Interview with Kyla Logan

By Sara Sawer
Editorial Assistant for The Romance Studio

SS: Hi Kyla! Welcome. Since this is your "first time" here, we'll be gentle. What exciting insight can give you give us about your featured book, Catari Heat 1: New Beginnings?

KL: Hello Sara, it's really good to be here. =) New Beginnings is the story of Leah a shuttle pilot of the Skylian people and Darius the leader of the Pantheri pack of the Leopai people of Catari. They meet when Leah's shuttle crashes on Catari along with her friend and co-pilot, Ashley.

The beginning of the book starts with Leah and Ashley arriving in orbit over Catari, when suddenly they have a systems failure. Then the story leads up to the meeting with Darius and his men who come to investigate after seeing the ship land in their hunting ground. What makes it interesting is that the Seer of the Pantheri had foretold Leah's arrival, so right away Darius knows she is meant for him. But does she agree?

SS: Shifter and Paranormal Fantasies are very popular right now. Why do you think women (and men) are drawn to such other worldly things? How did you go about capturing the right mix in Catari Heat 1?

KL: I know for me personally that I am drawn to read…and write in this sub-genre because it is totally fantasy. You can loose yourself for a few hours while reading about the handsome hero and imagine you are the heroine who wins his heart. There is just something about that scenario that draws people to snap up as many of them as they can. I know that I do that myself, so it was a natural choice to actually write in this genre for my first story.

Well New Beginnings started life off as a sort of exercise in getting my many thoughts and ideas down on paper. Once I started it just grew into the story it is today. =)

SS: Are you working on a follow-up to New Beginnings, or do you have another exciting story in the works?

KL: Yes, I am working on the second in the series, called Catari Heat 2: Double the Pleasure. This is Ashley's story and continues from where New Beginnings finishes off. I don't want to give too much away, but here is the blurb for the story.

It was to be her last mission…

Ashley is startled when she recognises the planet of her dreams. Before she can make sense of this astonishing development the space shuttle crashes.

When Ashley awakens from her healing sleep she finds the two men of her dreams beside her. But if her dreams about the planet are real…does that mean the part about the two large cats is too?

As you can imagine I am having fun writing this book. Lol

As well as Double The Pleasure, I am working on a paranormal set in the highlands of Scotland, but I can't say too much about that one right now as its still in the development stages.

SS: This is your first published book. What made you decide to become a writer?

KL: I had all these idea's running through my head; I have for some time now. I would make up little scenarios but then did nothing with them. Last March I was talking to my friend and talented author Isabella Jordan and she mentioned that one of the publishers had a contest for authors and she said "why not enter?"

Well I said no, as I knew there was no way I could start from scratch and have a story ready in a matter of weeks. That appeared to be that, but then I thought about it and I put forward a few different scenarios to her and the next thing I knew, I was writing New Beginnings, with plenty of encouragement from her. I also have had the benefit of encouragement and help in the technical side of writing from another talented author, Dee S Knight. =)

SS: How did the writing process go? How difficult was the waiting to hear about whether or not you would be published?

KL: The writing went very slowly to start with…and I mean slowly. I think the word count I wrote the first time was about 200 words. lol I was very nervous about actually putting my idea's down on paper. I am sure I am not the only one who feels like that, and I just want to say that if you do it slowly, you will build up confidence as you go. Its getting the first words down on that blank, white sheet of paper that is the hardest.

I was pretty lucky in that I didn't have long to wait to hear back from Pat Haley at Changeling Press asking for my complete manuscript. In fact, I think it was the same day that I heard that she liked my story, and if I was agreeable to some changes then she would send me a copy of their contact to fill in and send back.

SS: Why did you choose Erotica? When were you drawn to this genre, and what was it that drew you to it? Is it difficult to write the sex-scenes?

KL: I have been reading erotic romance for over 3 years now, and that is the only genre I feel comfortable writing in. What does that say about me I wonder? I like the fact that you can describe the intimate nature of a relationship in graphic details and not offend anyone. E-book publishers selling erotic romance have really opened up a whole new world to me. I would never have went into a book shop and reached for one of the erotic romance print books.

Would you believe that the easiest part of the book for me was the love scenes? They just sort of flowed as my fingers hit the key board. Lol Mind you I have a wonderful and loving husband who has been really helpful in offering to 'test' some of the scenes! You can't ask more from someone than that. =)

SS: What is the most important thing you have figured out on the long road to being a "published" author? Did you have outside support? Did anyone in your life inspire you? In those "dark days" of waiting for that phone call, what helped you the most?

KL: I think it's that if you follow your dreams they do come true, Sara. I had tremendous support from my husband and family; they were so encouraging to me. Letting me write when I was in the 'flow' and making dinner so I wouldn't be disturbed.

On the technical side of writing, I couldn't have finished the book without the encouragement from Isy and Dee. They are both fantastic authors who are really generous in their help and knowledge of writing.

I have learned a lot from my editor at Changeling, Maryam Salim. She will be glad of that as I tend to add in unnecessary tag lines. Lol I don't know how many I had to take out while we were in edits with the story.

When my book was accepted, this was actually the second time of submitting it to Changeling. The first time Pat gave me a lot of good advice as well as some hints on how to make my story more active. Her email encouraged me to do the alterations she suggested and then to re-submit to Changeling. I did that, and as you know it was accepted second time around.

So I would like to say to new authors out there, that if you 'ask' in the nicest possible way, why your book is rejected first time around, that the publisher will take the time to explain to you 'why'. Believe me; if I can do it so can you.

I just want to say, thank you for interviewing me Sara, this has been fun. =)

Kyla