BIO: Roxanne St. Claire is a New York Times bestselling author of twenty-five novels of suspense and romance. In addition to being a winner of the RITA Award and a four-time nominee for that coveted prize, her books have won the National Reader’s Choice Award for best romantic suspense for two consecutive years, as well as the Daphne du Maurier Award, the HOLT Medallion, the Maggie, Booksellers Best, Book Buyers Best, several Colorado Awards of Excellence, the Aspen Gold and multiple Gayle Wilson Awards of Excellence. Best known for her popular “Bullet Catchers” series written for Pocket Books, she’s now launching a new series called The Guardian Angelinos for Grand Central Publishing. Roxanne holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Mass Market Communications from UCLA and completed several post-graduate courses in Marketing Management at Harvard University. Prior to launching a full-time career as a novelist, Roxanne worked as a television actress and news reporter, and hosting a regional news program in southern California. She then began a career in public relations and marketing, including seven years as a Senior Vice President for Hill & Knowlton, one of the world’s largest communications firms. An active member and regular speaker in the Romance Writers of America, Roxanne currently resides in Florida with her husband and two teenagers. More information, book excerpts and back list are all available at www.roxannestclaire.com.
Thanks for being here, Roxanne. It’s a pleasure.
Thank you for inviting me, Kelly!
#1- Tell us a little about yourself outside of your writing career…
Is there life outside of a writing career? What is this life you speak of? Kidding! Of course I have a life…it just gets squeezed a lot by the writing. I am happily married to a wonderful man (who cooks like a dream!!) and we have two perfect teenagers. (See? I write fiction.) When I’m not writing, I’m busy being a mom with all that entails. I’m also kind of an exercise freak, so I do work out a lot and try to stay healthy (an uphill battle, right?) and love to putter with my plants, play with my Aussie Terrier, Pepper, and hang out with my many writer friends. Oh, and I have a little shoe weakness, too. But, frankly, writing as many books as I do is a full-time job and that’s where the majority of my time is spent.
#2- A television actress and news reporter before a writing career! Do tell.
Just like writing, a TV career all sounds far more glamorous than it really is. The work is hard to get, grueling, and doesn’t usually pay the rent. I did have a few bit parts on some very famous TV shows (Laverne & Shirley and Bosom Buddies) and tried desperately to break into television news, but never made it far beyond cable TV. Clearly, I have a weakness for cut-throat, competitive, high-failure rate careers! I have the utmost respect for anyone who can make it in those businesses. When I discovered public relations, I knew I’d found a place for my skills – writing and hyperbole. The job took me from Los Angeles to Boston, where I thrived and fell in love. After living there for eight years, it was a natural move to set my next series there.
#3- As you know, I reviewed your title EDGE OF SIGHT for Bookpleasures and loved it. But how do you handle the negative reviews and critiques you receive?
I know you loved it, Kelly, and THANK YOU! Yours was the first review I saw and that sound you heard? My whoosh of relief. It’s so scary when a new book comes out because, yes, reviews matter and they matter very much. The first negative review is a little stab to the heart and I’ll be perfectly honest, it’s the negative ones we writers tend to remember. I have been very fortunate and haven’t had many for previous books (enough to keep me humble, though!) and so far, EDGE OF SIGHT has had a really strong response from all the reviewers. I once heard Jayne Ann Krentz say you should print out a negative review, burn the paper in a bowl, and throw the ashes away. I love that plan!
#4- Any plans to try your hand at a different area of romance besides suspense?
Yes!! I’m so excited to announce that I’ve sold my first Young Adult novel to Delacorte and it will be coming out in hardcover in 2012. YA is my favorite genre – I love the freshness of the teenage experience. The book, tentatively titled DON’T YOU WISH, is about a super-average (maybe below?) fifteen year old girl who wakes up in an alternate universe – one where her mother married a different, uber-wealthy man. Now this girl is gorgeous, rich, popular, and…not so very nice. She has *everything* … but isn’t sure she wants it. I haven’t written the book yet, as I sold on proposal, but I’m starting it next and cannot wait to dive in.
#5- Assuming you get any time to read, what authors do you like to read, and were there any books that stand out from your childhood as favorites?
Right now, I’m finishing the third book of the Suzanne Collins’ amazing HUNGER GAMES trilogy. I am simply stunned by her ability to write a book (books!) that I. Can’t. Put. Down. I love YA, that is my read of choice. I also love to read contemporary romances, and my current favorite is Louisa Edwards. Her Recipe for Love series is sexy and fun -- how can you resist a hot chef hero? I cut my teeth on Victoria Holt and Mary Stewart, then graduated to Sydney Sheldon and Judith Krantz, and eventually discovered Nora Roberts and Susan Elizabeth Phillips…and knew I wanted to write romance.
#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?
EDGE OF SIGHT is out on October 26, the first book in my brand new series. I’m very excited about this story and the three books that launch it. After that, I’ll have SHIVER OF FEAR in April, 2011, followed immediately by FACE OF DANGER in May, 2011. The Guardian Angelinos are a big Italian family in the Boston area who form a renegade crime-fighting and security team after Zach Angelino is turned down by the Bullet Catchers. (My first series.) It’s a little grittier than the glossy sophistication of the Bullet Catchers, but has the same sexy heroes, fast-paced action plots, and stand alone love stories and adventures.
Excerpts of all my books (and character bios and pics) are on my brand new web site www.roxannestclaire.com. I also post deleted scenes and extras on my Facebook fan page – www.facebook.com/roxannestclaire./
#7- This about concludes it. Thank you again for joining us. Is there anything else you would like to share?
I’m willing to share an ARC of EDGE OF SIGHT! Leave a comment or a question and I’ll randomly select a winner. I’ll pop in all day to answer any questions about writing, books, life, raising teenagers, great shoes, whatever. You can ask me anything! And THANK YOU, Kelly, for loving my book and inviting me to be here today!
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