Tell us about The Beauty in the Beast.
When I was younger, I loved the old fairy tales where true love always won over evil.  I decided to do a series of short stories loosely based on some of those tales but with a modern spin. The Beauty in The Beast is the first in the series and what I believe The Beauty and the Beast would be like in present times.

Why does everyone across the university’s campus call the Medieval Literature professor, Dr. Alec Knight, a brute and a beast, but Holly Day insist there has to be a better man hidden deep inside of him?  Is there really a concealed beauty in the beast or is Alec just as terrible as the rest of the world believes him to be? 

One snowy day out on a cold stone wall in the middle of the university, when everyone else has left for the Christmas break, Holly finds out the truth and neither she nor Alec will ever be the same again.

What genre is it?
Contemporary Romance.

What kind of readers will it appeal to?
This story will appeal to all readers of romance.  We like reading about couples who are perfect for each other.  Dr. Alec Knight needs someone who is able to see beyond the wall he has erected between himself and the rest of the world, and Holly Day is just the woman to do that.

When writing romantic fiction how far can you stray from the genre’s fundamental formula?
I never use a formula.  The story is the thing for me.  A good romance always has a happy ending because that’s just the way I believe a tale about finding love should be written. But I have never sat around and thought about connecting all the preordained dots just to please a publishing company. I don’t think that’s what the readers are looking for either.  A good story is a good story.  Just tell it and let it speak for itself.

We, as readers, always get a nice, warm feeling when we get to the end of a story and the heroine gets her man. Do you get that feeling writing that scene?
Whenever I write something funny, I laugh.  It’s the same thing for a sad scene or a happy ending.  I cry or smile.  It just depends on whatever is happening with my characters.  When my couple finally reach the place they’re declaring their love for each other I get all tingly all over.

I would think it’s the same for every author.  If we can’t feel something about what we are writing then how can we expect our readers to feel something?

Complete this sentence for us: If you like __________, you’ll love The Beauty in the Beast.
Eloisa James’  When Beauty tamed the Beast.

You have had a long career writing fiction. How do you keep each new novel fresh?
Every time I write ‘The End’ I don’t know if I’m going to have another thing to write about.  I always wonder if that book or story is my ‘The End’ in writing.  I believe my stories are all different because each story’s inspirational comes out of the blue.  I can be just driving down the road and have something or someone catch my eye.  Before I know it, my imagination takes off and I have the golden nugget for my next tale.

I know this might be a bit like asking which of your children you love the most, but if someone was new to your writing and asked you where to start, what would you say?
There’s a little piece of me in each and every story I write so I do love them all.  If someone was afraid to jump right into my longer romances I believe Hearts on Fire is the perfect story to start with.  I love my fireman, Samuel.  He is the perfect man.  I don’t think I have ever written a better ending.

You have authored some children’s picture books too. That must be a completely different skillset!
I have written romance, horror, inspirational and children’s.  I don’t think I had to switch gears to do any of them.  It’s all about finding the rights words to tale the story you want told.

Such diverse genres!
2012 was my year of change.  For years I didn’t write anything but romance, but I decided at the beginning of the year to try my hand at different genres. It has been a great experience to branch out of my comfort zone.  I have had the most fun writing horror.  It’s great being able to kill someone and not have to worry about the authorities coming after me.

Do you write fast and edit slowly, or do you try to get it as close to perfect the first time round?
I don’t try for perfect the first time around.  I type fast and try to get the story onto paper and then I go back and fill in the blanks.  It isn’t until the second or third go-arounds I give my characters and locations any personalities.  Everything is fairly basic until the story is completed.  Even though I know the storyline line it isn’t until my characters begin talking to each other I know who they really are and what they believe in.

What have you found to be the most effective way to market your books?
Twitter (@ReginaPucket) has been very helpful in promoting my books.  It is the easiest way for any Indie author to be able reach so many people at one time.

Tell us a bit about yourself.
I have been writing for over forty years.  Even though I have many hobbies, writing is my passion.  Nothing I ever do takes up so much space in my head as my stories do.  I always have characters chatting with each other so I may or may not be listening to actual people when they’re talking to me. Zoning out is a bad habit I have tried to break, but my characters always win. If you see me with a dazed and confused look on my face, another book is in the works.

Have you got a blog where readers can keep up with your work?
http://reginapuckettsbooks.weebly.com/blog.html

Where can we buy The Beauty in the Beast?
Amazon: US  or UK.

What’s next?
I just finished writing the next short story in my series, Sleeping through the Beauty.  It is loosely based on the fairy tale, Sleeping Beauty.  This tale is with the editor at the moment and hopefully will be on Amazon soon.