SPECIAL INTERVIEW WITH LORELEI JAMES
New York Times best selling author Lorelei James is the prolific writer of numerous super sizzling Western romances.
She may be most known for her first contemporary erotic series, the Rough Riders, which will have already grown to fourteen books by the end of this year! What makes her books so authentic and scorching hot? Where does she comes up with characters and they based on real (and sexy) cowboys?
Oh, yeah! I couldn’t wait to find out!!
1) What do you love most about writing smokin’ hot western romances?
Lorelei James: I like getting to show readers a slice of life that they’re probably not familiar with, and that cowboys as heroes, as alpha men, as caretakers, as lovers and fighters and fathers are very much alive in the modern day west—and it’s a challenge for a woman to love a man like that, retain her sense of self and be happy living in the middle of nowhere!
2) You currently write contemporary novels, do you ever think you will write a historical western? Why or why not?
Lorelei James: I have an idea for a historical western—that’s a super duper secret—and I hope to get to write it someday. Right now it’s more about my lack of time than anything, because I’m contracted with Rough Riders books and Blacktop Cowboys books.
3) I love your Rough Riders series. How did you get started on this series? Did you imagine it would ever become the series it is today? This year you have one more Rough Riders book scheduled to be released. Can you please tell us more about it? How many do you have planned or will they go on forever?!!
Lorelei James: I got started writing the series because existing contemporary westerns didn’t have enough sex in them to suit my tastes and I wanted to get into the intimate details of the hero and heroine’s developing relationship. I also thought it’d be fun and challenging to write about different members of a specific family over the course of several books and several years. Plus there are a few misconceptions about the west, about cowboys and ranchers, and I didn’t want to gloss over the details of life in modern rural America.
The next book scheduled to release is GONE COUNTRY and that is Gavin Daniels book. Gavin is the son Vi McKay gave up for adoption when she was sixteen, and he just recently tracked down his birth parents. So he’s moved to Wyoming to try and figure out if there’s a place for him in the McKay family. Gavin isn’t a cowboy, so that’s been a different angle to explore. There are sixteen books planned for the Rough Riders series.
4) What fascinates you about cowboys and the world they live in? Do you consider yourself a genuine cowgirl? Have you ever ridden a real bull?!
Lorelei James: I’m a wannabe cowgirl so that’s part of where my fascination comes from. I’ve been lucky enough, in the area I live, to know many “real” cowgirls and see the variety of their lifestyles—some are involved in rodeo, some are ranch women, some are business women who’ve married a rancher and have nothing to do with running the ranch they’re living on. Makes for a lot of different, fun scenarios to play with. No, I’ve never ridden a bull and don’t ever plan to!
5) More recently, you have written a ‘newer’ series called the Blacktop Cowboys which centers on the rodeo circuit. Did you have to do a lot of research about the rodeo and the characters that inhabit this world? Or did you grow up going to rodeos? Can you tell us about upcoming books in the series?
Lorelei James: The Blacktop Cowboys series isn’t really a rodeo series, the first book is set in the world of rodeo, but mostly the series is about a group of friends from the same small Wyoming town. Some are ranchers, some are on the rodeo circuit, one is a country singer, one is a western artist, one is a stock contractor for rodeos, one is a veterinarian, one is a barrel racer, so the characters run the gamut as far as how they make their living. I attended rodeos as a kid and I think I have the best job in the world because I get to attend rodeos for research
6) Wow! So fun! Personally, I find your westerns more realistic and appealing than any I know of in the genre. How do you keep your books so fresh? Is it sometimes difficult to come up with new stories?
Lorelei James: All stories are difficult to develop, and after writing thirty-some projects, writing hasn’t gotten easier, but harder. I work at developing each story independently, while keeping the flavor and theme of the series as a whole. It’s been a great ride with this family and my story telling has gotten stronger with each book—but partially because this many books into a series, the readers feel they know the characters and the world I’ve created. I love taking common romance tropes – i.e. secret baby, virgin and the older guy, love/hate relationships, city girl/country boy and mixing them up, putting my own spin on each one. I’ve had the creative freedom not to have to write the same book over and over.
