Sunday Brunch 1/26/14

A WARM WELCOME BACK BRUNCH 

SPOTLIGHT TO AUTHOR 

RORY NI COILEAIN 

Be sure to check out Rory's new trailer for Heart of the Oak and then refresh your memory by reading her interview and checking out her online links and her purchase links for Heart of the Oak, her first book in the Tales of the Grove Series.

YouTube

First and foremost, it is a pleasure to have you here. Welcome to Harper’s Sunday Brunch Interview!

So, can you tell us what makes Rory Ni Coileain tick? What got you started on the path to becoming an author?
I can’t remember a time when I didn’t write! I majored in creative writing in college, a LONG time ago, but I got smacked down hard by my first rejection letter, and didn’t really write again (for anything other than my own amusement) until I started role-play writing about three years ago. After that… well, it just kind of snowballed.

What are you currently working on? Would you care to share a snippet?
The second novella in my Tales of the Grove series, Tempted from the Oak.

Gavin stopped walking, and Tearlach stopped with him. Reluctantly--for it was wonderful to be held in living arms once again--he straightened, took his weight on his own feet, and looked down into the human’s eyes. He knew Gavin’s eyes to be blue, but by moonlight they were as clear as rainwater.

Thank you, my human.

“Yours?” Gavin’s husky voice caught in his throat.

My darag brought you here for me. He smiled, his hands resting lightly on the human’s hard biceps. But you are only as much mine as you wish to be. Once more, he stroked the prickly softness of Gavin’s short hair, then caught him by the back of the neck and bent his head until their lips brushed. You steal my breath.

“Take mine.” Gavin laughed, almost soundlessly, warm and soft against Tearlach’s mouth. “I can’t think of a damned thing I’d want to be doing with it right now anyway.”

Do you include some of your own personal experiences in your books or do you prefer to use your imagination?
There are a few of my own personal experiences worked into my books here and there, but more often I share facets of my personality. I think the character who’s the most me is Garrett Templar, from Deep Plunge, though there’s quite a bit of me in Kevin Almstead, the lawyer from Hard as Stone, too.

What genre do you typically write in and why did you choose this over others?
Almost all of my published writing is m/m erotic romance. And I don’t remember ever “choosing” it – I think it chose me. I wrote m/m for the first time as a favor to a friend who really wanted to see what I could do with the genre, and I fell in love with it.

Do you have a specific process or a ritual you go through when sitting down to write?
Not really. The ‘ritual’ comes in after I sit down, when I try to make my son and my cat leave me alone long enough to actually write… there’s a lot of “pick the cat up, put the cat down, pick the cat up, put the cat down, erase the gibberish the cat just added to the story by walking across the keyboard” involved.

Where do you find your inspiration for your plots? Do you have any tricks of the trade you would care to share?
I’m not sure where the plots come from. I think maybe I believe in Muses; there are definitely times when I can feel a story telling itself. And if I’m trying to take a story in the wrong direction, I swear my Muse puts on the brakes. If I’m blocked, it’s always because I’m trying to take the story someplace it’s not supposed to go. Or forgetting something important. As far as ‘tricks of the trade’ go, one that I learned back in my first writers’ group has stood me in good stead for the last, um, 34 years. Only if there is absolutely no other choice will I write a sentence in the format: “I don’t like that,” he said. First of all, if all you’re going to add after a comma is “he said,” or “he asked,” don’t bother. You’re not adding anything – if the beginning of the sentence is in quotes, he obviously said something, and if it’s followed by a question mark, he obviously asked something. (I personally would add “he thought” to my list of no-nos, because I set thoughts off in italics, but that’s my own style and someone else might not share it.) And even other, more descriptive words – “he growled,” “he screamed,” “he groaned” – don’t add much all by themselves. And if I try to think of a way to make the next sentence convey the same information, by showing what he did next, or as he spoke, I always come up with a stronger image, something more vivid and more real.

What is the oddest place/situation where an idea for a book/plot has come to you?
Probably the liquor store. I was shopping for some Jamesons (I love a good Jamie and ginger), when I happened to notice a bottle of Tennessee Honey on the shelf next to it – Jack Daniels and honey liqueur. And Tiernan Guaire (my bad-boy Fae from Hard as Stone) laughed in my head and said “Fae get completely shit-faced on honey, you know.” And so he did, and it turned into one of the hottest scenes in the book.

