July 8, 2008

Meet Sloan Seymour

Welcome Sloan Seymour to my blog! She is a The Wild Rose Press author with "That Montana Summer."

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

I'm in my early thirties and I've been writing for six years now, although it's gone by fast. My current novel, That Montana Summer comes out in print this November, and I'm really excited about it's release! :)
A typical day for me starts around six o'clock and end around ten. Living on a horse farm, "sleeping in" is unheard of. The writing doesn't begin until all the animal are fed and attended. I try to write in the morning; it seems my head is most clear at this time and my imagination is best.



2. 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 began writing six years ago. It took five years before I got published. In that five years, I worked on the same novel, That Montana Summer. I toyed some with other writing projects, but just to keep my writing sharp. Getting That Montana Summer published was my main focus.

3. How did you break into publishing?

By sheer stubbornness. Rejected several times, I just stuck with it. "No" was not an option!

4. What influenced you to write?

Pure romance. I just love a good romance novel. I'm an avid reader and thought I'd try my hand at writing and see where it took me (hoping and praying it would take me somewhere.)

5. What inspired you to write romance?

Ditto to the above. There's nothing better than sitting down and reading a great love story. What better for it to be something you created?

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

I currently write western contemporary. One of my current WIP is in this same genre (a spin-off to That Montana Summer); the other is a romantic thriller. I would also like to write a historical, one day. I've had horses since I was seven so horses are easy knowledge for me. Throw in a dusty cattleman and, bingo, it's a book. :)

7. What difficulties does writing this genre present?

It's a tough market to break into. A lot of readers look for western contemporaries so it's got to be a great book in order to get published. Editors are tough.

8. What motivated you to write your current book?

I knew I wanted to write a book set in Montana, so I took several trips out west. I really wanted the book to seem real and authentic. Montana is such a beautiful state. It's what I think of when I image "the west." Plus, the cowboys out west are great eye candy. :)

9. How much time do you devote to writing each day?

If it's a writing day, usually five to six hours. After that, my brain turns into something resembling tomato paste (mush)! If it's a normal work day (nursing or on the farm), I try to spend the first hour of the day on writing, whether it's in the form of checking e-mails or plotting.

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

My current WIP is a romantic thriller about twin sisters. It captures your attention from the start and maintains your interest. The plot is complicated so it's taking a long time for me to get it wrote, but it's coming along. It's a fun book to write.


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

Oh, gosh. I'm definitely a panster but I'm trying to break-out of it, a little. Never will I be one to have every scene plotted. My brain simply doesn't function in this manner. Some of the best ideas are spur-of-the-moment, and I don't foresee that changing in the future. I think it's best to have a detailed layout of your plot, and then let the writing go where it will.

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?’

I've come up with some good ideas, just by listening to the stories people tell. Paying attention to the little things in life can, believe it or not, make for great ideas. Trying to keeping it all real and not let it get too far-out is the key. A good writer has to look outside the box and know when she/he have screwed-up a great idea.

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

Hmm....I'd like to talk to someone who was on the Titanic, I think. I have a fascination with large ships and I loved the movie; plus, the historical facts of the Titanic are so interesting. I'd like to talk to anyone from the early years (1600's, 1800's). I'm a history buff and read a lot of historicals so I'd love to know the accuracy of life back then and hear how it really was.


Tell us some of the things interviewers are saying about your story or stories.
I get asked about reviews quite a bit. I've gotten two great reviews and one not so kind. You can't please everyone, that's just a fact of life. Everyone loves the authentic feel of That Montana Summer; I get a lot of feedback from readers saying they felt as though they really were on vacation in Montana. It makes my day to hear this.

What is your all time favorite book?

Whitney My love, by Judith McNaught. The Notebook takes second place. Both of these books are great.

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

I like on-hands research. I'm not one to visit a library and feel confident enough to write on a subject. Nope, if I'm writing about Montana, I need to go and visit the state. One fact I learned about "out west" is that Montana (at least the south part of the state) has red dirt. I always though dirt was brown, and nothing more, but that's not true. Now, how much research would it have taken for me to find that out? A lot. And yet it's so simple it could be easily over-missed.

17. What advice would you give aspiring writers today?
Keep plugging along. Find a fellow author who you connect with and is willing to take you under the wing. If you don't find a buddy right away, don't sweat, just keeping writing and it will all fall into place. And never, never quit aiming for your goal.

How do you like your fans to contact you?

