INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR LAURA KAYE ~ ONE NIGHT WITH A HERO BLOG TOUR and GIVEAWAY

Q & A with author, Laura Kaye

CS:  First off, Laura, welcome back to Where’s My Muse? For those of you who follow my blog, you may remember that Laura was the very first author I interviewed and reviewed here. Her book, Hearts in Darkness, was not the first time I fell in love with this uber talented writer. She wrote a fan fiction a while back that showcased just how gifted Laura was with words. And when I found out that she went mainstream and was published, I was tickled pink and so excited for her.

CS: Welcome, Laura!

Laura: Thanks so much! I’m glad to be back! *grins*

CS: Tell me how your first book came to fruition and what that felt like to see your work in print?

Laura: In the summer of 2008, two things happened. I had a head injury that, after I healed, left me with the urge to do creative things. And, while I was healing, I read the Twilight Saga. In addition to learning to play the guitar (not well!), I thought about what Stephenie Meyer had done, decided I could maybe do that, too, and I dove into writing my first novel, the vampire romance that became Forever Freed. It was thrilling to see my words in book, to hold my book in my hand. Just absolutely a dream come true!

CS: What is like now that this has become your career? Tell us what a typical day is like for you when you sit down to write a book?

Laura: Well, up until now, writing hasn’t been my only career. I’m also a professor of history at the U.S. Naval Academy. So things have been crazy, as I’ve been working two full-time jobs. There hasn’t really been any sort of typical day since I squeeze in writing wherever I can. However, when I’m not teaching, I usually go to Panera every day and write with my best friend, YA paranormal author Lea Nolan, whose first book, Conjure, came out in October. I aim for 2-3,000 words 5 days a week.

CS: Is there a certain author that helped mentor you or someone who inspired you?

Laura: Stephanie Dray (who also writes as Stephanie Draven) has been my single biggest mentor. She taught me a lot about how to think of this as a career and what goes into making it so. She’s been the best friend, and I don’t know what I would do without her!

CS: This next question is a bit controversial, and if you choose not to answer it, I totally understand. What do you think of the hype/exposure that Fifty Shades of Grey got in the last year? Some people think that she shouldn’t be considered an author because her story was once a fan fic that was changed for publishing. What are your thoughts about this, since you came from the same beginnings? (Not by publishing your fan fiction as a new work, but that you both got started out in fan fiction).

Laura: I read the story when it was a fan fiction and enjoyed it, so I get why so many people fell in love with it. And I should note I was in an online writers’ group for over a year with E.L. James (as well as some other former fan fiction authors), and I never found her to be anything but nice and supportive. I remain friends with a number of the women publishing their fan fictions. I’m not entirely comfortable with fan fictions being published as original fiction, but in the end, it’s the readers and the publishers who get to decide. So far, publishers are fully on board with the idea, and readers have absolutely embraced some of these stories. So, you know what? Good for them. In my opinion, Fifty Shades of Grey has brought new readers to romance and opened doors for authors writing spicier contemporary and erotic romance. And that’s a good thing.

And, I should note, I actually wrote my first original novel (Forever Freed) before I started writing fan fiction. I got sick for almost 6 months following a tick bite and couldn’t concentrate well enough to write another original novel right away, so I started reading a lot of fan fiction, and then I decided to write one. Or two… Or…

CS: LOL. Okay, let’s move to a less serious topic of questions. Have you started your Christmas shopping, wrapped your presents, or are you like my hubby and wait until Christmas Eve to do your shopping?

Laura: Have started shopping. Have not finished. Have not even thought of wrapping – that’s usually a Christmas Eve job!

CS: That is so me--in a panic, wrapping gifts around 1 am and trying to be quiet so I don't wake up the kiddos. 
If there was one book that you could get for Christmas this year, what would it be?

Laura: Lover at Last, early, hand-delivered by J.R. Ward herself. And if she wanted to bring Zsadist along for the visit, too, I would totally be okay with that.

CS: Oh, hell yeah!  But if V was the one who hand delivered it, sans clothing, then that would be MY wish. Of course, any Brother, nekked or not, would be a treat.

CS: What was your favorite read for 2012?

Laura: I can’t pick just one book, I’d have to go with Maya Banks’s three-book McCabe Highlander trilogy. ADORED!

CS: What can we expect to see from you in 2013?

Laura: A lot! *grins* My final two Hearts of the Anemoi books and my final two Vampire Warrior Kings novellas will be out in 2013. I’ll also be continuing the Hero series. And the first in my new Hard Ink series will be out at the end of the year. It’s gonna be awesome!

CS: Are you making any New Year’s Resolutions?

Laura: Only this: come hell or high water, I will not be late delivering my first Hard Ink book, to be called Hard as it Gets, to my new editor. So between now and April 1, I need to write like the wind!

CS: GAH!  The title alone has me all tingly and shit. Can't wait. And if you want, feel free to stop here when you're ready to release it and we'll promote the hell out of it!  Maybe even a share a sexy snippet? 

Laura, thank you so much for taking time and answering a few nosy questions from me. I wish you the best in the upcoming new year – personally and professionally.

Laura: Thanks! You too!

One commenter who leaves their email will win an ebook of One Night with a Hero (Heroes #2). Just leave Laura a comment or question! Open to international! Good luck!
Contest runs until Monday, December 17, Midnight ~
Winner will be announced Tuesday, December 18, 2012

See the whole One Night with a Hero Tour here!

“Laura Kaye is synonymous with great, sexy romance.”

~NYT Bestselling Author Jennifer Probst

 
He wants just one night…

After growing up with an abusive, alcoholic father, Army Special Forces Sgt. Brady Scott vowed never to marry or have kids. Sent stateside to get his head on straight—and his anger in check—Brady’s looking for a distraction. He finds it in his beautiful new neighbor’s one-night-only offer for hot sex, but her ability to make him forget is addictive. Suddenly, Brady’s not so sure he can stay away.

…what they need is each other.

Orphaned as a child, community center director Joss Daniels swore she’d never put herself in a position to be left behind again, but she can’t deny herself one sizzling night with the sexy soldier who makes her laugh and kisses her senseless. When Joss discovers she’s pregnant, Brady’s rejection leaves her feeling abandoned. Now, they must overcome their fears before they lose the love and security they’ve found in each other, but can they let go of the past to create a future together?

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About Laura Kaye:

Laura is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of nearly a dozen books in contemporary and paranormal romance. Growing up, Laura’s large extended family believed in the supernatural, and family lore involving angels, ghosts, and evil-eye curses cemented in Laura a life-long fascination with storytelling and all things paranormal. She lives in Maryland with her husband, two daughters, and cute-but-bad dog, and appreciates her view of the Chesapeake Bay every day.

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One Night with a Hero is a story about the aftermath of a one night stand. Two strangers come together, offering no commitments, only pleasure.

But there is no denying that something stronger lies hidden deep between them. And when their one night stand turns into another night, and another...well, it's very obvious that both Brady and Joss have feelings they are unable to admit.

Their fragile relationship, however, is shattered when Joss finds herself pregnant and tells Brady that he will be a father.

Can a relationship that started out wrong turn out to be the right one?

Brady and Joss's journey together is heart wrenching as they both come to terms with their past. Laura Kaye writes an emotional story that delves deep into her characters and shows the reader that we are more than just our past; we have a choice on which path we choose to follow. And most importantly, that love can heal even the most broken of hearts.