An Interview Revisited with Romance Writer Teri Wilson

Teri Wilson's life should be a Hallmark movie. She started writing for Harlequin's Love Inspired Imprint and her stories touched the hearts of many readers. Soon The Hallmark Channel came calling and asking to make her stories into movies.

Here are the movies that started as her stories...

UNLEASHING MR. DARCY, MARRYING MR. DARCY, and THE ART OF US. If you're a Hallmark fan, you've probably seen this year's release of NORTHERN LIGHTS OF CHRISTMAS, based on her book SLEIGH BELL SWEETHEARTS. She even had a walk-on part in the movie!  So, now let’s walk back in time to that earlier interview…

How did you come up with the idea of your Christmas romance?

SLEIGH BELL SWEETHEARTS is a Christmas romance about a woman who unexpectedly inherits a struggling reindeer farm that comes complete with three dozen unruly reindeer and one handsome, brooding ranch hand. I first got the idea for this book when I was watching the Westminster Kennel Club dog show on television and saw a dog that had been bred for herding reindeer. I'd already written two books set in Alaska and really wanted to write a Christmas-themed story set there. When I saw that dog on television, the rest of the plot just came to me. 

Could you give me a short synopsis on the story for my readers?

Owning her own plane is all charter pilot Zoey Hathaway's ever dreamed of. So when she inherits a struggling reindeer farm, with three dozen unruly reindeer and one dangerously attractive ranch hand, Zoey's well-crafted plans seem to fly out the window. Now she must put her trust in Alec Wynn and hope that the troubled cowboy's past won't interfere with her plans to save the farm. Zoey knows that if she wants to succeed, she can't do everything on her own. But as she accepts Alec's help, she'll soon realize it's not just her farm that's at stake—but her heart.

You've had one book that became a Hallmark Movie (Unleashing Mr. Darcy) and I understand this book is also in the process of becoming a movie. Could you give me the details about that?

The book has been optioned for film by the Hallmark Channel and is currently in pre-production. The script has been written, and filming should start soon. The movie will most likely air on Hallmark during the 2017 holiday season. (yes, it did debut that time!)

What made you decide to do a Christmas themed book?
SLEIGH BELL SWEETHEARTS is part of my Alaska series for Harlequin Love Inspired. As soon as I started writing books set in Alaska, I wanted to write a Christmas story set there because it's just the perfect setting for a holiday story. Alaska looks like a gorgeous Christmas card all year round. 

What are some of your favorite Christmas traditions?

I love to go see the living nativity scene at our church, and going to the candlelight service on Christmas Eve is also a family tradition. Afterward, we come back home to eat chips and queso and open Christmas gifts. On Christmas Day, my family always goes to see a movie together. I'm a huge fan of Christmas movies. My favorite is It's a Wonderful Life. Every year I watch it while I bake a batch of cookies during the weeks leading up to Christmas.

 What's the best writing tip you’ve learned or been given that you’d like to share?

Write every day whether you feel like it or not. It's important to develop the habit of writing. Once you start, the inspiration will come. If you wait to feel inspired before you start writing, you will never finish anything.

What do you know now about writing and publishing you wish you had learned sooner?
Every writing career has ups and downs, but you will have countless opportunities to reinvent yourself. If you love writing, don't give up. 

That's all for today's interview. If you'd like to learn more about Teri's current books and upcoming projects, here are some options for you.

Website: www.teriwilson.net

Twitter: @teriwilsonauthr

Amazon:  https://amzn.to/2A5rOMs

An Alaskan Christmas: Author Interview with Teri Wilson

How did you come up with the idea of your Christmas themed book?
SLEIGH BELL SWEETHEARTS is a Christmas romance about a woman who unexpectedly inherits a struggling reindeer farm that comes complete with three dozen unruly reindeer and one handsome, brooding ranch hand. I first got the idea for this book when I was watching the Westminster Kennel Club dog show on television and saw a dog that had been bred for herding reindeer. I'd already written two books set in Alaska and really wanted to write a Christmas-themed story set there. When I saw that dog on television, the rest of the plot just came to me.

You've had one book that became a Hallmark Movie (Unleashing Mr. Darcy) and I understand this book is also in the process of becoming a movie. Could you give me the details about that?
The book has been optioned for film by the Hallmark Channel and is currently in pre-production. The script has been written, and filming should start soon. The movie will most likely air on Hallmark during the 2017 holiday season.

