Who's That Girl? interview with Linda Lovely

Don't let me keep you in suspense...my South Carolina guest will though...read on to find out why.

Name: Linda Lovely.

Where are you? I live in Upstate South Carolina on a peaceful lake where I enjoy jumping off my dock to swim—even if it means disturbing a honking big turtle (that I give a healthy wide berth).

How many years have you been a member of RWA? I joined RWAmerica in October, 2006.

What genre/s do you write? Romantic suspense and mystery/suspense with strong romantic elements.

Do you have a new release coming out? Can you tell us a bit about it? Absolutely! DEAR KILLER, a mystery/suspense novel with a strong side of romance, has just been released in e-book and trade paperback formats.

The book opens when Marley Clark, a retired military intelligence officer, finds a naked corpse stewing in a hot tub. And, unfortunately for the residents on sleepy Dear Island, South Carolina, the pun-loving killer is just getting started.

Asked to serve as the lead investigator’s liaison, Marley soon finds she’s Deputy Braden Mann’s target as well—for romance. Yet their steamy attraction doesn’t deter the pair from sorting through a viper’s nest of suspects as the body count grows and the vicious killer plans a grizzly epitaph for Marley.

Who are your favourite authors? My tastes are eclectic. I enjoy novels filled with poetic imagery, a good laugh, romance or chills—depending upon my mood. Favorites include Susan Isaacs, Jennifer Crusie, J.D. Robb/Nora Roberts, Janet Evanovich, Cindy Gerard, Charlaine Harris, Pat Conroy.

What inspired you to write romance? I’ve always been an avid reader of mysteries and romantic suspense/thrillers. Yet I believe there’s no greater mystery than the attraction between a man and a woman, and nothing ups the stakes more than the desire to protect a loved one. So romance always plays a pivotal role in my manuscripts.

Who's your dream agent and/or dream publisher? With the market changing so rapidly, it’s hard to know if today’s dream may become tomorrow’s mistake. So I’m not really sure what to wish for next.

However, at the moment, I’m very happy with L&L Dreamspell, the small traditional publisher of DEAR KILLER. There are definite advantages to working with smaller publishers who have a lot of sweat equity in developing their authors and helping them learn the ropes.

What's the best thing about going to conference? Gee, where to start? The panels and interaction with other authors recharges the batteries and opens your imagination. It’s super to meet people face to face when you’ve only interacted online.

Networking opportunities abound. And it’s always great to shake up your routine—and kick your butt out of what might otherwise become a comfortable but predictable rut.

And lastly, finish these statements...

My greatest strength as a writer is...my ability to plop my fanny in a chair for as long as it takes to meet a manuscript goal—be it number of pages, completing a scene, or revisions. (My biggest fault is an inability to let go. I’d tinker/revise forever without deadlines.)
A sexy heroine needs...a sense of humor to make her lover—and me—laugh.
My latest WIP (work in progress) is about...a married woman in 1930s Iowa who’s framed for murdering her estranged, philandering husband, and a deputy who realizes a corrupt sheriff has his own reasons for revenge.
When I write I like to...mornings. Give me a cup of coffee, a clear mind and a blank screen.
My best writing milestone to date is...making the Golden Heart finals in Romantic Suspense and getting a publishing contract.  Sorry—couldn’t pick. They were equally awesome. 

Linda, it was wonderful that you could join me today on my blog, thanks for sharing snippets of yourself with us!

If you'd like to learn more about Linda or her books, check out her website!