Welcome! I would like to take this opportunity to thank L.C Martin for taking the
time to answer these questions for Coffee Time Romance and our readers.
Where did the storyline for Destiny come from?
I had the setting in mind and then the story came. It's fiction but based on my travels
to Key West, a place I absolutely love. It's a romantic suspense which is my favorite
genre to read.
How long does it usually take you to complete a book and how long did Destiny
take?
The first draft took about a year. I had worked on it off and on while working in Real
Estate out in California. It took another two years of rewriting and polishing before it
was completed.
What was the inspiration behind Destiny, if there was any?
I think I was inspired to write Destiny after moving from Miami to California. I was so
homesick and the only reason I had moved, was to be with the man I loved. It started
out as a short story and evolved into a novel.
What type of research did you have to do for Destiny?
As far as the setting, there wasn't much research involved since I wrote about places
I've been to many times. But I do have a voluminous library of reference books and
used them for information on weapons and the crime world of the mob. I wanted the
book to be as to authentic as possible.
Did you have the characters already plotted out or did they come to you as you
were writing the book?
The four main characters were plotted out in my mind before I started writing. They
grew and changed as the book evolved. And then there were the characters that
popped up out of nowhere. That's what I love about writing fiction, you never know
who's going to show up or what's going to happen next. My characters have taken me
places, I could never have imagined.
Do you plan on using any of the characters from Destiny in future books?
I'm thinking about it. People have asked me if Jason and Nikki will ever get married.
They liked the chemistry between them. If I do write a sequel, it'll take place in
California and Vegas. And of course, the mob will be involved...
Did you have any difficulties writing this story?
Just ending it. I fell in love with the characters and didn't want to let them go.
How did you feel when you sold your first book and who did you sell it to?
I felt as if I was on top of the world! Publish America published Destiny and Caught in
the Rain, a novel set along the rocky coast of California. I'm very thankful they gave
me a chance.
Did you always want to be a writer growing up, if not, how did you become a
writer?
I didn't realize it, but as a teenager I wrote poetry and did very well in my English and
creative writing classes. I was encouraged by my ninth grade teacher to pursue a
career in writing, but instead, I majored in Business Administration and followed that
path for a long time. It wasn't until recently that I discovered my passion...and now, it
consumes me.
How much time do you get to spend with your hubby when you do not have a
deadline?
I write during the week, deadline or not, and keep the weekend available for my hubby.
Do you have certain hours that you write or are they when you can manage to
snatch them?
Mornings work best for me. That's when the creative juices are flowing and I'm clear.
Later in the day is when I work on revising and polishing. But I'll write whenever I can.
Have you ever had Writers’ Block?
No, thank God. My problem is that I don't have enough time to write everything I want
to. I have a couple of books swimming around in my head, but want to finish the one
I'm currently working on first.
Do you have any upcoming projects?
Emerald Harbor, a romantic suspense set in the Virgin Islands is a novel I've just
completed. It was inspired by a trip I took to St. Thomas with my brother a couple of
years ago. I had a lot of fun writing it. As you can see, there's a pattern here...I write
about places I've been to and have fallen in love with and create a story around them.
What encouraging words would you give to aspiring authors, if you could?
Be persistent. Don't ever give up. Keep on writing and submitting your work. With
every rejection use it to fuel your passion and a chance to polish your work and send it
out again.
I would like to thank L.C Martin on behalf of Coffee Time Romance for chatting
with us and we wish you good luck on your upcoming projects.
Sheryl
Interviewer
Coffee Time Romance |
