Interview with Laurel O’Donnell

I have the pleasure of interviewing Laurel O’Donnell today.  One lucky commenter will win a copy of her ebook novella, Lost Souls: Resurrection.

1. How did you get started writing?
I started writing when I was in junior high school.  I used to write myself as the heroine with television characters like Starsky and Hutch.  It was a natural progression for me to develop my own characters.

2. What genre(s) do you write in and why?
I write medieval romance, paranormal romance and urban fantasy.  I started writing medievals because that time period has always intrigued me.  I think the excitement and chivalry of the knights in shining armor and their ladies is very romantic.

I write paranormal because writing the powers a vampire has are something I’ve never written about before.  It was a new experience to write a hero that has super power and speed.  In Immortal Death, Demetrius actually starts out his life as a knight and is turned into a vampire then.  So, in many respects, he is still that knight with those beliefs.

I wrote my first urban fantasy, which is the start of a series, because the premise of what happens after death, what happens if someone doesn’t want to cross, was just too much not to write about!!

3. Tell us about your current series.
Lost Souls: Resurrection is the first episode in my Lost Souls series.  It’s about Christian Thompson who refuses to cross over into the afterlife when he is struck by a car because of his devotion to his daughter.  He finds there are others like him who hunt down the Changed, lost souls turned evil.  The only way to kill one of the Changed is to allow them to possess a human and then kill that human.  When a Changed possesses his daughter, Christian seeks the help of two other lost souls, Ben and Samantha, to save his daughter.

This series has so much potential.  I’m very excited about the future of this urban fantasy series.

4. What inspired your latest book?
Immortal Death is my paranormal romance.  I wanted to write it because I wanted to write about a love that never dies.  Demetrius is a vampire who is seeking a blood thirsty vengeance on the murderers of his beloved.  But when Jade Smith reveals secrets about his past, his beliefs and family loyalties are put to the test.

5. What is your favorite part of writing?
I really like creating my characters.  I love when the characters basically write the scene, when my fingers fly over the keyboard as I put their words and actions down on the page.  It’s just awesome when I reread it and it is exactly what they wanted to say!

6. What is your least favorite part of writing?
Titles.  It’s difficult to come up with a title that says everything you want to say about the novel.

7. What is your next project and when will it be released?
I have a medieval novella coming out entitled The Bride and The Brute.  It should be out within a week or two.
I’m also working on the next installment of my Lost Souls series entitled Imperfection.  It should be out around the end of January.

I’m also working on another medieval novel tentatively entitled Cursed With A Kiss.

8. What is your typical day like?
Get up early and go to work.  I have a few hours in the middle of the day where I come home, exercise for about ½ an hour, then clear my email and write for about an hour or two.  Then I go back to work and the rest of the day is spent shuttling my teenagers around (I have four children).

9. How much time do you spend promoting your books?  What works best for you?
A couple of hours over the weekend, blogging, facebook and tweeting.  I’ve done a couple of book signings when my medieval romances were in print.  That was fun.  I have romance trading cards for The Angel and The Prince.  Promoting is new to me, so I’m not sure yet what works best.  I’ll have to get back to you on that one.

10. How has your experience with self-publishing been?
Very positive.  I enjoy the control I have over every aspect, like the cover.  I have to say, if it wasn’t for my husband who handles all the techie stuff, I don’t think I would have done it.  I’m just not a techie person.

11. Where do you get the ideas for your stories?
Everywhere and anywhere!

12. What advice do you have for other authors wanting to self-publish?
Do it.  Do it now.  If you’re like me and not a techie person, hire someone.  It’s really worth it.  And it’s fun!

4 thoughts on “Interview with Laurel O’Donnell

  1. Hey Laurel and Cynthia!

    I really enjoyed the interview and have to agree with you, Laurel, about how fascinating the middle ages are. I love your story themes–lots of external plot, it sounds like, too! That Immortal Death cover is awesome.

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