Beth Ciotta writes western historical romances for Medallion Press as well as contemporary romances for HQN. Her contemporary romance, All about Evie, won the 2007 Golden Leaf award and recently won the RT Reviewer's Choice award for best contemporary romance. 

Her most recent western historical novel, Romancing the West, was also nominated for the 2007 RT Reviewer's Choice Award. A true renaissance woman, Beth successfully pursued a professional singing career for over twenty-five years, as well. Her latest western historical romance, The Fall of Rome, will be released next month.

Visit Beth's web site to find out more about this multi-talented author!

What was the first Western historical novel you remember reading?

Savage Thunder by Johanna Lindsey. That book was also the first romance novel I'd read in ages. I picked it up on a whim. Devoured it in one night. That was fifteen years and hundreds of books ago, but I remember well how I felt when I reached 'The End'. I was overwhelmed with a sense of hope and joy and everlasting love. I thought to myself, I want to do this. Write stories that make people feel like I feel right now. It was the beginning of my love affair with reading and writing romance.

The biggest difference is the amount of time I spend on research. Don't get me wrong, my contemporaries, depending on where they're set, the Hero/Heroines occupations, etc., require research. But at least I'm familiar with twenty-first century everyday life. I'm living it. Everyday life in the 1800s is far and away from anything I've experienced. Did they have toothpaste? How did they handle refrigeration? What are the correct terms for women's multiple slips and undergarments? What's the firing distance of a Colt .45? How far can a horse travel in a day? I didn't want my reader to be jolted by an anachronism, so I took nothing for granted. Once I spent three hours trying to figure out how a woman, hindered by petticoats and bustles, got up into a specific carriage. I finally learned that a step folded down. Three. Hours. It wasn't imperative to my story, but I had to know!

Character and plot development-hands down. I'm not big on character charts and outlines. I'm a seat-of-the-pants writer. In the beginning, I have a feel for my characters, an idea for the plot, a basic synopsis. The thrill is getting to know my characters as I go. The rush is when the characters take on lives of their own and take over the story. The first draft is my discovery draft, the thrill ride-lots of highs and lows. The second draft is a joy because, now that I know the characters and the story, I can weave in more layers. At that point I also tighten the writing

You have a distinctive, almost quirky, authorial voice that infuses a lot of humor into your stories. Any influences you can attribute that to? 

Distinctive and quirky. I like that. Thank you! As to specific influences, I can't think of any. I read several sub-genres of romance and I'm also a big fan of mysteries, and thriller/suspense. I also enjoy traditional westerns. I read and enjoy first and third person. Male and female writers. I'm a huge movie buff from way back. I see and hear my stories in my head like a film. Probably why I'm heavy on the dialogue and action, light on description. I've never tried to sound or write like anyone. I write from my heart and what comes out is uniquely me. Hence, the distinct, quirky voice. Luckily, there are readers who 'get me'.

With writing, promoting and all that goes into getting published, time management is often difficult. Do you have any tips on how to make it all work? 

I am the worst person to ask because the way I make it work is by not having a life. I currently work a full-time day job plus write two books a year. I also maintain my own website, blogs (yes, plural) and handle booking or creating my promotions. Squeezing in the occasional booksigning and conference is also important. By not having a life, I mean that I've given up TV, hobbies, and any semblance of a social life. Oh, and regular housekeeping, though I'm not too sad about that one! That said, I can't go on like this forever. One must live life to write about it. In the near future, I hope to manage my time in a more rounded and healthy way.

Oh, wait. I do have a tip. Pinpoint time suckers and eliminate them. Or at least shave them down. How much time do you spend participating in various on-line loops? Surfing blogs (or the Internet in general)? Watching TV? Give up a one-hour drama and you've just gained an hour of writing time. Snip and shave here and there. You'll be surprised how the time adds up.

The Fall of Rome, your latest western historical romance, is primarily about Rome Garrett-a notorious playboy and all around alpha male. Rome is one of four Garrett brothers of Paris Garrett Grant who was the heroine in the first novel of the series, Lasso the Moon. Had you planned from the beginning to tell her brothers' stories and what made you decide to highlight Rome's particularly? 

Yes, I'd hoped to write a story for each brother from the very beginning. I fell in love with every one of them when I wrote Lasso the Moon. There are chapters and scenes highlighting the brothers that I eventually cut from that story because they weren't needed. But those scenes cemented the brothers in my heart and mind. Especially Rome. Probably because, out of the four of them, he intrigued me the most. On the outside, a typical bad boy/charmer. On the inside . . . let's just say I knew there was more to him then met the eye. I didn't know what that was exactly until I wrote his story. Getting to know Rome was frustrating, enlightening, and heart-warming.

The men in this series seem so very real and distinctive. Did you grow up with brothers or have any male influences that you drew on to create the Garrett brothers? 

I think the Garretts are influenced by my fairytale 'idea' of a hero and the heroic qualities of the real men in my life like my husband and select friends and family. Not that I was thinking about anyone in particular when I wrote each brother. But surely I draw from what I know and embellish.

If you were to choose two actors to play Rome and the heroine, Kat Simmons, who would they be and why? 

That's easy. Brad Pitt and Julia Ormond. The male and female stars of Legends of the Fall. I'd always envisioned Pitt when writing Rome. A beautiful man with layers. Then I happened upon this still shot of Pitt and Ormond from the aforementioned movie and that sealed it. It was all in their eyes. The longing, the regret. Star-crossed lovers. Rome and Kat.

In this latest book, London Garrett and Athens Garrett tie up loose romantic ends also, but not Boston Garrett. Are you planning to tell Boston's story in his own book? 

In the immediate future, I'll be concentrating on my contemporaries. But never say never!

And finally, can you share with us some of your favorite western romances by other authors?

Too many to name! Any western romance written by Johanna Lindsey, Linda Lael Miller, Patricia Potter, Lori Copeland or Julie Garwood. I admire these writers for capturing my imagination and heart again and again. I can only hope to do the same for others.

Thank you, Beth, for being in our spotlight! 

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