Tell us how much of
yourself you write into your characters.
I suppose a little of me creeps into each of the heroines I
write, but I try to vary the personalities/character types so nobody sounds or
acts just like me. I’ve fallen in love with a book on writing characters called
The
Complete Writer’s Guide to Heroes and Heroines. I love the way this book
shows the interaction of character types and gives examples from TV and movies.
By mixing up these character-traits, I can hopefully keep my characters from
being too much like me—or each other.
What is the quirkiest
thing you have ever done?
I have so many quirks, it’s hard to pick out just one, so
I’ll give you three of the many.
--One time when I was in kindergarten while walking home
from school, I tried to see how slowly I could walk without falling over. (Yes,
really, stop laughing!) I was really, really late getting home from school and
my mom came looking for me. I was in soooo much trouble.
--I also scalp my pizza. I eat all the toppings off the
crust and eat the crust separately. No clue why, it just tastes good that way.
--My family and I have been to 16 historical sites/museums
run by the MN Historical Society. My goal is to eventually visit them all. I
think I have four or five left to see.
--Oh, and bonus quirk: I don’t like seafood. At all. Nothing
From The Sea is my motto.
When did you first
discover that you were a writer?
I think the seeds were there for a long time. I have a post
over on Seekerville
where I followed the trail of becoming a writer from my kindergarten days
onward. I’ve always loved reading, story-weaving, and daydreaming. Couple those
things with my love of words, history, and happy endings, and it was a natural
progression to historical romance writer.
Tell us the range of
the kinds of books you enjoy reading.
I read a lot of different things. Mysteries, history books,
thrillers, historical romances, biographies, memoirs. I love Dick Francis, Tom
Clancy, Elizabeth Peters, Sarah Graves, Mary Connealy, James Herriot, Essie
Summers, Zane Grey, and so many more.
How do you keep your
sanity in our run, run, run world?
I’m busier now than I’ve ever been, but I keep my sanity the
same way I always have. Retreating into my fictional worlds. I have to have
this downtime…when it looks like I’m not doing anything at all…in order to
recharge the creative batteries and to prepare to write. On a side note, I do
have to pull back on other things I’m involved with, say no to some good things
in order to pursue writing fiction. I’ve learned I can’t do it all, so I have to
be careful what I say yes to.
How do you choose
your characters’ names?
There are several things I take into
consideration when choosing character names. Ethnic background, historical
setting, economic background, connotations, and what exceptions can I make to
these rules. The era in history that I’m writing has a lot to do with the names
I choose, as well as the economic status of the characters. My first series was
set in the Gilded Age amongst the upper elite. The names were more elaborate.
My second series was set in Idaho Minnesota
What is the
accomplishment that you are most proud of?
The writing accomplishment I’m most proud of to date is
receiving so many honors in the 18th
Annual Heartsong Awards this past spring. The readers were so kind to me,
and it was wonderful to see my books were enjoyed by so many people.
The non-writing accomplishment I’m the most proud of is my
family. My husband and I have been happily married for 21 years now and we have
two great kids.
If you were an
animal, which one would you be, and why?
I wouldn’t mind being a panda. They are adorable and rare
and cherished. Oh, and they’re supposed
to be round all over, which I kinda am. J
What is your favorite
food?
My current go-to food is taco salad at Carlos O’Kelly’s
restaurant. I order it every time I go there.
What is the problem
with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?
Showing vs. telling was a hard one for me to get my head
around. I thought I knew what it meant, but even now I’m discovering new ways
to show instead of tell. As to overcoming it, critique partners helped a lot,
as did reading books by masters of showing vs. telling. Some writers are very,
very good at this technique and I always learn new things by reading their
work.
Tell us about the
featured book.
The Queen of the Cow Towns is the setting for a rollicking
romantic mystery.
When Addie Reid isn’t focused on the world she sees through
the lens of her camera, she’s looking over her shoulder. But it isn’t her past that’s caught up with her. Unwittingly in
possession of a clue that will expose a killer, Addie must join forces with
Miles to solve the crime. As their relationship develops, a portrait of the
killer emerges.
I’m totally
intrigued. Please give us the first page of the book.
Uncle Carl had taught her that the
customer should be accommodated no matter what, but surely there were
limitations. Addie Reid pressed her fingertips against her temple. “You want to
do what?”
“I want my picture made with my horse.”
“Sir, this isn’t a livery stable. I do
serious portraiture.”
The cowboy—so prototypical of the breed
as to be comical with his wide hat, sunburned face, and bat-wing chaps—waved a
scrap of newsprint in her face. “Read this here ad. It says ‘Come to Reid’s
Photography to get your portrait taken with your trail pards and best friends.’
This is your ad, ain’t it? You are Reid’s Photography?”
A small pang twisted Addie’s heart. She
was now. What if I can’t do this alone?
“Well?”
“Yes, that’s my advertisement, and this
is Reid’s Photography.”
“Good. Then I want my picture made with
my trail pard and best friend. I’ve got good, cash money. Trail boss paid us
off an hour ago. I got spiffed up down at the barbershop and headed right
here.”
“But sir, a horse? The advertisement is
intended for humans.”
“That horse”—he pointed through the
open door to a dusty animal dozing in the sun on Front Street
Which was either an accolade for the
horse or an insult to the cowboy. She blew out a breath. “I can’t haul the
camera out into the street.” Though she wouldn’t risk moving the Chevalier for
a simple portrait, perhaps she could use her smaller Scovill. Though the print
would be smaller, too.
“I don’t want no outside picture. I
want it taken in the studio with one of those fancy backdrops. And I want the
picture to be about this big”—he held up his hands about a foot apart—“so it
will look good in a frame on the wall.”
That ruled out the Scovill. A print
that size would need the bigger camera. Her mind trotted back to what he’d
said, and her jaw dropped. “You intend to bring a horse inside?” Jamming her
hands on her hips, she shook her head. “No. Impossible. I’ll take your picture,
and it will be a good one, but the animal stays outside.”
He tugged the corner of his enormous
moustache. “I reckoned as much. No gumption. Should’ve known better than to
come to a woman photographer. A man would understand. Guess I’ll go over to
Donaldson’s. He offered to do it for me, but I wanted to give you a try at it
first, since you’re new in town and all. He said you’d be too timid.”
Stung, Addie straightened. “Wait. Don’t
go.” Donaldson’s Photography three blocks down would be her biggest competitor,
and Heber Donaldson had been the most vocal about the new photography shop on Front Street
The cowboy grinned. “That sounds
fine to me.”
This book just jumped
to the top of my to-be-read pile. How can readers find you on the Internet?
I blog at: http://onthewritepath.blogspot.com/
You can find me on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/erica.vetsch
And Twitter http://twitter.com/#!/EricaVetsch
And on the web at: http://webpages.charter.net/ericavetsch/home.html
Thank you, Erica, for the fun interview.
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A Bride's Portrait of Dodge City, Kansas
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