What makes a book stand out and perk your interest?
If I’m shopping online, a well-written blurb. If the sell copy grabs me, I’ll read even something I hadn’t originally meant to buy, in a genre I’ve never read! I’ll also take the recommendations of friends whose taste I trust. Some of the best books I’ve ever discovered, I’ve come across because I told a friend “I’m in your hands, pick something you think I’d like.”

We all have our favorite authors. Can you share some of yours and tell us why you like them?
I grew up a science fiction and fantasy fangirl – I love Diane Duane, David Brin, Ursula LeGuin, Jane Yolen, Julian May. They all create incredibly vivid characters – and they all demonstrate how great characters and a fabulous plot aren’t either/or. That distinction’s drawn a lot in science fiction and fantasy – supposedly fantasy focuses on characterizations and science fiction is all about the story. These authors make it clear that you can have both – that you need both. And that’s what I strive for in my own work.

We all have a pet peeve, care to share yours?
People who are reflexively negative, all the time. It’s corrosive.

When you’re not writing, what are the things you enjoy doing to relax?
Hmm. When I’m not writing, working the day job, or doing mom things with my high school senior son (eek – when did THAT happen?) I love to sing. 20 years ago, I was a nightclub singer in Manhattan; now I love to sing Irish traditional music and pub tunes, and I sing in my church choir and with the St. Mark’s Cathedral Choral Society. And I used to love to do cross-stitch and crochet Irish lace, until I acquired a cat who likes to “help” me…

Thank you so much for joining me here today, Rory. I know my followers will enjoy this spotlight as much as I have conducting it. Good luck on all your future endeavors. 

 A LITTLE MORE ABOUT RORY

Rory Ni Coileain majored in creative writing, back when Respectable Colleges didn’t offer such a major, so she designed it herself – being careful to ensure that she never had to take a class before nine in the morning or take a Hemingway survey course. She graduated Phi Beta Kappa at the age of nineteen, sent off her first short story to an anthology being assembled by an author she idolized, got shot down in flames, and found other things to do, such as nightclub singing, for the next thirty years or so, until her stories started whispering to her. Now she’s a lawyer, a legal editor, an Irish dance teacher, the mother of a teenaged son, and amanuensis to a host of fantastic creatures who are all anxious to tell their stories.

AWARDS RORY HAS WON FOR HER 
SOULSHARES SERIES

WHERE TO FIND RORY ONLINE

Her Blog

Facebook

Twitter or @RoryNi

Goodreads
Amazon Author Page

RORY'S LATEST RELEASE 

Magick is reawakening after a sleep of thousands of years-and passion is not far behind. Darach is the first reborn of his race, a tree spirit living within an ancient oak on the shore of a remote loch.
Trevor knows nothing of magick or passion. He's escaping an oppressive family and a lonely life. One breath of freedom, he thinks, before his stark, loveless reality swallows him up. The last thing he expects from his vacation to the Isle of Skye is to spend his first night being thoroughly ravished against a tree by a naked man who speaks in the sounds of leaves and wind. 

Darach never believed he'd have his heart stolen by any man, let alone one so different from any human he remembers. Freedom is intoxicating and the potential for sensual play limitless. But can what was built in a night of scorching desire survive both men's fear?

PURCHASE LINKS FOR 

HEART OF THE OAK - TALES OF THE GROVE #1

Barnes & Noble

Amazon

Kobo

Sony Bookstore
Ellora's Cave

Sunday Brunch 1/19/14

TODAY'S BRUNCH SPOTLIGHT GUEST IS

AUTHOR BRIANNA HUGHES

First and foremost, it is a pleasure to have you here. Welcome to Harper’s Sunday Brunch Interview!
It is a pleasure, thank you for the opportunity to share a tidbit about myself and my work with everyone.

So, can you tell us what makes Brianna Hughes tick? What got you started on the path to becoming an author?
What makes me tick? Let me see, I have a vast imagination with voices attached fighting to come out on the pages of books, short stories and poems. I am one of five children and the middle child. I grew up as a navy brat moving from one place to another. I have always loved reading books and dabbled in writing throughout my high school years, but dropped off when I went to college. Never in my mind did I see myself as a writer. In fact, I went to college to be a nurse. After college, I married the most wonderful man and have two wonderful boys, but in 2001 I became disabled and unable to continue working in the medical field, or your standard job due to my health, so I took up my writing again. I started out writing inspirational poetry, and then in 2009 started to work on my first book. Two years later, I became a published author and enjoy it. 

