Author Interview – Rhian Cahill

I met Rhian at my first RWA conference in 2008. We had a great chat before a session and it felt like we’d known each other for a long time rather than a few minutes. I’m thrilled to see her publishing credentials growing like crazy since then. Please make her feel welcome today on the blog!

Thanks for joining me here today, Rhian! Let’s get started with my first question. What or who inspired you to first start writing?

Tough question to answer. I’m not sure one thing can be pointed at, I’ve always written but I think I’d have to say Nora Roberts and Heather Graham were the two authors that made me think about pursuing publication.

If you could go back in time and lay claim to any book written, which one would you want and why?

I can’t think of any. I’d just like to be able to claim my own books as great ones that others would like to have written. *grin*

When you are writing and hit a stumbling block, what do you do to try and get over the hurdle?

I tend not to hit too many stumbling blocks because Mr. Muse likes to write a number of wip’s at once. He on the other hand just moves off to a different story if the characters aren’t behaving.

What was the strangest thing that ever inspired a scene/book? What was the end result?

My book Coyote Wild came about after we took a family holiday in the US. We were traveling through Yosemite National Park and this scene just popped into my head. Of course I didn’t realize at the time that the guy was a coyote shifter. lol

If you could have supper with any of your characters, which one would you choose and where would you take them?

Brogan (Coyote Wild) & Saxon (Singapore Fling). Bed.

Is there a type of story you would like to write, but are terrified you wouldn’t do a proper job? What is it and why?

I have an idea about a woman recovering from cancer, I’ve even written some of it and got lots of notes but what scares me is I’m not sure if this is a HEA and I love those. I usually don’t read books that don’t deliver a HEA or at least a HFN.

If you could sit down with one author from any time in history, who would it be?

What questions would you want to ask them? Nora Roberts. I don’t have any questions in mind, I’d just love to sit and chat.

If someone gave you a minion tomorrow, what would be the first task you’d ask them to complete?

Clean the bathrooms. God I hate bathrooms!

E-books vs print books? E-readers vs. paper? Can’t we all just get along? What’s your preference?

I love the immediacy of ebooks but I also like print books on my bookshelves (just ask my Hubby) so I can’t say I prefer one over the other. Here in Australia we pay high prices for print books and our selections aren’t always the best so ebooks work for me there.

If you were a superhero, what would your name be and what super powers would you possess?

I’m not sure I’d want that kind of pressure. Imagine all the people wanting you to perform. Then again a secret identity wouldn’t be bad….

What project are you working on next?

A hot contemporary romance, a hot contemporary ménage, the third Coyote Hunger book and edits on a hot contemporary quickie. Yeah, blame Mr. Muse. *grin*

How can readers find out more about you?

Head over to my website www.rhiancahill.com I also hang out at two group blogs. www.downunderdivas.wordpress.com &  www.internationalheat.wordpress.com There’s also my twitter http://twitter.com/RhianCahill and facebook  http://www.facebook.com/rhian.cahill Oh, and if you want to chat I can be found in the Heat Wave Reader group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Heat_Wave_Readers/

Authors are readers too! What are some of the things that draw you to an author?

If I’ve read their work and loved it I’ll go hunt up all their other releases. If I’ve never read them before it’s the book cover and blurb. I rarely read excerpts though.

What favorite book of yours would you love to see be made into a movie? Why?

This is a tough one. Movies rarely do justice to a book so I’ll have to pass on this. I don’t want some director screwing up the way I feel about a story.

If you could ask your favorite author to do something for you, what would it be?

Keep writing. Write faster. *grin*

If you could have supper with any character, which one would you choose and where would you take them?

You know there are soooo many. Do I have to pick just one?

What story/character ideas would you like to see authors write more?

I love contemporary, paranormal and suspense but you know I think as long as it’s got a HEA or HFN I’m good with whatever, just keep writing good stories.

What story types/characters are you sick to death of seeing? I hate, HATE women who wait for a man to rescue them. I like my heroines to be tough enough to make it on their own but smart enough to accept a good man by their side.

How excited do you get when you find out a new book by your favorite author is coming out soon? What do you do?

If it’s an ebook I’m refreshing the book page continuously until it goes live and if it’s print I make sure my local bookshop is getting it in and holding a copy for me. *hangs head* I’ve also been known to send emails nagging authors for a particular story I’m waiting on. lol

OMG if I see another author promo of _____ I’m going to scream! Why?

I’m okay with most forms of promo but I really hate it when an author belongs to a group or twitter or facebook and does nothing but promo. I like to interact with authors whenever possible and the more open they are to their readers the more likely I am to keep buying their books.

Thank you for coming out today and spending time with me.