Hello, friends. I’d like to introduce you to a new author today. Lauren Marie is originally from Boulder Colorado and grew up in Las Vegas Nevada where her father taught business and finance at the university. She has a new release, and has dropped by today to share the details. Please say hello! 

Lauren, tell us a bit about yourself and how long you’ve been writing.

When I lived in Las Vegas, there was a girl who lived across the street who was about four years older than me. When I was eleven or twelve years old, she was in high school and writing short stories for an English class. She wrote the greatest scary story about an evil black cat and I thought how cool is that?  I started writing down my own stories around that time. I’ve kept a notebook with me ever since.

Isn’t it amazing how ideas can strike you at any point of the day? Do you have a favorite place and/or time to write?

My best time to write is during the daytime hours and into the evening. I’m not a morning person and find it hard to function before I’ve had half a pot of coffee, at least. I’ve also been known to get an idea at two in the morning and found out if I don’t write it down immediately the idea will be gone by morning. As I wrote, I keep a notebook with me all the time and will write if I’m waiting at the doctor or dentist, or I’m meeting someone at a restaurant or movie theater and they haven’t shown up yet. I’ve made notes on the back of old envelopes or slips of paper from my purse. Really the only time I can’t think straight is first thing in the morning.

LOL! I hate early morning, but once I get into the shower, I’m much more of a lark than night owl. When it comes to plotter vs panster which are you?

I do outline a story and I’d say on some of my stories I’m about fifty-fifty with the original outline. Sometimes, though, the only thing that matches the outline is the name of the characters. The original outline for Love’s Touch – Then and Now – took place in Omaha Nebraska. The hero was an orthopedic surgeon from Ireland and my heroines’ father was a surgeon at the Univ. of Nebraska, Lincoln Medical Center. In the book, when it was released, the hero is an auto-mechanic and teacher in Everett, the father is a stock broker and the story moved to Western Washington. I originally started that story in the 1980s; as I changed so did some of the elements in the book. However, the basic reincarnation story stayed the same.

Those are definitely some interesting changes! What attracts you most to your chosen genre?

For many years, I wanted to write the ultimate thriller-suspense story. I had one that developed a mystery around the flesh eating bacteria’s, and another about the test dogs at the Hanford nuclear reservation in Eastern Washington. Then there were the senior citizens playing Bridge who were going to take over the world from Black Diamond, Washington. It wasn’t until about 2008, and after I’d read a couple of books by Gena Showalter and Karen Moning, that I thought how much fun it would be to write romance w/ ghosts, witches and paranormal. Once I started the first story I was bitten to the max and haven’t looked back since. Although, I still think I could do the Hanford dogs or the Soap Lady ghost from Lake Crescent in a paranormal romance somehow, but I’m not going there just yet.

Are you a draft writer or do you polish as you go?

I usually write a story out by long-hand first. That way I don’t have to mess with punctuation and grammar to much. I then start putting it into the computer and edit as I go. That’s all just to get the basic idea down. After it’s in the computer I start adding and subtracting, proofreading and shifting things around. I like to call it the Paragraph Shuffle, a basic two-step. Eventually, I’ve read through it so many times that I need to get away from it and give it to my reader who is great at finding holes and typo’s that I missed. I do put in a lot of time with a story, but all of the above is the fun part for me.

Please tell us about your new/upcoming release.

I just had a short story released last week. It’s title is One Touch at Cob’s Bar and Grill and it’s the third short story of the Ranch Series, put out by Books To Go, Now. I worked with four other authors, Casey Dawes, Amber Daulton, Julie Kavanagh and Dawn Luedecke. My story takes place in Willow Creek, Montana at Cob’s Bar and Grill. My heroine Anna Sheets has been running from her philandering husband for two years. The husband hired a private investigator, Sam Crawford, to find her and bring her back to Boise, Idaho. Sam’s followed Anna from place to place and wants her for his own. When he catches up with her in Willow Creek it’s not to take her back to her husband, but to deliver divorce papers. Will Anna accept Sam or run again?

This fall my first venture with contemporary romance will come out. It’s the first of the Canon City Series – Love’s Embers. The hero and heroine, Charlie and Lark, first met when they were eight years old and became best friends. When they were fifteen years old a terrible tragedy tears Charlie from his best friend. The story takes place in present day. It’s thirteen years later and Charlie finally comes home. He finds Lark very angry at him and as much as he tries to smooth things over with her it only gets worse. Lark has a secret. Six months earlier a terrible thing happened to her and her anger has affected the way she treats friends and family around her. Will Charlie and Lark be able to forgive the past and rebuild the embers into flame?

