CARLY PHILLIPS ~~ Spotlight Interview with Tracey West ~~ June 2004

 
Best-selling author, Carly Phillips’ newest book to hit the shelves this month is UNDER THE BOARDWALK from Warner Books.  This is book one in her new series, The Costas Sisters.  Carly was kind enough to stop by and discuss her latest tale and other works in progress. 
Welcome to The Road to Romance Carly!

Carly:   Thanks! 

TW: What is a day in the life of Carly Phillips like?  How many hours a day do you spend writing?

Carly:   During the school year, I get up, get the girls off to school and think about exercising (for all of two minutes!).  Then I go to my office, flip on the TV and listen to “Live! With Regis and Kelly” while I answer e-mail.  If no one’s sick or there’s no other domestic emergency, then I settle into writing and address my page goal for the day.  For me, it isn’t how many hours I sit at that computer, but the quality of the writing.  I do try to write five pages a day, or twenty-five pages a week.  Sometimes the writing flows, and sometimes the words dig their heels into my brain and say huh-uh.  Sometimes if the writing isn’t going well, it means I need a break.  So I take one!  I love shopping, and I love spending time with my mom, and we do both together quite well! I have lunch with local friends, have long phone conversations with writer friends and tackle the business of the business. 

TW: What inspires you Carly? What is the first thing you think of when you get up in the morning?

Carly: What inspires me?  Everything I see, do, read, experience.  I’m a pop culture junkie.  I watch sit-coms and reality shows, I read magazines, I watch movies, and I frequent fun Internet sites, such as Daily Candy.  And the first thing I think of when I get up?  My daughters, of course! 

TW: Can you give us the rundown about UNDER THE BOARDWALK?  Having read this already, I can say it’s one of my favourite titles of yours so far.  Such fun.  But I am sure our readers are eager to learn more. <G> UTBW is the first in the Costas Sister series, what can you tell us about the series and the family?

Carly:   UNDER THE BOARDWALK is the story of Ariana Costas, a Vermont college professor who returns to her home outside Atlantic City to find her missing twin sister, Zoe.  Back home with her eccentric Greek family (complete with a foot-stomping pet monkey named Spank) that has always been an embarrassment to her, she is shot at . . . and rescued by a handsome hunk in a black leather jacket.  That same hunk is the security chief at the casino where Zoe was working when she disappeared, and he has his hands full keeping Ariana out of trouble when she poses as a cocktail waitress there.   Ari works to find Zoe and Quinn works to keep Ari safe, while the two confirmed loners work their way towards discovering they’re meant for each other.

The Costas have always lived just this side of the law, cooking up one inventive con after the other.  Their latest money-making caper – impersonating members of that other peculiar family, the Addamses – has made them infamous in their hometown of Ocean Isle, N.J.  Ariana, the only straight-laced member of the family, has a lifetime of embarrassing memories of the Costas’ shenanigans. Of course, she has a lot to learn about this lovable bunch, and Quinn Donovan is just the man to teach her!

As you can imagine, Zoe is found, and she has her own story in SUMMER LOVIN’, which will be out in June 2005.    

TW: Detective Quinn Donovan (be still my heart), is an Alpha male with a heart of gold.  Did he give you any problems while writing UTB?

Carly:   Quinn was easy.  Ariana was the difficult one.  How could I make her learn to appreciate her family – and take a risk on Quinn?  Quinn had some serious persuading to do, and writing that was fun!

TW: What are the differences in this series from others you have done before?

Carly:   Each series has its own set of challenges.  The Chandlers involved keeping the townspeople straight; UTB involved keeping the family from going over the top! It was a blast though.

TW: Are you even intimidated by the success of the Chandler Brothers series? Do you ever feel that the books you are working on now, or due to come out soon, will not live up to the standards of the fanfare that the Chandler Brothers did?

Carly:   I’m sure everyone is intimidated by her own success, but, to be truthful, I consider it a challenge to make each book better than the last.  Some really good things are happening for Under the Boardwalk, as they did for the Chandler Brothers Series, so I’m happy. 

