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Interview Author Lorelei James + Giveaway
Filed in Giveaways , Interview , Lorelei James , The Geeky Lover Posted on July 6, 2011 @ 6:00 am
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| Portraiture by Russell LLoyd Jensen/Sage Studios |
We are very happy to welcome Lorelei James here at Book Lovers Inc today. I discovered her contemporary cowboy stories a month ago and I fell in love ASAP. Her novel are wild and fun and definitely on the steamy side. They showed me the appeal of cowboys so I’m extremely happy to have Lorelei here today, talking about her cowboys. Her newest book, Chasin’ Eight
is out this week and she will tell us what makes her cowboys special.
is out this week and she will tell us what makes her cowboys special. An extra thanks this week goes to Claudia, who helped me with the interview questions – thanks a bunch sweety.
Stay tuned till the end for your chance to win.
BLI: Lorelei can you please tell us a bit about yourself?
Lorelei: Hard hitting questions right off, huh? I’m a forty-something happily married mother of three daughters who lives in beautiful western South Dakota and pens tales of sex and murder for a living.
BLI: Are you a planner or pantser?
Lorelei: A little of both. I have to write a synopsis, if only for myself — although some publishers require them — so I know that the idea/plot is viable and sustainable for an entire full length book That said, I don’t religiously follow an outline, and sometimes for fun, I’ll go back and reread a synopsis I wrote before I finished the book. That’s always good for a huge laugh because the book never is the same as I initially planned for. So some is planned; some is organic. The idea of just sitting down and starting on a book without any type of guidelines gives me nightmares.
BLI: Describe a typical day of writing?
Lorelei: I have a heavy schedule for 2011, so I’m constantly behind on contracted projects — which means I write all day, every day, whether I feel like it or not. When I’m really in the throes of deadline, like a week before the book is due, I’m working at least 15 hours a day. But I love my job and am lucky enough to get to do it in my house, in my pajamas if I want, so I’m not complaining at all.
BLI: I’m sure you already had to answer this question a million times but why cowboys? For me, as a European, I never really got the attraction before I finally succumbed to reading a book about them. So what makes cowboys that special in your eyes? And do you think there are really your kind of cowboys out there somewhere? And if yes where should we look for them?
Lorelei: I’ve been raised around hardworking men (and women!) — farmers, ranchers, cowboys — and the western lifestyle my entire life. I don’t live on a ranch or on a farm but I spent my growing up years visiting my grandparents farm and these days head out to our friends’ ranch whenever I get the chance. There’s a reason cowboys are romanticized because there’s just something compelling about a man who makes his living with his hands working on the land or with animals. I know these type of men I write about, a lot of them live out here. I do create them to be larger than life, so you won’t find an exact replica of my alpha McKay men, but all men in fiction are based on arch-types.
BLI: You’re mentioning a lot touchy topics in your books like alcoholism, infidelity, homosexuality and so on. To which book did you get the most questions/complaints about? Which one was the most controversial?
Lorelei: I would have to answer this question on release week! I think every book has had some criticism in one form or another, which is to be expected. I haven’t lived every reader’s life experience, and they haven’t lived mine, so I bring what *I* know to the page, so what might be an “I hate that plot line” trigger for some readers won’t bother other readers at all. Specifically, I’ve gotten complaints there’s too much sex in all the books, to which I usually scratch my head because they are erotic, and labeled as such. ROUGH, RAW AND READY is one of my most popular books, but also controversial because I brought a male from the hero’s past into an existing marriage, so some comments were that the wife got “gypped” in the menage situation, and again, I shake my head. In COWGIRLS DON’T CRY I have a prologue that delves into the heroine’s drunken, sexual mistake that the hero witnesses. I intentionally set out to make that an uncomfortable scene, because I believe many adults have that morning after regret when it comes to a sexual mistake in their past. I stand behind the scene 100%. Since CHASIN’ EIGHT is my longest book to date, I’ve had some readers mention it takes longer to get to the first sex scene, unlike my other books. Again, that was intentional because both Chase and Ava’s emotional growth was learning to be friends first. I cannot please everyone — I don’t bother to try. I don’t set out to write controversial books, or controversial scenes, sometimes it just happens and I don’t even know it’s controversial until after the book is released. If I worried about reader’s reactions ahead of time I’d never write a damn word, so I stay true to my vision for the story and trust that if I’ve taken a wrong turn, my editors will pull me up short.
