Mariposa's Musings

How do you manage your different writing tasks (research, writing, promo, editing)? Regina Duke : I like to say that I write every day, or spend time every day doing a writing-related task, such as editing. But during the preparation of Calin’s Cowboy, I had to take breaks and ended up working on other projects or sitting in the corner with my knitting, rocking to and fro. LOL! It was a big job! It is very hard for me to write and promote on the same day, as it turns out, so I have had to modify my schedule a bit. On the days I do a lot of promotion, I cannot write until bedtime. On days I do a lot of writing, I don’t even read email. I used to be a lot better at multitasking. Editing is the biggest challenge for me. By the time I begin implementing my editor’s and readers’ suggestions, I have already done two or three rewrites and edits myself. It takes a huge effort to sit down and work on it again. But once I start, I am pleased when my book draws me back in and I get all...

What inspired you to become a writer?   I would have to say the youth program at my childhood church on the island of Nevis in the West Indies. I began writing plays, poems, and songs at a very early age for the Youth and Sunday school programs.  Later, I wrote love poems and short stories in high school.  However, when it comes to romance, I got my inspiration from Mills & Boones, Regencies, and Historical Romance novels.  I devoured them, sometimes four in a week from the time I was twelve years old.  There was one point when I’d read all the romances in the library, and had to wait for new shipments—a very frustrating period for me. Who are your favorite romance characters (besides your own?)   I like the alpha males in Harlequin Presents books.  Some readers think them cruel, but I consider them strong, independent men, who know what they want, and who are not above threatening and blackmailing the heroines into pleasing situations for bo...