13: Questions for Sharon Cullars

Thirteen Questions for Sharon Cullars

I was introduced to Sharon Cullars' writing with Again. Then I read and enjoyed The Object of Love (watch for a review soon) and knew I wanted to interview her. She agreed to answer some questions. Thanks, Sharon!

Alyssa: How long have you been writing, and why did you choose romance?

Sharon: Professionally, I've only been writing a few years, but my venture into fiction and poetry started in college over twenty years ago. I didn't actually attempt my first novel until the early 90s, though. The story was a fantasy/paranormal tale (still not finished; maybe one day) and writing it was such fun that it made the process seem less intimidating and I knew one day that I'd finish at least one novel.

As for romance, I stumbled into that with Again, which I had planned to be a horror story but it began morphing into something entirely different, merging erotic elements with historical and contemporary plotlines. My agent wasn't sure how to pitch it and it made its rounds to the various houses. Eventually, she pitched it to Kensington/Brava and voila, it was a romance story.

Alyssa: Do you plot your stories or just sit down and start writing?

Sharon: No, I don’t have the discipline to plot a story. I start with an abstract idea and work from there. The progression of ideas comes as I type, and I let the story lead me where it wants to go.

Alyssa: Talk about your writing process. For instance, do you write during certain times of the day, certain number of words/pages a day?

Sharon: I am probably the most undisciplined writer you've probably read. My writing schedule is all over the place. I attempt to write when I can, but sometimes the muse leaves me and I become distracted. I'm trying to force myself into a better writing habit with less distractions and more focus. I find when I'm writing for myself, I'm less productive, but when a deadline is looming I find the incentive to keep going even when I don't feel like writing.

Alyssa: When I read Again, I enjoyed the story's rich writing and unique plot. How did you come up with the idea for the book?

Sharon: Again began as a fluke. Having failed on a print-on-demand project called Celia (a paranormal mystery), I decided that I wasn't cut out to be a novelist. Then a co-worker suggested I write another book. I looked at her like she was crazy because it had taken me a couple of years to pen Celia and I didn't think I could even write another sentence. But I put aside my feelings and began what I thought would be a horror tale. And somehow, as I sat writing it, it became more erotic and then the idea of reincarnation began rearing which led to the historical aspect of the tale. Of course, then I had to research and fortunately, I found information on the elite 19th century New York black class, which was fodder for the story.

Alyssa: I love Sean from The Object of Love. How did you come up with his character and how did it evolve?

Sharon: (Sheepish grin) Sean is a fantasy of mine. When I got the two-book deal with Brava, I had no idea what I would write for the second book. I'm a beta male lover and the idea of a younger male who is mature and complicated figured into my own fantasy of what type of young male would attract me. So I fleshed out the idea and he grew from there. Of course, I had to actually plot the story and I was taking a chance of starting the story with a death, but I knew it would add depth to the story of Lacey and Sean. The son, Calvin, was very hard for me to write, because I didn't like him much in the beginning and I didn't think the readers would respond to him sympathetically, but from the reviews I've read, fortunately I was wrong.

Alyssa: I love older women/younger men romances, but I know some readers don't. Did you worry about this when you wrote The Object of Love?

Sharon: No, because my editors Hilary Sares and Kate Duffy gave me the freedom to write what I wanted. I didn't even consider the ramifications. Besides, I couldn't be bothered with societal prejudices against older women being with younger men, because some of these same naysayers see nothing wrong with its polar opposite (older men/younger women), and I hate double standards against women. As I wrote the story, I researched online about May/December relationships and found an online community dedicated to these relationships. Initially, I thought the twenty-year age disparity between Lacey and Sean might seem a bit much, but when I began reading the accounts of actual women in loving relationships and marriages with men who are twenty, thirty, even forty years their junior, it convinced me that love really doesn't have any restrictions. After all, Sean and Lacey are also interracial, and there are those who don't like these types of pairings, either, but I wouldn't let their prejudices stop me. A love story is a love story.

Alyssa: I haven't read Bad Boys with Red Roses. Would you like to share a blurb or excerpt for it?

Sharon: I have a blurb and excerpt at http://sharoncullars.com/excerpts.htm.

