Romance Readers Reading Challenges discussion
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In the Service of the King
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AC: Laura Kaye of In The Service Of The King (February 1 - February 3)
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Anna
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Feb 01, 2012 04:20PM
I hope this question hasn't already been asked -- what keeps you motivated and inspired? You are madly prolific. Also, do you have any secret books lurking in your heart that haven't had a chance to be released yet, or do you go for them one (or two?) at a time?
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Hi Laura, welcome!Happy Birthday Stephanie!
I have never read any of your books but they are being added to my read list.
My question is do you ever use a family member or friends base characteristics as a basis to build your characters on?
Thanks Linda
Lynn wrote: " Is there any research involved with your books? Or are they strictly from your imagination? "This is a really good question, Lynn! Thanks! There's a lot more research involved in fiction writing than you might think. For ITSOTK, for example, I've never been to Ireland, so I had to research possible locations in Ireland, castles that might make good settings, and the histories of those castles (Dunluce's history plays into Kael's backstory). For North of Need, I not only had to research the mythology of the Anemoi gods, but also more scene-specific things like 1) how to build an igloo, 2) how to ski, 3) what the environmental situation is with the polar ice caps, etc. These are just a few of dozen of small research questions an average book might have you looking into!
Gena wrote: "Hi, Laura! And Happy Birthday, Stephanie *waves*!!I know you love history - do you have any plans for travel for research purposes?
If your children grow up with the writing bug, does that ma..."
Hi Gena! I would LOVE to go on research trips, but I don't think I'll absolutely need to for what I'm currently writing. For places I've never been, Google maps, especially using the street views provided by the Google camera cars, are very useful for giving me more of a firsthand feel for a place.
I would love for my girls to grow up doing something creative. My older daughter is my artsy, geeky girl (I mean that in the best possible way), and I could totally see her doing something creative!
:)
Anna wrote: "I hope this question hasn't already been asked -- what keeps you motivated and inspired? You are madly prolific. Also, do you have any secret books lurking in your heart that haven't had a chance t..."This is a good question, Anna, thanks! What keeps me inspired:
1) my characters won't leave me alone (I'm only half kidding about this!)
2) deadlines force faster productivity than I might do on my own
3) I would like to do this as a full-time job within the next two years, and having multiple books for readers to buy is more likely to make that possible, so a-writing I go! :)
Hmm...I always have new ideas flooding into my brain, but I don't have any books I've been dying to write but haven't, with the possible exception of the sequel to Forever Freed which I haven't been able to get to with all my other writing obligations. FF was the first book I wrote and first I sold, so it has a special place in my heart and I'd really like to do that sequel someday. Great question!
Linda wrote: "Hi Laura, welcome!Happy Birthday Stephanie!
I have never read any of your books but they are being added to my read list.
My question is do you ever use a family member or friends base character..."
I never use a whole person to inspire a character, but I definitely use phrases or funny events or quirky traits from people I know to build my characters. I pull a lot from my own life and put into my stories, really. :)
You guys have such great questions! Thanks!
Laura wrote: "Tennille [A.K.A Blair] wrote: "I love to ask quirky questions and I have a few:What books are piled up beside your bed if any?
Do you keep a writers notebook?
What is your favorite writing and ..."
Laura wrote: "Tennille [A.K.A Blair] wrote: "I love to ask quirky questions and I have a few:
What books are piled up beside your bed if any?
Do you keep a writers notebook?
What is your favorite writing and ..."
I still have many of those authors piling up as I collect any book I can get my hands on written by them and yet I still have to read so many. I love Christine Feehan & J.R Ward.
I usually have a notebook for bigger projects which are full of highlighters and notes and all those good things. I also have a folder which has all my notes written on scraps, take away wrappers and what not. I am very old school when it comes to my writing, until it gets to the writing part :p
I love a good chai latte.
Cannot wait to dig into some of your stories. Thank you so much for doing this.
When I get to read your work, would you be interested in popping over on my blog for an author spotlight or interview. I am keen to spread the word if I find a great book.
Blair - http://bittenbybooklust.blogspot.com.au/
I don't have a question for Laura. I've been following her blog and blog tour and just wanted to say Congrats on the release! I think this book sounds amazing. Every detail Laura has shared about Kael and Shayla make this book a must read.mljfoland AT hotmail DOT com
US
Tennille [A.K.A Blair] wrote: "Laura wrote: "Tennille [A.K.A Blair] wrote: "I love to ask quirky questions and I have a few:What books are piled up beside your bed if any?
