INTERVIEW WITH EMMA LAI

 EMMA LAI INTERVIEW

12/01/09

1.      Tell us about your most recent book.

His Hope, Her Salvation

Promised in marriage to an obusive oaf, Judith resolves to find out if there can be passion without love. Snatches of conversation overheard at the local inn lead her to a mysterious American merchant who might be able to satisfy her carnal curiosity and capture her heart.

Donovan, a Guardian Hunter, is on the trail of a rogue Elysian in Georgian England. As the son of the First Hunter, he long ago gave up hope of finding his heart's mate. When Judith appears in his study, his inner beast and his heart demand he answer her plea for help.

Will their passion answer their hearts' pleas, or will it wither under the threat of reality?

2.       Where do you get your ideas for your books?

Dreams. Whether daydreaming or sleeping, my characters and their opening scenes tend to come when I’m most relaxed.

3.      What’s the hardest part about writing?

Editing. Once I’ve captured the story and it’s played out, I have a difficult time staying interested. I want to move on to the next one!

4.      What are you working on next?

That’s an excellent question. I’m still trying to work it out. I have two stories in my published series begging to be completed. I have two other stories spun off from the series in progress. I have a contemporary romance that needs polishing and a young adult sci-fi/fantasy that is about a third through. I also recently started a romantic suspense. On top of all that, I have a handful of other stories started. 

5.  What advice would you give a new writer just starting out? Write. Write. Write. You can't get published if you don't get your story onto paper. 


6. What keeps you going when you get rejections or feel uninspired? If the rejection is accompanied by an explanation, I make the improvements and submit again. If I'm feeling uninspired, I listen to music, watch a movie or read a book.


7. What is your advice for getting published?
Study the publishers. Make sure you meet their guidelines. Don't fool yourself into thinking your work is perfect because rejections will come and edits will be requested. Be nice about rejections and edit requests. Editors are just doing their job.


8. What are your goals--short and long-term--as a writer?
I want to complete my romantic suspense by March 2010. I want to finish polishing my contemporary romance and get it submitted by June 2010. I would like to get the rest of my published series completed and out by the end of 2010. I would also like to finish the first book of my young adult sci-fi/fantasy by the end of 2010. 


My long-term goals are to complete my young adult trilogy and my spin-off series. I really like the two story lines and would love to see them housed with a big publisher.


9. What's the next book you're thinking about?
The romantic suspense is targeted at a submission call at my publisher's. Think average Joanne gets sucked into industrial espionage.


10. Describe your writing experience and your writing day.
I used to write ten hours a day. Then I got pregnant and had a baby. Now it's all I can do to get an hour to write, but I love writing and I love all of the authors and editors I've met as a result of getting published.

11. Do you have a theme in writing? Something that’s in the background of your books?

Insecurity. I have experienced a host of them in my lifetime and each book explores one or another of my insecurities.

12.      Anything else I haven’t asked you’d like to say?

I’d like to know what readers want to see more of.

13. One last thing – tell us something unique about yourself

I’m one of sixteen kids from five marriages.

Thanks for the great questions, Lynn!

Thanks for taking the time to do this interview

Lynn romaine