Q & A with Bestseller Lori Wilde
April 4, 2010 by admin
Filed under Featured Author, Featured This Week
Lori Wilde is our featured author this week. In celebration of her new release, True Love Quilting Club, she’s giving away the first book in the series, The Sweetheart’s Knitting Club. If you missed this book, now’s the time to catch up. Magic and love reign supreme in Twilight, Texas!
ENTER TO WIN one of 5 copies of The Sweetheart’s Knitting Club!
BotH:
It’s great to have you here on Books on the House, Lori! I know our readers would love to know how you got started in writing.
Lori:
From the time I was eight years old I knew I wanted to be a writer, but my dad told me writers couldn’t make a living so I had to do something practical. On his advice, I went to nursing school and became a registered nurse, but I never stopped wanting to write. I took a job working double shifts on the weekends so I could have Mon-Fri to write. I started writing seriously in 1990, the year I finished my first book. I sold the second book I wrote in 1994.
BotH:
It’s so awesome that you never gave up your dream. Tell us about the two books in your newest series, The Sweetheart’s Knitting Club and True Love Quilting Club.
Lori:
These are the first two book in a four book series. The next two are First Love Cookie Club (release date Oct. 26, 2010) and The Grand Love Gardening Club due out in 2011. The setting is a small town in Texas that boasts a romantic legend about reunited high school sweethearts. The members of the crafting clubs are the same bunch. They’re the mischief makers and the matchmakers that throw the heroes and heroines together.
BotH:
That sounds like such a fun premise! They must be fun to write.
You’ve written across genres, from category to romantic suspense to women’s fiction. Do you have a preference? Do you find one genre easier than another?
Lori:
No genre is easier than another. Each have their pros and cons. My personal favorite is action/adventure comedy along the lines of what Christie Craig is writing, but that genre didn’t sell so well for me so I moved on to my current genre–small town home and hearth women’s fiction with strong romantic elements. It’s actually a good fit for me because I’m a country girl at heart.
BotH:
I’m a country girl at heart, too! You also teach writing. What’s your expertise?
Lori:
Honestly, I think what I’m best at is explaining the craft of writing to others. Nothing came easily for me. I’m not one of those people who just sits down and magic flows from my fingers. I have to hack and dig and figure everything out through logic. But because I had to learn it the hard way, I do know how to put a story together. The magic people don’t know how they do it. I can see the muse behind the curtain and tell you how to see it too. If you want to that is. Most writers who rely on magic don’t want the spell broken by too much craft knowledge. We’re all hardwired differently.
BotH:
I love to hear that I’m not the only one writing doesn’t come easy for! But when you work at it, the success is that much sweeter!
What projects do you have coming up next?
Lori:
I’ve got several more books from Harlequin Blaze in the works and those other books in the Twilight, Texas series from Avon.
BotH:
Can’t wait!
It’s been fun having you here, Lori! Continued success with your new series.
Lori:
Thank you so much. It’s been a blast. Happy writing!
GREAT LORI! 8 HUH? WELL I FOR ONE AM GLAD YOU CONTINUE TO WRITE! I LOVED THE SWEETHEART’S KNITTING CLUB THAT I WON IT AND FORGOT I HAD READ IT AND BOUGHT THE BOOK AGAIN! LOL
I’m a huge fan of Lori’s action/adventures with comedic touches. In fact, she’s THE author that made me fall for the Blaze line with A Touch of Silk. Action/Adventure/Comedy, Sexy Blazes, or “Home and Hearth,” I always know that when I pick up one of her books I’m guaranteed a great read with tons of romance. I love that consistency and I love being able to pick up her books and know I’ll never be disappointed. I’m just thrilled to know there are a lot more books coming to look forward to! Thank you!
I love Lori’s books. She is not only a great writer ,but a generous one. Always looking for ways to give away books and gift cards to her readers. How can you NOT be a loyal reader?!? Thanks, Lori
I love all of Lori’s books. She is an incredible story teller that keeps readers wanting more and more.
Lori,
I can’t wait to read the whole series. The first one was great! Keep up the writing.
Debi
I love Lori’s writing, especially her small town romances. Her Wedding Veil Wishes series was sweet, fun, and sexy! I am delighted that Lori has started another series.
Don’t enter me in this drawing. I have already had the pleasure of reading THE SWEETHEART’S KNITTING CLUB, and I have pre-ordered TRUE LOVE QUILTING CLUB. I am really looking forward to the rest of the series!
Good morning everyone! You guys are up bright and early. Thanks so much for dropping by. I’m on deadline now for the fourth book in the series The Grand Love Gardening Club. Right now my publisher is wanting to see how the sales are for TRUE LOVE to see if we’re going to have more books in the series. Thanks for all your support!
Lori
Lori I love your books. I always look forward to the new releases. Keep them coming.
I ditto all of the comments above. Lori is one of my favorite authors. I know I will get a great romantic and sexy story with characters I can identify with – basically become attached to. She is very generous to her fans and speaking from fresh experience. ( I just finished one of her online classes in March.) She is a wonderful teacher. I learned so much from the class. And it inspired me to get busy and write.
I think it’s incredibly helpful to hear from published writers that it doesn’t come easy. Sometimes I am afraid that because I am having a problem working a scene out or a character that I may not be cut out to write. I wish I had started writing years ago.
FYI – my personal Lori Wilde books are the Wedding Veil Wishes series
THERE GOES THE BRIDE, ONCE SMITTEN, TWICE SHY, ADDICTED TO LOVE and ALL OF ME
If you haven’t read them, do yourself a favor and do!
