Elaine M DeGroot

 

What can we expect from you in the future?

• More romance and romantic suspense stories. My latest published book, Bourbon Neat, is a romantic suspense. The work in progress, Resolved Regrets, is a contemporary romance. It's based on an idea I had related to a Presidents' Day costume party. Of course, a handsome "Teddy Roosevelt" and a gorgeous "Dolly Madison" are involved.

How do we find out about you and your books? Oh, so many places...

• On my website: www.romance-degrootified.net
• On my Facebook author page: https://www.facebook.com/RomanceByDeGroot
• On my publisher's bookstore: https://solsticeempire.com/products.aspx?categoryid=511
• On my Amazon Author Central page: https://www.amazon.com/author/romancedegrootified

How much of your personality and life experiences are in your writing?

• My sense of humor shows up, especially in the banter between characters.
• I've used my work experiences in most of my writing, either as inspiration for the stories or character backgrounds. My service in the U.S. Air Force gave me my first main male character (MMC), Garrett Dane, in The Consequential Love Series, and a subsequent MMC, Jace Sims, in Playground Antics. My experiences working on wetland restoration projects as a contracting officer with the U.S Fish & Wildlife Service provided the idea for the meet-cute in Restoration.
• My Minnesota roots are featured in four books:  The Consequential Love Series (Resolute Love, Challenged Love, and Victorious Love) and Restoration. Can you say "You betcha?"

When did you first think about writing and what prompted you to submit your first manuscript?

• Post retirement activity for sure. The first books I wrote, The Consequential Love Series (Resolute Love, Challenged Love, and Victorious Love), were written in response to all the romances I'd read featuring former Navy SEALs. As an Air Force veteran, I wanted a romance with an Air Force veteran hero, so I wrote a romantic suspense series with an Air Force veteran returning to his home state of Minnesota to work for the MN Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.
• I believed in the story and especially the main characters, so I worked on finding an agent or publisher and thankfully found a home with Solstice Publishing.

Do you have a set schedule for writing, or do you just go with the flow?

• I don't have a set schedule, but I write most days. There's so much more than writing stories: editing, training, website maintenance, monthly Blog posts, monthly newsletters, and daily Facebook posts or reels to create & schedule. These keep me busy every day.
• Basically, I go with the flow when inspiration hits. You can find me writing at night in front of the TV, in the afternoons while watching the news, or on our back porch, enjoying the sights & sounds of nature. I write my stories by hand. The first round of edits happens when I enter the written pages into the computer.

What about your family, do they know not to bother you when you are writing - or are there constant interruptions?

• It's me, my husband, and our pup, Missy. Mike respects my passion for my writing and gives me uninterrupted time for writing. An additional bonus is that he'll give me ideas for stories. That's how Bourbon Neat got started! Missy is my author assistant and features regularly in my Facebook posts.

What do you do to relax and recharge your batteries?

• Read, watch TV, and enjoy my family.

Where do your ideas come from?

• My background mostly contributes to my story ideas, but they often appear out of nowhere. My book, Sparks Fly, is about a smokejumper. I have no experience with smokejumpers, so where that came from, I can't explain. Accidental Attraction starts on a golf course. As I recall, I wrote most of it on the way to and during a golf trip to Arkansas. I've already discussed how my Air Force service has played a part in my writing. My experience as a federal contracting officer was key to the aforementioned "meet cute" in Restoration, and contracting was key to my story, Playground Antics.
• Individual scenes have come from songs and even a favorite print hanging in our dining room.
• The name of my first MMC, Garrett, came from a road sign!

Do you feel humor is important in books and why?

• I do believe in bringing humor into my books. A spot of levity can ease the tension in a scene, provide cover for real feelings that are too strong or ill-timed for the character to admit to, or allow the characters to have some fun. We all need and deserve fun in our lives. An early morning drunken phone call between Zach and Emily in Accidental Attraction was fun to write, as well as the next day's aftermath. I still laugh when I read it.

What kind of research do you do?

• My research relies on internet searches or going directly to a source of information online, like Mayo Clinic.
• I've researched medical care for gunshots, knife wounds, broken bones, and PTSD; smokejumper locations and training; and whether a pole barn can be relocated, to name just a few things.

Please tell us about yourself.

