Sophie what is your most current work out? 

My current work is my first self-published novel, Heaven Scent. 

 

Tell us a little about Heaven Scent and what inspired you to write it.

As a child, my heroine, Tarin, is deeply affected by her mother’s death.  Her mother’s deathbed advice creates a woman in Tarin that is beyond her time.  She is a titled woman destined to move women beyond the constraints of 1848 American society.  A woman determined to have it all despite what her noble father, or society in general, says is proper.  But she has an uphill battle ahead of her and she cannot afford to be distracted from her goals.

 

In comes my smokin’ hot hero, Rafe Sutherland, the rebel son of a local shipper, who has returned home after ten years away.   Rafe’s time spent serving in the Texas Rangers makes him unlike any other man in Boston.  His outlook on life and women’s place in society is curiously different – so are the circumstances behind his father’s death.  But, he has scars of his own – both inside and out – and cannot allow himself to fall for any woman, much less a woman as beautiful as Tarin.

 

Yet, despite the odds that seem to mount as their love grows, the couple has an ally in Tarin’s mother, who has a big, heavenly goal of her own.

 

My inspiration for the book was the last of my children moving out of the house (Sniff!).  I realized they were all grown up and I questioned whether I had given them everything they needed to have a happy, fulfilling life.  I wanted them each to have jobs that they loved, to marry a spouse they really loved, and to just be happy.  You will see the emotions behind that train of thought in the prologue of my book (yes, I am a bit sappy!).

 

When you start writing, do you already have the story plotted out or do you let the characters dictate what will happen?  

I try to fool myself into thinking I’m a plotter, but when I create a plot outline I usually never stick to it.  My characters tend to take over scenes and change things.  So, when that happens, I go back to my plotting outline and change it to reflect my character’s changes – even if I have already written the scene.  Weird, I know.  But, when I am done, it helps me to look at the overall character arc and W plot. 

 

What inspired you to write in your genre?  Is this the genre you started writing in or have you morphed to this one? 

I started out writing contemporary romance – and I still do.  But, Heaven Scent is a historical.  I love historicals because I believe love and romance were more respected way back when.   There were more “rules” to break to prove and conquer true love, thus making it more sacred.   I think I was born in the wrong century.  J

 

Do you have a favorite character you have written?

Don’t ask me why, but I tend to favor my heroes.  And Rafe, the hero in Heaven Scent, is my favorite to date.   I am a sucker for alphas and he is the ultimate.  Very hard not to love him.  J

 

Who was the toughest character for you to “get right” that you have written so far?

My heroine, Tarin, in Heaven Scent, was hard to write.  I had to make her strong, yet still show her vulnerable side because she was so hurt as a child.   I had to maintain her vulnerability but also show her growth in the story.

 

Then again, no character is ever easy to write.  It’s just a matter of scale of difficulty.

 

Do you draw inspiration for your characters from real life? Any fun stories you could share? 

I told my husband just the other day that my heroes always tend to have potty mouths because he has a tendency to insert some kind of mild curse word in every other sentence.   J  I wouldn’t call that inspiration but he’s definitely an influence.

 

What do you find the hardest part of writing? 

Finding the time to write.  Learning to toss scenes I love because they just don’t fit.  But most of all, knowing when to say “I’m finished; I cannot possibly edit this manuscript anymore.” 

 

Name one thing that your readers would be surprised to know about you.

I am very insecure.  It takes a concerted effort for me to say thank you to a compliment, even though I am thinking inside it was very nice of the person to say so.   I can’t walk into a room full of strangers by myself unless I have a definite purpose for being there. 

 

Do you have a guilty pleasure? 

I like to eat out.  I spend way too much money on dining out.  Then again, I will find any excuse not to cook.  I can cook; I just don’t like to do it.

 

What do you need before you start writing?  Anything that is just a must have or the creative juice don’t flow? 

I need to have that initial outline so I know where I’m trying to go.  I also have to have a hot hero in mind to inspire me.  I cannot write a hero that isn’t hot.  Just won’t happen.  I have to fall for him just like the heroine.

 

Does music influence your writing?  If so, do any of your stories have a theme song? 

Music definitely influences my writing.  Ideas come to me from songs.  I find that music helps to relax me and release my creativity and imagination.  I could not survive without music.  But no, no theme songs. 

 

If your story was optioned for a movie, who would play your characters?    

Tarin would be played by Isla Fisher.  Rafe would be played by Chris Hemsworth.  Hot hero!

 

How old were you when you read your first romance book? 

16.  The librarian in our small town library handed me a Harlequin romance.  I’ve been hooked ever since. 

 

What author causes you to “go fan girl”/ squeal over/anticipate upcoming books?

I have to pick just one??    Impossible.  It could be Karen Marie Moning,  Paula Quinn, Gaelen Foley, Julie Garwood, Judith McNaught, Suzanne Brockmann, Tracy Warren, Julia Quinn…  Sorry, just can’t pick one.

 

If you still have one of those pesky non writing jobs what is it? 

I work in Accounting and Human Resources.   I have a great boss and I work less than two miles from home.  Considering I have to work, I’ve got a sweet situation.

 

What are you currently working on, and what else is in the wings?

I am working on revisions for a contemporary romantic comedy.   I have a romantic suspense in my head that is begging for time.  That will be next on my plate (Yes, I do have ADD tendencies  J).

 

If you could co-write with another author who would it be? 

See list above.  Writing with any of them would be sweet!

 

How do you pick your characters names? 

I try to use something that I don’t see too often in books – which is hard, since I read so much.   Many names I associate with people I know or movie characters, so if I don’t like them, those names are out.  J  Some names just sound cool to me, so I go with them.

 

Do you prefer the love at first sight approach or a steady growth throughout? 

All depends on the characters.  Mine tend to be very stubborn, which I am sure has nothing to do with the author’s own tendencies.  J

 

Where can readers find you?

http://www.sophiegreyson.com 

http://www.facebook.com/sophiegreyson 

http://www.twitter.com/sophiegreyson 

 

And for the silly side – What is your favorite type of chocolate? 

 

OK, don’t hate me, but I’m really not a chocolate eater (I hear the collective gasp).  If I have to eat chocolate, I eat white chocolate (Yes, I am female).  If I have a choice between vanilla and chocolate, it will always be vanilla.