Do you keep a writers notebook?
What is your favorit..."
Hi Blair--you're so welcome! I appreciate your sentiment and would love to come to your blog after I get my current manuscript (book 3 in the Anemoi series, called South of Surrender) finished around the beginning of March. Let's chat! :)
Hi Laura! Welcome to RRRC.Did you always know that you are going to be a writer, or did you get that realization later? If the latter, what was the trigger event?
I love that driving gives you time to think and plan out your books. I use my driving time to relax and listen to music before I get home to my husband and three young kids...crazy house as I like to call it. Well trained historian I am glad you have such a great imagination! I can't wait to read In the Service of the King!!!
I will have to check out ITSOTK and see what you say about music there.
Yz the Whyz wrote: "Hi Laura! Welcome to RRRC.Did you always know that you are going to be a writer, or did you get that realization later? If the latter, what was the trigger event?"
Hi Yz! I've been a non-fiction writer most of my life (I'm a historian by profession), but I started writing fiction about 3.5 years ago - it's a weird but true story - I had a head injury, and once I started to heal, I had all these creative urges: learned to play the guitar (not well! LOL), and wanted to write. Forever Freed came to me nearly fully formed, and just poured out of me - the initial draft was 145,000 words (about 450 pages) and I wrote it in 11 weeks. Now, i couldn't imagine NOT writing!
Lexi wrote: "I love that driving gives you time to think and plan out your books. I use my driving time to relax and listen to music before I get home to my husband and three young kids...crazy house as I like ..."Yay, Lexi! For a bit on music and ITSOTK, see today's blog post:
http://bookmonsterreviews.blogspot.co...
Hi, Laura! I was wondering what made you first get into writing?
I love your cover art. It is so sexy. Do you get a say in what covers go on your books or is that up to the publicist? sdylion(at)gmail(dot)com
I would loved to know how much research u do before u begin your writing. I have been toying with the idea of writing a historical fiction. I know a good bit but I would need to research more. Just wondering what you do. If u can answer on here great! If not, whenever u have a free moment I would love to hear. Ashleyhall1a@live.com
Chani wrote: "Hi, Laura! I was wondering what made you first get into writing? "Hi Chani--I've been a non-fiction writer most of my life (I'm a historian by profession), but I started writing fiction with the hopes of publishing about 3.5 years ago - it's a weird but true story - I had a head injury, and once I started to heal, I had all these creative urges: learned to play the guitar (not well! LOL), and wanted to write. Forever Freed came to me nearly fully formed, and just poured out of me - the initial draft was 145,000 words (about 450 pages) and I wrote it in 11 weeks. Now, i couldn't imagine NOT writing!
Sandy wrote: "I love your cover art. It is so sexy. Do you get a say in what covers go on your books or is that up to the publicist? sdylion(at)gmail(dot)com"Hi Sandy--Thank you! I'm pretty in love with my cover art, too! I've had great luck! :D Authors get some say in their covers--usually we get some sort of cover art form where we tell the artist the feel of the story, details about the characters, information about special objects or places in the book (cover artists don't often read the story before making the cover, so giving them lots of details on these forms is crucial). Then, it differs from one publisher to another, but sometimes you get to give feedback on a mock-up of a cover, and sometimes you don't and you just have to accept what you get. Good question!
Ashley wrote: "I would loved to know how much research u do before u begin your writing. I have been toying with the idea of writing a historical fiction. I know a good bit but I would need to research more. Just..."Hi Ashley--the amount of research really depends a lot from book to book. Historical fiction is probably the genre that requires the most research because the people who read it are avid history enthusiasts and expect the details to be right. So you need to know about the clothes and buildings and the things people used and the appropriate language and the etiquette of the day and the historical events going on around the characters. I'm a historian, and I find that daunting! :) But, if that's what you love, you should do it, because that passion will shine through!
Hello Laura,I am a new reader and have plans to start with North of Need, If you had to pick a book as your favorite that you have written which one would it be and why?
LaTasha wrote: "Hello Laura,I am a new reader and have plans to start with North of Need, If you had to pick a book as your favorite that you have written which one would it be and why?"
Hi LaTasha! First, I hope you enjoy
North of Need! Second, you realizing that's like asking which of my children I love the most??? LOL! Geez, it's really hard to answer in all seriousness because I love each of my books for different reasons. But, if I *have* to answer I would probably say Hearts in Darkness because I absolutely adore the hero and I loved the challenge of writing about two characters trapped in the pitch black. :D
Laura wrote: "LaTasha wrote: "Hello Laura,I am a new reader and have plans to start with North of Need, If you had to pick a book as your favorite that you have written which one would it be a..."