• I'm a Minnesotan by birth and now enjoy life in the Upstate of South Carolina. I'm a retiree with 30 years of federal service (a combination of active duty with the US Air Force and federal civil service with three separate agencies).
• I've lived in 8 states and 1 foreign country.
• Mike, my husband, is my soulmate, the love of my life, and an inspiration for my writing.
• Our little family unit has always included four-legged rescue babies. Our current baby is Missy, a Belgian Malinois-German Shepherd mix. She was rescued from a kill shelter in the Houston, TX area by a German Shepherd Rescue in SC and found her way into our hearts.

What are some of your favorite things to do?

• Spending time with Mike and Missy
• Reading
• Writing

Who are some of your other favorite authors to read?

• C.S. Harris (Sebastian St. Cyr Series), Stuart MacBride (Logan McRae Series), and Charles Todd (Ian Rutledge Series)

What do you think of critique groups in general?

• I've never been part of one, but I've heard they can be helpful.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

• I hope I'm still around and still writing.

How many books have you written? How many have been published?

• I've written eleven books.
• Nine are steamy romances, and one is an anthology of nine of my short stories. These have all been published by Solstice Publishing.
• Mike and I self-published a children's picture book, The Little Cloud's Busy Day.

After you've written your book and it's been published, do you ever buy it and/or read it?

• Yes! In fact, I often reread them. There is something about holding the book and seeing my story in print that's indescribable.

Among your own books, do you have a favorite book? A favorite hero or heroine?

• Favorite book: probably Accidental Attraction. It's my only romantic comedy, plus there's a golf connection and the secondary characters are a hoot!
• Favorite hero and heroine: My first characters, Garrett Dane and Leigh Ramsey, now Leigh Dane, from The Consequential Love Series. I hope to write another book or series about them and already have ideas percolating!

What is the most rewarding thing about being a writer?

• Hearing from people about how they enjoyed my books: the story, the characters, and the flow of my writing.
• When my books win an award! I have three award winners: Accidental Attraction, Playground Antics, and Bourbon Neat.

If you weren't writing, what would you be doing?

• Reading all the books in my Nook app while enjoying retirement

What is your greatest desire?

• For the MN Vikings to win the Super Bowl. SKOL!!

Are there any words of encouragement for unpublished writers?

• Don't stop writing and be true to your voice.
• Continue learning about the craft of writing.

 

Why do I write?

 

I have an idea that pops into my head. I've discovered I enjoy storytelling, creating characters, and spinning action around them. Yes, at times my characters take off with my story ideas and make it their own. That's an unexpected happening.

 

How do I write?

 

I'm what's known as a pantser. That means I write by the seat of my pants. I don't plan out a detailed outline of my story. I have an idea, start writing, and stuff happens. I do have a thought of where I'd like the story to go, but how it gets there is often a pleasant surprise.

 

What do I write?

 

My books are contemporary romances, steamy romances, to include a couple of romantic suspense stories. I enjoy creating the mandatory Meet Cute for my main female character and main male character, i.e., that's how they meet. I've had a variety of situations, such as a blizzard, an errant golf ball, the award of a contract, doing good deeds, and drinking bourbon in a neighborhood bar.

 

The genres of my short stories are varied, and only one contains sweet romance. I have a golf ball horror story, crusty grandpas, a guacamole failure, and family support stories. They're fun to write, but I've only done them for challenges. Perhaps I should write one on purpose just because I can.

 

Short and sweet, the way I like it!

 

 

 

Anthologies. What are they? Checking with the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, you'll find this definition: a collection of selected literary pieces or passages or works of art or music. In the case of the Solstice Publishing anthologies, they are a collection of short stories. The titles identify the theme of the collection; in the case of the pictured anthologies, you'll find stories of secrets, adventures, fear, and love. My publisher has also released an anthology focused on holidays, in particular Valentine's Day. Soon they'll publish one perfect for Halloween with a focus on spooks, haunts, creeps, and ghouls. That should be fun!

 

I've published an anthology of my favorite short stories I've written. You could say the theme for that one is the author!

 

I enjoy reading them and find them fascinating because of the exposure to various writing styles and genres. A bonus to anthologies of short stories is being able to complete an entire story in one sitting. There's no fear of forgetting where I was in a story. Why? Because whenever I pick up the book to read, I start a new story. With new characters and a new plot. Fun!

 

If you've never tried reading an anthology, you should give it a try. Let me know what you think!

 

Sentences. How to structure them? How to start them? How to vary them?

 

After the story idea inspires, I move forward with my writing. Words become sentences. Sentences form paragraphs. Paragraphs become chapters. Then a story is made.

 

Well, the process isn't quite that simple.

