Welcome Aurora Lightbourne

Today I’m so excited to welcome Aurora Lightbourne.

I’ve made a pot of tea and cooked a batch of English scones, so let’s sit back and chat about you and your books, Aurora. Why did you choose to be writer?

I chose to be a writer because if I wasn't I would look really nutty jotting down things and chuckling to myself like a madwoman out in public. Sometimes story ideas come to me at the most inconvenient times and I have to grab the nearest paper, or napkin, and jot it down. If I wasn't a writer my husband would be even more worried about me when I talk to myself and start pantomiming and making weird faces as I think of conversation scenes.

My husband thinks I am mad when I do that LOL The writers thing just doesn’t work with him!! So when did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

When did I realize it? Hmmm, well I always wrote stories because I thought it was fun. These things came into my head and I just had an itch to write them down. It wasn't until much later I realized....hey, I am a writer!

Was that when you were published?

No, that was when friends kept begging to read my books and actually liked them and then pushed for me to get them published. That's when I realized I am a writer, I like it and people like what I write, strangely enough.
I work full time and it takes me a while to write a book. Maybe up to 8-9 months.

How long does it take you?

Space Trippers book 3 took about 4 months to write then the rest was all editing. The other two took longer. Real life likes to get in the way. If it would just go away I could be so much more productive.

Oh, I’m glad it’s not just me having to cram it all in then! What’s your work schedule like when you're writing?

Sporadic. I can't write if I am not in the mood. Sometimes I just don't have the creative flow and I have to back off for a while and try to get 're-inspired'. It sometimes helps to re-read all my previous work.
I’m usually too darn tired and can’t think, never mind write LOL I have so many quirks (or so I’m told!!) What would you say is your interesting one?
My husband says 'You don't have one....other than you talk to yourself a lot....in your head.' He would know he is the one watching me, and going without dinner. I lose track of time, he is a patient man.

I’d say that’s a quirk, or your bonkers LOL To change the subject, how do you think that books get published?

Through blood, sweat and tears. Honest hard work, mind numbing creative hurdles and lots of internal and external support.

Also, plenty of foot stamping, hair pulling and general tantrums....and that’s just from my husband lol Where do you do your research?

Could be anywhere or anything. I can see something or hear someone and then my mind just runs with it, expanding the comment or situation and making up a whole story.

I’m a bit like that. I always say that life gives me inspiration for my books. I was 21 when I wrote my first book. What about you?

Ah, yes, well...do you mean my first long book or my first short story?

I think, your book.

My first 'real' book is a fantasy with a sword girl and a Prince, I was really into sword girls back then. I wrote it during my 9th grade year as extra credit in English. I still keep in contact with that English teacher too.
I think that sometimes the public think we writers are just faceless entities, who just write and do nothing else. What do you like to do when you're not writing?
Play World of Warcraft with my hubby. You can find us running around Azaroth at least once a week.

LOL I’m sure people will be looking out for you now! What does your family think of your writing?

My husband is very supportive. He helps me a lot by listening to me ranting about plot lines and reading anything new I wrote.

Well that’s more than my husband does. He collects all my books, wraps them in cellophane and stores them away saying they’ll be worth a fortune on ebay one day!! I’m being serious! Tell me, what was one of the most surprising things you’ve learnt in creating your books?

I‘ve learned that people really like them, and not just my family who ‘have’ to like them because I know where they sleep!!

I must try that tactic with my family! How many books have you written? Which is your favorite?

I have started many, I have three published. I am currently working on Book 4 of Space Trippers as well as a new book set in a 'steam punk' kind of Victorian world. My favorites are either the one I just finished or the one I am currently working on.

My favourite is my last novel, The Heart of a Warrior. I don’t really hear from my readers much, do you? What kind of things do they say?

Not as much as I would like. When I do see them or hear from them they love to tell me about what conversation they liked or scene that was funny. I like hearing about what they found entertaining in the books.

What do you think makes a good story?

Well rounded characters that aren't too 'perfect', ones who can develop and show progress though the story. Stale characters don't drive a story.
As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up?
As a teen I was leaning toward programming. I really love computers. I built my first one when I was 15. I still mess with them, build them and repair them for friends, but I really need my stories. Computers are just annoying, if I did that all day I would have to jump up and down, run around in circles and set myself on fire!

I wanted to be a ballet dance and then my boobs got too big and that was that!!!

I used to like ballet too, but I am only 5'2” and completely non-bendy. They kicked me out. Do you have any more scones?

No, you ate them all. BUT, I’ll make a bigger batch when you pop by again with your next release. In the mean time, you’d better wipe that Devonshire creams from your chin before you go! What are you doing when you leave here?

I am still on my Online Book Tour until June 3rd. So there is still time for people to get in on the prize drawings!
You could win gift cards, an autographed book and 'character' bookthong and more just by leaving me a comment on my stops, like this one.
Also you can get in the drawing for a $25 Visa gift card by playing a crossword game with me. It only has 14 words and most of them are in the FREE half of Space Trippers Book 1 you can get from the link on my site: http://alightbourne.netau.net/
You don't have to leave your computer and you can visit the stops even after the scheduled date, that’s just when the interviews and posts will go live. (you may have to search the blogs archive for my earlier posts)
For details on the tour, prizes and game visit my Tour Event: http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=114666428547534
I do have a video book trailer for the Space Trippers series, it is on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_T6AtgnfDc

Space Trippers can be found online or in town from any book seller that has the Ingram catalog (like B&N).
Books 1 & 2 are together in a paperback volume.
Books 1-3 are available separate in ebook formats including Sony, iPad, Kindle etc.
Book 3 will be in paperback later this year.
Barnes and Noble : http://productsearch.barnesandnoble.com/search/results.aspx?WRD=space+trippers+a.+lightbourne
Amazon : http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=space+trippers+a.+lightbourne&x=13&y=25

You can read the first half of book 1 FREE from the link on my author page: http://alightbourne.netau.net/

Aurora, it’s been a pleasure meeting you. I think you’ve just become one of my favourite authors