Author's Name: Shelley Munro
Website: www.shelleymunro.com

Shelley Munro is a multi-pubbed author who has written for Medallion Press, Ellora's Cave, New Concepts Publishing and Wings ePress. She recently sold her fourteenth manuscript and has three new releases coming in the next few months.

Current Release:
Ghost Cats (Anthology)
June 2005 from New Concepts Publishing

The caracal stalks the desert night, observing the English tourists…

Desperate to escape the strictures of mourning, Charlotte Webster travels to Egypt with her stepbrother. The freedom of Patria Oasis is heady after the rules of the London season. Sethmet, the golden stranger sparks forbidden desire, his touch spellbinding pleasure.

Search for the pharaoh’ s treasure and wake a deadly curse…

Sethmet comes from generations of shape shifters, responsible for keeping the pharaoh’s tomb intact. His attraction to the beautiful Charlotte presents a dilemma. Is she part of the plan to rob the pharaoh’s tomb? Is she willing to stay in the oasis? And can she accept the shape shifter powers that will come to her if they commit to a future together?

Love and betrayal battle beneath a desert moon…

On Writing

I've always enjoyed reading since I was a small child and writing is a natural extension of this. The idea of not writing sends shockwaves of horror through me!

On Getting “The Call”

Since I'm in New Zealand, I don't get the call so much as get the "email". Little do the editors know, but this is a good thing for them. My first email arrived on January 2, 2004. It was from New Concepts and they wanted to buy my book. I shrieked for my husband and both husband and the dog came running. My hands shook so much I couldn't work the keyboard. I could hardly speak and the odd word that made it past my lips was squeaky. We went to the Botanic gardens for a walk soon after this and as soon as we arrived back home, I checked the email to make sure I hadn't been seeing things, then rang my sister. I sold several books in quick succession, six by April of 2004, and the reaction on seeing the "email" hasn't changed. My hands shake and I lose the power of rational speech. My editors don't know how lucky they are to miss all that :-) I don't think I'll ever tire of getting the "email".

On Publishers

I write for four different publishers and have recently sold my fourteenth manuscript. My publishers are Medallion Press, Ellora's Cave, New Concepts Publishing and Wings ePress. I've seen writers who have written for one publisher that has subsequently folded or terminated a particular line and have found themselves homeless. I didn't want this to happen to me so decided to diversify a little. My experience has been very positive, and I'm very happy.

On Writing Schedules

I write every day and try to do a minimum of 1000 words. It's not much, but I'm fairly consistent, so this adds up to 365,000 words in a year and quite a few. Along with the writing, there's all the other things like publisher edits, galley proofing and promo that needs to be squeezed into the schedule as well.

On the Writing Process

I used to fly into the mist with only a vague idea of where I was heading, but these days I'm something of a hybrid, a mix between the two [outline vs. seat of the pants]. I don't outline, but I do start off with a good grip of my main characters' GMC and I do a rough synopsis first before I start writing. I've always disliked writing a synopsis, and that hasn't changed, but if I want to sell on proposal, this is the way I have to do it!

On Being a Published Author

The best thing about being a published writer is that it's one of my goals ticked off and I receive royalty checks. They're good to find in the mailbox! Holding your own book in your hands and getting covers are pretty cool too. One of the things you don't think about is the "waiting". It doesn't go away. Before being published it was waiting to hear about manuscripts and contests and after being published there's still lots of waiting on hearing about your new proposal, oncontests and reviews etc. The waiting is always there! That's got to be the worst for someone who's into instant gratification.

Best Advice Received

To sit down and finish the book.

Worst Advice Received

One of the worst things for me wasn't really bad advice but I spent a lot of time trying to squeeze myself into the category writer's mold. There are lots of wonderful category writers out there, but I'm not one of them. These days I read a category romance and marvel at the writer's skill. That's as close as I get!

Advice for Aspiring Writers

Sit their butt in front of the computer and write. A lot of being an author is learning by the doing, so definitely sit down and write. Also reading widely in the genre you're targeting is SO important. I always learn so much from reading the work of other authors. It's a way of keeping up with trends as well. And finally, don't overdo the sitting in front of the computer as this tends to encourage bottom spread. Exercise now and then to combat this tendency. Oops, I was meant to stick to one! I've chucked in two more for free :-)

On Genre

Frankly, I have a low boredom threshold and writing in more than one subgenre keeps me fresh. I thrive on trying new things and methods with my writing, and I think it helps me grow. I know the traditional advice is to write in the same genre, but like a lot of the writing "rules" we've been taught at writing meetings and conferences, I don't think they're 100% right. I have written paranormal, historical and contemporary, and I'm part way through writing my first young adult book. I figure if my own reading is all over the place, then there has to be other readers of the same ilk.

I read widely in the romantic genre. I always have since I get bored reading the same thing all the time. That's my Sagittarian nature talking here! My favorites are paranormal and historical, but I'll read mainstream, suspense, fantasy or a cozy mystery just as often.

On Promotion

I have a website and do a lot of online promotion with interviews and posting to groups when I have the time. I have a newsletter called Adventure into Romance that readers can subscribe to, and each month, I post my author news, snippets of interest, have a competition and excerpts. Anyone interested can join from my website.

