These questions come from the small following my romance stories have gained under my pseudonym. If there are questions you'd like to see answered, email me: cerundle at yahoo dot com.

How long did it take you to write your first novel?

My first novel took me eight years to finish. The quickest novel I've ever written was in two weeks. It hardly matters how quickly you write. It only matters on the work you are willing to have others read.

Have you ever hated one of your characters?

To date, no, I haven't hated any of my characters. Every character should have a story. There should be a reason they are who they are.

What music do you listen to when you are writing?

Soundtracks: Punisher, The Crow, Resident Evil: Extinction, Romeo and Juliet, Daredevil, Girl Interrupted, Tarzan, Interview with a Vampire, Blue Crush, Magnolia, Center Stage, Mulan, Gone in 60 Seconds, Shrek, Tomb Raider, My Best Friend’s Wedding, Labyrinth, Blade 2, Mortal Kombat, 10 Things I hate about You, The Scorpion King, Spider-Man, Rocky Horror, Full Monty, Batman Forever, Trainspotting, Scooby Doo, Sweet November, Great Expectations, Fast and the Furious, Malcolm in the Middle, Ever After, American Werewolf in Paris.

Uncategorized: Mystere, Dralion, Cirque du Soleil, Ocean Dreams, Alegria, “O”, Vampire Music (Horror for Haunted Houses), The 13th Hour (Horror for Haunted Houses) , Andrea Bocelli.

General: Women in Technology, Lisa Loeb, David Bowie, Chumbawamba, Pink, Sheryl Crow, Queen, Rammstein, Matchbox 20, Dido, Psychotrance 2001, Green Day, Eels, The Murmurs, Underworld, Evanescence, Enya, Killers, Kevin Little, Smashing Pumpkins, rave mixes, urban trance.

Musicals: Cats, Chicago, Phantom of the Opera.

I also listen to mix tapes that friends have made me.

Do you use people you know in your stories? Can you put me in your story?

I don’t use people that I know when I write. I do use personality traits that I’ve seen in people that I think are interesting. I have used Emory’s traits more than a few times for my lead guys in my romance novels.

Can I give you my idea for your next story?

I’m honored that you would want to hand over your story to me. Everyone has an abundance of creativity to harness into something grand. Keep your idea, nurture it and write it. It doesn’t have to be a novel, it can be a play, a sitcom, a comic book, graphic novel, novella or a short film on YouTube. Keep your ideas because no one can do justice to the project you’ve got brewing other than you.

Someone told me that when you first start out developing your own plot and characters, it's helpful to make the characters first and the plot will just form around them. Is that true? What are some steps you take to create your own world? Is there a way to have a more solid foundation for planning?

It’s probably true for some people as it’s true that some people like to have plot before building characters when they are writing. One thing I’ve learned is that you have to take everyone’s advice, mix it up a little and find out what works best for you. When I was first starting I was always confused. I was told by career writers that I needed to know how my story ended before I started writing it. I had other writers say I just need to write and not think about what I was writing, never plan ahead. I found that both work, but I still had to figure out what worked best for me. Even if I don’t have a complete plot, I need to know where my story is going. I feel it’s probably the same with characters vs. plot. Do you have characters that you are just itching to get into a story line? Do you have a plot that is wonderful but now needs characters to carry it out? There isn’t just one way to write. You just need to find what works for you.

What does it mean when an author says, "I had such and such an idea for a story but the characters decided they wanted to do their own thing?"

When you work on a project that is outlined, you know what needs to happen next, but the part of your brain where your characters reside, pushes the story in another direction. When people say their characters wanted to do something else, it could mean that the characters are very dominate in the writers mind.

I always have the intention to finish something but never the right fuel. Is there a way around that? Have you ever experienced something like that?

Sometimes, halfway through a project, I have a moment where my interest starts to fade. It helps to think of your readers who are waiting to feel the same love you have towards your characters. Get yourself some beta readers who will press the issue if you need the extra help. I had a friend once, who would ask me every time we talked, “What are you working on today?” I didn’t realize at the time, but that really gave me the confidence to work harder.