Lynne Roberts, author of Creative License and Hooking Up

How are your story ideas born? It starts, usually, with a character or a situation. Although sometimes that’s inspired by something I see or hear. It’s like my brain plays the ‘what-if’ game without my direct influence. Once the situation or character is ‘real’ in my head, I bounce ideas around until I hit on one that resonates with me. At that point, the rest is details. ; )

How many works in progress do you have? Lets see… 2, if you don’t count the scores of sketched out scenes and plots or characters that belong somewhere but won’t leave me alone. And that’s just for my penname… I have more under my ‘real’ name.

What is your writing process? Hmmm. I guess I kinda answer that in the first question. Once I get the idea, I start writing. I know. I know. I should plot more first. But most of the plotting has been taken care of in the ‘what-if’ process that occurs before I touch the keyboard. Once I get the rough draft done, I sit down and craft the story. This is where I take care of any inconsistencies, check for motivation, character, etc. When I’m done, I call it the first draft and send it to a critique partner. Once I get it back, I start fine-tuning until it becomes so much more than it was in the rough draft.

What writing mechanic challenges you? There are some elements of grammar that stump me! Burst or bust? Lay or lie? The other day, I found myself over thinking passed or past. Yup.

What’s your favorite part of the writing process? Telling the story. I love creating characters that become so real to me, I cry at the ending.


What’s your least favorite part of the writing process? Do I have to have one? I mean…the stress of copy-edits isn’t fun, but it’s also thrilling, challenging and hey, it’s a part in the publishing process. I’m well aware I’m lucky to have even gotten this far.

How long did it take to write your latest release? That’s a good question. Probably, the rough draft took me 3 or 4 weeks. However, that was back in 2009. I had a family tragedy in late 2009 that, while it didn’t keep me from writing, editing and polishing manuscripts, sure as heck slowed me way down. I’m trying now for a come back. : )

Do you have a favorite line or scene from your story?

In Creative License, almost any line Caleb mutters is by turns my favorite. I love that man! Here’s one I just picked at random. He’s trying to convince her they can sleep together without having sex.

He moved like a cat, all lean muscle and effortless grace. “I promise. I won’t touch you unless you ask me to.” A half smile played on his mouth.

“Don’t get your hopes up.”

“That’s not generally what you elevate, baby.”

In Hooking Up, Trisha is out at a bar alone, for the first time ever, expressly to pick up a man. She’s feeling a little nervous and wishing there were pretzels or peanuts so she’s have something to do with her hands. She thinks she wouldn’t eat them anyway because of germs then gets mad at herself because she’s still playing it safe. Here’s what follows:

God damn it, Trisha. Knock it off! No more negative thoughts. Tonight wasn’t about logic. Tonight was about impulses and feeling. She was tired of being safe, taking the predictable road. It was time to step out of her comfort zone and do something different, something daring. She looked down the counter again, wishing there were pretzels just so she could eat one. That’s it, girl, live on the edge.

Her sense of wry humor is a bit like mine.

Creative License blurb:

Loose ends have a way of tripping you up…

Years ago, a law school graduation weekend in Vegas had been part of Lily MacPherson’s plan. Waking up next to a naked Adonis with a ring on her finger was not. After a quick annulment, she relegated Caleb Anderson to her late-night fantasies—and very short list of mistakes—until his voice on the other end of the phone asks a favor that could shake the foundations of her neat and tidy future.

Caleb is still haunted by Lily’s horrified expression that morning in Vegas. At least it had made it easy to set her free…except they aren’t. The papers were never filed. And when the nosy patroness who could launch his painting career insists on meeting his “wife”, does he confess, or call Lily? He calls Lily.

When she steps off the plane, Caleb’s determination to play tour guide disappears in the San Francisco fog. Lily thought she could keep up the pretense for one weekend, cut the last tie to her past, and move on. But their chemistry still pops and sizzles, finally exploding into passion at Caleb’s studio.

It’s everything they remember…but so is the yawning chasm of differences that, in the end, could once again drive them apart.

Creative License buy link: http://store.samhainpublishing.com/creative-license-p-6257.html.