Tess Mallory is the author of romance novels of various genres, including time travels and futuristics.  As such an author she is naturally a very good candidate for the interregation by the Magical Romance Reading Website.

It gives me great pleasure to welcome her here, and so on with the interview.
 

LB    First of all could you tell us a little about yourself as an introduction
to the visitors to my site.

TM    Hi Louisa! Thanks for asking me to do this interview. I love connecting with readers, especially those who love romance with a fantasy twist!

A little about myself . . . well, I’m married, have three children, two daugthers, ages 21, 19
and a son, 12. My husband is terrifically supportive of my writing---this wasn’t always the case, but now he is my biggest fan! I first considered writing a book when I was in the seventh grade. It was then I wrote four chapters of a western, painstakingly typing them out on my father’s ancient typewriter. My father has been a big influence on my life, and in fact he was the one who steered me toward writing. I would tell him an idea for a story and his response invariably would be “Write it down”. So I did.

I presently live in the Texas Hill Country and have been active in many other creative pursuits including singing, songwriting, costume design, theatre and art. I also teach workshops periodically. I love to give back to other writers what my own mentors gave to me years ago.
 

LB    Your novels so far have covered a variety of settings (Sherwood Forest, US
Civil War, Futuristic) - which did you enjoy working on the most and why?

TM    I can’t remember the source but someone once said asking a writer to tell you which book she enjoyed writing the most was like asking which of her kids she liked best! : ) This is certainly true for me. I loved each of my settings for different reasons. JEWELS OF TIME was my first book, set during the Civil War.  This was a special book for me not only because it was my first, but because I have been a Civil war buff for years and finally got to use some of that knowledge in a novel!

CIRCLES IN TIME was set in England and I have to admit I have a special fondness for medieval time periods.

My contribution to the anthology, MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S MAGIC, “The Fairy Bride”, was set in Ireland, which is the land of my heart. I have been fascinated with Ireland since I was 13 and saw “The Fighting Prince Of Donegal”. My dad encouraged me to write to the postmaster of Donegal, Ireland and ask him if he knew anyone who wanted a penpal. He gave my letter to his next door neighbor, Goretti Crawford, and we wrote each other for the next seven years. Unfortunately when each of us married we lost touch. Goretti, if you’re out there, I’d sure love to hear from you!

Anyway, my last book, TO TOUCH THE STARS, was set on several planets of my own creation. Being an avid Star Trek, Star Wars and general SF fan, creating these worlds was really a fun experience. I was raised on bedtime stories such as “I, Robot” by Isaac Asimov, so writing my own SF romance was really exciting.

My new book, a time travel, HIGHLAND DREAM, due out in April 2001, is set in Scotland, the second land of my dreams. I am fascinated with Scottish history and hope to visit both Ireland and Scotland someday soon. Which locale was the most fun to write about? Hmmmmmmmm . . . every one of them!
 

LB    What are you working on at present and what can we expect to see in the
stores over the coming months?

TM    HIGHLAND DREAM is my latest time travel romance and will be in stores in April
2001.  This is going to be a humorous time travel romance, written with a tongue-in-cheek attitude that I hope readers will enjoy.  My heroine, Jix Ferguson, is an avant garde wanna be actress who has dreams that come true.  When she dreams that her best friend, Samantha Riley is marrying the wrong man, she kidnaps her two days before the wedding and spirits her away to Scotland.  Arriving at Meadbrooke Manor with her angry friend in tow, the two women meet Jamie MacGregor---the man from Jix's dream!  When Jamie offers to let them touch his sword (yes, you may laugh) and the two women caress the steel of the ancient family claymore as Jamie holds it by the hilt, the three are sent careening back in time to the past, to the year 1605. Jix finds it all a wonderful adventure except for two things: her best friend is missing in time and Jix is in love with the handsome Scot who is Samantha's soulmate!
 

LB    What do you consider to be the most challenging part of writing romance fiction?

TM    I think it is sometimes difficult to keep the softness and the romanticism that has come to be identified with romance and keep it all fresh and new. There is nothing worse than a trite, tired romance novel full of cliches and clinches.  Love scenes are also sometimes difficult for the same reason.  I don't care for graphic love scenes, instead focusing on the feelings, the emotions, the subtle touches and nuances between the hero and heroine. These must be painted carefully, romantically, and yet still contain passion and steam and the physical reality involved! Sometimes this isn't at all easy!
 
 

LB    What do you like to read for inspiration?

TM    To get inspired to write romance I read something very unusual----history!  I love history and every time I delve into history books I find a new plot for another romance!
 

LB    What do you think you would be doing if you were not writing romance novels?

TM    If I were not writing romance novels I would be singing in coffeehouse and cafes and probably be trying to break into the songwriting business!  I love to sing and have written piles of songs very few people will probably ever hear.  I've thought about writing songs that would go along with the books I've written and may do it some day!  If I had the musical expertise I would write musical plays and have in fact, written two. I can also see myself teaching Writing on a college level, as I've been teaching it in workshops for years.
 

LB    What tips do you have for all the would be writers of romance  novels out there?

TM    I once asked Science Fiction author Robert Vardeman for advice and what he told
me has stuck with me every since. The way to get published, he told me, was simple: Stupid Determination. He told me to be stupidly determined to be published, to not listen to the naysayers, to not let rejection stop me. If I did this, he claimed, and I kept writing and kept submitting my work, I WOULD be published. So I think that's the advice I pass along to other writers out there. Never give up! If you are determined, it may take a while, but you must believe that eventually it will happen. Bear in mind, however, that the publishers will not come knocking on your door! That manuscript under your bed will never become a book unless you dust it off, tighten it up, and send it to a publisher, and another, and another, and .  . . well, you get my drift.  Also---read the market you want to submit to extensively!!
 

LB    What was it that first made you consider writing romance novels and not any other type of book?

TM    My first writing goal was actually  to write Young Adult books and also Science
Fiction and fantasy--- and I still plan to do this in the coming years. JEWELS OF TIME began as a YA novel but became a little too "romantic" in my opinion for that market. When I heard Leisure was looking for time travel romances I took out my manuscript, rewrote it and submitted it as a "sweet" time travel romance. They bought it!
 

LB    Do you enjoy meeting your readers and hearing from them?  Do you have
any plans for a website in order to meet your online fans?

TM    I LOVE meeting and hearing from my readers!! Nothing is better! To hear that
someone has actually read one of my books and likes it is just wonderful music to my heart! I do have a website, a very simple one right now, but I have plans for expansion in the new year! The URL is: http://www.sff.net/people/tessmallory/

My email address is tessmallory@yahoo.com. I love to talk to romance readers and writers and have made some good friends this way!
 

LB    Do you have a message for all your readers out there?

TM    I just want to say thanks for continuing to support romances that are, well, a little bit different! And also, you lovers of futuristics and time travels and paranormals, please let your voice be heard! Write publishers and tell them what you want to read. Believe me, if enough of you write, they WILL listen! Paranormals are dwindling because editors just don't think that these are the kind of romances that people want to read. You must tell them differently, not only by writing letters to them, but by buying paranormals! It's because of all of you that there are any paranormal markets left at all, so thanks again and please, KEEP READING! ?

Thanks Louisa for giving me the opportunity to connect with readers all over the world!
 

And thanks to Tess Mallory for agreeing to do this interview and keeping the voice of paranormal romance heard.

Books by Tess Mallory:  Circles in Time, Jewels of Time, Highland Dream, Highland Fling and To Touch the Stars.

Links to  Online Stores

Visit Tess Mallory's Website