Pull up and chair, sit back with a coffee and enjoy the chat.
Good morning Lauren. It's so nice to have you here today. I write Romance and paranormals. I tend not to stick to one genre. Tell me, what drew you to write in your current genre?
Good morning, Margaret. I think it’s just a reflection of who I am. I’ve seen and experienced much in my young age, and I feel that my writing really reflects that. Call it simple, but I write stories based on my life and reality.
I wouldn’t call life and reality simple lol That’s quite a challenge and I also hear that you’re a multi published author. Well done on that. So how many novels have you written? Are they all in the same genre?
I’ve written 3 novels: Loving Her; Unbreakable Hostage; Imperfect. A fourth, Impeccable, is in progress. Imperfect is due for release in July, and the current WIP (Impeccable) is its sequel.
I classify all my work as contemporary fiction. Even though the majority of my work emphasizes GLBT themes and issues, I have my suspense novel, Unbreakable Hostage. Even the GLBT books are really stories that anyone can relate to, so I think contemporary fiction is a good blanket term for all of my writing.
Plotting!!! So many authors have different views about this. I don’t really spend too much time on it as my stories seem to evolve on their own. How much time do you spent on plotting etc before you start writing?
Does it make me a horrible person to say not much? LOL.
No, it really doesn’t. You can join my club
I always go into a book with a general idea, but I let the story write itself. So many times I’ve surprised myself as I write, and I like the idea of my writing having that kind of novelty or uniqueness.
Ah, I hear you there. Too much plotting just distracts me. Now I used to tap away on my laptop in the lounge, but I’m more organised these days and have my own office at home. So where can we picture you when you write?
Unfortunately, I need to hole myself away as one of my cats love to create “art” out of my computer wires. I have the strangest computer wire protection system out there! Being in a closed room helps too. I hate to be away from the outside world, but Teddy Roosevelt (the cat) just won’t let me work any other way!
LOL Teddy Roosevelt! What a fabulous name. My two dogs, Odin and Chester, settle at my feet for the day, usually around my feet so I can hardly move! Looking back I’ve writtena few ‘stinkers’ that thankfully have never seen the light if day. So come on, don’t hold back, what’s the worst thing you’ve ever written?
This is actually a really funny question. One of the pieces I dislike the most has helped me the most! When I was fourteen, I wrote an historical essay on the various roles women had throughout the American civil war. It was very rushed and only sent out the day it was due to be received.
Not only did that piece make honourable mention, it was published in an educational database and TWO literary textbooks! I still think it’s one of the worst things I’ve ever written, but others seemed to disagree. LOL.
Wow. I can’t say that would have happened to me lol Obviously it wasn’t as bad as you thought. So now I'm going to tuck my feet up on the sofa, while you talk about your latest release.
Unbreakable Hostage is my first attempt at a suspense novel. My publisher really encouraged me to go out of my comfort zone and to try my hand at something new. So, I did.
Well done on that. It’s hard to step outside of what you know.
It’s the story of Lareina Oliveira, a Ph. D. student in algebra. Stunning as well as smart, she quickly becomes the object of one of her classmates’ obsession. Unable to take her constant rejections, he eventually kidnaps her and hides her in an abandoned cabin in the woods by Yosemite.
She is held hostage and tortured for over two weeks. Lareina uses her wit, determination and knowledge of algebra to help her roommate, her family, and the LAPD find her. Due to the physical and emotional tortures she endures, there is great uncertainty that she will be rescued in time.
A modern damsel-in-distress story, Unbreakable Hostage has a great twist at the end where she needs to be the rescuer instead of the rescued.
I look forward to adding that to my TBR pile. I love stories with a twist.
My next book, Imperfect, is due for release in July and it is very different from Unbreakable Hostage. Stay tuned for news on that one!
Come back and tell us all about that one when it’s released. But for now, how can your readers keep up with your news?
I’m all over the web. My website, www.leharvey.com is a great way to find out more about me, my work, my books, etc.
You can also find me on:
http://www.facebook.com/leharvey77
https://twitter.com/leharvey77
http://harveyle.blogspot.com/
I’m on more sites than that, but I think that’s a good start! LOL
Now we will all get a few in our life time and they really are pants! Tell me how you deal with rejection letters?
They’re a part of the industry. You can’t go into this business thinking that you’re going to get picked up right away. It just doesn’t happen. I know that it has nothing to do with me personally, and I just carry on. I have been so fortunate to have been working with the publisher I’m with now. We’ve been working together for a few years, and it has been fantastic. I am one of the luckiest writers I know.
It’s very hard to get a publisher nowadays and I think that’s what irks me about celebrities writing a book and it getting published, it seems to be based on who they are. What do you think about it?
That’s a really tough one for me to answer. Sometimes they have incredible stories to share and their books can have a tremendous impact. Other times, it seems as though they use their status just to put their name on a cover. I guess you could say I’m really quite split. I think there are some fantastic books out there written by celebrities, and then there are some celebrities who just seem to make a mockery out of the literary world. It all depends on the person and book, I guess.
I do agree with you about that, Lauren. Most authors rely on critique partners for an extra eye when they are writing, I know I do. Who do you rely on and why?
With my publisher, since we’re a small house, we have a familial feel to everything. I really trust the other writers in our house to be honest, to edit my work well, etc. They trust me to do the same. Again, I’m really lucky. It’s a very positive and supportive environment. Not many writers have what I have, and I am extremely grateful for what I do have!
Mmm, I think I’ll have to look into your publisher a bit more! They sound great. So do you read the same genre’s as you write in?
I read almost anything I can get my hands on. I love a good suspense or romance novel. I’m also quite the history and science nerd.
It’s been so great having you today Lauren and now the coffee cups are empty and I’ve got to say goodbye. BUT.... before you go, What actor/actress gets your pulses racing?
Am I allowed to say this in public? LOL.
You can say whatever you like. There’s only hundreds of eyes reading it!
I have a few celebrity crushes or celebrities that I would love to see play my characters should my books ever become movies. I’d have to say my top two are
Jason Statham
Salma Hayek.
Laurens books are a great read. Thanks for dropping by, Lauren
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You are indeed fortunate to be with a small press that has a family atmosphere. It sounds more like a team effort for all and you work with a wonderful group.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your books. Looks like I'll also be adding to my TBR pile.