This is an interview with amazingly prolific, stupendously creative, and magnificently sexy author, LORA LEIGH.  Her work is just incredible and we LIKE IT, as you can see from the many reviews and posts. I have read nearly all of her work myself and am always entertained, frequently moved to tears, and often panting a bit heavy. So I’m seriously charged that Sybil has shared this interview with us.
By the way, some of the hyperlinks below are my creation. Lora and Sybil know nothing about what I’ve done to the text (heh heh).
Please tell me a little bit about yourself and your family.
I’m married to a husband whose type A personality gives me hours of research. Trying to figure him out sometimes requires rocket science.  I have two children, a daughter and a son, three dogs, three tropical birds and a life that is often way too busy. I’m bad to forget the simplest things, and thank God daily that for the most part I can keep my characters and my stories together, because I sure have a hard enough time keeping everything else together.
What hobbies, if any, do you have?
I love gardening, but I don’t get to do near enough of it. I have a few flower beds I work in and forget to water often. Besides writing, reading is my favorite hobby, but I’m such a picky reader that I can’t find enough books to satisfy the habit. I’m horribly picky, and have been known to email favorite authors and beg for ARCs. So far, most of them feel sorry enough for me to give me the goodies.
What kinds of books do you like to read?
Hot, sexy romantic suspense, any genre. I don’t require erotic romance, but I do require sensual. I want the whole package and without it, I’m just not satisfied. I have a few authors that supply that demand, but not near enough to keep up with my voracious appetite for it.
When did you start writing? What or who inspired you to write?
In the seventh grade. I had a teacher, Mr. Mueller. One day he walked into class and said “write me a story”. I don’t think I’ve stopped writing since. I’m still writing Mr. Mueller stories I guess. I have to give him credit for showing me the outlet for the daydreams and the stories that had evolved in my head to that point. He opened a world for me that I had never imagined, and I thank him for that daily.
What type of stories did you write initially?
Romance. I’ve always written romance in some form or another, it’s always fascinated me, always drove me. Romance revolves around so many emotions, so many conflicts, dreams and nightmares, at least in my little world. So it’s the genre I’ve always gravitated toward. As a freshman in highschool I found Harlequin Romances, my first romance was When Seagulls Cry, I remember the title, the characters and the story, even now, and how it impacted me. After that, there was turning back. I was writing romance.
How did the idea for the Breeds books come about?
Several different ways, but it began with an internet news article about experimentation into genetic alterations and questioned the results of predatory animal DNA being introduced with human DNA. What would that create? How would it effect a man or a woman to feel, to be taught, trained, convinced they were not human, nor were they animal. That they were tools, disposable creatures. Characters began slamming into my head. The first book was merely sensual, then one day on an authors loop, someone questioned using the sexual differences that animals possessed within werewolf stories, etc. As I remember, several authors were hesitant to do this, but the idea took hold of me. I revised Tempting The Beast within a few weeks and my first Breed was born. It’s been a love affair from that day on. I can’t envision not writing Breeds, because there’s so much they would face, so many things they would have to deal with. I love writing that series.
Where does your inspiration come from to keep writing such fantastic stories?
My inspiration comes from everything, everyone, waking and asleep. Sometimes I dream the characters and the stories. Sometimes, an email, a newstory or a chance comment overheard will slam the idea into my head. Sometimes, it just happens though. One minute you’re breathing and relaxing, the next you hear a cry in a your mind and see a story that has to be told. I love the evolution of the stories and the characters, I look forward to sleeping because I dream them, and waking up to write them. The whole process is as essential to me as air itself I think.
What was the name of the first book you had published? How did you feel when you had your first published story in your hand?
The first book published was Broken Wings, originally through Zumaya Publications, but I didn’t get to hold that first print book until Marly’s Choice at Ellora’s Cave. It was… like being out of step all your life, then suddenly, everything was right where it should be. I remember looking at that book, seeing my name on it, knowing my characters were in it, and feeling that finally I’d found something I’d been searching for all my life.
Have you published anything else, e.g. short stories, articles, non-fiction etc.?
