MCRW Author Q&A: Ramona Richards
Author: Mary Varble
Original Publication Date in Love Notes: February 2007

MV: Are you a native of Nashville or somewhere else?
RR: I'm originally from Alabama, but I've been in Nashville since I was ten.

MV: If somewhere else, where, and how did you end up here?
RR: My dad's company transferred him up here. We were in Hartselle, Alabama, before that, although I was born in Gadsden.

MV: Are you married and do you have children or pets?
RR: One awesome daughter, Rachel.

MV: Have a day job? Tell us about it?
RR: I just changed jobs. I'm now one of the curriculum editors at Thomas Nelson. There's not much to talk about.

MV: What do you like do to when you're not working?
RR: Hike, scuba dive, dance, movies, plays, crank up the stereo, and hang out with friends. My most recent passion is the midnight movie series at the Belcourt.

MV: Other than romance, what genres do you read?
RR: Suspense/mystery, mainstream, science fiction

MV: Describe your favorite vacation spot?
RR: I just like long vacations. I stopped caring too much where they were.

MV: How long have you been writing?
RR: I can't remember NOT writing. My mom bought me a typewriter when I was about eight or nine.

MV: How much progress have you made toward publication?
RR: Two novels sold and several short stories. Two nonfiction books and a whole slew of magazine articles. In November 2006, my story, A True Friend, won Echelon Press's "Fast & Fatal Fiction" contest and is now available for download. It's twisted tale of a woman and her shovel.

MV: What are you working on now?
RR: The follow-up to A MURDER AMONG FRIENDS, which comes out in February. The new one is called CLUES IN THE CLAY. After that, I have a whole bunch of stuff in the wings.

MV: Who are your favorite romance writers?
RR: This runs into the "too many to count" range. Cut my teeth on Victoria Holt and Georgette Heyer (before I'd ever heard the word "Regency"; Kathleen Woodiwiss (the early stuff), Linda Howard (if you don't count her endings); I love the stuff my critique partners (Terra and Corbette) have done, and I'm always picking up new stuff. Ms. Kenyon and Ms. Galbadon. Lots of others.

MV: What other genres do you read and who are your favorite authors in those?
RR: All-time favorites would be Harlan Ellison, Phillip K. Dick, Hunter S. Thompson, Orson Scott Card, and Dorothy Dunnett. Current favorites include Margaret Maron, Dana Stabenow, and Robert Crais.

MV: Describe the book of your heart.
RR: It's called Midnight Jazz, and it's been fermenting in my head since 1984. Here's the opening:  "When your two main choices for romance are a gorgeous younger man with a temper like Russell Crowe and the bisexual who used to sleep with your youngest male cousin, the choice would seem obvious: Run."

MV: That certainly sounds like a book I’d read. Thanks to Ramona for taking the time for this interview. For more about Ramona, check out her web site: http://www.ramonarichards.com

~ * ~

Mary Varble aka Marie-Nicole Ryan writes spicy romantic suspense for Samhain Publishing. Too Good to be True debuts March 20th as an e-book and will be available in print at Borders September 18th. http://www.marie-nicoleryan.com

Love Notes, the official monthly newsletter of Music City Romance Writers, is provided to paying members free of charge. If you are an MCRW member and would like to submit an article to Love Notes, visit the main newsletter page for more information. If you would like to reprint one of these articles in your RWA chapter newsletter, please give proper credit to both the author and the original source. For any other uses, please contact the president.