Welcome, Tricia McGill

1: Thank you so much for being here, Tricia McGill

First up is the obligatory question. When did you first begin writing?

Thanks for having me, Roseanne. I began writing so long ago I have forgotten just when. I can recall loving composing the essays they set for me at primary school, and my older sisters telling me how good my scribbles were. I only began to write seriously once I retired early from the fashion industry. Only then could I concentrate on creating full length stories.

2: Seems to be the standard answer. So What or Who inspired you to write?

I guess no one in particular inspired me at the start. I was given a box full of contemporary paper back romances by a friend and until that time had mostly read mainstream fiction. But thought, like many before me, I can do this. Then I was off and running. I love a happy endings so the romance genre suited me.

3: One of my favorite genres. Tell us what do you like the most and least about writing?

Unlike some writers, I love the editing and re-writing part. Perhaps this is because once the first draft is done there is something satisfying about reading over your work and improving and slashing. At times I wonder; did I write that? And there are times I can’t remember actually coming up with an idea that found its way into my story. I’m afraid I am of the generation that is not wholly social media savvy. I really do not enjoy the promotion side of writing but realize it has to be done. When my first book was published, epublishing was in its infancy and promotion was simpler.

4: I know what you mean about revising and wondering if you really wrote that. I’ve wondered the same things at times. Ah, yes, the dreaded promotion. Not my favorite part either. What do you for fun and relaxation when not writing?

I am a volunteer for a community group. Our program assists disabled people with their computers and internet and all the tech stuff that goes with this. I visit some clients in their homes but most of my time when not writing these days is taken up with the administration side of things. I walk my two small dogs daily and putter about in the garden with any other small windows of spare time.

5:Your volunteer work sounds fulfilling. Tell us which authors do you like to read?

I love Time-Travel and Historical Romance, so mainly stick to these genres these days. My favorite authors include Margaret Tanner (a fellow Australian) Juliet Waldron, and Ginger Simpson, to name just a few. Miles away from romance but one of my all-time favorite authors is Terry Pratchett. His sense of the ridiculous and fabulously inventive mind hooked me from the first of his books I read. Sadly, he passed away earlier this year, so I will just be re-reading his work from now on. 

6: Great authors. I’ve never read Terry Pratchett. I’ll have to look up his work. So a question off the beaten path, what’s the one thing you’d most like people to know about you?

There’s not a lot to know about me really. I’ve led a charmed life; loved and been loved, and that’s what most of us want most out of life isn’t it? I’m no great literary writer but just like telling stories, and hope my readers will go on enjoying my stories.

7: Great answer. Yes, that’s what most of us want out of life. Okay, tell us about your current novel, where I can find it and your website/blog.

My latest book out is Leah in Love (and Trouble) Book 3 in my Beneath Southern Skies series, contemporary romances set in Australia. I had the most fun writing this one. It’s told from Leah’s point of view and I hope readers will enjoy her sense of fun. Leah is a landscape designer and goes to work on the garden of private Investigator Sean Russel (with one L). The attraction on her part is instantaneous, but it takes Sean a little longer to fall for her. She becomes mixed up in his cases which lead to mayhem and catastrophe, but her incurable sense of humor enables her to get through all that is thrown her way. In its previous life as Shrinking Violet this book was a finalist in the Romance Writers of Australia’s Romantic Book of The Year 2006.

Information on all my Books can be found on my web site: www.triciamcgill.com

Or my blog: http://triciamg.blogspot.com/

8:I love fun books. Do you have any tips for aspiring authors?

I think it’s all been said before. To become a writer you need dedication, determination and a burning desire to see a book with your name on its cover out there in the world. It’s just plain hard work and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.

9:Boy you’re not kidding about it being hard work and what it takes. So, a question I’ve been asked a lot, do you base your characters on real-life people?

No, can’t say that I do. I often have an image in my mind when I am writing, and the hero often looks like Matthew McConaughey when he was younger. I love seeing the cover designer’s finished product after translating my ideas. As for characteristics, I believe most of my heroes have a touch of my father in them. He was strong in spirit (surviving the 1914/18 war), handsome, generous and kind. 

10: Great person to base your heroes on. Where do you get your ideas?

