All blogs are property of authors and copying is not permitted.

Click image to one-click your copy of Soldiers of Fortune

CLICK BELOW & SUBSCRIBE TO THE RB4U NEWSLETTER

Monday, April 28, 2014

Meet USA Today Bestselling Author, Lori Wilde

Q: By now, most readers know a little bit about you. Would you tell us a little bit about yourself that not many people know?
LW: I’m proud to say I’ve been a participant in the Harvard’s Nurses’ Health Study—the largest and longest running investigations of factors that influence women’s health—for 25 years.

I graduated from high school a year early and was accepted into a program for licensed vocational nurses when I was sixteen. (Although I turned seventeen before the program started.) At the time I was the youngest person in Texas ever accepted into LVN school. I was an LVN for six years while I put myself through RN school.

I’m a fifth generation Texan and proud of it.



Q: Did you always want to be an author?
LW: Yes. From the time I was old enough to realize that real people wrote the books I loved to read, it’s the only thing I ever wanted to be. I was so certain of my destiny I was surprised to discover that most people aren’t always certain of their calling.

Q: How did you get your first break in publishing?
LW: Through joining RWA and entering chapter run contests.

Q: I’m sure readers would love to hear how the publishing world has changed over the years. Tell us what you see as the biggest differences over the years.
LW: Everything has changed. From the way books are bought and sold, published, printed, distributed and marketed. Technology has turned publishing on its ear. As readers and authors we are living in an exciting time. The only thing that remains the same is that a good story is, and always will be, a good story no matter the form or format.

Q: Tell us about your favorite character from your books.
LW: Ahh, that’s like asking a mother to pick her favorite child. And honestly, after seventy books, my memory is a little faulty on some of my earlier works. My favorite characters are always the ones I’m currently writing about. They’re the ones I’m living with now.

Q: What was one of the most surprising things you learned while writing your latest book?
LW: Members of Delta Force are called “operators” not “soldiers.” I did not know that until I started researching Delta Force.

Q: Was there ever a time when you felt like your career might stall? If so, tell us about it. If not, to what do you attribute your continued good fortune?
LW: Oh heck, every writer I’ve ever known has felt that way and continues to feel that way. This is not a secure career. There are all kinds of ups and downs in this business, most of it beyond your control. There is no pension plan or sick days.

No one makes you produce. You have to show up on the page every day, battle the doubts and demons and do it anyway. Someone once said, “If you can quit writing, then quit.” The entertainment industry is such a tough way to make a living. Most of us do it because we can’t not write.

Q: What tips would you give to aspiring writers?
LW: The most important piece of advice I can give is to park your backside in front of that computer every day (or at a minimum of five days a week) and put words on the page. Until you do that, you can’t do anything else. Make writing a habit and priority. Do it first thing in the morning if you can. It doesn’t have to be for very long in the beginning. Ten minutes (or if you like word count better, 100 words) a day will do to start. When that gets comfortable, make it fifteen minutes a day, then twenty… Just write. The rest will come. Just write.

If you’ve already got a regular writing schedule, then start pushing yourself to write more. Writing is the key, the secret handshake, the abracadabra. Do it, then do it again and then do it some more and just don’t stop. Ever. For any reason. Unless you decide you really don’t want to do this anymore, then stop and don’t look back. There’s no shame in that.

Q: If you could sum up your writing career in one sentence, what would it be?
LW: I’m living my dream.

We’d love to have a short excerpt from your upcoming release. Could you please share?
Love With a Perfect Cowboy, TBR May 27, 2014 (can preorder at Amazon)

Melody Spencer was rushing up Madison Avenue when she spied him.

A tall, lanky man in a black Stetson logjamming the flow of foot traffic by moseying along at a lamb’s pace, craning his neck up at the skyscrapers as if he couldn’t believe they made buildings that lofty.

Two simultaneous thoughts popped into her head. One was: What a hick. The other was: I’m homesick.

Twelve years earlier she had marveled at the towering buildings when she first arrived in the city as a green freshman on a full academic scholarship to NYU. While she no longer stared at the high-rises, she still lived by one motto—Keep looking up. Vision, commitment, and hard work were what had brought her to this moment. She was about to receive the promotion she worked a lifetime to earn.

Why else would her boss, Michael Helmsly, have texted her and asked her to come in for a private meeting thirty minutes early on the same day that the creative director was retiring?

She shivered, smiled.

At long last her time had come.

A river of people flowed around the cowboy, some muttering obscenities, others flipping him off, a few glowering, but most not even bothering to acknowledge him at all. He was nothing more than a speck in their obstacle-laden day.

Although one smart-aleck teen—probably a tourist—hollered from a passing taxi, “Why aren’t you naked in Times Square, cowboy?”

The man tipped his Stetson at the taxi, briefly revealing a head of thick, whiskey-colored curls and a sense of humor. A navy blue, Western-cut sport jacket hugged his broad shoulders. The crowd obscured her view of his backside, but she would have bet a hundred dollars that tight-fitting Wranglers cupped a spectacular butt.

