How
many of you have taken the leap and made a career
change? It seems that fewer and fewer people
these days stay in the same job. Perhaps
it has something to do with the world in which
we live. Everyone is always on the move. For
a mother, I think a new career is especially
hard because everything we do has an immediate
impact on the family. Speaking from my
own experience, I never thought I would be a
writer, but honestly my job suits the lifestyle
of my family perfectly. It's a win-win
situation for us which makes it all worthwhile.
 I first met
Gemma Halliday back in July at the annual Romance Writers of America conference
in Dallas. I had heard the buzz about her awesome mystery series
as well as her vivacious personality and I knew that she was someone I just had
to interview. Meeting her in person exceeded my expectations and what follows
is the conversation that we had concerning her exciting career. Like many
of us, she has made a career change (or two!) and luckily for her readers, it
was one of the best decisions she ever made. What an awesome writer (as
well as a genuine person)!
As part of
this interview, Gemma has graciously donated five copies of her latest release, UNDERCOVE R
IN HIGH HEELS. Find
this book in our catalog.
So don't forget to check for the trivia
question at the end of the column. Go grab a
Starbucks latte and get to know my friend, Gemma Halliday!
Jen:
To say that you have had a myriad of professions
in your short lifetime would be an understatement! I was amazed at your interesting line of credentials. So
that my readers can get a better understanding of you as a person, please tell
us a little bit about your educational and professional background.
Gemma: Yes, as my bio says, I've done just about everything. I
have a very short attention span, especially when it comes to jobs, so I tended
to move around. I've worked as a 900 number psychic, a temporary
tattoo painter, a teddy bear importer, and a department store administrator,
as well as doing background and feature acting in films and TV. And I'm
sure there are a few I've forgotten and left out.
As far as education, I did take tons of creative writing classes in college,
and I'd have to say that's where I really became interested in writing
as more than a hobby.
Jen: At what juncture in your life did you decide to
take a stab at writing and become an author? Had it always been a lifelong dream of yours? What
gave you that extra push to just do it?
Gemma: I've always loved to write, but what really made me hone in
on it as a career was a book that I read one day while home alone and bored out
of my mind. It was a romance book that had been sitting untouched on my
bookshelf for ages. I started reading it and, I'm sorry to say, it
was so very not indicative of the genre as a whole. It was awful. Terrible. One
of the worst books I've ever read. I thought, well, even I can do
better than this. So, I tried my hand at writing and quickly found out
it was a lot harder than I thought to write a terrible book, let alone a good
one.
Jen: UNDERCOVER IN HIGH HEELS is
the third book in your contemporary hip-chick, if you will, series. How did you arrive at
the premise for these delightful murder mysteries?
Gemma: Hip-chick – I love that! Well, I've always loved
reading mysteries, but had never tried writing one. Then I saw that the
Get Your Stiletto in the Door contest had a “Chick Thrill' category,
described as sort of a Bridget Jones meets Murder She Wrote. It sounded
like a lot of fun, so I tried my hand at combining the romances that I'd
been writing with the mysteries that I'd always loved to read.
Jen: Honestly, I was so taken in with your lead character,
Maddie Springer, who is a ball of energy with such a story to tell. How did you come up with
her? Is she you?
Gemma: Well… yes. :) Actually, there's a lot of me
in her. Whenever I'm stuck as to what should happen next, I always
think, “Well, what would I do?” and that's what Maddie does. Thankfully,
I don't eat quite as terribly as she does and I like to think I'm
not quite as accident prone. But I do thoroughly covet her shoe collection.
Jen: I have to say that Felix was my favorite character in this book. His
lines are hysterical and his scenes with Maddie are priceless. What do
you like best about him as a secondary character? Will we see him again
in your next book (if you have one in the works!)?
Gemma: I'm so glad! I'm half in love with Felix myself. He's
been a very fun character to write. I love his dry, British take on life. I
really wanted to add a new man in Maddie's life that was the polar opposite
if the tough, rugged Detective Ramirez, but also appealing in his own way.
And, yes, we will be seeing much more of him in the future.
Jen: What is your favorite part or scene of UNDERCOVER
IN HIGH HEELS? Which
part was the most challenging to write and why?
