THE INCOMPARABLE CARMEN GREEN

by Wayne Jordan

Carmen, tell us a bit about THE PERFECT SEDUCTION”?

The Perfect Seduction is the story about a woman who is damaged goods in her own mind.  Loren Smith shelters herself away from the world after being viciously attacked by an ex boyfriend.  She begins a new career, and becomes a recluse.  Then a fire forces her into the world, and there she meets Robinson (Rob) Hood, and man who has a lot of experience seeking vindication for people who have been wronged by others.  Although Rob's track record is excellent, Loren doesn't want her life to taint Rob's, but he won't be deterred.  He avenges her attack, and in the process helps Loren realize that her beauty is far deeper than what is on the surface.  Their love story is absolutely beautiful.  

In 2009, you wrote a book for Silhouette Special Edition.  Any more SSE in the works?

What prompted you to branch out into another Harlequin line? Yes, I have another book in the works for Special Edition.  I absolutely love working with my editor Charles. He let's me take chances and that's an awesome feeling. My story, The Husband She Couldn't Forget dealt with Traumatic Brain Injury, and that isn't something you see in a romance novel.  I'm grateful for the confidence the editors and my agent Pattie Steele Perkins had in this work.  It's a beautiful story.  I'm honored they allowed me the venue to tell it.   

When you’re not writing, what do you like to do in your spare time?

I am sleeping, lol.  I work out.  My daughters who are in college have performances, so I enjoy attending those, and I am learning to be an empty nester.  I fill the rest of my time catching up on reading, concerts, plays. I volunteer, I have family to interact with.  Spare time is relative to me.    

What would you say is responsible for your critical success and your popularity with readers?

I believe readers like me because they have their favorite storylines, and I give them what they want, tossing in surprises every now and then. Readers love the Crawfords, so I write Crawford stories. I just started the Hoods, and it's been nothing but love! I write a wonderful old lady Eula Mae for Bellebooks, a Southern Press out of Georgia, and they are currently number one on Amazon.com/Kindle list right now.  Commitments was made into a movie, and I still get fan mail about it.  Again, I give readers what they want, and I'm happy to do it.

What would you consider to be your greatest accomplishment (as a writer) to date?

Longevity.  I've been in this business for 18 years. My daughter was in a baby carrier when I started. Now she's six feet tall, senior class president and on the honor roll.  Wow.  

Rumors have it that you have completed a Master’s degree in Creative Writing?

Please, give us the scoop! I completed my MFA in Creative Writing, and I'm now a Professor at a local University here in GA.  It's been an interesting journey. Literary writers are different from commercial fiction writers. Style, voice, tone...it's all different. I went to school to become a better writer.  I became better because I learned to write differently.  I read and analyze work differently.  This terminal degree was hard earned. But I'm glad to have dedicated my energy and time into achieving it. 

If you were introducing a new reader to your work, which one would you choose and why?

I'd start them with the newest work.  That's always the best. 

How has your life changed since you became a published author?

I have a great career to talk about.  I enjoy being published.  

How have you changed as a writer since that first book?

I know more about writing since I began so many years ago. I've studied the craft. The challenges now are different. After so many books, I have to make sure I'm not repeating myself.  I also want to make sure I'm up on trends and that the work is authentic and not boring.

What do you like most about being a published author?

Hearing that someone enjoys the work. There's a sense of a job well done. I also like to know that I've pleased my bosses. That's important to me.

What has been the most difficult thing about being a published author who writes African-American Romance? 

I've been given great opportunities as a published author. I have, I believe, 30 books, a movie in which I have a cameo appearance, and I'm a National Best-selling author. I've achieved so much more than so many others.  I've got staying power because people like what I write.  I won't complain.   The better question after all these years is what isn't difficult?

What advice would you give an aspiring author?

Practice the craft of writing and don't expect the road to be easy. I've found that so many people want the short cut and resent established authors who aren't giving freebies away when it comes to advice, knowledge and help.  My advice is to work for what you want and you will earn what you seek.

Tell us a bit about the process you use when you write a novel.

I meditate and begin composing the story on a notepad.  I try to come up with the core idea to see if it has legs--or merit.  Then comes the names and occupations.  Then I flesh out the story idea.  Is it viable?  Can it work? Then research.  Is it plausible? 

Tell us a bit about your next great masterpiece.

I'm working on a Hood story and my greatest frustration is when I send in a synopsis and story to have it come back because the editor doesn't believe something I put in there.  So I'm in the research phase of the outline.  At this point I decide is this worth having in the story at all?  Once I start writing, I don't want to come back to this point because there's a problem with plausibility.

If there was one thing you could tell your readers what would it be?

Thank you for reading my work and enjoying it.  I really do appreciate you! 

How can readers contact you?

Carmengreen1201@gmail.com  I really enjoy your feedback, and I read and answer all my email.  Please keep the letters coming.

ROMANCE IN COLOR would like to thank Ms. Green for taking time out of her busy schedule to share with us.