Which character did you enjoy writing the most and why?

I have to say Charlie Stone from Love’s Embers. I know my characters aren’t real people, but when I start to cry because of the characters back story that I made up, it gives them a special place in my heart. Sentimental much? Yes. Demented, you ask? Probably. I do cry over characters.

I’ve been known to get teary-eyed a time or too as well. How did you choose your setting and was there research involved?

I’m originally from Colorado. My family moved from there when I was about a year old. I’ve only ever been back once since then and did a lot of research just to find the area I wanted to place the story. I bought maps of the state, geographical and the highways. When I found out that the tallest foot bridge in the United States was just outside of Canon City I decided it was the perfect place for the story, that and rafting on the Arkansas River. I’ve always had a romantic feel about Colorado.

When you’re not writing what do you enjoy doing?

I’m a TV-aholic and a re-watcher. I have certain DVD’s that I love to re-watch and sometimes check out stuff from the library. I also like to work outside in my small yard. Nothing helps my writing process more than pulling weeds. I have my own ghost hunting crew and we periodically get together for some interesting hunts.

You’re braver than I am! I love reading paranormal, but would never be brave enough to go on a ghost hunt. Do you have a guilty pleasure?

I’m an ice cream fiend and actually love Brussel sprouts.

Awesome! I love Brussel sprouts too. Actually more than ice cream. 🙂 What is your ideal romantic date?

Candle light, soft music, cool breeze off the ocean or in a mountain valley. Holding hands and walking on the beach, or holding hands at the movies.

Each one sounds wonderful. Name a book that had a profound effect on you.

It’s actually the Fever series by Karen Moning. It’s the only time, ever, I’ve actually fallen in absolute attraction for a character. I even named one of my cats Jericho. It also gave me the boost I needed when I worked on The Men of Haller Lake Trilogy. I figured if she could do it with Unseelie and Seelie, I could do it with Lake Guardians.

Do you have any pets?

I have four cats – Agamemnon, Tazmania, Jericho and Jasper and they are the coolest pets ever. I’ve nicknamed them the Gang of Four. In the Haller Lake Trilogy, I have a baby-shape-shifter, Otter, who shifts into a black cat so he can get out of his crib and sneak around. His cat character is based on my four kits.

How cute. What is your dream vacation?

Scotland on the Scottish Haunted Castle tour. I’d love to see Edinborough, Inverness, Aberdeen – Duncan and Connor McLeod live.

Favorite type of music?

I have eclectic tastes, I love classic rock, kick ass fiddle players, classical, Irish folk, blue grass and zydeco, some jazz and easy listening.

I love a good fiddle player and Irish folk! It was great to have you as my guest today, Lauren, and I wish you much success with your releases! 

Author Bio
Lauren Marie lives with her four cats in Western Washington State. She is the author of One Touch at Cob’s Bar and Grill from the Ranch Series, Love’s Touch – Then and Now, Going to Another Place and The Men of Haller Lake – Trilogy.

Although, she has been focusing her current efforts in the paranormal romance, time-travel and reincarnation genres, she is currently working on continuing the Canon City Series. The first book – Love’s Ember’s – will be out this fall 2014.

When she isn’t pounding the keys, she is an amateur paranormal investigator. She formed her own group in 2006 to hunt ghosts and some unusual experiences have put in an appearance in some of her stories.

Lauren likes to receive feedback. If you want to send her likes and dislikes, you can write to her at laurenmariebooks@ gmail.com or themenofhallerlake@hotmail.com. She does respond to feedback.

Connect with Lauren Marie at the following haunts:
Website and Blog
Facebook
Goodreads  

Book blurb
ONE TOUCH AT COB’S BAR AND GRILL
Anna Sheets has been running from her ex-husband for two years. She’s been up and down the west and mid-western states, but finally finds a town, Willow Creek, Montana and job she likes and doesn’t want to give it up. The people are nice and for the first time she feels safe.

Sam Crawford, P.I., was hired by Anna’s husband a year and half ago. He’s found her in several different locations, but has lost her each time.

Until he caught up with her in Truckee, Nevada, were they had an explosive one night stand that left them both breathless and re-evaluating the circumstances.

Now, he’s found her again and, instead of her running away, he wants her to run to him. He wants to help her learn how to trust and feel safe again.

Purchase ONE TOUCH AT COB’S BAR AND GRILL from:
Amazon
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Books To Go Now