BLI: You’re also writing mystery stories under the pen name Lori Armstrong. Is there any other genre that interests you?
Lorelei: I’ve always written both romance and mystery. Many people assume I started out as a romance author and moved to mystery, because many female writers do that. But my first romance was published more than a year after my first mystery. I like writing in both genres. I have cross links on both my websites to the other website of my alter ego. I tend to have crossover fans from the romance side, readers who will try the mystery series although there is little romance in them, but the reverse isn’t true. When I first started writing, I had a balance between writing the mystery and the romances, but the Lorelei James career has taken off and I’m writing multiple books a year for multiple publishers, and I spend more time writing romance than mystery. Plus, Simon and Schuster, my publisher for the Mercy Gunderson series, only wants one book a year from me and I cannot write as Lori Armstrong for any publisher besides them because of contractual constraints. Right now I don’t have time to write outside of these genres
BLI: You’re truly blessed by the cover gods. They are always smoking hot and relate to the story. Do you have any influence over them?
Lorelei: Luckily, yes, with the Rough Riders covers I have a lot of input. Scott Carpenter has done all my covers so we work well together. And the last three covers are from actual photo shoots that Samhain sets up strictly for my covers, which is way cool
BLI: How do you keep track of all these McKay/West cowboys?
Lorelei: I have document files with all the names, kids names, locations, that I do have to go back and reference. It’s funny because I think the fans know the ins and outs of the McKay family better than I do sometimes.
BLI: With the Blacktop Cowboys you’ve created another great contemporary erotic romance series. Why did you feel the need to start another one and what can we expect from the next books?
Lorelei: I wanted to explore a series where the characters weren’t all from one family, but friends from the same small community. This also lets me treat each book a little more as a stand alone book than with the western saga/family aspect of the Rough Riders series where you need to start with the first book in order to keep track — yeah, yeah, not a word about all the C and K names — I learned my lesson there! Plus, writing a different world gives me another challenge, and a chance not to repeat myself and write the same book over and over. The similarity in the characters is that my male characters are all unapologetically alpha. It’s what I write. It’s what I like. The next book in the Blacktop Cowboys series is WRANGLED AND TANGLED and it releases on Nov. 1st.
BLI: The new book in your Rough Riders series is Chasin’ Eight. How did it get this title? Is there any significance to the Eight part?
Lorelei: “Chasing eight” is a term in the rodeo world for rough stock competitors who are obsessed with competition and hitting that eight second mark — which is the amount of time a rider has to stay on stock for a qualified ride. The title fits the book for that reason, and because the main character’s name is Chase — and he is a bull rider.
BLI: Will there be more books in this series? What is next on your schedule?
Lorelei: In a perfect world, where I hit all my deadlines and the stars align perfectly, there will be 16 books total in the series, 2 a year through 2013. Right now I’m working on DARK MERCY, the 3rd book in the Mercy Gunderson mystery series, then I’m on to COWBOY CASANOVA, RR book 12, which is Bennett McKay’s book, and then ONE NIGHT RODEO, the 4th book in the Blacktop Cowboys series.
BLI: Now to the mean questions: Can you tell us 3 reasons why people should read your books?
Lorelei:
1) Great romances
2) Hot sex
2) Characters who will stay with you long after you’ve read the book
BLI: Can you summarize Chasin’ Eight for us twitterstyle (140 characters or less)?
Lorelei:
Ava wants it, Chase has got it…and the love chase is on
BLI: Who is your all-time favorite cowboy that you would love to have dinner with? They can be from your own books or others or even real life. Do you have a favorite Western film or series?
Lorelei: My fantasy dinner would be with PBR bull riders and world champs Justin McBride, Guillherme Marchi, and JW Hart. My favorite TV series, which I consider a western series, is JUSTIFIED. I also loved DEADWOOD.
BLI: Have you had a difficult character that you found hard to write about and who is the easiest?
Lorelei: No such thing as an easy character to write! I may “know” some characters better than others going into the story, but I can’t think of a single book, or character that I haven’t struggled with in some way.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~*~*Giveaway*~*~
Lorelei generously offered a ebook copy of Chasin’ Eight to one lucky commenter.
