Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Debut Author Helen Scott Taylor is Hanging with the Banditas

by Trish Milburn

For several months beginning in August 2007, Helen Scott Taylor and I were two of the 10 finalists in the American Title contest sponsored by Romantic Times BOOKclub magazine and Dorchester Publishing. The prize for the winner? A publishing contract with Dorchester for the winning book. American Title works a lot like American Idol. There were five rounds of online voting, and each round had us putting up some other portion of our book -- first line, descriptions of the hero and heroine, first love scene, etc. Helen and I made it all the way down to the final two, and when the final votes were counted, Helen was declared the winner.

And that's as it should be. See, after the contest started, I sold my first book, a YA novel that will hit shelves this April. But since I was still unsold as of the contest deadline, everyone said I was eligible to stay in the American Title contest. So, at the urging of several fellow writers, I did so. But the final placements allowed Helen the awesome opportunity to have her first novel, The Magic Knot, published. And hopefully I benefitted with a bit of publicity for the novel I'd already sold.

At the time, Helen and I hadn't met in person. But we finally did at the Romantic Times conference last April, then again at the Romance Writers of America Conference in July. We both even ended up on the same city tour of San Francisco prior to the RWA conference, unknown to either of us until we bumped into each other on the ferry. I've discovered over the past year and a half that Helen is a pretty cool gal. So I'm thrilled to host her here in the Lair today.

Q. Your book, The Magic Knot, comes out today. Were you able to sleep at all last night?

A. A friend e-mailed me last week and told me The Magic Knot was already available online at Amazon and Barnes & Noble. So I’ve had a few days to get used to the idea that it is finally on sale. But even so, the official release date is exciting. I hope it will be on bookshelves now. Although as I live in the UK, I won’t get to check out the high street booksellers. So if anyone sees it on sale in Borders, I’d love to know. Or better still, I’d love a photograph of my book on the shelf.


Q. Tell us a little about The Magic Knot. Was this your first manuscript? How did this story come about?

A. The Magic Knot actually started life in my head as a short contemporary story about Irish identical twin brothers who ran a pub in Cornwall. That is the only part of the original premise that survived. Somewhere during my pondering over the story, the Irish brothers became fairies, I threw in an evil druid and a fire-wielding Irish fairy queen, and my Magic Knot paranormal world was born. This is the third manuscript I wrote. The first was a short contemporary, and the second was a paranormal about a parallel world inhabited by Demons that I’m still hoping to sell once I’ve revised it again.

Here's the back cover copy for the book:

HE’S A BIKER WITH AN ATTITUDE
What woman wouldn’t be attracted to Niall O’Connor’s soft Irish brogue and dark good looks? But Rosenwyn Tremain must find her father, and she isn’t going to let a sexy, stubborn Irishman and his motorcycle distract her. Rose’s intuition tells her he’s hiding something, a secret even the cards cannot divine. Her tarot deck always reads true, but how can one man represent both Justice and Betrayal?

SHE’S A WOMAN ON A MISSION
Magic. Niall’s body tingles with it when he finds the woman snooping in his room. Rosenwyn might believe she’s a no-nonsense accountant, but her essence whispers to him of ancient fairy magic that enslaves even as it seduces. Her heritage could endanger those he’d die to protect, but her powers and her passion, if properly awakened, might be the only thing that can save both their families, vanquish a fairy queen bent on revenge, and fulfill a prophecy that will bind their hearts together with…THE MAGIC KNOT

Q. The Magic Knot was the winner of the American Title contest sponsored by Dorchester Publishing and Romantic Times. What was it like to go through all those rounds of the contest? And how did you react when you found out you'd won?