A lot of my ideas come to me in that period between sleep and waking around 4.30 am. I have always been a dreamer and some ideas have arrived in dreams.

11: Great way to get ideas. Okay, another question off the beaten path, what’s one thing no one knows about you?

I’m an open book. I’m sitting here trying to think of one thing I haven’t told anyone before. Nope, can’t think of anything, anything that would be of interest to people reading this.

12. Sounds like me. LOL  Who’s your favorite author and what’s your favorite book?

I have many favorites and my tastes have changed over the years, but I have a treasured copy of Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte. It amazed me that someone who led a sheltered life and was educated at home by her father could write such a dramatic story. Sadly she didn’t live to see her Wuthering Heights gain success. She destroyed all her unpublished poems and writings before she died and you have to wonder why and what would have become of them if she hadn’t.

Excerpt from Leah in Love (and Trouble)

There was a door in the room I hadn’t noticed. Aggro opened it and peered round the

edge, while Baldy stood nearby. Now I knew why they called him that, his pate was as bald as a baby’s bottom, but not as nice by any means.

I was shoved into another dim room. At first I thought it was empty. But I knew it wasn’t when someone rushed at Aggro, who went down with a groan and a muttered oath. Craig and Baldy caught Russel before he got past the doorway, probably because I’d been in the way of Russel’s run. He stared at me with stunned disbelief as we were both shoved back through the door, which was slammed after us.

“What the bloody hell are you doing here?”

Well, what a welcome? Not nice to see you, glad you came along to help, but an accusatory question fired at me.

“I went back to your house and Craig and Baldy were there searching it. What are they after? They seem very pissed off with you.”

“They were at my house again?” He slumped on the floor, his back against the wall. The one window in this room appeared to have slats of wood fastened across it on the outside. Light seeped in through gaps. As my eyes grew accustomed to the dimness I could make out his features.

“Yes, I went back there after taking your sister home. Lord, now there’s going to be trouble.” I scratched at my head. The cap I always wore while working was gone, and the band usually pulling my hair back into a ponytail was also gone. My hair flopped about my shoulders, and I pushed it back irritably.

“You mean more trouble than we already find ourselves in?” He sounded amused. Which struck me as odd considering the position we were in.

“Oh yes, a whole lot more.” I sat beside him, my hands drooping between my bent knees. “They left a note for Sadie. She’s supposed to be getting a million dollars together by six.”

“A million?” He wasn’t laughing now. Real concern colored his voice.

“And I was going to deliver it. I told her to cut up some newspapers to put underneath a few notes.”

He stared at me and I shifted uncomfortably. “You’ve been watching too many cop shows on TV.”

“Well, they said not to tell the cops or you would die. And if she went to the bank to draw out that sort of cash they would surely get suspicious and call the police, wouldn’t you say?”

“Hmm.”

Is that all he had to say? Seemed so, for he sat staring at nothing in particular. “Your sister won’t have a clue what to do without me.”

“That’s a fact.” He ran both hands through his hair. “We have to get out of here.”

Talk about stating the obvious. “Of course we do, but you don’t seem to have had much luck so far. Why didn’t you try anything while you just had the idiot called Aggro watching over you?”

“I didn’t know he was alone, did I?” I’d pricked his male pride for he sounded quite put out.

“So, what were they looking for at your house?”

He sighed heavily. This close I could see that his lip was split again. Those beautiful lips of his sure were taking a battering. I might suggest kissing him better, but decided against it. Now wasn’t the time for frivolity.

Hello, Tricia McGill

Thank you so much for being here, Tricia.

And many thanks for inviting me to be a guest on your blog, Roseanne.

1: What genre do you write?

Strictly Romance. I have published works in a few sub-genres including, mainstream, futuristic, time-travel, historical and contemporary, but all are romances.

2: How long have you been writing?

Since childhood, but began writing full time when I was forced to retire early, and cannot believe now that I look back it was about twenty years ago.

3: What do you like the most and least about writing?

I really love the research entailed, especially in time-travels and historicals. The creative process fascinates me. Often when going over my stories I find it hard to believe I actually wrote it. For this reason I love the editing process. It’s satisfying to know that the story is down and just needs going over and adding or correcting. I like the promotional side of writing the least. I’m not good at pushing myself or my books and even after all these years get embarrassed asking readers to take a look at my work.

