1.  Tell us a bit about your journey to becoming a published author

I’ve dabbled at writing since I was a teenager, but participation in sports and cheerleading activities didn’t leave much time to pursue it seriously.  Mostly I wrote in private journals and composed poems in the dark of the night.  The real impetus was being relocated to Las Vegas for a job, and being laid off one month later.  During that hiatus, I found a manuscript that I’d been writing off and on for several years, and I decided to see if I could really write a whole story--one with a beginning, a middle and an end.  Impressed with that accomplishment, I next set out to write a good story.  That first manuscript is in a box somewhere.  The second manuscript eventually evolved into FOREVER LOVE.

2.  What was the most difficult part of this journey?

The most difficult part of the journey for me was making the decision to submit my work to a publisher.  I wrote three manuscripts prior to TRULY INSEPARABLE, that I let my close friends read.  They pronounced them good; I tossed them into a box, and moved on to another story.  One day, during a sister-friend rap session, it was suggested that I mail my manuscripts to a publisher.  Even then it took about a year to actually put one in the mail, because I did it in stages--bought envelopes--a few months later, stamps--a few months later enclosed my work in an envelope and addressed it--and a couple of months later, I actually mailed two of the envelopes.  One went to BET/Arabesque, who thought TRULY INSEPARABLE was a good story, but rejected it because of the SIDS issue.  The other submission went to Genesis Press, who bought TRULY INSEPARABLE about a month after I’d mailed it, and about a week before I received the rejection letter.

 3.  Tell us a bit about SUBTLE SECRETS. 

SUBTLE SECRETS is the story of two people who were betrayed by their spouses, leaving them disillusioned with the concept of love.  Both are divorced, and Starris Gilmore, an unemployed graphics artist and the creator of Ravel Love, a greeting card line, is in the process of adopting a little girl.  Jordon (J.R.) Banks is a single parent and the executive director of ROBY, an organization that works with African-American teenaged boys.  When Starris seeks employment at ROBY and is dismissed without an interview, the sparks begin to fly.  Chance meetings and the efforts of two little girls, who are doing their best the help their parents to the altar, make it hard for Starris and Jordon to resist temptation, and while neither is looking for love, they find themselves in a relationship that neither is ready for or want.  While there are many humorous aspects to the story, a sinister plot is also intertwined.  That’s all I’m going to say. 

4.  Tell us a bit about what inspired you to write this book?  

Camp To Belong, an organization that works to bring the issues of children in the child-welfare system to the national forefront.  A good friend of mine started the organization, and talked me into not only helping to pull together the first camp (neither of us had any experience at this sort of thing), but also into being on the board of the organization.  CTB hosts summer camps that bring brothers and sisters living apart in the system together for one week of sharing, caring and bonding.  For most of these children, this will be the only time they will see their siblings for the entire year.

5.  When writing SUBTLE SECRETS, did you think of the move “The Parent Trap”? 

Honestly, no.  Although it is one of my son’s all-time favorite movies.  The parent trap angle kind of just evolved with the writing of the story.

6.  Are there any twins in your family?  

I have six siblings, one brother (the oldest) and five sisters. I am the oldest girl, but there is not a twin among us!

 7.  Did you cry or get emotional while writing the scene when Jordan took his daughter from Starris’ care (I know I did)?  

Interesting question.  Writing to me is like watching a movie--and there are only two movies that have ever brought a tear to my eye--Bryan’s Song and ET.  Some of the scenes I write crack me up, and I’ll start laughing.  Others make me think and still others sadden me--and let’s not even get into those love scenes.  The scene referenced above was a little emotional to write, but given what Jordon went through to get his daughter, his reaction seemed natural.  However, since these are my stories and I have control over the outcome, I know that eventually all will work out and there will be a happy ending.

8.  What made you decide to write Starris and Jordon’s story before or instead of Manette and Chris’ story?  You are doing Manette and Chris’ story, right? 

Yes, I am working on Manette Walker and Christopher Mills’ story.  However, Starris bugged me more than Manny did, and hers was written first.  

9.  Connecting books are my favorites.  Do you plan to continue to write them? 

As I have continued to write, it seems that I have developed the knack for creating secondary characters with strong personalities and stories of their own to tell.  In the case of TRULY INSEPARABLE, I did plan to write a story for each of Shelby’s friends.  SUBTLE SECRETS is Starris’ story.  Manny’s is almost complete, as is Jacqueline’s.  Pamela Shaw is starting to bug now.  I also have several partials in the works with heroines who have no connection to my first three novels.

