to music when you write – what kind of music is your favorite?
No, but I love country.
Have pets ever gotten in the way of your writing?
No.
What is your kryptonite as a writer? What totally puts you off your game?
I can’t think of anything. Sales sometimes, if there’s a slump, it can be discouraging, but it usually pushes me to produce more.
Have you ever killed off a character that your readers loved?
NO.
How do you celebrate after typing THE END?
Another cup of tea. Boring, I know. Maybe spend longer at the barn the next day, but I’m usually working on more than one book, so that doesn’t happen very often.
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