In Interview with Raine Weaver 8-11-2005

Tonight we interview author Raine Weaver. Who is Raine?
Raine Weaver loves the art of creation. Having dabbled in music, photography, and painting, she's found pleasure in them all. But writing was always her truest love. When life didn't seem to go the way it should, she could make up stories that ended the way she wanted. Create her own worlds. After all-that was the way things should be. Now living in her own little cottage on her own piece of land, complete with a wide assortment of four-legged creatures, she writes, paints, and plans her future. And she's SURE she was meant to be a top-selling novelist, writing at home in her jammies, still creating her own reality. After all-that is the way things should be.

Alyssa:Welcome Raine! Very nice to be talking to you! So, clue us in… a bio, a backlist, your writing credits, or anything at all. Who are we speaking to?
Raine: By day, I am a mild-mannered, honest, trustworthy, loyal, hard-working American civil servant. But by NIGHT—ah, yes! By night I am a Weaver of dreams, a teller of tales. In the privacy of my own little cottage, under the watchful eye of four guardian cats, I create seductive heroines, brooding heroes, my own worlds, my own reality. That’s who I am. INCUBUS is my first published work, although I have several finished manuscripts under my bed—I mean, belt. And I recently signed a contract for another novella with Loose Id, to be published this fall. I’ve also won a couple of contests on the Harlequin/Silhouette boards, and placed second in the national GOTCHA contest.

Alyssa: Fun stuff! You make you house seem so dreamy.I have such a vision in my head. And congrats on the contests! I never win anything! It’s a curse. So, you’re new to Loose Id with Incubus. Love the cover by the way. What hurdles did you have to overcome before you received your first contract? How long did it take you?
Raine: The publishing world is not an easy business. But most of my hurdles were, I think, self-imposed. They still are. If I’d believed in myself more, I think I would’ve gotten here faster! I’ve been writing all my life; but only recently attempted to pursue publication. I’ve had about twelve manuscripts requested by various publishers in the past three years. All were encouraging, but all were, eventually rejected. It hurts. It’s hard. And the only thing that kept me going was my love of writing. Is it worth it? I’ll let you know. :)

Alyssa: You have that right. But then, when you are a storyteller, the tales won’t stop regardless. Do you have any specialties you love to write about? What’s your favorite part of the writing, for example, do you love to hatch out fight scenes, love scenes, threesomes ... In other words, what really makes you fingers flow?
Raine: I LOVE romance/erotica/mystery/suspense/paranormal/touch-of-comedy stuff (why limit oneself?? lol!). Romance without spice is flavorless. Sex without plot is a bit like masturbation—does the job, but it’s a tad one-dimensional, in my humble opinion. And what’s more intriguing than sex with an element of mystery?? I also love writing dialogue and confrontations. The fingers take wings! I believe I could write an entire novel with nothing but dialogue between the hero and heroine. The words a character uses and the way they use them say as much about that character as lengthy descriptive passages, backstory, or even action. Give me a man with a deep, rich, masculine voice and put him in a seductive situation—oh, my, the possibilities are endless! Or a Bad Girl type with mouth to spare, who can sling quips with the best of heroes. I love it!!

Alyssa: I want that as a quote. I like it- romance without spice is flavorless. Exactly a point I was trying to make earlier today, but didn’t do it in such poetic terms. So now we know you write juicy, tell us more about your story itself. What inspired you to write it?
Raine: INCUBUS, my first release, goes on sale at Loose Id Publishing on June 21rst, 2005. I’m very excited about it! I think it’s an intriguing story that will stimulate the reader in more ways than one. The following is the blurb for the book:
    Serafina Fisher is having a little trouble sleeping.

    It may be because she’s on the verge of breaking up with her long-time boyfriend, who can’t keep it in his pants.

    Her insomnia could be the result of finally accepting that love is a fairy tale, and she must settle for cold, dreary reality.

    It might be because she’s virtually stranded in a strange cabin in the mountains—a pagan place, a cabin with an invitingly sinful history that whispers secrets in the dead of night.

    She may be getting shadows under her eyes because thoughts of Gabriel Manning, the gorgeous, sexy stranger she’s just met, are driving her to distraction. Gabriel, her fiancé’s mysterious uncle, who makes no secret of his desire to steal her away.

    Or it may be because an unseen being of shadow and dreams visits her nightly, ravishing her body and driving her to heights of erotic intensity such as she’s never known.

    But Sera Fisher is having a little trouble sleeping.

