Interview with Author Lila Munro:
Hi Lila. Thank you for doing this interview. I would like to welcome you to the Romance at Heart Interview and Author Grilling session. *bg* We are interested to find out as much about you as we possibly can, so lets get started...
- Please tell us about your latest book.
I’d love to. My debut novel, The Executive Officer’s Wife, appeared in e-book format on August 10, many thanks to Wild Horse Press. The story is set in Jacksonville, NC and rotates around the military community there. Libby Calhoun is the daughter of a USMC sniper who has been captured overseas and is being held a POW.
Her hero, Chase Wayland, is a former marine turned bodyguard and has been charged with her safe keeping until her father can be recovered. The road to a happy ever after is a bumpy one for our two lovers. It’s filled with twists, turns, a touch of bickering, and surprises. They are accompanied by a host of colorful characters all too, eager to help them find their way to a fairy tale ending.
- What can we expect from you in the future?
In October, my second contracted book, Bound By Trust will release through Whiskey Creek Press. It’s a very emotionally charged story about a war widow and her hot neighbor. I’m also slated for another release through Wild Horse in April of 2011. A Slower, Lower Love steps out of my normal box a bit. My hero is an undercover policeman rather than a military man, but no less alpha. The story is set on the eastern shores of Delaware, and following in the footsteps of The Executive Officer’s Wife it is full of twists and turns. I have so many things on my literary stove top simmering away. The main point of my focus at present is a three book series titled The Sergeants of Lima Co. These are going to be great books. They center around marines again and what they think are their fantasy girls only to be kept around until the next deployment. Little do they know. These girls carry more baggage than Coach, and prove to their men the chase is the best part of the capture.
- How do we find out about you and your books?
Readers can find out about me and my work in a variety of places. I do have my own personal website. It’s called Happily Ever Afters and can be located at www.lilamunro.weebly.com . I have several things going on there. I blog regularly, there is an excerpts section, there are video trailers to watch, and I have all my favorite haunts and links listed. In addition to that site I also participate in a web venture with three of my closest writer gal pals. Wicked Muses is a wonderful place to visit. We have regular guest bloggers, purchase links, personal information, and we send out a monthly newsletter to our members. Everyone can find the muses at www.wickedmuses.webs.com. As far as my books, there are purchase links on both websites, and they can also be purchased through www.amazon.com, www.allromaneebooks.com, www.1romanceebooks.com, www.omnilit.com, and at my publisher’s website www.wildhorsepress.com. I’d encourage everyone to check out the websites and join Wicked Muses as we have a fun filled fall lined up with some great guests and give aways planned.
- Do you allow readers to contact you? Is so, how do they reach you?
I absolutely love to hear from readers, and not just the good things they might have to say. I welcome their critiques even if they are bad. My theory is use harsh, honest criticism as a learning tool. Everyone can reach me of course at the websites we talked about, or they are more than welcome to contact me directly at lilasromance@gmail.com. I can also be found on facebook at www.facebook.com/Lila_Munro. I’d love for anyone to come over and friend me—I regularly post what’s going on with my writing and life, and I host virtual release parties for my books that include excerpts and give aways.
- Do your fans’ comments and letters influence you in any way?
Most definitely. Through their contact I can gauge what I’m doing right, and what I’m doing wrong. They inspire me to give them the best stories I can and to always raise the bar a bit higher for the next venture. I appreciate and welcome the inspiration they provide.
- How much of your personality and life experiences are in your writing?
As far as my personality goes, I’m a hypersensitive being and that equates to emotional. I can always see a bit of that coming out in not only my heroines but my heroes as well. And I’m happy with that. I mean this is love and romance we’re talking about here. In real life love and romance is a rollercoaster ride of emotion spanning everything from ecstasy to anger to fear. For a romance to seem real it needs to incorporate all these things and then some.
On the subject of life experiences they definitely come out in my writing. I believe in the write what you know policy. If there is one thing I know it’s the military, I’ve been married to the USMC now for several years. I’ve lived in many places, experienced moving several times, have gone through deployments and separations, and fixed my share of garbage disposals. It’s a tough job and I think that somehow comes out in my heroines in their strength. My heroines aren’t just book smart either; they are usually street smart in that they can hold their own and take care of themselves. I’ve experienced the need for that living this life. The added bonus is that I have an in house research center in my husband who can help me make my scenarios very realistic.
- Do you have a set schedule for writing or do you just go with the flow?
I like to think I’m in control of my schedule, but the reality is my muse holds that power. Usually I do write everyday, whether it be a few hundred words, or just doing revisions. I would love to be able to say I have a normal schedule I do this on, but I’d be lying. I’m a stay at home wife and I write at all hours of the day and night. Sometimes my muse will tug at me in the middle of the night and tell me how to fix something or what comes next or even give me a new idea. I nearly always listen, pull myself up, and jot it down or come to the computer and start writing. It might seem crazy to some, but it works for me and with our nest being empty no one is bothered, and my husband doesn’t mind my weird quirks and habits.
- Does your family bother you when you are writing—are there constant interruptions?
