I had the opportunity to chat with a talented author this month, who took time out of her busy schedule to chat with us.  So, without further delay let’s hear from

Aline de Chevigny

Did you always have stories and character running around in your head?
Yeah, since I was a kid. I used to tell my cousins stories that kept them entertained for hours, and got us all in heaps of trouble when we tried to act them out LOL.

Did you ever see yourself becoming a writer?
No, I never saw myself as a writer. I used to cringe when teachers would ask for essays LOL.

Wow, a chemical engineering technologist. Do you enjoy your work and what does it involve?
I love being a chemical Engineering Technologist, the unexpected is always fun. At the moment I work at a Diamond mine in the Environmental Department. We do water, soil, peat and moss sampling of the local environment to keep everything safe and clean.

Do you hope to be able to write full-time one day?
Maybe when I retire. I tried writing full time once and found myself out of ideas LOL. I need the stress of a full time job to stay fresh.

How do you find a balance between family, writing, and your job?
I actually lucked out on that.  My job is 2 weeks in at the mine site and 2 weeks at home doing whatever I want. So I spend that 2 week period visiting with family and friends.

I read you are part of a critique group. Do you find it helpful to be a part of the group and do you recommend it to others?
My critique partners are the best. We got together when we were all starting out. We each have our own strengths and compliment each other well. I highly recommend it to people who are just starting out. Just make sure you chose people you feel comfortable with.

Tell us what makes Aline tick?
Oh that’s easy…Men in uniforms, add an accent and I’m in love LOL

Tell us about Enchanted Ramblings and how it got started.
ER is on hiatus until we can get the site updated.

You write in several genres. Do you have a favorite and if so why is it your favorite?
I think my favorite is paranormal. I like the freedom to create my own worlds and make things up as I go along LOL.  Next I’d say contemporaries with cops in them LOL.

Is there a genre that you would like to try that you have not?
I’d like to try a straight historical next.

Tell us some of your favorites: foods, books, authors, movies, music, holidays, or any others.
Oooo my fave things…

Authors would be      -    Mercedes Lackey, Lisa Kleypas, Katie MacAlister

All my crit partners LOL - Michelle Hasker, Dawn Montgomery, Merris Hawk, Jennie Andrus, Etc…

Foods – Chocolate, Strawberries, Streak, Chocolate

Movies – Anne of Green Gables, Pride and Prejudice, Pirates of the Caribbean,          Disney…

Music – Everything but house or hip hop

Holidays – Halloween, April Fools Day, My Birthday… what they should be holidays. All three are very important and we should get the day off paid for them heehee

Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?
Don’t quit! Write about what you know and love. And finally Read, Read, Read. If you want to try a new genre, read books on it first.

Do you enjoy hearing from your readers and what is the best way to contact you?
I love hearing from my fans, especially if they have comments on my books LOL. They can email me at aline.dechevigny@gmail.comor aline@alinedechevigny.com

Also I spend loads of time at my groups:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/authorbox/

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LeagueAmazingWriters/

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/daughters_of_circe/

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/onekiss/

Or my Newsletter http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Aline_Newsletter/

How do you like to spend your free time?
Free time? What’s that?

What do your family and friends think of your writing? Are they your biggest fans?
My family and friends love bragging about my stories. They tell everyone they know and even some they don’t LOL

That and they’re always trying to become a character in my next book.

What is your perfect writing environment? Do you need absolute quiet or can you write anywhere?
I always write best sitting at my local Chinese food restaurant. Just before the busy hours start. I like to write my stories on paper first then type them up.

But when at home, I need some background noise. So I usually pop in a DVD and watch one of the many series I have LOL.

How long does it take you to write a book from start to finish?
It all depends on the size of the book, the genre and how much of the story is planned.

10K can be finished in a month, start to end and sold LOL

I have competed in NANO twice. So I know I can write a rough 50K in 30 days.

Is there anything else you would like to share with us?
I find that the less distraction I have, the harder it is for me to write anything LOL. Is that weird or what?