I had the pleasure of interviewing my editor, Lori Graham of the Wild Rose Press, some time ago. I hope readers and aspiring authors will enjoy the sage wisdom and advice from this talented lady.

CG: Welcome, Lori. We are very excited to have you here today. You’re a Senior Editor over at The Wild Rose Press. What drew you to this company in the first place and what has your experience been with them as an editor?

LG:  Rhonda Penders and RJ Morris created a new type of publishing house, the style of which really intrigued me.  All too often in today’s world, people don’t get any kind of response.  There is nothing harder than extending yourself in a situation and never receiving any feedback.  At Wild Rose Press, that does not happen.  We take communication very seriously and do not use any kind of form letter.  Everything that goes out is tailored to the individual author and manuscript and that is something I have not experienced before.  I appreciate the creativity of the staff and the management who lets that creativity flow.  J

CG: Being an editor in the Romantic Suspense line (otherwise known as Crimson), you must love this genre. Please tell us why.

L.G:  I have a couple of lines I edit which include Climbing, White and Crimson.  I love Climbing and White because they give me a relaxing, fun read.  Crimson, however, keeps me guessing.  I love the twists and turns a manuscript can take.  I enjoy getting into the minds of the various characters, seeing what makes them tick and yet being surprised by the changes I discover as the manuscript advances.

C.G: As an acquiring editor, what do you look for in a good romantic suspense or mystery?

L.G: My favorite manuscript is one that comes in and has an ending which surprises me.  If I can figure out in the first chapter, or two, how the story is going to end, it simply doesn’t have enough suspense.  That doesn’t mean it might not be a good manuscript—just that it might not be a suspense.  It is great when a manuscript comes in with a fresh new suspense method—whether it is a new take on an old idea or a brand new idea.

C.G: What turns you off from a story?

L.G:  There are a couple of levels for this answer.  First from a technical aspect, a turn off is an author who hasn’t paid attention to the submission guidelines and I have to work at the manuscript just to read it.  Really study the guidelines and make sure you are doing everything you can to help your manuscript stand out.  Second from a writing aspect, my major turn off is one dimensional characters who tell me the story.  I really enjoy characters who are multi-faceted and likeable.  Then take those characters and show me the story.  A narration leaves me in the position of feeling like I am reading a newspaper article and doesn’t give me the tools I need to become a part of the story.

C.G: Is there one story (or more) that you’ve edited in particular that has stayed with you? What did you like so much about it?

L.G:  Boy, that question is just too hard to answer.  J  There have been many that were really interesting and I enjoyed tremendously.  However, to be really honest, it isn’t the story that stays with me but the authors.

C.G: For any of our aspiring authors, what advice do you have for their manuscripts and submissions?

L.G:  Do your research.  This comes on two levels. On a manuscript level, know your topic, especially when it comes to suspense which can cover everything from crime investigation to the crime itself.  There are some manuscripts that come from within and flow quite naturally, covering a topic you know inside and out.  However, for those that are new ideas to you, do your research.  On the other level, research the house you are submitting to.  Know the guidelines inside and out.  Listen very carefully to the editor.  Believe it or not, the editors do want to help you succeed.  All in all, keep your goal in mind and don’t give up.

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Cindy K. Green is a multi-published author with degrees in History and Education. Previously a middle school English & History teacher, she now homeschools her own children and writes in several genres: Inspirational, Contemporary, Suspense, Young Adult and Historical romance. No matter what she writes, she always throws in a bit of humor and fun. Find out more about Cindy and her books at www.cindykgreen.com and http://cindykgreen.blogspot.com/. To join her newsletter email her at newsletters@cindykgreen.com, and she will send you out all four parts of her FREE READ serial, “Valentine’s Challenge.” She has a website for her YA writing at http://sites.google.com/site/ckgreenauthor/ and her Teen Fiction blog at http://ckgreenauthor.blogspot.com/.

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