I had a short story on an eZine that has sinced closed. It’s put back for a longer story later. I’ve not written anything else that I can think of, at least nothing that’s been published.
Looking at your website, I can see that you have quite a packed writing schedule. How do you keep all your stories straight?
How do you keep your aunts and uncles straight? Do you get your brother’s and sister’s mixed up? Now, sometimes I’ll forget eye or hair color, but I don’t have a problem keeping the characters themselves separate, because in my head, they’re separate, individual, and full of life. I know them better than I know myself.
How does your family cope with your writing career?
Well, I work at home, I work around my family. My daughter is married and now lives away from me, but I get to see her often. Family visits and my son will stand in front of my desk and play his guitar when he wants me to listen. He talks to me when I’m writing, and we talk a lot when I take breaks. My office doesn’t have a closed door. If he needs me, he knows I’m here. My husband takes care of the business and most of the promotional demands that come through, and he does all the cooking. And he’s a wonderful cook. So it all pretty much works together well.
Do you have a set writing area? Do you listen to any particular music when you write?
I have my office, and when I want to write outside I have my laptop and wireless internet. For the most part, I write at my desk though. I get up, start writing, and usually work between ten to eighteen hours a day, depending on how well the story is flowing. I do listen to music. Mostly Sarah McLachlan. Something about her music opens up my mind. Occassionally I’ll listen to Evanescence or the Miami Vice soundtrack, but rarely music that I want to sing along with. Country music distracts me. I listen to a lot of techno music, because I can’t understand the words being sung, but I love the beat.
Do you plan your stories, or do you plunge right into writing them?
I plunge in and write by the seat of my pants. Sometimes it works out well, sometimes I end twenty different stories before I have the finished product. But I write very fast. I’m completely impatient, so I have to get that story out of my head and get to the next one to see what those characters are doing. I’m not just impatient, I’m nosy, and my characters are nice enough to spill their guts to me for the most part.
Does anything in your background/life experiences influence your writing?
I think to a point every fiction writer is influenced by their out pasts or their own lives. What we are and what we’ve experienced, seen, heard, or felt plays a part in what we write. Like my Bound Hearts series, the eighth book Forbidden Pleasure, releases June 12, 2007, I started writing this series because I found myself judging a friend’s sexual lifestyle. It was an odd thought in my head, that when it hit, I had to sit down, because this friend is so dear to me, it hurt me to catch myself judging anything she did. Bound Hearts was an attempt to understand that lifestyle within my own head and heart. So yes, I’d say in many instances past, present, friendships, whatever, they all play a part.
Have you had any rejected manuscripts? If so, how did you deal with rejection?
Oh many. I sent in my first submission when I was 18, and was rejected until Zumaya’s Publications accepted Broken Wings. After going with Ellora’s Cave, there was period of two years there that New York rejected everything I sent them then as well. So I’ve had a lot of rejections, but I’ve tried to take it as a learning experience, and find ways to try harder, or to write better.
What advice, if any, would you have for our aspiring authors?
Always be open to critique, and always listen to your character’s hearts. That, with your own writers intuition will normally guide you. It’s what I’ve always depended on.
I’d better stop now, though there’s more I’d like to ask. Thank you for answering my questions, Lora.
Thank you for asking And thank you so much for the opportunity to talk about my books, my characters and my writing.
And coming in August, the next of Lora’s The Breed series, Tanner’s Scheme.
Now it is your turn. Got a question for Lora? This is the place!
I know many of you loved the books, feel free to tell us about it. What is your favorite book or series? Why do you lurve it best? Some of you didn’t enjoy the books as much or at all, you are welcome to comment as well, tell us what didn’t work in the plots and ask why things happened or why they didn’t. (no bashing of fangrrls or authors please – it will be deleted without question)
The author is in the house, so lets talk books. Thanks go to Lora for being willing to be something of a ‘live interview’! And thanks to you guys for playing. I will have a contest up shortly *g*.
Lora Leigh will be around to answer questions until 3 Eastern/4 CST
Lora is awesome. I love, love, love the Breeds. Do you know when Mercury’s story is coming out? And is Hawke going to have one?