A. Taking part in the American Title contest was a fantastic experience. I’m so grateful to Romantic Times and Dorchester for running the contest and giving me a chance to have my book published. As you were with me competing for the winner's tiara right to the final round, I don’t need to tell you it was hard work and stressful taking part—but a lot of fun as well. I made so many new writing contacts and friends through the contest. I didn’t get much writing done while I was taking part as a lot of my time and mental energy went into promotion. But that was wonderful practice for all the promotion I’ve done running up to the release of The Magic Knot. I was amazed when I won. I was delighted to be selected as a finalist, but I thought I’d be knocked out in the early rounds as Romantic Times is not on sale in the UK and I assumed that would be a disadvantage. It was only when I reached the penultimate round that I thought I maybe had a shot at winning. Looking back on the experience now, it feels surreal, especially when I remember going up on stage in Pittsburgh at the Romantic Times convention to accept my prize.

Q. I noticed on your Web site that you've gotten some very nice reviews for The Magic Knot? Were you nervous to read the reviews as they came in? Do you remember who gave the book its first review?

A. I was jittery waiting for the first reviews of The Magic Knot to come in. The first review was from Manic Readers. I found out about the first review when a MySpace friend contacted me and congratulated me on the good review. So far all the reviews have been good, some great. I’m fairly thick skinned, but I’m not sure how I’d have felt if the reviews were bad. I’m delighted (and relieved) that everyone who has read the book so far has liked it. I have relaxed about the reviews now that I have a number of good ones. I keep telling myself you can’t please everyone so not to expect all the reviews to be perfect.

Q. What are you working on now?

A. I’ve written the first draft of a sequel to The Magic Knot featuring Michael, the Magic Knot hero’s brother. Currently, I’m revising and editing. Michael was a tough hero to write as he is a bit of a rascal. But he turned out to be remarkable and to have much more depth to him than I had suspected when I wrote The Magic Knot. Right up until I wrote his final showdown with the powerful villain in the sequel, I wasn’t sure how Michael would win out, but he triumphed in his own inimitable way.

Q. When you have free time, what do you like to do?

A. Between running my own business, writing, and kids, I don’t have much free time. I do try to make time for a walk every day, but I’m a fair weather walker so I’m afraid the cold and wet puts me off. I love reading but don’t get much time to read these days. When I go on vacation or have time off over Christmas or Easter, I read as much as possible.

Thanks so much for being with us today, Helen. And here's to oodles of sales for The Magic Knot.

One lucky commenter will win her very own copy of The Magic Knot, so be sure to ask Helen any additional questions you have.

If you'd like to read the first two chapters of The Magic Knot, visit Helen's Web site at http://www.helenscotttaylor.com/.


And don't forget that the Bandita Invasion of RNTV continues all week. Stop by today to enjoy more Bandita vignettes of the photo entitled GIRL IN A CAGE. Try your hand at finishing the stories! That's http://wwww.romancenovel.tv/wordpress/rntv/marias-blog/

85 comments:

Unknown said...

GR are you mine!

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Nancy said...

Virginia, congratulations! Have fun with him.

Nancy said...

Helen, welcome and congratulations on your debut! It sounds wonderful.

Trish, this was a fun interview. Isn't it odd how contests can sometimes bring people together? One of my closest friends and I met when we were GH finalists in the same category (which she went on to win with a fabulous book I later had the pleasure of reading). And, of course, the banditas, er, banded together because of the Golden Heart.

I've heard other people in American Title developing friendships, too.

Helen, what has surprised you the most about your first sale?

Donna MacMeans said...

Hi Helen - Welcome to the lair. I believe I judged The Magic Knot in a contest prior to the American Title contest and enjoyed it then. It's amazing how you can tell a story has potential from the first page - yours truly did. I hadn't seen your cover until the blog. Very nice! Oh - and I was there to watch you accept your award at the RT convention in Pittsburgh. See - it's truly a small world.

Congrats Virginia - the GR wanted to be somewhere familiar for the big storm brewing. Got milk and cookies?

jo robertson said...

Helen, welcome to the Lair! It's so good to have you visit us from across the ocean. THE MAGIC KNOT sounds wonderfully intriguing. I must put it on my TBR list.

Congratulations on your American Title win. That is a great accomplishment.

