Spotlight Sunday with Denise McCray

How did you start your writing career?   All my life, I've toyed with the idea of becoming a writer, but did not really become serious until 2008. That's when I attended my first Romantic Times Booklovers Convention and took Judi McCoy's beginner writers class. Boy, did I learn a lot! I'd like to share with you the advice she gave me: sit your butt in the chair and write everyday! Simple, huh? Although I didn't write everyday (sorry Judi), I did finish a novel which probably won't see the light of day. The next year, I won Bobbi Smith's writing contest with my manuscript "Making Time for Love".

Plotter or panster? Why?   A combination of both. I tend to go into too much detail with my plotting and get bored with the story halfway through the first draft. Then the panster in me takes over and I make a few changes.

What is the hardest part of writing your books?   For me, it's getting on a regular schedule. Which means I have to give myself a deadline. I tell myself the book or novella has to be done by a certain date, or I won't be able to go to an upcoming writers conference. That usually does the trick for me.

What did you want to be when you grew up?   I was one of those kids who flitted from one interest to the next. One day, I'd want to be a scientist and the next I dreamed of being a teacher. How I ended up as an attorney, I have no idea, especially since I hated public speaking. But I guess it worked out since I've been a member of my state's bar for over twenty-five years.

Do you listen to music while writing? If so, what?   I love listening to movie soundtracks. My favorites are Phantom of the Opera and Enchanted. Somehow, I find a couple thousand words on the page after the disc is finished playing.

 What would we find under your bed?   Other than the gigantic dust bunnies, you'd find plastic containers full of books. I truly believe in the old adage, "Whoever dies with the most books, wins!" 

    Tell us about your upcoming release.

        "Bared Essentials" is my first sale, so it has a special place in my heart. It's set on the beautiful island of St. Lucia at the fictional resort of Bared Essentials, a clothing-optional getaway. Writing what I know (another great piece of writing advice from the great L.A.Banks), my hero and heroine are a couple attorneys escaping their madcap existence at home. Although they're acquaintances at home, there's an attraction neither one has acted upon. The sights and sounds of the island act as a catalyst, and sets their torrid affair into motion. Soon, they can't get enough of one another. But real life rears its ugly head and threatens the happiness of the two lovers. Of course, there's a happily ever after, but I'm sure my readers will enjoy their trip to paradise.