 

When I write, I try to vary the structure of my sentences. Some start with introductory phrases. When I do this, I must ensure I don't use similar words too close to each other. I watch out for "When" and "As" while editing.

 

Other sentences may start off with a single word. This method of beginning a sentence is something I focus on when editing. I've noticed I tend to start sentences, especially in dialogue, with "So" and "Oh." It can get repetitive and annoying, so I end up deleting the word and starting those sentences in a more creative way.

 

Repetition has its uses, but not in these ways.

 

The length of sentences should be varied and can be used for pacing purposes. Short sentences pick up the pace. Think fast and action-packed. Longer sentences slow the pace down. Not to the point of boredom, but giving the reader an opportunity to catch their breath and to visualize a setting or a character.

 

Not beginning a sentence with a name or a pronoun is challenging. I focus more on the narrative parts on this point than dialogue, especially if there are multiple people in the scene. But, in dialogue between two people, think about how often you use a person's name? Rarely, right? I edit the use of names in dialogue with care. I do use a name if the speaking character is using it for emphasis.

 

Some training has even discussed the beat of sentences. Think of words and/or syllables as creating a beat, a rhythm for the sentence. This isn't something I've focused on…yet. 😊

 

Writing is fun and challenging. Perhaps that's part of what I enjoy—the challenge.

 

When I read a story, I pay attention to things like this. It's a way to learn. Does it lessen my enjoyment of reading? Not at all. In fact, I have a new library book to read, so I'm ending this post.

 

Enjoy your reading!

 

Please feel free to comment on what you like or dislike when it comes to sentences in books you've read.

 

One of the many things I enjoy about being an author is sharing bits of myself in the stories I write. How do I do this?

 

One thing I do is use words or phrases specific to my upbringing and experiences. Growing up in Minnesota, we drank pop, not soda. I translated a visiting NY friend's question to a waitress when she asked what flavors of soda they had. I translated by saying, "She means pop."

 

A phrase I use when discussing going somewhere and inviting someone to join me is "Do you want to come with?" It strikes some as incomplete, but to me, the where should be understood if you were paying attention to the conversation. 😊

 

Food items my characters prefer are based on my likes and dislikes. Garrett, in the Consequential Love Series, is a huge fan of snickerdoodle cookies. His preference led to a snickerdoodle-flavored groom's cake! He also drank Gin Bucks, a favorite of mine. Sour cream raisin pie and a favorite way to marinade rib-eye steaks show up in my work in progress, Resolved Regrets.

 

Items in my life are included in my writing. In my short story, True Treasure, a lamp from my childhood is described as a find in an antique store.

 

Another short story, Race to Adoption, is based on our adoption of our first pup, Bucko. The questions we faced and our answers are in the story. The fear of not getting to take the puppy home was real.

 

Of course, my career choices are reflected in my stories. My Air Force service prompted characters who are Air Force veterans, Garrett Dane and Jace Sims, in the Consequential Love Series and Playground Antics. My work with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service inspired Restoration. And my contracting work led me to the scenario that spurs action in Playground Antics.

 

Does this improve my writing? Hard to say. My readers can decide. Personally, it adds to my ownership of my writing and the pride I take in crafting stories. It makes each story part of me and totally mine.

 

1. Introduce yourself to our readers. Where do you fit into the story? What should we know about you?

 

I'm Lois Ramsey, Leigh's mother. For some reason, I feel like I'm portrayed as some sort of villain, simply because I want the best for my one and only daughter. I do add a touch of conflict and an ongoing challenge to the story and that man who's stolen my daughter's heart. I've never used his name in any of the three stories (Resolute Love, Challenged Love, or Victorious Love), so I'm not about to use it now in this interview.

 

2. What do you think about the author? Tell us everything. We want to know.

 

The author crafted an interesting tale with very romantic interludes (involving the wrong man with my daughter, I might add), and heart-stopping suspense all because of the main male character's fascination with law enforcement. The author's characters are compelling and unique. Her depiction of my husband, Frank, was impressive. She captured his charm and intelligence.

 

3. What are your feelings about this story?

 

Personally, the story is a compelling romantic suspense, but my daughter was the wrong woman to select as the love interest for that man. My daughter is rightly presented as a strong-willed, intelligent, and loving woman, but this series has her falling in love with the wrong man. Throughout the stories, I do my best to battle this injustice.

 

4. How do you feel about being a character in this book?

 

My character is portrayed as a scheming woman with discerning taste and an excellent hostess. An accurate description, presented well in my disputes with my daughter and that man.

