Cat Johnson Braves Doll Lil’s Word Association Challenge!

Kitt: Hi Minta, we’d like to welcome you to Paperback Dolls! We’re so happy to have you here.

Minta: Thanks, Kitt! It’s really a pleasure to talk with you.

Kitt: Since this is your first time at Paperback Dolls, can you tell our readers a little about yourself?

Minta: I’ve basically been writing a long, long time, mostly nonfiction and writing for hire. But the problem when you write that sort of thing is that there’s no scope for imagination, if you know what I mean. Also, I tend to have a slightly quirky sense of humor and when you’re doing a lot of technical stuff…well, shall we simply say that a sense of humor isn’t the abiding characteristic of that type of client?

Kitt: When did you first start writing? What made you decide – ‘ok, this is it, I’m writing a book’?

Minta: When my “to be read” pile started holding up the ceiling and when my monthly book expenditures started rivaling the National Debt, I figured it would maybe be cheaper to write them myself! Seriously, I’ve been writing my whole life, really, in one form or another. But writing romance is special. And it’s hard to learn. I told my friends once that learning to write publishable fiction was probably the hardest thing I’ve ever had to learn—much harder than figuring out relativity or differential equations! (Yes, I was a physics/math major in college. ) To write a really wonderful story means juggling so many issues all at the same time—plot, character, emotional content, story structure—just tons of things. Physics was way easier!

Kitt: Do you have any authors that you took inspiration from or influenced you the most?

Minta: I’ve always wanted to be Jayne Ann Krentz when I grow up. I have loved her books for simply forever. All of them. No matter what name she writes as. I think she’s simply brilliant.

Kitt: When you want to get away from your own books and take a break, what do you read?

Minta: Almost everything. Romance is a given, of course. I love-love-love THE HUNGER GAMES TRILOGY and the Harry Potter books—some of the most amazing writers these days are doing YA fiction. I love good science fiction, but I’m picky about it. I really enjoy Jack McDevitt, for example. I adore mysteries—Charlaine Harris is another favorite—I just met her at a local event a few days ago, and what a wonderful person she is!

I read nonfiction too, on any topic that strikes my interest. I’ve often wondered what a total stranger would make of my bookshelves (I have them, 7 feet tall, all over my house in virtually every room except, I think, the dining room!). They might well conclude that Sybil lived here —you remember, that woman who had 16 different personalities?

I just got a Kindle Fire at Christmas last year, and with a little luck that’s going to save my house from degenerating into the “Early Used Bookstore” school of décor. I think romance readers in general tend to be the smartest, most well-read, eclectic readers ever. We’re like vacuum cleaners, sucking up everything in the bookstore!

Kitt: Can you tell us a little bit about The Magician of Wall Street?

Minta: It’s really a story of reunited lovers. Oliver is desperate both to get Abby back into his life and his bed, but he also needs to protect her from a danger she doesn’t even admit is real. Abby, however, is not eager to go back to him because when she’s with him, she feels weak. She saw her mother turn into a doormat with her domineering father and there’s simply no way she’s going to let herself go down that path. These two are so much in love with each other, yet Abby’s convinced they can never make things work out between them. And when the shots start flying around, and some near-miss “accidents” start happening, Abby has to make a choice—can she trust Oliver with her heart as well as her life? Can Oliver persuade her to give him another chance?

Kitt: Are any of your characters, such as Oliver Pendragon, based on other people? Do you have mental images for your characters?

Minta: You know, that really depends. Oliver and Abby are people who are just made up. I don’t have any particular conscious awareness of building them off real people. I think even when there is a seed of some real person involved, the fact is, it’s just a seed. Writers take a little bit here, a little bit there, add in some imaginary stuff, and so on. It’s a bit like an artist mixing a new color on a palette.

Kitt: Was there a particular scene or part of the book that was more challenging to write, if so, can you explain?

Minta: ALWAYS it’s chapter 1. Every single time, it’s chapter 1 that’s the problem. That first chapter has so much to do: it has to introduce the hero and heroine, establish the setting, give a hint about the fundamental conflict between them (if not come out and reveal it), set up the story goals, and do all that with a nice strong enticement to the reader to pull them into the story. My Chapter 1s nearly always have dozens of rewrites before they’re good enough.

Kitt: If there is a lesson that each of your main characters need to learn what would it be?

Minta: Oliver needs to learn to let go of control—that he doesn’t have to be the one in charge all the time. Abby simply needs to learn to trust her own strength and not assume that she’s too weak-willed to stand up for herself. In fact, her actions prove how strong she is—she just has to believe in herself.

Kitt: So, what’s next on your “to-do” list? We know you are busy promoting your new book, but are there any new works in progress we can be anticipating? Or are there any other genres that you’d like to explore?

Minta: Oh, yes. THE MAGICIAN OF WALL STREET is the first of a series of books all set around Abby’s New Age bookstore and the various customers and employees there. Many of the characters in this story will come back either as future heroes and heroines or in cameo roles (like Abby and Oliver). This series is moving to Entangled’s new Covet line of paranormal romances when that line opens this fall because the paranormal elements (which only add a little spice in THE MAGICIAN OF WALL STREET) will have a much more important role to play in those books. Each book will be based around a tarot reading at the beginning of the book, similar to that in the opening chapter of MAGICIAN. But, as I say, once the books move to Covet, the paranormal elements will become much more important. They’ll also vary in tone, from laugh-out-loud funny to more adventurous and maybe even to downright spooky.

Kitt: We want to thank you so much for taking the time to visit us and answer our questions! We are super thrilled to have you on Paperback Dolls. Best of Luck to you!

Minta: Thank you so much, Kitt! It was a real pleasure!

Writing romances which are sexy, a whole lot of fun, and have a psychic twist seems to be an addiction with me. Nearly everything I write is at least a little bit off the wall. And you can be sure that at some point, my sense of humor will make sure the hero (mostly) finds himself in Big Trouble!

Reading a wonderful love story should leave you feeling happy and reassured that all is right with someone’s world–even if in your own the kids are fussing, the bills are overdue, and you have three times as many chores as you have time for! I want my writing to give you a story that entertains, and takes you away from your everyday world for just a short while. It’s like a mini-vacation! If I can do that, I’m a very happy author!

There are two photos on this author page. Guess which one is me. The other is my resident Feline Manager who dominates my household despite being barely six pounds. Just goes to show that might doesn’t always make right!

Find Minta: Website | | |

Oliver Pendragon’s days as the Magician of Wall Street are legendary. When he finds a way to get everything he’s ever wanted—including Abby Daltry—of course he can’t refuse, even though there will be hell to pay if ever Abby found out. But when he discovers his old business partner is out for Abby’s blood, Oliver will do anything to protect her…and win her heart.

New Age bookstore owner Abby is perfectly happy with her life the way it is—the independence, the quirky clientele, and even the occasional tarot card reading—are all part of the charm. But when the cards reveal Oliver is back and bringing danger along with him, she refuses to heed the warning for another chance with the only man she’d ever loved.

As shots fly, the Magician will have to perform his best trick ever if he hopes to keep Abby safe and by his side forever.

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Paperback Dolls is made up of women from different parts of the world, with different backgrounds, different tastes and beliefs that were brought together through a love of reading. We like to think of ourselves as a cyber version of "The View" that focuses on books, authors, and reading. We are proof positive that one common love can unite the most opposite of people and form lasting friendships that introduce other ways of life and perspectives to each other.

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