What are you currently working on? Would you care to share a snippet?
Well, currently, I have several projects on the slab. First off for this year, is my first fantasy novel, “The Hunter’s Realm.” Also, I have been working on the revision of Blood Ties, along with the second book in the series.

This past November I took on the NaNo challenge and wrote a thriller novel and currently have it with beta readers, getting it ready to be submitted this year.
Also, working on a short story for BookRhythm’s summer submission and should have it ready by the end of the month if all goes well.

As for a snippet, well, I can share some of my next book The Hunter’s Realm. The Hunter’s Realm is a story of strength; love and courage; face your worst fear and survive. To put your faith and trust in another person, along with the joy that comes when you do. Also, since The Hunter’s Realm deals with the subject matter of domestic violence, I will be donating a percentage of what is made on sales to the local chapter here in my town for Domestic Violence Awareness and the shelter.

Excerpt

Kellie Jackson and her kids stared in a stunned silence at the stranger who had vaulted into their new yard holding a gun. What a sight!

A half-dressed, dark haired Adonis with moves she'd never seen outside of a movie was standing so close she could almost touch the smooth, lightly tanned skin rippling with muscle. Not that she had an urge to. Nope, being single suited her just fine, and she intended to stay that way.

Gathering her two children in her arms, she sat up and stared at the stranger who hastily flipped on the safety of his gun and backed away with his hand up, holding the gun to his side. His wide eyes had a panicked look to them, and his cheeks flushed.

Oh my God, he's embarrassed. Kellie held back an urge to giggle. Anyone in their right mind should have been scared, but Kellie found herself more intrigued by the man who'd vaulted over her fence. Apparently, she and the kids weren't what he'd expected to find.

"Sorry," he said, his deep baritone voice making her shiver.

The kind of voice you heard on the radio when you awake in the wee hours of the morning, a velvety tone.

"I just woke up and heard screaming and ..."

Trust Rea to be the first to talk.

“Look mommy. That man has a gun. Is he a policeman?" he lisped adorably.

"Mine!" piped in Renee, his twin.

Did she mean the gun or the man? Knowing Renee she meant both.

"What? Um..." The stranger backed up toward the fence he'd flown over, his look of confusion finally making the giggles Kellie had been holding back burst forth. Tempted as she was to let him stutter a little bit more--after all, he'd scared them first--she kind of felt sorry for him, and knowing her two little angels, they'd make him regret his actions with a million questions. Seems like time to save him.

"Hi, we're your new neighbors," Kellie said cheerily, getting up and brushing the grass and dirt off her scuffed, holey jeans.

Do you include some of your own personal experiences in your books or do you prefer to use your imagination?
I tend to do a little bit of both. I want my readers to be able to relate, connect to the character, and essentially become that character as they are reading. Some subject matter I write about has been hard, but I made it through looking at the end result, whether it was a positive or negative situation.

What genre do you typically write in and why did you choose this over others?
Well, when I first started out, I mainly wrote Paranormal Romance and Erotica, but have ventured into several genres now. I will be covering Fantasy, Historical, Contemporary Romance, Thriller Romance, and even Horror.

Do you have a specific process or a ritual you go through when sitting down to write?
Oh most definitely! The first is a cup of coffee on hand, mood setting music, Writeway Pro program, and my storyboard opened. Oh let’s not forget locking my door during my writing hours.

Where do you find your inspiration for your plots? Do you have any tricks of the trade you would care to share?
Life is filled with Dreams, Dreams which give our life meaning and inspire us to change. Writing can be that dream, so dream of finishing that paragraph, or that chapter, or most of all pick up a piece of paper and just write. The words will flow from the ends of the pen. All you have to do is believe in yourself.

Between yourself and every goal that you wish to achieve, there is a series of obstacles and the bigger the goal, the bigger the obstacles. Remember your decision to be, having and doing something out of the ordinary entails facing difficulties and challenges that are out of the ordinary as well. Writing is no different, nor is becoming an author. Sometimes your greatest asset is simply your ability to stay with it longer than anyone else.

We dream about change and improvement, we set goals, seemingly impossible goals, goals which challenge us, and we dream about the future, when we will reach our goals, when our lives will change for the better. Why not dream of writing and reaching the finish line of that dream, then making it come true? Never give up!

