Hello! Today with us we have Teresa Ryan (reader) and Carmen Richter (author)! *Applause*
Teresa Ryan: Can you tell us about yourself and what inspired you to become a writer?
Carmen Richter: Um…hmm… I’m honestly pretty boring. 🤣 I’m 35, live in Kansas City, and am disabled. I’ve always loved writing ever since I was a kid, but it wasn’t until my disabilities became more severe that I decided to start writing as a way to escape my chronic pain and to pass the time. And I’ve loved every second of it!
Teresa Ryan: What genre(s) do you typically write in, and what draws you to those genres?
Carmen Richter: I write contemporary romance and am planning on starting a second pen name for paranormal, sci-fi, and fantasy romance at some point in the future. And I just love writing love stories, especially the ones that put the heroes through the wringer before giving them their happy ending. I love stories that will break you and make you feel and then give you a happy ending that makes you believe in true love all over again.
Teresa Ryan: Do you have any rituals or routines that you follow when writing?
Carmen Richter: I have a couple. I design my own covers, and I have to have my cover made before I can start working on a story. It’s my version of doing a “mood board” of sorts. And I also have to have a playlist made for the book, which I listen to on repeat while I’m writing. Sometimes the music will change, or I’ll add to it as I go, but I have to have at least something to start with.
Teresa Ryan: Are any of your characters based on real people or inspired by events in your own life?
Carmen Richter: A lot of them! Most notably, though, in my book Patient 247, the heroine, Hope, is basically me, right down to the disability she has. The book is based on my experience with my chronic health condition and was one of the hardest books I’ve ever written. But I love how it turned out. Another example is my story My Vows Are Sealed and the heroine’s best friend, Kate. She’s based on one of my best friends, and I was in a dark place while I wrote that book and needed to write the person who got me through it into the story.
Teresa Ryan: What inspired the plot of your latest book?
Carmen Richter: Honestly? The hero did. This book is a story that a lot of my readers were begging for, and because of who this character is, I knew I needed to give him a story that was completely different from what I usually write…and it’s turning out to be one of my favorite stories I’ve ever written.
Teresa Ryan: Do you outline your stories before writing, or do you prefer to let the story unfold as you write?
Carmen Richter: I usually write a very loose outline, which almost always changes as I get to know my characters better.
Teresa Ryan: What do you hope readers will take away from your books?
Carmen Richter: I hope my books can provide an escape from real life, and I also hope that readers will take away the message that no matter how hard life can get, there is always hope for a brighter tomorrow.
Teresa Ryan: Are there any recurring themes or messages in your work?
Carmen Richter: The main theme in all of my work is a theme of hope, I think. I tend to put my readers through the wringer, but I always give them a happy ending.
Teresa Ryan: What role does research play in your writing process, particularly for books set in specific time periods or locations?
Carmen Richter: I always try to make my books as accurate as possible, whether it’s because they’re set in a specific time period (I had one prequel novel that was set in 1997-2001) or because they deal with subjects that aren’t things I’ve experienced personally. In my book My Voice Is Sealed, the heroine was epileptic, and I did SO much research and talked to people I know who either have epilepsy themselves or have family members who do because I wanted to make sure I portrayed her experience as accurately as possible. I had a web browser tab with the National Epilepsy Foundation’s website open for MONTHS and I kept referring back to it as I needed to.
Teresa Ryan: What advice would you give to authors who are considering self-publishing?
Carmen Richter: Find what works for YOU, and focus on doing things in a way that plays to your strengths. Not all of the advice you get will end up working for you, and sometimes what works for someone else won’t work for you either. This industry is constantly changing and it’s exhausting trying to keep up with it all.
Teresa Ryan: How do you market and promote your books?
Carmen Richter: Honestly? Poorly. 🤣 It’s hard. But lately I’ve been doing my best to build up my newsletter and get more consistent with sending it out.
Teresa Ryan: Do you have a favorite character or book that you’ve written? If so, why?
Carmen Richter: My favorite character I’ve ever written is Grant from my Sealed With a Kiss series. He’s just a bright ray of sunshine and so much fun to write, and he also always knows exactly what to say when his friends need advice. I’m planning on writing his story next year and I’m nervous because it’ll be my first MM story, but I can’t think of a better character to take that journey with.
Teresa Ryan: How do you stay motivated and overcome challenges while writing?
Carmen Richter: I’ve learned the hard way that I have to give myself breaks every so often. If I don’t do that, I’ll end up burning out and my stories will reflect that.
Teresa Ryan: What do you enjoy most about being a writer?
Carmen Richter: I love the journeys my characters take me on, especially when they force me to think outside the box and try things that I normally wouldn’t think of.
Teresa Ryan: How do you approach world-building in your stories, particularly for fantasy or science fiction genres?
Carmen Richter: I always try to include as much detail as I can without bogging the story down, whether that’s describing a town people live in or developing the characters in that world/town so you really get to know them. I’ve started tinkering with a paranormal series that I’ll eventually end up publishing under a new pen name, and for that, I’ve created a series bible that includes all the rules and limitations for the magic and paranormal creatures I’ll be writing so everything ends up making sense.
Thank you for both for participating in Support An Author event!!!
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