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Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Spotlight Author with Loucinda McGary

Hello readers. Today I have Loucind McGary visiting the blog.


Loucinda, tell us a little bit about your latest releas THE WILD IRISH SEA.

My latest book The Wild Irish Sea, like my previous two books, is a contemporary romantic suspense with paranormal elements. This one is set in County Donegal in the Republic of Ireland and is about a pair of twins who have always had mental telepathy. When one of them inadvertently witnesses a murder, his life is in danger and his sister rushes to Ireland to try and save him. There’s also a sexy but anguished Irish police detective, some precocious kids, dangerous smugglers and the legend of a selkie prince all thrown into the mix as well.

What are you working on now?

The first book in what I hope will be a series. It is a romantic suspense set on a cruise ship.

Also, my book, The Wild Sight was recently offered as a free download on Kindle and hit #1 on their Free Bestseller list. So I’m working on a novella that is a bit of a prequel to The Wild Sight that I hope to offer on Kindle.


What is your favorite thing about being an author?

READERS! Nothing is more gratifying than to hear that someone read and enjoyed one of my books. I’m amazed at how far away some of my readers are! I’ve received fan mail from Australia, New Zealand, Romania, and Malaysia to name a few places.

It is a dream come true for me to be able to share my stories with readers near and far! Readers definitely make all the crazy parts of the publishing business worthwhile.

When did you know you wanted to pursue a writing career?

I always wanted to, and I wrote off and on for many years. But I didn’t get serious about pursuing publication until I quit my Dreaded Day Job (DDJ) at the end of 2003. I made my first sale almost four years (and many many rejections) later in September, 2007.

Some writers say that they have a story that has to be told other’s say that the characters come to them and demand that their story be told… how does it work for you?

Generally my characters come first. They arrive in my imagination with their names and looks intact. Then they start to reveal their backstories to me, and eventually I get an idea for a plot for their current story.


Where does your inspiration come from?

Everywhere! No really, I never quite know what will inspire me.

For The Wild Irish Sea, I was inspired by the beautiful movie The Secret of Roan Inish and an interest in twins spurred on by my twin grand-nephews. My second published book, The Treasures of Venice was inspired by an opera The Jewels of the Madonna written by Venetian composer Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari. My first book, The Wild Sight was partially inspired by a genetic anomaly called the Niall Marker that I stumbled across while doing research on Ireland.

Do you have any advice or writing secrets for aspiring authors?

I wish I had a writing secret! Unfortunately, there is no secret other than hard work and persistence.

My advice is to keep learning and improving your craft. Finish what you start! Don’t sit around and wait for your muse, just keep showing up every day and plugging away. And keep sending your work out. Rejections are hard, but you have to stay in the game to get to that one yes.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

Still writing and I hope readers will still be enjoying my stories.

Loucinda, thank you for being my guest today on Micole Writes Romance. Where can we find out more about you and your books?


My website is: http://www.loucindamcgary.com/

I also blog with the Romance Bandits: http://www.romancebandits.blogspot.com/

And I have my own personal blog, Aunty Cindy Explains It All: http://www.auntycindy.blogspot.com/

Thank you so much, Micole, for having me as your guest today!

Loucinda has offered one lucky commenter a copy of her book, THE WILD IRISH SEA. Thank you all for stopping by, now make sure to say hi.


Hugs



Micole


30 comments:

Sharon Lathan said...

Cindy! My friend! How great to "see" you here with Micole!

OK all - I have read all 3 of Loucinda McGary's novels and they are FABULOUS! Loved them! I think I may be partial to The Wild Sight since I loved the psychic/past lives twist along with the mystery. But then I really loved the dual stories of The Treasures of Venice. Then again, the suspense in The Wild Irish Sea was captivating. And all 3 have really hot heroes and really hot romances. Hmmm.....

OK! I don't have a favorite! All are terrific. Keep them coming, Cindy. I will keep buying. :-) Sharon

Loucinda McGary aka Aunty Cindy said...

Good Morning Sharon!

GREAT to see you here and thank you so much for your lovely endorsements of my books. I really appreciate it!

And BIG THANX to Micole for inviting me here today.

AC

Anonymous said...

Read the blogs. They are so interesting interview~! I would love to read "Wild Irish Sea" because it look so hot! ;) My favorite romance novels always! ;) Thank you for chance!!!!

Jennifer Tanner said...

Hey, AC!

Congrats on being #1 on Kindle! I loved The Wild Irish Sea. Your characterization was wonderful and you captured the essence of the locale.

I hope you're feeling better!

Grins,
Jen

Johanna R Jochum said...

This book has been on my wish list for some time now! Looks so good! Love to read anything Irish! Thanks for sharing with us today!

evjochum[AT]aol[DOT]com

Marie Force said...

Great interview, Aunty! I can't wait to read the book set on the cruise ship. Fabulous premise!

Loucinda McGary aka Aunty Cindy said...

Thanks for dropping by Kelley!

I wish I could take credit for that HOT cover but it was all the doing of my publisher's Art Dept.

AC

Loucinda McGary aka Aunty Cindy said...

Hi Jen,
Thanx for the get-well wishes. I'm still feeling puny and this time change has really kicked my butt. :-(

And DARN! The Wild Sight is no longer a free download, but it was fun while it lasted.

AC

Loucinda McGary aka Aunty Cindy said...

Johanna,
Nice to "see" you here! I appreciate you taking time to drop by. With St. Patrick's Day only 2 days away, everybody is loving the Irish. ;-)

AC

Loucinda McGary aka Aunty Cindy said...

