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Lynn Crain |
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Lynn’s 18Q |
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The Eighteen Questions |
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18Q |
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1. Did you choose the writing profession or did it choose you? I think that we mutually chose each other. I do know that once I was in its gripe, I’ve never been released.
2. What is your background? (education, work, etc.) My actual training is in nursing, geology and computers. I’m even getting a Ph. D. in Natural Health and can’t wait to finish.
3. When did you ‘know’ you were a writer? I knew I was a writer when I was twelve and sold my first poem to a magazine.
4. How would you describe your style of writing? Because I write in so many different genres, it’s hard to describe my style. I write what ever appeals to me. Sometimes I write in first person, sometimes I don’t. The story dictates the style.
5. What is your writing process? I’m what I call a pantser. Most of the time, I write by the seat of my pants. Some stories do not lend themselves well to that type of writing and for those I’m an anal planner. So it definitely depends upon what type of story I’m writing that week.
6. What was your path to publication? I had tried for years the normal path. But then again, just what is normal? On a writing challenge a few years ago, I wrote a hot erotic romance and it was accepted by a well known epublisher within 24 hours. Since that time I have been honing my craft and even have an agent. I still sell to that small epublisher and a few more to boot.
7. What is your favorite self-marketing idea? Again, it would depend upon the genre of the novel I’m trying to promote. For my next book, out September 28, I am planning a big blow out give away. I have the final story in a four book series. It’s new and different and told mainly from the hero’s POV. For it’s promotion, I’ve purchased a one-of-a-kind necklace and earrings to be given away. The series is called Blue Moon Magic and when I saw the glass hearts embedded with beautiful blue hearts inside, I knew that was the one for this books giveaway.
8. What are the biggest surprises you’ve encountered as a writer? Since I write a lot of erotic fiction, I am always amazed when people asked me about my own personal experiences. I have to remind them it’s fiction.
9. How do you inspire yourself? What are your sources of creativity? I try to do a lot of things for myself like facials and massages. I also eat right and exercise. My biggest inspiration is reading fellow writers and listening to music. I can really be inspired that way. I’ve always been a creative person and life is a big source of creativity for me.
10. What is your proudest writer moment? The day I got an agent as suddenly everything I had done to that point was a validation of my writing.
11. What’s the best advice you were given about writing? Never give up, never surrender. It wasn’t quite said that way, but you get the idea.
12. What is your most embarrassing writer moment? I mentioned it above. That fan who asked me if I had done everything in my books did so at a writer’s convention during the book fair. It was everything that I could do to keep it together although I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
13. What business challenges have you faced as a writer? And business is a challenge and I don’t think that writing is any different. Most of my ventures so far have been in the epublishing field with a few in the print field. Now I’m ready to face the challenge of NYC and I’m learning new things every day.
14. What is your writer life philosophy? Write as much as I can each day and always strive to be the best writer I can be. Don’t judge yourself against the writings of fellow authors but against yourself because if you’re not happy with yourself, you won’t be happy with your writing.
15. When you’re not writing what do you do for fun? Research and most of that research involves travel. I love to travel.
16. Who do you like to read? I like to read whatever looks appealing to me. I definitely judge a book by it’s cover on first glance. I then read the back cover and then the front one again. I like stories where something happens and I would have to say that paranormals or futuristics are my favorite.
17. What’s your advice for new writers? Believe in yourself first and foremost. And develop a tough outer shell because this business can eat you alive if you don’t fortify yourself against the elements. The real writers are in it for the long haul. Writing is like a marriage, you can’t just jump at the first signs of trouble but need to learn how to work the problem and find a solution.
18. What are you currently working on? I have three big things I’m working on right now. One is a quirky story about a woman lawyer who returns to Scotland to find her underwear stolen and displayed by her ex-lover like a trophy. It’s told in first person and just a hoot to write. The other two are stories I’m targeting for Harlequin’s NEXT line and I love writing these stories. I turn fifty next year and I can certainly idenfy with the problems of women my age. |
