I had the opportunity to chat with talented author.  So, without further delay let’s hear from…

Marisa Chenery

Did you always want to be a writer of did you have your sights set on something else? 
I always wanted to be a writer.  I was 17 when I tried writing my first book.  Even though I never finished it, I still have it sitting downstairs in my basement.  It wasn’t until I had three of my four kids that I really took it up again.  It was my dream job.  I could stay at home with my kids and write.

How did you get started?  What did you find to be the most difficult part of getting published? 
It was almost 12 years ago that I started getting hooked on romance novels.  I read so many of them I decided to write one of my own.  I think the most difficult part of getting published was getting a publisher to actually look at a full manuscript of mine. 

I read you love historicals. If you could go back in history, where would you go and why?
Historical romances were my first love.  If I could go back in history I would love to go back to medieval England.  I love the whole knight in shining armor thing. 

Tell us what makes Marisa tick?
I’m a pretty quiet type of person, a little on the shy side.  As long as I have a good book to read, my laptop to write on and I am able to go to the gym a couple times a week, I’m happy.

You write in several genres, do you have a favorite and why is it your favorite?  Is there a genre you would like to try? 
I do have a favorite genre.  It would have to be werewolf romances.  I love the whole shape shifter idea.  I’ve thought of writing a time travel romance.  I’ve had an idea for a book in my head for a couple years now, but other stories keep pushing it aside. 

Do you believe in happily ever after?  Have you found yours?
Yes, I definitely believe in happily ever after.  I like to think I found mine.  My husband and I met when I was 19 and we will have been married 20 years this May.

Tell us some of your favorites…foods, movies, music, authors, books, colors, and any others you want to share?
My favorite food would be Chinese and Indian, the spicier the better.  Some of my favorite movies are A Knight’s Tale, 300 and all the Pirates of the Caribbean movies.  My favorite music would be pop and a little bit of rock.  I don’t have any favorite books, just favorite authors I like to read.  I love all of MaryJanice Davidson, Sherrilyn Kenyon and Karen Marie Moning’s books.  My favorite colors are pink and black.  

Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?  What was the best advice you received when you were starting out? 
The best advice I could give would be never to give up on your dream.  If you work hard enough at it, you’ll get it.  The best advice I got was actually from a book MaryJanice Davidson wrote called Escape the Slush Pile.  It was from reading her book I learned exactly what epublishing was all about.

Do you enjoy hearing from your readers and what is the best way to contact you? 
I love hearing from my readers.  The best way to contact me would be my email through my website listed on my bio page.

How do you promote your work?
I do a few things to promote my work.  I have MySpace, Facebook (which I’ve become addicted to.), my own website and my own rooms at Liquid Silver Books’ forum and at Coffee Time Romance’s forum.  I’m also a featured member at The Romance Studio.  One day I hope to be able to do a book signing.

How do you find a balance between writing and family? I read you have four children? 
It can be tricky at times trying to find the time to write in between shuttling my four kids back and forth to school and the rest of the things that need to be done at home.  I tend to be one of these people who have routines and sticks to them.  I usually write twice a day at the same time everyday.  That way everyone knows I’ll be busy and tend to leave me in peace then, most times.

How do you celebrate after finishing a book or meeting a deadline?
I usually celebrate by having a glass of wine with my husband.  He sometimes gets ignored while I’m trying to finish a book, so it’s also my way to make it up to him.

What is your guilty pleasure?
I think my guilty pleasure would be all the time I spend on the internet.  I’ve been addicted to it for years.

Is your family your greatest support system?  Do they read your work? 
Yes, my family is my greatest support system, especially my father.  My family does read most of my books, but my father reads them all.  He’s a retired teacher and he’s my proofer of all my books.

Is there anything else you would like to share with us?  Any new or upcoming releases?
I submitted my first fantasy romance to Liquid Silver Books.  I also just finished writing my second werewolf romance novel, which is the sequel to Beowulf and Roxie.  So far Beowulf and Roxie has been my biggest seller.