How long did it take for you to get published and what was the journey like?

SL: I had a couple of short stories published right out of college, but it was several years later before I finished my first novel, which wasn’t really a novel. It was only 145 pages and very bad. Then I joined Virginia Romance Writers and started to learn the rules of the novel (especially page count!). I submitted the novel then revised and submitted again for about two years, when my friend from VRW suggested I submit to Liquid Silver Books.

Tell us about your call story?

SL: There was no actual phone call. It was an email. I can’t even remember exactly what it said. I think they wanted to make sure I was open to editing, which I was. I was just so happy that my baby had finally found a home!

For those who aren’t familiar with your work, tell us what you write and who you write for?

SL: I write super hot romance for Liquid Silver Books and Loose Id, everything from suspense to paranormal to futuristic.

How long does it take you complete a book, start to finish?

SL: That’s really hard to say because the books often get extensive revisions after I’ve finished them, which can go on for some time (usually coinciding with the rejections). I’d say three months is probably the fastest I’ve finished a project. No more than a year usually.

What are some of the challenges you’ve faced in your career?

SL: The mountain of rejections. It takes a strong ego to continue submitting rejection after rejection. When all the editors seemed to have rejected me, I switched to agents and racked up those rejections too. Another challenge is writing to market. Some of my books won’t work for Loose Id but will for Liquid Silver. I have to know the different requirements and cater the books for the publisher I plan to submit to.

Do you believe in muses?

SL: Not really. I believe in inspiration when I can suddenly write page after page because a story just clicks for me.

What influences and inspires you? Any authors?

SL: I’m sure I’m not alone in saying Nora Roberts inspires me. The authors I meet everyday in my local chapters of the Romance Writers of America inspire me. I couldn’t do this without them. As far as influences, it’s everything from Mary Janice Davidson books to a Firefly marathon to a custom playlist designed to keep me in the mood while I write.

What’s your take on self promotion? What have you found to work the best for you?
SL: Self promotion is an ongoing job and a process of discovery. I can’t tell you whether an ad or review in Romantic Times brought me sales or an ad on a web site or a loop chat. I put out a monthly newsletter and run frequent contests to get readers to keep checking my web site. What I’ve heard repeatedly from other authors is that writing another book is the best form of promotion. In e-publishing, the new release can bump up the sales of your back list, too, as new readers discover you. Two things to consider when you’re mapping out a promo plan: money and time. Are you going to be able to keep up with a weekly blog, a monthly newsletter, all those chats you’ve lined up? Can you afford to do an RT ad with every book or would web ads suffice?

What do you think of social networks? Are you on any of them?

SL: One of the most useful social networks that helped me from the very beginning was Liquid Silver Books’ Forum (nicknamed SiN). I like the forum format. They’re very informative whether you’re a brand new unpublished author or someone whose been with them for a while. Here’s the link: www.liquidsilverbooks.com/forums/
I’m also on several loops, and as I said, I belong to RWA and three local chapters (Chesapeake, Washington, and Virginia Romance Writers), and that has helped me immensely.

How about blogs? Do you read them? Write your own? Guest blog? What do you think works best? And do you have any favorite blogs or blog posts?

SL: I have a blog (sharalanel.wordpress.com/), but I’m atrocious at keeping up with it. I also blog on my MySpace page (www.myspace.com/sharasezone). I guest blog once a month at Liquid Silver’s blog and sometimes over at Loose Id’s blog. I do think a group blog works better than an individual-you have more people promoting it and it’s less time consuming. Finding a group that gels with you is a bit harder. I enjoy guest blogging. One I particularly liked had me interview my character for the blog. That was cool.

What’s your opinion on having an agent? Do you have one currently?

SL: No, I don’t have one, but I am seeking one. You don’t need an agent for e-pub, but you do need to be a savvy contract reader or find yourself a literary lawyer. That’s the reason I’d love to have an experienced agent on my side-to deal with contracts, and to get my books in front of editors who normally wouldn’t look at them. Of course, I’ve heard that a bad agent is worse than no agent. I’m hoping to avoid that experience.

What’s the best piece of writing advice you’ve been given?

SL: “Finish the damn book!” That’s on a t-shirt created by an RWA chapter-I forget which-but it’s totally apropos. I’ve also heard “You can’t fix what isn’t written.” Another way of looking at it. If you’ve never finished a complete novel, that is your first task, no matter how bad it turns out to be. If you’re 80 pages into a novel and think every word you’re writing sucks, that’s when I remind myself about the “fix” quote. It’s true and usually the thing isn’t as bad as I imagine

Do you have any advice for new writers?

SL: See above: finish the book, study and understand any contracts BEFORE you sign them, be willing to say no, and get involved with an RWA chapter.