An Interview with Laura Wright
The Reading Cafe is happy to have the wonderful Laura Wright with us today.
Laura has just released her latest book in her Mark of the Vampire series….Eternal Beast.
Our Eternal Beast review was posted yesterday, if you missed it.
Let’s meet Laura.
TRC: Laura, we at the Reading Café would like to thank you for taking the time to answer our questions.
Laura: I am soooo thrilled to be here! Thank you for having me.:)
TRC: Would you please tell us about yourself.
Laura: Well…I was born and raised in Minnesota, and spent most of my time acting, singing and dancing, and ballroom dancing – instructor and competitor – when I got older. I traveled quite a bit, which was wonderful. Now, I live in Los Angeles with my hub and two kids. And several pets. 🙂
TRC: When and how did you first become interested in writing? We see that you did not start writing until after you left high school.
Laura: Unlike many of my peers in the writing world, I didn’t fall in love with writing early on. As a kid, I was so into theater. Then later, the ballroom dancing, so it wasn’t until about 1997 that I was able to realize my dream of writing. I enrolled in UCLA extension writing classes, met my mentor and critique partners and I’ve never stopped writing since. I am so in love with writing!! It’s my obsession.
TRC: What was your first book ever published?
Laura: Awww. My first published book was CINDERELLA AND THE PLAYBOY from Harlequin/Silhouette Desire. I love that book. C.K. Tanner and Abby… something..Lol. 🙂 There is a great chocolate/candy making scene in it..lol.. adored writing that story.
TRC: How did you come up with the idea for your Mark of the Vampire series?
Laura: It all started with the Breeding Male. He was the first character I saw in my mind. I was on a walk one day and thought of this genetically modified vampire creature who would be brought out in times of war to repopulate the pureblood vampires, whether females they laid with liked it or not. <I had NOT been drinking, I swear 🙂 > Then the questions came: The children of this ‘monster’ – what would they be like? How would their mothers see them, treat them?
It started the plotting ball rolling, so to speak. 🙂
TRC: ETERNAL BEAST is the 4th book in the Mark of the Vampire series. Give us a brief description of the book.
Laura: I’m going with the back cover because it says it best:
Ever since his abduction by the Eternal Order of Vampires, Gray Donohue has finally found his true calling: vengeance. He will stop at nothing to bring his fellow Impure vampires the freedom they deserve. Now if he could just release his primal need for the beautiful vampire who saved his life—and rules his thoughts and desires…
After nearly killing the senator she was assigned to protect, Dillon is now in mortal danger. The jaguar within her has been unleashed, and she can no longer control it. Sex is the only thing that can tame her shift. And Gray is the only man who can make her surrender to a passion strong enough to overpower her inner beast. But she doesn’t want to surrender—she wants her life back. Because she is determined never to belong to anyone, especially not Gray—the male whom destiny claims is her mate…
TRC: How many books are planned for the Mark of the Vampire series?
Laura: That is always the question 🙂 And I mean that I am constantly asking it! Lol.. I have at least 5 more books planned in my head. We’ll see.. The readers and the publishers will be making that final decision 🙂
TRC: What were your challenges in writing the Mark of the Vampire series?
Laura: I suppose the biggest challenges have been remembering everyone: their eye color, hair color, height, scars, siblings etc. I finally had to have a MOTV bible made!! Lol..
TRC: You have written harlequin/silhouette romance books, and Mark of the Vampire is considered paranormal romance. Which genre do you consider your favorite to write?
Laura: I LOVE paranormal. Creating a world, a species, anything I want – it’s so freeing and fun. And I love my boys. It’s gone beyond genre now, and has become more personal. This series is my guts.
That said, I really enjoyed writing straight contemporary romance as well. In fact, I’m working on a contemporary cowboy series right now. So I get both worlds to play in. 🙂
TRC: Who is your favorite character of all the books you have written?
Laura: This is such a hard question. I have deep love for them all – even the villains! But if you’re going to make me.. Nicky. I have a special connection with him. 🙂
TRC: Is there any of your characters that after you have continued the series, you would have liked to change, and why?
Laura: GREAT question! Maybe Ethan Dare.. my bad guy in book one and two.. I might have let him live. Imprisoned him so he could see his child born.. I don’t know..
TRC: What authors or book have most influenced your life or writing?
Laura: The two biggies are Jude Deveraux and Victoria Holt. I cut my teeth on them, realized how much I adored romance through their novels. Then later, realized how much I wanted to write romance!
TRC: What do you have planned for future books or series? Would you consider writing any other type of genre, such as YA?
Laura: YA has always interested me. Thing is, I love writing sexy stories, and I don’t know how that would translate. But it is a thought in my mind.:) For now, I want to continue writing Mark of the Vampire, and my potential new cowboy series. I also have an Urban Romantacy idea percolating 🙂
TRC: Cool, this sounds exciting. Can’t wait to find out more 🙂
TRC: Do you have a specific place you like to write? With children at home, do you find yourself writing at special times?
Laura: I have an office, and I love writing there – especially when the kids are home. I have a hard time concentrating anyway, so I usually have to have blaring music in my headphones to drift into ‘The Zone.’
LIGHTNING ROUND: Oh, the pressure 🙂
FAVORITE FOOD – Pickles. No – tomatoes. No – pickles. Errrr.. 🙂
FAVORITE DESSERT – Pie.. Boston Cream or Pumpkin.. or Blueberry!
FAVORITE AUTHOR – Seriously? That’s like asking me to pick my favorite child. Or my favorite dessert! Oh, wait.. 🙂 All right, I’m going with Jude Deveraux because I cut my romantic teeth on her!
FAVORITE BOOK – This is one of MANY favorites, but Judith McNaught’s ONCE AND ALWAYS.
FAVORITE CHARACTER (NOT YOUR OWN) – Mr. Darcy from Pride and Prejudice.
WHAT BOOK ARE YOU CURRENTLY READING – Three at once. Yes, I’m insane. Kristen Higgins, Lorelei James and my critique partner, Jennifer Lyon’s manuscript for her next Wing Slayer Hunter book!
LAST VACATION SPOT – Big Sur, Cali 🙂
LAST MOVIE YOU SAW – Something not very memorable clearly..lol.. um,.. seriously this is sad, I can’t think of a damn thing!
TRC: LOL
TRC: Thank you, Laura for answering our questions. The Reading Café wishes you the best of luck with Eternal Beast. Keep us informed about your upcoming releases. We look forward to working with you again.
Laura: Thank YOU for having me! This was a total blast, and I love that lightning round. 🙂
If you would like to learn more about Laura, you can find her at the following links:
Website: http://www.laurawright.com/
Laura’s Blog:
Facebook:
Twitter:
Goodreads:
Laura has graciously offered to give a member of The Reading Café a chance to each win a choice of one of her Mark of the Vampire books, as well as some Swag.
1. You must be a member at The Reading Cafe. If you are not a member, please register using the Log-In at the top of the page, or by using one of our social log-ins.
2. If you are using a social log-in e.g. Twitter, please leave your email address along with your comment.
3. Please post a comment and say hello to Laura.
4. Giveaway open U.S. or Canada Only
5. Contests runs from August 15th – August 18th.
