Hi Ciara and Welcome! Thank you so much for giving us the opportunity to interview you for Romance Junkies. First, can you let us know what projects you are currently working on?
Oh goodness, I’m working on quite a few different stories. The most current project is SARAH’S BRASS TOKEN which comes out in December with Champagne Books. I’ve posted an unedited first scene on my website for anyone curious about this piece. You can find it at www.ciaragold.com. I’ve finished initial edits on SARAH’S BRASS TOKEN, and I’m awaiting final edits from my editor. This will be my first Historical Western. While I’m waiting on those edits, I’m polishing the sequel to CELESTIAL DRAGON. New work that I’m currently drafting includes a time-travel and a fantasy. Yep, the fingers are never still. If I’m not working the day job or playing with my family, I’m writing.
When did you decide to become a writer? Do you incorporate life’s experiences into your stories?
Hmmm, I think writing chose me. I’ve dabbled at it since high school, but didn’t get serious until about six years ago. How can a writer not incorporate life experiences? I think that’s what gives us all our individual voices. Most of my stories are either set in the past or the future, so I draw upon occurrences in my life for inspiration.
What did you learn on your road to being published? Is there anything you can pass on to new writers?
I’m still learning. I think the greatest piece of advice I could pass on to a new writer is to persevere, to develop a thick skin and to absorb everything they can about craft. Not everyone will like your voice or your story, but for every reader that doesn’t fall in love with your characters, there will be two readers that do.
What does your writing schedule look like? Do you have to plot or do you write as it comes to mind?
I confess. I’m a pantser. I have to write as if I’m reading it, otherwise I get bored and I’d never finish the piece. Writing schedule? I really don’t have one. I do my best work very late at night after everyone is snoozing in bed. Thankfully my husband stays up late since my work station is in our bedroom. I get off work around 5:00 PM from the day job, I rest an hour, cook supper, help kids with homework, check e-mail and generally putz a lot before I make myself get down to business. I write anywhere from one hour to three hours a night.
Do you do any research for your stories? What is the most interesting thing you have learned?
Yes, I do research, not as much for the futuristic pieces as most of that is straight out of the corners of my mind. (I have to shake out the cobwebs, but it’s fun to see the odds and ends stored there.) I do as much research as I can for anything set in historical times. I think the most interesting thing I learned was when I researched dyes from the Viking age. To make dye, the Vikings used human urine. Ick, but true. It’s funny the things you take for granted. SARAH’S BRASS TOKEN used to be called SARAH’S WOODEN NICKEL. I never even thought to research the title, but some little bird must have sung in my ear, because one day I looked up wooden nickels and discovered that they originated in the 1930's. I scrambled to come up with an alternative that would work for my story. Hence, SARAH’S BRASS TOKEN because brass tokens were often used in lieu of money in brothels.
Have you seen any changes in your writing style since you have started writing? Have you taken any classes to hone your skills? Which classes would you recommend?
Oh goodness, yes. I think my voice has relaxed some. I use a different voice when writing the futuristics than I do the historicals. As for classes, I belong to the NWHRWA chapter and they offer a fall conference each year with wonderful speakers. I’ve also been to Nationals twice. My favorite all time workshop has to have been Deb Dixon’s GMC. I think that was when I had my "ah ha" moment and it all made sense.
Is your name a pen name? If so, how did you pick the name?
Ciara Gold is a pen name. Gold is actually a family name, my great-great grandmother’s maiden name. I picked Ciara because I liked the play on “sierra”. Ciara Gold makes me think of golden sierras across western plains. I know – a bit corny, but that’s it folks.
How did you meet your husband? What is the most romantic thing he has done for you?
Ducking head. I was on a date with another fellow. My husband is an avid sailor and his first boat is one he actually built when he worked at a boat shop. It’s a fourteen-foot gaff-headed cat rig with a lot of ballast. Okay, I digress. Anyway, my date had invited me to a company picnic out at the lake. My future husband worked for this same company but had no intentions of playing with other workers. He was just there to sail. Well, he didn’t get into the water fast enough because my date saw him and drug me over in hopes of getting a sailboat ride. I think my future husband would have said no, except he saw me. *grin* I couldn’t take my eyes off of him the entire time. Love at first sight for sure. Unbeknownst to me, he asked my date for my phone number and my date gave it to him. Too funny. Anyway, we actually ran into each other at the local dance hall about two days later and arranged our first real date. Yep, he took me sailing and we’ve been blowing and going since. The most romantic thing he did and still does is buy me roses for no reason at all. I love that man.
Art is another one of your loves, what is the most inspiring art that you have created?
This was a difficult question because when I’m working on a piece, that’s the work that fires my blood. The process of creating art is more stimulating than the finished product. I think one of my favorite pieces is a watercolor that I did of Spanish ruins in west Texas. I put a giraffe in it which gives it a surrealistic feel. It was the culmination of about five different new techniques I’d just learned and was created at an art camp where we were surrounded by nothing but nature and our own creativity.
What is the last book that you read that left a big impression on you?
Still think about Cheryl St. John’s THE TENDERFOOT BRIDE--how the construction of this story elicited my emotions. It’s been a long time since a story made me cry. And I love it when a story makes me cry, then ends in such a way that I glow inside for days.
MORE FUN…
What are three words that you would use to describe yourself? Are they the same as your family/friends?
I’m creative, reserved and hard-working. I think my family would describe me as nurturing, hard-working and happy. My students (I teach high school) would describe me as goofy, creative and a task-master.
What is your favorite way to spend a fall afternoon?
Tending my flowers or writing. Oh, and we’ve started sailing again, so I’m hoping to do more sailing this fall. We got busy and let this passion fade away, but we’re resurrecting it. We were at the lake this past weekend with the two sunfish. The wind was stiff and the sun intense. Next time I’ll remember to cover my knees with sunscreen. Yep, I’ve got the purtiest sunburn patches on my knees.
Are there any hobbies that you would love to learn but haven’t had a chance to yet?
I want to learn to drive a motorcycle. I also wish I could play decent guitar. I can pluck a few chords, but I don’t have time to practice like I should.
What is your favorite TV commercial? How about your least favorite?
I love the Budweiser commercials. They’re so humorous. In fact almost all of the beer commercials make me laugh. My least favorite commercials are the political commercials where opponents sling mud at each other. It makes me not want to vote at all, but I have to vote so I end up voting for the lesser of two evils instead of voting for the best choice. Why do they have to sling mud? Okay - that one got me on my soap box. I’ll climb down now. *grin*
What age is your inner child? Why did you pick that age?
My inner child is twelve. I was a happy twelve, too young to be burdened with the conflicting emotions brought on by budding hormones and old enough to believe I owned the world. I discovered my artistic talents and my love for music at twelve. I was very naive at that age, but I think naivety is an endearing quality. I would love to recapture that blissful bubble of unawareness where everything is viewed through rose colored glasses.
Thanks again for letting me do this. It was loads of fun.
The pleasure was ours, Ciara. Thank you for taking time away from your writing to spend with us. Best of luck with your future projects.
