Naughty Nikki
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INTERVIEW WITH LYNN LAFLEUR, EROTIC ROMANCE WRITER
The Realm: You were born in Granbury, Texas. What is your fondest memory of growing up in a small Texas town?
Lynn: The friendliness. You couldn’t walk by someone without receiving a smile. There was no need to lock a door or car because no one would ever bother someone else’s things.
The Realm: SEDUCTION’S SPELL is an intriguing and sizzling book. You paint a beautiful picture that reaffirms hope in love no matter what stage your life has reached. What inspired you to tell these stories this way?
Lynn: Because I’m a romantic. I believe if two people truly love each other, anything is possible. Every couple has problems and hurdles. It’s easy to give up. Love makes you want to hang in there and find a solution.
The Realm: What is your writing process once you have a book idea in mind? Are you a plotter? Do you take it as it comes? Do you spend a lot of time brainstorming?
Lynn: I’m a total pantser! I hate writing a synopsis and put it off as long as possible. How can I write a synopsis when I have no idea what my characters will do or where they’ll go? I get a germ of an idea, and I take off with it. If I think my characters should go one direction and they insist on going a different one, I listen to them. They rarely steer me wrong.
The Realm: Several of your books are fairly short. I’ve read short books where all the time is spent on the couples having sex, or we spend so much time learning their history that we don’t get to read the meat of the current story. How do you make sure you’re always giving your readers as much of your characters as you can to ensure they are completely satisfied with the development of the relationship?
Lynn: Excellent question! A reader can’t enjoy a book if s/he doesn’t get to know the characters. I think long and hard about my characters--their goals, what they want out of life, the careers they’ve chosen. I want my readers to laugh and cry right along with my characters. That’s important to me. I’m a reader too. When I edit my books, I take off my author’s hat. If I can’t get caught up in my characters, if I don’t care about them, then no other reader will either.
The Realm: Romance writers, and especially erotic romance writers, have an uphill struggle to overcome negative viewpoints. When you’re writing a story, what do you hope your readers will take away from it?
Lynn I want them to enjoy what they’re reading. I want them to be completely satisfied at the end of the book. I’m rewarded by a simple “thank you” from a reader. It’s wonderful to receive an email that someone took time out of her/his busy life to write to me.
The Realm: Was there one piece of advice you learned since you began writing that still holds true? Is there a particular bit of knowledge, wisdom, or advice you’d pass along to aspiring writers?
Lynn: Never give up. Yes, it’s a cliché, but it’s so true. Read, read, read…not only the genre you love the best, but other genres as well as many authors. Take writing classes. There’s always something to learn, even after an author has published several books. Go to conferences and simply absorb. Listen to people. The plot of your next book can be right there in the conversation between two women at a makeup counter.
The Realm: In addition to SEDUCTION’S SPELL releasing next week, you also had an eBook release titled REUNION. Can you tell us a little bit about the book I’ll soon be adding that to my To Be Read list?
Lynn: Reunion is the story of two best friends in high school. They both cared deeply about each other, but never told the other one of their feelings. They come together at the reunion and finally have the chance to admit how they feel about each other.
The Realm: On your path to publication, how many times do you think someone passed on your work? Which came first, the agent or the editor? Can you tell us about the day you got the call?
Lynn: I was rejected probably two dozen times over a period of many years. I submitted short contemporary books to all the lines--Harlequin, Silhouette, Second Chance at Love, Loveswept. I received wonderful letters like “we love your characters/setting/story, BUT…” That “but” always got me. Then a friend of mine told me about a new epublisher, Wings ePress, that was accepting manuscripts. They contracted three of my sensual romance books.
I read one of the Secrets anthologies shortly after my third book was released and discovered Angela Knight. I visited her Web site and found a link to Ellora’s Cave. I love to click on links, even though I have no idea where they lead (there are so many goodies out there on the Web!), so visited EC’s site. I bought a couple of their downloads and was hooked. I knew I wanted to write erotic romance. It took me six months to write the first novella. I submitted it to EC and was contacted via email two days later by EC’s head editor with an offer to publish the novella.
The Realm: What do you see for yourself next, either personally or career oriented? Do you have any projects in mind that are especially meaningful to you?
Lynn: I’m starting a series for Ellora’s Cave with my good friend called The Tarot Café. I want to write more books based on characters I’ve already created in other books. I get wonderful emails from readers who want to know, “what happened to…?” It’s heartwarming to know a reader cared enough about my book to want to read more about the characters. Writing is simply the best career in the world.
The Realm: Off all the books you’ve worked on, which was the most meaningful to you? Why?
Lynn: All of my books mean a lot to me. I love starting them and writing them, and am both happy and sad when I type “the end.” My personal favorite, so far, is Rent-A-Stud. Zach loved Jade so much he wouldn’t let anything keep them apart, not even her own insecurities. That is romance.
Visit Lynn at www.lynnlafleur.com to learn more about her books.
--- Naughty Nikki Duncan
The sensuous side of suspense and magic.
www.nikkiduncan.com |
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10/12/2007, 2:57 pm
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