Lynne Roberts on First Date and After Hours

Emma: Today, I am featuring an interview with Lynne Roberts, author of After Hours and First Date, available from The Wilder Rose Press.

Blurb for First Date:

When Bret Jacob walks into Jill's real estate office, she attempts to maintain a professional demeanor, but memories of accidental voyeurism in high school, years of what-if's, and Bret's drop-dead sexy grin only serve to ignite her fantasies.

Bret needs a farm for his growing landscape business. When he sees Jill Daniels' picture in a real estate ad, he can't believe his eyes: The shy girl from high school has blossomed into a desirable woman. Ten years ago, she didn't stir his blood and drive away all rational thought; now, he's fighting the urge to take her in his arms long enough to ask her on a first date.

Blurb for After Hours:

Elle Simpson doesn't deny that the new intern is sexy as hell but he's also ten years her junior--and she doesn't date men from the office. Of course, dating isn't what comes to mind when David Nelson enters a room. When Elle's boss assigns her to work an important account, she's thrilled-until David volunteers to help. Working one on one with her desirable new assistant is bound to test the limits of her restraint.

Everything about Elle, from her professional savvy to her hot body, turns David on, but first he has to unravel her mixed signals. After a few late nights alone with Elle in the office, David is at the end of his tether. It was hard enough during the day; keeping his hands off her after hours is proving impossible.

Welcome, Lynne.

Quick questions for you as a reader:

1) Where do you like to settle in for a good read?

In a corner of my couch with my big comfy blanket.

2) What is your favorite genre?
Fantasy with a strong element of romance. LOL. Or romance with a strong element of fantasy. Contemporary romance is a close second.

3) What length do you favor...shorts/novellas/novels?
I like them all. It depends. Sometimes I’m in the mood for something quick. Other times, I like to dig into a book.

4) Whose POV do you prefer...hero/heroine/villain?
All of them are important. It depends on the character and the writer.

5) Do you like first/second/third person?
Third… all the way. If I read first person, I have to really like the character because you get pulled in close.

Emma: What has been your greatest fear you’ve had to overcome as a writer?

Lynne: That’s easy. Failure. I have to overcome the fear of it daily. In this business, mediocre doesn’t cut it.

(Not if you want to be successful!)

Emma: What/who has been your greatest inspiration?

Lynne: So many it’s hard to say and a year ago my answer would be have been different. Now I want to make my children proud of me.

(That's sweet!)

Emma: Speaking of children, what does your family think of you writing erotica?

Lynne: Those that know are supportive but most of them don’t know. I tell my children I write love stories that they aren’t old enough to read yet.

Emma: Is there any topic you find taboo?

Lynne: None that I find taboo but there are plenty of topics I don’t feel comfortable writing. It’s one thing to stretch your comfort zone but if you travel too far outside of it, the writing will suffer.

Emma: What would you tell a reader reluctant to read erotica?

Lynne: Come on, you know you want to. Reading erotica is like eating your vegetables. You should try it at least once before you say you don’t like it.

(Funny!)

Emma: What do you hope to accomplish with your writing? Do you have a goal?

Lynne: Aside from the above. It may sound practical, or practically impossible, but I’d like to make a living from writing.

(Wouldn't we all!)

Emma: What makes your writing unique?

Lynne: I attempt, at least I try, to interject quite a bit of humor in my writing. Even in a short, I strive to make my characters very real.

(I like humor in my stories.)

Emma: What appeals to you about your genre?

Lynne: I love happy ever after. I love to explore the dynamic and subtleties of a relationship and that thrill of ‘he loves me’.

Emma: How do you deal with criticism?

Lynne: Not well. LOL. It depends in which stage. In the earlier stages of a book, I seek it out. By the time the book is released, criticism feels like failure. I read it, attempt to determine if the critic is right, and then hopefully learn from it.

Emma: What do you do when you hit a wall? (Can’t figure out a character’s emotions, where the plot should go next, etc.)

Lynne: I have a series of things I do. Sometimes all it takes is a run on the treadmill with music blasting. Another trick that has worked is to write the character’s biography or diary entry in a stream of consciousness.

Emma: What other works have you published?

Lynne: First Date and After Hours are my first publications.

Emma: What are you working on now?

Lynne: Creative License, the story of Caleb and Lily, and so far, one of my favorites.

Emma: Thank you for your time, Lynne, and good luck with your future books!

Lynne: Thank you for having me, Emma.