Interview

Hi Lynn, and welcome. I am so glad you could join us here at RomanceJunkies. To start, will you please tell us a little bit about your current projects?

 

THIRTY-NINE AGAIN is my first novel. I call it "chick noir." It's like chick lit, but with the emphasis on guns and dead bodies instead of shoes! Sabrina O'Hara is a fortyish breast cancer survivor who discovers her boyfriend is leading a double life. Now she's on the run from him, his friends in the Mexican Mafia, and the very sexy Homeland Security agent who's investigating the case. Because the main character is a cancer survivor, I'm also donating a portion of all my royalties from this book to various breast cancer awareness charities.

 

What do you like best about writing? What is the one thing that’s not so fun?

 

I like coming up with ideas for plots and I love creating new characters. The actual sitting down and writing part can be excruciating on a bad day!

 

How do you approach a new project? Name your characters first? Know their general situation?

 

I usually start with a pretty clear idea of a main character, and then a somewhat vague idea of a situation I'd like to get that character into. I'm not good at detailed plotting in advance. I lose interest in the story if I already know what's going to happen.

 

It is a dream come true when a writer makes their first sale. What were you doing when you found out about yours? Did you do anything special to celebrate?

It is a dream come true, but I honestly don't remember where I was. I guess I was just reading email on my computer, because that's how I got word! My hubby took me out to dinner to celebrate, but nothing lavish. I'll have to get a nice big advance for my next book, then I can really celebrate J

 

Who gave you the one piece of writing advice that sticks with you to this day?

I like the quote by the famous short story writer Raymond Carver. He said "writing is rewriting," and that's definitely the truth for me. I rarely get it right on the first try!

 

Are you and early riser or a night owl? When do you do your most creative writing?

I used to be a night owl, but I have a school age child and a hubby who gets up at 4:30 in the morning, so being a night owl doesn't work too well in that environment. I definitely don't stay up that late anymore, and I try to write first thing in the morning after dropping my son at school and working out.

 

Surprise! Surprise! The Trip Genie is going to whisk you away to wherever you want to go! Where are you going and how many suitcases are you taking?

 

There are so many places I'd love to see, it's hard to pick. I've always wanted to visit Spain and haven't yet, and I'd love to go to Capri. I set a novel there, but I haven't convinced anyone to publish it yet. I figured if I couldn't visit in real life (at least not right now), I'd visit in my head!

If the trip genie will carry the suitcases for me, I will take as many as possible. An entire suitcase for shoes and probably a whole 'nother one for all the overpriced creams and lotions I buy in an insanely optimistic effort to prevent myself from aging!

 

Do you have any special collections or hobbies? Do you possess a green thumb or the talent to kill even weeds?

I don't have the greenest thumb in the world, but it's not a black one either. I do like to garden, but haven't had much time to do so since I've been devoting more time to writing.

 

How did you and your husband meet? What made you know he was “the one for you”?

We met at our best friends' wedding. Well, at the rehearsal dinner, really. Apparently they'd tried to fix us up with each other a few times prior to that too, but somehow we always missed meeting each other. Which is amazing when you consider I've known my best friend since we were 14, and he's known his best friend since they were two! I don't know how we never managed to meet sooner! But we finally wound up in the same room at their wedding and just connected right away. We went to decorate our friends' house to welcome them back from their honeymoon and then we went out to a Friendly's Ice Cream Parlor. We talked all night and closed the place down - and the rest is history. We've been married almost 18 years now.

 

What is your idea of the perfect romantic vacation?

I'd like to take that trip to Capri or Spain with my hubby. Just spending time anywhere alone with him can be romantic though.

 

How do you describe Lynn Reynolds? How does Lynn Reynolds’s husband describe her?

I would say I'm stubborn and temperamental and creative. I'm sure my hubby would agree, but he seems to think I'm worth it!

 

MORE FUN…

 

Who is the person who has had the biggest influence on your life? Whom will you pass this “influence” on to?

 

My mom was certainly my biggest influence. She raised me alone after my dad died when I was two and always worked hard, had very little time to relax. But still, she always made time to listen to me at the end of a busy day and always encouraged my dreams. She was so thrilled when I told her I'd signed a contract for my first book, but unfortunately she passed away before it could be published.

 

I hope that I can be just as encouraging and supportive to my son, no matter what his goals are. Right now he wants to be an astronomer and rock star, so he's going to need a LOT of encouraging to accomplish both goals. I tried to tell him it's not really possible to be both, but then Brian May of Queen, one of his favorite bands, went and published a doctorate on astrophysics. Who knew?

 

What is your favorite piece of clothing?

 

Definitely some pair of shoes. Possibly the peep toe satin pumps with a rhinestone bow. Although I just bought some blue ankle strap espadrilles that are pretty high on the list!

And lastly, no interview of a writer would be complete without this question: what is your favorite comfort food?

 

Potato chips dipped in vanilla ice cream. But since I don't want to wind up a contestant on The Biggest Loser, I haven't actually eaten that in many many years. So I guess I'd have to say pretty much any kind of pasta.

 

Thank you, Lynn, for spending time with us today.  Best of luck with your writing!

 

By Brooke Wills

Romance Junkies Publishing Editor

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