Hi Marie,

From your lips to some publisher's ear on the cruise ship books! I appreciate your support.

AC

Micole Black said...

Good morning ladies. Loucinda, I didn't know you have been ill. I hope you are felling better soon. I am home with 2 sick children today. Fevers, coughs... the whole nine-yards. Yuck. I am so glad that all of you have stopped in.

Wave to Sharon and Marie who have both been guests on my blog.

Hugs to all.

Micole

Nancy said...

Loucinda, congrats on your Kindle success! The cruise ship romantic suspense sounds like a great way to make use of your fabulous travels.

Loucinda McGary aka Aunty Cindy said...

Hi Micole,
And thanx so much for allowing me to be a guest on your blog!

Also my sincere condolences on 2 sick kiddos. :-( I've been down and out with respiratory crud for 2 weeks. BLECK! Just when I thought I was gonna make it through the winter unscathed -- BOOM! I'm finally feeling a bit better today.

AC

Loucinda McGary aka Aunty Cindy said...

Hi Nancy!
(Aunty waves madly at her Bandita!)

Thanx for stopping by and appreciate your congrats on the Kindle numbers. Even if it was a free download, I loved seeing one of my books on ANY Bestseller list!

And yes, doing research on the cruise books was pretty easy. ;-)

AC

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

Hey Aunty Cindy! As you know, I love ALLLLLL your books, and can't wiat for your next one. I'll look forward to the prequel and the series and anything you write. :>

Theresa Ragan said...

I think it's wonderful that you were #1, Cindy! Well deserved. Your book is awesome so far. Can't wait to read ALL of your stories. I wish you lots of success!

And I hope you feel better soon.

Trish Milburn said...

Cindy, I like the sound of the book set on a cruise ship. Did this idea come to you while you were on one of your own cruises?

Anna Campbell said...

Hi Micole! Hi Aunty Cindy! Great to see you both here! Cindy, huge congratulations on the No 1 Kindle spot. Wow, that's tsssssss hot! The cruise book sounds intriguing. As you know, I did my first cruise at the end of last year and loved it. I can see why you're hooked!

Loucinda McGary aka Aunty Cindy said...

Hey Jeanne!
(Aunty waves at another Bandita)

Thanks so much for popping by since I KNOW how busy you are. And thank you sooo much for your ringing endorsement of my work, you'll bring a tear to yer olde Aunty's eye if you don't cut it out. ;-)

AC

Loucinda McGary aka Aunty Cindy said...

Hi Theresa!
(Aunty waves at her wonderful chaptermate)

I appreciate you dropping by and big thanx for the congrats! Glad you are enjoying The Wild Sight (for FREE! YAY!) and hope you like my other books as well.

AC

Loucinda McGary aka Aunty Cindy said...

Hi Trish!
(ANOTHER Bandita! YAY!)

You know me too well. The inspiration for the cruise books did happen while I was on a cruise. The DH and I were discussing how a person could sneak aboard at one of the ports of call and why. ;-) Guess you'll have to read the first book to find out some of the answers!

AC

Loucinda McGary aka Aunty Cindy said...

HUGS, Fo!
(We are getting a full compliment of Banditas, YAY!)

Yes, I'm totally addicted to cruising as my favorite mode of travel. What's NOT to love?!?! One of these days, we'll have to go on a Bandita cruise! The high seas might never be the same. LOL!

AC

Donna MacMeans said...

HI AC -

I can't think of a better person to set a book on a cruise ship. Is the dh concerned that's it's a suspense? I mean you'd be looking around for all the good spots for murder and mayhem, and the dinner conversation LOL - "Excuse me, but is there a way one could slip a little poison into that chocolate buffet?" Can't wait to read this one, Cindy.

Congrats on the Kindle success! Woohoo! You go, girl!

Suzanne Ferrell said...

Hey Cindy!

Always glad to hear about your books, which I've loved! And if there's one person who should know enough about cruise ships to write a mystery on one, it would be you. You travel more than anyone I know!!

Loucinda McGary aka Aunty Cindy said...

Hey Donna!
(another Bandita! WOO HOO!)

LOL! The DH is more likely than me to bring up the poison in the chocolate (BLASPHEMY!) at the dinner table. He can be quite incorrigible, esp. with people he doesn't know.

Thanx for the congrats and I appreciate you taking a moment during this busy time to stop by.

HUGS!
AC

Loucinda McGary aka Aunty Cindy said...

Hi Suz!
YAY! It is now a full-out Bandita INVASION!

Thanx so much for taking time to stop by, I know you are busybusy too!
And Thanx again for all your wonderful support of my books! Plus, guilty as charged about the travel. ;-)

AC

Debra Salonen said...

Hi, Cindy,

So nice to see you here. Congrats on all your success! I was intrigued by the genetic anomaly you ran across in your research. Isn't it wonderful the gifts that come when you're open to them?

All the best with your future projects.

Deb Salonen (I was a member of SVR but moved closer to home with YRW)

jo robertson said...

Thanks, Micole, for having one of my favorite romantic suspense authors on your site.

Hi, Cindy! Can't wait for the finish of your next book!

Micole Black said...

I want to tank Loucinda and all of he guests who have joined us here for this blog.

Hugs

Micole

Micole Black said...

Congratulations Johanna J. You have been chosen as the winner of Loucinda's book THE WILD IRISH SEA!!!!!