Hi Pilar, I think Mercury’s War is scheduled to release from Berkley in September of 2008.
I’m so glad you’ve enjoyed the Breeds, and I sure you hope you continue to enjoy them.
As for Hawke, he’s on the list. I needed to get the time line kinda straightened out and the original felines completed before going on from the end of Aiden’s Charity. After Dawn’s Awakening releases then I’ll be able to go forward with Hawke, Jonas, Rule and Lawe and the other Breeds crowding in my head. The Breed world will be shifting and growing soon, moving into other areas of the world and making thier mark. That’s something I’ve really looked forward to doing.
I wish I had a time machine lol
Sheila, so do I, then it would be written already. LOL Mercury’s story will pull a lot out of me, because he has some issues the other Breeds don’t. I’m looking forward to starting his story, but I know it’s going to be hard to write.
If I had the machine I’d share it with you lol
Then you’d have more time for your gardens and fishing 😀
I keep thinking I’m going to be able to steal time to garden and go fishing, but I swear, everytime I finish one book, it seems another will slam in my head and demand attention NOW and then I’m off and writing on something else. Maybe, hopefully, by time Catfish season comes in, I’ll have a break. LOL
Have you ever tried to use a voice recorder to record your idea’s or do you just jot them down on paper as they come to you?
Hi, Lora… I can hardly wait for Hidden Agendas to hit the shelves.
I just can’t help myself… I have to ask you since you’re here today… do you still plan to continue writing about the remaining characters you started at Samhain with Loving Lies? I know you’ve said that you do, but things change and I’m just checking up on the situation. LOL!
Thanks!
P.S. I’d love to see pics of your pet birds on your website someday. I’m a parrot owner, myself.
Sandi
Sandi, yes, I will most definitely be completing Loving Lies. I loved Jazz and Zack and I really want to tell their stories. I’ll be finishing all my series that have been waiting on me to finish deadlines here, and hopefully it won’t be much longer.
You have parrots as well? I have a rescued Scarlet Macaw that I’m just in love with. A blue and gold Macaw that loves my husband to the point that she tries to bite me if I get anywhere near him if she’s out of her cage. And we have an umbrella Cockatoo that reminds you of a spoiled little two year old.
All but the Scarlet are excellent talkers and will argue with us, yell at us, order us around and generally fill the house with noise. But I love them dearly. I’ll have to get pictures up soon. I just have to find time to go through my pictures and send them to my weblady. LOL
Hi Lora!
Just wanted to stop by and say Hi! If I didn’t have to work, I’d be home reading Forbidden Pleasure, which came in the mail yesterday.
Thanks for the stories and the Ladies of the Forum. Both make my life immeasurably better! Can’t wait to meet you in September.
Hi Diane, how are you doing hon? I am so sorry you had to work and couldn’t read Forbidden. I hope you like it though when you get to it. This weekend ya think? *innocent look* LOL
And you ladies are what makes that Forum. I have a blast reading your posts. Did you enjoy the SEALs visit last night? LOL
For those of you who haven’t been to the forum, you can find it at by going to http://www.loraleigh.com and clicking the forum link at the side. The ladies have a great time there, and I have a wonderful time reading them.
I’m probably the biggest Breeds fan ever! (I pimp them as much as possible and cannot WAIT for Tanner’s Scheme which comes out just in time for my birthday- well almost, My B-day’s the 6th and it looks like I’m gonna have to wait a day for Tanner I guess!! :P)
Is there any Breed story that you haven’t written yet that you are most looking forward to writing?
(Oh, I finally got to read Dangerous Games and just loved that one too. Can’t wait to get to Hidden Agendas.)
I missed the visit from the boys last night. I was at baseball practice with my immature alpha. The one who’s worried because his ex-girlfriend and his current girlfriend have become friends. Trouble much??? oh yeah!!
I just wish all of us had more time to hang out at the Forum. Too bad life gets in the way.
Probably won’t get to read FP this weekend – baseball, getting ready for a business trip, and sending off the next shipment of stuff to “my” Marines. But, you know I’ll have my nose in it if I can steal even a few minutes.
Have a great weekend sweetie!
