Meet Witty Author Elaine Raco Chase

Elaine Raco Chase, a longtime friend, dropped by SlingWords today and agreed to answer a few questions.

About Elaine Raco Chase

Elaine is an Amazon bestselling author who writes contemporary romantic comedies – some more explicit than others. Her heroines are NOT: thin, petite, clueless or submissive. They are strong women who aren't looking for a man - until the right one comes along! And those men! Tough-guy, alpha males who don't know what hit them! But do know they want MORE!

Elaine also writes explicit mystery/thrillers and non-fiction. Her book, How to Write the Amateur Detective Novel, was nominated for the Agatha Christie Award, and it's in the FBI Forensic Library at Quantico.

Find Elaine Online

Website: http://elaineracochase.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ElaineRaco
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elaine.r.chase
Facebook Fan Page: https://www.facebook.com/elaineracochase
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/pub/elaine-raco-chase/32/38/353

Now, settle back while Elaine Raco Chase tackles the Dirty Dozen.

1. In which genre do you write and why that particular genre?

I started writing contemporary romantic comedies back in the 'heyday' of romance 1978...yes on papyrus paper! Why romantic comedies? Because I'm a firm believer in mixing love and laughter. Even my mystery/thrillers have a comedy thread...although it's more like M.A.S.H. sardonic style. I don't do slapstick but a sophisticated style of verbal one-liners.

2. What's your most recent book and what's it about?

Caught in a Trap is my new release. Kit Forrester has saved forever to take the vacation of her dreams – a cruise. One day out at sea, she gets not only the worst case of seasickness the ship's doctor has ever seen but also the horrible stomach virus that has hit the country. She couldn't tell her friends THAT..so she invented the perfect cruise vacation and created the man of her dreams, Rafe Morgan, all from material in her tiny stateroom.

There was just one big problem, retired Navy Seal and Texas billionaire Rafe Morgan did exist, and he was positive he was being set up by this New York redhead with a background that was ripe with suspicion.

3. As an author, what can readers expect when they read one of your books?

I think the reviews say it all – characters who are so real, you feel you can call them. I don't write heroes who think Jell-O-shots are a food group. I don't write heroines who can't take care of themselves physically or financially. I like writing complete books...not 'cliff-hangers.' I mix fact with fiction. As in the case of Caught in a Trap – a book that's dedicated to my father – it's very funny but brings to the forefront: child abuse, child hunger, PTSD, plight of the returning vets, and politics. While those themes seem to be more 'dramatic' than romantic comedy oriented, as an author I can get across more information to readers than if it was non-fiction.

I highlighted the Wounded Warrior Project, WWP, in Caught in a Trap as I did in Rules of the Game. WWP actually promoted Rules of the Game on their Facebook page, and it was part of a blog tour that gifted the WWP with nearly $2000 in donations. I've had readers/reviewers post that they donated after reading the book. And even though there was this focus, Rules of the Game was voted #1 erotic romance by the readers of Turning Pages.

4. How did you "become" an author? For instance, was there a moment when you said: "I think I'll write a book."

I come from a radio/TV background as well as public relations. So I guess you can say writing any style is in my bones. I use to write and voice radio shows on WGY-WGFM radio in upstate NY (NBC affiliate) and then did in-house voice-overs for network shows and PSA's. I started writing longer stories – romances, mysteries and some very bad science fiction – and attended a writer's conference where an agent actually heard me talking about what I was writing, asked if I had any material with me (I had 100 pages of a romance novel), took that back to NYC and – I know this sounds like a fantasy – but actually sold that book in two days to Dell Publishing. When I got my first check and new it wasn't a dream...that's when I said: 'you are a writer.'

5. Best thing about being an author.

Learning that your stories are being read by others and liked.

6. Worst thing about being an author.

Hearing/seeing a review that says your story is terrible. It's like someone telling you that your child is ugly!

7. Do you have editions of your books available other than eBook editions?

Yes, I have audiobook editions available at Audible and iTunes. I'm also planning on producing print editions of my popular romance novels too. All but 2 of my original romance novels have been updated...so you can buy very old paperbacks of No Easy Way Out and One Way or Another (original title: Tender Yearnings) from used bookstores. Those two are 'retro-reads' and I really wanted them to stay in their original 1980's form. No Easy Way Out highlights the 'birth' of Epcot Center in Orlando – my husband worked on the audio animatronics for Disney (as does the heroine in the book) and with One Way or Another (Tender Yearnings) – the heroine goes one-on-one with computers, the rise of credit cards and technology. Also that book set a record for Dell Publishing's Ecstasy Line – it went into a record 3 printings in a few weeks and was their first book to hit #1 on the Walden's Bestseller List.

8. Do you listen to audio books? If so, what device do you use?

I love...love audiobooks! I listen to them on my kindle as well as Mp3 player. All eleven of my eBooks are available in audio (Caught in a Trap will be the next one out)...and two of them have made Audible.com's Stellar Reviewed list....One Way or Another was their Stellar reviewed romance for October 2012 – narrated by Janina Edwards. And Special Delivery was their Stellar reviewed romance #4 out of top 10 and the only Indy audiobook for the entire year – 2012. Special Delivery has been on Audible's Erotica bestseller's list for over 2 years now and features award-winning, dual narrators: Destiny Landon and Lee James as well as original music and some fun sound effects.

9. What device do you use to read eBooks?

I have an older 'keyboard' style Kindle and love it! It plays the audiobooks as well.

10. If you could give one piece of advice to an aspiring author, what would it be?

Write what you love to read...trust me, your love will show in your characters and words. Don't imitate what's 'hot' because that changes every minute.

11. If you could tell readers one thing, what would it be?

I proudly put my name on everything I write.

12. What is your big dream (or goal) as a writer?

To write each book better than the last!

Buy Caught in a Trap

All Romance eBooks

Kindle Edition

iTunes Apple Bookstore

KoboBooks Edition

Nook Edition

Takeaway Truth

Time is ticking away to the weekend. Better grab a great book now.