More Answers

Will you be writing a contemporary?  Or a paranormal?  

I cannot tell a lie - Vampires simple do not interest me.  The one time I had to write a story about vampires, I nearly drove myself nuts.  Frankly, the idea of drinking blood just wasn't romantic to me.  But I finally figured out how to do it - it's my story in After Midnight - my one and only (and hopefully last) anthology about vampires.   

Why don't you have a blog anymore? 

I'm relatively boring.  True, my imagination is alive and well, but the author isn't nearly as interesting as the book.  

Why do you write about Scotland?

It was a marketing decision I was asked to make a few years ago.  I decided that I wanted to get out of England, and my choices were limited.  I adore Scotland's history - the 19th century, especially, is filled with fascinating events.  

What advice would you give to a new writer?

1.  Use your common sense.  2.  Learn to bend.  When your editor tells you to change something, shut up and change it.  3.  You're not pre-published.  Ever.  That's like being pre-pregnant.  4.  You're not published if you have to pay someone to do it.   5.  Do your own damn research.  Don't ask anyone else to do it.  If you care enough about your own work, then research the question/industry/time period yourself.