    And in the midst of her turmoil, she is forced to choose which man she loves, what she really wants out of life, and which is nightmare, fantasy, or reality—or whether they are all the same.
The myth of the Incubus has always fascinated me. Conceiving a creature who forces you to be sexually naughty was quite creative of our ancestors.
But then, what if such a creature was REAL? In old Christian mythology, the Incubus was believed to be an angel, fallen because of his lust for women. Imagine! Relinquishing Heaven itself for the touch and taste of a woman’s body. I had to write it.

Alyssa: Wow! Um, I HAVE to buy this now. This sounds awesome! I had no idea that was what it was about. So, do you have any writing pleasures or peeves about the work itself, the business, etc. anything you’d care to gush or rant about?
Raine: Ummmmmm ... how much time ya got? J The following rant refers to the print-publishing world, in my experience:
My biggest pet peeve would be with ‘remote editors’. That’s what I call the ones who are so far removed from writers that they have no sympathy, no regard, no idea what it’s like to be in an author’s shoes. What’s worse is that they don’t care. Rejections may be inevitable, but they needn’t be heartless.
I know one editor who requested a full, promised a three-month turnaround time, and had the author’s manuscript for two years—and refused to return calls or e-mails regarding status.
Hey!! Can’t keep up with your work load? Hire more people, dammit! Get freelance readers! Stop making promises you have no intention of keeping! Go dig up your back yard—maybe you’ll find your heart buried somewhere out there. These are people’s LIVES you’re dealing with here.
I know another editor who sponsored a national contest. (I entered). There were about 20 semi-finalists. (I was one of ‘em). After delay after delay, several weeks beyond when the winners were supposed to be announced, this editor finally posted the three winning contestants. She then proceeded to give a mass, public, on-line rejection to the other seventeen, which amounted to, “sorry, not interested—and no time for personal remarks, I’m busy, have a good day,” even though each semi-finalist was promised commentary on their manuscript.
Need I say more?
Pleasure in the publishing world?
There’s NOTHING like seeing your name on a story you’ve created, in print for others to enjoy. :)

Alyssa: Applause! You are the first to have offered a rant! And I couldn’t agree more. There is a line often crossed, where it goes from just business to just plain rude. An easy question now ... what does your desk look like?

Raine:Absolutely spartan, immaculate, efficient, and user-friendly.
I don’t have one. :)

Alyssa: No desk! Where to you stack your piles and piles of papers? My desk can’t even fit my computer, and I’ve now moved into my formal dining. My poor lace tablecloth has blue highlighter stains, and you can never eat at the table because of all the clutter. Sigh. How do folks like you do it? Now, is there anything you don’t like to write?
Raine: An overabundance of INNER CONFLICT.

For example: The hero asks if he can kiss the heroine.

Suddenly, there’s PARAGRAPH AFTER PARAGRAPH of ‘well, should I? could I? what would happen if I don’t? what happens if I do? why is he asking me NOW? Will he respect me in the morning? Can I kiss this man, knowing it will remind me of my eleventh-grade crush, who overdosed on drugs and alcohol in my mother’s bed, giving my father a nervous breakdown and sending my mother into a sinful spiral of debauchery, and…”

For God’s sake! Give the reader credit for enough intelligence to understand the heroine and get ON with it!!

Alyssa: LOL. I hear you there. What do you think about the lines between romance, erotic romance, and erotica?
Raine: I’m not big on labels of any kind. Some people consider the distinction important, as evidenced by the recent RWA chaos, which might have been laughable if it weren’t so dangerous. Eventually all the lines will blend together, except for the extremes, of course.

Alyssa: Very well put and a wonderful way of looking at it. I don’t jump into the debate myself. I love all types of romance, even Christian, but it must be a good story. Next. How does editing affect you? Like it or hate it?
Raine: It depends on what I’m editing, how much I have to do, and how much I love the story. It’s a mandatory thing, of course, because my first drafts are VERY rough.

Alyssa: Mine too. I love my editors SO much, considering what they put up with. J What kind of schedule do you keep? Do you write full time, or have another job? How do you keep yourself working and motivated?
Raine: I work a third-shift full time job that leaves me drained. And I get off, come home, and write until three or four in the morning if I can. I’ve been known to see sunrise when it was going well. ggg. How do I keep myself motivated? By remembering how much I WOULD love to write full time.

Alyssa: A good way to encourage yourself. I always think of the money. LOL. Even if it isn’t much, there’s hope. Next. Are commas your best friends or worst enemies?

Raine: I love commas. Commas are wonderful things. Especially in monetary figures.

Alyssa: LOL! Where do you see your writing career in five years?
Raine: Best-seller list, baby. I believe in thinking positive, lol!

