Author Interview: Bronwyn Stuart

This week I was able to have a chat with our very own bride-to-be Bronwyn Stuart. A writing mother who is also planning a wedding – I don’t know how she does it.

I have been thinking about getting Bronwyn over for a chat since finding out that she’s an author and the perfect opportunity arose when I discovered it was Tuesday and I didn’t have an interview waiting for publication. So thank you so much for coming Bronwyn, and thanks for working so well under the pressure of a short deadline. Most of all thanks for letting us in and sharing a bit about yourself with us.

I will definitely be keeping my eyes pealed and my fingers crossed for your name in bold across a book cover sometime soon.

How did you get started writing, what sparked your dream to be a top selling author?

I was working 24 hour night shift at Chubb Security in the control room and was bored out of my brain. While the guys played video games or watched movies, I would read. One night I was so disgusted with the ending of a book (don’t ask me which one because I can’t remember) and, like all naive people, I thought I could do better. So I started writing. And writing, and writing and writing. I’ve been doing it ever since.

You write Historical Romance set in the early 1800’s. What inspires you about that period? (I can think of a very special editor who would be interested in your writing)

Hmmm… Editor you say? Do tell! (Michelle’s note: Ours, right here at Beauty and Lace so don’t get too excited)

My mum can totally be blamed for my love of the Regency period. The only books I could steal from her were historical and I quickly fell in love with the author’s descriptions of glittering jewels and swirling ball dresses, not to mention the tall, dark and handsome heroes. There are so many possibilities with the era that I’ll never run out of ideas!

I see on your site that you love to read, do you like to read historical romance as well?

I read just about anything I can get my hands on fiction wise. I’m not so good with how to’s or autobiographies. My second love is Mills and Boon Blaze books. I love the flirty, sexy feel of them and because they are shorter, they’re handy when I don’t want to get too involved in a meaty historical. I also love to read fantasy and am eagerly awaiting Robin Hobb’s next Dragon book.

What are you reading right now?

Karen Hawkin’s One Night in Scotland. I downloaded a Kindle sample on my phone while I was waiting for an appointment and I cannot put it down! (except to do your interview *smiles*)

What can you tell us about what you are writing at the moment?

Well, there’s the daughter of a pirate, a poor Marquis with battle scars (I think), a kidnapping, a rescue, another kidnapping and a happily ever after. I also started a short story for a Yellow Ribbon line that Avon Impulse are taking submissions for. It’s all about returned war heroes for that one so I’m having a crack at it.

Last year you had a short story published, I imagine that was very exciting, what can you tell us about it? And can we still get our hands on it? And most importantly – have you got a copy of the anthology and where do you keep it?

Exciting is an understatement! It was through a Romance Writer’s of Australia contest called Little Gems. You write a short story and incorporate the gem of their choice in somehow. Then you get judged and I was one of the lucky ones to make it in. I have about six copies (just in case something happens to the first five) and at the moment they are sitting in a cupboard. Until I win the lotto and get a study or office, everything gets put away. Unfortunately they were only available to RWA members.

(Michelle’s note: Very exciting and I can understand buying 6, you never know what will happen. But I’m not sure that logic works if they are all stored together.)

You have had some contest success already with Chicago North’s Fire and Ice contest and the historical category of The Linda Howard Award of Excellence, can you tell us a little about that?

I enter contests to get feedback mostly but then I started finalling and winning so then I started to enter for the exposure. For every contest you final in, there is usually an agent or editor at the other end that will read and rate your story. I think I’m up to seven finals and two wins. If you’re really lucky, they will ask to see more. There are so many authors who have sold as the result of contests. I’m hoping it happens to me too!

You were recently a part of the Mills and Boons New Voices contest, can you tell us a little about it?

New Voices is one of only a few contests where your entry is open to anyone who registers on the site. They can comment, praise or tear it apart so you have to have balls of steel to put your work out there this way. Luckily I’ve had mostly praise on that front. I entered a contemporary hot novel I wrote a year or so back, again, mostly for the exposure. Because I write kind of dark historical, I like to wind down by writing something fluffy and hot in between.

You are waiting on placings for 3 contests, what can you tell us about the experience and the contests?

I heard back today on two of those. One I didn’t win but don’t know the placing and the other one I came second. With the Molly, I entered last year but bombed out so I was a little hesitant this year but they had a final judge I wanted to be in front of so I went for it. There are two rounds to this contest so it’s been a while but very exciting. I love checking my emails every five seconds to see the outcomes! Now I’m just waiting on another three (yes there were actually five but I can’t count). They are Launching A Star, Unpublished Manuscript Award and The Rebecca. I’ve usually got kind of nail-biting going on.

I was stalking your site to get a little insight as I formulated questions and I have to ask. How do you juggle it all? Your writing, kids, blogging, writing a bridal diary for us here at Beauty and Lace and planning a wedding – and I thought I suffered with not enough hours.

The truth? I don’t. On Facebook there’s this group called Mums who need wine. Just kidding.

I do it all because I love it! Oh and I also start part-time work next week too. My kids are awesome even though I whinge about their antics all the time. My man is so supportive and I think that really helps. And I have portable devices like a netbook so I can write anytime, anywhere. When you’re doing something you love as much as I love writing, then you make time for it. Sometimes the dishes don’t get done or we have to dig for clean clothes, or we eat take out but we’re all used to it and we make it work as a family. As to the wedding. It sucks so much of my time right now but I wouldn’t have it any other way. And I’m enjoying all the research it’s taking to get the day as close to perfect as I can. Blogging I do because I never shut up. I have so much to say and no one close to me really wants to hear it or there’s no one around to hear it when I want to say it, so I blog it. I figure if no one wants to read it, then they won’t visit my site. I’m still going to say it though. It’s why I love Facebook so much!

Christopher Vogler, what can you tell us about him and your day with him?

Christopher Vogler was amazing! He tells about the hero’s journey which is the technical basis for most movies, books, cartoons, stories, etc. It’s about the call to adventure and how the hero or heroine react to the call and then what happens after the hero accepts the call and steps into adventure. I am so envious of Christopher and the work he’s done on Disney movies and the fact that Will Smith and he have a rapport and work together. I would love to have a celebrity in my speed dial and this man has a heap of them! I can’t really say more about his work otherwise you wouldn’t rush out and buy his newest book called Memo From The Story Department.

What does being a woman mean to you?

Ooh, tough question! It reminds me of ‘how long is a piece of string’?

I guess it’s about caring for the ones you love and the ones who love you. It’s about being a rock when everything is falling apart, a shoulder to cry on, a friend to laugh with, a mother, a sister, a daughter. It’s about knowing where the vegemite is when they haven’t looked hard enough for it or what to cook for dinner or what to do when there’s an emergency. It’s about what’s on the inside and on the out in every situation (including food, people, pets and the river). I wouldn’t want to be a man no matter what Mother Nature has to throw at my female form! But most of all, we, as women, are adaptable and have to have the ability to build a bridge, metaphorically and literally *smiles*

Thank you so much for sharing with us Bronwyn, I love your answers and got a great giggle.

Thanks for having me!

For all of you reading that also got a giggle and want to learn a little more about Bronwyn or check out her blog I am sure she would love you to head on over and visit her at: www.bronwynstuart.com

Michelle

I devour books, vampires and supernatural creatures are my genre of choice but over the past couple of years, I have broadened my horizons considerably. In a nutshell – I love to write! I love interacting with a diverse range of artists to bring you interviews. Perhaps we were perfect before – I LOVE WORDS!

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