Read on Twitter
Annnnd just added this to my calendar for today, too 
https://twitter.com/theLindashow/status/1359127222246907909
https://twitter.com/theLindashow/status/1359127222246907909
Ooh this weekend is Ms. Bev's birthday! Happy birthday, Ms. Bev!
Jen: What do you hope for romance?
Bev: That we see more things like this. Focus on what romance really is. Maureen is supportive, Karen Bates with NPR is great.
Bev: That we see more things like this. Focus on what romance really is. Maureen is supportive, Karen Bates with NPR is great.
Garrett: stood for African American sailors in the Civil War
more focused on the history at the beginning of Ms. Bev's career because there was so much to tell, took a deep dive into the world of African American newspapers
"I try not to write the same book every time"
more focused on the history at the beginning of Ms. Bev's career because there was so much to tell, took a deep dive into the world of African American newspapers
"I try not to write the same book every time"
On Garrett being her first cinnamon roll character:
I didn't know that that was who he was going to be!
(Realized he was easygoing, laidback, willing to let her lead, no plans to change her, but it didn't diminish him as a character or as a man)
I didn't know that that was who he was going to be!
(Realized he was easygoing, laidback, willing to let her lead, no plans to change her, but it didn't diminish him as a character or as a man)
Ms. Bev thought of what Jen said about cinnamon rolls
"Ok, I think Jen will approve!"
Jen: his relationship with his mother--it makes sense that he would be like this
"Ok, I think Jen will approve!"
Jen: his relationship with his mother--it makes sense that he would be like this
Bev: Sometimes, the readers will ask for a side character to have a story, but I don't know enough about their back story to present it in a way to be of value. Spring told us enough about herself in Tempest--I was intrigued, also!
Jen: you never shy away from real stories, trauma, and tragedy, but your characters never seem to be victims
Bev: Be true to your characters. Give them pain, because none of us go through life without it. It comes in different forms, in different degrees, from different people
Bev: Be true to your characters. Give them pain, because none of us go through life without it. It comes in different forms, in different degrees, from different people
Look at who's in their circle, look at their hopes and their dreams, throw it all in a pot, put it on the stove, and let it cook for a bit.
Dorothy Sterling:
A historian who wrote We Are Your Sisters: Black Women of the 19th Century
African American women had 3 gifts:
-they worked
-commitment to community
-pushed envelope on gender and race (2nd woman with MD was Black)
A historian who wrote We Are Your Sisters: Black Women of the 19th Century
African American women had 3 gifts:
-they worked
-commitment to community
-pushed envelope on gender and race (2nd woman with MD was Black)
Black woman doctors went on to work in the South where they were the only doctors period!
Mary Ann Shadd was the first woman in North America to own a newspaper!
Mary Ann Shadd was the first woman in North America to own a newspaper!
Bev: I try to give my characters at least one of those (gifts), sometimes they have all three
Spring is sort of a loner, but she works and is pushing the envelope on gender and race
Spring is sort of a loner, but she works and is pushing the envelope on gender and race
Spring is not interested in being a mother
Bev: it doesn't diminish her or their love...I'd like to see more of that. Women who don't want kids should get their story, too!
Bev: it doesn't diminish her or their love...I'd like to see more of that. Women who don't want kids should get their story, too!
Villain resented that Spring was better at her job
Bev: he was a mess
Bev: he was a mess
Bev: she had to be better to be a success in an all-male world. "I'm going to be a badass"
On writing process:
At the beginning of the book, I'm still wandering through the desert like Moses looking for the Promised Land
At the beginning of the book, I'm still wandering through the desert like Moses looking for the Promised Land
Pantser: writing without a net, flying by the seat of your pants (don't do a lot of plotting, let the characters guide the story)
"I start with a piece of information, and if I'm quiet enough, the story will come"
"I start with a piece of information, and if I'm quiet enough, the story will come"
On Blessings series:
My stories come through me. They're not of me.
My stories come through me. They're not of me.
Jen: Have you incorporated personal stories from people?
Bev: I try not to do that. You can get in trouble! I have received letters or emails from descendants of some of the people I've written about.
Bev: I try not to do that. You can get in trouble! I have received letters or emails from descendants of some of the people I've written about.
On research:
I want to put too much history in the books. If your eyes start glazing over when you edit, it's too much!
You edit ruthlessly and it turns into 4 sentences, but I love going down the rabbit hole.
You never know what you're going to run into when you're down there
I want to put too much history in the books. If your eyes start glazing over when you edit, it's too much!
You edit ruthlessly and it turns into 4 sentences, but I love going down the rabbit hole.
You never know what you're going to run into when you're down there
Bev: I've got 4 bookcases in my office, and there are piles that are almost waist high in the hallway, and I keep buying books!
When I started, I used the library because I didn't have the resources that I needed. I just bought everything and brought it home, and it's a mess!
When I started, I used the library because I didn't have the resources that I needed. I just bought everything and brought it home, and it's a mess!
On romance tropes:
Like enemies-to-lovers, don't like secret babies!
Like enemies-to-lovers, don't like secret babies!
Engaging w/fans before social media:
It was mostly letters. I told the founders of my original fan club that I wanted to have a pajama party. We got all the addresses together, sent out notices. Some of those women are still with me today.
It was mostly letters. I told the founders of my original fan club that I wanted to have a pajama party. We got all the addresses together, sent out notices. Some of those women are still with me today.
Later: Yahoo! Groups, then Fbook (3 pages plus a spoiler page)
On fans: without them, we would not be here
On fans: without them, we would not be here
Jen: Somebody write me a historical romance set in the time of disco
Bev: Please no
Bev: Please no
Recommendations for getting through pandemic:
I can't wait for spring because I planted 1000 bulbs. The pandemic is my life--this lockdown is not different for me except for so many people dying.
I can't wait for spring because I planted 1000 bulbs. The pandemic is my life--this lockdown is not different for me except for so many people dying.
The only thing we as writers can control is what we write. We can make the world a better place with what we write.
Loving the last 10 questions! Ms. Bev would like to try being a carpenter BECAUSE SHE NEEDS MORE BOOKCASES!
Catch the whole livestream here:
Catch the whole livestream here:
Thank you to @authorMsBev @JenReadsRomance @lovessweetarrow and all the commenters for such a great chat! I love being immersed in romance readers and writers
To get a signed copy of Wild Rain (one of them has a SPECIAL PRIZE): https://shop.lovessweetarrow.com/product/wild-rain-women-who-dare/4755?cs=true
To get a signed copy of Wild Rain (one of them has a SPECIAL PRIZE): https://shop.lovessweetarrow.com/product/wild-rain-women-who-dare/4755?cs=true