You mentioned having your own business. Do you mind sharing that with us? I can't imagine running your own business, writing, and keeping up with a family!

Congratulations, Virginia, be sure to bring the chook over to RNTV today. Uh, on second thought, The Girl in a Cage might frighten him, maybe you'd better not!

Tawny said...

Hi Helen and welcome to the Lair. I'm so excited to be able to get my hands on The Magic Knot. I've seen you sweep the contest circuit and have been so intrigued by the title. Your cover definitely does justice to your title.

Congrats on your release :-)

and Virginia, congrats on the bird *g* Treat him gently.

danie88 said...

Hi Helen! it's great to see you here at the Lair! :) I have your book already and am really looking forward to reading it! :D

Helen said...

Congrats Virginia enjoy your time with him.

Hi Helen and thanks Trish for bringing Helen to the Lair and congrats on winning the contest.

This books sounds great and I will be adding it to my must get list.

Helen I presume the book was already written before entering the contest and did you make any changes to it while going through the different stages.

Again congrats on the book and I look forward to reading it you gotta love and Irishman.
BTW love your name.

Have Fun
Helen

Marisa O'Neill said...

Hi Helen - congratulations on your debut release! Fairies on motorcycles and tarot cards - toss in twin brothers and I'm definitely in.

What are you going to do to celebrate your new release?

hrdwrkdmom aka Dianna said...

Oh wow, that book sounds like something I am going to have to own. I can tell the book store is going to get lots of my money this time around. I am going to consider it all birthday presents.

Congrats on the GR Virginia, what are your plans for him today??

Helen, as you can see the Lair is all about fantasy EG, we just haven't told the Golden Rooster that yet.

Margay Leah Justice said...

Helen, how did you come by the idea to turn the heroes into fairies?
Margay

Dianna Love said...

Hi Helen -

Congratulations on the release of The Magic Knot. I'm picking up my copy today. What a wonderful story about you and it's so nice to hear about the way friendships arise from meeting in a competition.

You're in great company here. :)

Caren Crane said...

Oh, Virginia, I begin to think you're stalking the Golden Rooster. *g*

Helen, WELCOME to the Lair! We are so thrilled to have you here. I confess, I adored your story in the AT contest! I'm so glad to see your book coming out, because it's so greatly deserved.

I know we sometimes hear stories about the green-eyed monster when a writer sells. Do you think winning the contest changed the attitudes of other writers you know?

Helen Scott Taylor said...

Trish, thank you so much for inviting me to be interviewed.

Nancy, thank you for the warm welcome. The most surprising thing about my first sale was actually winning the American Title contest. I never expected to win, and that I did still surprises me to this day.

Helen

Helen Scott Taylor said...

Hi Donna,

I'm glad you like the cover. I was delighted when I got to see the cover for the first time.

I'm discovering it really is a small world--or the world of writing is anyway. Although the world doesn't feel small when I'm on a long haul flight across the Atlantic to visit America.

Helen

Helen Scott Taylor said...

Hi Jo,
Thank you for the warm welcome and the congratulations.

My husband and I run a pest control and hygiene services business. Not very glamorous but it pays the bills. I am lucky in that I have staff who do most of the office work, so I have time to write.

Helen

Beth Andrews said...

Welcome to the lair, Helen, and congrats on your first sale! Your back cover blurb has me anxious to read more *g*

Marisa beat me to my question (great minds thing alike *g*) so I'll ask: What did you do to celebrate your American Title win?

Helen Scott Taylor said...

Hi Tawny,

Thank you for the warm welcome and the congratulations. Someone will have to explain to me why you call this the lair. Is that the term for where bandits hang out together?

Helen

Helen Scott Taylor said...

Hi Danie,

I get excited everytime someone tells me they have my book. It's such fun to think of people reading my story! I wonder if one ever gets used to that?

Thanks for the warm welcome.

Helen

Helen Scott Taylor said...

Hi Helen,

Thank you for the congratulations.

