One of the fun
parts of having a blog is that I get to introduce readers to my friends. Lyn
Horner and I met about fifteen years ago at a Romance Writers of America local
chapter in the Fort Worth-Mid Cities area. We have been friends ever since. Lyn has agreed to let me grill her
here. I’ve read both her series and have to admit this new one is my favorite.
I look forward to each book.
Please tell us
about growing up, Lyn. Share anything that lets readers get to know the real
you.
Caroline, Let me first thank you for inviting me back.
Visiting you is always a pleasure.
As for my childhood, I was an only child, born in San
Francisco but raised in Minneapolis, Minnesota. A bit of a tomboy as a
youngster, I became a bookworm in my teens. I was shy around boys and didn’t
date until my senior year of high school, when a girlfriend goaded me into
inviting a classmate to the Sweetheart Swirl, a girl-ask-boy dance that
culminated our school’s Sadie Hawkins Days. After the dance, my date, Ken,
invited me to the senior prom. Four years later, we married. We have two grown
children, a boy and a girl, and nine grandkids – two biological, four by marriage, and three adopted. Our family is a messy, joyous melting pot!
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| Ken and Lynda |
Aren’t you glad
you invited Ken to that dance? Who are your favorite authors and favorite
genres?
Diana Gabaldon is my favorite author. I never tire of
reading and now watching her Outlander
series. Of course there are many other authors I admire, including you, my
friend. Western historical and Scottish romance, as well as certain types of
paranormal are my favorite genres. Lately I’ve also come to enjoy the mysteries
of Faye Kellerman.
When you’re not
writing, what’s your favorite way to relax and recharge?
I enjoy reading, gardening and watching good movies.
Oh, and cuddling my three furry babies. Err, cats that is. Naturally, I also
love cuddling my youngest grandbabies.
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Jax, Emerson, and Kira
December 2015 |
I have three cats,
too. Alas, no grandchildren. How long have you been writing?
A long time! Some thirty years ago we moved from
Minneapolis, our home town, to Chicago. Giving up my career in the visual arts,
I stayed home to raise our kiddos, the youngest of whom was still in diapers.
To keep from going bonkers, I took up writing, soon finding that I enjoyed
historical research and crafting a passionate romance. Still, my new love
remained only a hobby until years later, after two more transfers brought us to
the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Following many false starts, I finally published my
first book in 2010.
We were both late
bloomers to publishing, weren’t we? My first book was published in 1998. Where do
you prefer to write?
When I’m actually writing, not keeping up with social
media and marketing my books, I prefer to shut myself in our bedroom with my
laptop, story outline and notes. Sometime I’ll tune in a music station on TV,
one with instrumental tracks, especially Irish or Native American flute
melodies.
I listen to
instrumental music also. Are you a plotter or a panzer?
I’m a plotter except for the first two or three
chapters of a new book. I like to get acquainted with my imaginary people in
that opening section before plotting their path.
Do you do your
research before you begin a new project, or as you go along?
I do basic research about the setting before I start a
project, but hunt up details as I go. Often, I don’t know what details I need until
reaching specific points in the story.
Tell us about your
writing schedule. Do you set goals? Do you write daily?
LOL I don’t have a set schedule unless you count
sitting down and opening my laptop immediately after feeding the cats their
breakfast and grabbing my first cup of coffee in the morning. Barring errands
or interruptions, most of my day and part of the night is spent typing. Not all
on writing, of course. Social media, blogging and answering email messages take
up a fairly large chunk of my time.
Tell us something
about yourself that might surprise readers.
Hmm, let me think. I love mint chocolate chip ice
cream. In fact I’m addicted to it. J
Chocolate and ice
cream—always a good combination! What do you hope your writing brings to
readers?
In each of my books, I try to lead readers on an
exciting adventure and immerse them in a passionate, highly emotional romance. Additionally,
I hope to leave them wondering if the psychic gifts my characters possess might
really be possible.
And we both know
they are, don’t we? What advice would you give to unpublished authors?
First, learn your craft. Join a writers group, attend
workshops, listen to advice from experienced authors and, if possible, join a
critique group.
Second, in order to build name recognition before you
publish, establish a presence on Twitter, Facebook and other social media. Also
consider starting a blog where you post about interesting, helpful topics. You
might offer to host guest bloggers and/or conduct interviews as Caroline is
doing for me.
