5 Questions for . . . Shirley Hailstock

Author Shirley Hailstock burst upon the publishing world during the first year of Arabesque's existence, back in 1994. Her first novel, Whispers of Love, was a fresh, imaginative tale of true love mixed with suspense and intrigue that stood out in a pile of stories that already were already starting to read all the same to me. (In that first year, year-and-a-half, while trying to break in, I read every Arabesque that came out.) Shirley's Clara's Promise introduced me to historical romance, set in Montana just before the turn of the century (the 19th into the 20th, that is). It remains one of my all-time favorite romances.

Shirley Hailstock is also a past president of Romance Writer's of America, and the first African-American to serve in that post. I met Shirley at the Romance Slam Jam in Orlando some years back and found her to be engaging and informative.

Three of Shirley's early Arabesque novels have been re-published in a 3-in-1 volume called Magnetic Hearts. Shirley has had novels published by Dafina and Harlequin as well.

Let's get started!

Bettye: You have two new releases coming out early in the year from two different publishers. Details, please! And tell us if there are any other Shirley Hailstock novels coming our way in 2008.

SH: I have three books coming out in 2008, January, June and September. One from Harlequin/Kimani and two from Kensington/Dafina. My February book, which is probably the one you were thinking of, was unfortunately part of the shutdwon of the Harlequin NeXt line. The book will not be published in February. At this point it has no publication date.

In January 2008, the fourth book of the Clayton series released. The title is On My Terms, and it's Dean's story. Dean is a filmmaker from Dallas, Texas. Through investments from his large family of adopted children (who are adults now), he embarks on his major independent project. And nothing goes right. Thus, when the owner of the property he's leased to make the film shows up with her traumatized niece, she orders him out. Getting around her is no easy feat, especially when they discover that both of them have hidden demons to exorcise.

June's book is a Kimani Press book called Right Guy, Wrong Gown. This is the story of a woman moving into a house she inherited from her grandmother. Expecting a gown for a ball, she inadvertedly gets a wedding gown delivered. And she tries it on. Before she can get it off, the hero shows up, angry to find her wearing his invalid sister's gown. And more uneasy that he liked the vision of her wearing it. But he's made one trip to the altar, and once was more than enough.

September will see the final book in the Clayton series. Rosa, the supermodel, will tell her story. From a quaint town in Montana that first appeared in my historical, Clara's Promise, Rosa will learn the history of the town and two of its founders while finding her own happiness, helped along by the matchmaking father of the hero.

Bettye: That's unfortunate about the NeXt title, but I'm sure it will see print before too long.

Out of all your books, only one (Clara’s Promise) has a historical setting. Any plans to do another book set in a bygone era?

SH: I loved writing Clara's Promise and had plans to continue writing more. I outlined several and presented them to my editor, but the line at the time went totally contemporary. I still have those books and one day they will find a home. Also, since we crossed the line into the new millineum, there is a push for historical novels to also cross that line. I have a mainstream historical set in the 1930's that my agent is shopping around.

Bettye: I'm crossing my fingers that your historicals find a home. I wish there'd be more books about the 1930s, a time when my parents were in their heyday.

Do you have any forecasts about future trends of publishing?

SH: I wish I had that crystal ball. I will say, I do ponder the subject frequently. I look at the phoenomenon that created some of the past trends, best sellers, markets and see if I can apply any of those processes to something new and different for the future. But so far, my crystal ball is still too dark to see through.

Bettye: Mine is perpetually cloudy. But I did hear earlier this week that street lit sales are slipping, so that trend may have crested.

And now for the inevitable ticklish personal question. I know you’re a former resident of Washington, DC. Which memorial do you prefer, and why - the Lincoln or the Jefferson?

SH: This is a difficult question because I could be a tour guide for the monuments in Washington. The question can be answered based on different criteria, but I'm sure you're asking about the man in that monument and not the aesthetics of form. There was a time when Jefferson would have sprang quickly to the tongue, but I've read a lot of biographies lately and I have to go to Lincoln. Jefferson wrote a lot of "pretty" words, but they weren't meant for slaves or to give slaves equality. So I believe Lincoln is the better choice.

Bettye: Here's my fifth and final question. Which of your books took the longest and shortest times to complete writing, and why do you suppose that was?

SH: The book that took the shortest amount of time to write was White Diamonds. I had no time. I was crushed under deadlines, being president of my romance writers chapter and doing a sold-out conference. When I looked at the deadline and how many pages I had to write, I only had a month. I knuckled down and did nothing but write. I work full time and each night when I got home, I bought junk food and started writing. I finished a 500-page manuscript in 30 days.

Bettye: Junk food for 30 days? How many pounds did you put on? No, don't answer that. Back to the book that took you the longest time to complete.

SH: The book that took the longest amount of time to write was On My Terms, the one that was just released this month. I don't know why. I knew the storyline. I loved the characters. It was only a matter of writing it down, but it took me forever to get it written. Now that it's done, I like it and don't see why I agonized so over writing it.

Bettye: There's nothing like looking back at a job well done, even though it was hell to complete it.

It’s been five questions already, Shirley, but I’d like to invite you to speak to the people reading this interview and tell them anything you’d like them to know.

SH: I can't think of anything more to add. If you are a reader, then I hope I'm doing a good job of writing the stories you want to read. If you are an aspiring writer, then you need to write as much as you can and as often as you can. Don't give yourself excuses, just do it.

Bettye: Thanks, Shirley!

Shirley's novels are available at bookstores everywhere and at Amazon as well. Click here to order On My Terms. Click here to pre-order Right Guy, Wrong Gown. (Amazon has it listed with the title Wrong Dress, Right Guy, but it's the right book!) And visit Shirley's web site to learn more about her books!