What is the oddest place/situation where an idea for a book/plot has come to you?
Oh help me, honestly a few places, and my husband will kill me for saying this, but one plot came to me while we were having our private time. I know, not the time, but hey, the voices started grunting, moaning on their own to be heard. Another thing is sometimes while doing everyday things, laundry, dishes, taking care of kids, or even the task of checking my mailbox. I never know what will go BAM in my noggin. That is what makes writing fun. Spontaneous visions sparked by one thing or another.

What makes a book stand out and perk your interest?
Well, one depends on the mood I am looking for to read. Whether it is a romance, horror, or whatever genre. I also will go off book reviews or recommendations from other fellow authors or friends. A cover can also make an impression, but not always. I have read many books where the cover didn’t match the book content at all. Book Blurbs I always read, if it gets a reaction of ‘oh yeah baby this is what I am looking for,’ then I will give it a read.

We all have our favorite authors. Can you share some of yours and tell us why you like them?
Oh gosh, I have so many that I consider my favorites, but I have more books from a few. Such as, Shayla Black, Gena Showatler, Stephen King, C.H. Admirand, but I also have started reading newer authors too, like Jas T. Ward, Rory Ni Coileain, N. Kuhn. Oh, I can go on and on with the new authors I like. My reading list this year is very long.

Why I like these in particular? Well, that is not easily answered in a few words. They all have one or more books, or a series that I can’t stop reading over and over.
 
We all have a pet peeve, care to share yours?
Well, on a personal basis, it would have to be disrespectful drivers who text while they are driving. That text can wait. All it takes is a split second, and you end someone’s life because you “just had to reply.” A few years back, I was in a car accident that was caused by a woman texting while driving, and she veered into my lane, forcing me off the road, and then she fled the scene.

When you’re not writing, what are the things you enjoy doing to relax?
Well, first and foremost is being with my husband and two boys. Family always helps me settle. I also knit, read, and workout at the gym. I have, on occasion, been known to watch television too.

Thank you so much for joining me here today, Brianna. I know my followers will enjoy this spotlight as much as I have conducting it. Good luck on all your future endeavors.
 

A LITTLE MORE ABOUT BRIANNA

A little about me is I am a person who loves life and living in the moment. I have found a deep passion in my life in writing romance and erotica novels as much as I enjoy reading them too. I started writing as a hobby and since have been inspired to publish what I have. My heroines are always strong women that can stand up for themselves.

My favorite genre to write is Paranormal, but I am delving into other genres as well. My passion is to express how I feel and see romance, sex, and creatures of the unknown come alive on the pages of my books. Immortal highlanders, witches, vampires, Lycans, warlocks and many more, some of my work is inspired by my interest in role-playing and daydreaming , but mostly by a wild imagination. 

My first book was published on May 7, 2012, ever since Blood Ties (Wicked Blood Series #1) hit the shelves, it has been great and a dream come true. Taking the characters that are in my head and bringing life to them is exhilarating. I am staying very busy these days as I am working on three more books for this year. One is another in the Wicked Blood Series and another from my Marshal’s Series and a final one with my Co-Author J.L.Raven. 

I could not have gotten this far without the Lord's help and several friends and family.
 

PLACES ONLINE WHERE YOU 

CAN FIND BRIANNA

FACEBOOK AUTHOR PAGE
GOODREADS
HER BLOG
HER WEBSITE
PINTEREST
TUMBLR
WICKED BLOOD SERIES FACEBOOK PAGE
TWITTER or @hughesbrianna69

BRIANNA'S SOON TO BE 

RE-RELEASED BOOK

(WICKED BLOOD SERIES #1)

Gabriel Moreno was aware the tenacious beauty Alexis wanted him dead, and would stop at nothing to exact her vengeance. Mistakes he made over his long life filled him with grief and regret. Turning her vampire was not one of them. Isolated and lonely, the light in her soul warmed his bitter existence. He would have her for himself or die trying.

Alexis Silver had been called Dark monster, vampire, killer over the centuries. They were all true. Only once had someone named her a Dark Angel, mistaking this passionate seductress for something less than deadly. She hated being a killer, she detested the dark monster she had become, but most of all she loathed the man who made her what she is today. She vowed vengeance at any cost.  

