An Interview with Shirley Hailstock

Hello Everyone, Dee here. Sorry, but this was supposed to go up last month. Boooooo, bad Dee, Bad Dee.

Dyanne: Our next interview is with Shirley Hailstock. Good morning Shirley. Thanks for dropping in on the RSJ family so we can know what’s going on with you. How about if we began by playing catch-up. Anything exciting happening with you?

Shirley: I am so excited about two new books. The first is out now. It’s call Nine Months with Thomas and it’s the story of a surrogate mother. Thomas lost his wife two years ago. Prior to that they were undergoing fertility problems and had frozen embryos. Due to the efforts of his meddlesome in-laws he agrees to hire Meghan as a surrogate in order to fat
her his child. Life changes dramatically for the both of them. The book got a 4 ½ stars (out of 5) from Romantic Times BookClub Reviews.

The second book I’m excited about is called The Right Wedding Gown. It’s the companion book the last year’s Right Guy, Wrong Dress. The Right Wedding Gown is Samara’s story. She’s the sister of the heroine in Right Guy, Wrong Dress. Strongly superstitious, Samara believes that marriage inevitably ends in divorce and she’s not willing to take the chance on marriage. But everywhere she turns she’s confronted by something involving a wedding, including opening a grab bag (actually a trunk) and finding a vintage wedding gown. And then there’s Justin McKenna, who’s set his sights on Samara. All he needs to do is convince her to take a chance on him. The Clayton series had ended. The five books have been published. I appreciate all the fan mail I received asking for more stories in this series. I will be starting a new series soon.

Dyanne: You’re definitely staying busy. Congratulations. Is there anything else going on?

Shirley: I have a book coming out in February 2010 that’s a little departure from my usual romances. The title is still being determined. Right now I’m calling it Amber. This is the story of a 28 year old who’s looking to her future and deciding to do something about her marital state. She’s going to find a man – a rich man, marry and settle into the life of country clubs and afternoon luncheons with the girls. Things don’t go quite according to plan when she discovers the man she’s most attracted to has nowhere near the net worth she requires. But there is a man who can satisfy all but the most basic of her requirements. With him she’s not in love.

Dyanne: Amber sounds interesting I’m sure the RSJ family can’t wait for it. Are there any other projects you’re working on for the future?

Shirley: I’m writing proposals for sale to my editors for new books. I have a new romance series I want to start involving a family of department store owners. I also have several women’s fiction stories in the works that I’m about to send to my agent. Hopefully, they will find a home.

Dyanne: Shirley, are there any awards you’ve won that you’re particularly proud of?

Shirley: I received the highest honor from Fairleigh Dickinson University. I went to graduate school there. In 2008 I was selected as one of the recipients of their Pinnacle Award. Like I said, it’s the highest honor the university gives a previous graduate. The ceremony was wonderful and the aftermath of questions and congratulations was truly humbling. Recently they sent me a book of the program, including photos from that wonderful day.
And then the Black Alumni Association invited me to speak at one of their meetings. The place was packed and people stayed until the very end. I got a lot of great questions and people were eager to find out how to write a book.

Dyanne: I love hearing about the many fantastic things that are happening with the RSJ authors. A little birdie told me about another award you’re up for. Care to share?

Shirley: I recently received this news and I am so excited. My book Wrong Dress, Right Guy is a finalist for the National Readers Choice Award. They announce the winners at the Romance Writers of America Conference. The conference is in July in Washington, DC. I’ll be on pins and needles until then.

Dyanne: We’ll all be sending you good thoughts that you win. Now it’s time to have some fun. What is the craziest thing that has ever happened to you in your career?

Shirley: A friend whose first book was coming out asked me to do a book signing with her. I didn't want to do it. I hate sitting in a mall smiling at everyone who passes and directing them to the bathroom or someone else's book. But she's a good friend and I agreed. At the book signing, a person comes over looks at me and my book and starts to scream my name. She was so thrilled to see me, it was embarrassing. She hugged me, jumped up and down and proclaimed to all that could hear how great my books were. Consequently, I sold out in no time.
And my friend says -- "And you don't want to do book signing..."

Dyanne: What is your most decadent (G rated) wish?

Shirley: To be on the lists, all of them, the NYT, Essence Bestseller, USA Today (at the top of course), Washington Post, Los Angeles Times. I have a small note on my computer saying "You are writing a bestseller."

Dyanne: Shirley, thank you for the interview. Again I wish you lots of luck in July. Where can the readers reach you?

Shirley: I’m working on a New Website. I finally bought my name to have an easier website for people to find and get the latest news. I’m designing it and it’s taking longer than I expected but soon you’ll able to find out about my book with a new and greater look, not to mention more bandwidth. Until then readers can reach me at my personal e-mail address, Shirley.Hailstock@comcast.net