I wrote The Magic Knot in 2006. Seems like another lifetime ago now. I revised it before entering American Title, but it was changed little going through the editing process at Dorchester. I was asked to add a couple of paragraphs of back story here and there (obviously went too far cutting it out) and that was about all. I had expected to be asked to make more changes, so that was a relief. The whole process was fairly painless. For me, the worst thing is all the months of waiting.

Helen

Christie Kelley said...

Helen, welcome to the lair. And congratulations on your debut book. The description sounds fascinating. I'll definitely be adding another book to the already high TBR pile.

Helen Scott Taylor said...

Hi Marisa,

Thank you for the congratulations. My birthday is next week, so I'm going out for a joint birthday/ book release dinner with my family. Oh, and I've ordered a huge expensive box of luxury chocolates for myself. I have to order them for myself as my husband wouldn't dream of giving me chocolate!

Helen

Helen Scott Taylor said...

Hi Dianna,

I'm glad you like the sound of The Magic Knot. All my family are reading it at the moment. My inlaws have already given it the seal of approval (much to my amazement as my mil is not a fan of anything paranormal). I'm not quite sure what my parents will make of the story.

Helen

Helen Scott Taylor said...

Hi Margay,

Lovely to see you again.

I can't truthfully remember exactly how I chose to write about fairies. I knew I wanted to explore something a little different to the popular vampires and shape shifters. The first paranormal I wrote was about a parallel world where demons live, then I moved on to fairies. My brain works in odd ways!

Helen

Helen Scott Taylor said...

Hi Dianna,

Thank you for dropping by. Lovely to see you here. I hope you enjoy The Magic Knot.

One of the most enjoyable aspects of the AT contest was meeting the other contestents. We all got along so well and supported each other.

Helen

Helen Scott Taylor said...

Hi Caren,

Thanks for the warm welcome. I've had nothing but congratulations and support from all the writers I know. Everyone I know and many I don't have cheered me on and wished me well. I've found writers to be an incredibly supportive and friendly bunch of folk. The other lovely thing is that the writing community is international. I have made writing friends in Canada, Australia and all over America, as well as in the UK. Goodness knows what I'd do without the Internet!
Helen

Helen Scott Taylor said...

Hi Beth,

Thank you for the warm welcome.

So much has happened in the last eleven months since I discovered I'd won AT that I can't remember what I did to celebrate. But my guess is I went out to dinner. My celebrations usually include food, usually chocolate.

Helen

Minna said...

I just love paranormal books! My TBB list just keeps getting longer.

Adiemus
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXpulL9ZXGU

Beyond The Invisible
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMI67lbz0Qc&mode=related&search=

Queen - 'A Kind of Magic'
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0p_1QSUsbsM&feature=channel

Trish Milburn said...

Virginia, you and the GR are getting to be bosom buddies, aren't you? :)

Nancy, it is a strange dynamic that something that puts us in competition with each other turns out to yield something way better than contest wins -- wonderful friendships. Some of my absolute best friends are fellow GHers.

Trish Milburn said...

Helen (the commenter) mentioned your name, Helen (today's blogger). I don't know why, but I always think of the actress Kristin Scott Thomas when I think of your name.

Trish Milburn said...

Oh, and Helen (the blogger -- this is getting confusing), the GR we're mentioning is the famed Golden Rooster, the virtual (don't tell him that, he thinks he's real) awarded to the first commenter of the day. He's had many an adventure during his travels.

Joan said...

Welcome Helen!

Ooooo...sexy, Irish twins!

I love anything Irish and Celtic mythology is wonderful. I cannot wait to get this book!

Drat the 4 inches of snow! This means I might have to wait a day to get it! Darn, darn, darn!

Trish Milburn said...

Helen, we were recently talking among ourselves how cool it is to be able to "talk" to friends all around the world every day. Even among the Banditas, we represent Canada, Australia, England and 9 different states.

Trish Milburn said...

