Ask the Author: Staci Troilo
Answered Questions (10)
Staci Troilo
Sorry in advance. I'm going to cheat and choose two.
The Wizard of Oz is one of my favorite movies. Has been since I was a young girl. The book is slightly different but equally as wonderful. I would love to go there and party with the Munchkins. I'd walk the yellow brick road, see if I could coax the trees to share their apples. And I'd want to see Emerald City... the spa there looks fantastic.
The other world I would want to visit would be Harry Potter's magical world. I'd want to tour Hogwarts (castle and grounds) and maybe take a class or two. I'd want to take a stroll through Diagon Alley and pop into the shops (especially Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes). I'd like to go to Hogsmeade for a butterbeer, then I'd go to the shrieking shack and take the shortcut back to Hogwarts through the whomping willow. I'd spend the night, enjoying the feast and chatting with ghosts, students, and professors, then I'd spend some time in Godric's Hollow before visiting the Burrow and chatting with Molly. She looks like a good cook, and I'm pretty sure she's got a lot of good stories to tell.
Great question!
The Wizard of Oz is one of my favorite movies. Has been since I was a young girl. The book is slightly different but equally as wonderful. I would love to go there and party with the Munchkins. I'd walk the yellow brick road, see if I could coax the trees to share their apples. And I'd want to see Emerald City... the spa there looks fantastic.
The other world I would want to visit would be Harry Potter's magical world. I'd want to tour Hogwarts (castle and grounds) and maybe take a class or two. I'd want to take a stroll through Diagon Alley and pop into the shops (especially Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes). I'd like to go to Hogsmeade for a butterbeer, then I'd go to the shrieking shack and take the shortcut back to Hogwarts through the whomping willow. I'd spend the night, enjoying the feast and chatting with ghosts, students, and professors, then I'd spend some time in Godric's Hollow before visiting the Burrow and chatting with Molly. She looks like a good cook, and I'm pretty sure she's got a lot of good stories to tell.
Great question!
Staci Troilo
My TBR list is huge. Many authors, many genres.
Of all of it, I'm most eager to read Mae Clair's Point Pleasant series, book 3: A Desolate Hour, which will release in July.
Of all of it, I'm most eager to read Mae Clair's Point Pleasant series, book 3: A Desolate Hour, which will release in July.
Staci Troilo
When I was planning my wedding, I lived with my parents to save money. An ex-boyfriend lived down the street with his wife and kids. He had broken up with me for her, and then they got married. I assumed they'd live happily ever after, as they were together so long, but once they lived near me, I saw that they had problems. A lot of problems.
I started seeing him every time I left the house. It was almost like he was waiting for me, but he never actually approached or said anything. I was happily engaged and not interested in whatever drama he brought to the table, so I ignored him.
One day, while I was out, my mom took a call for me. She said it was a man who sounded upset, but he wouldn't leave a message. I didn't think much of it. I had too many things going on (work, planning the wedding, preparing to move, renovating our new place) to dwell on a strange phone call.
Then came the police sirens.
My ex-boyfriend died of "a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the stomach" in his house. From a rifle. When his wife was home but the kids were out. Did I mention it was a rifle? A shot to the stomach? Self-inflicted?
I'm pretty sure it's clear how he died, so that's not too a big a mystery for me. What I'd like to know is whether it was my ex who called that day, and if so, what did he want to say?
I started seeing him every time I left the house. It was almost like he was waiting for me, but he never actually approached or said anything. I was happily engaged and not interested in whatever drama he brought to the table, so I ignored him.
One day, while I was out, my mom took a call for me. She said it was a man who sounded upset, but he wouldn't leave a message. I didn't think much of it. I had too many things going on (work, planning the wedding, preparing to move, renovating our new place) to dwell on a strange phone call.
Then came the police sirens.
My ex-boyfriend died of "a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the stomach" in his house. From a rifle. When his wife was home but the kids were out. Did I mention it was a rifle? A shot to the stomach? Self-inflicted?
I'm pretty sure it's clear how he died, so that's not too a big a mystery for me. What I'd like to know is whether it was my ex who called that day, and if so, what did he want to say?
Staci Troilo
This is difficult for me to answer. As an avid romance fan, I've read countless love stories, and each couple intrigues me for different reasons. I just can't pick a favorite. But if I'm pressed to name only one, I'll choose Catherine Anderson's couple from Always in My Heart. Ellie and Tucker Grant are divorced and have each (in appearance) moved on with their lives. But their kids have other ideas. The story that unfolds is a beautiful love story, and these two characters have such a deep love that you can't help but remember them as a fabulous couple.
Staci Troilo
Don't get angry. I don't really get writer's block. There are days I know what I want to say but can't figure out the right way to say it, but that's different than not knowing what to say at all. When that happens, I just write poorly. I can always clean up bad writing later. For people who don't know what to say at all? Well, I'd say write anything. Write gibberish if you have to. Eventually that will turn into crappy words, which will turn into something better. And then you'll have a story, which you can then go back and edit later. Who knows? The gibberish may end up being fodder for your next story, anyway.
Staci Troilo
That's hard to say. The answer will be different for everyone. It's probably different for me every day. But I think having a creative outlet for all the things I want to say is pretty darn satisfying.
Staci Troilo
Gone are the days when you could just write a book and then write another. Just as important as writing is connecting with your readers. I don't like to think of it as marketing so much as building a rapport with your fans. Have a website so they can find you, build your email list so they have a way to get your updates. Keep up with a few social media sites so new readers can find you. Having a good product is crucial. Writing more good books is also important. But if no one knows you're doing it? Then what's the point?
Staci Troilo
A sweet PNR about a woman who just lost her mother and the doctor who had treated her. The things keeping them apart and drawing them together are fun for me to play with... I can't say more than that without giving away a crucial part of the plot.
Staci Troilo
So many different ways. Dreams. Song lyrics. Conversations. People-watching. Movie or television plot descriptions (then watching them and they don't go anywhere near the way I envisioned). News stories. The list is endless. Anything can spark an idea.
Staci Troilo
I'm working on a novel called Whispers for Faith. Two of the characters in it came from a prior novel called Love Set in Stone. Whispers for Faith was conceived to be part of a box set and had to meet certain criteria: it had to have an angel in it and it had to be a sweet romance. I'd already had two characters I liked and I'd already written a short story that kind of appealed to me, so I morphed the ideas together, and a series was born.
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