Interview with Meagan Hatfield!

So, Meagan, tell us a little about yourself? What is your typical day like?

Hello everyone!

My name is Meagan Hatfield and I write Paranormal, Fantasy, Historical, Contemporary and Erotic romances for both e-book and print publishers.

Typical day? Well, I work a job Monday through Friday, 5am to about noon. Yes, I said 5am. {{yawn}} When the kids are in school full day, I get a good chunk of writing time in before they get home. Now, with summer in full swing, I write in chaos and between T-ball games, sleep-over’s and playing referee to their battling matches over the video game station.


When did you start to write and how long did it take you get published? How many stories did you finish before you were published?

I have always written…I even penned a young adult romance, complete with cheesy title (“My Kind of Guy”) in High School. But I never thought you could make a living at writing. So, I went off into a more lucrative and fruitful career path…dancing. Ah, to grow up in the 80’s – where every video and concert had a corps of frolicking jazz dancers and Paula Abdul made everyone think you too could be a star. *grins* Seriously though, I went to college as a dance major. But I met my husband, got married and had babies instead. It took six years in San Diego, a trip to the Little White Chapel in Las Vegas , two kids, a few random jobs and a move to Wisconsin before the constant ideas and characters running through her head drove me to finally sit down and start writing their story. That book was my fantasy romance, “A Magical Encounter” and it came out earlier this year!


What inspired you to write romance?

My grandmother.

I was an only child, essentially raised by my grandparents. Both were avid readers, especially my nanny. Our hallway was lined with bookcases staked two rows deep with Harlequins. She read four romance novels a day...she kept one by the bed, one in the bathroom, one on the dining table and one by her recliner and finished all of them by night’s end. Romances were some of the first books I was exposed to and I always loved them. It was with her encouragement, I even attempted to write a book of my own.

What genre or sub-genre do you write? Why did you choose this genre?

At our chapter meeting introductions, everyone always says for me to tell people what genres I DON’T write in. LOL!

Characters always come to me first, so what I write depends on their voice. I don’t see myself ever writing an inspy or a western, but never say never.

Currently, I am working on my dark paranormal series about dragon-shifters and vampires I just sold to a major NYC publisher yesterday!! I don’t have release info yet, but you can bet I’ll be keeping my Newsletter subscribers updated. ((hint, hint))

What difficulties does writing this genre present?

I absolutely LOVE Dark Paranormal. I think I’ve really found my niche! I’d been told I write violent or dark before by reviewers and it always gave me pause. Now, I have free rein to go for it and it is so much fun!!

What motivated you to write your current book?

Actually, I won a critique at our local RWA Conference and busted out the first chapter without thinking too much about the book. It took about six months to hear back. But when I did, the editor really got a fire under my butt and I wrote the synopsis and a few more chapters and sent those in. When she came back requesting the full, I whipped it out in six weeks and sent that in. So I guess, the prospect of selling was motivating enough for me. Although, I did listen to Breaking Benjamin cd’s the entire time I wrote. That music really helped me get into the tone of the story.

How much time do you devote to writing each day?

As much as I can. :-) Okay, more specific…it’s usually, it’s about 5 hours. But, if I am working a deadline or extremely motivated, my butt has been known to be in the chair for up to 10 hours and counting.

Tell us about your other works, books, stories, etc.

Currently, I have a hot-historical romance novel, “The Marquis & the Mistress” out from the Dark Castle Lords. A fantasy romance, “A Magical Encounter” from New Concepts Publishing, and a contemporary erotic short story duo, “Torrid Teasers #43 – The Whole Enchilada & Lust Desserts” out from Whiskey Creek Press Torrid.

Links and info on all my books and stories are at my website!


What are you working on now?

I am working on Book Two of the new series I just sold yesterday (YEA again!) I’m also plotting up a short for that line, and today I’ll start on the edits for Book One.

How do you write? Are you a panster or a plotter? Is it your characters or your plot that influences you the most?

Both. I am a firm believer that if you have two great characters, plop them in an interesting setting and let them loose, stuff will happen and you will eventually have a book. However, that can either take a year or generate a 120,000 word epic. So, I plot.

And definitely characters influence me more. After all, it is their story. I just try to listen to what they tell me and not mess it up along the way.

What was the most usual way you came up with a story idea? I mean, I’ve gotten a plot idea from a song I heard, from brainstorming with a classmate. What unusual thing caused you to think, ‘hey, I could make that into a story?’