7) Okay…I have to ask! How about those emotional, scorching hot scenes?! Do you find them more difficult to write that other sections of your books? How do you get inspired?!
Lorelei James: Sex scenes have to be choreographed to some extent, and yet, they also have to move the story forward in some way, either the plot, or to deepen the character’s connection, or to reveal motivation. I like writing those scenes, but they are always a challenge and never get easier. Readers have a certain expectation for the hotness factor in the books, so I have to bear that in mind, while not feeling pressure to write a ménage scene since it’s been a few books since I tackled that theme.
8) Of all your hunky cowboys, is there one that is a sentimental favorite and why?
Lorelei James: This is such a hard question! While I’m working on the book and right after I finish it that male character I worked with and lived with for months is my favorite because I know him best. Sometimes the details fade about a hero that I wrote a few years back. So I’ll say…Colby McKay is my sentimental favorite because he’s the one who started the Rough Riders series.
9) That makes sense! Don’t get me wrong, I am so grateful that you write so many books, but how do you do it? Do you ever get writer’s block? What ideas do you have planned for future books/series?
Lorelei James: I don’t get writer’s block, I do occasionally get writer’s “I don’t wanna” where it’s hard to make myself work on a book because I’d rather be doing something else. Working from home can be a challenge—so I’m pretty strict with myself about getting my work done before I get to do something fun. When I feel overworked, I remind myself there are many writers who are writing more books than I am and there are other writers who’d like to be able to work full time like I am…that usually snaps me out of it.
10) I know you also write mystery novels. Romance and gritty mysteries seem polar opposites. Can you tell us what motivated you to start writing mysteries? Who are some of your favorite detective/crime solvers? What fascinates you about writing about mysteries?
Lorelei James: The mysteries are written in first person and are a little dark, with edgy characters. There’s a thread of romance, but the book is focused on the heroine and her relationship to the violence and crime in the story. I’ve found Lorelei James readers will follow me to the mystery side, but Lori Armstrong readers pretty much want the maiming and killing and not the sex. I was published in mystery first, not romance—a lot of people are surprised to hear that. I like the challenge of writing about the worst aspects of humanity—it gives me balance as a writer from only writing happily ever after stories.
Wow, thank you for giving me the opportunity to interview you. I couldn’t help myself from asking questions about your books! It has been a great honor to have you on our site!
Lorelei James: Thanks so much for asking me! Now I’m slinking back to the writing cave.
Interviewed by Steph from the Bookaholics Romance Book Club
For Additional Information about Lorelei James you can check her out at:
Her website at: http://www.loreleijames.com/home.php And also check out her dark, gritty mystery series under another name at: www.loriarmstrong.com You can also purchase personalized goodies at: http://www.cafepress.com/LoreleiJames Plus she has some great Freebies at: http://www.loreleijames.com/extras.php -free read and other freebies- yay! -Free short story The Pick Up Man -a short story written by Lorelei James
http://www.loreleijames.com/docs/The%20Pick%20Up%20Man_Lorelei%20James%20short%20story.pdf -Plus send away for FREEBIES!! Booksellers/Librarians/Readers/Fans: For Lorelei James promotional items, including bookmarks, postcards and other goodies, please shoot me a self addressed, stamped envelope (2 stamps) to:
· Lorelei James
· PO Box 9665
· Rapid City SD 57709-9665
Upcoming Books by Lorelei James
UPCOMING ROUGH RIDER BOOKS FOR 2012 KISSIN’ TELL, Rough Riders book 13 – June 2012
– Tell McKay’s story
GONE COUNTRY, Rough Riders book 14 – December 2012
– Gavin Daniel’s story
BLACKTOP COWBOYS BOOKS FOR 2012 ONE NIGHT RODEO, Blacktop Cowboys book 4 – August 2012
– Kyle Gilchrist's story
UPCOMING ANTHOLOGIES FOR 2012 BALLROOM BLITZ, Two to Tango Anthology – October 2012
– Lorelei James, Jess Dee, & Jayne Rylon