I’ve read The Sweetheart’s Knitting Club and am looking forward to the rest of the series.
I’m a member of “wilde women” who mainly lurks about in the background!
Although I do pop up now and then (like now) to join in the conversation.
Enjoyed the interview, especially the comments on the Twilight series.
Pat Cochran
Love your books. Thanks for writing.
Great Reads everytime! I am always looking forward to your next books!
Lori,
I have always loved your writing. Thank you for writing wonderful books. They have given me a hiding spot while going through life’s bumps in the road. Can’t wait to read more new books from you.
Congrats on the upcoming release of “The True Love Knitting Club.” Good luck with the deadline.
GOOD LUCK EVERYONE, SURE HOPE I CAN WIN IT!
I am looking forward to the new books! Thank you for being so available to your readers and for all that you do to encourage new writers. It’s something I have always wanted to do, but I think I will just live vicariously through you.
Keep writing!
Great interview, Lori! Looking forward to picking up the new series
Loved the Sweetheart Knitting Club.. Cannot wait to read the next book…
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Lori’s books….always hate to see her books come to the end!
I really enjoyed Knitting Club,and kooking forward to your next book.Can’t wait to see what to the fireman and his lost love.And what will happen to her husband in the nursing home.
I love your books. I can’t wait to get my hands on the new one.
I just love your books. I have them in ebook format for my Sony Reader and paperback. I also took your romance writing course which is highly recommended.
Thanks so much,
Nichole M
Thanks for all the great comments! Lori, you rock!!! Make sure you ENTER TO WIN by clicking the button on the home page, everyone! Commenting here doesn’t equal an entry since it doesn’t go onto the form!
Very interesting interview. It’s always great to hear about writing from someone who’s successfully doing it (and doing it, and doing it, and doing it!) Can’t wait to read the new book!
Enjoyed the interview. I love reunited sweethearts and stories set in small towns. The series sounds really good! Adding both stories to my wish list.
It’s so funny I have a stack of books to read right after April 15, so can you guess what I do for a living. I haven’t been logining and read a lot of my emails – so there’s no spoilers for me. Bring on the summer reading. Can’t wait.
Great interview. Your newest series sounds wonderful. I love your books.
Lori, I’m so very happy for you that everything seems to be not only coming together so nicely, but that you’re getting the recognition.
Lori love all your books. The new series looks fantastic. Keep them coming!!!
Great work Lori, cant wait to read your new book. I also got some of your old books that i found on the internet great reading.
Linda,
After writing for 20 years looks like I might be an “overnight” success. LOL.
I’m still trying to catch my breath after the uber-busy Easter season!
Hope every one had a great time and lots of family time. I’m using my
down time to catch up on my TBR stack!
Pat Cochran
Hi Lori! Your interview was so interesting, especially the answer to the question about teaching writing. I think those of us that can’t write always tend to think of the ability to write as some kind of magic lol. After your comments I immediately likened the “magic” writer to the method actor. Very interesting, I really enjoyed it.
I just got this fabulous review for THE TRUE LOVE QUILTING CLUB.
5 Clovers!
I absolutely adored the first Twilight, Texas book, THE SWEETHEARTS’ KNITTING CLUB and didn’t see how Lori Wilde would ever top it. Well, Ms. Wilde just proved me wrong because THE TRUE LOVE QUILTING CLUB is even better. I read this book in one day, unable to put it down. Even when I tried, I found myself picking it right back up, needing to devour just one more paragraph, one more page, one more chapter of Sam and Trixie Lynn’s story.
Sam Cheek is a huge part of this book’s fabulousness. Here’s a hero who is such a refreshing departure from the Alpha male. He’s Steady Sam. Dependable, quiet, traditional. On the outside he doesn’t even seem all that assertive. It isn’t until the reader gets to know him that we see that under all those brooding good looks lurks a very passionate man. On top of all that, he’s a great father to his son, wonderful with animals, and beloved to the whole town.
In Sam’s arms, Trixie Lynn finally finds a place to call home, and with Trixie Lynn, Sam discovers a spontaneous, part of himself that makes him realizes he no longer wants to settle for less than true love. The chemistry between them is superbly written, as is the emotion that leaps off every page.
With a fantastic cast of characters that will keep readers smiling, and an emotional, sexy romance between Sam and Trixie Lynn that you can’t help but devour from page one, THE TRUE LOVE QUILTING CLUB is everything a contemporary romance should be. I’ve completely fallen in love with the town of Twilight, Texas and can’t wait for more books in this series (pretty please, Ms. Wilde, keep ‘em coming!).—CK2S Kwips and Kritiques
WTG LORI ON 5 CLOVERS!!
such great reports on your books Lori that I shall have to read them and try to win one.
congrats on the 5 clover review.
Hi Lori… I just recently joined your group, but I’ve been a fan of your and Rachel Gibson’s writings for many, many, many years. I can already tell that Twilight, Texas will be a place that I revisit for years to come. THE SWEETHEARTS’ KNITTING CLUB was not really what I expected it to be–it was better! Maybe that’s what I like about your work–that fact that the twists and turns you take in your writing is not so “predictable” that I have the middle through the ending in my head before I even finish chapter two–thanks for that btw!!! And thanks, in advance, for THE TRUE LOVE QUILTING CLUB! I hope to win it…if not, I will definitely be purchasing it and bragging about it around town.
Congrats on the 5 Clovers from Kwips and Kritiques–you earned and deserve it! Hope to see you at the book signing in Weatherford…
Fun interview ~ this sounds like such a great series.
We always give such great interviews. I love the your new series and can’t wait for more books on the various crafts available to come out. Thank you for the awesome contest.