I’ve always loved to write, whether I was
writing books for the “Young Author’s” program at my grammar school, or playing
out a self-written dramas with my dolls.
But it wasn’t until I was an adult, out of college and wondering what I
was going to do with the rest of my life that I realized I wanted to be a
published author.
After becoming aware that my fantasy of
writing for the daytime soaps was years away from becoming a reality (if in the
cards at all!), I joined a critique group and, on a whim, decided to “write a
romance novel.” (I’d never even
read one!) My love of romance had
always been strong and I wanted to write a story that could reflect that
love. So, after one attempt at
writing a so-called “romance novel,” I realized I needed something of a
guide. I went to the library,
picked out my first-ever romance-novel-read and fell head over heels in love
with the genre. It was from that
day forward that I knew I wanted to be a published author, and I didn’t stop
until I made that dream a reality.
2)
What is the best and worse thing you have learned from an
editor/agent?
For me, both the best and worst thing I
learned from an editor were one in the same. That was, in my earlier days of writing, I was “telling”
versus “showing.” Simply put, I
was narrating my stories, where I should have been bringing them to life with
in-the-moment action and dialogue.
(Of course, I blame this on watching too
many narrated shows as a kid.
Television programs such as Welcome to Pooh Corner were a blast for a
child of the 80s, but they don’t hold a candle in a world were readers and
viewers expect-in-the-moment action and lots of it! ;) )
Learning I was “telling” my stories was the
“worst” thing I learned from an editor, because it essentially pointed out me
that my technique was out of whack, and I had a heck of a lot of clean-up work
to do! But, it was also the best,
because it was the single, most important critique that led me to publication!
3)
Favourite author/s?
Jessica Trapp and Nicola Cornick. Jessica’s stories are amazing! As you read them you are transported to
a world that is completely unlike the present day. Heroes are warriors, and all of them are brave, domineering,
and sexy! Nicola, too, paints a
very realistic picture of historical times, the regency era in particular. Her heroes are sweet, heroines feisty,
and her villains send chills up your spine!
4)
What is your typical day?
I work a day job as an accountant, so I work hard at scheduling my writing time, and I fight for every moment I get to spend at the keyboard. I come home, exercise, catch up on the soaps, (you gotta love the soaps!) then I write until I’m too tired to continue. I should probably reverse that order one of these day, but I need to have my mind clear when I write, and the only way I can really achieve that is by having everything else out of the way.
5)
Share your blurb or short excerpt from your latest release with us.
Clutching the doorknob, she jolted as a
hand touched down on her back.
“A moment of your time, Miss Gallagher.”
Alec was right behind her, their bodies
practically touching. She didn’t dare turn around out of fear that she might
fall straight into his arms—exactly where he wanted her. He placed his large,
warm hand over hers and turned the doorknob, urging her into the hall. Moving
steadily behind hers, his body forced her to either walk forward or risk
bumping right up against him.
Moments later, Lena found herself in a
dimly lit corridor—a place she was certain no one else in the hospital even
knew existed. Though, the darkness didn’t make it any easier to hide her
trembling hands. Her heart beat wildly as Alec circled her, caressing her body
with his sinful blue eyes. She moved back a step, coming against the wall.
A mischievous smile formed on Alec’s lips.
Putting his hand against the tile behind her, he barricaded her exit.
“Lena Gallagher.” He shook his head, making
a tsking sound with his tongue. “Imagine that. Allowing an innocent child to
fall from a tricycle. What sort of a negligent caregiver does a thing like
that?”
Lena’s face burned. “Negligent caregiver?
I—”
“It’s certainly a good thing I was there to
come to the rescue. But then that’s just the kind of man I am, you see. Lucky
for you. Otherwise”—he lowered his voice—“you’d be in an awful lot of trouble
right now. Wouldn’t you?”
“Are we through here, Dr. Westwood? I
wouldn’t want to be taking up anymore of your precious time.”
