Beth Kery

BK:Here with us is Elisabeth Naughton, the author of the much-buzzed about book, STOLEN FURY. Elisabeth, that’s such an amazing cover. And wow, a contest worthy of a treasure-hunter (see below.) This one is on my reading list, to be sure!

Blab a bit about yourself…the person as opposed to the writer (If you can pry the identities apart, that is.)

EN: LOL. Very hard to do as the person and the writer tend to be so closely entwined.

Okay, a little about me (some you may have wanted to know, a lot you probably didn’t). First and foremost I’m a mom of three – one girl and two boys, ages 9, 6, and 3, respectively, and a wife who never has a clue what’s happening when. (I tend to be very organized about my writing, not so organized with real life). I’ve been married forever (it’s true) and everything I know about love I learned from my hubby (he made me say that). To counteract the stress of motherhood (and writing!), I run three days a week, and Sunday 1.11.09 finished my second half marathon. I’m active in my local RWA chapter and recently completed my reign as president. (It was fun, but they didn’t let me wear a tiara like I wanted. What’s up with that?)

BK: I know people often ask about the finished product of a book, but is there a book writing that stands out to you as being particularly wonderful…even magical? If so, which book was it for, and why did creating that story seem unique?

EN: Ooh. Good question.

(By the way…that book, MARKED (current title, still may change) will be the first in my paranormal series that will release from Dorchester spring, 2010.)

BK: Oooh, lots to look forward to! Have you ever had an ‘impact’ event that had a significant effect on your writing career: meeting another author, reading a certain book, being accepted by a longed-for publisher, getting hit over the head…?

Hmm…I think finaling in the Golden Heart in 2007 was what you would probably consider an ‘impact event’. I’d only been with my agent a few months when I heard my manuscript was a GH finalist. As a writer who had watched the awards at every RWA conference from afar, and one who was really nervous about never getting “the call”, it was pretty cool to hear my manuscript had been chosen as a finalist. Even though I didn’t sell as a direct result of being a GH finalist, I think the whole experience went a long way towards keeping my spirits high while my book was being shopped to editors.

BK: If you could have a heart to heart chat with any writer, living or dead, who would it be?

EN: Gosh, you ask hard questions!

Okay, let’s see…I think I’d like to talk to Margaret Mitchell and ask her how on earth she managed to write a book about a woman no one in their right mind would like, yet who we all ended up rooting for by the end of the novel.

BK: Your new book, STOLEN FURY, calls to mind sexy adventures of the Indiana Jones and Romancing the Stone variety. What did you do to prepare for this book, in regard to research? Is archeology a love of yours?

EN: I was a science teacher for nine years. Archaeology and geology are two areas I loved to teach about. When I decided to write STOLEN FURY, I thought about all the elements I love to read: suspense, adventure, treasure hunting, romance. Then I made a list of things I’d like to see happen in a book and wrote that. STOLEN FURY was the result.

I did do a lot of research for the book. Lots of archaeology research – lingo, lifestyle, etc. I took a scuba diving class, explored some caves, and grilled my hubby about what he would do in this or that situation. As he’s a real “guy’s guy”, he was my go to person when I needed to know how a guy would “think”.

BK: Tell us more about this trilogy. I’m in awe…

EN: STOLEN FURY is the first of a trilogy. The second book, STOLEN HEAT, is set to release in Aug. 2009, followed by STOLEN SEDUCTION in early 2010. Secondary characters in STOLEN FURY take the stage in the next two books, but Lisa and Rafe show up again, so their story isn’t completely over.

BK: I’m sure readers will be glad to hear that. What’s the thing that surprised you the most about becoming an author—good or bad.

EN: Hmm…another hard question. I guess I’ve been most surprised by the fact I think I know less about the business now than I did before I sold. I know that sounds silly, but I’m learning so much every day and I know there’s still more out there for me to learn. When writers in my RWA chapter ask for my advice on this or that in the publishing world, my first thought is always, “Why are they asking me?” And then when I realize it’s because they think I might know the answer, I always preface every answer with, “I am not an expert by any means, so don’t take what I say as golden.” Because the truth is, every writer experiences this business in different ways. And we’re all learning as we go. (Or at least, I hope that’s the case!)

Thanks so much for the great interview questions, Beth. You really made me think!

BK: Well, I think you’re going to really make us read! Thanks, Elisabeth. Best of luck with your adventure in the world of publishing!

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