Shades Of Romance Magazine:  Describe your current book :

Leslie Esdaile:  "Love Lessons" is a September BET/Arabesque release that shows how a wealthy, handsome, and very sexy single father (a "Mario Van Peebles" like filmmaker) and his son's young, pretty, and single elementary school teacher can overcome hurdles to come together.  Initially, both misjudge each other... she mistakenly stereotypes him as a deadbeat dad, he thinks he's receiving letters in London from whom he assumes to be an old battleaxe.  But once they meet, and the two are forced to cope with each other for the sake of the child's welfare--then they must figure out how to keep the sparks from flying between them... also for the sake of the child.  The cover of this book also features the 2001 Arabesque man (and HUNK) of the year!

SORM:  What's your favorite scene in the book?

ESDAILE:  There is a scene when the hero is getting ready for a "first date" with the heroine, once being the quintessential bachelor used to his own space to maneuver, but is totally flustered by the realities of family, nieces and nephews a meddling sister and his son... the total comedy in the way his "love den" dissolves on his first attempt to woo this woman properly had me laughing at myself, and thinking about how many botched dates I've had with my husband--given that we have four kids between us.  That sort of stress doesn't wear well on most men, and I had a ball unraveling the hero's nerves until he was totally undone.  It gave him more texture and made him human.  Kids are enough "Kryptonite" to temporarily take the "S" off of ANY Superman's chest!

SORM:  Since becoming an author, what has impacted you the most?

ESDAILE: The most difficult thing has been trying to keep the writing pace at night while working during the day and managing a busy household with children. .but the thing that most impacted me is the wonderful readers I've met.  I've received e-mails and letters from such great people, and every time I think of them I find the energy to bang out one more book.  The energy from the readers keep me going!

SORM:  What was the best writer's conference you attended, why?

ESDAILE:  To be honest, there are two... since with all these kids I don't get out much (big smile.)  The first was an RWA conference held in 1994 (I believe) at the Marriot Marquis in NYC--where I met my first editor, Monica Harris, who bought my first book, "Sundance."  If I had not gone to that conference, I wouldn't have had an opportunity to pitch the book concept and get Monica's agreement to read it, nor would I have met Vivian Stephens (a diva in her own right, founder of RWA, and a dear soul who briefly became my agent and mentor before she retired.)  The second conference is one I missed, but I heard from all my writer buddies, Gwynne Forster, Donna Hill, William Cooper, et al., who said it was DA BOMB--Romance Slam Jam 2001, in Orlando Florida. They said Brenda Woodbury out-did herself with that one... great content, sessions, and thoroughly organized. I was so sad that I couldn't arrange to go, but I will not miss the 2002 one, trust me.

SORM:  What advice would you give to someone attending their first conference?

ESDAILE:  Have a plan.  Decide who you want to meet while there, what workshops will best augment your areas of weakness or add to your knowledge base.  The social aspects of a conference are fantastic, and should be enjoyed.  But you have to remember that you're there (if you want to get published) on a business mission.  So, find out, in advance if possible, what publishers will be there, what editors have committed to attend, what literary agencies will be there, and what authors you admire might be present--and get appointments during the times when they have allotted for editor, agent, and publisher interviews.  Have your own business cards made up (simple, inexpensive these days--Staples or Office Max has the paper), and make sure you get the contact information from the people you want to connect with--even if you can't have a formal interview with them... then, once home, follow up.

SORM:  What advice would you give to a new writer on promoting their book?

ESDAILE:  Use the web!  If you keep a mailing list of people as you go to conferences and booksignings, etc., use the fast, inexpensive medium of the Internet. Mailing flyers and bookmarks/covers can be expensive, so one way to cut costs is to e-mail people with updates about where you'll be, then pass those items out at booksignings.  But do keep in touch with your readers.  Answer EVERY letter or e-mail... hey, the readers are the most important people to what you do... treat them with the dignity and respect they deserve--like royalty.

SORM:  If you had known then what you know now, what would you have done differently in terms of your romance writing career?

ESDAILE: Once my first agent retired, I would have found another one immediately--one savvy in the business and who had enough time to also mentor and coach. Being busy in graduate school, writing, and working, and being a Mom, I allowed nearly two to three years to lapse before I began a serious search again.  That put me behind the proverbial eight ball, because I loved to write, so I was not at my negotiating best--nor did I know how to get a transition project out into the publishing world (a women's fiction), which is a TOTALLY different market.  Instead of arguing hard for my advances, I was sorta like, "Oh, cool, so you want another book!"  Having learned a little more about the business, I now let someone else do that part.  I'm too much of a softie.

SORM:  What is the latest romance you've read?

ESDAILE:  Donna Hill's, "Through the Fire."  My sister can write!  The book is off the book!  Another scorcher that I've only read/heard excerpts from (but intent to read soon) is Cooper's, "Six Days in January."  That brother can write, too... there's a lot of good folks out there doing fantastic work!

SORM:  How can readers get in touch with you? (email, address, web site)

ESDAILE:  My e-mail address is:  WRITERLE@AOL.COM and it's the fastest way to get a response.  Also, my website is: http://www.paintedrock.com/authors.esdaile.htm

SORM:  Can you give us a sneak peek at your next book?

ESDAILE: I have a romantic women's fiction coming out... it's a transition book that hovers between a romance and a women's fiction, entitled, "Rivers of the Soul."  This will be a Genesis Press, Inc. December 2001 release, and the sequel to it, "Still Waters Run Deep," will be out in June 2002 by the same publisher.  This one deals with a heroine and hero who were childhood sweethearts, but who broke up and married different people, had children, and had a life apart from each other.  But after their subsequent divorces and some life changing tragedies, they are back in the same town, and rediscover each other.  They have to hurdle carrer challenges, children, families, friends, ex-spouses who are playing games, and many, many self esteem issues  that create a complex web of stumbling blocks for them to overcome.  This book pulls no punches.

Leslie Esdaile
Author Of:
--Sundance -- Kensington/Arabesque Press, October 1996
--Slow Burn -- Kensington/Arabesque Press, August 1997
--How To Write A Romance For The New Markets, by Kathryn Falk
  ("Stir Up A Strong Multicultural Romance") -- Genesis Press, 1999
--Midnight Clear ("Home for The Holidays") -- Genesis Press, October 2000
--Love Notes -- BET/Arabesque, February 2001
--After the Vows ("Time Enough for Love") -- Genesis Press, May 2001
--Love Lessons -- BET/Arabesque, September 2001
--Rivers of the Soul  -- Genesis Press, December 2001
--Love Potions -- BET/Arabesque, April 2002
--Still Waters Run Deep -- Genesis Press, June 2002
--After the Storm -- BET/Arabesque, Fall/Winter 2002



SHADES OF ROMANCE WOULD LIKE TO THANKS MS.
ESDAILE FOR TAKING THE TIME TO DO THIS INTERVIEW.  WE WISH YOU A HAPPY NEW YEAR.