Welcome to Carol Lynne's guest blog!

Welcome Ms. Carol Lynne to Love Romances and More, thank you for joining us.

Thanks, Danny. It’s good to be here.

Did you always want to become a writer?

No. Actually, I’d never considered writing a book until June of 2006. I was a voracious reader, though. I was reading M/F/M books at that time, but it really bugged me that two men could be in bed with a woman and not feel the desire to touch each other.

When I was unable to find a book that fit my dream, I decided to just write the story myself. When I started the book, Branded by Gold, I didn’t even know if I could finish it, but 10 days later, I had a completed novel in my hands. I sent it off to Ellora’s Cave before I chickened out, and I’ve been writing since.

What is the most, and the least interesting fact about writing?

That I can do it anywhere, but I have to be alone. That’s the up and down side of my profession. The loneliness often gets to me, but without it, I wouldn’t be able to write.

How did you celebrate your first release? What was it like to see your book in a bookstore? Do you have a special ritual for celebrating a book release?

My sisters and cousins threw me a big surprise party at a local Mexican-food restaurant. All my closest friends were there to support me. It was just what I needed at that point in my life. My cousin had the cover of Branded by Gold enlarged and framed. A small brass plaque at the bottom of the frame has the release date and title. I love it.

How did your family react to fact that you also write M/M romance novels? Have your family read your books?

Almost everyone has been supportive. They don’t all understand my chosen genre, but it doesn’t seem to matter to them. Some have read my books, including my mother. The only comment she had after reading Branded by Gold was, “It was a good book, but why do you have to have all that sex in it?” LOL Leave it up to mom to cut to the chase.

Most authors are also avid readers. Is this the case with you? If so, who are some of your favorites? Have any influenced your writing?

I would say my biggest influence would probably be Diana Palmer. I’m a huge fan of her books. I love the simple storylines and still consider her my comfort read guru. The only thing missing from Ms. Palmer’s books for me was the lack of detailed intimacy between the characters.

Aside from Diana Palmer, I only read M/M books. I usually buy books by blurb and not by author. Of course there are a few that stick out in my mind. I fell in love with Zero at the Bone by Jane Seville. I’m currently reading Tigers and Devils by Sean Kennedy, and all I can say is WOW. It’s a lengthy book, but I wish it could go on forever. Halfway through the story, I actually searched Google to find Sean’s email address. Although I came up empty, I’m determined to find it. Anyone who can give me hours of pleasure deserves to be thanked properly.

Your release date is really full, which I love as a fan of your books, do you have a problem with deadlines and have you ever suffered a writers block?

Deadlines can get a little tight at times, but I’ve never missed one. I work better under pressure. If I’m left to my own time schedule, I get easily sidetracked by other stories flitting through my head.

Funny you should mention writer’s block. I’ve never experienced it until my current ms. I have no idea what’s going on with me, but I’m having a devil of a time concentrating on it.

Do you prefer stand-alone books or series?

Series, of course. I never want to say goodbye to a character I love, both in writing and reading.

Your characters come to life in your books. Do you feel each of your characters live with you as you write? Do their lives sometimes take over a part of your life? Can you name an example? Do you have living role models for your characters?

I definitely find that my characters influence my moods. If I’m writing a sad scene, you’ll usually find me wiping tears as I’m trying to write.

I don’t really have living role models for my stories, unless you count myself. I think every story I’ve written has a memory or situation that I’ve encountered at some point in my life.

Where do you get the inspirations for your books?

Dreams. I’m rather lucky that I’m a very vivid dreamer. Most of the time, I get my story ideas and plots from my dreams. There are times, like now, when those dream characters can become a pain in the butt. I have a certain order that I do things in, but the people in my dreams don’t always like to stand in line. There’s a particular pesky bloody nun who’s been wreaking havoc on my sleep lately. I know I need to write her story. I’ve told her I would, but she still persists in visiting me several times a week. LOL. Do I sound crazy? Yeah, a little, but it works for me.

Do you find it difficult at times to write love scenes?

Yes. There are certain times when my real life isn’t conducive to writing love scenes. I’m the kind of author who cannot, under any circumstances, write out of order. I’m usually left stuck until my mood or situation changes.


What is your favorite book from the books that you have written so far? Who are your favorite hero and heroine, and why?

Well, my favorites are not always reader favorites. Besides the two books listed in the next question, I would say my favorite lately would be Ghosts of Alcatraz. Brian, Jensen and the Mundji were also pests in my dreams before I finally wrote them down.

Which book was the hardest to write and which the easiest?

I’d have to say Branded by Gold was the easiest because I had no expectations with that one. The hardest are the two I put the most of myself into, No Longer His and Finnegan’s Promise. Those books came out of my need to understand my personal life. I figured it was a heck of a lot cheaper than therapy, and I was right. They took me a lot longer to write than the others, but I dealt with issues that had been plaguing me in my personal life. By the time I finished the books, I had a much better understanding of myself. I was finally able to move beyond the events and look toward the future.

If you could change places with one character from your books, who would it be and why?

I would probably change places with any of them. They all get a HEA, what could be better than that?

If you could travel through time to visit a special time period or famous person, what or who would it be and why?

I’m quite fond of the present. I’m a spoiled brat and don’t care to live without the comforts I take for granted. You know, so often we like to romanticize history, but let’s face it, most of those people smelled. LOL

Do you listen to music while you are writing and if so what music is it?

Nope. No music. Actually, I don’t even listen to much of it in the car. If I’m with my kids, it’s too noisy. If I’m by myself, I have way too many things to think about without the distraction.

If you could choose of your books for a movie, which one would it be and who would you as the cast?

Hmmm, I guess I pretty much cast each character when I choose the photos for the Cattle Valley website. I picture those people in my head when I write that series. I honestly can’t imagine other people taking their place.

Other than Cattle Valley, I always use Duane Johnson as my inspiration for my Alpha characters. He may have a different hairstyle or more or less tattoos, but it’s always Duane in my head.

How many books have you planned for the Cattle Valley books?

I think the series will end up with at least twenty. Beyond that, who knows.

You have written paranormals, cowboys and “straight” contemporaries, which is your favorite genre?

Right now, my love is paranormals. I still write cowboys, but I’m finally putting my nightmares into words, and I absolutely love it. Shut up, nun.

Are you working on anything right now, and can you tell us a teaser about these projects?

Well, I’ve managed to write book ideas for a lot of my nightmares. I’m hoping to get the time to put them in story version soon. I have a lot of projects started with varying characters like vampires, genetic mutations, ghosts and other creepy crawlies. I often sit on my porch and think to myself, “What scares me the most?”

Big congrats to your latest releases, can you please tell us something about them

I have two books coming out in August, Retribution and Pocket Pair. Retribution releases from Resplendence Publishing on August 18th. It’s the second book in the Refuge Shifters series. I loved writing this one. There’s something about an all male ménage that makes me happy.

Pocket Pair releases from Total-e-bound on August 24th. It’s the third book in the Poker Night series.

What I’m really looking forward to is the first book in the Bodyguards in Love series coming out in October with Total-e-bound. It’s my spin-off series to Men in Love. I loved Brier from that series and was thrilled to finally give him his own story.