Interview of Laura E. Harner

Please welcome my fellow Cobblestone Press Author, Laura E. Harner. She’s an amazing author, great friend and is always wonderfully supportive to all her fellow authors. She’s recently launched a new venture in her own publishing house, and has already published many amazing books. I’m so excited to have her here today to give us some insight into her writing process and her advice to other authors.

Tell us a little about your writing. What type of stories do you like to write? Any characters you like to write about? Any themes you find especially inspiring?

Most people recognize me for my ménage series, Three’s Allowed, all written as MMF, each with a very strong element of self-discovery and romance.

With the telling of each of those stories, I became more interested in the relationship between the two men. That interest grew into Ty Hard, a MM erotic romance due for release on Wednesday. Ty Hard is the first book in the Willow Springs Ranch Series. The second book in the series is Hold Tight, and features a character introduced in the first book.

I actually have finished nine books in the last three years, and although they all include erotic romance, the range of stories is varied. My writing started when I woke to an overwhelming urge to write. Not the vague "I want to write a novel someday," type of urge, this was a "Help me! An idea has me by the throat and won't let me go!" full-on compulsion.

I didn't know anything about writing a novel and I had absolutely no interest in publishing, all I wanted was to get the story out of my head and onto paper. Before I wrote the first word, I envisioned a four book paranormal romance set in the Highlands of Scotland. Although I was a life-long detective novel fan, I ended up writing about Druids, shape shifters, and the Tuatha de Danaan.

I have finished all four books in that series, and the first one, Highland Shift, is at the editor right now, getting polished for a fall release.

I also wrote Honey House, book one in a paranormal series set in the fictional town of Juniper Springs Arizona. I love this one because it combines a strong but very flawed heroine, with a cast of supporting characters who are equally flawed. She discovers werewolves and witches are real, and she wonders what other fairy tales might be waiting to come to life. Her on-again off-again relationship with the mysterious Sheriff Quinn has secrets that extend far beyond this first book. The sequel, Shade of Blue is due out Halloween, 2011.

What is your favorite part of the writing process? What are your most dreaded tasks? Anything special you do to get through the tough parts?

Favorite part is starting a book, least favorite is finishing. The last two chapters are always the hardest to write.

What’s a typical day look like for you? What’s your writing schedule? When you’re not writing what are you doing?

I am an instructional designer by day, writer and publisher the rest of the time. My favorite time to write is early in the morning, and my alarm is set for 2:30 am, seven days a week. If I’m not writing, I love to work with other writers as a critique partner. I also read three or four books most weeks, which is something I advise all writers and aspiring writers to do.

What is your favorite way to promote?

There isn’t one. I just want to write, make my covers and move on to the next story. Promoting my books is my least favorite part of being an author.

Do you have any advice for other writers?

Be a life-long learner. Educate yourself about every aspect of writing and publishing. That means read what others in your genre are writing, follow publishing industry news, make informed decisions. Pair up with a mentor or writing coach and above all, when the writing gets tough…keep writing.

What would you like readers to take away from your stories?

A happily ever after.

What is your favorite comfort food?

Popcorn - but it’s really hard to snack on when you’re writing.

What do you do to relax?

Write.

What is the one thing you most want to do that you haven’t yet?

I would love to visit Scotland someday. Oh, and even more than that, I’d like to quit my day job and spend my time writing, and helping other writers achieve their dreams.

Please tell us about your current projects and where we can purchase it. Where can we find you on the web?

Ty Hard is my new release, and is currently available as a pre-order from All Romance eBooks. Release date is Wednesday, August 10.

After six long months in rehab, Navy Veteran Tyler Hardin received his medical discharge and heads west to visit with his mentor and surrogate father, only to arrive minutes after his old friend passes. Ranch owner Cass Cartwright takes one look at the handsome stranger and knows he's in danger of doing the one thing he swore never to do: fall in love. Cass works to convince Tyler to overcome his past and give a relationship with another man a chance, even while someone is working to sabotage his ranch, and his chance for true love.

If you could be any paranormal creature, what would you be?

No contest, a super sexy vampire.