Welcome Ms. Burton to Love Romances & More, thank you for joining us..

Thanks for having me! 

How long have you been writing?   

I’ve been writing full time since 2001. 

Did you always want to become a writer? 

Not always. I always loved writing, always loved taking pen to paper and creating stories, but becoming a writer wasn’t a life long dream. I had a career in business, but it wasn’t until I married my second husband that we discussed my love for writing and he encouraged me to try and write a book, to create the characters in my head, so that’s when my love for it truly blossomed. 

You have published books in many different genres; Paranormals, Contemporaries, Futuristic, Fantasy which is your favourite genre and why? 

It’s hard to pinpoint a favourite genre. It really depends on my mood of the moment. When I’m writing a contemporary, I’m in love with it. When I switch to a paranormal, I’m fully immersed and having a great time in that genre. It’s very easy to switch. 

What inspired you to write in the first place?  Does the same thing inspire all of your stories?  

As I said above, my husband inspired me to take up writing again. I had dabbled many years earlier, but children and career took center stage, so writing couldn’t. Now, my love for each story and the characters in it inspire me to write them. 

What influenced you to get published?  How long did it take you to get your first book published? 

Every writer wants to see their book published. That was a great influence once I had finished my first book. It took me a year and a half after finishing my first book before I published my first book. And the first book I wrote wasn’t the first book I published. Sometimes it takes lots of practice books to find the right one.  

What is the most, and the least interesting fact about writing? 

Creating a story is interesting. Starting from scratch, putting it together from plot to characters to action to romance. I love that part. The least interesting? Editing the finished product. When I finish a book I want to be done, but of course you have to go back and do it over and over again to refine your work. It’s tedious, but necessary to create a good book. 

How did you celebrate your first release? What was it like to see your book in a bookstore? 

My first ebook release was a thrill. My husband bought me champagne and balloons. It was so exciting! My first print book release was an equal thrill. And every book since then still excites me the same way. I never quite get over the joy of seeing a book come out.  

Often a writer’s first book is the toughest to write.  Was this true for you?  If so, what helped you get through it?   

My first book was a learning process of how to create a story from start to finish. It was very hard. I made a lot of mistakes. But I was so excited about the entire process, I pushed through it. I wanted to learn. I had never finished a book before. That was the impetus to see me through. That, and I loved the story and characters and wanted to tell their story. 

Do you usually outline your stories before you write them, or do you "go with the flow"? 

A little of both, actually. I start with a synopsis, a basic road map of where I think the story will go. Then as I learn more about the characters and the plotline, I’ll deviate here and there from my original outline as I write my way through the story.  

What does your writing day look like? 

One day is never the same as the next. Some days it’s pure writing and nothing else. Other days are filled with emails, blogging, working with my editors, promotion, revisions, PR and other things that seem to take up the entire day. I never have a typical day other than I try to write every single day. Some days I write more than others depending on what else is on tap for that day that I have to accomplish. 

How do you handle family and your writing career? Is your family understanding of the time that you have to give your career? Is it sometimes difficult for you?  

I have a very easygoing family. They know writing is a full time career for me. It’s a job, just like any other, and it’s treated that way. When I’m on deadline, the book comes first. But I also know I do have a family and they can’t be ignored. It’s a balance every writer has to work hard to strike, but it can be done. Sometimes you just have to push back and step away from the computer. And good time management helps with that. 

How did they react to fact that you are also an Erotic romance author? Has your Mom read one of your books? 

Erotic romance is still romance. Sexy is healthy and fun. My husband loves what I write. I have three grown children and they’re very proud of my work, though they don’t want to read it. *grin*. My mom had read one of my earlier, non erotic stories before she passed away, and she fell madly in love with it. I was so excited she had gotten to read one of my books. I always sent her my books just so she could see them, even though I knew she wouldn’t read them. J 

Most authors are also avid readers.  Is this the case with you?  If so, who are some of your favorites?  Have any influenced your writing? 

I love reading! Every author should be a reader. How else could we know what’s great out there in the world of romance books? Some of my favourite authors are Nora Roberts, Linda Howard, Nalini Singh, Lora Leigh, Meljean Brook, Joey Hill, Elizabeth Lowell, Karen Marie Moning. Every great author I have read influences my writing. I’ve been reading romance since I was seventeen years old, wishing I could create the same kind of magic amazing authors like Kathleen Woodiwiss, Rosemary Rogers, Johanna Lindsey and the like had created. We’re all influenced by other authors whose writing encourages us to be the best we can be. 