I can't wait to read North of Need I do realize that it is like choosing children, and for that I am very sorry LOL! I will have to check Hearts in Darkness out, love the cover!!
With my love for reading i've recently been exploring writing some things that just come to mind, which can be hard since the ideas just seem to change all of the time...how do you stay focused on one book at a time when you are writing? Do you ever get ideas for your next book while writing?
LaTasha wrote: "Laura wrote: "LaTasha wrote: "Hello Laura,I am a new reader and have plans to start with North of Need, If you had to pick a book as your favorite that you have written which one..."
LOL LaTasha! Yes, I *always* get ideas for other books while writing - it's my #1 form of procrastination!!! I just note down whatever GREAT IDEA has come to me and force myself back to work on what I'm *supposed* to be doing! :D
Laura,Do we find out in In The Service Of The King why Kael has not fixed the castle since it was damaged? Sorry if this is a repeat question.
Hi Joanne--His mate died in the battle that left it in ruins, and the threat from the enemy remained, so they retreated below ground... :)
Ok, I have to ask because I'm dying to know... You're obviously a very prolific author. You released 5 books in less than a year and West of Want is set for release in April. Do you have anything else you're currently woirking on?
LOL Iris! Here's my writing schedule:--Just finished vampire book 2 about 3 weeks ago (title: Seduced by the Vampire King) which will release Summer 2012 (expecting edits soon)
--Writing South of Surrender (Anemoi #3) which releases in September
--In March, I plan to do one final edit of my erotic women's fiction, THE FANTASY LIFE OF A MIDDLE-AGED WIFE, and submit to agents
--I'm 3/4 done with a short erotic contemporary for Decadent Publishing's 1NS (1 Night Stand) series (Decadent also publishing my contemporary erotic Just Gotta Say)
--In April, I need to begin East of Ecstasy (Anemoi #4) which releases next January
--I'm working with a co-author to begin plotting a historical fiction we hope to start writing early summer
I think that's it right now! LOL :)
This isn't a question, but I'd just like to say that I was an Event Planner with an international company, decided to get married and start a family, later I was Director of Sales at a well known franchise Hotel managing everything from corporate meetings to weddings and raising my children at the same time. And even I don't think I would be able to keep up with your pace! lol
LOL It's totally crazy right now, but part of it is the demands of writing on contracts, with set schedules, as opposed to writing speculatively (i.e., no one's bought it and you don't know if you'll ever sell it) which you can do at your own pace. I wouldn't be forcing myself to do so much so fast if most of it wasn't contracted with deadlines. However, it IS easier be this constantly busy with my writing work because I love it so much!
Not sure if this has been asked and answered previously, but do you prefer to work under contracts or speculatively?
Iris wrote: "Not sure if this has been asked and answered previously, but do you prefer to work under contracts or speculatively?"Hmmm...I probably prefer speculatively because it's less pressure, but under contract means the work is sold and guaranteed to be published, which of course is gold!
I know we're getting ready to wrap up this chat. I just wanted to thank the mods of RRRC for inviting me to come here and hang with y'all, as well as each of you for taking the time to offer such thoughtful and thought-provoking questions! I've had a blast!(I'll still check out any comments after this, I just wanted to be sure to say it... ;) )
Thank you for the "chat". I learned a lot about a new author I've never read before.Hope 2012 is a good year for everyone.
Thank you so much for joining us Laura! It has been such a pleasure to chat with you and read your answers.Stay tuned....the winners of Laura's giveaway will be announced soon.
CAT! You have won
!!YZ THE WHYZ! You have won
!!Please email me at laurakayeauthor @ gmail . com with your ebook format choice!
AND THANKS EVERYONE FOR THE GREAT CHAT! I ENJOYED BEING HERE WITH YOU ALL!
Congratulations Ladies! Laura, Thanks for stopping by and answering all our questions.
Iris wrote: "Congratulations Ladies! Laura, Thanks for stopping by and answering all our questions."
Congrats Ladies, Laura you have been wonderful.
Thanks Iris! Thanks Blair! :D
Yippee! I won!Thanks Laura. I'll be emailing you.
Romance Readers Reading Challenges
Books mentioned in this topic
In the Service of the King (other topics)North of Need (other topics)
North of Need (other topics)
In the Service of the King (other topics)
Just Gotta Say (other topics)
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