All you have to do is leave a comment/question for Lorelei.
(You can read our full giveaway policy here)
Please leave us a way to contact you.
(Email address or twitter name – no way to contact you – no entry).
This giveaway is open worldwide!
Giveaway ends on Saturday, July 23rd and we will announce the winner on Sunday.
Good luck!
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ooh, i get to be first to comment 🙂
Great interview, i LOVE this series. I agree with your three reasons for reading them, all the books have great romance, great characters and great sex 😉 I cannot wait to read this next book in the series, thank you for writing them!
Lorelei this was a great interview. I thank you for writing the stories your way. Yes there may be uncomfortable moments for some readers, but that's also true in life. At this time I have read the 1st RR book and LOVED it. I now have a To Buy list of all your books…lol
Thanks for the giveaway and keep up the great work.
koonie2888 at yahoo dot com
Great Interview. Glad that someone finally caught on that you hit on really tough topics. The RR series is so much deeper than hot cowboys, hard work and Hot Hot Sex.
I thought Chasin' Eight was such a great in depth emotional story that even without the hot and creative sex scenes the book would be great.
Now go back to Mercy and shoot something.
I got directed to these books recently and so far I got up to book 6… there are 2 more for me to read and I'll be on top of this series (spot the pun there;-)
I'm wondering do you read other writers in this genre, and who would you point readers towards (after they have cleared your back catalogue) – i've been looking around and some of it just doesn't 'read' well (so fare I've also enjoyed Tymber Dalton and Leah Brooke).
mell61 (at) hotmail (dot) com
What a great interview. I fell in love with her when i read Saddled and Spurred. Then i started reading about the Makays. I cannot seem to put her books down. I am waiting for the next one.
Angelbiker82@gmail.com
Great Interview, always like to hear more about Lorelei. Congrats on the latest release
Shelly
Shelly@ledgetoplogistics.com
Great interview. I really enjoyed it. The first book of yours, I got as a freebie on nook. Then I bought a few more. I Likey the Makays! Hope to win this onto add to my collection. Thanks so much.
Dpbussie@yahoo.com
Hi Lorelei, Great interview. I'm hooked on the Makays!!! Would love to win the new ebook. I'm a little behind on reading the series, as I'm just finishing up the last one, so I'm ready to start chasing Chase!!
Hope
HPittman30016@bellsouth.net
Great interview! I personally don't know how anyone can complain about the heat in your books. As you said they are listed as erotic and that is what they are 🙂 I absolutely love this series and have to say it is my all time favorite cowboy series. I have said this before but just from reading the stories I feel like I could jump in the car and drive to meet this family, that is how real it is to me. Congrats on your new release Lorelei! See you at the James Gang!!!
Thanks for the interview. It was great. Totally enjoyed it. I love, love the McKay/West group. I recently found you and am working my way through the books. I don't think I've loved any western cowboy books any better than these ones. I'm working on book 5 now and can't wait for the next one. Would love to win the Chasin' Eight just released.
Lori, It's so true that the characters stay with you. I am a huge fan as you know and buy your books as soon as they come out. If I had a wish I would clone you so you'd be able to write the books quicker lol. Heck, what am I thinking, my wish would be to live in the McKay world 😉
Lori
Great Q&A guys! I am loving both the Rough Riders and Blacktop Cowboys series. I will have to try the mysteries too. I'm glad to know that there will be more RR and BC books in the future. I grew up on a farm in Oklahoma so I'm all about cowboy romances.
Chasin' Eight sounds like a fantastic read Lorelei. Congratulations and good luck with the new release!
user1123 AT comcast DOT net
I totally love your books! This sereis especially. Blacktop Cowboys is a close second. LOL I would love to spend time in your shoes and learn from you.
Congrats and good luck!
ella
artsyoil @ yahoo.com
Great Interview =)
Great interview. I am steadily working my way through the Rough Riders series and loving them all.
Looking firward to starting the Blacktop cowboys next, all your books are brilliant!
irgl7(at)bonzo15(dot)plus(dot)com
Great interview. Love you books. I just finished Chasin' Eight loved it even though it made me cry.
