Rising Star - Linda Hudson-Smith

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Deirdre Savoy

LINDA HUDSON-SMITH debuts with Arabesque this month (January) with ICE UNDER FIRE. What is interesting is that Linda's book is centered on the world of figure skating, a world we don't normally associate with African-American characters.

1. What made you want to be a writer? and why romance?

My talent for writing was revealed to me only after I prayed for something that I could do at home since I could no longer work due to a disability. It appears that writing is the special talent God has chosen to bless me with. While I dabbled in a little poetry, I had never even attempted to write a short story, let alone a full-length novel. While writing began as a therapeutic venture for me, I immediately recognized it as an intended blessing from above.

2. WHY ROMANCE?

There’s something about romance that connects from deep within me. Romance speaks to the heart of the soul, which is where love actually abides. I’m an incurable romantic, the type that cries about anything and everything that touches my heart. When I was a lot younger, I defined romance entirely different from what I do today. Back then it was all about receiving candy and flowers and sharing candlelight dinners, etc. It’s now about the soulful connection that I have with my spouse. Just knowing that he’s always there for me, emotionally as well as physically, is terribly romantic. As he’s leaving for work, before the garage door completely closes shut, he’s on the cell phone calling me, which is right there at the top of my romantic moment’s list. Though in different rooms, just knowing he’s in the house is comforting in a romantic sort of way.

3. TELL ME A BIT ABOUT ICE UNDER FIRE...

ICE UNDER FIRE is the story of Omunique Philyaw, an African American figure skater, who wants nothing more in life than to earn a spot on the United States Winter Olympic Figure Skating Team. Winning a spot on the team is the only thing she’s ever really cared about, that is, until she clashes with her handsome new sponsor, business mogul Kenneth Maxwell Jr., igniting an irresistible attraction that would challenge her---body and soul.

4. DID YOU ENCOUNTER ANY PROBLEMS ALONG THE WAY TO PUBLICATION?

I’d like to think of them as challenges rather than problems...and I did run into quite a few. After rewriting and submitting Ice Under Fire three times, I learned that the editor who’d been reading my work was leaving the company and that I’d have to wait until a new editor was hired to resubmit. I was also advised to wait three months for the new editor to settle in, then resubmit the manuscript, which I did. Then my manuscript got caught up in contract negotiations between Kensington Publishing and BET, though I didn’t know that was happening. It took nearly a year for me to finally get a response regarding Ice Under Fire, which was most favorable for me, and well worth the wait. In the meantime, I kept sending manuscripts, a total of four. The rest is history since I was offered a contract.

5. I NOTICE THAT FIGURE SKATING IS CENTRAL IN YOUR NOVEL. WHAT MADE YOU CHOOSE FIGURE SKATING, WHICH IS NOT SEEN AS A BLACK SPORT?

Where I grew up on the East Coast, we had an outdoor ice-skating rink in one of the local parks. My best friend, Denise, and I decided to try ice skating, and we ended up loving it. We began attending alternate sessions on Saturdays and Sundays. I got my first pair of white ice-skates with shiny blades for my 15^th birthday. I still have them today. However, as much as I loved it, and did extremely well at it, no one ever suggested to me that I could become a figure skater and train for competition. I still love the sport. I’ve attended several live performances and I love to watch it on television whenever the opportunity presents itself. Figure skating is a very romantic sport, especially pair-skating.

6. BESIDES WRITING, WHAT ELSE DO YOU LIKE TO DO?

My hobbies include reading, sports, traveling, and entertaining family and friends at home. I also love to play scrabble and work crossword puzzles. Because of my affection for Senior Citizens, I tremendously enjoy my volunteer work at a local rehabilitation/skilled nursing facility. One of my travel goals is to visit all fifty states by age fifty. I only seven states left to visit, but I dare not tell you how much time I have left for completion (smile).

7. ARE YOU A FULL TIME WRITER?

I would have to say yes since I’m not employed elsewhere. We have converted two of our four extra bedrooms into fully equipped offices for my husband and myself. With twelve fully written novels under my belt, I guess I could say I’m in sort of a selling mode. However, I continue to polish my works and hone my skills. When I get a new idea for a novel, I simply write a synopsis and save it on disc to work on later.

8. WHAT'S NEXT FOR LINDA HUDSON-SMITH?

I have been offered contracts with BET for two more novels, which have already been submitted. SOULFUL SERENADE will be released in August 2000. DESPERATE DECEPTIONS will follow in 2001. My agent is also shopping around treatments for a screenplay/teleplay that I’ve written. As I continue my educational goals by taking subjects of interest to me, screenwriting is my current undertaking.

9. ANY SPECIAL MESSAGE FOR THE ASPIRING AUTHOR?

Keep at it. Believe in yourself. Most important of all, do your research, know your subject matter. Read works by the publishing company of which you desire to submit your work. Don’t allow rejection letters to throw you completely off track. Just remember that everyone doesn’t have the same taste in books. One editor may not like your book at all, while another may think the very same work is absolutely wonderful.

As this is a great honor you have bestowed upon me, I want to thank you for choosing me as the rising star of the month!

Linda Hudson-Smith

Linda, the staff of ROMANCE IN COLOR wish you continued success!!!!