Alyssa: What is your favorite thing about writing? Least favorite?

Sharon: Here I probably differ from other writers, I suspect, who say the actual writing is their favorite part of the process. For me, it is when I finish the story because I am so riddled with doubt as I write that I often fear I'll never finish another story again. So when I actually do finish, the sense of accomplishment brings self-vindication and I know that I can probably write another story. As for the least favorite aspect, writing can be a joy, but there are times when it's more a job, and as with any job, there are highs and lows. My particular lows are when I hit a creative wall (think wall of pain in a marathon) or when I get bored with a scene and it impedes my progress. I just have to write through it, though, and keep going, much like my metaphorical marathoner.

Alyssa: What is the best writing advice you've received?

Sharon: To keep writing despite the negative reviews. I got this advice from a writer friend, a wonderful horror writer, Gary Braunbeck, who on occasion gives me feedback and advice. I also got the same advice from romance writer, Monica Jackson, whom I emailed in tears when I encountered a withering comment about Again on the message boards. I told both I was thinking of quitting, but they wouldn't let me. Monica threatened to find me and kick my butt if I quit. I was in the middle of writing The Object of Love at the time and was already going through a mental block because my mother had suffered a stroke. I literally froze up and didn't think I could write another word, I was so devastated by the criticism. But thankfully, I did get through it, and I'll never let negative reviews affect me that way again.

Alyssa: What's the last book you read and enjoyed?

Sharon: Because of real-life issues and an irregular writing schedule, my reading has taken a nose-dive in the last couple of years. Usually, my tastes lean toward horror and sci-fi/fantasy, and I have enjoyed books by Terry Goodkind, Caleb Carr (whose historical mysteries provided a template for my historical scenes in Again), Gary Braunbeck, Guy Gavriel Kay, Octavia Butler, Tananarive Due and Lincoln Childs/Douglas Preston. I have also read Notes of a Scandal by Zoe Heller because I became curious about the book after I saw the movie.

Ironically, I've only started back to reading romance after a twenty-year lull. I've read and enjoyed books by Monica Jackson, Robin Schone, Suzanne Brockmann and have bought books by Roslyn Holcomb, Nalina Singh, and a few others that are on my TBR list (I truly will get around to these soon).

Alyssa: Do you have a favorite movie from the past year?

Sharon: The last movie I saw was Notes of a Scandal and I thought the chemistry between Judi Dench and Cate Blanchett was absolutely mesmerizing. I also liked how the movie approached a dicey subject. I’m also pondering whether I will see Shrek 3 (which is garnering mixed reviews). Yes, I tend to also like animated films geared toward the kiddies. I loved Monster House from a couple of years ago.

Alyssa: If you could take a week-long vacation anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?

Sharon: I love Vegas, and have been there more than a few times. I've been to Hawaii and loved that as well. But the adventurer in me (the me I could be if I wasn’t well…you know…me), longs to be an archeologist on some dig in the Southwest (finding the Anasazi remains, maybe) or in Egypt (finding an unknown Pharoah). I'm envious of the those who recently found a sunken ship with treasure, not so much because of the treasure (estimated to be worth around $5mm), but because of the sheer adventure of actually finding the ship after what I would assume years of searching. And as for the lazy vacationer in me, I'd like to see Hong Kong or visit Japan one day.

Alyssa: What book is coming out next or what are you working on now?

Sharon: Right now, I don't have anything else coming out with Brava. Author Gary Braunbeck has given me info on another horror anthology coming out (I submitted one story to a previous horror anthology, Masque V), with a theme of werewolves in all their incarnations, so I'm trying to write a short story for that and hope that it’s accepted. Also, I am penning an erotic story I hope to submit to Samhain Publishers. On spec, I've begun a historical mystery set in Chicago during the Civil War, featuring an African-American female detective who works with the Pinkerton Agency (you can read the first chapter at http://sharoncullars.com/novel.htm) as well as a horror story featuring a stunt woman on a horror movie set in Arizona where eerie deaths began happening (first chapters at http://sharoncullars.com/nightfalls.htm).

Got to keep writing no matter what.

Alyssa: Thanks for answering my questions! Best of luck with your stories. They sound interesting, and I hope they all find a home.

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