WIN!!! I LOVE The rough riders series… Yummy to the core. My favorite is a toss between the first and the fifth book… *sigh* Now I may have to do a reread!! LOL
Thanks for the awesome giveaway!
thebookishbrunette@gmail.com
Great interview!
I love your cowboy and your mystery books!
kissinoak at frontier dot com
Great interview (that seems so repetitive for some reason). I love Chasin' Eight. I have read the whole series and this is definitely one of my favorite. My fav is still Rough, Raw and Ready. I can't imagine anyone reading that book and thinking that Chassie was anything less than a winner. Can't wait for the next installment!
jepebATverizonDOTnet
Thank you so much for the great interview and for the giveaway. I really want read this and I just got a kindle….hint, hint. LOL
I am definately gonna have to get caught up on this series. It sounds great.
manning_j2004 at yahoo dot com
Congrats on the latest book in the Rough Riders collection. I adore that series it was the first cowboy book that i ever read and i haven't looked back 🙂
elizabeth_14@hotmail.co.uk
wow — lots of great questions and answers!! i have read all teh RR books in under 20 days — i cant get enough of them… counting the days till the next one is released
Jennifer
galvanjen@aol.com
Great interview, so insightful, i really enjoyed reading it…thanks for the many hours of fantastic, lose yourself completely in the story reading Lorelei!!!!!
Timitra
taccb_1981@yahoo.com
Great interview. I love your three reasons to read your books :).
Thanks for the giveaway.
vsloboda(at)gmail(dot)com
I have just recently discovered you. I have the Black top series and 2 stand alones. I am going to order the RR series at the end of the month. I have found where I can get all the books in print except Chasing 8 but I will wait for it to come out in print
I have never read any of your books or this series but I love your reasons for reading this book. I love romance and hot sex. Please enter me in contest. Tore923@aol.com
I've recently started reading your books and I must say, I've enjoyed them so far 😉 To the extent that I am glad you have a nice backlist!!!
Fab interview!
I just started reading the series with McKay boys (thanks to a free Kindle read) and am loving it!
Thanks for the chance to win your most recent release!
Thank you!
mmafsmith at gmail dot com
Im a country girl at heart and grew up near boston and love cattle and the out doors, plus i love doing chores. This series pf the Mckay boys has been the best reading i have read in a long time. I love how all of the books tie together and keep on wanting more and never wanting to put them down.
Thank you for your inspiring writing.
kmartin2311@yahoo.com
Love, Love, Love your books – keep up the good work!
Forgot to leave how to contact me: lkmartin85@yahoo.com
GEESH – I'll get it right in a minute – eulah kaye contact is lkmartin85@yahoo.com
I think Long Hard Rode was one of the first erotic romances I read and I was completely hooked. What I loved was that there was a real plotline, not just a series of sex scenes. I'm a book or two behind on the Rough Riders. I'd love to win a copy of Chasing Eight to catch up.
jen at delux dot com
I've read some of Lorelei's books and have enjoyed them!
Great interview.I have been buying up the RR books.I can't wait to read them.
elaing8(at)netscape(dot)net
Have read all of your Rough Riders series and loved every one. Couldn't possibly choose a favourite, each one is so good!
Great interview, nice to get to know you and how you work.
Thank you.
hmtreglown@yahoo.co.uk
Loved reading all your RR books! Can't wait to read the newest one! Your stories have made me begin to take interest in the PBR. I love those guys!! Thanks so much for opening a new world to me.
Nancy
I need to start reading this series as everyone has been saying great things about it. I had no idea you also wrote mystery stories under another pen name. I really enjoy mysteries and will have to check them out. There is something very appealing about cowboys, for me it's because they are natural caretakers, whether of people or animals. They are gentle, are good with their hands and have a quiet strength about them. What's not to like? 🙂
Cambonified{AT}yahoo{DOT}com
I love most of the books in the West/McKay series. Yeah I was one of those readers who thought Chassie got "gypped" in Rough, Raw, and Ready. But that didn't stop me from enjoying all the others. Nothing like Rough Riders to brighten up any day!
I can't tell you enough how much I adore your series of books. I feel invested in this family. None call to me more then Cam though. I have not read Chasin' eight yet, but I can't wait to do so.
mandilin546527@gmail.com