Emma Chase Interview
First of all I want to thank you Emma for
agreeing to
make this
interview. I’m a big fan of your books and I’m happy for having you on my blog!
And
now, let’s start.
1) First question: How do you describe
yourself with five (or more) adjectives?
Easygoing, Friendly, Imaginative, Playful, Unorganized,
2) Have you other passions besides writing?
I love to cook when I have the time – especially unusual, complicated dishes that my family hasn’t tried before.
3) Did you always want to be a writer? How
did you start? Do you remember the first story you wrote?
I do remember the first story I wrote actually, lol! It was in first grade, and it was from the point of view of a dish sponge – a little adventure in the life of a dish sponge. I remember it was published in the school newspaper and I was so proud (my mother probably still has a copy of the paper in her attic!).
I’ve always loved writing, for as long as I can
remember, and it was something I always imagined myself doing, even if it
wasn’t my main career. As for how I started – in first grade, I guess, lol. As
I got older, I made up ghost stories for my friends during slumber parties,
then wrote for the creative magazine in high school and on through college.
4) What are your favorite literary genres ?
Do you have one or more authors who inspire you?
Romance is my favorite genre – particularly historical romance - and while I can’t read it often these days (because it can affect my writing), I’m a fan of horror as well. Authors who inspire me are Johanna Lindsey, Julie Garwood and Stephen King.
5) Do you have a book of the heart and if so,
why it is?
Wuthering Heights. I love the passion and drama of it!
6) Do you have a quote that make you think
“Ok, this represent me so well”?
“It’s better to be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring.” – Marilyn Monroe
7) What you need when you’re writing? Is
there any sort of ritual you have to follow?
I need something to drink while I write – usually coffee or water or both – and my laptop. And I need total quiet. During the day, I like to write in my office because I can shut the door and it’s peaceful, but if I’m writing late at night (while everyone is asleep), I end up on the living room couch with my dogs cuddled up next to me.
8) Why did you choose to write erotic novels?
Have you ever considered writing in other genres?
I’ve always enjoyed reading romance novels, so writing stories that I’d like to read felt really natural. I’ve always thought of my books as more romantic comedy than anything else, although they are explicit, which tends to go along with the voice/personality of the narrator.
I’d like to write a thriller or maybe a horror story
one day, because, again, it’s what I enjoy reading but also because it would be
so different from anything else I’ve published before.
9) I love your novels being written by male
point of view and that your characters often interact with the readers (my
readers know that I like so much books with male pov!). What did you inspired
at writing from this perspective? Is difficult to enter in a male’s mind? Where
do you take your inspiration from?
Thank you! When I first started writing Tangled, it was actually in third person point of view. But I wasn’t happy with it. I wanted it to be sharper, quicker and more entertaining. Writing from Drew’s point of view always felt like the right way to go, because, as a character, his personality is so strong and eventually who Drew is became as entertaining as the actual plot of the story.
Since Tangled, I’ve continued to enjoy writing in the
male POV because I find my writing to be very free and flowing and not
self-conscious. It feels almost like my male characters can say or do anything,
because (they think) I and readers will love them anyway. Writing characters
that have very little boundaries makes for some very entertaining writing!
As for my characters speaking to the readers, it just
happened organically and felt genuine their personality.
Growing up, Ferris Beuller’s Day Off was one of my
favorite movies, so while I didn’t know it while I was writing, the scenes in
that movie when Ferris speaks to the audience, was probably an inspiration for
the first time my character spoke to the readers.
10) In Italy we have discovered you thanks the
“Tangled series” and we all fell in love with the main character, Drew Evans.
Drew is irreverent, uninhibited, egocentric, funny…and with only one thing in
his mind. Why do you think has he conquered the readers?
I think readers love Drew for the same reason I do – for the same reason Kate falls totally in love with him – because despite his spoiled, sometimes selfish and immature ways, he’s a good man with a good heart.
He’s honest and loyal, intelligent and so very funny.
He’s respectful and honorable, in his own way, and he loves deeply and truly.
Drew means well – even when things don’t seem that way – and he’s entertaining.
He shows readers a good time, and we adore him for it.
11) Now is time to talk of “The Legal Briefs”.
How do you describe this series to your readers? Where did the inspiration come
from?