Ugh on the snow, Joan. We thought we might have freezing rain last night, but that's stayed up near the Kentucky state line. Just rain here. Man, it has been a dark, wet winter. Bleh.

Helen Scott Taylor said...

Hi Christie,

Thank you for the warm welcome. I'm glad you like the sound of my book.

Helen

Helen Scott Taylor said...

Hi Minna,

Thanks for stoppin by and leaving a comment. There are so many great paranormals out there it's difficult to keep up!

Helen

Helen Scott Taylor said...

Hi Joan,

I thought I was probably on safe ground with an Irish hero and a paranormal world rooted in Celtic mythology.

Hope your snow clears soon. It's been unusually cold in S.W. England this winter. We usually miss the really cold weather but it went down to minus 9 degrees centigrade one night. That is cold for us.

Helen

Helen Scott Taylor said...

Trish, I wondered what the Golden Rooster thing was about. Me, I'd rather have chocolates!

Helen

Joan said...

Me, I'd rather have chocolates!

So would the Golden Rooster, Helen! Ask anybody whose had him for a day. Hershey wrappers everywhere, Godiva chicken prints on the floors....{shakes head} It's a mess!

Becke Davis said...

Sometimes I wish I didn't follow this blog. My TBR pile has reached dangerous proportions, and yet, here I am, ordering another book writing by one of your guest authors! It sounds like a great read!

Trish Milburn said...

Treethyme, I know what you mean. There have been some wonderful books profiled here. Between that, my friends' books, and authors I already followed, I have literally hundreds of books on several bookshelves.

But hey, there could be worse addictions. :)

Keira Soleore said...

Helen, welcome to The Lair. A huge congratulations to you on your American Title win and release of your debut book.

Virginia, looks like you've convinced him to visit you despite the cold weather.

Helen Scott Taylor said...

He Treethyme,

Thank you for stopping by to read my interview. I'm glad you like the sound of The Magic Knot. I sympathise with you on the size of the tbr pile. I don't have a tbr pile, I have a whole tbr bookcase full of books.

Helen

Helen Scott Taylor said...

Hi Keira,

Thank you for the warm welcome and the congratulations!

Helen

Trish Milburn said...

Helen, what were the stories about that you wrote before The Magic Knot?

M. said...

Cool title. Gave me a chuckle thinking of little paranormal beings earning their Boy/Girl Scout badges by learning the various magical knots..

Irish twin pub owners transformed into fairies? Only the mind of a writer could achieve that!

Unknown said...

Hi Helen, I am so glad you came to the lair today! Congrats on your debut books release! The Magic Knot sound like a very intriguing read. I love to read anything that pertain to Irish men. I will be looking for this book. Do you see yourself every writing a historical?

I don't think the GR is real happy today because we have ice everywhere right now and our power keeps going off!

Kate Carlisle said...

Helen and Trish, great interview!!

I can so empathize with what you both went through, having been an American Title finalist in Round 3 of the contest--and I lived to talk about it! :-)

But you both seemed to have handled it very well and I'm glad you both have books out now! I can't wait to read THE MAGIC KNOT! It sounds fabulous! And the cover is beautiful. I'm ordering it today.

Virginia, people are starting to talk! Do you have a secret stash of Tim Tams we don't know about??? LOL. Have a fun day with the Feathered One!

Trish Milburn said...

Virginia, ugh on the ice storm. Those are the worst. Try to safe warm and safe. And, you know, the GR has been living it up in warm, sunny Australia a bit lately. He needs a dash of winter to make him appreciate it more. :)

Trish Milburn said...

Speaking of ordering Helen's book, everyone remember that all you have to do is click on the picture of Helen's book cover and it'll take you right to the Amazon page to order it. Thanks to Caren for putting that link in there as I misplaced my brain and forgot to do it when I posted the interview late last night.

Nancy said...

Helen, luxury chocolates sound like a great way to celebrate! I'm looking forward to reading this book.

Nancy said...

