Interview Blair Bancroft

by Michael Murphy

1) Lady Knight is your third Wings novel. Could you give the reader a brief synopsis?

In Lady Knight a Florida Highway Patrol officer is plunged into Medieval life without aid of time travel. In order to find the person who seriously injured his brother during a tournament at a Medieval Fair, Michael Turco goes undercover with a Medieval re-enactment group (based on the real life activities of the Society for Creative Anachronism). His entry into the group is facilitated by a reluctant Kate Knight, who is a paralegal during the week and a Valkyrie-style warrior on the weekends, neither of which prepares her for sharing a postage-stamp-size tent with a big tough cop. Michael and Kate have to survive adventures in both their worlds and make some dramatic personal adjustments before they find the bad guy… and each other.

2. Although you write romance novels, Lady Knight seems to blend genres. Am I right?

I was stunned when I thought about this question. Although Lady Knight is my fourteenth book, it really does seem to be a blend of my other two Wings books, something that never occurred to me before. Love At Your Own Risk is about a tough homicide cop from New Haven meeting a woman whose views on nearly everything are the opposite of his own. (And there we have the outline for Michael Turco from Lady Knight.) And my Young Adult Roses In The Mist is as faithful a rendering of the twelfth century as I could manage. Put them together and you've got Lady Knight. If you'll pardon a high-falutin' word, that's a very perspicacious question, Michael.

3. What writers have influenced you the most and why?

Nora Roberts, for the sheer greatness of her story-telling, both in her mainstream novels and her mysteries. Georgette Heyer for her brilliance in writing about Regency England with wit and style. She single-handedly resurrected the era of Jane Austen and created today's rage for the Regency. Janet Evanovich for her marvelous combination of comedy, action, and marvelous characters.

4. Did your upbringing influence your writing?

Oddly enough, my upbringing was a negative influence. My mother was the very successful author of children's books. It simply never occurred to me that there could be two authors in one family. I pursued a career in music, never dreaming of doing anything else. Yes, learning about the publishing industry from the inside had its good points. I learned manuscript formatting from typing for my mother by the time I was a freshman in high school. I heard publishing talk at the supper table, etc. But it was years and years before my mindset would let me consider myself as a writer.

5. What inspired you to write your first novel?

Having all three children in school!

6. Since your first novel, what have you learned the most about writing?

Obviously, we all learn by doing. We learn to express our art, polish our craft. But the biggest thing I've learned over the years is something I still find myself fighting against. In other words, if you'll pardon the mixed metaphor, I know how the game should be played, but I still color outside the lines. My advice to new authors would be: no matter how well you write, no matter how brilliant your plot and characters, if your story does not fit into a publisher's marketing plan, it's not going to sell. Editors keep telling authors to "write the book of your heart," but it's the book of the editor's heart that's going to sell. He or she is obligated to choose books that make money for the publisher or lose his/her job. That's the name of the game. The upside is that e-publishers are not as hard-pressed for the quest for the almighty dollar. That's why e-publishers can and do accept books of mixed genres, unusual subject matter, etc. They can go where New York publishers fear to go.

7. Are you an author who outlines your story first, or are you more of a seat-of-the-pants type of writer?

I'm glad you've given me an opportunity to rail against the expression: " are you a plotter or a pantser?"

For one thing the term "plotter" implies that those who don't outline don't plot. Which is completely false. Secondly, "pantser" is simply gross, a term I despise. That said, I mostly write "out of the mist." I have to name my book, name my main characters, do a thumb-nail description of who's who in the first chapters. Of course I know the basic plot, perhaps have an idea of crucial scenes--mostly in my head but occasionally in scribbled notes on a legal pad. How anyone can write, or even anticipate, a scene without building on all that's gone before is hard for me to understand. My preferred synopsis for a Proposal consists of Character Briefs on the main characters and perhaps a two-page synopsis of the story, its anticipated conflicts and resolution. Yes, twice I've had to write long synopses, which were sheer agony. And I never looked at either one while writing the books. (And I've been spared anyone asking for outline. I could be wrong, but it seems to me it's easier to throw the bull when writing a synopsis.)

8. Do you have a particular audience in mind when you begin a novel?

When writing most contemporary romance, no, but Lady Knight has a truly unique setting. For this story I was hoping to appeal to both contemporary and historical romance readers and also to those who belong to Medieval re-enactment groups, such as the Society for Creative Anachronism, an international organization founded in California.

9. Do you base characters on people you've met, or do you make them up completely?

About 99% of my characters are complete inventions. But occasionally, some real people, or certain traits of real people, creep in there.

10. Of all your novels, which is your favorite and why?

That's easy. My favorite is always the book I'm working on at the moment.

11. Do you have any advice for beginning writers?

Decide if you want to write only the books of your heart or do you want to make money.  For many authors these two goals are not the same. Sometimes compromise is necessary. Not advice I listened to for myself, or not often. But stop, think. If you have no problem coloring within the lines, then you're blessed. Hone your writing skills and you should have clear sailing. For those of us who just have to express ourselves more freely, well, good luck! And keep in mind that somehow I've managed to contract seven print books and eight e-books over the last fifteen years, so the outlook is not as dire as I may have painted it.

Thanks for reading my often strong opinions in this Interview!