The inspiration for the Legal Briefs series came while I was visiting Washington DC for a book signing. It was a warm, beautiful weekend and walking around the city, I noticed there were a lot of young, attractive people jogging through the parks or biking. My husband mentioned that many were probably lawyers (DC has the highest rate of lawyers per capita in the US). And just like that – the idea of writing about a law firm, with a few young, hot, hungry lawyers was born.
12) In “The Legal Briefs series” we can follow
the love-life of three sexy lawyers, Stanton, Jake and Brent. Have you 3 (or
more) adjectives to describe each one of them?
What I really adore about this series is that the three main guys are really very different in personality, so I’m going to describe them each separately. Stanton – persuasive, loyal, irresistible / Jake – protective, honest, intense / Brent – playful, funny, determined. (They’re all cocky, handsome and smart).
13) It’s
time to reveal the character I prefer. Drew is a fantastic and funny man but my
heart beats for Jake, the main character of “Sustained” (2nd novel
of the series). I think Jake is irreverent and uninhibited as Drew, but also
sweet, likeable and protective. My question is, which one of your characters do
you feel most attached to and why?
Ahhh!! Such a hard question to answer! Truly I adore each of them for very different reasons (listing all the reason would take up way too much space, lol).
But…if I have to pick…it would be a tie between Drew
and Jake.
Drew was my first character – and because his
personality is so very fun and loveable, because he has no boundaries and is
therefore never boring to write, he will always be special to me. BUT – there
is something so wonderfully layered and warm and funny about Jake Becker. I
love how deep and intense he is, how protective and sweet he can be without
ever having to try to be that way. Jake is another character that I will always
enjoy writing.
14) In “the Legal Briefs series” we read three love stories, but you talk also about
some other important themes: the loss of
loved ones, the difficulty to leave the past behind, the strength to cope with
a disability. What are the messages in this series that you want readers to
grasp?
Yes, I’m so glad you picked up on that! In some ways, I think the Legal Briefs Series is more mature, writing-wise, than the Tangled series. There is definitely more emotional depth to the stories.
I didn’t fully realize it at the time, but the overall
message in each of the books is how our past - who we were, the experiences we
had, our family and friendships – shapes who we end up being. In each of the
stories, there are events in the past that have a ripple effect for the adults
the characters have grown up to be. And in each of the stories, that past is
dealt with – either by making peace with it, moving on from it, or making up
for it.
15) In “Sustained” we meet six amazing kids.
Do you have some ideas for new stories based on them?
I’ve actually just announced that I’ll be publishing a novella in the Legal Briefs Series, titled, Sidebarred, that addresses this very question! All the characters in the series are included, but the main story focuses on Jake and Chelsea and all the kids. I was very satisfied with the ending and I think readers will be too. (I don’t have any info at this time on if the story will be coming to Italy, but I’m hopeful.)
16) Is
there a part of one of your novels that was extremely emotional for you to
write? Why?
The scene in Twisted, after Kate gets some bad news from the doctor, was very emotional for me. There were so many feelings that she was going through – loss and regret and so much sadness. Wanting to reach out to Drew, but feeling like she couldn’t. That was probably the most difficult scene in the entire series to write.
Also, the first scene between Jake and the Judge, when
the Judge asks, “Can you find him for me?” – that part crushed me. I cried
before I wrote it - while just thinking about it! It was emotional because of the
depth of feeling Jake has for the Judge. It was very intense and real, and
while sad…also beautiful at the same time.
17) Do
you already have ideas for your next novel? What can we expect from it?
I do! I’m working on it right now actually, and I am SOOOOO excited about it! More details will be coming soon J
18) What's a question you've always wanted to
be asked in an interview? How would you answer it?
Do you use your characters to express your own opinions? And the answer is no!
I adore my characters, as if they were my own friends,
my own family – but I don’t agree with everything they think or say. Their personalities
are different from my own. However, if saying or thinking a certain thing is
within *their* character, I will write it – even if I disagree with it –
because the character is telling the story, not me (and my characters tell much
more entertaining stories that I would)
;)
19) Before we conclude this interview, is
there anything else you'd like to tell at your Italian readers?
Yes! To my lovely Italian readers I want to say thank you!! Thank you for your beautiful support and for loving my characters as much as I do! Thank you for your messages and posts on Twitter and FB and Instagram – though I can’t always respond – please know that I see them, read them and I’m so very grateful for all of you! xoxoxo
Thanks again
Emma for the opportunity to ask you my questions, best of luck with your future
projects!
Thank you so
much! This was wonderful, I really enjoyed all of your questions J
