Summer Days Spotlight on Carly Phillips

June 2004

Robin: Hi, Carly. On behalf of In the Library Reviews, I want to thank you for spending some time with me today answering so many questions. Just to let you know, I had to censor myself. I could've written a hundred questions for you, lol.

Carly: Thanks so much, Robin. I'm so happy to be here! Thanks for having me.

Robin: Let's start off with your new releases. You have two. Would you like to tell your readers about them?

Carly: The Heartbreaker is the last Chandler man story, and the reissue of my first hardcover, this time in mass market paperback. Chase loves being single, or so he thinks. In Washington DC to cover a story connected to his hometown of Yorkshire Falls, NY, he meets up with a redhead and has an un-Chase like one night stand. He never expects to see her again. Turns out Sloane Carlisle is a senator's daughter who refuses to play the Washington game. She comes to Yorkshire Falls to solve a family mystery that's already making headlines - a mystery Chase would kill to scoop! And all he has to do for an exclusive is keep Sloane out of harm's way. He finds himself playing body guard to a woman who has "settle down" written all over her and she's irresistible too! Chase starts thinking about things he never thought he wanted - marriage and family … but what will it take to get Sloane to say those two little words that will turn the town's most eligible bachelor into the world's sexiest husband?

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.

Robin: Do you find it necessary, or preferable, to put in as much advertising for a re-release, particularly when a hardcover has gone to paperback?

Carly: It's probably MORE necessary, since you want to attract new readers. The hardcover audience isn't identical to the paperback audience and I never assume someone has purchased my book. I need to work extra hard to earn their trust and get them to invest their money in my book, be it paperback or hardcover. But now, I assume since some readers bought the hardcover, I need to reach even more for the paperback to sell well. Although in this case I hope some will want to have their trilogy in all paperback and purchase The Heartbreaker anyway!

Robin: Do you note a specific increase in sales when this happens, or does the double release cloud that?

Carly: This is my first time, so I'll let you know, LOL!

Robin: You've done more than one series? Which is your favorite to date?

Carly: That's like asking me to choose my favorite child! I don't have one. I love each of them just as much but for their unique differences!

Robin: I'd like to comment on your revamped website and on Carly's Scoop. My first comment, Carly, is on the beauty of the website itself. I know it is hosted by Writerspace, but how much input do you have in it, and how often? Daily? Weekly? Monthly?

Carly: Thank you! I LOVE my new site. Just to clear things a bit - Barb Hoeter at Romanceandfriends.com does my designing and Writerspace hosts. I am what is known as a PITA and I'll leave it to you to figure that out. Basically I'm ALWAYS updating, adding, asking for changes, and I drive Barb crazy. Fortunately she loves me. I feel a website is an extension of the author herself and it's important for it to change often to bring readers back for more, more than just when a book is on the shelves. That is why I run such fun contests every month whether or not I have a new release.

Robin: I love your newsletter and also your " Latest Scoop"! One thing in particular I like is that the newsletter emulates your website with clickable links. I think it is a wonderful concept. Is this standard for Writerspace sites and newsletters? If so, it works, and you know what they say: "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." Lol!

Your "Latest Scoop" is a real delight. I love knowing what authors have going on.

Carly: Thank you! I'm guessing you're referring to my "Latest Scoop" page on the website? That's something that's updated as often as I have news! Writerspace does do this as standard I believe, having the newsletter emulate the website and personally I LOVE it!

Robin: I also love your Hot Sheet, Carly. Are you amazed at so many happenings with your releases, reviews, interviews, chats, and more? Congrats, btw, with your you making the USA Today and with The Heartbreaker being featured on a network television show.

Carly: Thank you! I'm in awe of all the good things that have happened to my career and extremely grateful! Actually I haven't made USA Today (yet, fingers crossed), but what happened is that USA Today did a summer reads listing and Under the Boardwalk was listed!!! My Latest Scoop page and Hot Sheet gives you a link to the webpage and it was also in print. And Under the Boardwalk is supposed to be a mentioned book in Livin' it Up with Ali and Jack on May 28ths Summer Beach Read segment. Such fun!

Robin: For readers who like to glom favorite authors, like me, they'll be pleased to know that you have a reprint of your first Harlequin Temptation - Brazen coming up in less than a year. What do you think about that?

Carly: I pushed hard for that book as did my editor because it's the one readers ask for the most. How can I find Brazen, they ask. Brazen's the book I fear I'll never live up to again, LOL!

Robin: Your "Simply" series was recently reprinted. Any other reprints in store?

Carly: Brazen's next, and I'd guess Harlequin/HQN will reprint one yearly.

Robin: I'm going to give your Contest link, if you don't mind. Your readers will be pleased with your current contest going - www.carlyphillips.com/contest.htm. There is also a contest here, at In the Library Reviews. Click the link for more details (www.inthelibraryreview.com/contest.html), and five winners will receive a copy of Hot Stuff and other great prizes.

Robin: Thanks! Going to backtrack a bit. When you decided to leave your law career behind, did you imagine such an amazing success in writing?