E-mail. I check it often and love to hear back from readers. It's why I write. :)

author@sloanseymour.com

http://www.sloanseymour.com/

~ Sloan

59 comments:

Jane said...

Hi Sloan,
I hope you do write a historical soon. Then you'll get to travel to England or Scotland or wherever for research.

CrystalGB said...

Great interview. I love western romance. :)

Laura K said...

I so agree with you- if writing is in your blood, don't give up. Many authors today have suffered countless rejections. I too enjoy western romance!

Zulmara said...

que cool...what a wonderful post...love that she tends to the animals first...what dedication...and stubborness...yes, our stubborn daughters will be the leaders of tomorrow.

ADELANTE!!!

Zulmara

DawnM said...

Whitney My Love is one of my favorites too. I think that was the first MCNaught I ever read and I immediately went and bought any others I could find.

Unknown said...

As another western romance author, I'm always interested in my 'competition'. I enjoyed the interview and look forward to reading your work.

Ginger Simpson
http://mizging.blogspot.com

P.S. We share a great friend in Miss AnnaK. :)

Anonymous said...

Wonderful advice. I am one of the lucky ones, as I have found a great mentor. I love you attitude about never giving up. That is how I think also. If we want something bad enough, then we have to be willing to change when we need too, we have to be able to take advice from editors as well as other authors. And we have to be prepared for rejection. If you want your dream bad enough, then nothing will stop you from plugging along until you achieve it. Thanks for the advice. I too like to visit the area that I am writing about. I take a ton of pictures, everything from flowers, trees, roads, houses that capture my attention...anything that will serve as a reference when I am writing. Thanks for your help and insight!

LuAnn said...

Great interview, Sloan. You had some super answers to the questions and I enjoyed getting to know you.

Penny Rader said...

I love to do research, too, but I don't always get to visit the places I write about.

Stacey Joy Netzel said...

Very nice interview, Sloan. :) I write most of my books set in Colorado and sure do wish I could go 'research' every time! I love the mountains. Montana is another place I'd love to visit.

Anonymous said...

Hi Sloan, great interview.
Two of my relatives (well ancestors) died on the Titanic and one lived. It was a husband and wife who died--my great great aunt and uncle. There was space in a boat for her, but she wanted to be with her husband. Their neice lived to tell the story.
Laurel

Sloan Seymour said...

Hey everyone! I neglected to tell Anna that I had to work on the farm this morning. I'm just now on the computer. I love reading all the comments!

Stacey Joy Netzel said...

Laurel, that's too cool (well, you know what I mean). You've got historical connections all over the place!

Sloan Seymour said...

Laurel,
I'm sorry to hear about your ancestors, but I'm glad we both have an interest in the Titanic. I went to the display in Las Vegas; it was extremely interesting. You might put that on your list of places to visit.

cheryl c said...

I love western romances, both historical and contemporary. I am interested in knowing more about your book. Will you be posting a blurb or excerpt?

Sloan Seymour said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Sloan Seymour said...

Yes, I will post an excerpt... give me just a second... :)

Sloan Seymour said...

A southern belle.
A rugged cattleman.
An ill-fated love.
Neither can forget...
That Montana Summer.

(I'll post the blurb next)

Sloan Seymour said...

Here's the blurb for
That Montana Summmer

Wealthy and beautiful, Samantha Matthews has everything in life…everything but love. Hounded by her affluent parents to marry for wealth, she escapes to a Montana dude ranch to avoid their manipulations.

Head wrangler of his Uncle's ranch, Dalton MacLaine has only one thing on his mind: land. Planned long ago, his dream of building his own cattle ranch takes precedence over his love life. Or so he thinks.

The last thing Samantha needs is a dusty cattleman. The last thing Dalton wants to be is a summer fling. However, undeniable emotions and a powerful chemistry lead to a passionate romance that's plagued by deception and distrust.

None said...

Western romances are a wonderful read. I enjoyed the interview. Needed the advice to never give up. Just heard from my publisher and she is "trying to find herself". Not the kind of news I expected.

Sloan Seymour said...

Terre,
I'm glad you liked the interview!
Keep working on your current WIP. And, gosh, I hope your publisher finds herself soon before she takes a chance on losing you!

Ruth C. said...

Would love to see that you have written a historical.

That Montana Summer sounds very good.!!

I'm a history buff and love anything from ancient Egypt to Regency England to the 1700's until the early 1900's of USA.

Loved reading the interview and your answers to the questions.

