H K CARLTON CROSSES U.S.
BORDERS
H K Carlton is a
multi-published Canadian author of historical, erotic and contemporary romance.
Could you please start by telling us a
little about yourself?
I am a Canadian author of historical, contemporary and
erotic romance. I live with my hard-working husband and lovely teenage daughter.
We also have two grown sons.
Do you plan all your characters out
before you start a story or do they develop as you write?
Characters tend to develop as I write. Their
individuality becomes clearer as the scenes and dialogue come together and the
cast interacts with each other.
What main genre do you write in?
When I began writing, I thought that I was going to be
strictly a historical romance writer. At the time the vast majority of books
that I read were HR. Write what you know, they say. But to date, I have only
written two historical romances, You Found Me and The Devil Take You. The rest
have been in the erotic romance genre, with three already published Swap, Lost
Time (also in print) and Streetlight People; and three others with contracts
signed. But even in those, the sub-genres vary; from m/f to m/m to ménage
m/f/f.
Do you recall how your interest in
writing originated?
My love for writing, I think, came from my love of
reading. I used to read a book a day almost. I don’t have the time to read as
much as I used to. But I’m not complaining. I love writing just as much.
What is your writing process? Do you
outline, fly by the seat of your pants or a combination of both?
A combination of both. In the beginning, when I first
penned You Found Me, I wrote it from beginning to end. I didn’t stop and write
a scene out of sequence. I’m not sure why now looking back, but that’s the way
I felt it needed to be. I was almost afraid to jump ahead. Now, if I have an
idea, I jot a brief outline just so that I won’t forget. I’m usually in the
middle of another project and need to refer back when I have time to begin
something new. But now when I write a story, I can jump ahead and come back to
it and fill in the required details.
Do you have a specific writing style?
I’m not sure that I have a specific writing style, but
I do like to write in first person. I have several books published in that POV.
What would be the best way for readers
contact you? Do you have a website? Email address? MySpace site? Blog? Message
Board? Group?
I have a blog. I call it Pick a Genre Already, http://pickagenrealready.blogspot.ca
because I write in several genres and sub-genres and I will probably never just
stick to one. My favourite way to connect is Twitter, because you can get your
message out there in 140 characters or less. I am also on Facebook, Goodreads,
Manic Readers and a couple of Yahoo groups.
How can readers find out more about you
and your books?
Readers can find out more about my books by visiting
my blog
or my publishers websites. Total-E-Bound, MuseItUp Publishing and eXtasy Publishing.
What's your favorite genre to read?
Just as I believe I will never settle into one
specific genre to write in, I am the same when reading. I will read anything
that captures my imagination. But I do love a good time-traveling historical
romance.
When did you first decide to submit your
work? Please, tell us what or who encouraged you to take this big step.
I first started sending out manuscripts a few years
ago, but have only in this past year or so found my stride. My children have
supported me immeasurably. They are my biggest cheerleaders and never allowed
me to give up. It was my sister though that tipped the scales. I didn’t share
my stories with anyone until I finished You Found Me. When I finished writing
it, I just had this overwhelming feeling that this one was different from all
the other stories that I’d jotted down before. Just taking that first step and
allowing another person to read it was a big one for me. I knew that she would
tell me the truth, good or bad. After she read it, she encouraged me to send it
out to potential publishers and that’s really when it all began.
What was your first published work and
when was it published?
My first published work is entitled Swap an erotic
contemporary m/f romance. It was published October 2012 by Total-E-Bound
Publishing.
Is there anyone who really mentored or
inspired you to keep writing until you were finally published?
My family, the children and my sister, as I mentioned
earlier.
But since I have been published the multi-published
and talented Lisabet Sarai has been an incredible source and mentor to me. She
is extremely insightful and helpful, especially to the newbies. She will answer
any question, give advice, point you in the right direction, give an honest
answer. Not afraid in the least, to share her knowledge, which I have found
some are hesitant to do. I have learned so much from not only the way that she
writes but also the way that she conducts herself as an author and as a person.
I am grateful to have come in contact with her.
Also author Kay Dee Royal has been tremendously
helpful to me. She has also taught me tons, which I am also appreciative of.
Another talented writer, who is willing to share her knowledge and experience.
I have also been blessed with some brilliant, patient
and supportive editors who have helped me put out work that we can all be proud
of.
I have been extremely lucky to have met some wonderful
people on this journey, people from all over the world, that I will possibly
never meet face to face, but even if this writing gig doesn’t work out for me,
these are relationships and friendships that I will treasure forever.
More links will be
provided HERE as they become available.
H K’s Blog http://pickagenrealready.blogspot.ca
Facebook www.facebook.com/authorhk.carlton
Manic Readers http://www.manicreaders.com/HKCarlton/
Amazon Author Page http://www.amazon.com/HK-Carlton/e/B009KVR7EW/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1
CONTEST ALERT: H K will be giving away an ecopy of The
Devil Take You to one lucky commenter.
Scotland—1307—During
the Scottish Wars of Independence
Gard Marschand will stop at nothing in his pursuit to regain what is lost. Concealing his
true identity, he will associate with his enemies, kill his own countrymen,
even sell his soul to the devil if all else fails. He will lie, cheat, steal,
rape and siege his way across two countries gaining power and reputation in his
malevolent wake. His determination all consuming, until King Edward commands
Gard to lay siege on Ross-shire holding, where Braelynn Galbraith obliterates
his single-minded purpose.
Braelynn Galbraith wants peace for her beloved
Scotland, marriage to her childhood sweetheart, Callum, and a house full of
children. In that order. But evil incarnate in the form of Gard Marschand,
turns her life inside out and destroys all hope of a decent marriage.
Can Gard abandon his deep-seated need of revenge for a
love that might just save his soul, or will he succumb to the demons that hound
him and surrender to the devil within?
I believe your stay in purgatory has only just begun…
