Interview Tricia McGill

by

Judy Boettcher

It is with great pleasure I interview Tricia McGill. Her award-winning romance novels cover several genres, including historical, contemporary, suspense, futuristic, mainstream, and time-travel.

1) First, I must ask about your new release--A Lonely Heart, your eighth book released with Wings Epress. Tell us how this story came about, please.

Do you know, I have to guiltily tell you I can’t remember. This story was written some time ago and revised and re-written. I probably dreamt the idea up early one morning, as I often do. I liked the idea of a poor little rich girl yearning for the love and comfort of a family--an ordinary family such as she’d never known. I believe fervently in the old adage money can’t buy love. Most of us can acquire money by one means or another, but true love is one commodity Fate alone sends our way if we are so blessed.

2) I’ve read that you develop many story ideas from your dreams. Have you ever had a scary dream that you thought might make a good “horror” story?

Yes, I have. I’m too much of a coward to think about putting these stories down though. I’m the sort of person who can’t watch scary movies before bedtime or they keep me awake. Because I believe in fairies, ghosts, ETs, and things that go bump in the night I’d never sleep if I spent too much time on horror themes. I’ve only ever written one short story that was really creepy and to this day it makes me come out in goosebumps when I re-read it. I have a writer friend who writes the most fiendish horror stories that make my blood curdle and I can’t read them more than the once.

3) Do you ever find the time to read (again) your own books?

Unfortunately I find I have less and less time to spend reading. By the time I’ve gone through the editing process and the galleys, I usually don’t have the inclination to go over my books again. I did read Shrinking Violet though, when I received my first print copies as I enjoyed the whole process of creating and writing that one and wanted to see if it really was such a fun ride. Because of the closure of my other publishers I’ve had to re-read and edit my old releases before resubmitting them and in the process found lots of alterations and adjustments to make. We never stop learning and this is never more obvious than when going over old work and finding mistakes to rectify.

4) Which of your novels was the most fun to write?

Now that’s one question I’ve been asked before and the answer comes easily. Shrinking Violet has to be the one that was the most fun. I loved writing in Leah’s POV, and letting her carry me along though her escapades. This book reached the finals in the Romantic Book of the Year this year, and I’ve had a lot of positive feedback from readers who’ve enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed creating it.

5) I commend your volunteer work with Rural & Peninsula Disability Support (RPDS) (http://www.rpds.org.au/), where I read that proceeds from two of your books are contributed. Tell us why you feel so strongly about their mission.

We’ve just been renamed “Beyond Disability” and the program is about to be expanded so that we can reach more disabled and housebound people in other areas. While helping others with their computers and internet connection my own life has been enriched. I get an immense sense of satisfaction when I see someone who has previously had little to do with their lives but sit and watch TV all day become caught up in the internet experience. It changes their lives, gives them an interest and purpose. Some of the people I’ve helped have traced long lost relatives via the internet. A person who can no longer use their voice and therefore the phone can communicate with relatives and friends via email. I teach our participants who have limited use of their hands voice recognition programs so they can access the internet, do on-line shopping, banking etc with efficiency by voice control.

The man who started the program succeeded with an idea when people said it could never be done and has made it into a success with the help of a handful of volunteers and lots of hard work. He is always seeking new ways to expand and to aid the disabled and housebound folk. We now help children in wheelchairs by supplying them with laptops and this part of the program has proved extremely successful.

6) Have you visited the U.S.? Tell your American fans why they’d love to visit Australia.

No, I already told you I’m a coward, well I refuse to fly these days. I haven’t been up in a plane for years so there’s no chance of me visiting the U.S. But for those intrepid travelers who come to this wonderful country, there is so much to see I couldn’t begin to tell you about it here. I have some pics on my web page in my album showing some of the beauty spots. My husband and I used to travel around towing a caravan and I’ve been just about everywhere. All of my contemporary romances are set here in Victoria, the state I know best. Australia is a land of extreme contrasts, temperatures, and cultures just like the U.S. and I have a feeling most tourists don’t realize how immense the country is until they actually arrive and start to travel around.

And now for some Typical Author Questions:

7) Your writing space--neat or cluttered?

Mostly cluttered--until I have a mad half hour of tidying up and then it’s neat, for all of a day.

8) Your work-in-progress--under control or driving you mad?

It’s what you would call resting. I’ve been so busy lately with other things that my WIP is not in progress currently.

9) Your characters--wait their turn or demand to be heard? 

Demand to be heard. My stories are all character driven and I just go along with them for the ride to see where they will take me.

10) I see you love County & Western music. Tell us your favorite song, singer or band at the moment. Do you attend concerts?

Alan Jackson is my all time favorite C & W singer. I love anything he does. I also like George Strait’s music. Westlife? ‘You Raise Me Up’ brings me out in goose bumps. No, I never attend concerts, but would if A J came over here.

I’ll turn the floor over to you, Tricia. Anything you’d like to add?

Just that I have a message group at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/triciamcgill where I send out infrequent newsletters. A page at BooksWeLove: http://www.bookswelove.net/MCGILL.html. And I’m a member of Authors Unlimited: http://www.authorsunlimited.net

Thanks so much for an interesting interview, Judy.

Please visit Tricia’s website at http://www.triciamcgill.com, where she has a monthly contest, and you can read more about her life and books. She also writes short stories and poetry.

Thank you, Tricia.