 

5. What do you see in your future? (No spoilers please!)

 

My future may include grandchildren, thanks to my son and his lovely, acceptable wife, Tina. I've also heard rumblings of something called a grandpup. Of course, this news is from my daughter and that man. Heaven help me!

 

6. Is there Sequel in the future? Will you be part of it?

 

No one has deemed me worthy to be kept informed of plans for a sequel. It's as though the author thinks I may plan some sort of retribution against that man. I ask you, is this any way to treat a mother? Should there be another book, I must be in it, as my struggle to guide my daughter to her proper position and to a more appropriate husband hasn't ended.

 

7. Say a movie producer comes knocking. What actor/actress would you want to play you and why?

 

The only actress who could embody my good taste and ability to orchestrate successful plans would be Frances Fisher. She portrayed Ruth DeWitt Bukater, the mother of Rose, the heroine in the movie Titanic. That character also wanted the best for her daughter, as I do.

 

Who helps move the story plot forward? Secondary characters are critical to every story. Some of them support the main characters, provide comic relief, and/or mentor the characters. Others are instigators of trouble, creating situations that allow the main characters to grow and reveal more of their thoughts and personalities to the reader.

 

Let's review a few of my favorite secondary characters from my books.

 

Karl Frank, the DEA agent, partnered with Garrett for an undercover assignment in Challenged Love. His mentoring on marriage was questionable, but his support was instantaneous when Garrett spotted Leigh with an unknown man. And when Garrett was injured, he administered first aid and was at the hospital to support Garrett and Leigh.

 

Accidental Attraction brought us Julie, Emily's friend and roommate. She added an uncanny fashion sense and comedic relief. There was a sense of rightness with the romantic relationship that developed between her and Ben, Zach's best friend and partner.

 

The romantic connection between the main characters, Seth and Alex, in Restoration may have developed more slowly if Michelle Stanton hadn't shown up at the farmstead in skimpy shorts and a too-tight top and had an early confrontation with Alex. Her appearance kick-started Alex's realization that she was attracted to Seth. And we can't forget Seth's oldest sister, Karen. You could say she was a thorn in his side, but with a deep-down sisterly love behind her attitude.

 

The required meet-cute in Sparks Fly is memorable because of Avis Cole, Ivy's Grandma. She's a true character and instrumental in the evolution of the story and the romance between Caleb and Ivy.

 

In Playground Antics, Jaxon is a key player in aiding Beth and Jace in their battle against corruption. Without his bravery, they would have remained in a reactive mode rather than being prepared to defeat the mayor's plans successfully. Providing Jaxon a bit of romance completed the story nicely.

 

A favorite character in Green Eyes & Dimples has got to be Nicky, Tracie's nephew. His "Grandpa Training" with Tiny and Snuffy is a game-changer. We're talking humor and a needed father-son connection thanks to a small boy and his stuffed animals.

 

As you see, secondary characters are key in any story. Please don't dismiss them as you focus on the main characters!

 

Feel free to comment and identify your favorite secondary characters.

 

 

Writing a story is fun. Writer's block has never (knock on wood) affected me. But writing is only the first step of the process.

 

Editing of my writing is a necessity. It can be frustrating and a challenge. Fortunately, years ago, Mike gave me a wonderful gift—a lifetime membership to AutoCrit. This is an editing platform that helps with so much of the editing process! I use it to clean up my work and improve the flow. It helps me identify plot holes and helps me be sure my story fits the genre I aimed for!

 

A variety of reports and analyses help me dive deep into my writing to give you the best story I can write. A couple of things I focus on are the pacing of my writing and the use of generic descriptions. Pacing to move the story along. Eliminating generic descriptions provides stronger writing and clarifies my thoughts. Everything improves my writing. Using this system over the years curbed my reliance on adverbs, so I use strong words to describe what's happening.

 

With the offer of a contract, my publisher assigns an editor to my story. We work together to further polish the writing. All to ensure you have the most enjoyable read when you select one of my books.

 

I'm currently in a different phase of writing with a new story. I had five chapters written when I decided to begin the story with the line that started Chapter Three! A big reorganization happened. Now I have four chapters. In the process, I had to commit the dastardly deed known as "killing my darlings." This is deleting portions of your work that you're attached to. I deleted a few darlings and now have a file labeled "My Darlings" in case I can use them later in the story.

 

This phrase is used often in the training I've taken. It's credited to many writers, such as William Faulkner, Oscar Wilde, Anton Chekhov, and Stephen King, to name a few. It makes sense and must be done at times. That's why this post is titled as it is!

