Ask the Author: Regan Walker
Answered Questions (12)
Regan Walker
No, I haven't. Didn't know it was out. I read the 3rd and didn't think it was as good as #1 and #2 but it was still an adventure and I do like adventures. Have you read it?
Regan Walker
Hi, ShelIie. I'm so glad you enjoy my "best lists". To answer your question, I can't recall why I left Claire off. Possibly, she didn't come across as truly noble or not as inspiring as some other heroines. I have not read Suzanne Enoch. Is there a historical by her you recommend?
Regan
Regan
Regan Walker
I'm turning my attention to Rogue's Holiday, book 5 in the Agents of the Crown series.
Regan Walker
Well, if you are asking about my stories, it's a hard question, but I would probably go with Tara and Nick in WIND RAVEN in the Agents of the Crown series and, in the Medieval Warriors series, Emma and Sir Geoffroi in ROGUE NIGHT. But I'm writing one now, ECHO IN THE WIND, a Georgian, that features my favorite hero, Jean Donet (first seen in TO TAME THE WIND). If you are asking about fiction other than my own, I would say Arwen and Aragorn in The Lord of the Rings.
Regan Walker
Hi, Anne. As it says in the book's description, "This is the inspirational version of Rebel Warrior, also published in 2016." The story is essentially the same, however, the book was entirely re-edited to make The Refuge a stand alone, enhance the faith elements, delete a few things that might offend Christian readers (the love scene and the implied Northman rape of Catriona's mother). For readers who prefer "clean" romance, this is the version to buy and because the paperback cover features Scotland on both front and back, it makes a nice gift. Thanks for asking!
Regan Walker
Oh yes, Beverly... First, there are already 6 in the series (3 are novellas). And Jean Donet's story and a new Christmas Agents of the Crown book are coming in 2017. This is the Recommended reading order:
To Tame the Wind
Racing with the Wind
Against the Wind
The Shamrock & The Rose
The Twelfth Night Wager
The Holly & The Thistle
Wind Raven
Coming in 2917: Echo in the Wind and A Secret Scottish Christmas. Sign up for my newsletter on my website and get all the news: http://www.reganwalkerauthor.com/
To Tame the Wind
Racing with the Wind
Against the Wind
The Shamrock & The Rose
The Twelfth Night Wager
The Holly & The Thistle
Wind Raven
Coming in 2917: Echo in the Wind and A Secret Scottish Christmas. Sign up for my newsletter on my website and get all the news: http://www.reganwalkerauthor.com/
Regan Walker
It usually starts with an idea for a character. Then I research the history and see what calls to me. When I decide on a specific period, I do more research and then I seek out music that will go with it. Like a movie score. I put the music and research together and the rest is magic.
Regan Walker
First, I'd suggest reading a book or two on writing a story... understanding what "point of view" is and what is critical to drawing readers in. Then, write the story. If you are a plot person, you might want to draw up a plot. I am not so I just do my historical research and begin thinking of a story arising out of the history. Once you've got a first draft, get some critical eyes on it. Then get a good editor. And finally, examine carefully your publishing options.
Regan Walker
Being able to dive into the past through my research and my stories. Creating a whole world where my characters live and love. And working from my home, setting my own hours.
Regan Walker
I have written articles on this, but here's the short list:
1. First, I go back and edit the last few chapters, sometimes I go all the way back to the beginning. Along the way, I pick up new ideas, so when I hit the end of what I’ve written the next words sometimes just flow, along with the next scenes.
2. Sometimes, I just force myself to stay at my computer and put words on the page, saying to myself I will come back and fix whatever is wrong tomorrow. Surprisingly, I find I have less to fix than I had first thought. It doesn’t work all the time, but when it does, I pat myself on the back for being willing to slog through the difficult parts.
3. When I can, I might skip to later scenes, maybe even the end if I have a thought of how I want to bring the threads together. Often those out of place scenes fit in just fine with I get to them. It happened in To Tame the Wind. I saw Claire being forced to leave Simon and Simon, though loving her, being forced to let her go. I wrote that scene before I was 30K words into the story.
4. Since I’m an author of historical romance, I might dive into the history a little deeper to see if any ideas come to me. My stories are driven by history and real historic figures so this can give me an idea of a new scene or a new character.
5. I go to lunch with one of my critique partners and tell her where I’m stuck. She may make a suggestion that has me saying, “Yes! Great idea.” And then, when I get home, I can’t wait to begin writing again. I always take pen and paper to those luncheons so I can capture the idea as we are discussing it.
6. I might read a book. Somehow diving into an absorbing romance written by someone else takes me out of the stuck place. It works like greasing the skids. But I don’t reach for this too often as it takes me farther away from my own story.
7. Lastly, when all else fails, I take a break. I take a walk with my Golden Retriever, go shopping, listen to music (which often inspires scenes), or I bake (yes, I love to bake; you can see a few of my recipes on my website). There’s always Facebook, and email too, but I do those most days so they aren’t much of a break.
The point is to do whatever you can to move past the blank page—past that place where nothing is coming to you.
1. First, I go back and edit the last few chapters, sometimes I go all the way back to the beginning. Along the way, I pick up new ideas, so when I hit the end of what I’ve written the next words sometimes just flow, along with the next scenes.
2. Sometimes, I just force myself to stay at my computer and put words on the page, saying to myself I will come back and fix whatever is wrong tomorrow. Surprisingly, I find I have less to fix than I had first thought. It doesn’t work all the time, but when it does, I pat myself on the back for being willing to slog through the difficult parts.
3. When I can, I might skip to later scenes, maybe even the end if I have a thought of how I want to bring the threads together. Often those out of place scenes fit in just fine with I get to them. It happened in To Tame the Wind. I saw Claire being forced to leave Simon and Simon, though loving her, being forced to let her go. I wrote that scene before I was 30K words into the story.
4. Since I’m an author of historical romance, I might dive into the history a little deeper to see if any ideas come to me. My stories are driven by history and real historic figures so this can give me an idea of a new scene or a new character.
5. I go to lunch with one of my critique partners and tell her where I’m stuck. She may make a suggestion that has me saying, “Yes! Great idea.” And then, when I get home, I can’t wait to begin writing again. I always take pen and paper to those luncheons so I can capture the idea as we are discussing it.
6. I might read a book. Somehow diving into an absorbing romance written by someone else takes me out of the stuck place. It works like greasing the skids. But I don’t reach for this too often as it takes me farther away from my own story.
7. Lastly, when all else fails, I take a break. I take a walk with my Golden Retriever, go shopping, listen to music (which often inspires scenes), or I bake (yes, I love to bake; you can see a few of my recipes on my website). There’s always Facebook, and email too, but I do those most days so they aren’t much of a break.
The point is to do whatever you can to move past the blank page—past that place where nothing is coming to you.
Regan Walker
My most recently published book, Wind Raven, is an unusual Regency as it's set on a schooner and in ports of call far flung from London (though it begins there). I was fascinated by the sailing ships of the period and wanted to give readers a realistic adventure on one of them. See if you agree whether I accomplished my purpose!
Regan Walker
I just finished my medieval THE RED WOLF'S PRIZE, which will be released October 1. Set in England in 1068, two years after the Conquest, it's a tale of a Norman knight and an English maiden betrothed by William I. Now I've turned my attention to research for my next book, the prequel to the Agents of the Crown trilogy, TO TAME THE WIND. It will be set in France and England in 1783 and feature a privateer hero, Simon Powell and the daughter of a French pirate, Claire Donet.
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