Your characters come to life in your books.  Do you feel each of your characters live with you as you write?  Do their lives sometimes take over a part of your life?  Can you name an example? Do you have living role models for your characters? 

I’m glad my characters do that. They are alive for me during the time I’m writing their stories. I argue with them, cry with them, get mad at them, talk to them. They don’t take over my life, though. They’re firmly rooted in fiction and that’s where they stay. I don’t typically have living role models for my characters. I might use faces or body types from actors or models or some face that influences the looks of the character, but their personalities and who they are is entirely unique to my imagination.  

Where do you get the inspirations for your books? 

Inspiration comes from many places. And idea will come to me out of the blue, out of nowhere, while I’m sitting and watching television, lying in bed, taking a shower, talking with my husband, or staring off into space. I might be writing one book and get an idea for another book. The world is a springboard of ideas for stories, and they came come from nothing more than a single word or a photograph.  

You wrote two books together with your husband, C.J. Burton, are the plans for more books? 

Not at this time. I’m too busy and so is he. J 

Do you find it difficult at times to write love/sex scenes? What about the BDSM scenes like in Bound to Trust? 

All sex scenes are difficult to write. They require the characters to be emotionally vulnerable, and each sex scene has to involve emotion, so they take time and care to put together.  

BDSM requires a lot of research, because it’s a special relationship between the dom and sub and each one is different, as was the case in Bound To Trust. It was interesting researching that lifestyle for the book. That’s why I used ‘trust’ in the title, because that’s the key to a successful dom/sub relationship. 

Have you ever suffered from "writer’s block"?  If so, what did you do to get out if it?

Writer’s block only happens if you allow it. Sure, some scenes are difficult to write, some characters or plotlines even more so. But I’m a writer. It’s my job to go to work each and every day. I’m contracted to write books. I have deadlines. I don’t get to decide I ‘can’t’ do it. I just write.  

You write for several publishers, how do you handle the deadline hell? 

I have a great calendar system, and I make sure to allow enough time to get each book done and into my publisher by the time it’s due. It keeps me busy, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. 

Did you ever expect your books to become so popular?  Why do you think your books are in such demand? 

I don’t know that any author ever expects success. Any that I’ve had I’m extremely grateful for. I don’t know that I’m all that successful, but I’m awed that readers find my books enjoyable, grateful that they enjoy them and find something in my books that touch something in them. I hope readers find the emotion between the characters something that keeps them coming back for more. 

What is your favourite book from the books that you have written so far? Who are your favourite hero and heroine, and why?

I can never choose a favourite. Every book I’m writing at the time, every book that’s releasing next, is a favourite. It’s impossible for me to pick just one because I’ve loved every book I’ve ever written. 

Which book was the hardest to write and which the easiest? 

They’re all hard to write. And none are ever easy. Every book takes work to put together.  

If you could change places with one character from your books, who would it be and why? 

Maybe Gina from Surviving Demon Island. She got to use some fun weapons. And then there’s Derek. Heh. 

Do you have plans to give another genre a try, like Historical, in the near future?  

I’ve written in enough genres, I think, except Historical, and I could never even attempt Historical. It’s out of the realm of my area of expertise. I’m awed by Historical authors. The research that goes into those books is amazing. I could never do it.  

If you could travel through time to visit a special time period or famous person, what or who would it be and why? 

Abraham Lincoln. I’d love to sit down and talk with him about his vision, his upbringing, his philosophies, what he did and why.  

Do you listen to music while you are writing and if so what music is it? 

I can’t listen to music and write. It’s too distracting. I need quiet.  

Congratulations on your newest release in February, Riding Wild.  It’s a wonderful and captivating story. What inspired you to write this book? 

Thank you! I’m very excited about this book. My husband and I ride a lot on his Harley, so riding around gives me lots of thinking time. And lots of thinking time breeds story time. I had this idea for hot guys on Harleys who work for the government, and the Wild Riders were born.  

Are you working on anything right now, and can you tell us a teaser about these projects? 

I just finished a novella for an upcoming Berkley anthology. It’s titled The Ties That Bind and it’ll release in December in the Unlaced Anthology, along with stories from Joey Hill, Jasmine Haynes and Denise Rosetti.  

Any final advice to aspiring authors? 

Work hard. Don’t give up. Take writing seriously. If you want it bad enough, then treat it like your career. It’ll happen for you. 

Thank you for spending time with us at Love Romances and More. 

Thank you for the interview!