Interview With Lorraine Nelson

Today is the first in a series of author interviews for my Wonderful Women Wednesdays!  I will be interviewing published and aspiring authors, getting their take on the current market,  what they’ve done to achieve their success, and what advice they would give aspiring authors.

Lorraine Nelson has agreed to be my first guest!

1. Tell me a little about yourself.

I am mother to three wonderful sons, grandmother to four grandsons and two granddaughters. I enjoy reading, writing, baking, gardening, and spending time with my family.
2. What genre do you write?

I write mostly contemporary romantic suspense.
3. How did you get started?

I’ve always enjoyed writing and used to write mainly poetry and children’s stories. In 2008 I developed a bone infection in my thumb. It was amputated in October that year. In an effort to get the hand functioning again, I started typing. I soon got bored with typing tests and such. I’d always planned to write a romance one day, so when the germ of an idea invaded my mind, I started writing and have never looked back.
4. Describe your writing routine.

Routine? I’m supposed to have a routine? LOL

I write whenever I can. I have a home office with a desktop PC where I do most of my writing and Promo. If I’m out, I usually have pen and paper handy. I hate laptops, but I’m thinking I may have to get one.
5. How do you manage writing with the rest of your life as wife, mother, grandmother, employee and/or any other hats you wear?

Sometimes that can be really difficult. My son moved back home last year, complete with girlfriend, baby girl and German Shepherd. Quiet time now is usually after nine PM and I sometimes write into the wee hours of the morning. I’m on medical leave from my day job, so my time’s my own, but family takes priority.  I often play chauffeur for my 82 year old mother and her 84 year old sister. Life never gets dull.
6. How long did it take you to have your first book published?

I started writing for adults in February, 2009. My first book, Zakia and the Cowboy, was released in October, 2011. Although my English and comprehensive skills have always been excellent, I had a lot to learn. It’s been a busy few years, but I’m loving it.
7. What method did you choose and why?

Like every aspiring romance writer, I aimed for Harlequin. I entered pitches and contests, won a couple, but publication still evaded me. I had so many stories written by then, that I decided to shop them around elsewhere. In my opinion, print books will never die, but ebooks are selling strong right now. Evernight is a great publisher to work with. Very efficient. To expand my reader base, I now have contracts with Breathless Press and Ruby Lioness Press.
8. What advice would you give to aspiring authors?

I think Michelle Styles, who writes for Harlequin Historicals, says it best:

“It takes desire, determination, dedication, discipline and perseverance.”

Might I also add patience and a thick skin? You also need a good critique partner or partners, someone who will give you an honest critique of your writing, whether you’re ready to hear it or not.

And be ready to promote. Build you fan base now to help reduce stress later.

9. Who are your favorite authors?

I love Nora Roberts, Danielle Steel, Mary Higgins-Clark, John Grisham, and James Patterson, just to name a few.
10. Here’s a sampling of Lorraine’s work.

Available from Evernight Publishing:

http://www.evernightpublishing.com/pages/Lorraine-Nelson.html

Zakia and the Cowboy, Book 1 in my Thunder Creek Ranch series,

available in ebook form from online retailers, and now available in print. https://www.createspace.com/3831841

Covert Mission: Undercover Cop, Book 2, Thunder Creek Ranch series

Trouble Brewing in Thunder Creek, Book 3, Thunder Creek Ranch series

A Cowgirl’s Pride, Book 4, Thunder Creek Ranch series

Hawk’s Woman, a western historical short, is my contribution to Evernight’s Virgins Behaving Badly anthology.

Book 5 in my series with Evernight, Cameron’s Quest, is in the works. Cameron Manning is part owner of the Thunder Creek Ranch and has returned from his travels abroad. His is a story that includes family secrets, lost love, and murder.

Books 6-10 are hazy, but a distinct possibility.

And then there’s the possibility of: Thunder Creek: The Next Generation.

As long as the characters keep talking and my readers keep wanting more, I’ll keep writing. There is definitely a world of possibilities in Thunder Creek.

I have two self-pubbed Christmas Titles on Amazon:

His Christmas Wish: http://www.amazon.com/His-Christmas-Wish-ebook/dp/B005V0T88O/ref=sr_1_7?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1337969623&sr=1-7

Mistletoe & Mr. Hoe: http://www.amazon.com/Mistletoe-Mr-Hoe-ebook/dp/B00687HWUK/ref=sr_1_6?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1337969623&sr=1-6

Coming soon from Breathless Press:

http://www.breathlesspress.com/

Her Unlikely Bodyguard, releasing June 15^th.

Blessed Homecoming, releasing July 13^th.

Love on the Rocks, releasing August 10^th.

Finding Baby J, September 7th.

Coming soon from Ruby Lioness Press:

http://rubylionesspress.com/

http://clearwaterrlp.wordpress.com/

 Bad Boy Blake, releasing November 2^nd

Benjamin, The Hudson Brothers, Book 1, part of the Clearwater, WY, series

Gabriel, The Hudson Brothers, Book 2, part of the Clearwater, WY, series

Nathan, The Hudson Brothers, Book 3, part of the Clearwater, WY, series

No release date as yet for the Hudsons.

Blurbs and excerpts can be found on Lorraine’s website, listed below.

Lorraine loves to hear from readers. You can keep up with her releases by visiting the following locations:

Website – http://lorrainenelson.weebly.com

Blog – http://lorrainenelson.wordpress.com

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/LorraineNelson.Author

Twitter – https://twitter.com/#!/lornelca

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Lorraine-Nelson/e/B005XMAYFQ/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

Or email your comments to: lorrainenelson_author@hotmail.com

Do you have any questions you’d like to ask Lorraine?

Thank you Lorraine for being my first guest in my women writer series!

NOW,  get out of the house and go have some fun people!  Write on my friends, write on!