FROM JOY NASH

answer comment # 1 (Cris)

Cris,

I'm so happy I could make your difficult day better! So far, I've had translations of some books into French, German and Norwegian. I hope to someday have my books translated into Italian. If you'd like to see my books in Italian, please send an email to customerservice@dorchpub.com - perhaps that will help!

answer comment # 3 (Laura)

Laura,

I never put all of a real person into my books - rather, I'll take just one habit or feature from a real person that is interesting and build a completely different person around it. Often, I use my own habits, experiences, or feelings to make a fictional character seem real. In a way, I think each character I create is a part of my own subconscious.

In the case of my aunt, in real life she was not at all like the nonna in A Little Light Magic, other than the shoplifting problem. Even so, I don't think I would have used this habit for my character if my aunt had not been dead for over twenty years.

I've never - yet! - had anyone recognize their own habits or features in my characters.

answer comment # 4-5 (Vitty)

Vitty,

Grazie tante!

answer comment # 6 (Sofia)

Sofia,

I am an architect in my day job, so I did not study writing or literature very much in school. I have always been a voracious reader, however, and you learn a lot about writing from reading. When I started writing my first book, I did take some online writing courses, and attended writers' conferences, which include many writers' workshops. I also learned a lot from the other writers in my writers group, which is part of the Romance Writers of America. Like most writers, I received a lot of rejections before I sold my first novel.

In the US, romances sell more copies than every other kind of book, but romance authors are less respected than authors of other genres. This is frustrating and sometimes hurtful. I like to meet with other romance writers, because we are all very good at supporting each other. Romance writers are very optimistic people, and are fun to be around!

answer comment # 7 (Hatshepsut81)

Hatshepsut,

I would love that! My foreign sales are handled through my publisher, Dorchester Publishing. Most deals for translations are made each year in Germany at the Frankfurt Book Fair. If the publishers know that readers want books in a particular language, I think they will be more likely to pursue translations in that language. My ancestry is Italian, and I love to write stories are connected to Italy, ancient Rome, or Italian-Americans. I think people in Italy would like to read my books in Italian. As I replied to a previous comment, if you'd like to see my books in Italian, you can always send translation requests direct to my publisher at

customerservice@dorchpub.com

answer comment # 9 (andreina)

My three sisters always read my books, and give me a lot of encouragement. I have one brother who loves my books also, and another who is too embarrassed to read them (though his wife does). My husband, of course, loves every one of my books, as I tell him that each of my heroes is modeled on him!

answer comment # 10 (MarchRose)

March Rose

It was fun writing A Little Light Magic, and putting it in the real, modern world rather than a historical or fantasy world. In this book, there are no horrible demons or monsters threatening my characters, and lots of humor and funny situations. But there is still the strong emotions between the characters - that will always be the same in any book I write.

There is magic in the book - Candle Magic. When I was young, I used to like to light candles in church. In the book, the heroine performs New Age magic spells with candles of various colors, while the hero's grandmother goes the traditional route and lights candles in her church. Both women get their prayers answered!

I've written more about the candle magic in A Little Light Magic for a blog I'm part of - you can read the post here: http://thechatelaines.blogspot.com/2009/05/candle-magic-and-little-light...