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Urban Reviews: Tell us about your latest book Dream Runner.
Gail McFarland: Dream Runner is a contemporary romance and tells the story of a
woman who has spent a lifetime dreaming of taking Olympic gold in an
event where no other American woman had succeeded. To achieve
this goal, she has willingly sacrificed love and family, but always
come up short and still clutching her dream. Dream Runner is
also the story of a man who has run his way to the top of his sport,
only to be sidelined by injury without realizing his dream.
Atlanta's Peachtree Road Race offers both of them the chance to
prove who and what they are -- in more ways than one. Neither
of them has any clue that the separate roads they’re running will
meet and where that path will take them – together.
An accidental collision during a nationally noted 10k race is only
the beginning. With a doctor who lies by omission and the
intervention of a physical therapist that the victim never planned
on, one woman has to reinvent her dreams and learn to answer
questions that will change her life forever: How fast does a
man have to run before he can literally fall in love with the right
woman? How far does a woman have to run before running into
the perfect man? Only as far as their dreams.
Urban Reviews: Where did you come up with the idea for this novel?
Gail McFarland: I actually work in Wellness/Fitness and have run 16 Peachtree Road
Races, and began the work on Dream Runner after a personal training
session. My client was trying to rehabilitate an injured
ankle, and shortly afterward, I required knee surgery. It
seemed very natural to take the opportunity to build a romance
around what was going on in my own life at the time.
Urban Reviews: How did you come about becoming a romance writer?
Gail McFarland: Friends, relations, former neighbors all tell me that they always
knew I would write -- news to me! I have always been a
die-hard reader (and I thought) a decent writer, but a former
classmate dared me to write something and have it published.
Another friend suggest a romance. I tried it , loved the
process, and have been writing ever since.
Urban Reviews: What are your expectations when it comes to your career as
a author?
Gail McFarland: Is this the infamous, "five year plan" question? I expect
to write stories that are romantic, realistic, and memorable, with
characters that we all know. Dream Runner is actually the
first of my stories to have a planned sequel, so who knows where
that path will lead? I have to say that I would love to see my
stories in motion, so maybe movies are also in my future.
Urban Reviews: What do you feel is the biggest misconception about romance
novels?
Gail McFarland: That they are "mushy", contrived, poorly written, badly plotted, and
only for women.
Urban Reviews: What issues regarding the book industry you would like to
change?
Gail McFarland: Mainstream bookstore placement of African-American romance.
Poor placement can insure a lack of readers and career obscurity.
Urban Reviews: What projects are you working on for the future? When
can we expect it to be released?
Gail McFarland: My "to do" list is long, but Dream Keeper, the sequel to Dream Runner is at the top. Dream
Keeper will be available in
December, 2009.
Urban Reviews: Who are some of the authors that you have admired, both
within the romance field and outside of romance?
Gail McFarland: Have you got a couple of hours? If I had to name a few, in no
particular order, maybe I would start with: Walter Mosley,
Charles Dickens, Zora Neale Hurston, Nora Roberts as J.D. Robb,
Donna Hill, James Patterson, Brandon Massey, John Sandford, Alice
Walker, Jim Butcher, Octavia Butler, and about a kajillion
others.
Urban Reviews: What advice do you have for the aspiring authors out there
who are considering a career in romance writing?
Gail McFarland: - Read, read, read! Having a strong knowledge of what is
currently available, what has been written, and who publishes what
you write will save the aspiring writer a lot of heartbreak.
-
Pick up a copy of THE WRITERS MARKET, then read and use it! In
my opinion, this book gives any potential writer many of the tools
they need to succeed -- everything from addresses and publisher
guidelines to information on how to write that all important query
letter. If you don't want to buy it, request it from your local
library.
-
Join a good and realistic critique group. It helps to have the
feedback, both pro and con, and the members will keep asking what
you've accomplished -- a sure way to keep you writing. A good
group is also there for you when you get those letters of
rejection/acceptance -- in case you need a hug or a shoulder to lean
on.
-
Don't fall in love with your own voice! Know that just because
something sounds good when you're writing it doesn't mean that a
reader will take the same meaning from your words. And, always
remember that a suggested change is not a personal attack. Be
open to criticism.
-
Learn to take notes and keep track of your research. True
romance readers are a fierce breed and will take it personally if
you "cheat" them by not making sure of your facts on everything from
locations, clothes, food, language, and more. I can think of
one writer who is still smarting from being told that her "upscale"
characters were "cheap" because of the cars they drove and the
"designer" clothes they wore.
-
If you get a rejection letter, know that you are not the only writer
this has happened to. Read the letter, review your story with
a VERY objective eye, make revisions and get it out there again as
soon as possible. ALSO, know that every, "no," is not set in
stone. Sometimes, "no," means that you need to fix something
and resubmit the work. This really happened to me.
Urban Reviews: Name one thing that the world doesn't know about Gail
McFarland...the person.
Gail McFarland: Wow, I don't have a lot of secrets, but I will fight you for cake--
especially Red Velvet.
Seriously, I think what you really want to know would be along the
lines of why I chose to work in Wellness/Fitness (my degree is in
Psychology with a minor in Special Ed). My mother had her
first (of 8) heart attack(s) at the age of 42, endured 7
strokes, and passed 10 days before her 57th birthday -- all of this
is insanely young for a woman. Her mother, also a heart
patient, passed at age 61, and I am not trying to follow in their
footsteps. So, I do what I do because no one told for my
mother and grandmother that there were health and lifestyle
alternatives, or that their choices would matter so much. Oh,
and I have a treadmill in my living room.
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