Shades Of Romance Magazine:  Describe your book in 50 words.

Sonia Icilyn:  Title: INFATUATION.  Desney Westbourne is a daytime soap actress.  She is determined to reclaim her reputation after a magazine falsely smears her name.  When she comes up against the editor, Wade Beresford, his 24-7 coverage on her to set the record straight proves to be more than she bargained for.

SORM:  What made you decide to write this particular story?

ICILYN:  I enjoy researching the history of our black diaspora.  My latest hero, Wade Beresford, is Afro-Italian.  Not many stories are written about black Europeans and I wanted to widen the horizons of black romance by including this rich tapestry of black culture.  Of course in romance novels, one is restricted because the emphasis is by far the love story itself, but it's nice to punctuate my work with a little touch of history to educate as well as entertain.

SORM:  When you write, do your books begin with the storyline or the characters?  Or does it depend?

ICILYN:  My stories always begins with the characters.  My style of writing weans its way into the  storyline and I never have any true control over my characters.  Sometimes their motives surprises me, and I'm supposed to be the one writing the book.  Multi-layered characters are a real challenge, even with romance restrictions.  Arlisa Davenport of Roses Are Red and Violets are Blue was a joy to sort out.  I lost night sleep over her.

SORM:  How has your life changed since publishing your books?

ICILYN: I'm a much more secure person, knowing that I am doing something I love.  I think it is more about how people treat you on the outside.  My friends and family found it difficult to relate to the fact that I'm now a published novelist.  I had to work much harder to deal with certain friends, but in the end it was easier to deal with my own security than the insecurities of others.

SORM:  Which book has been the most successful in the bookstores?

ICILYN: I'm not sure.  The novel most reviewers enjoyed the best was my first for Arabesque, Roses Are Red, which was written under my married name Sonia Seerani.  I'm not sure if moving back to my first names Sonia Icilyn has changed my style a little, because the most fan mail I received was for Island Romance.  Many readers wanted to see it made into a movie.

SORM:  Which do your fans like?

ICILYN:  My fans have liked all my books, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank them all for writing such heart warming letters to me.  The sense of accomplishment I feel from reading some of their letters makes me work harder to write really good stories.

SORM:  Is it hard to juggle work and writing?

ICILYN: Yes it is.  Very.  A typical day, I'm up at 7.30 am making notes, have my daughter in school by 9.45 am, then I work throughout the day and write during the evenings.  Don't ask me how I manage to fit in university work at the same time.  I'm hoping to complete my Masters Degree in Scriptwriting by June 2001.

SORM:  What is your favorite romantic movie?

ICILYN: West Side Story.  Forbidden love touches deep and is often moving.  It is not quite escapism, but the romance is so powerful, one is often drawn into the full swim of it anyway.

SORM:  What are your favorite books and authors?

ICILYN:  I read a wide variety of things from Charles Dickens to Chester Himes.  My favorite book is 'Lace' by Shirley Conrad.

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

ICILYN: I always jealousy guard my stories.  All I can tell you is that it will be full of suspense, revenge and firecrest passion.  And as always, my fans can read it and weep.

Shades Of Romance Magazine would like to thank Ms. Icilyn for doing this interview. Many blessings with your work.

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