“Now, now, Miss Gallagher. That isn’t any
way to speak to the man who just saved your little girl. Not to mention job,
I’m sure. Correct me if I’m wrong. That makes the score two to zero. Does it
not?”
“Is that what this is to you? Some sort of
sick game? Trista could have died! No doctor with any true ethics would try to
take advantage of something like that. Just how big of a jerk are you?”
He grinned. “Don’t you wish you knew?”
She put her hands against the front of his
jacket, shoving him back as hard as she could. “I’m leaving.”
She started forward, but he caught her by
the arm. Her eyes came wide open as she turned around. “What do you think
you’re doing?”
“Perhaps you ought to think more carefully
before making bets you have no chance of winning. I let you walk away from me
once. This time, I don’t intend to make it quite so…easy.”
“What do you want from me?” she asked in a
whisper.
“You know what I want, Lena. And I know
that you want this as much as I do.”
6)
Who would you cast to play your hero & heroine in a movie?
As Alec Westwood, I’d cast Dylan
Fergus. Dylan portrayed the
handsome and mysterious Noah Bennett years ago on the NBC soap Passions. He’s witty, sarcastic and charming and
I pictured him easily in my mind as I spent the hours it took to perfect
Dangerous Proposal.
As Lena Benson, I would cast Kristin Kruek,
best known for playing Lana Lang on the CW’s 10-year drama Smallville. Kristin is a multidimensional actor,
who I believe could well-portray Lena, a heroine who is both timid and bold
alike. Also, she looks the way I
envisioned the pretty, petite young brunette woman.
7)
Did you plan this book? Or write it as it came?
I’d say it was a mix of both. By nature, I am a plotter, meaning that
ordinarily I have to write the entire story out as an outline before I can lay
one finger on the keyboard. But
with Dangerous Proposal, I changed my mind several times with regard to the way
the story should play itself out, particularly the beginning. In the original version, the book
opened to show Lena on the run from her psychotic fiancé (Lucas, hero in
Dangerous Ally). I changed the opening
scene two more times, before finally deciding on the prologue, in which we see
Alec at nineteen years old, in the thick of the assassin mission he is supposed
to complete. I shifted around many
other sections as well, before arriving at the finished piece.
8)
What surprised you the most when you became a published?
I think what surprised me the most was that
publication, for me, came relatively quickly. I’d heard so many stories from fellow writers who had been
trying to get published forever, maybe 20 years. When I got published, I’d been writing exactly 5 years. It probably shouldn’t have surprised
me, as I hardly go anywhere without my laptop, but it did! It was very much a surprise to get
published so early in the game, and a wonderful one indeed!
9)
Do you have a dedicated writing space? What does it look like?
My writing space has changed over the last
couple of years, more or less to suit my latest whim. Beach blanket in the yard…desk chair…living room couch…the
couch seems to be working for me at the moment, so I’m planning on keeping that
space going for a while! There,
I’ve got a fireplace view and my trusty notebook on the table beside me ;)
10)What’s
next for you?
I’m currently
writing the third story in the Pinnacles of Power Series, Dangerous
Proposition, which come after Dangerous Proposal but before Dangerous Ally. In
this story, Julia Dyson, Lena’s roommate in Dangerous Proposal, learns that her
father has been abducted, and she believes her teenage crush, Colin Westwood,
may be responsible. Colin,
determined to keep Julia from learning his true involvement in her father’s
abduction, makes the red-headed temptress an offer he hopes she can’t refuse. In exchange for helping her retrieve her
missing father, he wants Julia to be his mistress.
Website: http://jessicalauryn.com/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/JessicaLauryn
Goodreads:
Great interview, Jessica - I am proud to say that one of your favorite authors, Nicola Cornick, is a personal friend of mine! She is a member of our local Romantic Novelists Association chapter and so generous with her knowledge and experience. She is currently training a new puppy to work with the blind - she's fabulous!
Okay, Jessica is waiting for your questions & comments!
No comments
Post a Comment