Welcome my friends. Lee-Ann has graciously consented to be my first interviewee. So without further delay I present Lee-Ann Graff Vinson.
Welcome.
Welcome.
Q. Tell us a little about Lee-Ann other than she wants to write a best seller and become fabulously rich and famous. (Chuckle)
A. Let’s see. I have two children, a new puppy, and a loving husband who supports my writing habit. During the day, I try to quell the crying, whining, and intense need for affection, (and that’s just the dog!) as well as get some type of writing, reading, reviewing or blogging done. For most authors, I’m guessing the majority of writing occurs at night, as does mine. Once it’s lights out for the family, I hole up in my office and type away until the vision doubles or my laptop starts squealing because I have fallen asleep, my cheek pressing down on the spacebar key.
Why do I do it? Have you ever bitten into a piece of chocolate, (not just any piece mind you) one of those fabulously expensive dark or milk varieties that melts in your mouth and rockets those taste buds of euphoria to the moon? If you have, you will know what I’m talking about when I say this. You know that first second when the flavor hits just the right spot, and your eyes close. Then sounds that should be kept only in the bedroom are released from your throat. Well, that second where bliss is at its maximum is how I feel when I write “The End” on a piece. Even better though, is when I get a response from someone who has read my writing and likes it. It’s a high like nothing else. That is why I write.
Q. What is the main genre you choose to write? Paranormal, SciFi, contemporary romance, historical, nonfiction, etc.
A. Well, I like to think I’m a pretty versatile chick. The only two genres that I won’t attempt are SciFi and Historical. That would be like me dressing up like one of King Henry the VIII’s wives and telling everyone I’m from the future. I’ll just stick to what I know (or at least what I think I know).
Q. I know you like to write military/romance. Is there a particular reason you have chosen this unique theme?
A. In all honesty, the very first book I penned was the story of my Mother’s life. She suffered greatly and in the end, she suffered more. My writing is best when there is emotional or physical conflict. Life is what interests me, and what I want to write about - real people experiencing real life issues. And guess what? We all have those. We may not want to talk about them, but have them. The knowledge that we aren’t alone in life’s struggles is a powerful thing.
I choose to write about the military, because that is about as “real” as life gets. It is a difficult path and one that does not disappear from your memory just because you decide to retire. Somewhere out there, someone might read my work and be comforted or helped in some way. If my words can heal, help, move, tickle, or even get a bountiful guffaw from someone in need of them, I have more than accomplished what I’ve set out to achieve.
Q. Do you outline your stories before you start writing? Do you know a beginning, middle and end in advance or do you just start writing and let the story unfold as it wishes?
A. Yeah. I did that once. Then the whole story took a nosedive and the time I spent writing the twenty-five page outline and typing the meticulous descriptions of my various characters was pretty much wasted. So, now I typically sit down with an idea. Then I write the first few paragraphs or even a chapter or two. The characters evolve, the story I thought I was writing changes, and now I’m on a completely different ride than I’d paid for at the start. I let the characters lead me. After all, they are the stars of the show, and they do so demand their close-ups.
Your latest book is Callie’s Fate. Please tell us about it.
When Callie takes the red-eye home to surprise her husband for their anniversary, she finds the surprise is on her. She watches as a blonde tart in six-inch heels teeters out from her home and toward a cherry-red Mustang, which is parked in her spot.Enraged, Callie does the only thing she can do. She drives to her favorite coffee house, scrolls through divorce lawyers who claim to eat cheating husbands for breakfast, and cries. Her only consolation is Christian, a Marine, whom she befriended on a chat site almost a year earlier.While waiting for her marriage to end, Callie agrees to finally meet Christian in person. She has always been a woman in control, but the mere touch of this man has her begging for more. Christian is only too happy to oblige, leaving Callie agreeing with the motto ‘The Few and The Proud’. She has never experienced a man who could make her see stars, but Christian does his duty, and does it well.Unhappy circumstances bring them together. A week of sexual bliss makes it impossible for them to part, leaving them to wonder how they can, once again, test the hands of fate
Read more about Lee-Ann and buy her books at
http://www.gypsyshadow.com/Lee-AnnGraffVinson.html#top
http://www.amazon.com/Callies-Fate-ebook/dp/B005NWRJYK/ref=sr_1_3?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1322942718&sr=1-3
You can contact her on Facebook at
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#!/lgraffvinsonauthor
Q. Callie’s Fate is a contemporary romance and nonmilitary, although there is a handsome marine in it. (grin) The story has snarky humor and sizzling erotica. Was there anything in particular that inspired you to write Callie’s fate?
A. Callie is my first erotic romance. It is not a genre I thought I would ever write, but rather one I wanted to see if I could do (that and my writing tutor told me to write one, so I did). In my mind, writing is for enjoyment, but the main goal is to help people deal with troublesome issues or just be able to relate to others. However, in writing Callie, I learned that erotica can also be a release of the mind, not to mention it’s extremely difficult to do well (thank you for your patience, Charlotte). I will attempt another erotica novel for the simple fact that it is a definite challenge for me.
Q. You are a multi-published author. What are you working on presently and what are your plans for the future?
A. Well, currently I’m writing the sequel to my soon to be released novel, ‘Love And Liberty’, a military/romance/suspense set in Iraq. Once that is done, I will write the third in the series. I have two children’s books I’ve written about my daughter which I will attempt to get published. The ‘Warrior World Series’ that I have written on my blog will be made into a series of short stories in a novel. Once that is edited, the novel will be sold with full proceeds (well my share anyway) going to help Veterans who suffer from PTSD/CBI. I’ve had an offer to turn my second book ‘Love’s Trust’ into a script so I may look into getting that done. I’ve also written a graphic novel which I would like to turn into script format as well. I’ve been approached by a friend to edit his grandfather’s memoir of his time in the Army in Germany in WWII, and get it ready for a publisher. Oh, and my critique partner and I have started writing a novel together which will be military/paranormal based. So, I have a few things lined up that should keep me out of trouble for the next few months (kidding – years perhaps?)
Thank you for being my guest Lee-Ann and for being my first.
The pleasure is all mine, Gary. You know me, I like to share.
