Welcome and Merry Christmas maniacs! I’m stoked to have fellow Still Moments Publishing author and friend, Terri Rochenski embrace the mania today because let’s face it, who doesn’t love a Christmas romance? I’ve never written one but I love reading them and Terri stopped by today to tell us about her holiday romance, Beginning of Forever, part of SMP’s Christmas Magic anthology.

Hiya, Terri and congrats on the release of Beginning of Forever. What was the germ of the idea behind your story?

You’ll see in the dedication that the story was inspired by my sister-in-law’s real-life story of love lost & refound.

Oh, Christmas is the perfect time for second chances, isn’t it? What is the first book you remember loving?

Laura Ingles series my mom-mom (grandmother) got for me when I was 7.

Yep, that’s a winner. What little girl didn’t dream of having Pa for a dad, and getting the best of Nelly? Where is the oddest place you’ve ever pulled out a book?

Hmmm. While in labor? haha

LOL Now, why didn’t I think of that? Besides a critiquing partner, is there someone you let read your ms before submitting?

My mother. Before hitting that ‘submit’ button I need the boost only she can give.

Go Mom! They make the best cheerleaders. Which of the characters you’ve written most resembles you, and why?

Strangely enough, I’d have to say Kemen from ‘Beyond Diljan’, one of the first flash fiction pieces I had published with Hogglepot Journal. The link can be found on my website. Kemen is curious and brave, but he will do what needs done whether he likes the idea or not.

Qualities that make the best kind of heroes. Was your road to publication a hair-raising, pothole ridden mountain pass, or a well-tended superhighway?

My first attempts of getting an agent YEARS ago was potholed to hell. Even with a letter of introduction by Anne Tyler I had no luck. I DID get Donald Maass to read / crit the first chapter of an historical romance I wrote. Once I joined Scribophile, a critique site, I learned I wasn’t as good as I thought. Honestly, a few months there and submitting & getting accepted proved much easier for me. More well-tended highway-ish than most travel I think.

Cats or dogs?

Even though I have  2 cats I’m going to say neither. Dogs are just little kids that never grow up & cats are shedding, stinky-breathed snobs who shred furniture.

LOL Tell us how you really feel, girlfriend! So, If you knew then what you know now, you would have… and you wouldn’t have…

I certainly wouldn’t have told Anne Tyler that Donald Maass didn’t know what he was talking about. *burrow head in sand*  In my defense, I had NO idea who the dude was.

I would have joined a critique site and got feedback from my peers – learned from those who went before me. Checked out their scars & say to myself, ‘What can I do better to make this easier’.

Excellent advice, on both parts, though I would have loved to have seen his face at your opinion.

Thanks so much for chatting with us today, Terri. Okay, maniacs, you can find Christmas Magic at

Amazon

Smashwords