PURCHASE LINKS FOR THE ORIGINAL RELEASE OF 

BLOOD TIES 

BARNES & NOBLE
LULU
 
 

Sunday Brunch 1/12/14

MY SUNDAY BRUNCH SPOTLIGHT
SHINES ON AUTHOR
LYNN LAWLER TODAY

First and foremost, it is a pleasure to have you here. Welcome to Harper’s Sunday Brunch Interview!
So, can you tell us what makes Lynn Lawler tick? What got you started on the path to becoming an author?
A lot of hurts throughout my life have contributed to my story. Like a lot of people, I too had my hard spots in life. As a child I was bullied by my peers while the school turned their head, telling my mom that “teasing” was not a “real” problem. This contributed to the pain that I now write in my stories. Also I am the survivor of domestic abuse, something that took me many years to heal. Thankfully, I am over that and am living my life in a way that is more true to me. I incorporate many of my work history into my stories because am still healing from that. My dream to be an engineer like my dad, like one of my future characters, was washed away when I hit a wall with science. My character, Jackie from Enlightened Desire, was not bullied. I did not feel it would fit into this story.

One night I saw a documentary on the early twentieth century writer, Willa Cather. Willa, like me, was a free spirit and did not like to follow rules. Willa got a man’s haircut during a time where that was considered taboo. Like her I didn’t follow certain “rules” in the workplace which is why I was unable to really do much in the way of being of service. Like Jackie, I had problems focusing and working in a crunch. In Enlightened Desire, I write about Jackie at work and how she would let her mind fantasize.

I have found that like Willa, I need to follow the beat of my own drum and just do it. This is one of the reason’s why I like writing.

What are you currently working on? Would you care to share a snippet?
I am currently finishing up the editing for Enlightened Desire. Enlightened Desire is about a woman who thinks she has her life all figured out until she encounters a bizarre event. Suddenly oddities are her reality. Things that she used to ignore were now in her face. She cannot hide from her truth anymore. Then there is the lover who has her own agenda as well as the other who is wrecking havoc. What is sex crazed Jackie to do?

Here is an excerpt from the story:

The woman asked Jackie, while locking her eyes with Jackie, if she’d like a drink. Jackie said, “Yes.” The woman told her to hang tight and that she would be right back.
 
Slowly the woman turned around and walked up to the bar, wiggling her behind along the way. Jackie stared at her tight rear end and visualized what it would be like to put her hand up the woman's skirt and feel the soft skin of her derriere. Jackie held on to this thought until the woman returned, holding her drink in her right hand. Winking at Jackie, she gave her the drink and whispered in her ear seductively, “Follow me.”
 
Jackie took a large gulp of her drink and followed the woman, who led her to a dark corner. There she put her arms around Jackie, who was still holding her drink, and whispered, “I dare you,” into Jackie's ear.

Even though it was loud in the club, Jackie clearly heard what the woman had said. She felt herself salivating. It was obvious that the woman was making a pass at her, so she decided that the cards were now in her hands. Jackie began to move her hand up the woman's left leg.

Do you include some of your own personal experiences in your books or do you prefer to use your imagination?
Like mentioned above, I incorporate much of my personal experience into my stories. Many times when I’m describing the past of my characters, their experiences are the same ones I experienced. I find this to be healing as I am getting my pain out of my head and onto the paper in story form. Jackie, in Enlightened Desire, had restrictions while growing up. I too had restrictions in which there was pain that followed. Jackie had problems with her dad. So did I. In another story I have my character hearing a message while hiking. Many years ago, I too heard a message while I was hiking in Flagstaff. Like with my character, this one too was profound.

However much of it is from my imagination. In one story, I write about a woman who sent off an intention that was answered in a way that she did not want. She is now forced to live with her decision. She is living havoc. I need to have her go through some twists and turns before she is able to see the big picture. She experiences some things that I would never do. I used my imagination big time with this one and created events to increase the intensity of the drama in the story. These events were crucial to the story so that the reader really gets to see how messed up this woman was.

I need to also mention that a new love interest sends sparks into this woman’s life. Will it be enough for this woman to pick herself up and move forward with her life?

What genre do you typically write in and why did you choose this over others?
I generally write GLBT. I am a fan of The L Word and loved how the creator put drama with sex. I want my books to be like that. I have to have a good story surrounding the romance. My characters are sexual and sensual. They experience their sexuality to the max. My character, Jackie from Enlightened Desire, loves to take baths. I could not write a story without incorporating some loving in her tub. Jackie is spontaneous and will do what suits her mood. She does not see the big picture at all and wonders why things turn out the way they do.