Could you give me a short synopsis on the story for my readers?

Owning her own plane is all charter pilot Zoey Hathaway's ever dreamed of. So when she inherits a struggling reindeer farm, with three dozen unruly reindeer and one dangerously attractive ranch hand, Zoey's well-crafted plans seem to fly out the window. Now she must put her trust in Alec Wynn, and hope that the troubled cowboy's past won't interfere with her plans to save the farm. Zoey knows that if she wants to succeed, she can't do everything on her own. But as she accepts Alec's help, she'll soon realize it's not just her farm that's at stake—but her heart.

What made you decide to do a Christmas themed book?
SLEIGH BELL SWEETHEARTS is part of my Alaska series for Harlequin Love Inspired. As soon as I started writing books set in Alaska, I wanted to write a Christmas story set there because it's just the perfect setting for a holiday story. Alaska looks like a gorgeous Christmas card all year round.

What are some of your favorite Christmas traditions?

I love to go see the living nativity scene at our church, and going to the candlelight service on Christmas Eve is also a family tradition. Afterward, we come back home to eat chips and queso and open Christmas gifts. On Christmas Day, my family always goes to see a movie together. I'm a huge fan of Christmas movies. My favorite is It's a Wonderful Life. Every year I watch it while I bake a batch of cookies during the weeks leading up to Christmas.

What’s next? (future books, novellas, special appearances you want to mention)
I have six books releasing in 2017. Three of them are part of my Drake Diamonds series for Harlequin Special Edition. The other three are a new series I'm writing for Pocket Books called The Royals. The first book in The Royals series is called ROYALLY ROMA, and it's a modern retelling of the Audrey Hepburn/Gregory Peck movie, Roman Holiday.

What’s the best writing tip you’ve learned or been give that you’d like to share?
Write every day whether you feel like it or not. It's important to develop the habit of writing. Once you start, the inspiration will come. If you wait to feel inspired before you start writing, you will never finish anything.

What do you know now about writing and publishing you wish you had learned sooner?
Every writing career has ups and downs, but you will have countless opportunities to reinvent yourself. If you love writing, don't give up.

Any last words or tips?
Read, read, read!

That's all for today's interview. If you'd like to learn more about Teri's current books and upcoming projects, here are some options for you. 

Website: www.teriwilson.net

Twitter: @teriwilsonauthr

Amazon link for SLEIGH BELL SWEETHEARTS: https://www.amazon.com/Sleigh-Bell-Sweethearts-Love-Inspired-ebook/dp/B00D4MVG7W/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1477275894&sr=1-1&keywords=sleigh+bell+sweethearts

Amazon link for ROYALLY ROMA: https://www.amazon.com/Royally-Roma-Royals-Book-1-ebook/dp/B01JGQAHQU/ref=la_B002BLJIU4_1_14?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1477276894&sr=1-14&refinements=p_82%3AB002BLJIU4

Taking it to the TV Screen:Author Interview with Romance Writer, Teri Wilson

Today I am pleased to feature one of the writers from San Antonio Romance Authors which is the local chapter of RWA where I am a member.  This is a wonderful group of writers who encourage each other and it seems someone is always available to give you tips and ideas for writing. If you are not part of a local writing group, I encourage you to find one that fits the genre you write and challenges you. I am currently a member of three writing groups and each is a fit for a type of writing I do. 

Now on to the interview...

I see your first book was published in 2008 with White Rose Press, but when did you start writing your first novel? How long did it take you to write it? 
To be totally honest, I don’t remember how long it took to write my very first books. But really, I didn’t know what I was doing back then anyway. Learning the craft takes time. I’m still learning. I learn something new with every book I write, and I love attending workshops at RWA and hearing advice from the best romance writers in the business. Unleashing Mr. Darcy took about a year from start to finish, but that included several revision passes with help from my agent. By the time we got to the third draft, we considered the book ready to send out to publishers. 

How long does it take you to write a book now?

Right now, when writing books on a new contract, I ask for 3-4 months for a category length book and 6-8 months for a longer single title book.

