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Author Interview, Part II: Lorraine Heath

 

Are you a full-time or part-time writer?  How does that affect your writing?

I’ve always been a full-time writer, even when I worked another job. But now I only write. I have a little more time for leisurely reading and traveling so I can refill the well of creativity but not having another job hasn’t really affected how I write.

 

What are some day jobs that you have held?  Have any of them impacted your writing?

Waitress, KOA Kampgrounds registration clerk, cafeteria server, tax examiner, training systems specialist, publicist. Working as a publicist and training systems specialist required a lot of writing so both positions helped me hone my writing skills, not necessarily my storytelling skills. Proper grammar and sentence structure were important as well as being certain to convey the message, so it was understood.

 

How has your formal education influenced or impacted your writing?

I have a B. A. in psychology, which I think has helped to give me a foundation for creating believable characters. In college, I studied motivation and influences on behavior, and I often apply what I learned when adding depth or personality characteristics to my characters.

 

What do you like to read in your free time?

Romance—all genres of romance. Historical is my favorite, but I like to expand my reading to contemporary, paranormal, etc. because I love experiencing various types of creativity.

 

What projects are you working on at the present?

I’m about to begin the 3^rd book in the Sins for All Seasons series. I’m having fun with these characters because they skirt the darker edges of London while also creating a path into High Society.

 

What does your perfect writing spot look like? Is that what your ACTUAL writing spot looks like?

My perfect writing spot would have a view of mountains, lakes, or the sea. My actual writing spot has a view of a cluttered desk and neighborhood houses.

 

Do you have any strange writing habits or writing rituals you’d like to share with your readers?

I don’t know how strange it is, but I tend to write with a thunderstorm CD playing in the background. I also collect fragrances similar to what my characters might wear so I have a clearer idea of their scent. Not sure why but it helps me to visualize them more clearly.

 

Who would you cast to play your characters in a movie version of your book?

I could see Kit Harington as Mick Trewlove and I envision Natalie Dormer as Aslyn.

 

How important are names to you in your books? How do you choose names?

I think names are very important. The characters usually come to me with a name but sometimes as I’m writing the name doesn’t seem quite right. However I’ll keep writing and eventually the correct name will come to me—and the writing seems to go more smoothly after that.

 

Where is one place you want to visit that you haven’t been before?

Australia.

 

If you were an animal in a zoo, what would you be? In four words or less, tell us why.

Giraffe. I like tall and graceful.

 

If you could speak with any accent from anywhere in the world, what would you choose and why?

British, definitely. As a matter of fact, whenever I do a reading, I do it with a British accent. My husband laments the fact that my natural accent isn’t British.

 

What is your favorite quote?

“Life is a book and you are its author. You determine its plot and pace and you—only you—turn its pages.” – Beth Mende Conny