Author Uncovered: Clare Austin (Author Interview)

Hey guys! This is my third Secret Agent Uncovered interview and it's with Clare Austin! This interview is a little bit different because Clare is an Adult fiction author...I hope you guys enjoy her interview. She seems really nice! Thanks Clare!

Did you always want to become an author?
I always wanted to make up stories. As a child of perhaps eight years or younger, I remember walking my dogs in the hills where I grew up and making up rhymes and stories as I went along. I actually remember reciting them aloud. I still do this. When I’m driving, walking, riding my horse…I talk as my characters, developing dialogue as I go about my day.

Who or what was your inspiration for Butterfly?
The inspiration for my heroine in Butterfly came almost directly from one of my sons. He is a born musician. Music is his first and most familiar language. He is happy living a very simple life as long as his music is the center of it all. He really is a prototype for Flannery Sloane. Irish traditional music is also greatly responsible for Butterfly. The title come from a fiddle tune—The Red Admiral Butterfly, sometimes simply called The Butterfly. Every Irish musician puts her own spin on a tune. The music is passed from one generation to the next, often sitting by the kitchen stove of an evening, drinking tea or raising a pint of Guinness with friends and family.

What does it feel like, knowing your books are on those bookshelves in a bookstore?
I just saw Butterfly today. I had not seen her, held her, thumbed through the pages before. She is a real book. I’m completely gobsmacked.

Did you base any of your characters on real people?
I do loosely base some of my characters on real people. If I find a person or their profession interesting, I might borrow some of their characteristics. But, most of my people—and non-human characters—come from my imagination. In case anyone wonders—none of my characters are myself. If I show up in a book, it will be as a very minor character who has no POV in the story. One of the reasons I write stories is to escape from reality for a bit of time. If I put myself in the book—seems like it would take all the fun out of the journey.

What are your ten, most favorite things?
Things I love—my family, horses, my cairn terrier Maggie, stormy weather, Ireland, the sea, my garden, playing my violin, reading, history, and dark chocolate!

What is your typical day?
I like to start my day with a cappuccino while I look at my email and decide what writing tasks I’ll accomplish that day. I will try to go for a swim and/or ride one of my horses early in the day. Then I write. I take out my WIP or edits for a book in production, taking breaks throughout the day to pick up my fiddle and practice a few tunes or take Maggie for a walk. I’ll usually write again in the evening—on a story if I have one in progress or on promo and answering emails. I’ll spend some time reading or doing research. Somewhere in all this I manage to do all the ordinary stuff we all do to keep a home in some semblance of order. If I cannot be at home, at my computer, I write on whatever I have handy and usually come home with a purse full of scraps of paper or sticky notes. I write everywhere. I once wrote a scene in my head while having an MRI. One thing I have always done, when I get into bed and turn off the lights, I think about my book, about the scene I’ll write next, about characters, settings.

What is your favorite type of drink?
I am a total “cheap date”, so don’t drink much alcohol at all, but I do enjoy a Harp Lager occasionally. When in Ireland I get teased often because I can really only drink half a pint and still walk upright.

Do you have any upcoming books?
Yes. I have the second book in the Fadό Trilogy coming out in March 2010. The title is Angel’s Share and it is romantic suspense. The main characters are Flannery’s older sister, Kerry and her estranged lover, Aidan Kennedy. A third book in production is Hot Flash. Not part of my trilogy, Hot Flash is a contemporary romance about a second chance at love.

Stop by my website www.clareaustin.com to read excerpts and see the beautiful covers by artist Rae Monet. Thank you for having me on your blog today. This has been an exciting time for me every step of the way. I would love to hear from anyone interested in my books. My email is authorclare@gmail.com