Guest Author, Bronwyn Storm

Today's guest author is Bronwyn Storm, fellow pet lover, picky reader, and author of five hilarious stories at The Wild Rose Press, including a free read, Love and the Leprechaun, just in time for St. Patrick's Day. Romantic comedy lovers will thrill to the escapades in her tales, both short and long, of love, laughter, and happily ever after. She's also written some invaluable articles on, among other things, how to get published and that dreaded query letter and how to get it right. Welcome, Bronwyn, and thank you for sharing your wit and wisdom with us.

Who are you?

Who am I…y’know, I’ve been asking myself that same question since I was small. Who am I? What do I want out of life? Why does canned food have expiry dates? My name is Bronwyn Storm and I’m a super-hero wannabe. As soon as the ability to injure yourself while blinking becomes a super-power, dude, I’m SO buying new leotards, a mask, and heading to the rooftops to watch over the city and protect it from ne’er do wells, ne’er did wells, and whomever decided that ne’er was a word. Until then, I’ll write about super heroes and heroines—everyday people who are also trying to figure out who they are, what they want, and why bottled water has expiry dates…

What type of stories do you like to write and why?

I love writing romantic comedy because I think life and love is fully of hilarity—especially when you’re trying your hardest NOT to be hilarious (Like the time I was rushing to catch the bus so I wouldn’t be late, ran up the bus steps, got my foot caught on the last riser and did a full face plant…right in front of my Crush of the Moment (luckily, as a 9th grader, he never realized 7th graders like me existed…painful (on so many levels), funny (on so many levels)). I think there’s a time and place for brooding heroes, but I love broody heroes who can also laugh at themselves.
What type of stories do you like to read and why?

I love all types of stories, from suspense, mystery, non-fiction…I’ll admit, though, that I am very picky about the romance books I read. Too often, I see dysfunction masquerading as conflict. Drives me crazy…ier…crazier…life’s too short and I’m too short (5’3) to read that kind of stuff…

When do you write?

I have four furry children who are in the midst of training, adolescence, and general kitten/puppyhood. So at this point, I write whenever they let go of the scribbler/give me back my pen/stop chewing on the wires/wake up from sleeping on my notes…

When do you read? Where?

I read everywhere. I carry books around in my bag/car, so whenever the opportunity presents itself, I read (FYI: driving down the highway at 80km is NOT the time to peruse a book…no, not me. The crazy lady reading some hardcover AND in another car (!!) the guy reading the paper.).

Where did you get the inspiration for Shoe-In for Love?

I rewrote The Elf and the Shoemaker because the title inspired the hero & heroine’s names (Vanessa Helph, and Leo Schumacher)…I was listening to 80s music, wanted to go back to that time, and suddenly, I could see it: Vanessa Helph, the woman with a plan for everything—except falling in love with her boss, and Leo Schumacher, a man who buys out a fashion house, and finds himself and his heart tossed into circumstances beyond his control and imaginings. I added in a mambo dancing sheltie (inspired by my own mambo dancing sheltie), an FBI agent (cause I thought that would be fun), and an HR guy who alliterates when he’s stressed out (Jack. Loved Jack).

Where do you go to think?

Bless you for thinking that I think.

How did you come up with your title and main characters’ names?

I like titles that give a nod to the characters: Ethan’s Chase, for example, is a play both on the hero & heroine’s names (Ethan and Chase, respectively), points to the goal of the story (Ethan chasing after Chase), as well as a statement about them both (she’s is soul mate, ergo, Ethan’s Chase—not exactly a possessive thing, she doesn’t belong to him, but she’s his and he is hers.)

How long did you write seriously before your first book was published?

I’ve always written seriously. I don’t think I’ve once cracked a smile when writing.

Why do you write?

Pfft. Because if you tell people you hear voices, they medicate or lock you up, BUT if you tell them you’re a writer and you hear voices, they think you’re artistic.

When I was little, there was only one thing I wanted to be when I grew up: a superhero. Sadly, this goal was made moot when I realized that being a klutz was not in fact, a super power, and my super-weakness for anything bright and shiny meant that a magpie with self-control could easily defeat me in a battle of wills. Hence, the turn to writing as an occupation. I don’t get to live on a secret space station orbiting the earth (and thank God, because I get motion sick on a merry-go-round), but I still get to wear leotards, a cape and say things like, “STAND ASIDE! THIS IS A JOB FOR WRITING-GIRL!”