Trish wrote: Some of my absolute best friends are fellow GHers.

Like the 19 of your closest buds you blog with? *g*

But seriously--I think contests bring together, if finalists are lucky enough to show up for the conference, people who like similar things. That's no guarantee, of course. If someone's feeling competitive, that can get in the way of forging a connection.

On a given day, only one person can win, but multiple people out of a contest pool can sell. I hope this is good practice for the "big girls' sandbox" Helen has just entered. :-)

I feel really lucky to have made friends through the contest circuit. Even though I never see them because they live too far away.

Nancy said...

JT wrote: Hershey wrappers everywhere, Godiva chicken prints on the floors....{shakes head} It's a mess!

This is why people who have the rooster should have dogs or cats on hand, too. Y'know?

So how are the gladiators dealing with this interest in Celts of various sorts?

Or would Irish be Gaels?

Nancy said...

Treethyme, I hear you. Our blog is dangerous to the structural stability of my house. The TBR pile just gets bigger and bigger.

And heavier and heavier.

Did you know that a fully loaded bookcase exerts something like 4x the stress per square foot that a normal floor is built to take?

A structural engineer told me that, explaining why we could not have all those books upstairs. Seriously.

Nancy said...

Virginia, sorry about the power outage! I hope it comes back soon.

Cassondra said...

Welcome Helen, and mega-congratulations on your American Title win and subsequent release! This looks like a fantastic read. And that's a wonderful cover, btw. Very evocative. I predict great sales for you girl!

Virginia, you got him again! You go girlfriend! Hmmm.....makes me wonder if you two are in cahoots...

Cassondra said...

Trish said:

But hey, there could be worse addictions. :)


Amen Sistah! Keeps us off the streets and all that.

Trish Milburn said...

Did you know that a fully loaded bookcase exerts something like 4x the stress per square foot that a normal floor is built to take?

Oh, dear. My office is in serious trouble.

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

Hi Helen! Welcome to the Lair!

Virginia, great job on nabbing the chook. :>

What a great interview. My TBR pile is groaning as it is, but I see I'm going to have to add to it...A-gain...

Grins.

Thanks for being with us, Helen!
(off to read the REST of the comments)

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

My whole house is in trouble with the 4x the pressure deal, Trish. There are books and bookcases EVERYwhere. :>

Louisa Cornell said...

You got him this time Virginia!! And Trish, my brothers have a bet on when my floors will finally cave in from the weight of the books in my house!

Helen !! My Pixie Sister!! I am SO proud of you and SO excited to read The Magic Knot!

You've created an entire world with this book. Did you create it as you went along or create the world and then write the story. Do you have to keep notes so that you know everything about the world you have created? And what sort of research sources do you use?

catslady said...

OMG on the 4x - at least most of my books are already on the bottom floor but my b-i-l is always saying that my sister who has like 4,000 books in one bedroom is going to collapse one day!!

YOur book sounds fascinating and I love the cover!

Christine Wells said...

Helen, congratulations on your new release! Isn't it a beautiful cover? Thanks for the interview, Trish!

Isn't that lovely that while the two of you competed hotly for the number one spot in AT, you are so supportive of one another. I so admire you and all the banditas who have finaled and worked so hard to win votes in American Title. I imagine it was pretty daunting to be judged in public like that. Your book sounds like a great read, Helen and congrats on your reviews!

Martha Eskuchen said...

This book sounds so wonderful! And interesting to learn more of your background, Helen. Thanks for sharing here. (I may have already mentioned elsewhere- I love the cover too!) *G*

Helen Scott Taylor said...

Trish,

My first story was a short contemporary set on the Island of Jersey. The second was a paranormal romance called Passion Beyond Reason about a woman who inherits a cosmetics firm from her grandmother and discovers the secret ingredient in the anti-ageing face cream is demon's blood. I must submit that one. I got busy with The Magic Knot and the demon story got forgotten.

Helen Scott Taylor said...

