Sensuous
Promos Interview Questions:
Hello everyone, please welcome Hildie McQueen to Sensuous Promos
today as she shares with us a little bit about herself and her work.
Hildie, thank you for joining us today. I know the readers are
eager to get to know you , so let’s get started.
What does your writing desk look like? What would we find on it right this minute?
It's like princess apocalypse. I have all kinds of cutsie things that should not be on my desk because they take up so much space, but I love the pretties so it's hard not to have them where I can see them constantly. Don't judge, my pink stuff grounds me. I can't stand organized cleaned desks, with everything in its place. I must have chaos to write. All right I'll admit it, I'm jealous of the people who have clean working spaces.
Do you have any news you’d like to share with us?
I am over the top excited about my newest release, Even Heroes Cry. This story took a lot out of me emotionally. It's a story of two people broken in different ways by the war in the Middle East. One an Army veteran, the other a widow. I wanted to capture my hero's mental state as he dealt with severe PTSD. I hope the book will portray him in a way that brings not just sympathy, but admiration. It's a great love story.
What inspired you to write your first book?
My friends did. I used to write short stories for them and they demanded I write a book and make it a goal to get published. One even went so far as to put me in her car and drive me to a romance writer's chapter meeting. After that, like they say, its history. I fell head over heels in love with the craft and the supportive writing community.
What books have most influenced your life most?
Two books that I've never forgotten are Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell and Me Before You by Jojo Moyes; one I read when I was ten the other just last year. The reason is that the writer pulled me into the book. I became part of it and it part of me forever. That is what I hope to achieve one day. That one unforgettable story that a reader will never forget.
Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?
I am currently reading Delphina Henley's debut book, Unless You can be a Unicorn. She's good. The story will grab ya!
If you had to choose, which writer would you
consider a mentor?
I would be a
happy camper is I could hang out with J. R. Ward for a day. But seriously, the writer that I consider a
mentor and who I always go to for advice is Allie K. Adams. She has a great way of working through to
help find an answer by asking questions and allowing me to work it out. I love her ability to craft words in ways
that make you sit up and pay attention.
Read her books, she's amazing.
Do you have to travel much concerning your book(s)?
For Even Heroes Cry, that entire series actually, I'm traveling to Nashville and the surrounding areas. I've already gone twice and will go back to get more of the feel for it. I think it's important to the story to be as accurate as possible when describing the atmosphere of areas. For my Highlander series, I went to the Highlands of Scotland, and traipsed through small villages and old castles. I'm going back next year, spending time in a small village, plan to hang out at the pub and spend the days plotting a new Highland historical series.
Can you share a little of your current work
with us?
Sure, here is a short excerpt of Even Heroes Cry, it's the first time they meet face to face. !Swoon Alert!
Just as she pressed
her finger onto the doorbell one last time, the door opened and Tesha lost her
breath. Her sharp inhale the only sound for a few seconds.
In the doorway stood
the most stunning man she’d ever laid eyes on.
Never again would she roll her eyes at the mention of the word
"breathtaking." His
penetrating blue gaze took her in. Didn't just look at her eyes, but dove into
them.
He stood about six
foot three, but it was not his height alone that made him impressive. It was
the massive expanse of his shoulders, the broad muscular chest, thick-corded
neck and square jawline. It took a moment to realize they both stood staring at
one another without speaking.
He didn’t seem
discomfited at her silence, but stood like a statue. If not for the barely
noticeable lifting and lowering of his chest she’d think him not real. Long lashed grey blue eyes met hers. They
darkened to a deeper blue and his nostrils flared just enough to let her know
he was attracted. Tesha flushed under the intense scrutiny, and the raw
attraction she felt instantly. The haze in her mind somewhat lifted and she
held her right hand out to him. “Hello.
I’m Tesha Washington. Your new neighbor.”
The eyes moved slowly
from her face down to her chest and finally to her outstretched hand. His much
larger hand swallowed hers.
“Adam Ford.” At the
touch, her lips parted, but she recovered enough not to gasp again like a Jane
Austen character, and shake his hand. When he did not release it, she pulled
free of his loose grip.
Once again she
remained standing, her brain failing to engage and remember what she’d come
over for. Maybe later it would seem odd
that she’d not felt any compulsion to escape, to put distance between them like
she’d done with every man who looked at her with even remote interest. Since David's death, any man's attention
caused her guilt or awkward discomfort. The reason things didn't work out with
Cleve. But not this man.
Do you have any advice to offer other writers?
Don't give up - just keep writing. In this profession, it's all about writing the stories from your heart and enjoying the process.
Where can
our readers find you on the world wide web?
I'm excited to be here, thank you so much for
having me.
