Interview of Author Lena Hart

Today I'd like to present an interview of romance author Lena Hart.

Latest Book: BECAUSE THIS IS FOREVER
Buy Links:
Amazon
B&N
ARe



Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hknL3KKDLDU

BIO:
Lena Hart writes sensual romances with alpha heroes and smart, sexy heroines. Though she enjoys romance stories of all kinds, she writes interracial romances with a hint of mystery and danger. She is a member of RWA/NYC and the special interest chapter, CIMRWA (Cultural, Interracial, Multicultural RWA). When she is not writing, reading, or conferring with her muse, you can find her on Facebook, Twitter, or blogging about everything and nothing.

Q: Your novel is being made into a TV series/movie. Who’s in your dream cast?
A: For Because This Is Forever, I would love to see Nicole Beharie (Sleepy Hollow) play Mia and Henry Cavill (Man of Steel) play Nate in a movie. =)

Q: What is the most important thing you do for your career now, as compared to when you first started writing?
A: I write for my characters first, myself second, and other last. In the beginning I drove myself crazy trying to write based on what publishing houses were looking for or what submission guidelines required. I was manipulating my characters to fit a mold and the result was terrible. So now I try to drown out the outside noise and write according to how my characters dictate. In end, some will love your work, some will hate it so it’s not worth the headache—or heartache—to try an write for the masses.

Q: If you could change something about your first book, what would it be?
A: The length. I think my character Jake is misunderstood, lol, and I think a large part of that is because it’s a novella length story. I’m working on a prequel now to remedy that. Not to change who he is per se, but to provide some backstory.

Q: Do you eat comfort food/listen to music when writing?
A: I find myself reaching for snacks when I get stuck somewhere in the story. Usually I’m reaching for chips or Dove chocolates. But when I’m on a roll, there’s times I forget to eat! And I can only edit to music. I need complete silence to write.

Q: Covers. Ever get one you wish you could change?
A: Actually, yes. It was my second novella, Because You Are Mine. The cover was fine but all wrong for my story. I pulled the images I thought best represented my story and luckily my publisher’s book cover artist was great at changing it and creating a cover that ultimately won Affaire de Coeur’s cover contest in 2013.

Q: Give one advice tip to an aspiring author.
A: Keep writing. Seriously. Write when you’re inspired. Write when you don’t feel like it. Just write. Some days it’s going to seem hard—almost impossible to do—but you have to keep at it because the end result is so rewarding.

Q: If you could give a younger version of yourself advice, what would it be?
A: Follow your dreams.

Q: What genre would you like to try writing that you haven’t yet tried?
A: Historical Romances. And I’m actually working on a historical anthology so I’ll soon check that off my list!

Q: Have you ever used an incident from your real life into one of your books?
A: LOL, yes! But usually I used them as anecdotes, like when my heroine in Because You Are Mine tells her date about the time the cops showed up when she had been trying to make a long-distance call (that happened to me my first year away at college!). Or when my heroine’s son, Mikey, from Because This Is Forever had a habit of running out of the house naked when he was two (that was something my baby sister did when she was that age.)

Q: How many stories are swirling around in your head? Do you keep a mental list, a computer file, or a spiral notebook filled with the ideas?
A: Too many! I do keep a file on my computer with the many stories I plan to write and the days when a scene or piece of dialogue springs forward, I write it all down.

Fun Stuff:
Q: What is your favorite holiday and why?
A: Thanksgiving. Because I get to eat and spend time with my family. =)

Q: What are two things people might be surprised to know about you?
A: I teach English Composition at a college and I used to be afraid of toasters when I was young.

Q: As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
A: A lawyer—but that’s only because my mother kept telling me that’s what I would be.

Q: Favorite food.
A: Chicken, rice, and beans.

Q: Favorite happy memory.
A: Having my first full-length novel become a bestseller on Amazon and All Romance eBooks.

