PJ interviews Seleste deLaney

For my second interview, Seleste and I thought we’d do a tandem interview. That means we interviewed each other in real time via chat. For those who follow us on Twitter, you might have seen the side commentary. LOL.

Here’s my side of the interview:

PJ: Hi Seleste, thanks for interviewing me and agreeing to be interviewed by me. Now that you’ve asked about my path to publication, I’d like to ask you what key things helped you on your own path.

Seleste: I would have to say that the major things that helped me were the online writing group (OWG) on Kelley Armstrong’s forums and my fantabulous beta readers.

The OWG has helped me grow from the person who knew nothing more than that she had a story to tell to someone who has published one story with more on the way.

On the other hand, most of my beta readers are people I’ve only found within the last year. They don’t feel the need to hold my hand and instead are sitting prepared to whack me with the stupid stick at a moment’s notice.

The great thing about all of those people is that they’ve not only helped me grow as a writer, but they’ve been an incredible support system. I don’t think I’d be here now without their encouragement.

PJ: Now that I’ve given you an idea of where my series is going…I’d like to ask about yours. Of Course I Try is doing very well at Decadent Publishing. Can you give us a few hints as to what’s going on with the characters in your sequel?

Seleste: Well, to be honest, the sequel is only in the planning stages. First, I’d like to put the mind of a few of my readers at ease — this one will be longer. I can’t say for certain if it will be novella or novel length, but definitely longer.

PJ: Yay!…ahem, go on

Seleste: I don’t want to give too much away about the events in “Of Course I Try” in case some people haven’t read it yet, but let’s just say Jocelyn is trying to move on and cope with life after the events in the short. Oh, and the guy she met at the bar, Chad? He’s back with his own agenda. The poor girl just can’t seem to cut a break. At least this time around she’ll find out exactly why Max was so intent on keeping her to himself.

PJ: You also had a guest blog over at Wicked Little Pixie and gave some great insight into sharing, possibly a little over-sharing. LOL With that in mind, is there a particular approach you plan to take in promoting your books in the future?

Seleste: You know, the lesson I ultimately learned through my over-sharing is this is me. I am this crazy person who doesn’t much like to censor herself. People, family and former teachers included LOL, will either love me for who I am or not. And quite honestly, if it’s a not, do I really need negative people like that in my life? So, my approach to promoting isn’t really going to change. I’m still going to throw myself out there as the person I am (which is funny to say since I write under a pseudonym) and be honest and upfront. My stories don’t pull punches, so I don’t think I should do that in promotion either.

PJ: At RT2010, we had the opportunity to meet several aspiring cover models. One or two have even expressed interest in being on the cover of one of your books. Do you look forward to seeing one of the boys on your covers someday?

Seleste: You know, if I have a character who looks like one of them, I’d be all for it. Hell, the story I’m working on right this moment has a character that resembles one of the guys. If I could swing it for him to be on the cover, I would. I’m all for helping my friends when the opportunity arises, and I consider the majority of the guys we met at RT to be friends. Though I have one friend who is not an aspiring model or actor who wants to be in the film version of “Of Course I Try”. Kind of hated to disappoint him that I doubted there would *be* a film version of my little short story.

PJ: Did any of the boys inspire future characters?

Seleste: Sure. I love having physical models for my characters, so it’s great when I meet wonderful, photogenic guys who I can see as heroes on the page. I can’t guarantee any of those stories will ever come to fruition, but I have absolutely no problem with the idea of my characters looking like them. I doubt though, if I used their appearance that I’d make the characters too similar in personality though. That’d just be creepy and stalkerish.

PJ: Now that you have publishing credits to your name, do you feel more confident sending out queries or pitching agents/editors?

Seleste: LOL hell no. I feel slightly more confident submitting to the publishers I’ve already signed with, but not in general. I also write young adult novels under another name, and I sent a query yesterday in which I forgot to add my publishing credentials since they are so new. Honestly, I don’t think the submission nerves will ever go away. I’m just not the type of person who is arrogant enough? confident enough? to believe that everything I write is great. So I will always sit on pins and needles when I hit send on a query or submission.

PJ: You’ve mentioned loving having physical models for your characters. If you could cast any of the boys from RT in a book trailer, or even movie, for one of your stories. Who and as what character?

Seleste: Hmm… this is a tough call because of the simple fact that half my stories are YA and they are too old.

As for the romance stuff, none of them look like the guys in Badlands, none of them look like Max.

Now, the current work in progress has a male lead who looks a lot like one of the bad guys in my last YA — since you were about to call bullshit on me — though nicer. Kind of a blond haired blue-eyed surfer guy look. I could totally see Jamie pulling him off in a book trailer. As for the YA character, I don’t think he could pull off evil well enough (even though he would fit the physical description). Sorry, Jamie, we tried to get you to do “evil” at RT and it just made me giggle.

PJ: *giggles* I remember that. Sorry, Jamie, you’re just so nice!

Seleste: Of course, because you’ve got me thinking this way, I do need to cast characters for the remaining steampunk novellas…

PJ’s Speed Round

PJ: Devilish sophistication or bad boy?

Seleste: I’m assuming looks here, so I’ll go Bad boy. There is just something about guys who look like trouble that is an immediate draw for me. Some people would say that means I’m still a teenage girl at heart. My only response to that is: And the problem is?

PJ: Ink or piercings?

Seleste: Ink — I love tattoos. I don’t mind piercings, but they aren’t my thing

PJ: Champaine glasses or body shots?

Seleste: Body shots. Unless we’re throwing the champagne glasses into a fire after we’re done (not really a champagne fan)

PJ: North or South (oh yes, and I mean that)

Seleste: That’s a tough call. But we’ll go north. There are other things I’d prefer to go south.

PJ: Tongue or teeth (no need to come back out of the gutter)

Seleste: Depends on where. Each has it’s own purpose, a guy licking me in some places won’t be licking me again any time soon, but the same could be said of a guy biting me in others. If you’re pressing for an answer one way or the other though — teeth.

PJ: And, my dear sweet non-combative friend, is there anything you’d like to share with my readers?

Seleste: Haha, yes. First, when faced with a choose A or B question, I do my best to choose one or the other.  Second, “Of Course I Try” is currently available at Decadent Publishing, and please stay tuned for news of future releases. Love ya, Peege!

PJ: Right back at ya.

For the fun of it, Seleste and I have teamed up and are going to give one lucky commenter (from all those who comment on Both blogs) a copy of BOTH our stories. You’ll receive one entry for answering Seleste’s question here, and one for answering my question at Seleste’s blog. Entries close on Sunday, then we’ll pool all the responses and choose a winner.

To enter here, please comment and answer Seleste’s question:

On my cover, you only get to see the back of dear Max. Considering how much I love to cast my characters, if you had to cast someone in his role, who would it be?