M, glad you like the title. I'm rather fond of it. There are still Irish identical twins. But very different personalities.

Helen

Helen Scott Taylor said...

Hi Virginia,

Perhaps you should sit your GR on a hot water bottle in the airing cupboard. That's where my cat likes to go when it's cold out.

Funny you should mention writing a historical. I've been thinking about that a lot lately. I think it would suit my voice. Also, it would be a lot easier for me to write a British set historical as I'd get away with sounding more British. I have to go through my work and Americanise it at the moment.

Maybe I'll try a paranormal historical.

Helen

Helen Scott Taylor said...

Hi Kate,

I remember seeing your entries in ATIII. Weren't you a GH finalist the same year? I managed to do the same thing this year. It felt a little strange being a GH finalist when I knew I'd already sold the book. Of course, I hadn't sold before I entered. I'm glad I had a chance to final once. A great experience.

Helen

Helen Scott Taylor said...

Nancy,

I'm afraid everything is an excuse for chocolate!

Joan said...

Maybe I'll try a paranormal historical.

I'd read that in a heartbeat, Helen!

Our own Donna MacMeans had one come out last year The Trouble with Moonlight. It was fabulous!

Helen Scott Taylor said...

On the subject of going on to sell after contests, a huge percentage, or what feels like a huge percentage of the 2008 GH finalists have already sold. There are a lot of books coming from them in 2009.

Helen Scott Taylor said...

"Did you know that a fully loaded bookcase exerts something like 4x the stress per square foot that a normal floor is built to take?"

Yikes, my tbr bookcase is upstairs and it is a big floor to ceiling one. I've never thought about it before, but it must weigh a huge amount.

Helen Scott Taylor said...

Hi Cassondra,

Thank you for the warm welcome and congratulations. I hope your prediction comes true!

Helen

Helen Scott Taylor said...

Hi Jeanne,

Thank you for the warm welcome.

Gosh, I'm flagging now. It's 12.40pm here. I must go to bed soon. It's been a mad day.

Helen

Helen Scott Taylor said...

Hi Louisa!

I'm not organised at all. I don't make notes and I invent my world as I write. It all somehow falls into place. All I know before I start is who my main characters are and what they want out of life. They usually get something completely different of course. I discover the story as I write, which makes it fun. I go back and do the technical stuff to make sure it all makes sense when I've got the first draft down on paper.

Helen

Helen Scott Taylor said...

"YOur book sounds fascinating and I love the cover!"

Thank you Catslady!

Helen

pjpuppymom said...

Hi Helen! Welcome to the lair and congrats on both your American Title win and the release of The Magic Knot. I followed along with the contest in my RT magazine and am looking forward to reading your book.

Happy Birthday. Enjoy your celebration!

Helen Scott Taylor said...

Hi Christine,

Thanks for the congratulations. ATIV was a lot of fun and one of the best parts was the wonderful group of finalists. Glad you like my cover. I think the book cover fairies were smiling on me.

Helen

Helen Scott Taylor said...

MarthaE,

Thank you for your kind words. Glad you like the cover.

Helen

Helen Scott Taylor said...

Hi PJ,

Thank you for the congratulations. I have kept all my copies of RT. They are somewhere in my office although I may never be able to find them again as I'm a little untidy.

Helen

Helen Scott Taylor said...

Thanks for the reminder, Joan. I have The Trouble With Moonlight on my tbr bookshelf. I'll have to look it out. I have so many books I'd love to read and so little time to do so.

Helen

Helen Scott Taylor said...

Thank you all so much for welcoming me here today. 've had a lovely time.

I must go to bed now as my brain is already asleep! I tend to run on American time, which means I get up late and work half way through the night. Unfortunately my husband does the opposite!

Trish Milburn said...

Helen, it was great to have you here today. I hope you're getting some much needed rest since it's the wee hours there.

Oh, and I love the sound of your ms about the cosmetics and demon blood. Cool!

Joan said...

Thanks for visiting The Lair, Helen!