Also I want to go one step further and have each of my main characters have a spiritual awakening. At the same time, many of them have psychic gifts. I love to write about dreams and visions and how they relate to our waking self. In one scene in Enlightened Desire, out of the blue Jackie witnesses a vision of a coworker while she was minding her own business. The vision got Jackie’s attention and afterwards she was disturbed. I too have had experiences of this. Like Jackie’s, my vision was odd. Unlike Jackie, I kept this vision alive for years to come afterwards for reasons unknown.

I believe that we all possess extrasensoratory abilities, some more than others. I have always been infatuated with ESP and have done a lot of research on it. It is fun to write about Jackie being able to touch something and see a vision. At the same time I did not want these psychic abilities to appear to be just random. They are all part of Jackie’s spiritual awakening.

Do you have a specific process or a ritual you go through when sitting down to write?
I really don’t have a certain ritual. I usually sit down and write. Many times I’ll get ideas when I’m out and about, so I’ll record them into my iPhone. I like to put on music while I’m writing. Sometimes I will play the same song over and over again, particularly if I’m on a roll and the song is triggering my creation. The song “Early in the Morning” by the Gap Band really shaped a lead character in my next story. I worked though the feeling of the story and literally felt this person’s feelings like they were my own. Redbone’s “Come and Get Your Love,” also triggered my creativity for the story.

Where do you find your inspiration for your plots? Do you have any tricks of the trade you would care to share?
I have a vivid and wild imagination. My stories just come to me. As a child I would sit alone and let them come to me. I was a big fan of fantasy and would entertain myself for hours while directing my play of characters. As a child, I had a game that I played with my sister about a group of teens living their life in L.A., kind of like 90210. Unlike that show we did not have sex in our story. It was PG rated, but was fun to act out my players. I’d have my characters do fun things like going to the beach in their own car.

In school, I loved English classes since I got to do a lot of creative writing. In another future story, I am working out a pain I had with writing. Like my character, I too was humiliated by an English teacher in front of the whole class. Like my character, I shut down after that. Thankfully, I am over that now.

What is the oddest place/situation where an idea for a book/plot has come to you?
This year I got summoned for jury duty. While on break at the courthouse, I got some ideas on how to restructure part of a plot for a future story. I had my iPhone on me so I was able to jot down my ideas and then work on them when I got home.

What makes a book stand out and perk your interest?
Believe it or not, but sometimes it is as simple as a character’s name. Recently, I read a book in which this was true. As it turned out, I had used a name in a previous story. I was able to connect with this character immediately and to the author as we have something in common. It was fun to read about how her character ticked. It felt like I was meeting another woman named Lynn.

Books that get my interest are also ones that deal with the paranormal. I enjoy reading about oddities. My story, Enlightened Desire, has a lot of paranormal in it. Romance stories that involve a spiritual awakening also get my interest.

We all have our favorite authors. Can you share some of yours and tell us why you like them?
My favorite author of all time is Mary Higgins Clark. I like how she puts smart, strong women as her lead characters. Mary has always had this motherly appeal to me. She is someone who I can look up to, as I’m an author myself. If I’m not mistaken, she started writing later on in life. The message this sends me is that it is never too late to do the things we love. Like me, Mary puts feeling into her stories. My favorite book of hers is Remember Me. It has an old mystery in it and I believed that the place she was writing about was haunted when in fact it was not.

As a child I pretty much worshipped Judy Blume, as I had all of her books and had read them all many times. She spoke to me from the heart, and in her one book, Blubber, I really felt the pain of one of the characters. Her books always involved growth, something that I put into my stories.

We all have a pet peeve, care to share yours?
My biggest pet peeve is drivers who purposely run red lights. I don’t like to make left hand turns so this makes it harder for me when driving. However, I’m a big believer in being the example you want to see. With this in mind, I follow the road rules and don’t take risks. I want to show people my version of safety. Here one of my characters would take advantage of the situation to be of service. She would create a class for her children about the benefits of responsible driving. Like me, she likes to be a positive example.

Jackie in Enlightened Desire, unfortunately, could not do this. She would get mad and let it eat at her.

When you’re not writing, what are the things you enjoy doing to relax?
I love to spend my down time with my spouse and my cats. Other things that I enjoy are reading other GLBT authors, cooking, baking, baseball, playing Tomb Raider. Two books that I am currently reading are Crossroads by Dawn Carter and The Muse by Suzie Carr. Both of these books are f/f romance and are exciting. I am a slow reader and love to absorb what I am reading. Many times I write reviews and like to be descriptive with them. I take notes to use in my review. I will be reviewing both of these books so look out for my reviews.