It would have to be for a work in progress currently languishing in my documents. I got the idea from watching a cartoon with my daughter before she got on the bus (obviously back before I worked at 5am) I can’t remember specifically what it was, but some minute aspect or story thread called out to me. I thought, “man, if this was an adult show, I would have this happen instead…and then this…and then this…” and so the story began.

If you could spend an hour talking to anyone from any time in history, who would it be? And Why?

Yikes! There are so many. But probably Queen Elizabeth I…I’d love to hear her secrets. I mean, a woman ruling successfully over men for that long - wow. When you think about, it sounds like fiction, especially for back then.

Not to mention, I think she’d have a wicked sense of humor.

Tell us some of the things interviewers are saying about your story or stories.

Oh, I’ve really been very fortunate so far with reviewers.

I was just Joyfully Reviewed last week and the reviewer called “A Magical Encounter fantasy-meets-romance at it’s finest.”

The Romance Studio gave my historical romance,“The Marquis & the Mistress” 5 hearts and said, “Meagan Hatfield has written an exciting tale of lost love, secrets, and devious plots. Cosette and Francois were such well-written characters. The love-hate relationship between these two wonderful people, along with the fiery passion that burns up the pages, is all consuming. I was unable to put this one down. Although at times I found the situations the characters had to withstand a little distressing, I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for an exciting, sexually charged romance because this has to be one of the best I have read. Hats off to this great author. I look forward to reading more of her stories in the future.”

You can read more reviews of all my books and stories at my website.

What is your all time favorite book?

Dr. Zhivago by Boris Pasternak. Rarely does a book touch me as deeply as this novel did, and on so many levels. It stuck with me for years not just days. And honestly, part of me still yearns to take my family to some remote locale, leave everything behind and live off the land. But I know deep down I’m too techie dependant to actually do it.

How do you do research for your books? What’s the most interesting bit of research you’ve come across?

I always research. Let’s face it, any excuse to get my nose in a musty, old book, and I’m there. :-) Now, how much I research depends on the story. For THE MARQUIS & THE MISTRESS, I did endless amounts. The story takes place during King Henry IV of France’s last years ruling the country, and includes as many factual characters as fictional. So, I read up on, not only the period and the locale, but the people. I’ll tell you, some of the books I read on King Henry IV were so old, the binding glue turned to dust on my desk. But, I love history and books (probably why I write) so I found all of that research not only interesting but inspiring. It amazes me to hear that the French court setting does not appeal to a good number of people. I think it’s just as rich, lush and intrigue laden as the English court. Not to mention all those hot, French men. Ooo-la-la, what’s not to love?

The most interesting thing that’s happened so far came from reading the Marquis de Sade’s letters and works as research for my erotic novella, ONE NIGHT WITH DE SADE. I had always been fascinated by him, but I had no idea what a normal, intelligent, politically conscious minded and loving individual he was. He was very much ahead of his time when it came to reform and society - a rebel with a cause, if you will, who used his works to shake people up, to wake them up. So, it was interesting to leave that experience not only understanding a bit more about the man many considered a monster, but admiring him on certain levels. He was French too, of course, so that helped. LOL! (Are you noticing a trend here?)


What advice would you give aspiring writers today?

Develop thick skin, keep your chin up, write everyday, treat others how you want to be treated, keep learning, always be professional, if you don’t have a critique partner – get one, and surround yourself with those who support your dream. Ignore the ones who don’t – they will all be clamoring to for autographs when you’re published, and success is the sweetest revenge.

How do you like your fans to contact you?

Feel free to stop by my website ( http://www.meaganhatfield.com ) to learn more about me or my books. Or cruise by and friend me at Myspace ( http://www.myspace.com/meaganhatfield ) or leave a comment at my blog ( http://www.meaganhatfield.blogspot.com )
I’d like to mention that I also have a Yahoo Newsletter Group – ( http://groups.yahoo.com/group/A-Little-Bit-of-Magic/ ) called - A Little Bit of Magic. Every three months, I post a newsletter with info about me, my books, hottie of the month and the contest winner of that issue. Once you're signed up for my group, you'll receive automatic entry into all of my contests.

****Contest****

Leave a comment on ANY of my posts for your chance to win:
1.) $25 Barnes & Noble Gift Card
2.) Download of your choice from my backlist