I just wanted to stop by and say Hi Lora!!!!
You continue to amaze with every book that comes out. I’m really excited to read Hidden Agendas at the end of the month and I’m going bats*** insane waiting for Tanner’s Scheme 🙂
And since I’m here, I’ve gotta ask (please don’t strangle me) – is a book for Cabal on the horizon? Even as a speck?
Have a wonderful Friday and many hugs to you!!!!
Kat
Oh. A bunch of them. Jonas I think is going to be interesting to write. Jonas is a pain! Dawn is going to break my heart, and I know it. Mercury is going to be hot. The one I’m writing now, Saban, is cajun, so he really keeps my interested.
I think the one I’m most looking forward to, perhaps, is Jonas’ book. Or maybe Rule’s. Oh yeah. Rules. I think I’m looking forward to his the most. Do you notice, I’m really looking forward to all of them. LOL
To me, the Breeds are so individual and each story has so many different parts of what make the Breeds a whole, that each one is often an adventure to write.
I am so glad you’re enjoying Dangerous Games as well, and I hope you like the coming stories. I think Killer Secrets was my favorite one in that series. 🙂
“To me, the Breeds are so individual and each story has so many different parts of what make the Breeds a whole, that each one is often an adventure to write.”
And that’s what makes them an adventure to read! Man, I’m so glad to hear that you have so many more to go with! (I don’t remember Rule? Where was he introduced??
I think I’ve caught all your backlist on the breeds- except maybe the Coyote one? (I’m not a huge ebook fan so I’ve been waiting for print issues!)
Which reminds me, are you going to update and add to Wolfe’s Hope or maybe Aiden’s Charity? I’m thinking mostly WH because that just was waaaaay to short a story for my satisfaction!!!!
Is Saban going to be a full-length book or short story? And when will he be out?
I love Jonas – manipulative actions and all 🙂
Hey Kat, now after you read Tanner’s Scheme, you’ll KNOW Cabal has to have his own story. At the moment, I think Cabal is learning himself, if you know what I mean. Events in Tanner’s Scheme has shaken his world a bit, and he needs to get a grasp on that before meeting his mate. He’ll let me know when he’s ready, and I definitely have plans for him.
To heck with climbing the walls, I’ve hit the ceiling waiting for August.
LOVE Cabal – just love him
Since a couple of my questions have already been asked, maybe I won’t have to be such a total bloghog after all! *g*
You say you sit down to write and plunge right into a story by the seat of your pants. But my mind still boggles when I look at the Breeds series in chronological order on your web site versus the actual published order. Some of the earlier Breed stories are actually much later on the timeline and the newer Berkley books are kind of in the middle of the timeline.
Do you have a basic synopsis for each story and it’s placement in the timeline already mapped out? Or, as you are writing the story do you also work out where it will fall in the timeline?
Oh, and for the record- I’m torn between anticipating Jonas’ book because I want to see that bad kitty weak in the knees, and NOT wanting you to write his story because it won’t be me taming him!! (Just kidding)… (um, not really)… (no, really, I’m kidding)… (not)
Oh I’m looking forward to both Cabal AND Jonas’s too!
LOL Bev – I get the same feeling with Cabal. Love the bengal and really want to see him get his HEA but at the same time a bit sad it won’t be me
Lora I was wondering what the order was for the upcoming Breed books. And who’s next in the SEALs books after Macey?
Thanks – Mwah!!!!
I see LL will be leaving us soon! Thanks so much for the Great interview Good Bad and Ugle (Not sure if it’s Syb or Gwen who conducted the interview?)- and of course to you as well Ms. Leigh!!
::looks at clock:: 12:13 PST no more Lora. Missed again.
I’m waiting for more of the Wolf breeds. I know there’s one coming out in December with our wolf assasin.
Here’s something that I’ve wondered. If a breed mate dies, what happens to the other mate? As far as I can recall, that’s a situation we haven’t seen yet. Would there be a way for the survivor to keep going? And would they want to?
Wow! I hope that’s not a downer.
Bev, in reply to your post. The reason for the print order versus the chronological order, isn’t because of the way I write, so much as the fact that the Breeds have gone through so many different publishing companies. LOL
The Felines started at EC, but the wolves started at Extasy. So I seperated the series by timelines. First mistake.