Also, I am in the middle of writing 4 books (2 stories f/f romance) which I’m hoping to release next year. My first story is about a woman who asks for a spiritual awakening and does not like the result, so she fights it. At the same time, there is the lover who wants to be with her. The other story is about two women in search of themselves while on a bizarre journey. Literally, this is a journey and both women are confused. I also have love interests for both women.

Things have changed for the better for me in 2013. Recently, my spouse and I hosted a family party. I could not believe how much everything was put together with ease and grace. I contributed about half of the dishes. I started a day early and did each one gracefully. I did not stress out. Same with the cleanup, I just jumped in, and before I knew it, everything was washed. I could not have said the same thing last year.

Thank you so much for joining me here today, Lynn. I know my followers will enjoy this spotlight as much as I have conducting it. Good luck on all your future endeavors.
I want to thank you for featuring me today. It has certainly been a pleasure. Look for my book, Enlightened Desire, to be released in the upcoming weeks. Until next time.

A LITTLE MORE ABOUT LYNN LAWLER

 

Lynn Lawler is a fiction writer, Reiki and Theta DNA practitioner. She writes stories greatly inspired by the GLBT community and her own experiences. She is the author of Enlightened Desire, a story about a woman who thinks she has her life figured out. Then she encounters an occurrence that tells her otherwise. Oddities suddenly become realities. Secrets are coming out of the woodwork. Jackie cannot hide from herself anymore, nor can she be in denial about her true potential. Simultaneously, there is the secret lover who has her own agenda. Then there is the other lover who is wrecking havoc for Jackie. Jackie is caught in the middle of confusion.

Lynn has had a lifelong interest in writing and wrote short stories while in school. In college she wrote an editorial that was published in The Detroit Free Press. It focused on the positives of children’s education in the sciences. She found this to be very inspiring and felt people needed awareness.

During her early adult years, Lynn went on a spiritual journey to Arizona seeking enlightenment. While there she got to experience some things that were life changing. She first managed a vendor booth, selling nutritional supplements at a flea market. Then as one door closed, another door opened. After this job ended, the next day she started working at a place that really enlightened her; the produce department at a natural food coop in Tempe, AZ. There she educated people on sprouting as well as the health benefits of juicing. At the same time, she spent a lot of time out in nature hiking and listening to its celebration.

In addition to her retail experience, she also has work experience in Architectural design as well as Finance. At one job, she got to help create the construction documents for a gym. Even though she liked the creativity that Architectural design offered, her passion lies in writing, which now has developed into her new career.

Lynn started her professional writing career several years ago after she watched a documentary on the life of the 20th century writer Willa Cather. At the same time, she experienced a loss that steered her to take this direction. After writing the initial outline and first draft, the author embraced a new awareness that changed the path of her life.

The trials of Lynn’s life have only served as stepping stones to a brighter outlook and a stronger spirit. Many of which are incorporated into Lynn’s stories. In school, Lynn encountered some tough times with her peers. Lynn touches on bullying in her stories, emphasizing that it is never okay.

She also incorporates teachings in her work. She is a fan of Louise L. Hay and writes about learning to love yourself. She also includes learning to forgive yourself and others and gratitude.

She is the survivor of domestic abuse. She has come to terms with this and has grown into a more conscious woman. No matter what the circumstance was, she has always found a way to pick herself up and move on. She is self reliant and independent with a caring heart.

Lynn has always been a fan of books. As a small child, she read Judy Blume books, and it was here that she had her first thought about writing as a profession. Later, she became a fan of Mary Higgins Clark and J.K. Rowling. She also loves reading the works of other GLBT authors such as Q.C. Masters and Veronica Lyons. She enjoys material of the unknown, mysterious, and mystical and peppered with romance.

In her spare time, she enjoys hiking, meditation, cooking, and watching baseball. In addition, she maintains a weekly blog and often features other authors. She believes in helping other authors in addition to promoting herself. Lastly, she has been a vegetarian for all of her adult life. It’s no surprise that her main characters are also vegetarian.

Lynn lives in SoCal with her spouse and cats. She is currently at work on her next novel.

PLACES TO FIND LYNN

 

FACEBOOK

HER BLOG

TWITTER OR @LynnLawler1