My author interview on A Lover of Books blog!

Interview with Marie Lavender

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Marie Lavender has written 19 books so far.  She expressed an interest in participating in an interview for my blog.  Below you can find out all about her latest book.

Tell me a bit about your latest book.

My newest release is Upon Your Honor, a Victorian romance that also has quite a bit of suspense in it.  The story covers Chloe Waverly’s journey as she stows aboard a clipper ship in an attempt to flee from the nightmare at home.  A handsome, mysterious gentleman offers to help her, but he doesn’t know the real reasons for why she escaped.  As you can probably guess, her past comes back to haunt her ​in many ways. I’ll leave it there for now, as I don’t want to give away any spoilers.

Where do you get your ideas from?

My ideas can come from anything – out of the blue or I can be inspired by current events, things that are happening to me or to other people I am close to, films or books I read.  Anything small can spur an idea.

Roughly how long does it take you to write each novel?

Well, that really depends on the book.  Some of what I have written is only stories or novellas so I would say not too long at all.  For my longer pieces, my novels, it can take months to years.  Upon Your Return, my first historical romance, which is also book one in the Heiresses in Love trilogy, came to me in 2002.  I finished writing it around 2010 or 2011.  I received a contract for it in 2012 and it was published in February of 2013.  Upon Your Honor, the second book in the series, came to me in 2012, or at least the idea did.  From the time I fully concentrated on writing it to when I was done, it took about a year.  I don’t know how long the third book will take.  I think a lot of it just depends on how much research has to be done and how much time you have to write it.

What are you working on at the moment?

At the moment, I am finishing up a paranormal romance novella titled Second Nature.  It is about a woman who stumbles into the world of vampires.  Her life drastically changes, and in the process she learns more about herself than she ever imagined.

What advice do you have for anyone wishing to pen their first book?

Read anything you can on writing, on the craft.  Take writing classes.  I definitely encourage that you do workshops or have critique partners to look at your work.  And don’t forget to read books.  As you read them, you’ll start to pick up how the authors write, what styles or elements are used.  You want to read as many books as you can, especially those in the genre you’re planning to write.  This helps familiarize you with how things are usually done, though in some cases you can break the mould if you like.  Most of all, never give up.  Be persistent with your goals.  And try to organize yourself so that you’re always making progress, whether writing, editing or researching.

What do you like to do in your spare time?

I read a lot.  Of course, I do a lot of writing.  But, I also love shopping.  I like to cook as well.  Sometimes I make up recipes.  I like to go out and see movies now and then.  My idea of a fun time is to just unwind with my fiancé ​for the evening with a nice meal, a great conversation and a good cuddle later on.

Who are your favourite authors?

I love reading books by Nora Roberts, Catherine Coulter, Tessa Dare, Emma Wildes, J.R. Ward, P.C. Cast, Kerrelyn Sparks, Chloe Neill and Kris Tualla.  I read other authors as well, but these are the ones I can name off the top of my head.

Upon_Your_Honor

Book blurb

Deception is a dangerous path… New York City, August, 1891 – Orphaned after the death of her father, Chloe Waverly stows away on La Voyageur to escape the clutches of her cruel fiancé, Lamonte Beckett. Gabriel Hill, a strange and compelling gentleman, comes upon Chloe and promises to protect her without knowing the true circumstances of why she is running away. During their journey, Gabriel doesn’t bargain on being distracted by her fair beauty or succumbing to her many charms. As their attraction to each other grows, so does the danger and Gabriel suspects things are not as they should be.
Both are determined to get to New Orleans, where she can start a new life. But, once they reach their destination, events spin out of their control and Chloe is captured by the fiancé she escaped. Gabriel is left wondering if he can overlook her betrayal. Soon he finds himself in a race against time, to reach her before Beckett can exact revenge.​

Purchase links

http://bookgoodies.com/a/B00JTKTODG
http://www.amazon.com/Upon-Your-Honor-Marie-Lavender-ebook/dp/B00JTKTODG/
http://www.amazon.com/Upon-Your-Honor-Marie-Lavender/dp/1625260423/
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/upon-your-honor-marie-lavender/1119268362
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/430789
https://www.createspace.com/4762748
http://solsticepublishing.com/upon-your-honor/

Author Bio

Bestselling author of UPON YOUR RETURN and 18 other books. Finalist and Runner-up in the MARSocial’s Author of the Year Competition. Honorable mention in the January 2014 Reader’s Choice Award. Liebster Blogger Award for 2013 and 2014. Top 50 Authors on AuthorsDB.com. Winner of the Great One Liners Contest on the Directory of Published Authors.

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. 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 nineteen books. She has published books in the genres of historical romance, contemporary romance, romantic suspense, paranormal romance, mystery/thriller, literary fiction and poetry.  Lavender just released Magick & Moonlight, a paranormal romance, in March. Upon Your Honor, released in late April, is her second historical romance. 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, Google+ and LinkedIn.

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

Marie Lavender: Upon Your Return; Magick & Moonlight; Upon Your Honor
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

Author links

Marie Lavender’s Blogs:-
http://marielavenderbooks.blogspot.com/
http://marielavender.blogspot.com/
http://iloveromanceblog.wordpress.com/
Facebook Pages:-
https://www.facebook.com/marie.lavender.58
https://www.facebook.com/MarieAnnLavender
https://www.facebook.com/UponYourHonor
Twitter – https://twitter.com/marielavender1
Google Plus – https://plus.google.com/u/0/104926404745289477307/posts
LinkedIn Page – http://www.linkedin.com/pub/marie-lavender/27/187/10a
Goodreads Page – https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6938764.Marie_Lavender
Authors Directory – http://authorsdb.com/authors-directory/1578-marie-lavender
Amazon Page – http://www.amazon.com/Marie-Lavender/e/B00C10Q94I/

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