Problems with Extasy had me pulling those books and placing them with EC, which required I fix the timeline. Before I finished fixing it, Berkley buys the feline part of the series. So, I figured you know, they wouldn’t really like them, no problem right? Seperated by timelines. *sigh* They came back and wanted rights to all the Breeds after that.
You know, you’d reall think I would have looked ahead at some part, but honestly, I never imagined the Breeds would go this far. My little brain just didn’t process the thought. So, here we have three different sections of Breeds, in different timelines, coming together.
Go ahead and slap me, its a wonder I don’t get confused myself. LOL
But everything will straighten out soon. Once Tanner, Dawn and Mercury are out, the series will in line, and reasonably in order despite the publishing/print order.
I hope I made sense. I have been known to confuse myself at times.
Kat the upcoming order under contract at this time is:
Tanner’s Scheme
In A Wolf’s Embrace (Beyond the Dark Anthology)
Mercury’s War (sometime 08)
Two Breed novellas tentative 08 one is tentatively titled Loving Wild and is a Jaguar Breed book. The hero is Saban.
Next in the SEAL books is Hidden’ Agendas, then Killer Secrets, then a novella tentatively titled Belonging.
Diane, actually, that situation does come up soon. A Breed who has lost his mate to death. It will be interesting to see how that works out, won’t it? 🙂
That’s going to be sad. But knowing you Lora, it will have a happy ending 🙂
hunh! I must be psychic! A psychic lawyer … doesn’t that make me character material????
*snicker* sorry, had to try!
*snort* Aint Diane SOOOO cute.
Actually, being a lady at the forum DOES give you a chance at an alpha, so you just don’t ever know when one might claim you. LOL
Sybil, I want to thank you so much for inviting me to discuss my books on your blog today, for making it such a wonderful experiences. I’ve really had fun, and look forward to returning.
I will check back this evening for more questions so I can answer as many as possible.
Thank you to the readers as well who have welcomed me so nicely and made me feel so much at home.
I hope you continue to enjoy the books and should you need to email me you can reach me at loraleigh2@aol.com
Once again, thanks.
Lora
Thank you Lora for blogging and letting us know this was going on today lol
Isn’t Lora a peach??!! I LOVE her books!! Thanks Lora!
And for the record – Sybil did the interview. But she made the error of asking me to format the post (heh heh). The preamble is me, the postscript is Syb.
Need to find a *.wav of an evil laugh somewhere… 😉
*waves at Lora*
I’ve been reading Lora’s books almost since the beginning and I agree with Gwen and Sybil that you guys need to check them out.
I’m still hanging out for the sequel to Broken Wings which I know is going to be fabulous, if it ever gets here, tap…tap…tap *g*
Hi Lora! I love your books! I just started reading the Breed books and I love them. Can’t wait till Hidden Agenda releases! Is Aiden’s Charity going to be in print?
I’ve only read one book by Lora. Dangerous Games. I really enjoyed it.
Gwen, Jaynie, Amy and Stacy, thank you so much for enjoying the books.
The sequel to Broken Wings is about halfway finished, though I’m not certain where it will hit on my schedule. I work on that book when the inspiration for it hits, and my nightmares get bad enough. 🙂
Aiden’s Charity. There was a note on EC’s website that the print would be available this month, but I haven’t heard anything more on that. As soon as I know its on the way though, the buy link for it will be at http://www.dreamsbynight.com where you can buy my EC Print titles autographed.
I want to thank everyone here, Gwen and Sybil and all the readers for making yesterday such a wonderful day for me. This is a great site, and I look forward to returning.
Hi Lora Leigh!
Great interview!
Contest….
I have three books of LL to give out. Well sort of. *I* have in my hot lil hands a signed ARC of Hidden Agenda’s, by signed I mean just her name. And that will go to the post from last week.
Lora will give away a copy of Hidden Agendas (coming from her so it will be signed to the winner). Only the winner will have to wait for her author copies, which should be in soon.