One question that I have -- can I receive a massage from the harem???

Pretty please??

Sloan Seymour said...

Ruth,
I'm scheduling your massage as we speak! :)

Anonymous said...

That Montana Summer is a wonderful and fast read. Ms. Seymour has a natural ability to place the reader in the scene without countless details to put a reader to sleep. Of course, my favorite aspect of her book is the interaction between the characters, both verbal and nonverbal. I anxiously anticipate the next work from this new author. I just hope it is not in five years! Thank you for having her on your website.

Kimberly B. said...

What an awesome interview! I think it's great that you are able to fit your love of horses into your writing. I'm sure it really shows!

Sloan Seymour said...

Dear Anonymous,
Wow! Thanks so much for all the kind words. I'm so happy you enjoyed the book (and that I didn't put you to sleep!). I will try to get the new book written much sooner!

Sloan Seymour said...

Kimberly,
I've had horses in my life for so long now that it would be impossible to write a book without one in it. I read a quote once that said, "The outside of a horse is good for the inside of a man." It's very true.
Have a great day!

Cindy K. Green said...

Hi Sloan,
I enjoyed learning about your journey toward publication. Perseverance is key--even after we're published. ;) Looking forward to your book.

Cindy
www.cindykgreen.com

Estella said...

I enjoyed reading this interview. I like western romance stories.

cheryl c said...

Thanks for posting the blurb. It sounds really good and just the kind of book that I like to read!

Sloan Seymour said...

Thanks Cindy and Estella! I'd glad you both enjoyed the interview. Cheri, I'll be posting an excerpt real soon. I have one on the website, but let me get you another one, just to keep things interesting! :)

Cherie J said...

Great interview! I love learning about new authors.

Sloan Seymour said...

Excerpt, THAT MONTANA SUMMER

(Scene where Dalton first meets Samantha)


Lantern rays glowed in a golden, dim haze with only an occasional flutter above the grey filly’s ten-by-twelve pen. Dalton stood in the darkened shadows of the aisleway and observed the woman.
She was clad in only a thin white robe and flip-flops. The lantern she had carried was placed out of reach from the young horse. Long auburn hair hung loose in wet
tendrils down her back and over her shoulders as she knelt beside the animal. The thin fabric of the robe, damp and snug across her backside, was sheer in the lantern
light. For a moment he relived the scene in the bathhouse and desire once again flared through him. As the flickering continued from the lantern he hoped it would
remain lit.
He watched her every move, each gesture so simple yet sensual. Small, delicate hands roamed in gentle glides along the young horse’s jawline and neck. She eased the filly with gentle, soothing strokes until she had worked her way down to the injured leg.
The leg was swollen to the fetlock. Dalton eyed the
bandage, silently thanking whoever was responsible for doctoring the young horse. His aunt had mentioned over the phone that one of the guests had attended the filly. Could this strange and beautiful woman be the one accountable? He watched as she diligently checked the bandage with two fingers, monitoring the dressing for tightness. Impressed by her intuitive skills, his eyes
followed her hands up her slender arms, past a modest display of ripe cleavage, to her face.
Delicate, arched brows and long, curved lashes accented her downcast eyes as she nursed the young horse. Her generously full pink lips compressed together
in anticipation of the filly’s pain as she flexed the leg,
checking the joint for range of motion.

Sloan Seymour said...

Hey all,
Hope you enjoy the excerpt! This is a barn scene, where Dalton is about to meet Samantha for the first time. Let me know what you think!

Anonymous said...

Love your excerpt, Sloan. And I'm a huge fan of Montana. My husband asked me before we even dated where I wanted to be in ten years. I told him Montana... ~Skhye

Cathy M said...

I took a family vacation to Montana years ago and totally fell in love with the state. Will look forward to reading your story, Sloan.

LadyVampire2u said...

I really enjoyed the interview and all the excerpts. Congrats on your upcoming release in print! I'll definitely have to get a copy.

Stacey Joy Netzel said...

Great excerpt, Sloan. Just added it to my To Buy list! I loved your imagery.

Sloan Seymour said...

Shoo. You guys liked the excerpt! I'm going to post another one here in a few.
Skhye - Maybe I'll see you in Montana one of these days.
Cathy - I would have visited Montana this year too, but, darn, the gas prices kept me at home. Maybe next year....
LadyV - Let me know what you think of the book! Thanks for being a fan. :)
Stacey - I'm happy you liked the imagery. Thanks for adding it to your list - it makes my day!

