Interview

Vickie Britton lives in Laramie, Wyoming with her husband and teenage son and three cats. She is a member of RMFW, EPIC, and Sisters in Crime.

Loretta Jackson, formerly a teacher of English and Creative Writing, left the teaching profession to write full time and manage rental property in Junction City, Kansas. The sisters have over 20 books published in three mediums: paper, electronic and audio tape.

1. What is your latest book? What is about?

The Viking Crown contains a blend of romance, suspense, and history with just a touch of the supernatural. The heroine, Marta Swan, hopes to prove her father's theory that the Vikings arrived in Central America centuries ago. While searching for her missing fiance, she encounters a man who claims to be a descendant of the original Viking who inspired the legend of Quetzalcoatl. When he becomes obsessed with Marta, believing her to be the reincarnation of a Viking princess, he refuses to let her leave his vast estate. Marta must turn to handsome bodyguard Ramon Santiago for help.

2. How do you research your novels?

We research as we go along, both over the Internet and in the library. Our settings play a very important part in what we write--Nightmare in Morocco, Arctic Legacy, as well as The Viking Crown are adventures closely linked with place. We never try to just read about a setting--whenever possible, we go there and experience it for ourselves. We hae traveled to China, Egypt, Scotland, Mexico and the Yucatan as well as many other areas to research our settings.

The Viking Crown has more of a fantasy aspect than most of our work, but we did our best to recreate a believable time and place.

3. What are you working on now?

We are currently working on a novel set in Russia for our Ardis Cole mystery series. After that, we plan to write another romantic suspense.

4. What books do you have coming out?

We've had a very good year. We have coming out from New Concepts The Viking Crown, The Devil's Gate, both romantic suspense novels, and a back to back duo, a reprint of two earlier mystery romances. Golden Meteor Press will release Wake of Evil, a mystery, this fall.

In addition to that we have signed a contract with Books in Motion for an audio tape series, the Ardis Cole series. Ardis is an archaeologist whose work takes her to exotic locales.

5. How long have you been writing and did you always want to be a writer?

We were both born writing, it seems. We were raised by parents who valued books. Our earliest memories are of Mother reading aloud to us. Our three sisters joined in, Anita, helping us with ideas and plots, Audrey and Nadine listening and critiquing. The two of us have always edited each others works and eventually that practice belended into one project and we became a co-authoring team.

6. How do you work together when you live so far apart?

First we thoroughly discuss and become acquainted with the characters and decide on a setting. Then we plot and outline each chapter, dividing the work usually insequence. We trade and edit, which eliminates much of the rewriting process. Because we both have the same visions and ideas in mind from the start we are able to build on each others work. It is sometimes surprising even to us that we can work together without making major changes.

7. What do each of you bring into the co-authorship?
8. We have different interests. Loretta has an interest in music, which is why we wrote Bitter Melody. (soon out on audio tape from Elmtree Press.) Vickie enjoys suspense novels and was the inspiration for The Dangerous Cliffs of Severon. Loretta, who taught at a Sioux Indian reservation is deeply interested in Indian culture; where Vickie is fascinated by Mayan ruins and ancient civilization. We both love to travel so we wrote We're Not in Kansas Anymore, Sis, which takes the readers with us on our trips and into the how of traveling and writing together.
9. What is your average day like?

We both write every morning, when possible. That is when we try to get the creative process completed. Sometimes we edit or research in the afternoons or evenings.

10. Any words of inspiration for beginning writers?

First of all, remain true to your own feeligns and tastes. Then, with this in mind, write the best book you can. Above all, keep learning.

Writing and enthusiasm can never be seperated.d Don't let editors or rejection slips rob you of that enthusiasm. Remember that we live in a world of change--editors ideas change, demands change, and markets change. Who would have thought several years ago that we would have electronic books? Write with your heart and someone, somewhere, will say, "Good job!"

11. Do you have a favorite among your books?

Our favorite is always what we're working on now. Actually, though, it's like choosing among your children or your friends. You don't really have a favorite. We have a special feeling for The Viking Crown because we were intrigued with the possibility that Viking voyages did have an impact on the Mayan world. To us it is more than a love story. The love Marta has for Ramon is romantic, but the feeling she has for the confused, deluded, yet gentle Viking is indeed complex.

11. What do you like to read?
12. Vickie likes edge-of-the chair suspense and often reads horror stories late at night. Nothing's scared her for years but the Blair Witch Project. She likes Mary Higgins Clark for her fast pace and Ruth Rendell for her characterization. Because she is intrigued by archaeological plots, Aaron Elkins and Sharyn McCrumb rank among her favorites.