Hi everyone,

This is Marie-Claude. With only 7 days left until the competition starts at www.romantictimes.com , the American Title V finalists are starting to become really nervous. How to get all these votes? But regardless of who gets voted off at the end of November, I know that all the contestants have fabulous stories to share.

So let’s hear today from Qaey Williams, a computer science elementary school teacher who finaled with a romantic suspense set in Alaska and titled IN A LOVER’S SILENCE.

Before I start, let me announce the winner from last Thursday… PamK. Congratulations !!!

M-C: Welcome Qaey, nice to have you here. I’ll ask you the same thing I asked Tamara and Edie, what is the first thing you did when you found out that you were an American Title V finalist.

Qaey: I gaped at the email from the RWA member who told me I’d been selected. I hadn’t got to the email from the RT representative. I then stared at the computer in stunned amazement before emailing my mom and the members of my RWA groups to let them know my book had been chosen.

M-C: That must have been a shock to hear it from someone else before reading the email from RT. Has the final changed things for you with your writing goals? I know you are published in e-press, you must be busy.

Qaey: Yes and no. I’m still focusing on gaining a print contract but my daily writing seems to be slowing down. I know I need to focus on the stories I’ve outlined, but I’m definitely going to have to shake off this lethargy and get cracking on my next book.

M-C: Well, you are certainly entitled a break after all this success. Can you tell us what IN A LOVER’S SILENCE is about?

Qaey: It’s a story of a bill collector, Wynne Smith, who is determined to ferret out the identity of a killer’s next victim while fighting off the attraction she’s developing for the Deputy US Marshal who arrived on her doorstep. Seth Vassar traveled from Texas to Alaska to get answers about a childhood friend’s murder, but he didn’t expect to be so attracted to the woman whose suspicions had uncovered a serial killer’s hunting pattern.

M-C: Alaska is certainly getting a lot of publicity these days. Where did you get the idea for this story?

Qaey: While I lived in Alaska, one of the jobs I had was bill collecting. As part of my duties, I would sometimes use Credit Bureau Reports to try to locate debtors. During one of my locating attempts, I ran across a report that had numerous names and social security numbers on it. My imagination took over and spun a wild tale of Witness Protection and murder—if you knew me you’d understand how I could come up with something so insane from a mundane item.

M-C: It’s amazing how some small regular things can sparks our imagination, isn’t it? How would you best characterize your writing style or tone?

Qaey : Character-driven, edge-of-your-seat, brisk, witty, and hot!

M-C: Hot? Great. How is that?

Qaey: The sexual tension between the characters makes the budding relationship between Wynne and Seth very hot. And it’s quite the scorcher (according to some of my critique partners) once they do the “wild thing”. LOL.

M-C: This looks fun. How do you think this sexy writing style came about?

Qaey: I think the one characteristic that defines my writing style is the relationship developing between the characters. The nuances involved in the courtship dance taking place on the page is just as important as the events surrounding the characters that drew them together to begin with. It’s these subtle cues and the relinquishing of control that intrigue me. How people interact, learn, play, and love has always fascinated me. Putting that journey down on the page teaches me more about society and gives me hope for a happily ever after for everyone.

M-C: Now I am very curious to read this. So this story is more character-driven then?

Qaey: This story is definitely character-driven. It’s the relationship developing between Wynne and Seth that draws the reader in and their interactions that keep the pages turning. (At least that’s what my critique partners have told me. LOL)

M-C: How does the AT finalist theme of “Love Conquers” relate to IN A LOVER’S SILENCE?

Qaey: The challenge for Wynne and Seth goes beyond facing a killer. Each of them needs to confront their own fears associated with committing themselves to another person.

M-C: Can you describe the pace of your book?

Qaey: I’ve been told In a Lover’s Silence is a fast paced, edge-of-your-seat kind of story. One person even told me she didn’t want to put it down but had to force herself to do so because she had to get some sleep before going to work.

M-C: What kind of heroine is Wynne?

Qaey : I have a quirky, intelligent heroine who keeps both the hero and the killer on their toes. She forces herself to ignore the attraction and focus on convincing Seth to let her help. When she finally does give in, she isn’t afraid to meet Seth more than half-way.

M-C: Is Seth an alpha or beta type hero?

Qaey: Seth is such an alpha it’s a good thing Wynne isn’t afraid to stand up to him when necessary. When dealing with Wynne, Seth learns quickly not to underestimate her stubborn nature and her quick wits.

M-C: And how is your villain?

Qaey: My villain has been called scary and creepy, which is just what you want your bad guy to be considered. He’s a complete stranger to my heroine and hero, but near the end of the book an odd similarity is revealed. (I’m not going to give it away—so don’t ask me to, please.)

M-C: No I won’t. I definitely want to read this. So let’s not spoil the ending! Do you have any more projects in the work beside your American Title V entry?

Qaey: I have a book, Diablo Blanco Club: Unfair Advantage, releasing on December 9^th through Loose Id, LLC. It is a prequel to my first ebook, Santa’s Elf. I am also working on a sequel to a novella connected to my first two Diablo Blanco Club books, a third novella connected to the Diablo Blanco Club, and another romantic suspense novel with a military hero.

M-C: Wow, you are busy. If readers want to know more about you and your writing, where on the web can they find you?

Qaey: I have a website with a fellow Loose Id, LLC author, Jennifer Cole, under my pen name, Qwillia Rain—
www.freewebs.com/clubdiabloblanco

I also have a MySpace page under my pen name—
www.myspace.com/qwilliarain

I contribute to four different blogs:
http://diabloblancoclub.blogspot.com/

http://georgiascrossroadscafe.blogspot.com/

http://midnightseductionsauthors.blogspot.com/

http://looseidauthors.blogspot.com/

And a Facebook page under Qaey Williams

M-C: You are certainly well represented on the web. I encourage everyone to go visit Qaey and learn more about all her project. Maybe pick up her latest release from Loose Id.

Thank you so much for coming today Qaey. Who will you interview on Thursday?

Qaey: Wynne Smith. Getting her to talk isn’t difficult, unlike trying to get answers from Seth.

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Well, I’m looking forward to it. Thanks, Sylvia, for having us here today, and thanks to everyone for visiting. Don’t forget to post a comment. There are still great prizes to win!

See you all on Thursday!

Marie-Claude Bourque

www.mcbourque.com

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