Welcome,  We are very happy to have Linda Wallace here today.  On behalf of Coffee Time Romance, I want to thank Ms. Wallace for stopping by and letting us know about her book Big Bad Wolfe, a romance to be released March 2006 with Wings E- press.  Thanks so much for talking with us today, Ms. Wallace. I confess to finding Brandon Wolfe one of my favorite types of heroes. Gruff and tough on the outside, which usually hides the marshmallow soft interior, at least for those lucky enough to pierce his tough hide.

You’ve done a lot of traveling in your life. Do you think this has enhanced your writing? If so, in what way?

In different parts of our country there are still variations in the way people speak, the food they eat, how they dress, what is considerd appropriate behavior, though the media–movies, TV, the Internet, newspapers–tend to make us all a little more the same. And, of course, climates, plants, occupations, etc. vary from region to region. I think the more opportunities you have to experience these nuances first hand, the more authentic and colorful the writing.

I see from your site that you took the pictures of the llamas for the cover of Big Bad Wolfe. Did the pictures inspire parts of the book, or did you visit the farm because of the book?

I visited the farm in Washington specifically to take pictures for the cover art, but an earlier experience at a llama show in Idaho did inspire parts of the book. The first llama I ever saw cast an instantaneous spell over me. They are elegant and beautiful, so I wanted to learn more about them. After doing the research, I realized they would be fun to include in a romance, and the birth of the baby llama, or cria, fit perfectly with the story of Corey’s yearning for a child.

Is photography a hobby or job of yours? If so, do you find that you are a more visually inspired author than say, musically or otherwise?

I co-published weekly newspapers in Hawaii and Kansas and occasionally took photos for the papers, but mostly, I’m an amateur. I love photography as art, though, and go to exhibits here in Seattle whenever I can. I always see what I’m writing running through my head like a film strip, but there’s usually no music in the background, so I’d say I’m more visually inspired than musically.

Cheeky kids are so wonderful to put into a story, as they will usually say what needs to be said at exactly the most awkward time. When you write, do you come up with your characters first, or the plot?

The characters and plot evolve together. For “Special Delivery,” the daredevil bicycle couriers who dart through the traffic in downtown Seattle gave me the idea of having a messenger for a character. I liked the idea of twisting the gender roles a bit and made the courier a woman. So what kind of man could be very different from an adventure- loving courier, yet still strong? How could they meet? What could happen that would force the mismatched couple to learn more about each other and fall in love? The characters and the plot grew from the spark of admiring the bravery of the real-life couriers.

For “Big Bad Wolfe,” a personal tragedy triggered the desire to write the book. A relative of mine struggled for years to have a child. I wanted to portray that longing for family. I needed a very strong, opinionated man with children of his own to pair with the childless Corey, and the plot developed as the characters became more real.

Who was your favorite character in Big Bad Wolfe? Which do you find easier to write, the male or female POV?

Usually, the female POV is easier for me to write; however, Brandon Wolfe was my favorite character in “Big Bad Wolfe.” It’s lots more fun to write about bad girls or boys, and Brandon is very bad, indeed.

Reading has been important to you from an early age. Do you find yourself reading more or less since becoming an author?

I don’t read as many books per week as I once did, but I still consider a day incomplete if I don’t at least get to read myself to sleep at night.

What is your favorite genre to read? To write?

When I read for pure pleasure, I most enjoy mysteries with a strong base in relationships. The book I have just finished writing is a mystery, the first in a series set in Washington’s Skagit Valley tulip fields. The book opens with the heroine flying up to the ceiling of her about-to-open gourmet restaurant. Is she being poisoned, or is she going mad? I enjoyed writing all three books, and they are all quite different: “Special Delivery” is a romantic adventure, “Big Bad Wolfe” is a family romance, and “Touch of the Devil” is a mystery. In any genre, I like to write about how strong, intriguing men and women relate to one another.

When you give seminars on writing, what is the most important piece of advice you’d give an aspiring writer?

To write! That sound simplistic, but it’s amazing how many people talk about writing without ever getting anything down on the computer/paper. It’s the complicated lives we all lead. It’s so hard to balance all the areas of your life to include what’s most important to you.

Describe your perfect writing day.

My perfect writing day starts with a long walk early in the morning. Problems in the previous day’s writing are clarified, and new ideas for the current day’s writing pop into my head. I head straight for the computer when I return home from an hour’s walk and write a minimum of four pages. That’s pretty slow, but if I write five days a week, it adds up. On a perfect day, I manage six pages.

Can you please give us your website address?

www.linda-wallace.com Please visit me often!

Thank you so much for your time! I really enjoyed the story of Big Bad Wolfe, even though I didn’t have to read it for review. Our Sherry was right to give it Five Big Heaping Cups, loved it! Thanks again, Ms. Wallace.

Another fantastic interview! Once again Coffee Time Romance really appreciate’s Ms. Wallace taking time from her busy schedule to speak with us.