Carly: Oh my, NO! I wasn't writing back when I left law! I left because quite honestly I couldn't hack it. It was physically and emotionally draining. I became a stay at home mom, and then while home with my daughter, I started writing! Even then I never dreamed of such fantastic things happening to me.

Robin: How long were you writing and working as a lawyer at the same time?

Carly: Never *g*. For some reason that's a common misconception.

Robin: What was the catalyst in leaving your job, and devoting more time to writing?

Carly: The catalyst in leaving my job was stress, pure and simple. But as I said, I wasn't writing at the time.

Robin: Do you find yourself just as busy with writing, compared to when you were working a full-time job?

Carly: I'm busier but in a happier and more fulfilled way!

Robin: Tell us a bit about your family. How do they feel about your writing? Are they as giddy about your success as your fans are?

Carly: My family is fantastic. They're ultra supportive and even my kids completely get it now. I'm so lucky to be able to have this career and be home with them too!

Robin: What is a typical Carly day?

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.

Robin: How long does it take for you to complete one book?

Carly: I'd say about five - six months depending on the book.

Robin: Do you work on more than one project at a time?

Carly: Nope. My brain doesn't seem to function that way. I'm a very linear thinker. If I feel another story crowding in, I try to push it away because I'll get excited about writing it and lose the energy and enthusiasm for finishing the work in progress.

Robin: When you write connected books, what methods do you use to keep your facts together? Do you always plan to write connected books?

Carly: I love writing at least two connected books, both for myself and for readers who love revisiting characters. I have a notebook I take notes in. For the Chandlers I did a huge bulletin board of the town and family, down to hair and eye color. Usually it depends on the detail involved in book one that determines how I keep track. Sometimes I'll take notes from my galleys (the last time an author can check a book before it goes into print) and that way I have details in writing for when I write the second book in the series. It usually isn't written in order, in other words I wrote Hot Stuff, now I'm writing Summer Lovin', then I'll write Hot Number, so I have a book in between, which makes it even more important to take those notes!

Robin: Are you a plotter or a pantser?

Carly: Pantser all the way!

Robin: What was the transition like to go from series to single title - especially jumping to hardcover?

Carly: Scary. The good news for me was that The Heartbreaker was written before I knew it would be a hardcover which meant the pressure to write a "hardcover" book wasn't there that first time. The transition from series to single title was difficult and in some ways I feel I'm still making it, and growing with each book I write!

Robin: You have an upcoming book, another single title; this one from Harlequin, this August called Hot Stuff. Before I ask you to tell us about Hot Stuff, I want to ask you if you'll keep writing series books for Harlequin.

Carly: No, I won't be writing series books for Harlequin but as you know, I have three books for HQN and in that way I'm not leaving Harlequin or my roots far behind!

Robin: So, would you please take a moment and tell us about Hot Stuff and the rest of the series?

Carly: Hot Stuff, a launch book for HQN in August 2004 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. Next up will be Hot Number in August 2005 and Hot Item the following year, each book being the story about one of the sisters.

Robin: When you come up with ideas for another story while working on a current one, especially during deadline, what do you do with those ideas? Write them up on sticky notes? Take a moment to create a new file on your computer? Or something totally different?

Carly: I write them up in a notebook and file away until I'm ready to write it. As I said above, I can only handle one story at a time or I'll lose the momentum or the love of the story I'm writing!

Robin: What kinds of treats will readers find when they visit your website?

Carly: Oh my favorite question! I am so proud of my website. I have information for Readers, for Writers, for Booksellers, for the Media. I have my Fun Stuff page where I hit on things like my addiction to Alias and Michael Vartan; I have a BLOG which is my DIARY page and I try to keep that up do date, and of course a new contest every month. I urge people to bookmark the site and come back often! (www.carlyphillips.com)

Robin: You've been marvelous, taking the time to answer so many questions. I'd like to throw a few fun ones in. For starters, if you could spend one month anywhere in the world, where would you choose and why?

Carly: This has been fun. Sounds like it's about to get more challenging. One month anywhere. Hmm. Tropical Island being waited on hand and foot. ;)

Robin: I won't ask what your favorite color is (pink, lol), but I will ask if you prefer chocolate over vanilla or vice versa?

Carly: Vanilla with hot fudge.

Robin: What's your favorite movie?

Carly: Movie(s): Overboard (Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell); The Saint (Val Kilmer); Thirteen Going on Thirty (Jennifer Garner) … sexy fun movies like sexy fun books *g*

Robin: Are you a TV fan: have a favorite show?

Carly: Oh gosh YES! ALIAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Robin: Would you like to link your website, chat and newsletter groups?

Carly: Yes please!

Robin: Your website is listed above. Your Fan Group is www. groups.yahoo.com/group/carlyphillipsfangroup . For Carly's newsletter, go to www.writerspace.com/newsletter , and click Carly's name on the left.

Robin: Well, I've taken up enough of your time. I want to thank you again, Carly, for giving me and In the Library Reviews a peek into your life. It's been a privilege and I hope the best for continued success in the world of writing.

Carly: Thank You for all the great questions and for your interest in me! This has been fun!

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