Debby said...

I would love to read a historical. I visited your site as well.

Jennifer Johnson said...

Thanks for this! I enjoyed learning more about Sloan, and Anna, you helped me out as I wondered what kind of questions I could pose to an author. Thanks! Jennifer

Sloan Seymour said...

Excerpt #2, THAT MONTANA SUMMER

(About to ride the mountains scene)

Wasting no time, Samantha hurried to Beau’s side, wanting to avoid a confrontation between her horse and
Dalton. Beau detested men, and if he acted up in Dalton’s vicinity she would no doubt spend the rest of her day detaching calf testicles.
Samantha saw Beau brace himself,so she placed herself, posthaste, between him and Dalton. In doing so,her breasts brushed against Dalton’s rock-solid chest. She
was relieved it wasn’t summer. She’d hate for him to feel
her hardened nipples through only one layer of clothing. Her body was suddenly becoming a traitor, responding to his every talented, seductive whim. She only meant to
retrieve Beau’s lead. Her goal was not to further incite the
lust she saw ignited in Dalton’s eyes.
He handed her the lead, whispering, “Tease.”
“You wish,” she mumbled back.
“Samantha, remind me to give you a free massage when you get back,” Mary said, congratulating her with a sideways squeeze, “hot stones and all. Excellent save.”
“Thanks. I will.”
“I see you’ve met my charming nephew, Dalton.”
“I did. And you’re right. He is charming—as any horse’s ass could be.” She winked at Mary. Dalton raked his eyes up the length of her body, as though he was
mentally undressing her, piece by piece.

Michelle said...

You definitely have a full day, Sloan. How many horses do you have? Are they for riding, competition, breeding? Have any hot, manly cowboys on your ranch to inspire you?

Dena said...

Hi Sloan, I enjoyed your interview. I have relatives that live in Montana. I love the beautiful state, whenever we visit I'm were in awe at the beauty. I've seen the red dirt too and thought the same thing.

Sloan Seymour said...

Michelle,
Too funny! Nope, no manly eye-candy on the farm. All we have are studs of the human form - Darn!
Currently, there are five horses on the farm. Some are show horses, a few are trail horses and the others are babies. We breed/strive for show horses. The ones that don't make the cut, we sell to go homes. And if they don't sell, we finish them out and then donate to PALS, a therapeutic riding organization.

Sloan Seymour said...

Dena,
Good to know I'm not the only one who checks out the dirt when I travel! It's funny because when I got home from Montana, the red dirt was still on the horse trailer and truck in a few places. :)

Unknown said...

Great interview Sloan, I love reading western romance but also enjoy a good historical which is about my favorite book to read, so I hope you get to write one some day.

Jeanette J said...

Love the interview. It's nice to see western romance stories are still out there.

Sloan Seymour said...

Virginia,
Yep, me too. I love historicals; the clothes, the carriages, the ton -all of it. It's my goal to one day write a historical.

Sloan Seymour said...

Jeanette,
Thanks for stopping by and reading the interview! Take care.

Sloan Seymour said...

Anna,
Thanks for having me on your blog today. I've had a lot fun. I better get to bed - have to work as an RN in the morning. I'll check back tomorrow and follow-up with comments so I don't leave anyone hanging.
Thanks so much!

Anna Kathryn Lanier said...

You're very welcome, Sloan. I've enjoyed reading all your posts. Thanks for giving me a day off my blog...lol.

I'll draw for Sloan's winner and for the $25 Barnes and Noble gift card in the morning, since it's not quite midnight here yet. I'll give people a few more minutes to post and be eligible.

~Anna Kathryn

Margaret Tanner said...

Hi Sloan,
Great interview. I love westerns too, even though I hail from Australia.
Best wishes

windycindy said...

I think I was a pioneer in another life. I really enjoy reading romance stories set in the west. Thanks, Cindi
jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com

robynl said...

I love Western romance; I come from an area where there are lots of cowboys, rodeos, cattle and horses.

blessedheart said...

Great interview, Sloane! I'm looking forward to checking out your work.

Rhonda :-)

Sue A. said...

I haven't met a cowboy I didn't like. Love western romances! Good interview!

Michelle said...

Hello and Happy Thursday to all...

Pastor Berlee said...

I love this.."By sheer stubbornness. Rejected several times, I just stuck with it. 'No' was not an option!"

Congrats, Sloan on your release!

Kimberlee Mendoza