 

The bottom line is that editing is critical to the creative process. It's more than typos and punctuation. I like to think my efforts improve my story, but I do enjoy writing more than editing! 😊

 

Happy reading!!

 

 

1. Introduce yourself to our readers. Where do you fit into the story? What should we know about you?

 

I'm Zach, the main male character in this award-winning romantic comedy. Can I say I'm the hero? I love playing golf, which is how I meet the main female character, Emily. She knocks me out with a shank while I'm putting for the course record. At first, I'm mean to her, well, just a bit abrupt cause I was feeling sorry for myself at losing the record. But I score big time by gaining Emily in my life.

 

2. What do you think about the author? Tell us everything. We want to know.

 

Elaine has an awesome sense of humor and wrote us all into hilarious scenes. Of course, she also has a talent for steamy sex scenes. Plus, she understands golf!

 

 

3. What are your feelings about this story?

 

I enjoyed being an important part of this story. Interacting with the other characters, especially my best friend and partner, Ben, and Emily's dad, he's a hoot. We have a nice mix of romance and comedy.

 

4. How do you feel about being a character in this book?

 

I'm honored to be the main male character. This is a fun story with a wonderful ending.

 

5. What do you see in your future? (No spoilers please!)

 

 Tons of happiness and lots of golf!

 

6. Is there a Sequel in the future? Will you be part of it?

 

I'd say our story concluded well. Guess Ben and Julie's escapades could be a sequel. Of course, Emily and I would be involved.

 

7. Say a movie producer comes knocking. What actor would you want to play you and why?

 

Hmm, someone handsome and athletic. Also, muscular! Because Ben and I own a landscaping business, we're talking loads of physically demanding work, and our muscles have developed. Maybe Jake Gyllenhaal? I'm open to suggestions.

 

Back in May of 2022, I posted a discussion about naming characters. In that, I mentioned an idea I'd learned about. The idea was to limit a character name to 2-3 syllables long and no longer than 4. Many of mine fit that criteria; some didn't. I also discussed how the names for my characters just came to me. In the case of my first protagonist, Garrett Dane of The Consequential Love Series, his first name was inspired by a road sign (see the picture). The name for my protagonist in Restoration, Seth Tobias, was the name I came up with should I ever have a son. Since I never had one, I gave it to one of my characters.

 

Today, I'm looking at another suggestion: checking the meaning of the name. Does it match your character's identity? Before I delve into my thoughts on this, I have a question for those with children. Did you peruse books of baby names or conduct internet searches on names? I know many children are named after family members, but did you also look up the meaning of the name?

 

I have never done such a search for what my characters' names meant, so today is the day! Here we go!

 

I'm using https://www.meaningofthename.com/names for my searches. It's an interesting exercise. This site identifies multiple explanations for each name.

 

The Consequential Love Series:

• Garrett: brave and strong as spear
• Leigh: a person with the power to heal others
• Jonas: gracious, merciful, kindhearted (Boy! Did I get this one wrong!!)
• Edna: to delight
• Frank: Truthful
• Lois: battle maiden

Accidental Attraction:

• Zach: remembered by God
• Emily: hardworking, diligent and industrious
• Ben: favorite
• Julie: youthful

Restoration:

• Seth: appointed one
• Alexandra/Alex: helper and defender
• Michelle: who is like God (not this character, so I got this wrong!)

Sparks Fly:

• Caleb: faithful
• Ivy: climbing vine plant (very literal)
• Avis: like a bird
• Rachel: innocent lamb (got this one wrong, too!)
• Josh: God is salvation

 

Playground Antics:

• Jace: healer
• Beth: one who provides satisfaction and fullness
• Paul: humble (nope, got this one wrong, too!)
• Chuck: strong
• Allyson: noble, exalted, Little Alice (this one is hilarious based on the story IYKYK!!)
• Jaxon: son of Jack

 

Green Eyes & Dimples:

• Matt: God's gift
• Tracie: warlike
• Nicky: conqueror of the nation
• Lucy: light
• Jack: one who thinks that God is gracious
• Connie: constant, steadfast, permanent

 

Bourbon Neat

• Connor: Strong-willed, wise
• Maggie: pure as a pearl, child of light

 

It appears I do a better job at naming heroes and heroines versus villains and nasty characters if you judge by the meaning of the names. After running through this exercise, I'll stick to whatever inspires me for a name and then consider the number of syllables.

 

Keep on reading. I'll do the same, as well as writing!