Interview with paranormal romance author Loni Lynne

Loni Lynne is here today to share a bit about her paranormal ghost romance novel, Wanted: One Ghost and her writing life.

Loni will be awarding a $15 Amazon or Barnes and Noble gift card (winner’s choice) to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour. To be entered for a chance to win, leave a comment below, and to increase your chances of winning, feel free to visit other tour stops and leave comments there, too.

Bio:

Loni Lynne is a stay-at-home mom, domestic goddess, U.S. Navy Veteran, and lover of all things vintage/shabby-chic/Victorian and antique. From china cups and tea sets to lace doilies crocheted by hand (her grandmother made the best) she believes a touch of femininity never goes out of style.

Growing up all over the country she's been blessed with experiencing a good deal of culture and lifestyles. Much like her personality, she has eclectic tastes in what she likes to read and write. There is no 'one' genre in which she settles for.

God and fate have been big influences in her life. Both have taken her to places she never thought she'd be, both in the physical sense and in the spiritual. She wrote brief stories and snippets of life as it happened to her in her youth, and encouraged by her teachers, continued to write. Blessed with a loving supportive family growing up, she was able to explore her options which at times have been put into use in her stories. The Navy--and fate, afforded her the opportunity to meet her Army, "Annapolis-native" husband and team up with him to parent two beautiful daughters.

Years later, her husband gave her the best birthday present ever--a laptop, a membership to Romance Writers of America and a goal to complete a manuscript for submission by her next birthday. She did it. A few years later, she was blessed with one of those novels, Wanted: One Ghost, as her debut novel.

Believe in Fate!

Welcome, Loni. Please tell us about your current release.

Wanted: One Ghost is based on believing in fate. When the 238-year-old ghost of Kings Mill, Maryland’s founding father, James Addison meets historian, April Branford who is blessed with a unique psychometric gift, she does more than touch history—she accidentally brings him to life. On a time schedule to locate the historical deed to James’ mill site for the man who hired her, April must rely on the help from her family and spirits from James’ past to help him solve the mystery behind his death so he can move on. But after their time together, neither one wants to leave. Only Fate knows where their true destiny lies.

What inspired you to write this book?

I love ghost tours. Having been on a few I began to wonder what the ‘ghosts’ would think of the stories being told about them. I envisioned one standing by and scoffing at the possibility that what was being told had been exaggerated. It gave me the idea for James—a brooding ghost who’s been trapped in his realm in which no one can see or hear him, until April comes along with her gifts.

Excerpt:

April’s digital camera came to life and she switched the setting to playback, scrolling through the photos. She’d taken a bevy of pictures, ones of the hanging tree, the colonial storefronts and historical houses, the front and back of the courthouse. She came across the last picture, the one she’d taken right outside, and then it went back to her older photos. Everything was there but the picture of her guide. She gasped and thumbed frantically through the pictures again.

“What’s wrong, April dear?” Her aunt got up from the chair and came over to her, bringing her cup of tea with her.

“It was here…I mean, the picture is here but he isn’t.” The photo showed part of the lamp post she’d had her guide stand in front of. There was a bright, fuzzy ball of light obscuring part of the gaslight. Could it be a possible reflection off the light and her flash? She’d captured him in the frame, she was positive!

Her aunt looked over her arm at the frame revealing the street along with the courthouse. April didn’t like the knowing smile and twinkle to her aunt’s eye. “Oh, he’s there,” she said, peering up from over her tea cup.

“What do you mean?” She was almost afraid to ask.

“You’ve managed to capture what we call residual paranormal energy. See the spot of fuzzy light in the middle of the picture? You’ve captured an image of a paranormal orb. Welcome to the family, April. You’ve seen your first ghost.”

What exciting story are you working on next?

I am actually working on the sequel to Wanted: One Ghost with one of the minor characters, Distilled Spirits. She’s actually a ghost who’s trapped in time in the local historical tavern. Millie Taylor is a fun character to work with.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

I think I was about thirteen and there was a Halloween story contest sponsored by the Jaycees. The prize was a $50 Savings Bond, two tickets to their haunted house, and your story in the newspaper.  I entered it and won first prize. It was a very macabre story for someone of my age at the time—almost bizarre, but my teacher loved it and there were others who thought it was good, too.  From that moment I felt like I had found my niche.

Do you write full-time? If so, what's your work day like? If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find time to write?

I like to call myself a domestic goddess—I tend to household/family and anything that comes up. I’ve been blessed to be able to have stayed home to raise my two daughters, but now that they are grown (still living at home while going to college locally though), I hope to have more time to focus on my writing.

A typical day for me lately is getting chores done after everyone’s off to work/college and trying to sit down to write for a couple of hours before lunch. After lunch I get back into the swing of it by writing until the hubby comes home from work.  By five o’clock I try to put things in perspective and have dinner/family time.  I’m trying to treat my writing as my career—dress for success, sit in my office, etc.  It’s the only way I can.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

I post pictures of my inspiration for my characters up on my bulletin board. They could be actors, clippings of a model from an advertisement that hits me as an interesting character description. I’m one of those people who try to figure out what the model or image is trying to convey. In high school I used to write those captions under the photos in the yearbook.  My husband has gotten used to seeing Hugh Jackman, Robert Downey Jr., Channing Tatum, and various models on my bulletin board. Now he sometimes matches actors/actresses up for possible characters for my books. I would still love to write a character for Sam Elliott.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

Most of my teenage life I wanted to be a writer or screenwriter. I wanted to work with George Lucas and Steven Spielberg on writing for Star Wars and Indiana Jones movies.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?

I’m an eclectic writer as well as an eclectic reader. When a story strikes my fancy, it has to be read or told. I love paranormal/fantasy romance but I read and write to suit my feelings at the time. Like listening to music or always eating the same thing—I like a change of pace.

Thank you for having me on your site today. I look forward to hearing from everyone!  Remember, ‘Believe in Fate’!

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Thank you, Loni! Readers, remember to leave a comment if you'd like a chance to win the gift certificate.