Lucynda Storey-Erotic Romance Writer

Jeanne St. James allowed me to pick her brain with my questions.  She’s away right now, and I’m hoping she’ll come back here and tell you why!  It’s pretty cool!

Thanks Jeanne!

How did you came into the fiction writing business?

I’ve been writing since I was about 13 years old. I’ve been a member of RWA since the early 90s and just recently started submitting my manuscripts to epublishers. Within 6 months of submitting my first manuscript, I’ve contracted 2 novels and 1 novella. All releasing in a few months period.

How many hours a day do you spend working on your stories?

Depends on the day since I write in spurts. Some days I can knock out pages and other days nothing. I work a weird schedule so that tends to make my writing schedule askew also.

Who inspired you to write and how?

Actually I was inspired back in the 80s when I began reading historical and category romance. I have an active imagination so writing is right up my alley.

What process did your story undergo once you were contracted and how long did it take from acceptance to publication?

Well, with epublishers it’s a lot quicker process than the NY print publishers. But for Banged Up, which is now available from Liquid Silver Books, I think it took maybe 5 months from acceptance to publication.

What was the best piece of advice you were given in regards to your writing?

No head hopping!

Are you a plotter or a pantser?  Why?

I am definitely a pantser. I usually let the story take me where it wants to go. However, the longer and more I write, the more I notice that I am structuring my story by making advance notes, etc. It gives me some sort of direction. But I don’t  do outlines. Maybe in the future I’ll try it.

Who is your favorite author and why?

Oh, I hate to pick out just one. But if I have to it would be Laura Kinsale. I loved her dark, angsty, heroes.

What is the title of your first published work and where can readers find it?  How many books do you have available?

Currently my erotic contemporary (m/f) romance, Banged Up, is available from Liquid Silver Books.

What is Banged Up about?

Mace Walker can’t wait to get home.

Being buried deep undercover for the past two years, on the most complex case of his career, has torn him down physically and mentally. Now the FBI agent has come home to recover after having his leg badly injured from a gunshot wound. Arriving home late one night, his relief is short-lived as he’s faced with a stranger pointing a gun to his head, acting like he is the one who doesn’t belong there!

Colby Parks, a biochemist at the local university, had come to town a year earlier to escape an abusive relationship. She vows never to put herself in that situation again.

Then the perfect opportunity comes along: house-sitting for Mace’s sister while making the house she purchased habitable. But she couldn’t anticipate this big snag: the one wearing the tight Levi’s and worn leather jacket, looking like he had just escaped prison.

Being forced to share a house creates sparks between them in more ways than one. However, things take a turn when their pasts catch up to them, threatening to pull them apart forever.
Wow!  That sounds like an awesome story, both erotic and romantic suspense.  My favorite.  What else do you have coming out?

I have a m/m erotic novella, Rip Cord, releasing from Phaze tentatively on 11/30. It will be part of their Rebel-themed Heatsheets.

Then in January, Loose Id will be releasing my interracial ménage a trois (m/m/f), Double Dare. I had a blast writing this story and I hope my readers really enjoy it. Well, I should say that I hope my readers enjoy all of my stories!

What organizations are you a part of and how have they helped you?

I belong to Romance Writers of America, Passionate Ink (RWA chapter) and RWA Online (RWA chapter). Both of my RWA chapters are online chapters so I have access to the gobs of experience and information provided by members. I find that my membership in those chapters is priceless.

Do you have critique partners or beta readers? Why?

Yes. I currently have three critique partners. I started with only one but she is really busy and it is good to get multiple “fresh eyes” on my manuscript. Different people pick up different things when they read my manuscript. I think it helps a lot to have a critique partner. You just have to realize that you don’t have to follow everything that they suggest.

Were you always a writer?  What did you do before you started earning money as an author?  Do you still do this?

Absolutely. I love writing and originally found it to be a form of therapy and a great expression of my creativity.

My evil day job (I actually work second shift) is as an emergency dispatcher. And, yes, I still do it. It’s steady income and has good benefits.

What would your ideal day be like?

Get up, drink coffee, surf the net and then write for the rest of the day!

Who has given you the most support along this creative path?

I’d say my original critique partner. She really inspired me to get back to writing.

What do you do to refill your creative well?

I love to watch movies and read! That tends to get my creativity going.

Where do you write?  What is the oddest place you’ve found yourself writing?

I write usually in my living room recliner with my laptop. The oddest place? Hmm. I’d say on vacation when I should be relaxing. But when I’m on vacation, I get inspired.

If there were one writing class/conference/course you could take, what would it be and why?

Probably a Networking 101 class for writers! I’m great for networking online but not in person. I tend to be an introvert like most writers.

And just for fun, what or who is your favorite:

Drink - Godiva Chocolate Martini
Movie - Super Troopers
Actor - Ryan Reynolds
Actress - Sandra Bullock
Book - I can’t just pick one
Color — Black
Holiday - Independence Day
Season — Spring
Saying - “The cure for writer’s cramp is writer’s block.” Inigo DeLeon
Historical person - Benjamin Franklin

This entry was posted on Thursday, October 8th, 2009 at 6:31 pm and is filed under Lucynda Storey, Interviews, Writing, Contests. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.