Welcome to the Interviews page, to read interviews that I have had recently or previous author interview that I did for the site, go to the bottom of the page and click on the link.

I will be interviewing an author or editor here every month, this month I interviewed talented author Sara Reinke.

Kyla: Welcome, Sara. Thank you for agreeing to be interviewed by me. =) Can you tell us about your latest release?

Sara: Hi, Kyla. Thanks so much for inviting me! 2007 has been really busy for me so far! I've had three titles released, including two that are my bookstore debuts! In early February, my first mass-market historical romance came out, AN UNEXPECTED ENGAGEMENT, from Medallion Press. Then, in late February, the trade paperback version of my romantic science-fiction thriller, TETHERS, was released from Samhain Publishing. Both are available from local bookstores, or through your favorite online book retailers. (You'll find handy quick-links to purchase both titles on my website: www.sarareinke.com.) In between these two titles, the next installment in my ongoing epic fantasy series from Double Dragon Publishing, BOOK OF DRAGONS, VOLUME 3 OF 5, was released in ebook and limited-distribution trade paperback. So I've definitely kept hopping!

Kyla: Would you like to tell us what you are working on just now?

Sara: I just began work on a long-overdue project, a paranormal romance called Resurrection. It was originally completed last year as a novella length story, and my plan has been ever since to lengthen it to a novel for my agent to pitch to publishers. But I admit that I've been kind of stymied when it came to figuring out just how to do this - we're talking doubling the length of the existing manuscript. It was a daunting task, and I found myself procrastinating and procrastinating on it. I finally decided to just start all over again and rewrite it from scratch. To some people, that might seem a little extreme, but for me, it actually proved to be all of the galvanizing and inspiration I needed to get started on it again. I've been working on it on the days when my son is in daycare this week, and thus far have come up with 7,900 words (25 pages). Since my goal, while working on a manuscript, is to hit 3-5 pages a day, I'm keeping well ahead of schedule!

Kyla: You write in a number of genres, Sara. Which is your favourite and would you like to try something different with your writing?

Sara: I enjoy paranormal and fantasy a lot, and I think that's because there's a lot more freedom as an author to sort of "bend" reality to your whims. You're not confined by rules of logic or reality; people can fly, live forever, be telepathic, telekinetic, change into animals, etc. So you really have this incredible opportunity to stretch your imagination and really let it loose, see what you can dream up next.

If the inspiration to try a different genre with my writing strikes me, I try to follow it. I guess that's one of the good things about being an "up-and-comer" instead of a best-selling author. I have the luxury of being able to try new things, explore new ideas, and not be pigeon-holed into one genre. So far, there hasn't been anything I've wanted to write that I haven't at least tried. Although…I have always wanted to write a good thriller. I'm not clever enough to, alas, LOL. I can't weave a good mystery, and have always admired an author who can!

Kyla: Now I first met you in your fabulous suite over at the Romance Galleria. Would you like to tell everyone about this and how you find is it helping with your promotion?

Sara: The Romance Galleria is a fantastic new promotional venue for authors. It's a virtual, interactive, three-dimensional "world" set up like a convention center. If you've never visited, think of it as a real-time version of your favorite video game, like "The Simms." Readers and authors can meet, greet and interact with one another like they've never been able to before - literally face to face.

There are all kinds of opportunities for writers there. Free promotions include the First Friday Movies, where book videos are played before a live audience, and an hour-long chat with the featured author follows. There are other free chat opportunities available, as well, all on a first-come, first-served basis.

Paid promotions include Author Suites, like mine, where links to your website, books, blog, guestbook and promo videos are always up, and you can host your own chats or promotional activities at any time. Each suite is personalized to an author's individual preferences, based on a number of beautifully designed templates. This year, I'm planning on hosting a live, two-hour chat in my suite on the last Tuesday of each month, and at February's inaugural event, we had a fantastic turnout.

The Galleria also just introduced Author Alcoves, which are smaller versions of the suites. With two authors per alcove, each includes a limited number of weblinks for each, plus an individual guest book. While authors can't use the Alcoves for chats, with so many great, free chances to schedule chats elsewhere in the Galleria, it's still a perfect promo investment. Because they're smaller and less complicated to set up than a suite, they're also a lot cheaper - comparable in price to monthly banner advertisements at other online promotional venues.

I have loved participating in promos the Galleria. Readers remember you from their encounters there; the place makes such a phenomenal impression. I know I've gained readership from my exposure there - because I've had readers email and tell me! Besides all of the great options I mentioned above, the Galleria is always adding new events and opportunities to the mix. Anyone interested can find out more by visiting www.theromancegalleria.com. To enter the Galleria, just download the safe, free program you'll find at that link. Step inside, walk around, browse awhile, enjoy yourself! There's nothing else like it on the web.

Kyla: Tell us who your favourite authors are, do you have any recommendations about books we just have to read?

Sara: I love anything by Karen Robards. I just finished A Restless Knight, by Deborah Anne MacGillivray and loved it, too. And I tend to read a lot of my friends' titles - I'm now a Michelle Miles fan-girl, for example. I wish I had time to read more, because I used to be such a book whore, LOL. Now I'm catch-as-catch can, but my to-be-read list always seems to be growing…

Kyla: Please tell us where we can purchase your fabulous books and where we can find out all about your latest news.

Sara: Links to purchase or read excerpts can be found at my website, www.sarareinke.com. That's where you'll also find all of my latest and greatest news of notes, plus a calendar of upcoming promotional appearances, free reads-including a FREE historical romance novel e-book, Heart's Ransom - and more. You can sign up to join my newsletter group, check out pictures from my first-ever booksigning in early February, enter to win some fantastic prizes from me and my author friends every month, and more. I like to say there's always something new to discover at my website!

Thank you to Sara for her interview answers. Look out for a great interview with The Romance Galleria owner, Dawn Seewer.

Watch this space for further announcements of who will be interviewed next.

Kyla