INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR DARA GIRARD

Please welcome multipublished, award-winning author Dara Girard to my monthly interview blog.  Dara has published many novels in sub-genres from contemporary to paranormal romance and a nonfiction book for writers, The Writer Behind the Words: Steps to Success in the Writing Life. Her current series, The Black Stocking Society,  published by Kimani Romance, includes Power Play, A Gentleman’s Offer, and the newest release, Round the Clock. Dara lives in Maryland.

 SUSAN: Dara, your release next month, ROUND THE CLOCK, is the fourth in your Black Stockings Society series. I’m totally intrigued with the idea of this club.  Would you tell us a little about the Black Stockings Society?

 DARA: The Black Stockings Society is an exclusive, mysterious club offered by invitation only to women who are ready to turn their love lives around. It was started in the late 70’s by a rich reclusive woman who goes by the name “Ms. Dorathe.” Certain women are selected to join the club and once they sign the oath they are given four pairs of stockings and instructions they must follow.  Secrecy is paramount. They must never tell anyone about the club.

SUSAN: Once you came up with the idea for the club, how difficult was it to create characters who need its services? Did the first three books come to you quickly or one at a time?

DARA: Once I came up with idea for the club the women who needed its services came to me very quickly—‘mousy’ Mary, ‘exotic’ Yvette, and ‘good girl’ Brenda fit perfectly to highlight what the society is all about: The power of going after what you want and looking good while doing so — wearing the right pair of stockings!

SUSAN: And how does ROUND THE CLOCK fit into the series? Please explain the general idea of the story–and of course, the sexy hero and heroine.

DARA: As the last book in the series, this novel ties up what the society represents. ROUND THE CLOCK is about Anna Marie, a people pleaser who gets the chance to stop being ‘used’ when she receives a large inheritance and an invitation to join the club.  With her new wealth Anna Marie reconnects with her high school crush, bad boy Desmond Rockwell, and with the help of the Black Stocking Society, works on making all her fantasies come true.

SUSAN: You’ve written other series. How do you feel about writing series as opposed to stand-alone novels?

DARA: I love writing series because I like connecting stories. Whether they’re based around themes such as the Black Stockings Society or family as in the Henson trilogy, I really enjoy the community created that allows me to follow through with some of the same characters in different books, and introduce new ones. However, stand-alones are also fun for me to write because I can focus my energy on one thing and know that once the story is finished it’s complete.

SUSAN:  I know you’ve written all your life. What brought you to writing romance instead of, say literary fiction or other genre fiction? And please share with us your journey to publication.

DARA: I never wanted to become ‘required reading’ in a college course so I knew literary fiction was out of the picture. Initially I focused my energy on writing mystery and fantasy because that’s what I read, but then in my late teens I read a romance novel that changed everything–Julie Garwood’s Saving Grace and I was blown away by the heroic heroine, the humor and large story scope. That story erased all my prejudices about the genre. Yes I had them. I’d tried a few that just didn’t hit the mark for me, but were evident of the 80’s explosion when it seemed publishers were printing anything that had a timid female falling for a strong devastating man. After Ms. Garwood’s shining example I became more tolerant that in all genres there are good examples and bad examples and that romance is no different. There are shoddy ones and brilliant ones. From her I tried Nora Roberts, Jude Deveraux and then many others until I was a convert. Romance impressed me because it encompasses so many genres and the heroine is the ‘hero’, which was empowering to me. So, once I merged mystery and romance together, that’s when I got The Call. My journey to publication was a long one. I started submitting my work for publication when I was twelve, erroneously believing that I would be published by fourteen. Thirteen rejection filled years passed before I finally received ‘The Call’ and I haven’t looked back. I’m an example of never giving up on your dreams.

SUSAN: You’re ready to begin a new project. What’s the first thing you do? Character bios? Plot and plan? Or just jump in and let the muse take you?

DARA: I never wait for the Muse. She’s proven to be a fickle friend—to me at least. And I wish I were organized enough to plot and plan, but usually I write about a paragraph or two of what the general book is about and the main characters then I just start to write the story and see where it takes me. I call it my ‘sketch’ draft. I work like an artist. I start with a blank canvas then sketch out what I think should be in my final masterpiece. Once I have the sketch, I then select my tools of choice, (suspense? romance? setting? Subplot? Stand-alone? ), and begin to ‘paint’ my story until it is complete.  At times I also create a collage so that I can have a visual aid of what the story is about.

SUSAN:  I’m with you on the fickle muse but I need more structure than you do to begin with. But we all write differently. Who are some of your favorite authors and who influenced you as a writer?

DARA: Ahh, there’s not enough space! From the past to the present there are so many authors who have fed my love of stories. From L.M. Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables series to Conan Arthur Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes to the wit of Mark Twain I’ve been influenced by the best in the field. I love Barbara Michaels/Elizabeth Peters, Lois Duncan and Mary Stewart and present authors such as Jayne Ann Krentz (under all her names) and Diana Wynn Jones. I’ve also been inspired by poets (Langston Hughes) and playwrights/screenwriters (Andrew Davies) because I grew up in the theater and know the power of language. All these writers influenced me because they all taught me the importance of voice. Just as we can recognize one person’s voice distinctly when they talk, the same is true for powerful and successful storytellers, their voice – the way they write – is clearly their own. I’m sure that if I were to ask each of the authors I’ve listed above to write a shopping list they would all be interesting and very different from each other.

SUSAN: Oh, you’ve named some very strong voices there, and some of my fave authors. What are your new projects? What can readers look forward to from Dara Girard?

DARA: I’m working on a new series about three writers who learn that passion goes beyond the page. The first book, which will be released March 2010 is called WORDS OF SEDUCTION. It’s a story about a former housewife turned hot-shot novelist, who returns to her small town and stirs up trouble with a former rebel who has an agenda of his own.

SUSAN:  Now that sounds delicious. I know readers will look forward to that book. Who doesn’t love a rebel hero?

What advice can you offer to writers who are working toward publication?

DARA: I share my advice for writers who are working towards publication in my award-winning non-fiction book, The Writer Behind the Words: Steps to Success in the Writing Life. In it I discuss dealing with rejection, disappointments, discouragement and other obstacles one may face in the writing life. Again if anyone was to take one thing from my long journey it would be that perseverance is key and don’t forget to write. If you have nothing to sell, you don’t have a career.

SUSAN: Perseverance, absolutely. And lastly, the blog fairy is granting you three wishes. If you could have anything or do anything you wanted, what would they be?

DARA: First I would love to have perfect health for the rest of my life (no colds yeah!). Second I would love to travel the world in a private jet and third I would love my stories to touch the hearts of millions of readers around the world.

SUSAN: Dara, thank you for a terrific interview. I know everyone loved your responses to my questions and will be looking for your next release.

Check out more about Dara’s books at http://www.daragirard.com.