Interview on Read For Success

Wednesday, January 29, 2014

Check Out Marie Lavender and Her New Novel

Hello Fellow Readers, Allow me to introduce to you, Marie Lavender. My first interview for authors of Solstice Publishing.

1. How old were you when you discovered you had a passion for putting thought to page?

 

I was nine years old when I started writing stories.  I always had a pretty vivid imagination.

 

2.  Do you have a muse? If so, who (if you want to share) if not what gets you in the seat to start the process?

 

I consider the muse an invisible entity that sits on your shoulder.  LOL.  But, really, I am inspired by anything - life, current events in the world, my observations.  And sometimes, I can't tie it down to a specific thing.  It just happens.

 

3.  How many hours a day do you write?

 

On a good day, I may write off and on throughout the day.  Maybe a few hours.  On a bad day (when I am too busy taking care of the business of life to get any decent writing done), I may find the time to look through a manuscript and add a paragraph or two.

 

4.  If you get blocked, what techniques do you use to clear your mind?

 

I find it best to step away from the problem at hand to get a better perspective when I come back to it.  Sometimes I will concentrate on another story.  And, barring that, I just do research on the current project and I usually gain some inspiration from that.

 

5.  What contemporary writers do you draw inspiration from?

 

Nora Roberts and Catherine Coulter are a couple of my favorites for both contemporary and historical romance.  For historical, I read Emma Wildes, Jane Feather, Tessa Dare and Kris Tualla.  For paranormal romance, I am into P.C. Cast, Chloe Neill, Kerrelyn Sparks and J.R. Ward.

 

6.  Of all time, who are your very favorite authors?

 

I think I'll stick with Catherine Coulter and Nora Roberts.  I have been reading their books for years.  In fact, Catherine Coulter's Devil's Embrace woke me up to the historical romance book genre, which I absolutely love.

 

7.  What do you like to do for fun?

 

Writing is fun for me.  But, reading is one of my greatest pleasures.  I spend a lot of time reading.  I also like to watch my favorite films and TV shows.  Sometimes, my fiance and I will go out on the town.  I like to try new restaurants, specifically ethnic food.  If I want to unwind at home, I will cook a meal.  I love making stuff up when it comes to food, and usually my spur-of-the-moment creations turn out very well.  Cooking relaxes me at times.

 

8.  What is your book about and what was the inspiration for it?

 

My book is about a girl who has always dreamed of having adventures and finding love. She becomes utterly captivated by a man who rescues her one night.  The book wasn't inspired by any one thing, but a multitude of historical romances that I have read.  I also love the Victorian era so that helped.  The characters just started talking to me one day and wouldn't shut up. 

 

9.  Tell everyone the name of your book and where they can buy it.

 

My book, a historical romance released through Summer Solstice in February of 2013, is called Upon Your Return.  It is available on Amazon and CreateSpace.

 

Book blurb

 

Fara Bellamont has been back in society for a year after leaving Cluny Abbey, where her uncle sent her long ago. When he chooses a suitor for her for marriage, she fears that she will be forced to marry a stranger and live a miserable life. But, Fara finds herself thrust into an adventure of a lifetime when unforeseen circumstances cause her to place her trust in a strange man for protection. His intervention not only saves her, but puts her in an even more compromising position. Grant Hill, a trading captain, is enchanted by the young heiress not only because of her beauty, but because she is hardly conventional. Underneath her ladylike exterior lies a tigress. Grant cannot help but offer his protection as she is in need and he is far from immune from her charms. Fara just never bargained on the passion that she feels for Grant Hill. As events unfold, she must decide whether her desires and the dictates of her heart should trump the rules of society…

 

Author bio

 

Bestselling author of UPON YOUR RETURN and 16 other books. Finalist in the MARSocial's Author of the Year Competition.

Marie Lavender lives in the Midwest with her family and three cats. She has been writing for over twenty years. She has more works in progress than she can count on two hands.

At the tender age of nine, she began writing stories. Her imagination fueled a lot of her early child's play. Even growing up, she entered writing contests and received a certificate for achieving the second round in one. She majored in Creative Writing in college because that was all she ever wanted - to be a writer. While there, she published two works in a university publication, and was a copy editor on the staff of an online student journal. After graduating from college, she sought out her dream to publish a book.

Since then, Marie has published seventeen books. Marie Lavender's real love is writing romances, but she has also written mysteries, literary fiction and dabbled a little in paranormal stories. Most of her works have a romantic element involved in them. Upon Your Return is her first historical romance novel. Feel free to visit her website at http://marielavender.webs.com/ for further information about her books and her life. Marie is also on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

A list of her books and pen names are as follows:

Marie Lavender: Upon Your Return

Erica Sutherhome: Hard to Get; Memories; A Hint of Scandal; Without You; Strange Heat; Terror in the Night; Haunted; Pursuit; Perfect Game; A Touch of Dawn; Ransom; Leather and Lace

Kathryn Layne: A Misplaced Life

Heather Crouse: Express Café and Other Ramblings; Ramblings, Musings and Other Things; Soulful Ramblings and Other Worldly Things

Marie Lavender, Romance Author   

http://www.marielavender.webs.com/
http://marielavenderbooks.blogspot.com/
http://marielavender.blogspot.com/
https://www.facebook.com/marie.lavender.58
https://www.facebook.com/MarieAnnLavender
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Upon-Your-Return/221212331354873
https://twitter.com/marielavender1
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/marie-lavender/27/187/10a
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6938764.Marie_Lavender
http://authorsdb.com/authors-directory/1578-marie-lavender
http://www.amazon.com/Marie-Lavender/e/B00C10Q94I/
http://bookgoodies.com/a/B00I0D9LQ8
http://store.solsticepublishing.com/upon-your-return/
https://www.createspace.com/4284739