And I got busy Friday and never announced the contest! Soooo to enter post in this thread by Wednesday June 20, 2007 @ 2am. Yes you can enter more than once. Lora will pop back in if there are more questions today and tomorrow or I will email them to her and get them answered for ya *g*
Third book I have is a copy of Forbidden Pleasures. And I will announce that contest on Wednesday.
And Lora Leigh has oh so kindly agreed to come back and visit us in August. Not sure on the date yet… And I am thinking she will have to visit again in November, maybe we can get a few of the authors from the December antho *g*
Great Q&A! I was fun learning more about you Lora Leigh! Just wanted you to know that I just recently read Menage A Magick and loved it. I am officially hooked to the Wizard Twin series. 🙂
ooo enter me! (Is this all we have to do to enter Sybil?)
I’m going to repost my one question form above- which I think got a little lost:
Are you (Lora Leigh) going to update and add to Wolfe’s Hope or maybe Aiden’s Charity? I’m thinking mostly WH because that just was waaaaay to short a story for my satisfaction!!!!
I bought Forbidden Pleasure over the weekend and I am loving it!!
Zeek anyone who posts or has posted in this thread is entered. If you want to post and not be entered don’t put in an email address (that should still let you post) err maybe I should test that…
Cuz I know some people hate contests (weirdos ;)) and hate to have to say ‘don’t enter me’ for fear they appear rude. So I am hoping that allows peeps to still comment and others to still enter. LOL let me know if I am wrong… I am going to try and email winners first than make announcements but who knows how that will work out *g*.
Zeek I don’t see an answer for you. I will make sure LL see the question. As of right now though *I* don’t think there is anything other than Loving Lies that she has planned out to do. In talking with her, she has a scary amount of books set for the next year or so.
Hi Zeek, how are you doing?
There were no updates or revisions to Aiden’s Charity or Wolfe’s Hope. What the future brings, I’m not certain at this point. I would have liked to revise Aiden’s Charity, simply because there were parts of that book that I felt were weak. At the time I wasn’t certain how to fix it. I’m a bit more confident in my writing now, and I think it could have benefited from a full revision but that just wasn’t in the cards.
As the decisions are cemented on revisions, schedules etc, I’ll have it posted on the website under the news page. Right now I’m just a wee bit behind schedule and scrambling to finish up my deadlines before I decided where to go from here.
I’ve had 20 or 21 books under contract in the past two years between St. Martins and Berkley, so I’ve pretty much stayed in a dead heat on those deadlines. I’m working toward a vacation in August, at least two weeks downtime while I do some research I’ve been wanting to do for years and decide where I’m going from here. If there is any updated information on those books though, I’ll be sure to let Sybil know as well. Thank you.
Lora
Sybil, thanks for moving my question to the forefront!!!
I’m doing fine, Lora, thanks and thanks for taking the time to answer! I loved both WH and AC but I was hoping for more to WH just because I loved those characters!
But, I TOALLY understand not having the time to go back. Moving forward is always best. I sincerely hope you get a chance to vacay in August! From the looks of your upcoming novels- without even knowing what you have contracted- I can see you are busy bee indeed and I’m sure the vacation is well deserved!
Take Care!
Please enter me in the contest! I would love to read Hidden Agenda or Forbidden Pleasures!
I’m so dumb, I should have checked back. I’m shamelessly posting again now because I want to have at least one more entry in the drawing. C’mon Sybil, don’t I deserve to win a fabulous Lora Leigh book?
After finding EC and buying a Jaid Black book back in 2002, my first EC book by another author was WOLFE’S HOPE by Lora Leigh. I wanted that book to be longer! It was my first breed book and I went on to buy TEMPTING THE BEAST and then every other LL I could get my hands on. In fact, I then became a stalker at EC waiting for her books to come out. I also spent some time at her Forum and was one of the original ladies, Maid Rosie.
Before EC had print books, Lora would have contests and bind copies of her stories and give them away as prizes. I have a bound copy of MARLY’S CHOICE signed by Lora that is a treasured keeper.
You know if I was smart I would have posted each paragraph separately to have more entries. ::head smack::
LOL I said you could enter more than once *g*