Alyssa: Damn straight! I’ll meet you there! You, me, the bestseller list in five years. Mark it on your calendar! What do you think about the way some people relate porn to erotica and erotic romance?
Raine: People will think what they will. If that’s what they’ve decided to believe, they will. I don’t sweat what people think of me, and if they don’t like what I write, they won’t buy it. But I DO have the right to write it, and have it considered respectable. And I do have a problem with people imposing their beliefs and prejudices on me. Yeah, I do.

Alyssa: Well said again. That’s why I avoid associating with suchtypes.
Now for some personal questions…;) What’s your favorite food?

Raine: Toss-up…Virginia ham, or cashews. And the female writer’s lifeblood—chocolate.

Alyssa: LOL. Don’t eat them all at once. What’s your favorite television show?
Raine: I had two: Sex and the City, and Frasier, both, sadly, gone.

Alyssa: Awww. Poor girl.ggg LOL. What do you think of T.V. reality shows?
Raine: Not much. ggg. Interesting at the beginning, but they’ve become caricatures of themselves.

Alyssa: Pepsi or Coke?
Raine: Coke. It’s the real thing.

Alyssa: If you could go one place, anywhere at all… tap your heels together and you’re there ... where would it be? ?
Raine: Alaska. Before it becomes spoiled.

Alyssa: An interesting response. I’ll bet Alaska is beautiful. What do you sleep in?
Raine: Sleepshirt and socks. Short sleepshirt. Soft cotton socks.

Alyssa: What type of music do you love?
Raine: Almost all kinds, depends on my mood.

Alyssa: Describe yourself in three words.
Raine: Dreamer. Different. Questioner.

Alyssa: Good choices! I got that from this interview! What would make you biggest, wildest dream come true?
Raine: Quitting my sucky job, writing what I love, financial independence, and someone special to share it with.

Alyssa: Name your quirks and kinks.
Raine: I love Dark Shadows. I think Columbo is sexy. I would love to have had an affair with Rod Serling. I am a Mumford. I think I have my own personal poltergeist. Don’t like loud, obnoxious, or thoughtless people. And my backyard is like a critter-filled Disney movie.

Alyssa: ROFL. Now there are some unique answers! You’re a fun gal! No one will ever tell you that you’re boring, for sure! What’s your favorite word? Do you have a word you can’t stand?
Raine: Favorite: Vespers. A lovely word. Can’t stand: Irregardless. Don’t know why, but like fingernails on chalkboard. Please use regardless. The other makes me cringe.

Alyssa: If you could drive any type of vehicle, what would it be?
Raine: Silver-Cloud Rolls Royce Classic. If not, a classic Jag would be lovely.

Alyssa: What’s your favorite chocolate?
Raine: Hershey’s Plain.

Alyssa: What’s your number one hobby?
Raine: Painting. I’ve had a few showing at a gallery.

Alyssa: Wow! Congrats! Are you a Star Wars fan?
Raine: Big time. Can probably quote the original line-by-line (although I found the last three disappointing).

Alyssa: What! They were my favs! Of course, I started on Star Wars very late. What’s your favorite sport?
Raine: Baseball.

Alyssa: What’s your biggest regret in life?
Raine: Not believing in myself enough.

Alyssa: What are you wearing right now?
Raine: Nightshirt.

Alyssa: Me tooJ What’s the most adventurous thing you’ve ever done?
Raine: I’m one of those people that strange things naturally happen to. I don’t have to go looking—things find me. Little things, I suppose, like entering contests or gathering the nerve to show my paintings. Or sex in a semi-public place, but you probably didn’t mean that ... And when I was eight years old, being brave enough to go out to my Grandma’s outhouse to use the bathroom in total darkness, even after my brother swore he saw a snake there.

Alyssa: LOL. I don’t know. Sex in a semi public place sounds pretty damn adventurous to me! How can readers find out more about you? Links ... etc. ... please!
Raine: So glad you asked! J My website is up and running. There you’ll find my blog, excerpts, links, and more information about INCUBUS and coming stories. I’ve also just started a newsletter. It’s called “INTERCOURSE”. (yeah, I know, I’m a perv).
You can reach my website and e-mail me here:
www.raineweaver.com
And here is the link for Loose Id Publishing, where you’ll find INCUBUS for sale, along with many e-books by many very talented writers—including Alyssa!
www.loose-id.com/
Thanks for this opportunity, Alyssa!
~Raine
Alyssa: Thank you, Raine! What a wonderful and fun interview!
Hugs!
Alyssa