MVF Interviews: Laura Kaye
with SarahBella
Forever Freed is the Story of Lucien Demarco, a 100+ year old vampire and his struggle to find his place in society. Lucien has a dark past and a darker future. Ensconced in self imposed exile from his own family, Lucien has no one to lean on. Then he meets Samantha Sutton. Samantha is a single mother, going to school and raising her young daughter, Olivia, and their lives are forever changed.
I fell in love with Lucien by about page seven. He’s dark, broody, sexy – everything I look for in a vampire. Samantha is relatable and Laura finds Olivia’s ‘voice’ without the dialogue being tedious. All of the characters are likable and believable – including the extended cast which includes Lucien’s vampire ‘family’.
Sam and Lucien’s relationship catches them both off guard. Neither of them are looking for someone, or really even interested in meeting someone and yet somehow they’re drawn together. When their worlds collide irreparably, they each have to make decisions about their future.
I love when an author highlights all the ways that vampires fit seamlessly and unobtrusively into human society an Laura does that perfectly. The story is fun and moves quickly and will most definitely leave you wanting more! All in all, I’m giving Forever Freed 4.5 out of 5 stars.
Laura graciously agreed to an interview with me, so read on for more about Forever Freed!
SB – To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about yourself?
LK – On the writing side, I am a multi-published author of paranormal, contemporary, and erotic romance with four books releasing in 2011. On the personal side, I am a wife of 15 years and mother of two young daughters (7 and almost 5). I work as a college professor (American history) and we live right on the Chesapeake Bay, which is phenomenal. I also have one very bad but very cute dog.
SB – Where did you get the idea for Forever Freed?
LK – I have always been attracted to vampires. I started reading Anne Rice as a teenager, and was forever after hooked! God, did I have the world’s biggest crush on Lestat! LOL I’ve also always been intrigued by the idea that children have a special ability to perceive the supernatural because they’re not yet constrained by “reality” or concerns of what others will think. So, when the question popped into my head, what would happen if a vampire had to take care of a small human child (this is one way my writing muse likes to work, by playing with ‘what if’ questions), the story that became Forever Freed pretty much rolled out fully formed.
SB – What can you tell us about Lucien? Is this the last we’ll see of him, or do you have more books planned?
LK – I may never love another character more than Lucien Demarco, and that’s saying something because I’ve already written some other heroes I totally adore. But Lucien’s loneliness and yearning speak to a deep part of my psyche. I also know Lucien in a way readers won’t—at least not yet. I know Lucien from when he was a human; I’ve seen him with his human wife and daughter, Lena and Isabetta, from before he was turned into a vampire. That’s because I’ve got a draft prequel for Forever Freed tentatively entitled, Forever Damned. So, to the second part of your question, I may end up self-publishing that because, since the prequel is not primarily a romance, my publisher won’t be interested. However, I do have a sequel planned that will be called Forever Young, and Lucien will be in it, but it’s not mainly his story. It’s Ollie’s. hehe
SB – I know you have another book, Hearts in Darkness, out already. What else do you have coming up?
LK - Yes! Hearts in Darkness is a contemporary romance novella that released April 20 and I’m so excited about the incredible reception it’s had! I have at least two other stories also releasing in 2011. The first is a contemporary erotic romance called Just Gotta Say, and that will be out later this summer from Decadent Publishing. It’s about a woman living out a particular fantasy with her three best friend guy roommates. Ahem. I also have the first in a four-book fantasy romance series based on the Greek Anemoi, directional wind gods the Greeks also associated with the seasons) releasing—the first one is called North of Need and it will come out in early November.
SB – Do you have any advice for aspiring authors reading this?
LK - Butt in chair. Fingers on keyboard. Write. Every day. Seriously, don’t aspire, do it. And help yourself become the best writer you can be by: 1) surrounding yourself with other writers, people seriously pursuing writing as a profession, not a hobby. That means joining the professional writing organizations for your genre. Since I write romance, that’s the Romance Writers of America, plus my state chapter, plus the special interest sub-genre chapters that exist (FF&P—Futuristic, Fantasy & Paranormal; ChickRWA—chickLit; RWA-WF—women’s fiction, etc.). There are similar organizations for science fiction and mystery writers, too, etc.; 2) get as many eyes on your writing as you can, and realize that getting feedback from other writers is way more valuable than from friends, family, or readers; 3) work to improve your craft by taking writing workshops, reading craft books, and following agent and editor blogs. If you want to become a published author, you have to pursue it as a profession, and these are all steps towards doing so. And good luck!
Find Laura on the interwebz:
Website: http://www.LauraKayeAuthor.com
Blog: http://laurakayeauthor.blogspot.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/laurakayeauthor
Twitter: @laurakayeauthor
Publisher Website: http://thewildrosepress.com/index.php?main_page=index&manufacturers_id=800
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/3703867
Laura’s YouTube Book Trailers: http://www.youtube.com/user/LauraKayeAuthor?feature=mhum
Forever Freed will be available from Wild Rose Press on 5/20 and Amazon on 5/23
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Thank you for taking the time to read my book! I’m glad you enjoyed! And I had a lot of fun with the interview! Happy to answer any questions if anyone has them…
Thanks again!
Laura