4: What do you for fun and relaxation when not writing?

Until forced to give it up because of needing two major operations I line danced regularly for fun. I’m just back to walking regularly and hopefully will be able to ride my bike again soon. I lost my dear pet dog a few weeks back to jaw cancer and last week adopted two new dogs from the local pound—both small—so now enjoy walking and playing with them. I also do volunteer work for a local community group which takes up most of my time when not doing writing-related tasks.

5: Which authors do you like to read?

I have many favorite authors, but always read in the genres that I enjoy writing, especially historical and time-travel. I’ve known Ginger Simpson since we met up, lord knows how long ago, when we were both with the same publisher and love her western historicals as they are similar yet so dramatically different in lots of ways to my Australian early settler stories. Fellow Australian Margaret Tanner’s historicals are among my favorite reads too. When I began writing seriously I read all of LaVyrle Spencer’s romances. 

6: What’s the one thing you’d most like people to know about you?

Perhaps that I value honesty and integrity above other traits in people. I can’t abide bigots or two-faced folk who tittle-tattle behind someone’s back. I think that’s probably two or maybe three things.

7: Tell me about your current novel, where I can find it?

My latest release is Remy, a historical romance set in Australia in the 1800s. It’s available now at Muse It Up Publishing. Poor Remy has to suffer through many misfortunes and disasters before he gets to find his pot of gold at the end of his rainbow. He has many faults as we all do, but basically is a good man who makes a few poor judgments.

8: Do you have any tips for aspiring authors?

It’s been said before, and any author will give the same advice. You only succeed if you have determination, dedication and devotion to your craft. Study the publisher’s requirements and guidelines then you won’t be disappointed. And write, then write some more. I cringe when I read over some of my earlier efforts. Practice doesn’t make perfect but it sure is the only way to improve. Don’t be in too great a hurry to submit your manuscript. Put it to one side, start another book. You’ll be amazed at how you can improve on a story that’s been left to ferment.

9: Do you base your characters on real-life people?

I was about to say never, but most of my heroes probably have a tiny bit of my father in them. He was a gentleman in all senses of the word. My heroes have many faults but I can never instill bigotry, vanity or cruel streaks in their nature. I leave those nasties to the villains.

10: How did you come up with the idea for this book?

Remy was previously published by a house that went out of business and was the follow up to my other historical, Blue Haze. Remy came on the scene right near the end of Blue Haze, and without too much persuasion demanded his own story.

11: What are you currently working on?

I’m re-writing one of my early contemporary romances that never got to a publisher, reading through a novella I hope to submit soon, trying to work out how to finish another paranormal/ghost story I began some time ago. Time is the enemy; there never is enough of it in one day.

12. Is there anything else you’d like us to know about you?

Apart from my romance books I’ve had short stories published in the Australian Woman’s Day magazine. I’ve compiled, edited and in one case, published three books of poetry and stories for my community group. I’m very proud of these books as the contributors had mostly never written before. My Traces of Dreams, won the Romance Writers of Australia Mainstream Romantic Book of the Year in 2003. This probably remains my favorite book as it was based on my mother’s life and came about through stories passed down to me from my older sisters over the years. My parents lived through two world wars and the depression and raised ten children. 

13. Where can we find you?

Details of all my published books, trailers, excerpts and reviews can be found on my webpage:

www.triciamcgill.com

I have a blog—Romantic Journeys—at http://triciamg.blogspot.com/

Excerpt from the final version of Remy:

Rem stared at Sara Greenwood, unable to take his eyes off this beauty. She was, without a doubt, the most entrancing creature he’d ever seen. With hair and eyes as black as sin and skin as flawless as pure porcelain, her face was that of a goddess. A bloom on her cheeks gave her face a vital sheen of good health. How his fingers itched to unpin her silken tresses from their neat coils. He ached to touch that skin to see if it felt as soft and downy as it looked.

    She carried her youth and beauty with a proud bearing that was missing in so many of the young women in the colony; these women brooded and sulked, despairing of their lot in life after being dragged to this awful continent by their fathers against their will. Most had pasty faces they kept well hidden beneath large-brimmed bonnets that shielded them from the sun they saw as an enemy to their complexions.

