Thursday, April 8, 2010

Author Interview: ALANNAH LYNNE

Today we welcome to the blog contemporary romance author Alannah Lynne! Alannah is here to talk to us about her new spicy contemporary release Savin' Me. Welcome, Alannah! (Applause!)

What inspired you to write Savin' Me?

My current release, Savin’ Me, is actually the first book I ever started. It took me 4 years and 3 complete rewrites to get it to the point I was finally able to let it leave my hands. In the meantime, I wrote several other short stories, and had one published in Dec. ’08. That story was Reaction Time.

Congratulations on seeing your first book on the shelves. What do you find attractive in a hero?

I love all heroes! But I do find, there is a common thread between both the heroes that I write and the ones I fall in love with the most when I read. It’s strange but I love heroes who have an edge are absolutely unapologetic in their lives (think the Brothers from JR Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood). Heroes who are almost irreverent of anything. Until it comes to the heroine. And then she’s the most precious thing in the world to him and he’ll do anything to protect her, or make her his. I also find a good sense of humor to be extremely important.

What do you look for in a heroine?

I like my heroines to be exceptionally independent and tough. The hero’s presence in their life makes life better, but they’re not dependent on his presence.

If you weren’t a writer, what would you be? (Note: this does not have to be your day job if you have one; it can be anything from flapper to astronaut to crime-solving paleontologist.)

Quantum physics or research involving the brain. LOL Of course, I’m not sure I’m smart enough to be involved in either of those fields, but hey, this is hypothetical. Right? LOL

How would you like people to remember you as a writer?

I really hope I touch people’s emotions with my writing. I love to get lost in a good book, and feel everything the characters feel. I tend to balk at negative emotions, so if it’s a sad part I’ll keep reading until I get to a better feeling place, but I like to have all of my emotions tapped at some point during the story. I hope my writing makes a reader feel.

In ten years, where do you want to be as a writer?

I’d like to be comfortable with who I am as a writer, and okay with the fact that I’m never going to be a perfect writer, but okay with knowing I’ve tried and done the very best I can with where I am at the time. And I’d really, REALLY like to be comfortable with my crazy writing process.

What’s next for you/what are you working on now?

I currently have 3 chapters sitting in the inbox of a Harlequin Blaze editor. I’ve been waiting 4 months now to hear back from her with changes, or to get the okay to continue with the next three chapters. In order to keep myself from obsessing over hearing back from her, I’m working on another short erotic romance and I’m also writing a romantic suspense.

Good luck with all your projects and thank you for joining us today, Alannah!

Today's winner will receive a download of their choice of Alannah's books - Reaction Time, a sizzling erotic romance from Samhain, or the spicy contemporary, Savin' Me. You can also check out Alannah's blog at http://www.alannahlynne.blogspot.com. Good luck, everyone!

15 comments:

Nancy G said...

Great interview! This is a new author for me, and I will be looking for her books (if the cc ever stops crying)

Unknown said...

Good morning, Vivi! Thanks for having me here today.

Hi Nancy - it's nice to "meet" you. I'm not sure what "cc" stands for, but a crying anything isn't ever a good thing! I hope for both your sakes things settle down soon!

Sherry said...

I haven't read any of her books yet but they sound really good. I enjoyed the interview.

sstrode@scrtc.com

Drea Becraft said...

Sounds like a good book to me!

I love JRs Blak Daggerhood Brothers too.

I have read books where I do nothing but cry or laugh so hard I almost pee myself lol! My hubby always says how can you laugh at a book! Well because its funny geesh!

KELLY FITZPATRICK said...

Good morning all! Nice interview. Beautiful cover.

Maria said...

Very nice interview, I'm glad that you didn't give up on your project and that you were persistent in finishing "Savin Me". The cover is gorgeous!

Cathy M said...

Hi Alannah, Reaction Time was such fun to read, I loved Nikki and "Tight Ass", those two together were a total kick.

Congrats on your new release.

Unknown said...

Hi Sherry - nice to meet ya!!

Andrea - your hubby either hasn't read enough, or he hasn't read any great books, or he'd totally understand how you can react that way. The Stephanie Plum books ALWAYS make me laugh to the point of tears.

Hi Kelly and Maria - Rae Monet did the cover of Savin' Me, as well as my website, and I couldn't be happier with it. I was so pleased when they allowed me to pick her for the cover.

Cathy! How fun to hear from someone who read one of my stories. I loved writing Nikki and Adam. I was a little surprised with the road Adam took Nikki and I down, but it was so much to write those two. I'm glad you enjoyed their story!!

I'm going to be travelling for the next few hours but when I get settled in to my hotel I'll check back in again.

Thanks, again, for making me feel so welcome!

Vivant said...

I love stories with a strong heroine who doesn't need a man to take care of her. It makes the choice to let a man into her heart -- and vice versa -- that much more poignant, and the often hard-fought path to it that much more entertaining.

I'm adding your titles to my TBB list. Vivi's blog party is going to seriously damage my bank account!

I am curious about your comment that in ten years you'd like to be comfortable with your crazy writing process. Care to elaborate?

Fedora said...

Hi, Alannah! Really enjoyed your interview--I love your excerpts, and am looking forward to reading your books ASAP!

Unknown said...

Hi Vivant! My writing process is slow, painful and ugly!! Reaction Time is the only exception. That was a got-it-right-the-first-time type of thing. Of course I had to edit, but I didn't have to do any serious rewrites.

All of my other stories, Savin' Me, as well as the ones that are sitting on my hard drive waiting attention, have required massive rewrites.

And not just one rewrite, but several.

I have an erotic romance that's been written twice, and still needs something to be right. I have a romantic suspense that I'm currently rewriting for the 2nd time - completely!! I got to the end and realized I had the wrong mystery for my heroine to solve.

I have a fallen angel story that I absolutely love. But my CP's feel it's too rushed and that it really needs to be a category length (60K) instead of it's current 30K length. I think they're right so it's percolating while I think on how the best way to fix it is.

It's frustrating and definitely not the most efficient way to write. But, unfortunately, I think it's MY way. I don't like it, and I'd love to change - and I keep trying to change it. :)

But...I think I'm going to find it's just the way that I need to do it. And I really hope to eventually grow to be at peace with it.

Unknown said...

Hi flchn1 - thank you!!

Karin said...

Congratulations on the release of the first novel you wrote, Alannah! That's such an amazing accomplishment.

Unknown said...

Hi Karin - thank you!!

Thanks again, everyone, for such a wonderful, warm welcome. I love interacting with other writers and readers - it is my absolute favorite part of the "job."

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Vivi Andrews said...

Thank you so much for joining the party, Alannah! Wonderful to have you here!