About the Author<\/b>
\nBorn and raised in Austria, Inge H. Borg completed her language studies in London and Paris. To continue her study of French (in a round-about way), she accepted a job at the French Embassy in Moscow. After Ms. Borg was transferred to the States, she worked on both coasts, and after several years of living in San Diego, she became a US citizen.<\/p>\n
Ms. Borg now lives in a diversified lake community in Arkansas, where she continues to write historical and contemporary fiction. She also published a non-fiction book about her cat and its former shelter buddies. Her poetry has been published in over twenty anthologies and was chosen for professionally recorded readings. Her hobbies include world literature, opera, sailing and, of course, devising new plots for future novels.<\/p>\n
What inspires you to write romance books?<\/b>
\nI am a woman\u2014need I say more? Yes, I guess. All my books have an aspect of romance\/sexual tension in them\u2014however, I do not write explicit scenes. I like to leave most to my readers\u2019 imagination\u2014to me, it is the difference between seeing a naked body (not necessarily a pleasant experience) versus an elegant yet sensual woman.<\/p>\n
Tell us about how you write:<\/b>
\nAre you an outliner or a seat of the pants writer? If you are an outliner, what do you use to outline? Whiteboard? Software?<\/p>\n
I usually outline the beginning and the ending of a book pretty thoroughly\u2014the journey in the middle then can follow its natural evolution. But then, it often takes turns I had not anticipated (you know, the ideas that pop into your head at 2 AM).<\/p>\n
My rough outline is created as a Word document. However, with my historical sagas, for instance, where multitudes are thrashing through the pages, I create a time-line on an Excel spreadsheet. It is important to know exactly who is where when, how long all those armies take to sail up the Nile, or worm south in the desert.<\/p>\n
Do you create character sketches before or during your writing? <\/p>\n
Character sketches are not only a good idea, but they are necessary\u2014you don\u2019t want your protagonist\u2019s mole winding up on the wrong side of the nose in a later chapter\u2014don\u2019t laugh; readers are quick to pick up on any missed detail.<\/p>\n
This is where you talk about your writing process so others can learn from your way of doing things.<\/p>\n
Before I start a new chapter, I always re-read the last finished one\u2014not only for continuity, but to place myself back into the story\u2014to get into the mood, so to speak. If I get stuck, I look at my draft covers, perhaps design a new one\u2014again, it takes me into the place I need to be. I never just dash rough drafts out to leave them for a later edit…my chapters (written as separate Word documents) are pretty polished from the beginning. Of course, there is always tweaking going on\u2014and then, the final read-through.<\/p>\n
Do you listen (or talk to) to your characters?<\/b>
\nActually, they talk to me (and some of them are obstreperous little devils).<\/p>\n
I like most of them until they get on my nerves. One in particular, became quite treasonous. What to do with him? Eureka! I am the author. I showed him; I bumped him off.<\/p>\n
What advice would you give other writers?<\/b>
\nCall me old fashioned. I assume we all know about the mechanics of sex. To me, it is much more alluring to have a door close after a tender scene. Do readers really need to have everything laid out for them? I, as a read, want something left to my imagination; and as a writer, attempt to enhance that process for my audience\u2014with good writing, not a clinical dissertation.<\/p>\n
Actually (and here I am swimming against the popular get-rich-quick scheme), I don\u2019t perceive myself as a \u201cRomance Writer,\u201d per se. A writer (and here I truly emphasize \u201cwriter\u201d) should be able to write in a variety of genres…sadly, today, most authors stamp out the \u2018same old same old.\u2019
\n(Of course, some who spit out ten books–one just like the last–laugh all the way to the bank.) So, who am I to give advice. I only know what works for me (and my self-esteem being able to call myself a writer.)<\/p>\n
How did you decide how to publish your books?<\/b>
\nI always publish the e-book first (Amazon, Smashwords and Barnes & Noble); then I construct the print version and publish with Createspace\u2014their paperback quality is excellent.<\/p>\n
As to a Publisher versus self-publishing: Pardon me for a rude \u201cDuh.\u201d You have heard of Catch 22: Unknown writers cannot get an agent. Without an agent, you cannot get to a publisher…Amazon opened up a great opportunity for the salmon to swim upstream; unfortunately, a lot of krill slips through the gates as well muddying the waters.<\/p>\n
Advice for new authors to explore:
\nFirst of all, THEMSELVES. Do they have a story; can they write; can they spell; and are they willing to put in the time and the effort to produce something that will endure.
\nThen, if they have a finished manuscript, read all the instructions on the various publishing sites, especially the formatting tips. Check out community threads where other authors offer excellent advice. Today\u2019s ability to find writing\/publishing tips is endless.
\nKeep writing.<\/p>\n
What do you think about the future of book publishing?<\/b>
\nTraditional publishing houses have already merged from many into only a few; Indie publishing is mushrooming\u2014unfortunately, it is left to the reader to separate the wheat from the chaff.<\/p>\n
What genres do you write?<\/b>
\nHistorical Fiction (Ancient Egypt), Contemporary Thriller, Contemporary Women, Contemporary Romance, Non-Fiction–Animals\/Pets, Poetry and Short Prose<\/p>\n
What formats are your books in?<\/b>
\nBoth eBook and Print<\/p>\n
Website(s)<\/b>
\nAuthor Home Page Link<\/a>
\nLink To Author Page On Amazon<\/a>
\nLink To Author Page On Smashwords<\/a>
\nLink to Author Page on other site<\/a><\/p>\n