Spotlight on
Charlotte Boyett-Compo

February 2003

Sharyn:As a long time fan of Charlotte's work, I was honored when she graciously consented to be part of our Author Spotlight. Her novels are extremely addicting, once you start reading them you don't ever want to stop.

Charlotte, I've been asked to go easy on you and not pester you to death. In that vein, we'll start with an easy question. Have you always known that you'd be a writer?

Charlee: I believe so, yes. I began writing when I was around 12 years old and haven't stopped yet.

Sharyn:Did you expect your career to take off like it has? Are you constantly surprised by your loyal and dedicated fans that can't wait for your next novel?

Charlee: When I began writing, I had only dreamed of having people read my books. Telling the tale was the most important thing to me. Making a fortune, being hauled around in a limousine wasn't what I wanted. Those are perks big name authors take for granted. If it should ever happen to me, I think I'd just simply roll over like a little puppy and whimper I would be so pleased. All I ever really wanted was for readers to pick up one of my books and get lost in the tale, to embrace my characters, and discuss them with other readers. Every time someone writes me...especially a reviewer...and says he/she stayed up all night, couldn't put my book down, insists other readers read it, I get a rush like you wouldn't believe! I know I've accomplished something of what I had hoped to do. Does it surprise me? Oh, yes. It is a most wonderful feeling and I am humbled by the kind words and glowing reviews my books receive. My fans are very, very dear to me. I appreciate each and every one of them and each time I learn someone has purchased one of my books and I have their email addy, I write to them personally to thank them and to ask that they let me know what they thought of it once they've read it. That way, I know what intrigues them, what makes them smile, and what might or might not have worked in the tale. I want to give my readers and fan the most I can for their hard-earned buck.

Sharyn:While categorized as Dark Fantasy/Futuristic, your novels all contain a strong romantic element. And while there may not be a happily-ever-after, the reader is left with no doubt of the depth of the characters love. Was this intentional?

Charlee: I always let the characters tell their own tales and most of the time, I am astounded with the way the tale turns out. The hero always loves the heroine more than life, itself,and I believe that most likely is intentional because every hero is really a part of the man I love, adore, worship and am in awe of: my husband of 38 years, Tom (better known on the web to my fans as Buddha Belly). Ours is a very strong, enduring love and without him I'd be lost. He tells me that without me, he'd never be able to program the VCR. :) Now THAT is true love!

Sharyn:You have many amazing novels currently available, many as part of a series. Could you tell us a bit about the novels and the different series?

Charlee: There are several trilogies out there: The WindDemon Trilogy which encompasses BloodWind, DarkWind and EvilWind. These are sf/futuristic novels.

The WindTorn Trilogy is In the Teeth of the Wind, In the Heart of the Wind, and coming next year, In the Arms of the Wind. These are mystery/thriller novels and each deals with a building: Teeth is a military academy, Heart is an insane asylum, and Arms is a church.

The WindTales Trilogy is WindFall, WindChance, and later on WindBorn. These are all prequels to the ten-volume WindLegends Saga sword and sorcery series.

In the HellWind Trilogy, the books are NightWind, DemonWind, and BAleWind. These are horror novels.

The ShadowWind Trilogy is, so far, The ShadowLord and The Amazeen. I don't have a title for the third.

Prince of the Wind and In the Wind's Eye are stand alone novels.

Sharyn:I noticed while reading, many of your novels are connected to other series. For example, In the Wind's Eye features the MacGregors and Brells. While set many years later BlackWind not only features these families but also takes place in the same state. Somehow I don't think this is coincidence. Did you purposely write it that way, hoping your readers would catch on?

Charlee: When I began writing the WindLegends Saga series in earnest in 1996, I began to realize these characters were in my head and wouldn't leave. There were seven novels to begin with in that series; now there are ten. Before I knew it, I was writing a prequel to those books in the form of WindFall then WindChance. When I began work on In the Wind's Eye, I stunned myself when I realized I was incorporating another level of McGregors, Wynths, Brells, et al into the tale. I began to understand that the characters had a mind of their own and had every intention of having their individual tales told. Each of my novels is connected in some way or another via the characters. These are multi-generational relationships so in a way, the tale actually begins with WindChance and has continued to expand every since. So even though a book might not be connected by genre, it is connected by family link. Not every generation is as nice...or as mean...as the one before it so I'm hoping my readers will want to find out as much as they can about the characters they love and hate and want to see what made them what they are.

Sharyn:Some of the your most well-known characters are the Reapers and Nightwinds. Would you mind telling us a bit about them? Are they creatures of your imagination or rooted in folklore?

Charlee: There is some basis in folklore for these two entities. Both are shapeshifters and both are vampires. Reapers are called dearg duls in BloodWind, DarkWind, BlackWind and Prince of the Wind. There are such things in Celtic myth; they are known as Irish vampires. Nightwinds are incubi and of course we know such beings exist in folklore. What I did was create those entities with particular traits that I thought would intrigue my readers. In BlackWind, the creatures meet and battle over the love of a mortal woman. I think the reason that book is so popular and has won so many awards is because readers who are thrilled with my Reapers have now discovered Nightwinds and those who find Nightwinds sexy have discovered Reapers are hunky beasts, too. :) You get the best of both paranormal worlds with those two creatures! I will continue to tell the tales of these creatures and have added a new one: the ShadowLord whom you'll meet in ShadowWind Trilogy later this year. There will be two or three books in that series, too.

