I
took on the name Tracey Sorel mainly because the Wine Country Vixens series is
so different from the persona of Tracey Lyons, historical author.
My
historicals, for the most part are wholesome sweet books and my contemporary
wine series are a bit juicier! I needed to separate the two.
I’m sure some
of my fans will follow me over to the spicy side, but there are also those who
really prefer to read sweeter books. I
want to keep them happy, too!
Introduce us to Beth Chadwick from Zinfandelity.
As
Zinfandelity opens you find Beth about to learn that her husband has been
having an affair. Have no fear this is not a spoiler alert.
This discovery propels Beth forward with her
life. You’ll see her grow to be a stronger woman, who realizes her libido isn’t
as dead as she once thought it was!
Zinfandelity is the first in a series of books you’re
calling The Wine Country Vixens. Can you tell us more about the other books
coming up?
I’m working on Pinot Gigolo right now.
This book centers around the
owner of a lingerie shop called The Pinot Gigolo and the thorn in her side; a
Greek God-like city project manager who has not only left a gaping whole in
her front yard, but won’t give her the time of day.
What influenced this series the most?
My wine drinking
adventures in Northern California!
Seriously, I think all women can relate to
gathering with friends and sharing a few glasses of wine while discussing the
woes of their lives.
What character traits, if any, do you share with your main
characters?
NONE. LOL! My characters are all fictional.
Okay, maybe some of my
characters are a bit outspoken. I’ve been told on more than one occasion that I
don’t hold back my opinions.
Tell us about your journey to self-publishing this series.
I never planned on self-publishing. However,
the world has changed and there are many successful traditional authors who
have made this transition. For me this has been an adventure.
When I found I had a book that couldn’t find a
home with a traditional publisher the opportunity to go it on my own made
sense. Some days I wish I’d had a team that I could just hand everything off
to, but for the most part I love, love, love having all the control over my
product.
Though, this venture is not for
the faint of heart. You have to have a perfect product. There is no one to fall back on except
yourself when you assume the role of author, publisher and publicity
department.
Zinfandelity is a Contemporary Romance. What made you switch
up from Historical? Would you consider writing Historical again?
I found that I
had more stories inside of me than just historicals. And the Wine Country
Vixens were just begging to have their story told.
Historical romance is my
first love and what got me started in this business. I am currently working on
an idea for another Adirondack series. This one is geared for the inspirational
market and involves some Pinkerton spies.
How do you choose character names?
I used to consult the
phone book, but now I have a collection of baby naming books I use.
And sometimes I might “borrow” a name from a
friend or two.
What book is on your actual/virtual nightstand right now?
Right now I’m reading a Linda Lael Miller book.
What is your writing survival gear?
Lots of caffeine.
My collection of research books.
My network of writing pals, I couldn’t have
gotten this far without all of their support.
Is there anything you’d like to share with us that I haven’t asked?
I sold my first book on 9/9/99, the day all those computer geeks thought
we’d have a worldwide computer crash.
How can we find you and your books?