Cowboys always seemed to have spectacular butts, probably from all that hard riding in the saddle.

He turned his head and the morning light illuminated his profile—straight nose, honed cheekbones, chiseled jaw. He was freshly clean-shaven, but she could tell he had a heavy beard and that long before five o’clock he’d be sporting a shadow of stubble. In that regard he looked a bit like the actor Josh Holloway, who’d played Sawyer on the television show Lost.

A cold jolt of recognition smacked into the pit of her stomach. She knew this man! Had once both loved and hated him.

Luke Nielson, from her hometown of Cupid, Texas.


Lori Wilde is an Avon author.  For more information about Lori and her books, check her author page at http://www.romancebooks4us.com.

31 comments:

Sandy said...

Wow! What a hunk on your cover, Lori. I enjoyed your excerpt.

Janice Seagraves said...

Great excerpt. Your book must be a great read.

Good luck with the release and I wish you many sales.

Janice~

Melissa Keir said...

Thank you for sharing about yourself. I love hearing about other authors and how they got to where they are.

The cover and excerpt are wonderful. I imagine that this poor cowboy must be a part of a bigger plan! :)

judyalter said...

Lori, nice to meet another author from the Fort Worth area. Where specifically do live? I'm in the TCU area.

Paris said...

Fascinating interview! I did not know Delta Force members were called operators, either. Loved your excerpt and that is one sexy cowboy on your cover!

Cara Marsi said...

70 books! Wow, what an accomplishment. I really enjoyed your interview and learning more about you. Love the excerpt and cover for your latest book.

Rose Anderson said...

I enjoyed your interview, Lori. Thanks for joining us today and sharing. Best luck!

Vicki Batman, sassy writer said...

Hi, Sweetie! A wonderful interview and I didn't know you graduated from school so early. You are such a smart girl and savvy author. Lots of hugs!

Marianne Stephens said...

Thanks for being here at RB4U. Who doesn't love a cowboy???

Judy Baker said...

Thanks for sharing your new release with us Lori and telling us a little about yourself. Your book sounds interesting. Judy

Lori Wilde said...

Isn't he gorgeous, Sandy? I got to pick the artist for the Cupid, Texas series. What a thrill.

Lori Wilde said...

Thanks Janice. The book did get this awesome review from Romantic Times: Love With a Perfect Cowboy is the best Cupid, Texas novel yet. This story of hard-fought love will have readers cheering for the characters from the moment they meet them. The chemistry is undeniable and will keep readers completely engaged until they reach the happily ever after. This romantic read is fun and sexy from start to finish.

Lori Wilde said...

Melissa, you are so insightful. He is!

Lori Wilde said...

Judy! I've met you many times over the years at TCU events and remember when you were editor of TCU press. I'm a TCU alumni and currently getting my Masters of Liberal Arts from TCU as well. I read a romance novel you write a few years back, and several of your children's book. I'm friends with Peggy Freeman, and I believe you were her acquiring editor.

Lori Wilde said...

Thanks Paris! I loved doing the research on Delta Force, although they are so top secret, I couldn't find as much info as I would have liked.

Lori Wilde said...

Thanks Cara. I'm so grateful to have been invited to give an interview.

Lori Wilde said...

Thank you, Rose!

Lori Wilde said...

Vicki,

Hi! It's always a delight to talk to you. Do you think Tony will win Survivor this season? I'm not really smart, just super motivated by fear.

Lori Wilde said...

Marianne,

I so agree!

jean hart stewart said...

Thanks for the excerpt and the interview...always nice to know more about you....

Lori Wilde said...

Thanks Jean for leaving a comment.

Kathleen O said...

Lori you are amazing... To be at the forefront of such extraordinary work and at such a young age.. Can't wait to read this new book.. I love this series.. But then I love all your books.

Lori Wilde said...

Kathleen, YOU are amazing. Thank you so much for reading.

Lori

Molly Daniels said...

Very good advice for aspiring authors and loved the excerpt Lori:) Nice to 'meet' you!

Unknown said...

Great interview Ladies. Enjoyed reading the excerpt. Sexy cover!

Sandy said...

Loved learning more about you, Lori. Also loved the excerpt. Can't wait to add it to my TBR list.

Thanks for sharing.

PRM said...

If ever there was such a thing as a "perfect" cowboy, I think that guy on the cover must be it. Or least a runner-up! Congratulations on another release, Lori. Thanks for spending time with us.

Berengaria Brown said...

Awesome interview, Lori. What you say is so true. Fingers on the keyboard is the only way to progress.
Berengaria

Cynthia Arsuaga said...

Wow! 70 books. I'm jealous. Loved the interview, the cover and the excerpt. Thanks for being RB4U's guest today and bringing something we didn't know before.

Bobbye Terry said...

Lori,

Thanks so much for spending a lot of time with us today! You know I'm a fan of yours. You just keep on giving and getting better.

Thanks!

Unknown said...

Lovely to know more about you, Lori, thanks for sharing. I just love your book cover!

Share buttons