Beth began reading her mom’s Harlequin Presents in the fifth grade, and from the first story she knew she wanted to write romance novels. She likes writing about the very ordinary girl thrust into extraordinary circumstances, so her heroines will probably never be lawyers, doctors or corporate highrollers. She tries to write characters who aren't cookie cutters and pushes herself to write complicated situations that she has no idea how to resolve, forcing her to think outside the box. She loves writing characters who are real, complex and full of flaws, heroes and heroines who find redemption through love. Please welcome, Beth D. Carter!
Can you tell us a bit about you and how you got into writing?
I began reading my mother’s Harlequin Presents when I was like…11. She was very open minded about that stuff. I was enamored with the covers of beautiful women, handsome men, and wild adventures. Gradually, those stories began to permeate, and percolate, which led me to writing blurbs for books and stories I hadn’t written but were now in my head. When I was a teenager, I finished a book (writing in longhand) about a salon girl in the old west who’s rescued by a dashing cowboy. And then like a dummy, I threw it away because I thought it was horrible. I’ve since learned to NEVER throw any of my ideas away.
Did you always know you wanted to be an author?
You have to remember, back in the 80s and 90s, “ebooks” wasn’t a word. I had no faith that I could be a published author because the romance world consisted of traditional publishing only (meaning, paperbacks/hardbacks). You’d have to get an agent and perform a voodoo spell to get your story picked up. Translation: never, ever gonna work. When I was 24, I told my then-husband I wanted to write for a living and he laughed at me. So, confidence went down the toilet. When ebooks finally arrived, I thought this could be my chance. So, I took the story I’d written and sent it to 4 ebook publishers, and one said yes.
If you could have dinner with any character from your book, who would you choose?
My incredibly funny heroine, Vivi, from Shadow Obsession. She suffers from word-vomit. Whatever she thinks, she says.
I had such a fun time writing her because she’s so outside my normal heroines. I wouldn’t get a word in, but I’d love to hear her blabber about things.
Do you have any specific writing rituals?
Not really. I can write anywhere. I prefer writing in Starbucks because they have this vibe about the coffee houses that mesh with my writing mood. I also like listening to movie soundtracks (instrumental only) because that music was written to invoke emotions.
Can you give us a hint about any current or future projects you’re excited about?
I just finished up the last book in the Death Riders MC, titled Lady Death. The sequel to my football themed contemporary, Personal Foul, released titled Play Action Pass. I am writing another series called Deadly & Ruthless, and I’m calling this my villain era.
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