Barbara Dunlop

USA Today bestselling author Barbara Dunlop sold her first book to Harlequin in 2000.  She has since written 29 novels for a variety of Harlequin and Silhouette lines.  Barbara is a two time RITA Award finalist and a two time winner of the Romance Writers of America’s Golden Heart.  Her next book, “The CEO’s Accidental Bride” will be released by Silhouette Desire in January 2011. 

I’m thrilled to interview Barbara Dunlop today.  As a new Desire author, I learned so much of my craft from reading Barbara’s wonderful stories.  No matter how distracting my surroundings, I always know when I pick up one of Barbara’s books, her characters will pull me into their lives with warm humor and passionate encounters.

THE CEO’S ACCIDENTAL BRIDE

There was no way multimillionaire Zach Harper would split his inheritance with a stranger. Even if she was his wife. What had supposedly been a prank Vegas wedding to Kaitlin Saville was very real. And now, according to his late grandmother's will, Zach's future was tied to Kaitlin…forever.

The CEO truly believed he could buy off his bride with a few million and a signed divorce decree. However, Kaitlin didn't want money. She wanted an opportunity only Zach could provide. So he offered her a job, vowing never to consummate their marriage. But some vows were meant to be broken.…

 

Exerpt:

CAT:  How often to you get lost in a story?

BARBARA:  I get lost every time I read a good story.  There’s nothing better than diving into a great book with fun, compelling characters.  And when you have to take a break from reading, it’s wonderful to know the book is waiting for you to pick it up again.  I particularly enjoy comedies.  Janet Evanovich, Jennifer Crusie, Jane Graves and Susan Elizabeth Phillips are some of my favorites.  Recently I’ve been reading Lisa Kleypas contemporaries.  They’re terrific!

CAT:  What’s the first book you remember reading? 

BARBARA:  As a young girl, I loved the “Little House” books.  As I grew into a teenager, I found myself gravitating toward books with strong romance plots.  I don’t think there were as many Young Adult romances back then.  But I’m sure I would have loved them.

CAT:  Where do you read and how often?

BARBARA:  Lately, I tend to read on airplanes.  I often save books by favorite authors for when I know I have a long flight coming up.  Nothing makes a day of traveling brighter than getting lost in a great story!

CAT:  What was the first story you remember writing?

BARBARA:  I wrote “How the Giraffe Got His Long Neck” when I was about eight years old.

CAT:  What’s your favorite movie of all time?

BARBARA:  It’s hard to pick out a single film.  I loved “The Last of the Mohicans”.  In a completely different genre, I thought “Charlie Wilson’s War” was fantastic.  But I’m also a huge sucker for a romantic comedy.  Most recently, I laughed out loud through “The Proposal”.  I’m a Sandra Bullock fan.  I also loved “While You Were Sleeping” and “Two Weeks Notice.”  Obviously, I could go on and on!

CAT:  Be honest, when reading 1st person...do you miss the hero’s POV?

BARBARA:  My personal preference is third person, in part because I do enjoy having the hero’s POV.  But a well-written first person story is also enjoyable.  I mentioned Lisa Kleypas in an earlier answer.  Her contemporaries are first person, and they’re incredibly engaging.

CAT:  What’s your favorite kind of story to get lost in?

BARBARA:  Comedies are my all time favorite stories to get lost in.  Even though the Stephanie Plum series isn’t really a romance, I still buy them all and laugh my way through.  I like snappy dialogue, particularly great banter between a hero and heroine.  There’s something energizing about a witty, intelligent debate.

CAT:  If you couldn’t be a writer anymore, what profession would you take up?

BARBARA:  In addition to being a writer, I’m also a Film Commissioner.  That means I get to work with a huge variety of filmmakers and support the careers of other artists.  It’s a great job.

CAT:  If you could interview one person (and it doesn’t have to be a writer) who would it be?

BARBARA:  There’s a brilliant news commentator in Canada on the CBC, Rex Murphy.  I don’t know if I’d necessarily want to do a formal interview.  I’d rather have lunch with him and hear his views on world politics, or pretty much anything really.

GOTTA ASK -- GOTTA ANSWER

CAT:  If you were a t-shirt, what color would you be and why?

BARBARA:  I’d be dark purple, something different and mysterious, but not too flashy.

GOT A QUESTION YOU’D LIKE TO ASK YOUR FANS?

The Silhouette Desire line often features powerful heroes and glitzy settings.  What are your favorite hero professions, billionaires, cowboys?  What are your favorite settings?

Barbara can be contacted through her web site www.barbaradunlop.com.

Thank you, Barbara for blogging with us today.

Please stop back Monday, January 10^th when Maureen McGowan hosts Middle Grade and YA author Eileen Cook.