MAN DISGUISED AS TREE ROBS BRANCH BANK

I didn’t even have to make that attention-grabber up, folks. (Remember the blog I did not long ago on reading the bold print? Well, that one is right out of the headlines.) This is actually the Q & A with Elizabeth G: Part One.

Inquiring Minds — that’s you — are asking. One by one, the Quills — that’s us — are answering. (While I'm at it, I must also confess I "borrowed" Jayne’s original format. Why reinvent the wheel? I always say.)

So, here goes with the first batch of questions.


PIA and LIZELLE both want to know which Quill title I would like to see made into a film and who I think should star in it.

Here's the rub, folks: I don’t trust Hollywood to take any great romance novel and make it into even a halfway decent movie. (Okay, there are a few exceptions, i.e. film versions of Jane Austen books. But those are always made by the English, who know how to do Jane Austen.)

BTW: I still recall how thrilling it was to go see “Romancing the Stone” when it first came out in 1984. At last a wonderful and funny contemporary movie that spoke to every romance reader and writer I knew at the time! Of course, RTS was an original screenplay, not an adaptation. Then there was a rather awful sequel made several years later. (A talented woman named Diane Thomas wrote the first script. Sadly she was killed in a car accident in 1985. A pair of men wrote the second. Nuf said.)

Personally the closest I’ve ever gotten to the whole Hollywood thing: a representative from “Brad and Jen’s” production company (back when there was a Brad and Jen, instead of a Brad and Angelina) contacted my agent to see if the film rights were available to SWEETHEART, INDIANA. She said “yes.” We never heard another word.


KATE asks if most romance novelists marry their ideals.

Yup. In fact, I think it’s one of the reasons most of us write romances. I’m speaking personally, of course, but I read the responses from the other Quills. It seems we’ve all been very lucky when it comes to the men we married.


KARENDE wants to know how to find an agent.

There are lots of web sites online devoted to answering this very question. You might want to start with www.agentquery.com.


RANURGIS is curious about whether there are others in my family who are creative types.

Hm...well, my maternal grandmother started painting in oils at the age of sixty-five. She also wrote rather pedestrian poetry. Mainly I remember the wonderful bedtime stories she would tell us when we were children: I can still clearly hear her voice!

Actually the creative member of our family is our son. He’s written the music and lyrics to several hundred songs. He plays the guitar. He draws beautifully and, by extension, has taken some great photographs. He’s even dipped into writing. These are all hobbies right now since his personal and professional life keep him very busy.

So, I guess the answer is I’m the only one currently using her creativity as her profession.


DEE from AUSTRALIA wants to know if I felt I had grown as an author.

Gosh, Dee, I sure as heck hope so! To tell you the truth, I haven’t had the time (or the guts) to go back and reread my old stuff to see just how much I’ve grown or changed over the years.

I’m assuming my sense of humor hasn’t changed. (What I call my “Iowa corn ball” sense of humor.) I know my core beliefs are essentially the same when it comes to men, women, trust, honor, sex, romance, you name it. There are some differences in my voice (especially in the rhythm of my writing) depending on whether I’m writing a classic historical romp, a lighthearted contemporary romance or a serious and sensuous vampire story.

LOLOLOLOLOL Did I ever answer your question?


MARCIE wants to know if my non-writing friends understand my frustrations or joys when I talk about my stories.

In a nutshell, Marcie, no. But then I don’t understand the problems they run into with their work, either. Besides, I don’t discuss my writing with most people— only a couple of family members and several long-time trusted friends. (What I call my “captive” audience.)

Having said that, most of my friends are writers. Still, there are only a handful I feel comfortable discussing my frustrations and joys with. OTOH, my husband is the best sounding board I’ve ever found. I usually brainstorm plot, character, motivation, etc. with him when we’re driving down to see our son. Let me tell you, that 2½ hours from our driveway to his flies by!


MICHELLE asks how I keep myself from doing too much research.

Ah, Michelle, research is my middle name. Especially with NIGHT LIFE and NIGHT HUNGER, the first two books of my Pharaohs Rising series.

Actually, those books and the new series grew out of my research and my love of all things ancient Egyptian, not the other way around. So in my case, the research came first. And, again in my case, there is no such thing as too much research. I also tend to write about things that interest me, so research is a natural and ongoing part of my writing process. I probably read 10% fiction and 90% nonfiction. (Unless I’m on vacation. Then it’s all fun and fiction.)

So, I have a couple of questions for all of you: Do you have a favorite romance novel you’d love to see made into a movie? Do you have a “wish list” cast in mind? What are your favorite romantic movies?

Until next time, when I’ll pick up with Part Deux of our Q&A.
Elizabeth G.