    Rem thanked God it was a Sunday, and they allowed him to join the small gathering. The thought he might have missed meeting this goddess made him shudder. Tiger made a habit of inviting all newcomers to the district to his and Bella’s home soon after their arrival. The Greenwoods had recently settled here after living in Sydney for five years. Bella met them briefly on a trip into town, and Rem knew by her remarks she wasn’t particularly enamored of Edmund Greenwood or his timid wife Eleanor. Rem couldn’t give a damn about them, but was already half in love with their daughter.

    “So charmed to meet you,” Sara was saying to Bella and Tiger. The pair was decked out in the finery kept solely for such occasions.

    Extending her long, slender fingers, Sara took their welcoming outstretched hands one after the other. Turning to Rem, she offered the same delicate hand, and he bowed over it reverently. Her scent filled his nostrils, battered at his senses. Like a garden in full bloom, or a bowl of roses. Not very poetic, he knew, but she would forever remind him of a spring day; an English one, where rosebuds sent out their fragrance to entice the bees, and butterflies were entranced by the colors.

    Rem realized his breathing was as uneven as his heartbeat. As he straightened, their eyes met, and for one infinitesimal moment Rem felt sure a message passed between them. Could she be as smitten as he?

    “We are delighted to meet you at last,” Bella said, and for a moment, Rem wondered what she was talking about. So entranced had he been that everything had gone out of his head, except this vision of loveliness.

    “How do you find it here in Bathurst?” Bella asked graciously as they all took seats on the porch.

Sara spread the skirt of her blue dress about her knees, her dainty feet clad in black pumps peeped beneath the hem. Those bewitching eyes, filled with a sort of devilment met Rem’s as Bella continued, “I’m so glad the weather has seen fit to hold.” She looked to the sky, where a weak winter sun was trying its damnedest to shine through the gray clouds.

    “As I’m mighty glad it’s decided not to rain before we’ve had a chance to settle in our house,” Sara’s burly father said, as he settled his large frame on a chair, and huffed. “I must say I’m also glad we brought plenty of help with us to this godforsaken neck of the woods.” He had a perpetual air of grievance about him, as if the world should have tried harder to do better by him.

    “'Tis a good life, once you grow used to it, and if you’re prepared to work hard for what you wish to attain, it’s very rewarding,” Tiger said, looking out over his land. It was obvious to Rem his brother-in-law was no more enamored of this man than he was. Edmund Greenwood was brusque to the point of rudeness and loud-mouthed. How did an ugly brutish man manage to sire an angel like Sara? And how did her meek and homely mother ever produce such a beauty? Perhaps she had been adopted. The thought made him smile, and he glanced over at his angel in time to see her watching him, her delicate brows raised.

    “You must call on me for any help you need,” Bella offered, turning to Sara’s mother. The pallid, insignificant woman looked to be about sixty in age, but she was more than likely only in her forties. Rem suspected it was years of living with a boor that had etched those deep lines on her face. Her pinched mouth looked forever on the verge of protest. Though, Rem doubted she would ever dare to come forth with a complaint. “We lean on each other out here where months can go by without us seeing anyone from the other side of the mountains.”

    “Thank you.” The words came out on a thready whisper. Glancing up like a scared hare, Mrs Greenwood added, “I didn’t want to come,” earning a wrathful glare from her husband.

    “Balderdash!” Edmund waved an arm, his brows beetling, and she seemed to shrivel even more. “You’ll soon get used to it. And with kindly ladies like Mrs Carstairs here” —he gave Bella a sickly, condescending glance—“you’ll soon acclimatize.”

    “I found it very strange when I first arrived in the colony.” Bella smiled at Mrs Greenwood, and Rem thought, for the umpteenth time, what a lovely woman his sister was. “And please call me Bella,” she invited. “Everyone does. We don’t stand on ceremony here. Being so isolated we have to become friends.”

    Rem wondered if these people knew his sister and her husband had both been convicts, sent to the colony by the British Government, same as he had. No doubt they did, for news traveled fast despite the great distances. Gossip was rife among the Exclusives and the Emancipists.