Well, as I said my nest is empty, so there are no little feet pattering about, no one to need a juice box or an owie kissed anymore. And, being married to a marine means I have a lot of time to myself. When he is home, we carve out plenty of quality time between our two crazy schedules and have plenty of romance, but when I’m working and in the zone, he rarely comes into the office. He says there’s a look I get on my face that let’s him know I’m in some characters head and he doesn’t want to pull me out of there and lose what it was I was learning. Now I do have two older dogs, and occasionally I feel a wet nose on my elbow as I sit at the computer, but they mostly just hang out in my office sleeping on the couch or near my chair.
-What do you do to relax and recharge your batteries?
We live just minutes from the beach. I am very drawn to water and anytime I need to center myself and refocus I pack a bag with a book, a notepad, some sunscreen and some Pringles and head to the sand. It is completely relaxing. I also like to spend time reading everything I can get my hands on, and a nice long bubble bath and a glass of white wine never hurt a thing either.
- What are your thoughts on love scenes in romance novels, do you find them difficult to write?
Wow, right to the heart of the matter. Love scenes to me are essential, whether they are softer and sweeter, or a little more spicy and sensual. Love isn’t just an emotion we hide; it’s expressed physically through eye contact, hugging, touching, kissing, and of course sex. The first love scene I ever wrote I sat at the keyboard and felt myself turn a thousand shades of red and I think I was sweating profusely. I didn’t dare use any “dirty” words, and then the next time it was easier and easier after that.
Now I push the envelope a bit more with each scene to test myself, to find out how far my limits are. I think my love scenes have begun to evolve somewhat as well. I had a friend read one and tell me what I was doing wrong. It seemed I wasn’t letting the characters do what they needed to in a smooth flowing pattern. I learned from that. Then I had problems switching POV’s throughout. I think I am moving away from that pattern now, and as a result of learning to show not tell things seem to sound more sensual now. Yes, it’s definitely a craft inside a craft and takes honing and evolving to get it right.
- Please tell us about yourself (family, hobbies, education, etc.)
Like I’ve said I’m married to a wonderful man who’s been in the marines for 22 years now. We have two children, neither of whom lives at home. At present we reside on the coast of North Carolina, but with the life we live that could change at any time. I’ve lived in Okinawa, Japan, Missouri, Virginia, and several places in North Carolina. I do have a B.S. in psychology and sociology, and an associate in English. I also have a certificate in Pharmacy technology. I love to learn and it is so important to do so a lifetime. I love to read, take field research trips-sometimes to the most unconventional places-I had to research exotic dancing for an upcoming book, I love museums and the aquarium, and I hope to make a trip to the symphony this winter. My guilty pleasure is espresso laden frappes and vanilla bean scones.
- Fill in the blank favorites -
Dessert - chocolate cake
City - anywhere on the Outer Banks
Season - autumn
Type of hero - alpha on steroids
Type of heroine - smart and savvy, yet ready to give in order to get her man
- What do you think of critique groups in general?
At present I don’t belong to a critique group, but would love to find one. I think another set of eyes is a wonderful tool and it absolutely does not hurt to get a second opinion. However, I think there is a fine balance in a group such as this—a balance between professionalism and camaraderie. I want someone that’s confident enough to give me honest feedback without fear of hurting my feelings, while at the same time I could go to lunch with the next day and talk about something other than writing.
- Are you in control of your characters or do they control you?
Well, I would like to believe I am in complete control of everything, however, that would be absurd to think I’m in total control of my characters. I take character development very seriously. I do extensive character sketches to include their likes and dislikes, their favorite foods and beverages, their physical features, dreams and hopes, their mannerisms and quirks, what music they like, and their family trees. In short, by the time I sit to write, they are like old, dear friends to me. They each take a turn sitting on the office couch and telling me what’s been going on in their lives. I know where I want the story to go, but each time we talk, I learn a bit more about the characters and the story seems to change and usually for the better. I’d say my characters and I have half ownership of control.
- Have you experienced writer’s block—if so, how did you work through it?
I believe all writers experience this at one time or other, to include me, due to varying factors—stress, burnout, family emergencies. I very recently had a bout with writer’s block, or as I prefer to call it “my muse is on vacation time.” I spent a lot of time at the water with my idea pad, and read a lot. Anything that had to do with words, I kept doing. I also turned my attention away from my novels and wrote some poetry conveying the feelings about what was going on that caused the writer’s block, then I blogged about it. Seems getting things off one’s chest helps immensely. The main thing was not to get discouraged, although it was hard. Muses don’t stay away forever and when they come home they are full on.
- If you weren’t writing, what would you be doing?
Being a better housekeeper and cook and looking for a job as a pharmacy technician. It seems that since writing has consumed my life, my tasks as domestic goddess get neglected quite frequently. Sometimes I think the dust bunnies have more to say than my characters.
Thank you very much for taking the time with us and answering our questions. I really appreciate this interruption to your busy schedule. Good Luck, and we will be looking forward to the next delightful creation from your talented imagination!
Yours in good reading,
Rose!
Author Links:
Website Email Blog Facebook
RaH Links:
Review Coming
Purchase Links:
Buy Lila's Books at Amazon
Buy Lila's Books at allromaneebooks.com
Buy Lila's Books at 1romanceebooks.com
Buy Lila's Books at OmniLit.com
Buy Lila's Books at The Wild Horse Press.