TW: Which Chandler brother did YOU fall in love with the most, Chase, Roman or Rick?  Personally, I would nab Roman! <g>

Carly:   That’s like asking me which one of my daughters I like better!  I truly cannot choose. 

TW: Are you still writing Harlequin Temptation/Blazes these days? Anything coming out from that publisher you can discuss?

Carly:   I am no longer writing the shorter books.  However, I am writing for the new big-book Harlequin imprint, HQN.  My first book for them, HOT STUFF, will help launch the imprint in August of this year.  HOT STUFF is the story of Annabelle Jordan, who, with her two sisters, grew up with their sports-lawyer uncle in his testosterone-fueled world of locker rooms, bookies and gambling.  Now the girls are all grown up, and publicists in their uncle’s firm, The Hot Zone.  Annabelle is drawn to real men, like her latest client, ex-football legend and businessman Brandon Vaughn, whom she must learn is more than just another jock.

TW: You do a lot of your own promoting.  What do you think is the most important thing an author can do to promote herself with the number of authors and writers out there trying to get the readers attention?

Carly:   My publishers do a lot to promote my books, and I invest a lot of time and money in promoting myself as an author – there is a difference.  I try to keep my name in front of the readers and the booksellers – and to let them know how much I appreciate their importance to my career.  The single most important thing an author can do to promote herself is to max the promotional opportunities the Internet provides.  But I think it’s vitally important to isolate what’s unique about you and your writing and to promote that quality.  I write sexy fun, and I try to convey that in all my promotions.

TW: What is your favourite food?

Carly:   Easy – chocolate, in scads of shapes and forms.  Preferably Snickers though I’ve been known to steal my Mom’s Milky Way Bars.

TW: What is your favourite thing about writing?

Carly:   Easy again! Finishing a book!  There’s an adrenalin rush, a feeling of satisfaction, of being back in the real world again for a short while before another story hauls me away.

TW: When you are not writing, what would we find you doing?

Carly:   Shopping!  Watching TV with my family, having lunch with my mom and friends and reading a good book!

TW: Who are some of your favorite authors? Do you have time to read with your schedule?

Carly:   I wish I had more time to read these days.  Who are my favorites? Well … and not just because she’s my friend, I love Janelle Denison’s books.  Other favorites:  Susan Elizabeth Phillips and Susan Donovan.

TW: What makes a hero attractive to you?

Carly:   Besides all the good physical stuff?  A sense of humor.  The desire to make the heroine happy and his ability to protect her, even if she doesn’t need it.

TW: If you could give aspiring authors any advice, what would it be?

Carly:   Keep writing, finish whole books and submit them, learn to take criticism – and buy lots of chocolate.  Join the Romance Writers of America and a local chapter.  Go to conferences, form a critique group, and learn as much as you can about the business of the business, because when you sell, you’re going to need it! 

TW: UNDER THE BOARDWALK hits the shelves in June 2004, when will the rest of the series be released, tentatively?

Carly:   SUMMER LOVIN’ will be another beach read book – out in June 2005.

TW: What other releases do you have set for release in 2004, early 2005?

Carly:   The repackage/release of SIMPLY SENSUAL was out in January.  Then the paperback release of THE HEARTBREAKER in June, along with UNDER THE BOARDWALK.  In August, HOT STUFF will be published, and in October, I’m the lead author in a romantic October anthology, STROKE OF MIDNIGHT along with Janelle Denison and Jacquie D’Alessandro.

TW: What are you writing at the moment?

Carly:   I’m deep into Zoe’s story, SUMMER LOVIN’ – and lovin’ it!

TW: If fans would like to get in contact with you, where could they write?

Carly:   The easiest way to write me is via my website, www.carlyphillips.com, and my postal address is Post Office Box 483, Purchase, NY  10577.  I love to hear from my readers, too!

TW: Is there anything else you would like to add Carly?

Carly:   I hope The Road to Romance readers will visit my recently redesigned website, where they’ll find all kinds of fun stuff.  I try to keep it fresh and always, always fun!

Readers can join Carly’s newsletter to keep updated on all her releases and exciting things happening in her life, by surfing around her website at www.carlyphillips.com

 
Thank you so much Carly for taking the time out of your busy schedule to visit with us at The Road to Romance.