Interview--RC RYAN 1

BIO: New York Times best-selling author Ruth Ryan Langan, under the pen R.C. Ryan, has written more than ninety fiction novels, both contemporary and historical in a career spanning more than twenty years. Other titles include: Montana Destiny, Montana Glory, Heart’s Delight, Paradise Falls, Ashes of Dreams, Cover Up, Wanted, Passions Law, Angel, Deception, and Nevada Nights. She resides in Farmington Hills, Michigan.

Thanks for being here, Ruth. It’s a pleasure.

#1- Tell us a little about yourself outside of your writing career…

I have a crazy, busy life. Five children and a husband who maintains several successful businesses. We travel a good deal, and I use every place I visit as the setting for one of my books. When I’m not traveling or writing, I love to garden. (Can’t wait for the ground to get warm enough to let me dig in the dirt.) Our extended family is huge, and when we all get together, it’s a really big, loud party. Several of our family members live on a nearby lake, and so we’re all summer-dreaming.

#2- As well as writing more than ninety novels, you have co-authored some books with Nora Roberts. What were the challenges in co-writing a book and what were those experiences like for you?

Actually, I’ve never co-authored books with Nora. We do a novella each year (there have been 11 so far, with another due out next year entitled THE OTHER SIDE.) In a novella, each author writes her own story, without any input from the others. We write them to fit the umbrella title of the novella. The fun of this is that we get to write on topics that might not otherwise be open to us for full-sized novels.

#3- As you know, I reviewed your title MONTANA LEGACY for Bookpleasures and loved it. But how do you handle the negative reviews and critiques you receive?

I guess it’s like a professional baseball player. When you’re up at bat, you swing your hardest and give it all you’ve got. But you don’t get to hit one out of the ball park every time. I savor the really good critiques, and roll with the not-so-good.

#4- When did you first know you wanted to be a writer?

I think I’ve always known. I always had my nose in a book. In my school, I probably read every book on the shelves. When my mother passed away a few years ago, I found, in a trunk in her attic, a pile of my old stories written when I was in grade school. So, I believe she knew, too. But I didn’t start seriously writing with the intention of getting published until my youngest son started Kindergarten. It took a while, writing at the kitchen table, but I finally made my first sale.

#5- You write both contemporary and historical romance. Which is your favorite and what obstacles have you faced while writing in these genres?

I can’t say that I have a favorite genre. I love them both. And I’ve always loved switching from contemporary to historical, just to enjoy the difference in both language and flavor. I have certain historical settings that I love. The old West. Ancient Scotland, England and Ireland. There’s a rich tapestry on which to base some grand adventures.

Whether contemporary or historical, there’s a certain amount of research needed, but that’s part of the fun of writing for me.

#6- Are there any upcoming releases we would like to know about, and could you give us your web site so readers can check it out?

The next two books in my Montana series: Montana Destiny (Wyatt’s story) in May, and Montana Glory (Zane’s story) in the fall. And, of course, my next novella THE OTHER SIDE, with stories by J D Robb, Mary Blayney, Patricia Gaffney, and mine entitled ALMOST HEAVEN.

Readers can see the covers, and learn much more about me, at my website: www.ryanlangan.com, or on my Facebook Page.

#7- This about concludes it. Thank you again for joining us. Is there anything else you would like to share?

Thanks for giving readers the opportunity to meet me and read your review of my latest book. This is a real service that is much appreciated.

I wish all of you happy reading.