On e-Publishing

I wish I'd embraced the idea of e-publishing a lot sooner than I did. For me, it's been a wonderful way to learn the business and make contacts. Aspiring authors should go into e-publishing realizing that they're not going to make millions, but you can make a good living if you write fairly steadily, write what readers want (for example spicy paranormal is popular at the moment) and get a backlist behind you. Choose your e-publisher carefully since some are better than others. Do your research in the same way you'd check out a prospective employer. Contact some of the authors and ask questions. Ask around on lists. Buy e-books from the publishers on your list, check out the final product and see what they're buying. If you'd still like to be published in the traditional manner, there's nothing to stop you from aiming at both. That's what I've done, and many e-published authors are doing the same thing. It's not unknown for traditionally published authors to submit their work to e-publishers these days.

On the Future

I've always been very ambitious, and that hasn't changed. I have a mental list of things I want to achieve, and I'm quietly plugging away at them, ticking them off as I go. I have quite a few books scheduled for the rest of this year and into the next so there's lots of promo and heaps of writing ahead.

Last Words

I'll be attending the RWA conference in Reno this year, and all going well, will be signing at the "Readers for Life" Literacy Book signing. If you're attending the conference, please stop by and say hello!

Shelley Munro's new and upcoming releases:

THE SECOND SEDUCTION
Medallion Press, July 1, 2005

Viscount Hastings' offer of marriage is Rosalind's last chance for a secure future. Rosalind doesn't expect love but assumes she and her new husband will come to like each other, despite her accursed family gift of the sight. But Lucien St Clare not only ignores her presence, he refuses to bed her and disappears for long periods of time without explanation.

Danger lurks at Castle St Clare. Lucien seems to be in the thick of it. And who is the mystery Hawk who scares the villagers? Rosalind seeks to seduce her husband during her search for truth and a place to call home.

SUMMER IN THE CITY OF SAILS
Ellora's Cave, September 2005

Adventure! Nights full of partying and spicy fun-that's Summer William's mission statement.

Life in small town Eketahuna is comfortable but living with overprotective parents means it lacks in the adventure department. Romance is as scarce as winged unicorns, and fun loving sex for the hell of it-forget it, especially with interfering older brothers around. It's time to leave the cozy nest to find her niche even if it means mistakes along the way.

Special Air Services soldier, Nikolai Tarei owes his neighbor a favor, but looking out for a twenty-two year old niece is stretching friendship too far.

Seeing Summer doesn't help. She's young but her sex appeal, sassiness and brazen disregard for safety have Nikolai scrambling to keep his promise to his mate.

Summer's grandiose plans to party in Auckland, the City of Sails, come to a grinding halt when she bumps heads and lips with a sexy but very bossy neighbor who is determined to do things one way. His way. With no sex involved.

She searches elsewhere for a man but becomes innocently embroiled in the schemings of a local crime boss. Danger stalks Summer, and she's forced to ask Nikolai for help.

Nikolai is ready to do his duty, but who's going to protect Summer from him? He's having decidedly sexual thoughts about his charge, and Summer isn't helping. She's a librarian who's a whiz at research. Now she's ready to experiment with sex toys and try out the sexual positions she's researched. Summer is tying Nikolai in sensual knots and driving him nuts by asserting her independence. In bed. Out of bed. And he enjoys it.

Summer's adventure in the City of Sails takes a new turn when the danger escalates. Now there are hearts and lives on the line...

A Couple of Shelley Munro's previous releases:

TALKING DOGS, ALIENS AND PURPLE PEOPLE EATERS
June 2004, Ellora's Cave

Janaya is a bodyguard on a mission. She must protect her aunt from mercenaries intent on stealing valuable charts and return to Dalcon in time to take her captain's exam. A simple assignment for an officer of her caliber — except nothing goes as planned. Aunt Hinekiri refuses to listen to reason and Janaya has to stow away in order to protect her. Then their spaceship crash lands on the blue planet, Earth. No spare parts available. Big problem. Janaya is stuck on a tiny outpost called New Zealand. She's going to stuff up her promotion chances. And because she neglected to have her travel inoculations in her urgent hurry to protect her aunt, Janaya has bonded with an Earthman.

Police officer Luke Morgan seeks a quiet life without intrusive memories of his past. No press. No nosy reporters. No women. Just lots of fishing and fresh country air. Luke doesn't count on meeting a pair of aliens and a talking dog and participating in a shootout with purple-suited aliens called Torgon. Nor does he expect the surge of lust he feels for Janaya. Suddenly a routine callout turns into a big problem that Luke suspects might only be the tip of the iceberg.

NEVER SEND A DOG TO DO A WOMAN'S JOB
January 2005, Ellora's Cave Publishing

Sex. Lily Morgan hasn't had any since her husband ran off with his boyfriend. But where will she find a man willing to overlook chronic clumsiness, dimpled thighs and cellulite?

Sex. Prince Alexandre Bellangere has too much. Sex, that is. Being treated as a sex object is becoming a pain in the ass. Heck, he's more than just a pretty face and muscular body. Alex has brains and ambition.

But Dalcon princes are expected to have sex, mate and breed royal undergrowns. Determined to change his life, he sneaks from the palace and the
planet disguised as plain Alex Bell.

Take one chubby travel agent and an alien Dalconian prince in disguise, add in sex, laughter, endless possibilities. Combine and shake vigorously. Result…a true-blue love.

Visit Shelley's listing in the FTHRW Bookstore.

Visit Shelley online at http://www.ShelleyMunro.com