Questions and Answers with Margaret Mallory, Author of Knight of Passion

Please help me welcome Margaret Mallory, author of Knight of Passion (All the King's Men), who has agreed to answer a few questions so we can get to know her better.

Q. In your article How I Became a Writer you say that as an author you can bend characters to your will; that you "... have to torture them in some way first. Perhaps repeatedly. But I'll reward them with a happy ending." Do you ever find that the characters bend you to their will or torture you?

MM: Mostly my characters torture each other. I spend so much time with them that I become really attached to them. Getting their stories on paper, however, can be tortuous. For me, writing the first draft can be painful.

Q. Can you estimate how many hours go into research and how many into writing your book(s)?

MM: I can't really divide up the time, because the research never ends. I find I'm constantly having to go back to check facts or look up something new while I'm writing.

For example, I spent hours this week researching poisons. The poison I needed for my story had to come from a plant that would have grown on the Isle of Skye in 1513 -- and it had to make the victims vomit, not kill them. Questions like that come up all the time... ;)

Q. When you began Knight of Desire did you already have the three book plots in mind for the All the Kings Men series? Did the story Knight of Passion flow easily from the first two books in the trilogy?

MM:  The hard part for me is ending a series. Each time I write a book, certain secondary characters come alive for me and beg for starring roles in their own books.

I wrote the books in ALL THE KING'S MEN one at a time, without a plan for the series. I'd never been published, so I didn't know if the first one would sell. When it did sell, the publisher wanted a two-book contract, which I think is fairly typical. After I turned in both manuscripts, they were interested in a third.

Writing the books one at a time worked well for me with this first series. For my next series, however, I wanted to take the opportunity to plan it all out ahead of time. I'm very excited to report that my publisher liked the proposal, so you'll be seeing more books from me.

Q. You have stated at your website that it was a surprise to change your career from lawyer to writer. How has your family reacted to the change in career? Are they supportive?

MM:  My children, who are now 20 and 22, are a bit embarrassed that I write books that have steamy love scenes and shirtless men on the covers. At my son's request, I cut out all the love scenes -- literally with scissors -- from his copy of my first book. It wasn't good enough to black out the offending pages; they had to be gone. I did it, but I warned him I couldn't possibly cut out all the pages where my characters are thinking about doing it. That may explain why he still hasn't read it.

Frankly, I wish my mother had not read my books. I have visions of her standing in the romance section of her local bookstore checking IDs to be sure no one underage picks them up.

Joking aside, my family and friends have been amazingly supportive of my unexpected career change. All the relatives pass out my bookmarks at their kids' soccer games and in the grocery store line.

Q. What time period is your next book series set in and can you expound a bit on the research you hope to do in Scotland for that series?

MM:  I'm off to the Highlands! I'm working on a 4-book Scottish series that takes place on the Isle of Skye in 1513. After hearing of the disastrous Battle of Flodden against Henry VIII's forces, my four handsome Highlanders return from France to help their clan through the perilous times ahead. The four are willing to give their lives for their clan, but taking wives to further their clan's interests is another matter altogether...

I'm taking a trip to Scotland at the end of June to do research. Yay!!! I'm excited about seeing the Isle of Skye and various castles I'm using in the books. If the volcano in Iceland doesn't ruin my trip, I plan to Tweet and post photos on Facebook as I travel, June 24-July 5. I'll be in London the first day and hope to post photos of a couple places that are in KNIGHT OF PASSION. Follow me at: @MargaretMallory

Q. Have you had to learn any special steps/skills for promoting your books and career?

MM:  As your mother told you, be nice to everybody. It is also important to be reliable -- to meet your deadlines and commitments.

Promotion takes way more than I ever guessed! I try to remember, though, that the most important thing is to write the best books I can.

Thank you Ms. Mallory for sharing with us!

MM:  Thanks so much for having me! I'm happy to respond to comments or questions.