Laura Kaye: Her Forbidden Hero

Today I'm thrilled to introduce the astoundingly talented Laura Kaye to our blog. She's here to talk about her most recent release, which I have waiting for me on my Kindle right now and can't wait to get to. And, she's giving away a digital copy of it to a commenter here on Writers Gone Wild.

Please tell us a little bit about yourself.

Thanks so much for hosting me here today! I write paranormal, contemporary and erotic romance and have six books out to date, plus two more coming in the next two months. I am wife and mom of two young girls (ages 5 and 8), college history professor, and total vampire addict. Oh, and I have a very bad dog. He’s also pretty cute, lucky for him…

When did you first begin writing novels?

I started writing fiction almost four years ago. I’ve been a writer my whole life—of non-fiction, but after a head injury gave me a creative streak that demanded outlet, I began writing fiction and completed my first book in 12 weeks—what became (after a lot of revision) my vampire romance, Forever Freed. Talk about a silver lining!

What book are you telling us about today?

My new release, a contemporary romance called HER FORBIDDEN HERO! 

 Here’s the blurb:

You always want what you can’t have…

She’s always been off-limits…

Former Army Special Forces Sgt. Marco Vieri has never thought of Alyssa Scott as more than his best friend’s little sister, but her return home changes that…and challenges him to keep his war-borne demons at bay. Marco’s not the same person he was back when he protected Alyssa from her abusive father, and he’s not about to let her see the mess he’s become.

…but now she’s all grown up.

When Alyssa takes a job at the bar where Marco works, her carefree smiles wreak havoc on his resolve to bury his feelings. How can he protect her when he can’t stop thinking about her in his bed? But Alyssa’s not looking for protection—not anymore. Now that she’s back in his life, she’s determined to heal her forbidden hero, one touch at a time…

Is this part of a series? If so, tell us how the books are connected.

My second book from Entangled’s Indulgence imprint will pick up with a character introduced in Her Forbidden Hero, the heroine’s brother, Brady Scott. I can’t wait to write his book!

What do you love the most about this particular book?

I really love the characters. Marco and Alyssa are damaged and sweet and so right for each other that it hurt me to keep them apart! They are just a couple I think readers will really want to route for to get together and find happiness.

Which character is your favorite?

Heroes own me. Always. So as much as I love Alyssa, I have to pick the hero, Marco Vieri. Marco is a good guy through and through, a hero in every definition of the term, and someone who by nature puts others needs and well being before his own. And he oozes wounded and sexy from every pore! Gah!

*fans self furiously* (You had me at Army Special Forces, by the way.) What is your favorite part of the writing process?

The discovery of putting the words on the page, because what comes out often surprises me. I am a total pantser, and even when I do attempt to plot, my brain doesn’t always cooperate and still comes up with plot points or dialogue or combinations of words that make me wonder where they came from!

What is the hardest part of the writing process for you?

Well, plotting, for one. I’m not good at it. And I really dislike doing it, much to my editors’ consternation. LOL Usually, I also find that I don’t give my first pass enough emotional depth, and I have to go back through in editing and layer deeper, more intense emotion in. I didn’t have that problem with this one, though, because the characters had been in my head for a while and I already felt I knew them so well. This time, it was the beginning of the book that I found challenging. I couldn’t get it just right and had to keep tweaking. It was worth the effort, though, I think!

How long does it generally take you to complete a book?

Hmm. There really isn’t a typical amount of time. But once I’m writing, it tends to come fast. I’ve written first drafts of my last two novel-length books in under 6 weeks.

*glares* Seriously?!?

Okay, I'm mad with jealousy right now, but you're so sweet I suppose we can still be friends. So before this insanely fast drafting phase, do you map everything out ahead of time, or do you like to be surprised along with the characters as the story unfolds?

Hello, my name is Laura, and I am a complete and total pantser.

What are you working on now?

I’m working on the third book in my Hearts of the Anemoi contemporary fantasy romance series called South of Surrender. I’m also working on final revisions on an erotic women’s fiction manuscript I’m hoping to query this summer.

What will you be working on next (uh, assuming your speedy fingers haven't worn the letters right off your keyboard)?

So many projects! So little time! Next, I’ll either be working on a novella in the Anemoi world, the follow-on story to Her Forbidden Hero featuring the heroine’s brother Brady, or the third novella in my Vampire Warrior Kings series. I’m not sure which will grab my attention first! *grins*

Where can we find you?

            Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon Author Page  

Thanks for coming by, Laura. Okay gang, who's got a comment or question for her? You might even be the lucky winner and get to spend the night with Marco...

Voted Breakout Author of the Year in the 2011 GraveTells Readers’ Choice Awards, Laura is the bestselling and award-winning author of over a half-dozen books in paranormal, contemporary and erotic romance. Hearts in Darkness is the EPIC eBook Award Winner for Best Novella and HOLT Medallion Award of Merit Winner for Best Romance Novella, Forever Freed is the NJRW Golden Leaf Winner for Best Paranormal of 2011 and is a finalist for two GDRWA Booksellers’ Best Awards, and North of Need, the first book in the Hearts of the Anemoi series, is a finalist for a FF&P PRISM award, was named GraveTells’ Best Book of 2011 and won their 5-STAR Gold Heart Award, and won Sizzling Hot Read of the Year at Sizzling Hot Books. Laura lives in Maryland with her husband, two daughters, and cute-but-bad dog, and appreciates her view of the Chesapeake Bay every day.