10.  What is your main objective when you sit down to work on a story?  

I am not so organized in my writing as to plan objectives, and I have no formal process.  In fact, some might describe my method as weird.  Story lines, characters, scenes, dialogue, settings, etc, flash into my head, and the main character (usually the heroine) bugs me until I begin to write her story.  Once I do begin a story, I slap on the headphones (music is so inspiring), go into their world and write down what I see and hear, starting with the prologue or chapter one, and writing in consecutive chapters.  When the story is over, I end it.  Then begins the editing process--I am a perpetual editor.  I think it’s a form of procrastination and a hold over from the days before I was published.  If I’m still editing, the manuscript can’t possibly be ready to submit. 

I’ve been called an issues writer--which means, I guess, that I weave serious topics into my love stories.  If anything, I want to write stories that are entertaining and that people want to read.  If in the process, I manage to impart some enlightenment on a particular subject, then all's well that ends well.  

11.  Who are your favorite authors? 

LaVryle Spencer is my all time favorite.  Her historicals are so wonderful and I was sorry to see her retire.  Others include: Angela Benson, Francis Ray, Rochelle Alers, Donna Hill, and once I flip the cover on one of Beverly Jenkins novels, I will read through the night to finish the story--she is in a class by herself.

 12.  Which of your books is your favorite? 

I like all of my books, because each has touched me in a different way.  If forced to choose, FOREVER LOVE would at the top of the list.  This book went though several metamorphosis before I was finally satisfied that I’d gotten it right.  It is packed with a lot of action and the relationship between Gerald Morris and Leah Ellis is so intense. 

13.  How would you define AA romance?  

An AA romance is a love story in which the main characters are African American.  While there may be some cultural aspects which are unique to our race interwoven into the story, it is no different than say, writing a story from an Irish, Hindu, Asian, German or Latino perspective--in which you have a strong heroine and a hero to die for.  Love is universal, and a good love story is a good love story.  

14.  Do you have a full-time job? 

Yes.  I have work in the cable television industry for 22 years in various administrative and affiliate sales and relations management positions.  Currently, I am the administrative coordinator for a cable television programming network. 

15.  When you’re not writing, what do you like to do in your spare time?  

I am a voracious reader, and do so every night before going to sleep--no matter how late it is.  I also like to sew, am pursuing the manufacturing a stuff animal project, and crossword puzzles.  But, quite honestly, as a single parent, working full-time, and a board member of Camp To Belong, I don’t have a lot of spare time.  

16.  What is something about you that your readers would be surprised you do?  

Nothing really--whoops did I say that!  My mother would dispute those words; she thinks I’m rather odd because I choose to live in and appreciate the moment.  However, my secret fantasy is to be the drummer in an all girls rock-n-roll band.  The all-girl African-American band, Klymaxx was the inspiration behind this desire.  

17.  What do you feel has been your greatest accomplishment as a writer and why?  

Writing stories that move people.  Through book signings, appearances at reading groups and letters from readers, I know that TRULY INSEPARABLE affected a lot of people.  Though my life has not been touched by this malady, readers have told me that the emotional devastation experienced by Nelson and Shelby is accurately portrayed in the story.  Many have shared their personal stories of tragedy, and many have thanked me for writing a story in which love overcomes all, even something as tragic as SIDS, and for giving them hope for a brighter tomorrow.  Knowing this inspires me to keep on writing.

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

Nothing, except perhaps to begin it earlier in life.  Then I could have met some of my idols, like Angela Benson, Donna Hill and Francis Ray sooner.  

19.  Any advice for the aspiring author.  

Hold on to your dream!  Don’t listen to dissenters, who say it can’t be done--it can!  Continue to hone your craft--this means you write, write and write some more.  Take what you can use and apply to make your stories better from rejection letters, then discard the rest.  Lastly, do not try to copy the style of others.  Tell your stories from your heart, because that is where you’ll find your true talent and touch your readers with your stories. 

20.  Do you like communicating with your readers?  In what forms?  And how can a reader contact you? 

21.       What’s next for Wanda Thomas? 

Well, I have several novels in the works.  Two are complete and just about ready for submission to Genesis.  I am also endeavoring to write a historical romance set in Colorado in the 1800s (talk about a lot of research--Beverly J., I envy you).  Since it’s last revision, my life’s goal list still includes being a drummer in an all girls rock-n-roll band (Hmmm?)  Perhaps it’s time to schedule those drum lessons!