What did you learn in writing your first book that helped you in writing the next books?
In the beginning, I had a lot to learn about plot and pacing. All the changes my agent requested on Unleashing Mr. Darcy were related to pacing. She likes a fast-paced book. So we did a lot of cutting. It was painful. Ha ha.

Your book, Unleashing Mr. Darcy, has been made into a Hallmark Movie. Tell us about how that came about?
My agent, Elizabeth Winick Rubinstein, sold the film rights to Sydell Albert, the executive producer. Sydell has a long-standing relationship with my literary agency. She’d never worked with the Hallmark Channel before, though. I think even she was a bit surprised when they bought the project. We all were. (In a good way, obviously!)

The Darcy story is not the first one you've written that's based on a classic love

story. You've also done stories based on Romeo and Juliet and My Fair Lady/Pygmalian. What inspired you to do a fresh take on them?
The Darcy book came about because I have an enormous love for Jane Austen and her stories. My publisher, Harlequin HQN, asked me to write more retellings of classics. I chose Romeo and Juliet next because it’s pretty much known as THE love story of all time, and those two kids really deserved a happy ending. I was then drawn toward My Fair Lady because I love Audrey Hepburn. I’ve also written a modern version of Roman Holiday, but it has not yet been published.

How did you go about finding a publisher/agent? Which came first? 
I sort of signed with Harlequin and my agent right around the same time. An editor at Harlequin had seen a manuscript I’d submitted to Love Inspired and sent me a letter requesting that I revise and resubmit. So I’d incorporated all her changes, rewritten the ending and resubmitted. During the wait, I wrote the first three chapters of Mr. Darcy and sent them to Liz (my agent). We’d already been chatting for about a year, because she’d contacted me after reading one of the books I’d written for Wild Rose Press. But she’d yet to sign me. Once she saw the Darcy chapters, she signed me right away. Then she contacted the editor at Harlequin and negotiated a deal for the manuscript they had under review.

What should an author know before signing with an agent?
With regard to signing with an agent, I’d say it’s really important to find an agent who you trust and someone you have a good rapport with. Liz is my agent, but she’s also my friend. We have a great relationship.

What type of publicity does your publisher expect you to do in promoting your book? What do they do on your behalf?
At Harlequin, this differs depending on whether the book is single title or part of a category line. An author of a category book doesn’t have to do a lot of marketing. The lines have really loyal readers. Harlequin also does a good job marketing the different lines to their target audiences. I think the best way to sell a lot of books in a category line is to keep writing more books.

Single title is different, especially for a brand new author. No one even knows who you are, so why would they pick up your book? The publisher has a marketing department to help get word out, but the author has to do a lot of work on her/his own. I remember when I first met the head of HQN, she kept asking me which other HQN authors I knew who could help market my book. At the time I didn’t know any. It was a little daunting.

What do you know now about writing that you wished you had known sooner?
Part of me wants to say that I wish I’d known how difficult this business can be at times. But it doesn’t really matter. I love writing. I don’t just want to do it. I have to. It’s like a compulsion. I love it.

So I guess instead I’d say that having writer friends is really important. Every time I’m stuck on a story or a plot or struggling with an idea, it’s been my writer friends who save the day. Every. Single. Time. I honestly can’t imagine doing what I do without the encouragement and support of other writers.

What is the best advice you’ve been given about writing or that you’ve learned

that you would like to pass along?
It was something that Sylvia Day said in her keynote speech at RWA in 2014. She said that anyone who has been in this business for any length of time has had to reinvent themselves at least once. You may fail, but you can start over and if you work hard enough and want it bad enough, you can begin again. At the time of this speech, I’d just had my single title contract with HQN cancelled, and these were the exact words I needed so badly to hear. If your first chance doesn’t work out, things aren’t over. Do what you need to do to make another chance for yourself.

What other works are in the process?
I’m currently working on a new book series that I’m not allowed to talk about. It’s a secret. (Wink.) Look for a coming announcement in Publishers Weekly.

If you'd like to learn more about Teri and her writing, here's some options for you.
Website: www.teriwilson.net. 

She also writes fun non-fiction articles daily at https://hellogiggles.com/author/teri-wilson/
HelloGiggles is an entertainment and lifestyle website for women founded by Zooey Deschanel and now a division of People Magazine.