Third, be patient and persistent. Don’t expect fame
and fortune overnight, and don’t give up on your dream if it takes a while to
come true.
Excellent advice,
Lyn. Tell us about TOUCHING CHARLOTTE.
My latest release is TOUCHING CHARLOTTE, Romancing the Guardians, book four.
Combining romantic suspense with paranormal elements, the series carries readers
from Ireland to Texas, to other far-flung locations. This book is set mainly in
New York City and Long Island’s gold coast (Great Gatsby country.) NYC cop
turned celebrity chef Tristan Jameson meets empathic nurse Charlotte Dixon, who
can’t stand to be touched. Teaching her the right man’s touch can bring joy
instead of pain is Tristan’s goal. At first, he makes progress, but frightening
surprises await. Please be aware this is an adult romance.
TOUCHING CHARLOTTE Excerpt:
He rested his hands on his
hips, studying her. “Have you ever been touched by a man and actually found it
pleasant?”
She blinked, pivoted
partially away and hugged herself. “No, but there was a boy once,” she said
softly. “We were ten years old, in the same grade at school. He was sweet and
his touch never hurt. Then his father caught us holding hands and yanked Robbie
– his name was Robbie – away from me. He called me bad names and told me never
to come near his son again or he’d make me sorry.”
Tristan swore, wishing he
could make the man sorry for frightening a young girl. “Why did his father not
want him near you?”
She laughed bitterly. “He
thought I was touched in the head or maybe a witch, like most of the
townspeople believed.”
“Because of your gift?”
Char faced him, rubbing her
arms. “Yes. My mother made me wear long sleeved clothes to school no matter how
hot it was. She told me to avoid touching others as much as possible and not to
let on if I felt things. But I picked up flashes of emotion constantly and
being just a kid, I couldn’t control my reactions. Sometimes I’d start laughing
or crying for no apparent reason in the middle of class. When I babbled about
what some boy or girl was feeling, he or she would want to kill me and the
teacher would send me down to the office, again.” She sighed. “Being different
was a curse.”
“I can see that. And since
Robbie, there’s been no boy, no man in your life?”
Her
eyes fled his. She shook her head, auburn hair swinging back and forth. “I
can’t let anyone close.”
“You’re
willing to shut yourself away, always afraid to touch and be touched? To love
and be loved? You’re a sweet, kind person, Char. It’s not fair for you to have
to live like that.”
She stiffened and he could
almost see a curtain drop over her features. Fisting her hands at her sides,
she stared past his shoulder. “It’s the only way I know to survive without
being crushed by the pain of someone else’s emotions. I didn’t choose this kind
of life. It chose me and nothing can change that. I’ve accepted it.”
She lifted her chin,
shoulders thrown back. “Thank you for showing Marilee a good time today, but
now you need to go.”
He’d pushed her too hard.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to criticize you.” He retrieved his coat from the
chair where he’d tossed it and shoved his arms into the sleeves. Not bothering
to button it, he strode past her into the hall. Halting, he drew a deep breath.
He refused to leave her like this. She deserved better. Turning, he said, “I
hope you’ll let me see you again. I’d like a chance to show what pleasure the
right person’s touch can give you. At least allow me to be your friend.”
She hugged herself again,
watching him. “Just go. Please,” she said, smoky voice tight with emotion. Was
it regret?
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| Lyn Horner, Author |
Lyn Horner resides in Fort Worth, Texas "Where the West Begins" with her husband and several very spoiled cats. Trained in the visual arts, Lyn worked as a fashion illustrator and art instructor before she took up writing. She loves crafting passionate love stories, both historical and contemporary. Lyn also enjoys reading, gardening, visiting with family, and cuddling her furry, four-footed children.
The author's Texas Devlins series blends authentic Old West settings, steamy romance, and a glimmer of the mysterious. This series has earned multiple awards and nominations, including the Crowned Heart reviews and a Rone Award nomination from InD'Tale Magazine.
Jumping from the 19th century American Old West to the present time, Lyn is now hard at work on her romantic suspense series, Romancing the Guardians. These books combine her trademark flashes of psychic phenomena with Irish folklore and a chilling apocalyptic sub-theme. Along the way, readers are treated to thunderous action, terrifying suspense, and sizzling romance.
