I am so excited to have a very talented and successful writer as my Guest today. Please welcome Denyse Bridger! Feel free to ask a question or leave a comment.
1) With over 400 stories and books to your credit, you are quite an accomplished writer. Do you have a favorite? What made it so memorable for you?
I have several favourites among my many books, but weirdly enough they're not the ones that sell best! Which clearly means I'm not the one to judge it in any respect. My best-seller is one I'm not overly wild about, but my personal favourites sell very little - even though I think they're better written. Among my personal choices are my Historical Fantasy, AS FATE DECREES. (I'm doing an all-day event at Bitten By Books on April 19th related to this novel, by the way). FATE is available everywhere in book stores and online stores, so it's my "biggest" novel to date. In the ebooks, I think two of my best are the Victorian era mysteries that I wrote called THE DEVANE FILES. I seem to do popular vampires, as well!! FATE is memorable for all the obvious reasons, first major release, first real book launch party at a bookstore, nominated for a major fantasy award six months after release, all of those things are unforgettable. DEVANE is memorable because I got to marry a lot of interests in those books, give them a sensually erotic touch, and a hero who is flawed but so appealing. He's a clairvoyant police inspector who is addicted to opium, and haunted by the Jack the Ripper murders. Makes him something very special in many ways.
2) I see that you are a Gemini, too. Do you think astrological signs have anything to do with writing ability or luck in the publishing business?
I'm not really much of a believer in astrology. I think all people possess some element of the Divine in their personalities, and I do believe each of us is born with a "gift" - be it writing, painting, singing, whatever art is your passion. Luck is just Fate or Destiny, isn't it? At least that's my belief. I think we are, each of us, where we are meant to be, when we're meant to be there - you can choose your path, but whatever choices you make, you end up where you were Fated to be.
3) Do you ever base your characters on real-life people?
Sometimes, yes, but always with their permission. The heroes of two of my upcoming stories are real men that I know. One is a soldier, and there's a book trailer done for his story, called "Viper's Nest" - you can see it on my YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/denysebridger -- My first release with Moongypsy Press in May is called "Games of Seduction" and the trailer for that is also done - watch for an image of the real hero in that one, too. Viper is based on a real soldier, and he's supplied the images in the video. I usually allow my heroines to have one single trait that is based on me, be it a hair colour, or a mannerism - I find this grounds the character and makes them real to me, so.... it helps write them.
4) I noticed that you have many different publishers. Why? Would you advise new authors to do the same?
I like to experiment with many genres, and not every publisher wants a dozen different types of stories by the same author. Also, some publishers love short stories, others hate them, so there are times when I create a short piece that I don't want to expand, and I need a publisher who likes to put the shorter tales out there, as well as the novel length ones. I think every author needs to explore publishers and see where they will fit best. The thing is, be honest with yourself, until you have some kind of track record or reputation, you cannot pick and choose overmuch. You need to find a publisher who will take a chance on you, then work from there. Many new authors forget, this is a business first and foremost, and you are not gifting a publishing house with your work, they are doing you the service of taking a chance on your ability to better their business. Work with your editors with the understanding that this is for your benefit, not theirs - if you think otherwise, they have a thousand other authors all too eager to take your place and be easier to work with while they do it.
5) Who were your favorite and least favorite characters? Why?
Michael Devane was one of my favourite characters, and Amarantha from my fantasy novel. Or are we talking other authors' characters? If we're talking other authors, my favourite fictional character of all time is Sherlock Holmes, and one of my favourite female characters is Scarlett O'Hara. One is brilliant, and the other is the wonderful mixture of beauty, brains, and sheer determination of will that we all wish ourselves to possess. I dislike any character that is deliberately stupid, but otherwise I rarely dislike anyone or anything intensely.
6) When you write a particularly moving scene, does it bring you to tears?
Only once, and that was more of a self-catharsis than anything else. I cried my heart out while I wrote it, and I've never been able to read it since then. Otherwise, since I don't read my own work and never have, I can't say that I know I've written anything particularly moving, you'd have to ask someone who's read my books to get an honest answer to that question, Lisa!
Thanks so much for having me today as your guest. If anyone has any questions, ask away - and visit my website and look around - lots of cool stuff there.... book trailers, freebies, postcards to send, a guestbook to sign, link to my newsletter... and books - of all types! I'll grab a name at the end of the day and if there's a title that looks good to you, mention it in your comment, and include your email - you might find a surprise in your mailbox tomorrow morning!!
Talk to you throughout the day!!
Hugs to all,
Denysé
Website http://www.denysebridger.com
BLOG: http://fantasy-pages.blogspot.com
Romantic Moments (Free Reads): http://www.romanticmoments.webs.com
Sensual Treats Magazine: http://www.sensualtreats.webs.com
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/denysebridger
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/denysebridger
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/denyse.bridger
Facebook Fan Page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Romance-and-Fantasy/458701180391
Thanks so much, Denyse! I wish you continuing success!