Gemma: My favorite part about writing this book was going back to my own days
working in the film industry and reliving some of those funnier moments through
Maddie and Dana. A lot of the settings and some of the situations and characters
in this book are based on things that actually happened to me while working in
Hollywood. (Though, no, I never stumbled on any dead bodies.)
The most challenging thing for me with this series is always keeping the romance
fresh. I think that's always hard to do when you're writing
about the same hero and heroine, creating new conflict for them and making sure
the romantic situations don't seem stale.
Jen: Your writing career thus far is quite impressive with a plethora of
awards and nods under your belt. As a writer, how has your craft developed
and matured in the sense that do you now feel more confident in your writing
ability than you did when you first started your career? What area of your
writing has shown the most improvement and how so?
Gemma: Thank you. Though, I honestly, I don't feel all that
much more confident now than when I started writing. :) I think with
each new project there's always the fear that this is the one where all
my creative juices have dried up and I won't be able to think of a single
interesting thing to say. But, I think just writing every day helps. The
more you do anything, the more comfortable you are doing it and, hopefully, the
better at it you become.
Jen: I have read that you are in negotiations with a major network to perhaps
bring Maddie Springer to the small screen. How exciting! Any news or updates
that you can share with us? (We promise not to tell anyone!!)
Gemma: Yes, I'm thrilled about this! My first book, Spying In
High Heels, was optioned for a TV series back in December and since
then the USA Network has been interested in adding it to their 2007/2008 lineup
of TV shows. At the moment, we're awaiting network approval on the
pilot script. I'm just dying to see how Maddie and Ramirez translate
to the small screen. I'll definitely keep you posted as things progress!
Jen: I see that you have started a blog and the premise
is really cool! Would
you mind telling us a little bit about it?
Gemma: Yes, I've banded together with five other romantic mystery authors – Jana
DeLeon, Christie Craig, Kathleen Bacus, Bethany True, and Leslie Langtry – to
create the Killer Fiction website and blog. We're having so much
fun. I tell you, these woman are a riot! We try to post something
new every day and have fun contests going on almost all the time. You can
come visit us at www.killerfiction.net
Jen: Do you have a website? Mailing list? E-mail notification of
upcoming releases and appearances? Do you participate in author phone
chats?
Gemma: You can visit my website here: www.gemmahalliday.com and
I have links to my blog, myspace, crimespace, and all those other fun networking
sites that I participate in. I do also have a newsletter that I send out
periodically that you can sign up for on my website.
I don't have a ton of appearances scheduled for this year, but what I do
have is also posted on the website as well, so feel free to check them out and
hopefully I'll see you in person soon!
Jen: What are you working on now?
Gemma: I just finished up the fourth Heels book, Alibi In High Heels,
due out in March of next year, where Maddie and the gang investigate murder in
Paris, France. I'm also just finishing up a novella called “So
I dated an Axe Murderer” that will be in the ‘These Boots are Made
for Strutting' anthology out with Dorchester in the Spring. This
one has a bit of a paranormal slant to it that I haven't yet done and,
I admit, it was really neat to try something new like this! And then next
I'm diving right in to the fifth Heels book.
Jen: Thank you so much for taking the time out of your busy schedule to
chat with my readers. It was such a pleasure meeting you in Dallas and
I look forward to seeing you next summer in San Francisco. Best of luck
with all of your exciting projects!!
Gemma: Thank you so much for having me, Jen! San Francisco can't
come quickly enough for me.
I hope you have enjoyed my
interview with Gemma. The first five readers
to e-mail me at jensjewels@gmail.com with
the correct answer to the following trivia question
will win a copy of her latest release, UNDERCOVER
IN HIGH HEELS. Good
luck!
All the books are
gone! Congratulations to Katie F., AnnaMarie S.,
June C., Kelly H., and Sally L.
What is the name of the first book in Gemma's
contemporary mystery series?
In two weeks, I will be bringing to you my interview
with Kimberly Raye, author of YOUR COFFIN OR
MINE? just in time for Halloween! You won't
want to miss it!
Until next time….Jen J
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Meet
the Author: featuring Jen's Jewels