Q: Favorite drink.
A: Alcohol drink? It would be any sweet wine, mainly Moscatos. Non-alcoholic would be Chai tea with milk.

Q: Hot summer days or chilly winter nights?
A: Can I go with cool autumn afternoons? No? Okay, hot summer days. I’m a Floridian through and through…

Q: What is the top thing on your bucket list?
A: A cross-country road trip from NY to California.

Q: If you could have a super power, what would it be?
A: Freeze time.

Tell us where to find you: website(s), publisher’s page(s), blog(s), Facebook page(s), etc. List them all!
Website: http://www.lenahartsite.com/
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Lena-Hart/e/B008K4KL6Q/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1
Blog: http://scatblogging.blogspot.com/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6154731.Lena_Hart
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lenahartwrites
Twitter: http://twitter.com/lenahartwrites

BLURB:
The decision that tore them apart...

Former hopeless romantic, Mia Trent, is crushed when the love of her life, Nate McArthur, reveals that he doesn’t want to get married—or have children. But it’s too late. Mia is already pregnant and her dream of “happily ever after” is sharply put to an end when she decides she’d rather keep her pregnancy a secret then to force Nate into a life he doesn’t want.

The compromise that made them a family...

Five years later, Mia must reach out to Nate for help or risk losing her home and shelter for their son. Stunned and outraged by the sudden news of his child, Nate proposes a compromise: give him the summer to get to know his son and he’ll save her home. Yet with Mia back in his life, Nate isn't willing to lose her—or their son—again. What starts off as a temporary arrangement soon becomes a chance at rediscovery. Only Nate must convince his jaded dreamer that his love for her is true… and will last now and forever.

EXCERPT:
Nate walked up behind her and pulled her into his arms. Her light, sweet scent tickled his nose. “I’m sorry I wasn’t nice to your friend,” he whispered into her ear. She hesitated for a just heartbeat then leaned back against him, her hands resting over his crossed arms. He placed a quick kiss on the side of her neck. It felt good to just hold her in his arms again.

But hold her wasn’t all he wanted to do. He placed his hand under her sweatshirt and began inching it up.

“Nate,” she started, grabbing his hand, “before we hit the reset button, I have something I need to tell you.”

Nate groaned and pulled away from her. “Why do I have a feeling it’s nothing good.”

Mia turned to face him, a small smile on her lips. “Actually, I think it’s wonderful.” But the look on her face, the nervous tugging on her sleeve told him otherwise.

Nate braced himself. “Okay, let’s hear it.”

She hesitated, looking up at him with an odd expression on her face. Then she let out a deep sigh and her words spilled out in a long-winded rush.

“Nate, you know I love you, and even though you’ve never repeated the words back, I wouldn’t take them back. I’m actually glad you haven’t because I wouldn’t want you to parrot the words back to me if you’re not ready to say them. But even though I love you and always will, I need to know if you want me enough, if you care for me enough, to want a family.”

The muscles in his chest tightened as agitation and annoyance overwhelmed him. “Not this again,” he muttered sharply. “Why do you have to back me into a corner, huh? I care about you. I want you. Why can’t that be enough for now?”

She shook her head, looking away, her eyes bright but guarded. “Because it can’t,” she whispered.

A long and painful silence stretched between them. He didn’t know about love. Hell, he wasn’t sure he could love anyone. He never said those words to anyone, not even his parents. But he did know that he wanted her, wanted her more than he had ever wanted anything.

Yet what he wanted and what she expected were too far apart for them to find a common ground. And he wasn’t going to make promises he wasn’t prepared to keep.

“So that’s it?” he snapped. “I either marry you, have some kids, or we’re over?”

She stood there with her arms wrapped tightly around her center, saying nothing. Nate cursed.

“If I walk out of here,” he bit out, “I won’t come back.” Yet the thought of being without her, never seeing her again was almost unbearable.

“I won’t expect you to,” she whispered.


Anything else you’d like to add?
Thanks so much for featuring me at RB4U today!