Sharyn:I know your husband is very supportive, but how does the rest of your family feel about your chosen career?

Charlee: They are very proud of me. My sons read my novels and are always bragging to their fellow workers about what I do in my 'spare' time. I am our church's secretary and I believe secretly Father is very proud of me, too. Someone once told me he made the comment that he was the only priest in the diocese who had a bestselling author for an administrative assistant! My friends are all very supportive and tell all their friends and co-workers about me. All in all, I'd say those people who are closest to me are routing for me to be a success in this business.

Sharyn:If you were given the chance to start your career over, what would you do different?

Charlee: You know, I don't believe I'd do anything differently. Like most small press authors, I've spent time beating my head and fists against the doors of New York publishing and have the rejection form letters to prove it. I gave it my best shot for years until I finally discovered the Internet and e-publishing. Yes, it is a niche market and no, it is not respected by the so-called 'publishing world', but you know what? My books are being purchased; they are being read; they are being discussed, given awards, praised by really tough reviewers; I am represented on over 2000 websites. New York may have rejected me without every trying one of my books but that's okay. They don't know what they're missing. :) One day, some editor might pick up one of my books and think it's the next best thing to Jiff peanut butter and won't stick to the roof of her mouth! Or some screenwriter will discover one of my books, option it and a movie will be made. If that happens, fine. If it doesn't, that's okay, too. As long as there are readers willing to take a gamble on my work, I'm more than willing to keep right on telling the tale.

Sharyn:It's definitely the big publishers loss. My "keeper" list features all of your novels and many other e-published authors. Now, you've been involved in e-publishing for several years. Have you seen any changes? What are your thoughts on it's future?

Charlee: I've seen e-publishers come and go. Some have caused great heartache and some have downright cheated their authors. I honestly believe any publisher who charges a fee to publish your book should be avoided at all cost. New publishers who want you to 'invest' in your future are nothing more than subsidy/vanity publishers and they're not concerned with either quality or the author's career. Some don't even bother to edit the work before throwing it up on the web for sale. What kind of professional publisher is that? NO author is so good at his or her craft that they don't need an editor. ANY author who believes he or she is, is looking at a fool in the mirror each morning. If that author is willing to toss money to a thief in exchange for getting their book read, they deserve what they get. Such publishers are out to make a quick buck because they are seeing other publishers selling e-books and want to give it a shot. I'd advise staying away from any publisher who asks for money. Buying your cover art so you own the rights to it is one thing. Paying money to get yourself published can sometimes be the worst mistake you'll ever make. Try first for a legitimate publisher who doesn't charge. Otherwise, you'll never know if you were good enough to make it without having to pay for it. As one author explained it to me: "It's the difference between having a lover who makes love to you because you are wonderful person and having to pay a prostitute to give you a good time."

Sharyn:How do you keep all of your characters straight? As often as I've read your novels, I still have a hard time.

Charlee: I have a concordance in which each character has his or her own page. On that page, I describe the character, list the book(s) he or she is in, give that character's motivations, list the good and bad traits. Having such a useful bit of information at your fingertips in a notebook is essential to making sure Kamerone's eyes are amber in BloodWind and not sapphire in DarkWind! It is a tool...along with a time frame keeper and a geneological tree of each family...that I could not do without. I bought a cheap geneological program for $10 and listed each generation of McGregor, Cree, Brell, etc. from day one until now.

Sharyn:I would love a copy of that family tree! Maybe one day, you'll consider making it available to your readers.

I know you get asked this all the time, but I'll ask it anyway: any advice for aspiring writers?

Charlee: Keep learning your craft. Read research books that pertain to the genre in which you've decided to work. The more you know, the more your mind will create the fantasies you will find yourself writing. Read the works of authors who write in that genre. Watch for what works for you and what doesn't; learn from that author's mistakes. Listen to music that seems to blend in well with that genre. Just turn off the lights and LISTEN. Sometimes entire novels will come from the images that will form in your mind as you absorb the melody, the beat, the illusion the music instills. Visit author websites and see what they are writing. You might get an idea for a new kind of paranormal character that will set the world on its ear. Don't just piddle around with your writing. If you are serious about making it a career, you have to work at it. No one ever falls into this profession. You have to make a conscious effort for it to work. And above all else: BE PATIENT! Nothing happens fast in this business. Don't expect overnight success but that doesn't happen often. Be prepared to wait and wait and wait some more for contracts, for reviews, for respect. Nothing worth having has ever come easy.

Sharyn:Where can readers find your novels?

Charlee: The cheapest and most direct place to purchase any author's novel is right off his/her publisher's website. Mine can be found at www.amberquill.com, www.hardshell.com, www.twilighttimesbooks.com and http://dlsijpress.com. If you go to Amazon, you pay more and you are helping to subsidize an entity many authors are very unhappy with. Unless you want a used book, then, by all means, hop over to Amazon. If you want your book autographed, just send me a SASE and I'll be thrilled to personalize a bookplate designed for that specific book for you. The address is:

Charlee Compo
PO Box 745
Grinnell, IA 50112

Sharyn:Charlee, thanks for taking time out of your day to chat with me. I enjoyed immensely. For more information on Charlee's available and upcoming novels, be sure to visit her website www.windlegends.org. To purchase promotional items, such as tote bags, mousepads, mugs, etc., visit Amber Quill's promotional site.

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